Author's Note: Well, here's the next chapter. Don't really have anything to say but need to say something to properly align the chapter title because of the ill-placed next/previous chapter selection.

Chapter 6: Fate's Twisted Humor

Ieyasu and Sayo were waiting for Tatsumi at the school gates in their school uniforms when he arrived. His friend looked much better from the day before, there was actually a smile on Ieyasu's face. It was a large improvement on the nervous breakdown he looked he was about to have yesterday.

"You're looking better," Tatsumi said as he neared them.

Ieyasu scratched the back of his head and grinned widely even as Sayo blushed. "Well, you know, things happened and Sayo is good at making me forget."

Oh, Tatsumi understood now. Bennia had helped him forget after he'd killed Mira. Honestly he had thought Sayo and Ieyasu had already been a couple before now, but it seemed it wasn't until last night that they took that final step. "Congratulations you two."

"Don't say it like that," Ieyasu said, embarrassed. He roughly cleared his throat and playfully hit Tatsumi's chest. "It's only a matter of time before you and Souna get it on you know." Tatsumi couldn't stop his mind from wandering to the date he had with Souna next Sunday. Ieyasu lowered his voice as he whispered conspiratorial to him, "nothing compares to it, trust me!"

Ieyasu suddenly yelped as Sayo grabbed him by the ear. "You do not need to be telling Tatsumi stories about us," she said quite firmly. Her cheeks were colored with a healthy blush. She turned a firm gaze upon Tatsumi. "Well?"

"Nothing," Tatsumi said honestly, "I'm really happy for you two. I wish you both the best in the future. Ieyasu needs a strong woman like you to kick his ass when it needs to be kicked."

"Hey!" Ieyasu protested.

Sayo smiled widely. "Thank you, Tatsumi. Rest assured I won't let him get out of hand."

"I shall rely on you."

"I'm right here you know," Ieyasu complained.

"We know." Tatsumi and Sayo said in unison. The two of them shared looks and laughed. Ieyasu glowered at the two of them in mock anger. It just made Tatsumi laugh even harder. This felt just like old times back in the Empire, before the three of them had left on that ill-fated journey. Although, their positions had been reversed back then. Sayo had made little secret of her interest in Tatsumi before they'd set out.

It seemed that even if a great many things were similar, there were differences.

As the three of them entered the school grounds and started for the main building Sayo spoke up again. "Tatsumi, Ieyasu told me what happened yesterday." She kept her voice quiet so that the other students walking about them couldn't overhear. "I feel like there's so much more going on than we know."

"Way more," Ieyasu added.

"There is," Tatsumi admitted. Ieyasu and Sayo were both individuals that liked to be in control of their own destinies, that much hadn't changed. He wasn't surprised that they felt so lost and adrift with everything happening about them. They could feel that other world, just a hand's length away, and it made them nervous. "I've been trying to keep as much from you as I can. I… don't want you dragged into this side of the world."

"It seems intent on dragging us in anyways," Ieyasu fired back. "If you hadn't thrown me out of the way I'd be looking for a new heart to replace the one that chick ripped out."

"Maybe we should change desks so I'm closer to the door," Tatsumi suggested. He was being serious, at least that way it'd put him between Ieyasu and any threat… assuming they came in through the door and not the window. "But honestly there is a lot I don't understand either. You both know about Rias, so what she did shouldn't have come as much of a surprise." If anything the only surprise was that she had felt any sort of compassion towards the traumatized humans.

The air became a little cooler as they left the courtyard and entered the main building. The three of them started for the stairs to the second floor where their classes were.

Ieyasu glanced about the main lobby to make sure no one was too close. Tatsumi couldn't help but chuckle at how conspiratorial his friend was trying to be, like he thought he was in some B-Grade spy film.

"It's not really her I'm confused about," Ieyasu admitted in a hushed whisper. "Although for a devil she seemed far more compassionate than what I've read about." Sayo nodded her head in agreement. So they'd both done some of their own research and had come to the same conclusion as well? That annoyed Tatsumi a little. He didn't want to think any better of Rias. He had his heart set on murdering her, eventually. "The Student Council President just seemed far too calm, you know? How often do you need to see that shit to become like that?"

"If you knew her sister you wouldn't be surprised," Tatsumi said, laughing. Souna was right about her sister. "Serafall makes what happened in that room seem normal. Living your entire life with that hurricane of energy buzzing about you would numb anyone to most things."

"Souna-senpai has a sister?" Sayo asked, sounding surprised by the information. "She never mentioned her."

Tatsumi wasn't surprised. "She does, an older sister, although you wouldn't know that by looking at them together. Souna seems like the older, dependable type while Serafall is the childish bundle of energy." Unless you made her mad. Then the shit hit the fans and you better be bolting for the nearest underground bunker.

Or possibly leave the country in case she decided to hurl it into the sun.

"You and Souna-senpai truly seem close," Sayo said as they reached the second floor. "You've even met her family." She took several steps back in the opposite direction of them. "I'll see you at lunch, Ieyasu, and Tatsumi don't give Souna-senpai a hard time!"

"No promises."

With a cheerful wave Sayo turned around and quickly headed for her classroom. Tatsumi continued on with Ieyasu in silence. It was a warm, comfortable silence. It allowed Tatsumi to just enjoy spending some time with his friend.

That warm feeling didn't last long as they came up to their classroom. His heart curled up into a ball and started to weep when he found Souna was waiting beside the door. It tried to run away when her eyes lit up at the sight of him.

"I'm not going to have a normal school day today, am I?" Tatsumi mourned. For some reason a large part of him really just wanted to sit down and copy some notes.

"Probably not," Ieyasu said, laughing. He patted Tatsumi on the shoulder and gave him a wave before heading into the class, leaving him with Souna.

"You need something from me?" Tatsumi asked her.

"Come with me," Souna said as she turned on her heel and started down the hallway.

"What about class?"

"You can miss one," Souna replied easily, "a proper account of what happened yesterday needs to be recorded. I'm going to need you to speak of what happened… unless you wish for me to question Nijo Ieyasu."

