No words could describe how proud Esdeath was of her Tatsumi. Although she had no doubt that he would successfully take control of his new teigu, seeing him post-transformation still astounded her.

"He has no idea how special he must be to take on such an incredible weapon" Esdeath realized. "The chance of compatibility for most ingrates is only one in a thousand."

She could not wait until Tatsumi's power overcame hers. To have her subordinate, apprentice, and above all else lover overtake his mistress was one of Esdeath's ultimate fantasies.

She entered patient room 11 in the medical center just outside the palace. First she noticed Tatsumi sitting up on his bed, gazing out the window. She stepped closer to sniff his hair and pinch his cheek, her boots clacking on the white tile floor.

"Ow!" Tatsumi yelped.

Esdeath's heart warmed a little more, and she decided to let him know that.

"I love it when you scream for me, baby."

Esdeath watched amusedly as Tatsumi's face reddened and he turned his head back to the window.

"Esdeath, I'm confused."

"About what?"

Tatsumi played with the blankets in his hands for a moment, and then relaxed his shoulders.

"I mean, what the hell happened back there?" he asked. "I know you said the teigu would choose me if I was the right user for it, but..."

His confused expression deepened, his hands clenching to fists.

"...that teigu tried to kill me. But after yelling at it or something, it stopped. Wh-why... what... this whole teigu thing makes no sense, it's so weird."

Esdeath realized that she had never given him a clear description of what his teigu was. Her chest sank with guilt, but again rose with pride.

"He was able to dominate the teigu without even expecting what it would try to do to him" she realized. "This shows how strong he inherently is.

She sat on the foot of the bed, caressing his toes through the white duvet sheets.

"Tatsumi, I must apologize. I sent you into a room with one of the most dangerous teigu without telling you it would attempt to possess you" she observed his handsome jaw drop. "But you must understand, I was so excited by the prospect of you taking this teigu that I completely forgot that you were ignorant of this information. I know, it is a poor excuse. But please forgive me, you are one of the few people I do not want angry with me."

Tatsumi stared down at his knees. After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Just tell me about the teigu. I need to know what the hell this thing is that's inside my own body."

Esdeath sighed. She knew he must still have his misgivings for her because of this. It was no matter, she reasoned. She would make all his doubts disappear... when he was ready.

"Your teigu is very powerful." Esdeath explained. "It is a variant of my teigu, the Demon Extract. It is made of the synthetic life force of the demonic danger beast of old, Scar mixed with the blood of the very same beast. When drunk by one with great strength and power, it will align itself with the user as a dog allies itself with its master. However, it always tests it's drinker before allowing itself to be controlled. It attempts to drive it's drinker to madness, taking advantage of any weaknesses in the individual's spirit, unleashing Scar's wrath on the person. That is what happened to you in the vault."

"You said that this... teigu is a variant of yours. How is mine different?"

Esdeath remembered fondly Tatsumi's distinct change after the teigu accepted him. The silver hair, glowering hazel eyes, bright blue veins underneath his face, especially the ruthlessness in his aura reflected the increased potential he now had thanks to the teigu. But what she remembered most were those... tentacles, those misty vectors that seemed to be made of frost.

"Your teigu... it's all very mysterious, there is little information in our archives of this weapon. Your teigu seems to transform the user upon activation. You... looked so... powerful, like you could destroy the world. I haven't felt an aura like yours in so long back there."

"So you don't know much about it."

"No."

Tatsumi sighed. He watched the birds outside bounce and chirp about some more. Then to his surprise his head suddenly hit the pillow behind him.

"Just imagine how much fun we'll have with you looking like that..." Esdeath rasped in his ear. "...in bed."

"L-lookin' like what?"

Esdeath straddled his waist, hands on his chest.

"Seeing you transformed made me feel so..." She leaned in again. "...hot"

Tatsumi struggled to escape from her hold, exciting her even more.

"Yessss" she sighed.

"Esdeath."

"Doesn't this feel so arousing Tatsu-bunny?"

"Esdeath, we have more pressing things to talk about."

"Oh, yes, we can speak of things that excite my heart even more or we can relieve that arousal right now."

Esdeath dragged her tongue along his neck to his ear, scraping her teeth against his earlobe.

"Remember what we talked about two nights ago, Esdeath?" She heard Tatsumi ask.

She moved her hand away from his throat and sat on her knees next to him on the bed.

"I see" she answered. "In that case we should improve on our communication. When you feel ready..."

She caressed his leg over the cool sheets.

"Tell me."