"I'm enough." He didn't want Ieyasu dragged into this any further.

The conversation died off as Souna escorted him through the school. The bell rang as they descended to the first floor and the halls quickly emptied as the last few remaining students rushed to class. Souna ignored them all she made her way to a familiar student council room.

"There isn't really much to say," Tatsumi said as they entered the room. He closed the door behind them as Souna made her way to her desk.

"That's fine," she said as she seated herself and took out a pen and some paper. "Even if it's only a paragraph, protocol needs to be adhered to."

This was so like Souna it actually felt refreshing. Tatsumi took a deep breath and went into detail of what happened. Like he had said, it didn't take very long, a couple minutes at most to recount all the details. Souna dutifully recorded each word he said on the paper.

"—that's when you charge through the door expecting Armageddon," Tatsumi finished.

"I see," Souna said as she finished writing his words. "For the record I was not expecting Armageddon, just a minor apocalypse." Weren't they the same thing? Wait… did Souna just make a joke? "Do you have any idea of why you might have been targeted?"

Toss in a jab and then back to business before he could retaliate, ugh. Well, it seemed she'd come to that conclusion as he did, not that it wasn't particularly difficult to see based on the circumstances. "I can only assume it's for revenge. Like what happened that day with your sister."

"I take it you've encountered a number of these… individuals before?"

"More than I would like." It was the truth. If he never saw another devil again, it would be too soon. No devils meant humans weren't being preyed upon. That could only be a good thing. "I don't go looking for them, mind you. I get hired to deal with them if they start harassing humans—" he was cut off as his phone rang. He pulled it out and saw it was Bennia calling him. "Sorry, do you mind?" Tatsumi asked.

"Go ahead," Souna said, obviously annoyed by the interruption but too polite to tell him no.

He gave her a smile and answered. "Yes, Bennia? Did something go wrong?"

"It's me, Tatsumi." It wasn't Bennia, but his sensei! Souna's eyes went wide in shock for some reason. "You need to come here now."

"I'm at school."

"Tatsumi, Bennia told me everything. If you wish to live to see the sun rise tomorrow, you will be here in thirty minutes." There was a click as Sensei hung up. Tatsumi stared at the phone worriedly. He had never heard Sensei sound that serious before. One thing was certain though, his sensei never lied. If she told him he wouldn't live to see tomorrow unless he was there within the next thirty minutes, then she was a hundred percent certain that was going to be the case.

It was probably highly likely even if he did go. Esdeath wasn't someone that would go down easily. He knew what she was capable and as he was he barely came up to her ankles in terms of power. Whether he would make it out alive would depend entirely on what Sensei had for him, and what this Mine was capable of.

He needed to go. Souna had everything she needed.

"Sorry, Souna, but it's an emergency," Tatsumi said as he started for the door.

"Who was that?" Souna asked as she quickly stood up, a worried look marred her beautiful features.

"My sensei. Whenever I'm not hanging out with Ieyasu and Sayo after school I'm training with her for a few hours."

She quickly made her way to her side. "How long have you been seeing her?" She seemed really insistent on knowing everything about his sensei for some reason.

"Over a year?" Tatsumi shrugged. What did it matter? "Anyways, I really need to go. I'm sorry but I'll be missing more than just one class today." He unlocked the door and stepped out of the Student Council room. He paused and glanced over his shoulder. "Goodbye, Souna."

Souna rushed out of the room after him. "What's going on Tatsumi? You can't just say goodbye like that! What's wrong? Perhaps I can help."

That wasn't happening. That had all the hallmarks of that suffering he knew was coming. If Souna got involved, he was going to lose her. He gave her one last smile. "It's a mission. I won't let you get involved."

"Won't let?" Souna asked, her eyes flashing dangerously.

"Yes, I won't let you." Tatsumi gave Souna a hard look. She refused to back down. "You may have the say on everything here at Kuoh Academy, but Night Raid is mine. I make the decisions. I decide what missions are accepted and who goes on them." He turned his back on her and started down the hallway. "I have no intention of dying, but when dealing with Esdeath there's never any guarantees." He waved his hand over his shoulder. "If I don't make it Souna, it was fun. You really are the sort of woman I need in my life."

"Esdeath…" Souna whispered, sounding absolutely horrified. He picked up the pace. "No, Tatsumi! She'll kill you! Tatsumi—!"

Whatever else she had to say, Tatsumi didn't hear as he rushed down the hallway. He needed to get to Sensei's place within thirty minutes, twenty-seven now actually. He had wasted several speaking with Souna. It was going to be tight but he intended to make it.

His very life depended on it.

~o~

The setting sun found Tatsumi and Bennia making their way down a busy street in downtown Kuoh. It was a colorful place, filled with dozens of shops each with their own brightly lit signs and advertisements. The orange and yellow glow from the setting sun bounced about the street adding an extra element to the colorful place making it seem as if Tatsumi was walking through a wonderland of lights and sounds. It was a place filled with dreams and desires. Everything someone wanted could be found here. Despite the lateness of the day Tatsumi found it difficult to make swift progress through the crowd.

Tatsumi hoped the meeting place wasn't too close to their target. If the battle spilled out into the street there would be a great number of casualties.

He read the addresses on the buildings as he went, matching them to what was written on the map Bennia had in her hands. As the numbers counted down Tatsumi saw the diner in the distance.

"This is the place, we sure they agreed to meet us here?" Tatsumi asked as they approached the brightly lit place. It was packed with people. Hopefully Mine hadn't covered her hair with a hood or something. Without her vibrant pink hair it would be difficult to pick her out from the crowd.

((Azazel said she'd be here, so I'm going to assume she is)) Bennia said as she looked back and forth between the map in her hand and the address emblazoned in colorful lights on the front of the diner. ((If she's not here we're to wait.))

As he swept his gaze across the crowd through the window once more he spotted a bright splash of pink. He recognized those two long pink pigtails and bright pink ensemble. "That won't be necessary, I see her."

Tatsumi entered the diner and quickly made his way over to Mine. Bennia followed along closely behind. He did his best to ignore the strange looks he was getting from the patrons. He had gotten a great number of odd looks ever since he left Sensei's place. Sensei had told him under no circumstances was he to take any of it off until the situation with Esdeath was dealt with though.

He seriously hoped everyone thought he was just cosplaying.

"Mine?" Tatsumi asked as he came up to the table.

"You must be—" she started in surprise when she saw him. "Tatsumi-san?"

He gestured for Bennia to sit first so he could sit across from Mine. "It's the clothes, isn't it?" Mine hadn't miraculously remembered him from the old world. It was the clothes Sensei had forced him to wear.

The only thing of his own that he still wore were his good solid leather boots that Sensei had said were just barely passable. His usual pants had been replaced with a pair of loose black ones made out of some sort of material Tatsumi had never encountered before only that it was tough enough that trying to cut it with Murasame only revealed white-gold threads beneath the black fabric. His shirt was gone, replaced with black armor that molded to him like a second skin showing off his muscles. Pulsating lines of white energy crisscrossed the armor, outlining and emphasising his muscles even more. His arms were pulled through a soft blue shroud that rested lightly on his shoulders and extended down past his knees. The most embarrassing things he had to wear were the two golden bracelets on his wrists and the circlet around his forehead.

He knew what they could do, Sensei made certain he knew how to use them before he left, but it didn't make such powerful artifacts any less embarrassing to wear.

"Where did you get all that?" She asked incredulously, "I was told you were just a simple stupid human but this is…"

"Ah ha… Sensei has taken a liking to me I guess?" Tatsumi said sheepishly.

"The Shroud of Longinus, The Bracelets of Aias, Gabriel's Circlet…" Mine's eyes went flat. "Any one of those is a divine class treasure on par with a Longinus Sacred Gear and you have three of them? Why do you even have the Bracelets of Aias? They're a Greek treasure!"

"Sensei said she'd won them from Athena in a bet a thousand years ago or so…"

Mine paused and blinked in surprise, "I remember that day. Athena is still upset and Artemis is still laughing at her for loosing. Yes, that would make sense." She shook her head and an angry look came to her face. "Don't distract me like that, human!"

"You asked," Tatsumi pointed out, "and I wasn't actually given them. I'm only borrowing them. I have to give them back afterwards." Sensei hadn't actually given names to any of them, nor give any indication of their importance only that he was to live long enough to return them.

They weren't the only things Sensei had given him, but the last item was sort of a one-time use only item.

"I'd have to report to Azazel that Michael had gone insane if you were allowed to keep any of them!" She shook her head in amazement, "I might anyways. Just lending out all three is border line."

"Sensei had a feeling I was just being used as disposal bait." He had come to the same conclusion as well. The Mine he knew was a long range sniper, not a close range combatant. If this Mine was similar then the only plan that had any chance of success was one where Tatsumi drew Esdeath into a killing zone for Mine. "I don't intend on dying. Now, Azazel didn't mention much about what you're capable of, only that you're good at covert operations. If I'm to formulate a proper plan I need to—"

"You don't need to know anything," Mine said, sniffing disdainfully. She pulled out a small map of the city, a section of the Kuoh town near where they were. "Just bring her to this square and I'll take care of the rest."

"Look, Azazel contracted me to kill Esdeath and said that he was sending help. It's my mission, my plan, not yours." He jabbed the square. "That place is going to be full of humans no matter what I do. If you miss your shot or it doesn't kill Esdeath, there are going to be hundreds dead."

Mine bristled angrily, "listen human! I only follow Azazel-sama's orders, not yours!"

Tatsumi opened an e-mail on his phone, Azazel's reply to their acceptance, and showed it to Mine. "See this? It clearly states that you are helping me, not the other way around. If you have a complaint, take it up with Azazel-sama. For the duration of this mission my orders are his orders."

He watched as Mine read the e-mail over and over as if looking for something that refuted his words. There was none, and as she came to realize that her face changed from one of haughty arrogance to disbelief and then betrayal.

"Just tell me what you're capable of doing and where Esdeath is," Tatsumi said when it became obvious that Mine had come to realize the truth.

She stared at him suspiciously for a while before finally giving in with a harrumph. "I specialize at taking out Azazel-sama's enemies from a distance. I can curve my spears around corners and given enough time I can boost them to several times their normal strength, matching even Azazel-sama if given enough time."

"What are your close range capabilities?"

"Why do you need to know that?" She demanded suspiciously.

"Because if you miss, or it doesn't kill Esdeath, she's going to go for you and I need to know if you can hold your own."

"I don't miss," Mine sniffed, sounding offended. "But if Esdeath doesn't go down with that first hit I'm gone. I'm not sticking around to fight her hand-to-hand."

Great, just bloody great. What this meant then is if Mine didn't kill Esdeath, he would have to make sure he finished her off before she collected herself or he was going to die. Mine wasn't an ally to count on then, but rather a one-time use item that he had better take advantage of to finish things.

Tatsumi let out a disappointed sigh. "You've only got her face it seems." The Mine he knew would never give up halfway, no matter how tough it got.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Mine demanded.

"It's nothing important," Tatsumi said. It was hard to keep the bitterness from his voice. Sayo, Ieyasu and Esdeath had all been so close to their original personalities that he had thought… well he should have known better than to get his hopes up and assume everything was the same. "You just look like a friend I once knew, someone I greatly admired. You're completely different people though. She would never abandon a mission in the middle of it just because it became more difficult."

Mine glared at him as she slammed a map of Kuoh Town on the table. "She's here," she said, pointing to a large building at the corner of a major intersection. It was two blocks from the square that Mine had wanted Tatsumi to draw Esdeath to. Did she really think he could drag Esdeath that far? "The condo complex is owned by a… private individual. The basement was originally designed as a safe house but Esdeath has turned it into her own piece of paradise." Mine pulled out a diagram of the basement safe house and placed it on the table. "The captives are all held in the main room. There are six bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom."