Esdeath watched with amusement as Tatsumi, red faced, cutely nod his head.

"Anyway, I will answer your inquirement about your transformation only if you allow me to pleasure my own body as I explain."

Tatsumi suddenly looked up to Esdeath's face.

"Wh-what the hell is wr-"

"I can't tell you without relieving this- tension in my sexual organs."

"Never mind, forget it."

...

Tatsumi scrutinized the table as discreetly as possible, his gaze quickly moving left from right.

"The blue one looks normal enough" he observed. "So does the girl with the fat dog. But everyone else looks like a bunch of weirdos."

Esdeath's special police force, the Jaegers, sat at the ornate hickory table, the lamination glistening from the afternoon sun through the skylight. A meeting was called that day for the Jaegers to meet Tatsumi.

"Jaegers, I would like you to get acquainted with Tatsumi" Esdeath proclaimed. "He is to join your ranks. He is the proud master of the Demon Extract Mark II, an exceptional warrior, and my Tatsu-bunny."

Tatsumi attempted to hide his reddened face with his sweater.

"He doesn't look too tough to me" claimed a monotone voice.

"T-T-Tatsu-bunny?!" snickered another.

"He is also my partner in love. If anyone harms a hair on his head outside of training I will personally operate on you in my torture chambers" he heard Esdeath say, welcoming his comrade's silence.

He gasped in surprise as his head was pulled from its shelter by the hair.

"Show everyone your sexy face, Tatsu-bunny" crooned Esdeath.

"BRAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA-"

CRACK

A frozen stake punched through the table, it's tip inches from a young man's face.

"Another outburst from you Wave and you will be gasping for air through your eye socket" Esdeath threatened.

Wave immediately groveled on his knees, apologizing to Esdeath and sobbing.

"She must be a scary leader for that asshole to be crying like that" Tatsumi thought.

"Hello Tatsumi, my name is Seryu, it is a pleasure to meet you, fellow warrior for justice" a girl introduced herself, standing from her seat, carrying a dog in her arms.

"H-hello" Tatsumi replied.

A man in a gas mask stood up, his huge muscles flexing underneath his arms.

"Uh-I am Bols... I don't really talk to well with strangers..." His voice trailed off into a light mumble.

An expressionless girl raised her hand, a small cookie in her mouth.

"Kurome" she deadpanned "That is my name."

Her hand lowered and grabbed a canvas bag on the table.

"You can't have any."

Tatsumi didn't know what to think. He never met a group of people with such quirks and different personalities. Raising his hand in a greeting gesture, he stammered a hello.

"The young man who now has extra kitchen duties is Wave. He won't bother you anymore if his attacks on your precious head continue" explained Esdeath.

"I wasn't attacking him, I just thought it was funny that you call him..." Wave whined, and began to snicker. "TATSU-BUNNYYYY!"

A block of ice pushed Wave out the door, sending his arms and legs frozen against a wall in the hallway.

"You are to stay there for three days and nights to think about what you have done" stated Esdeath. "If you complete your punishment quietly, you will finish all the KP chores that have been left unfinished for you from those three days."

To Tatsumi's surprise, Wave stayed silent and lowered his head.

"Yes General."

Tatsumi couldn't help but feel pity for the boy. Staying completely still against a wall for three whole days seemed torturous, and from Wave's reaction, it seemed that he was used to such treatment. However, Tatsumi's first impression of Wace was less than stellar and he refused to forgive him.

"There are two more Jaegers for you to meet, their names are Run and Stylish. However, they are away on a mission as of now, you will have to become acquainted with him later" Esdeath told Tatsumi.

She then looked to the remaining Jaegers. "This meeting is now dismissed. A patrol is scheduled for tomorrow at seven am. You may all do as you wish until then."

Bols, Kurome, and Seyru rushed past them, unsettled by Wave's predicament. Esdeath grabbed Tatsumi by the hand and led him out to the hall, not giving Wave a single glance.

"Are you always like that to your subordinates?" Tatsumi asked.

"Only to the brash ones. Such immaturity cannot be tolerated in the ranks of any military force, and Wave knows that. Yet his outbursts continued so he was punished severely. That is all there is to it" answered Esdeath.

Tatsumi thought a moment, then spoke.

"Would you punish me if I was bad, Esdeath?"

"Of course. Although you are my lover showing favoritism and refusing to discipline you would only spread dissent through the ranks."

Tatsumi's heart sank slightly.

Her grip on his hand tightened.

"Oh... I see what you are saying now" she said grinning. Licking his ear, she continued "I didn't know you were into such things, Tarsu-bunny. We are truly made for each other, aren't we?"