Tatsumi memorized the layout. From the looks of it the main room was large, obviously designed to be a major congregation area for everyone staying at the safe house. The dimensions made the room to be nearly twenty feet in height, which meant there was enough room to fly if necessary. There was only a single marked entrance which opened up into the main room. Tatsumi was certain there was a hidden escape tunnel as well, Mine and Azazel just didn't want him to know of it.

No matter how big it was though, it was definitely the last place he wanted to fight Esdeath in. When fighting someone like that you wanted a lot of space to work with. If he couldn't kill her with the first strike he'd need to force her out of the basement and into a wide, open area.

Such as the intersection just outside.

He'd need some way of clearing the intersection. That was going to be the easy bit though. He had already anticipated a battle with Esdeath in the city core. Bennia was carrying with her what he needed.

"Is there a back entrance to this safe house?" Tatsumi asked.

"Does it matter?" Mine asked.

"It is if we're going to rescue anyone. We can't take them out the front entrance, not if we're fighting Esdeath here."

She glowered at him. "The intersection? You're just trying to make it difficult for me, aren't you?"

"You said you never miss and could curl your spears around corners, I have every confidence you'll manage," Tatsumi said. "But yes, we're fighting over this intersection. Is there a back entrance or not?"

"Here," she said, thumping her finger on the back wall of the fifth bedroom. "You can get your humans and devils out this way. It comes out into the subway station over here." She tapped another intersection, this one a fair bit away from the one he planned to fight Esdeath in.

"How long does it take you to charge your most powerful spear of light?" Tatsumi asked. He needed to get a feel for how much time he needed to buy Mine. "And can you curve it?"

"I can curve it," Mine assured him. "I'd need five minutes at most."

Tatsumi nodded. He tapped a large building near the intersection. "Throw from here. It's high enough for you to hit her no matter where we end up, yet this place," Tatsumi tapped another large building on the intersection, "will block line of sight. If Esdeath notices you charging she'll attack you before you're ready."

"You're confident you can keep her busy for five minutes?" Mine asked.

"I'm confident I can survive that long at least." Primarily thanks to what Sensei had given him. "You're the one with the firepower necessary to take her out." That was all he could think of. The mission wasn't that complex. He'd rush in, force Esdeath out of the basement and then keep her occupied long enough for Mine to end her in a single strike.

If Mine's single strike didn't kill Esdeath, Tatsumi was to reassess the situation. If Esdeath seemed weakened enough that he could force her to flee or kill her, he'd do so. Otherwise he'd try and run. Try was the key word there. Tatsumi was banking on Esdeath not staying in the open killing for too long. As sadistic as she was, she was also very intelligent. There were others in this city that wouldn't take kindly to her rampage and injured as she would hopefully be, she wouldn't be in any condition to face them.

Of course this was Esdeath who thrived on death, pain and suffering, even her own. So anything could happen.

Oh who was he kidding? Tatsumi had no illusions about this. If Mine failed to kill Esdeath he was probably going to die.

"What's she doing," Mine asked, pointing to Bennia.

"Clearing the intersection and getting the hostages out," Tatsumi said. Someone needed to guide them and he was going to be busy with Esdeath. Besides, Bennia was a Grim Reaper. The Fallen Angels and the devils would at least be willing to listen to her. They'd ignore a human like him. "She'll join us afterwards if Esdeath isn't dead by then." It should take Bennia longer than five minutes to get them out to safety. "Sensei gave her the responsibility of taking the shroud, bracelets and circlet back to her if I fall."

"Fine, when do we start?"

Tatsumi glanced out the diner window. The sun had finished setting. "We start now."

~o~

Tatsumi stood just outside the large condo where Esdeath was said to be hiding. The intersection was just as busy as he knew it would be. It was right in the very center of Kuoh Town after all. Cars honked their horns and flashed their lights as they waited impatiently for those in front of them to make the lights while pedestrians crowded the sidewalks.

It needed to be cleared and Tatsumi had just the way to do it.

Tatsumi's plan to clear the intersection was simple, yet ingenious. Anything Bennia carried on her person was just as invisible to regular humans as she herself was, such as the large two duffle bags she had slung over her shoulder that were designed to look as suspicious as possible complete with timers sticking out of the zippers. One had a real bomb in it, while the other was a fake.

Bennia glanced across the street to him when she reached the spot Tatsumi had pointed out to her on the way here. He nodded and she dropped the duffle bag with the real bomb in it and started back towards him, floating over the cars. She didn't even make it half way across the street before the screams started. There was a stampede on the other side of the street as everyone started to push and shove each other to get as far away from the duffle bag as possible.

Tatsumi waited until everyone was far enough away to avoid the blast zone before he pushed the trigger on the switch. The street shook as an explosion rocked the far side, sending bits of concrete and steel scattering across the intersection. The screams went shrill and tires squealed as the drivers broke every law in the book to get as far away as possible.

No one had died though and the explosion would bring the police in a hurry. They would section off the street and make sure no one got close, cars or pedestrians. To make sure the cordoned area was large enough though, he wanted the police to feel there was more than one bomb.

"Drop it Bennia," Tatsumi said to the little Grim Reaper as she reached this side of the street.

He turned and headed towards his destination. Moments later more screams picked up around him as the second bomb became visible. That second bag would ensure that the front of the condo was cleared out. Sirens were already kicking up in the distance as he entered the condo.

Bennia joined him as he swiped the card Mine gave him on the reader at the front and entered into the lobby. He didn't bother with the elevator and instead took the stairs down to the basement. It was empty this late at night which was a bonus. Tatsumi made his way over to the storage room and to a particular storage closet. He used a key to unlock the grate and stepped inside. There was a small pile of boxes shielding a metal hatch in the floor. It opened silently on well-greased hinges and revealed a lit tunnel going down into the earth.

He waited there for five minutes, just to make sure he didn't accidentally run into Esdeath coming up the hole to investigate the explosion and to give the police time to reach the intersection and start blocking things off. When the time passed he started down the ladder and into a small antechamber with a steel door. Tatsumi slowly crept up to it and beckoned Bennia to join him. This was the tough part. He knew the layout on the other side, but not where Esdeath was, or if she was even there. If she wasn't that would make things almost too easy, but Tatsumi knew better than to assume he was ever that lucky.

Bennia touched the door handle and turned to him waiting.

He took a deep breath. This was it. There was no turning back once he gave the signal. Tatsumi touched the circlet on his forehead and took a deep breath, settling his nerves. This had to be done just right.

He gestured for Bennia to start.

Bennia proved her strength right then. She didn't bother with a lock and key, she simply reefed on the door as hard as she could. It screamed in protest as its steel hinges warped and twisted. With a boom the door was ripped from its frame.

Tatsumi was through the door in an instant. The circlet on his forehead blazed with divine light and everything slowed to a crawl. At least that was how it appeared to Tatsumi when in actuality it was his own thoughts that had sped up by several magnitudes. It gave him plenty of time to analyze the room beyond.

He almost wished it didn't.

The room beyond was the stuff of nightmares. What had once been a large common room had been turned into a torture room that'd make even the most sadistic murderers sick to their stomachs. Humans hung from the ceiling by hooks, each in a different stage of having their skin flayed from their bodies. Wingless devils swam in pots of acid, desperate to escape even as the flesh melted from their bones. Broken fallen angels were stretched out along racks, their bodies carved open and pieces pulled out. And all that was just the beginning of what existed within here. Sobs of despair, cries of panic and screams of pain, the air was filled with their agony.

Devils, Humans, Fallen Angels, it didn't matter, to Esdeath they were all the same. An entire wall had been turned into a trophy wall where the wings of devils and the fallen were nailed to it. There was even a pair of pure white wings. Esdeath had gotten her hands on an angel at some point.

Hanging from the ceiling in the very center of the room was a large bird cage. Inside it was a naked young girl Tatsumi guessed to be about his age, if not a bit younger. Her sizeable bust made her seem older than her face suggested she was. Her blonde hair was a matted, ruin mess, slick with her own blood. Her face was a mask of pain and fear as Esdeath craned her head back painfully by a fistful of her yellow hair. There was a vicious looking spear of ice in her other hand, one that matched the four others that had already been rammed through the girl's body.

That had to be the Ravel girl Azazel had mentioned in his e-mail. Devil or not, no one deserved to be Esdeath's favored toy. She was Bennia's priority.

Aside from Esdeath there wasn't anyone else in the room. She was all alone, no allies. Most of those allies were probably stretched out on those tables. He needed hit Esdeath before she knew he was there. Move faster than he ever had before.

He needed speed.

Before his first step landed inside the room Murasame obeyed his summon, appearing in his hands.

More! He needed to move faster!

The concrete floor cracked beneath his first step. His muscles flexed, snapped, healed, grew stronger, and flexed again. The crack fractured, cratered and ruptured outwards. The air around him erupted in waves of white as he shattered the sound barrier. Through the slowed moment Tatsumi moved. His second step came down five feet further into the room. The floor ruptured and exploded beneath his step. The muscles in his legs snapped, healed and grew stronger yet again all in a single instant.

Another step, another crater.

Esdeath's head turned impossibly fast, her eyes widening first in shock and surprise, then in delight.

Faster!

The Tyrant shifted.

The floor shattered beneath him. The air screamed in agony as he rushed past it. Shock entered Esdeath's eyes a second time as Tatsumi appeared before her faster than the blink of an eye. Murasame howled through the air as it went for the kill, striking Esdeath in the very center of her chest.

It wasn't enough. Strands of ice that moved as fast as thought intercepted the blade and redirected it. Tatsumi still managed to knick her shoulder, but it wasn't the fatal wound he had been aiming for. Esdeath twisted out of the way as Tatsumi hurtled past her. He twisted in midair and slammed into the bird cage, the force of the impact crumbled the bars and forced them apart, wide enough for Ravel to escape.

With all his strength he launched off the cage and back at Esdeath bringing Murasame down upon her shoulder. An ice encased arm batted it away while she made to bring the other down upon him, the same one that she had been about to stab Ravel with. Tatsumi wasn't about to get stabbed by it.

"Ttaattssuummii!" Her words came out long and slurred to him in that slowed moment.

"I have no words for you, Esdeath," Tatsumi spat out as he pulled out a talisman from his belt. He pressed the talisman against Esdeath's chest. "Ignite!"

The talisman blazed with a divine light so bright it looked as if a miniature sun had suddenly bloomed on Esdeath's chest. The golden orb of light blasted off, slamming Esdeath through the ceiling with a thunderous boom and out through the basement and first floor of the condo, continuing on until it took her into the street where it exploded with a brilliant golden light.

That was the one time use item that Sensei had given him. Something to get Esdeath outside in the open where Tatsumi could deal with her properly.

Tatsumi deactivated the circlet and his thoughts flowed to normal. Across the room the heavy steel door Bennia had ripped from the hinges clattered on the floor. The entire exchange with Esdeath had happened in the span of a single second.

"Bennia! Get everyone out of here while I deal with Esdeath!" Tatsumi shouted at Bennia who started in surprise at where he suddenly was. Tatsumi turned to Ravel who just stared uncomprehendingly up at him with pain filled eyes. "Don't worry Ravel, it's over now. Just follow Bennia and she'll get you out of here. Leave Esdeath to me."

He turned from Ravel and stared up through the hole in the ceiling. Esdeath would be back in moments if he didn't get out there to meet her. It was time to start buying Mine that time she needed. The shroud around his body billowed out behind him as he activated it, transforming into two long gossamer wings similar to that of an angels, only these were a soft blue.

Tatsumi launched himself from the bird cage and flew up through the hole in the ceiling, shooting out into the street beyond. The bombs earlier had done their work. Sirens and bright lights were flashing all about the intersection as dozens of police cars blockaded it. The police here at Kuoh Town were quick and efficient. The intersection was already blocked off and no one was allowed without two blocks of where the bomb had been set off and the second one rested.

It looked as if they were getting ready to approach them bomb when Esdeath had been sent blazing out into the street. Now many of them were staring up at her as she floated above them, her eight black wings flaring out behind her proclaiming what she was to the world. A news helicopter was circling high above. Others started to point at him as he appeared as well.

"Looks like my days of incognito are over," Tatsumi murmured to himself.

"I was right to let you live Tatsumi!" Esdeath crowed loudly, her voice echoing about the intersection. "Excite me! Give me the excitement I crave! SCREAM FOR ME! BLEED FOR ME!"

Yup, there went his anonymity. He really hoped his mother wasn't watching the news right then.

Tatsumi didn't have any more time to think about that as Esdeath went on the offensive. Two streams of jagged ice rushed towards him at incredible speeds, freezing the very air with their passage. It was like total dominion, converting the very air itself into solid ice. Tatsumi dipped and swerved, narrowly avoiding the two streams, and charged for Esdeath. The streams of ice turned and screamed back towards him, chasing after.

Esdeath grinned and swiped her hand across in front her. The air she'd frozen with her streams of ice shattered into countless fragments of ice. Tatsumi hastily activated the circlet on his forehead. It blazed to life once more, creating the image of a glowing golden crown above his head.

Faster. Faster. Faster.

He became a blur of blazing golden light as he blasting straight up into the sky. The sound barrier shattered several times over as easily outdistanced the shards of ice. He twisted around and thundered back down towards Esdeath. She hurtled up to meet him, a wicked grin of excitement etched across her face. Her eyes were wild with lust and desire. The desire to see his blood staining her hands.

The two collided with a thunderous boom that rattled windows for miles. Golden light and blue ice clashed in a spectacular display of power and light. Tatsumi threw everything he had at Esdeath. Murasame flashed through the air, every second another strike, cut, or pierce. Esdeath parried and blocked everything he threw at her with a blade made of chilling ice. The air about them dropped a degree with every second he fought.

"Yes, yes, yes, YES!" Esdeath crowed in ecstasy as she fought him. She was enjoying this. "Those red eyes of yours! Those slits! I knew it! You're more than human!"

"Just die!" Tatsumi growled.

"After you," Esdeath smiled and shot backwards.

Shit! The streams of ice! "RHO AIAS!" Tatsumi roared as he slammed his hands together. The bracelets on his wrists blazed with a bright purple light and seven brilliant, multi-colored flower petals wrapped themselves protectively around him just moments before the streams of ice slammed into him. The ice felled him from the sky and plowed him into the intersection below. The asphalt cratered beneath Rho Aias and its protective barrier.

Tatsumi gasped in shock as pain tore through his body when the feedback hit. Rho Aias was a double edged sword in that it was an impenetrable defense that could stop any attack, but the wielder still took some damage from it.

This level of pain was manageable though. He forced it aside and climbed to his feet. He needed to act before the ice completely consumed Rho Aias. Esdeath had no intention of letting up until she broke through the barrier and Tatsumi had no intention of waiting.

Speed wasn't enough. He needed strength.

He would kill Esdeath no matter the cost! It didn't matter what happened to him so long as he protected everyone. Tatsumi glared at the ice. "I need power! Power enough to shatter that cursed ice!"

The Tyrant shifted again and overwhelming strength surged through his veins.

"Esdeath!" Tatsumi roared. The ground shattered beneath him as he launched himself from the crater. He dropped Rho Aias and punched his way through the thick ice. The ice crumpled beneath his overwhelming strength even as every muscle in his arm was torn to shreds wielding power it was never meant to contain.

Tatsumi didn't even notice the pain. He still had one good arm, that was enough to wield Murasame, enough to ram it through Esdeath's black heart. Esdeath was everything. She needed to die no matter what. She was a menace to all life!

"Tatsumi!" Esdeath roared excitedly as she saw him erupt from the ice.

"Esdeath!"

They crashed together again in a brilliant display of blue and golden light that sent a shockwave powerful enough to be felt across the breadth of the city and beyond. The two of them were locked, Murasame against her blade of ice, his knee held back by her free hand.

It wasn't enough. He needed to be faster.

He slammed his ruined hand into Esdeath's face, rocking it back. He could see the surprise in her eyes. She had not been expecting that. The surprise quickly changed to one of pure joy before she retaliated by slamming her forehead into his face. Pain flared across his face as he felt his nose crunch.

That strike hadn't been heavy enough.

He needed to be stronger.

Incredible strength surged through him once more. Tatsumi threw her blade away and spun in place, throwing a powerful kick at her side. He tore through the barrier of ice she raised to stop it and slammed into her ribs. He felt them creak dangerously. Esdeath blurred around to his side, moving almost too fast for him to keep up even with his enhanced thinking.

He wasn't fast enough!

Murasame disappeared from his right hand and reappeared in his left, upraised in a reverse grip to block Esdeath's strike. Tatsumi spun in place, narrowly avoiding a spear of blue light. Tatsumi slammed his other hand into the back of Murasame's blade, cutting through Esdeath's blade of ice. It wasn't enough to reach her afterwards.

He still wasn't strong enough! He needed to be faster, stronger.

Each time he needed to be more, the Tyrant responded.

Tatsumi and Esdeath blazed about the intersection at super-sonic speeds. Each of them a blazing trail of gold or icy blue light. They clashed countless times with thunderous results. Shockwaves erupted from them every time they clashed, shattering the windows of sky scrapers they got to close to. Gale force winds buffeted the people on the ground with every impact. They turned the sky above the intersection into a dazzling display of light and sound that disguised the brutal death match that was taking place.

He was so intent on ending Esdeath that he completely lost track of time. It wasn't until Bennia suddenly appeared at street level below that Tatsumi realized that the five minutes he was supposed to buy Mine had likely already come and gone. There was only one last thing to do, lock Esdeath in place long enough for Mine to hit her.

The next time they clashed Tatsumi suddenly shifted tactics and let Murasame disappear. Esdeath was so certain he'd attack her again that her reaction was slow by a fraction of a second. It was enough. White-gold wire was whipped out from a pocket in his pants, this one was thicker and more heavily blessed than the one before. Before Esdeath could adjust her movement Tatsumi darted about her, expertly flicking the wire around her, tying her up.

"What?!" Esdeath shouted in surprise.

"This is the end!" Tatsumi shouted as he yanked on the wire and turned Esdeath towards where Mine should be.

Tatsumi really hoped she hadn't left him to die.

His worry was unfounded as the moment he had Esdeath restrained Mine struck. An enormous lance of pink light streamed around the edge of the tall sky scrapper that blocked Mine from Esdeath's sight. Tatsumi had never seen anything like it before. The lance was easily twenty meters in length and all across it countless runic grids revolved around it making it look more like a beautiful work of art than a deadly attack.

Esdeath recognized it.

"Mine!" Esdeath roared in outrage as the lance struck.

The timing was absolutely critical. The circlet blazed brighter than ever before, slowing everything down so much it seemed as if time itself stopped. Tatsumi watched and stared for what seemed like an eternity. The Lance tore through Esdeath's defense, pierced her clothes, punctured through her final icy defense. It wasn't until the broke the skin and started tearing through Esdeath's flesh did Tatsumi let go of the wire.

"Rho Aias!"

The world disappeared, consumed by a pink inferno. There was no sight, no sound, no feeling. Nothing at all. Tatsumi felt as if he was floating in a pink void. He didn't know how long it was. It felt like an eternity, and at the same time a single moment of time. It was almost peaceful. There were no worries here, just absolute emptiness.

Reality rudely stuck its face into his life was he slammed into the asphalt hard enough to shattered yet another section of the intersection. All his senses came rushing back with a deafening roar. His nose was filled with the scent of burning ozone, his skin prickled like electricity danced across his skin. Screams and shouts mixed in with a roaring inferno and the shattering of glass reverberated through his skull. The coppery taste of blood filled his mouth.

Blood was soaking through his pants. Only three petals of Rho Aias still remained, and he had taken the feedback from the destruction of the others. He knew he should be feeling the pain, but there wasn't anything. He was probably so hopped up on adrenaline you could cut him in half and he wouldn't feel it.

As the pink inferno subsided and disappeared, a hushed silence filled the area. Was the battle over? No one wanted to say anything.

Tatsumi slowly picked himself up from the ground, sending pieces of asphalt and glass cascading from his form. He needed to check to make sure Esdeath was dead. That should have killed her. As tough as she was, that was a direct hit with an incredibly powerful attack. It had to have been enough. He threw himself into the air and quickly flew up to where he and Esdeath had tangled together. He scanned the street for the blue haired ice demon but couldn't find anything. He raised his gaze and scanned the area. His sight landed on a large hole in the side of the condo building the entire thing had begun in.

Esdeath was slowly making her way back outside.

"Oh come on, what the fuck does it take to kill you?!" Tatsumi screamed up at the blue haired monster.

"I will never die Tatsumi!" Esdeath laughed triumphantly as she emerged from the ruined condo. Even if she wasn't dead, she was badly hurt. There was a large gaping hole in her chest that was covered with frost, frozen to prevent blood loss. Most of her clothes had been burned away, leaving her in nothing but a pair of blue-black panties. Her hair was singed and dishevelled and a small stream of blood trickled from her mouth. "I'll be right back to continue our fun! There is a nuisance I need to take care of first!"

Esdeath was gone, flying past him faster than she had ever moved during their battle together. She disappeared around the large sky scraper going for Mine!

"No!" Tatsumi roared as he whipped about and chased after her.

Speed, he needed move faster than ever before! As fast as he could in the old world! He couldn't lose Mine a second time! Not to Esdeath! Tatsumi urged himself on faster and faster. His body shifted as the Tyrant responded. Everything became a blur to Tatsumi. There was only Esdeath and Mine.

Tatsumi still wasn't going to make it! Esdeath was there already, a powerful spear of blue light blazing in her hands. Mine was already moving, ready to counter with her own, but even Tatsumi could tell there was a significant difference in power and quality. It wasn't going to be enough, Mine was going to die.

I don't care what happens to me! Just let me save Mine!

With his next thought he was burying Murasame into Esdeath's back. He didn't know who was more surprised, Esdeath at his sudden appearance, or Tatsumi that he had made it in time. It had happened so quick he hadn't time to properly position Murasame. It wasn't a fatal strike, but it was enough to save Mine. The two of them slammed through the roof of the building and continued on, crashing through six levels before they erupted out of the side of the building and slammed into the neighbouring one.

Tatsumi threw himself back as ice erupted all about Esdeath, freezing the entire side of the building and all the air around her. He quickly flew away, shooting back through the tunnel he and Esdeath had created. The shroud almost deactivated as an extreme wave of exhaustion rolled over Tatsumi, sending him tumbling to the rooftop beside Mine.

"God damn I'm tired," Tatsumi panted as he gasped for breath, each mouthful of wonderful air was equal parts blissful wonder and searing pain. The muscles in his back twitched and pulsated, sending shards of agony ripping across his body. As strange as it was, the shroud used his back muscles to control it.

But that didn't matter. At least he had saved Mine even if it had cost him the ability to continue fighting. It was taking everything he had just to stay conscious. All the items he used required an incredible amount of stamina. Using all three in conjunction was sapping all his physical and mental stamina very quickly. It was why he had ten minutes at most.

The extra strain he'd placed on his body by forcing it past its limits had decreased that time limit. He was well past it now. The speed and strength he had displayed against Esdeath was far beyond what he should have been capable of. His body was paying that price now. Every muscle was torn and his bones felt like they were on the verge of breaking.

"How the hell is that bitch still alive?!" Mine screamed in frustration. She rounded on him, her eyes blazing with fury. "Did you hold her properly?"

"I held her until the spear pierced her skin or did you fail to notice the giant hole in her chest? If I had held any longer I'd be dead," Tatsumi snapped back. He forced the Shroud of Longinus to activate again and took to the air. Pain savaged his body but he pushed through it, now wasn't the time to worry about his condition. "You're the one who said you could kill her if you hit her. Well you hit! But she's still alive!' Tatsumi wasn't in the mood to take her shit. He had bought Mine the time she needed and their plan had completely failed. He wasn't going to be able to last against Esdeath any longer.

"Oh, are we having a lover's quarrel?" Esdeath asked as she slowly rose above the edge of the rooftop. She was very obviously hurt, there was a second frozen hole in her chest where Tatsumi's Murasame had pierced her right below the first, but no matter how hurt she appeared it didn't seem to be slowing her down in the slightest. This was getting ridiculous! "I'm jealous Mine, I saw Tatsumi first. He's mine. I won't let you have him." A sick grin came to her lips. "I'm going to have to ask you to die here. I can't have you tainting my wonderful Tatsumi."

"Did your sensei give you any other tricks you can throw at her?" Mine asked him quietly.

"I thought you called her insane for lending me what I currently have!"

"I did, and I still think I'm right. But right now I'm glad she is, and I hope she's even more insane than I thought!"

Unfortunately Tatsumi didn't have anything else to throw at Esdeath. He had already given it everything he had and came up short. It was taking all he had to just keep floating there. Maybe he could talk her down? He had seen a Talk no Jutsu ability once used in the Nura-tus show. Maybe he'll have some luck here? He was grasping at straws but anything was better than just waiting to die.

"Just give up Esdeath. The only way you're going to kill Mine is over my dead body! I don't think you have it in you to take us both out before reinforcements get here."

"Reinforcements? I don't believe you, Tatsumi."

"Who do you think lent me all this stuff?" Tatsumi asked, picking at his new clothing and the shroud. "Sensei is far more powerful than I, so powerful I can't even comprehend what she's capable of."

"Is that so?" Esdeath started to laugh. "Nice try Tatsumi, but I wasn't born yesterday." Her grin became wicked again. "I think I'll call your bluff." She raised her hand above her head a dozen spears of blue light came into existence. "I'm going to end Mine right here and then have fun with you for a long time, Tatsumi."

Before she could launch the spears of light a massive ball of flame slammed into her from the side, erupting into an enormous explosion that consumed the entire side of the building. A powerful gust of superheated wind almost knocked Tatsumi from the sky.

"Who dares!?" Esdeath roared. There was a surge of power and the flames were snuffed out.

"I, Ravel Phenex, dare!" Tatsumi's head snapped up to the feminine voice to see the young blonde-haired girl he'd saved earlier floating above them. Tatsumi expected to see a pair of black devil wings sprouting from her back but instead there were a pair of fiery wings not unlike that of a phoenix her name resembled. She floated there, trying her best to look as regal as possible. It might have worked had the torn pink sheet she wore about her body not spoiled the entire look.

((I won't let you kill Tatsumi)) Bennia added as she floated down as well, her reaper's scythe held at the ready in her hands. ((You're weak now. I think I can hit you. Would you like to try surviving this?)) Bennia asked, pointing her scythe at Esdeath.

Esdeath glanced between the four of them and scowled darkly for a moment before strangely letting out a small chuckle. The chuckle grew in volume until she was laughing uproariously. "Oh Tatsumi, will we never have that battle we truly crave? Just you and I with no distractions, no interruptions and no outside interference." She stopped laughing and gave him an almost loving smile. "Just stay there Tatsumi, and watch as I rid us of these distractions—"

Suddenly an unbelievable surge of energy so intense even normal humans could feel it washed over them. It was so powerful the temperature of the air of the entire city dropped by several degrees. That cold chill felt familiar, like the arctic north. Whatever it was, the power was easily on par with his Sensei and the rage… Tatsumi could feel the rage within it, like tiny pinpricks crawling across his skin.

Esdeath's smile disappeared in an instant as she threw a concerned look over her shoulders. "Tsk, she's far too quick. It seems I'll have to wait for another day. We will meet again, Tatsumi. I promise you that." With one last laugh she shot away, disappearing into the distance.

The enormous surge of energy shifted direction and gave chase but from the way it felt, Esdeath had too much of a lead. Right then, Tatsumi really didn't care… Esdeath was gone.

"Heh… heh… did we actually win?" Tatsumi asked as he slowly settled atop the roof.

"We made Esdeath run, that's more of a victory than I can honestly say I've known anyone to get on her," Mine said as she collapsed to her knees as well. She threw him a sidelong look, her eyes lingering overly long on his. "Those red eyes, those slits… you're not a regular human, are you?"

Red eyes and slits? That sounded like the eyes of the Tyrant. "No, I'm probably not."

She let out a weak chuckle. "Heh, it actually wasn't half bad working with you."

Tatsumi stared at Mine in shock. Did she just compliment him? Well, for Mine that would be considered a compliment. And she hadn't run either when her attack had failed to kill Esdeath. Maybe this Mine was more like the one he knew than he had originally thought.

"And for a Fallen Angel, you're not half bad either—" Tatsumi gasped as he felt something tear inside his lungs. He grasped his mouth as blood rushed up his throat and spurted out between his fingers. "Fuck… shit… body… I need help…" Tatsumi gasped as he collapsed on the rooftop. His mind was afire even as his body started to go cold. Every part of his body burned as if it was on fire even as overwhelming exhaustion crashed upon him.

He was so tired… he just wanted to sleep.

((Tatsumi! No! Don't die on me!))

That was the last thing Tatsumi heard before everything went dark.

Author's Note: Well, here it is! A real battle with Esdeath... sort of. It was also really difficult to write not because the words were hard to come by, but because there were too many words that wanted to come out. I could have easily doubled the length, and a great many people would probably have loved to see it. But at the same time, it would have diluted what there was and it just... didn't fit really. Sometimes the hardest thing for a writer isn't deciding what to write, but instead what not to.

Anyways, leave a review and let me know what you think of the chapter. I appreciate constructive criticism just as much as praise and pleas for more.

Note on Esdeath: Yup, still alive! And still the hardest bitch to kill in the entire god damn universe. Honestly I could have killed her off, but she's too good a villain to kill off so soon in my story. She'll be back and nastier than ever.

Note on Riser Arc: And this chapter is what I'm replacing the Riser Arc with. I hope you enjoyed it. Honestly I like it better than the overdone Rating Game.