Tatsumi's heart sank even more, contrasting with a swelling sensation in his crotch.

"T-that's not what I meant!"

She continued to lead him to the training yard, Tatsumi denying any masochistic feelings for her the whole way. After a few minutes' walk, they reached their destination.

"The grounds are unusually empty today, as I have reserved the area for my Tatsumi time" Esdeath proclaimed as they entered the training yard.

"I don't think you told me what we are doing here" stated Tatsumi.

Esdeath unleashed a grin that both aroused him and sent shivers down his spine.

"Oh, you'll find out."

A large icicle shot towards Tatsumi, which he barely dodged.

"Hey, what th-" his complaint was interrupted with another icicle, this time forming above him.

Tatsumi rolled out the way and drew his sword.

"Oh, I see" he realized with a grin. "We're training."

A smaller stake of ice projected to his stomach, which he promptly swung away with the flat of his sword, only to leave him open to another stake vectored for his head, which he leaned out the way from.

"Stop dodging, Tatsu-bunny" scolded Esdeath. "You are no longer a normal fighter, utilize the teigu, unleash the demon inside of you!"

A ball of ice the size of a wooden cart rushed to him, which he barely ran out the way from.

"I'm getting bored Tatsumi, stop running! Impress me!"

Esdeath's sudden bloodthirst surprised Tatsumi, he had never seen her like this.

"She was so sweet and sensual just a moment ago, what happened?" he quickly thought.

Large shards of ice shot forward in front of him. He managed to dodge the first three, but not without having his right shoulder grazed. A frozen bowling ball punched into his stomach, knocking him three feet onto his back, his sword slipping from his hands. Four walls were summoned, boxing him in. Despite his eyes watering from the pain, Tatsumi noticed a large stake falling from above. It was going to land in the box and onto him; there was no way he could dodge.

"What the hell am I gonna do?!" Tatsumi panicked.

Arise

A familiar chilled heat arose from his spine, spreading through his back and to his fingertips. The cold returned. The burning cold was angered, blood was to be spilt.

Esdeath knew Tatsumi didn't consciously know how to summon his teigu. The only way she could get him to do so was to make him think he was about to die, then the demon in him would awaken instinctively to protect its master. The relationship of teigu and master was symbiotic, there was no way either would let the other die without reason. Seeing Tatsumi in his demonic form formed such an unfamiliar tension in her body. She knew she loved fighting strong opponents, but she had never lusted for one before. She devoured Tatsumi with her gaze, his vectors of frost suspending the stake that had unleashed his beautiful inner self, the demon that froze all. The one that impaled the living and violated the dead. The one who ravaged frigid earth with sword and spear in hand. The strength of his presence seemed to symbolize her hopes for him, his potential, his true inner strength, the violence he would soon learn to love. Her heart skipped a beat when his glowing hazel's swallowed her sky blues, his head unmoving.

"Your mistake" he rasped.

Esdeath barely had time to grin.

The box shattered shortly before Tatsumi was propelled towards Esdeath by his vectors. Her rapier barely parried his hand, enclosed in jagged ice, from piercing her throat. At the same time, his left hook was prevented from hitting her head by a block of ice. The ice cracked, and Esdeath flipped herself away, retreating from an enemy for what felt like the first time in her life. Tatsumi's misty vectors projected toward her, chilling the air around them. To Esdeath's surprise, the projections simply passed through her, as if she were air. She could read from the widening of Tatsumi's expression that he momentarily shared in her shock.

"What were you trying to do Tatsumi, penetrate me?" she taunted.

Tatsumi glowered in response.

"I'm gonna do much more than fuck you now."

"Oh?"

Tatsumi's entire body blurred. Esdeath's eyes widened, unsure of what just happened.

"Teleportation?" she wondered.

Her instincts screamed for her to turn around, but it was too late. She was pulled down to the ground by her hair, her back slamming into the wet sand beneath. A large icy block enclosed her waist to the ground. Expecting this, she punched the block, thinking it would shatter from the blow. However, it was left intact, and she realized she was trapped onto the sand, frost now beginning to form from the recent drop in temperature. The cold steel of Tatsumi's blade was felt on her throat and she relaxed, her adrenaline beginning to dissipate. Tatsumi stooped over her motionless body, his face emotionless. Her eyes followed the blue veins flowing down his face and neck, her breathing getting more and more labored from her lust.

"Your power... pleases me baby." she sighed.

She watched him stare her down, he seemed to trace his eyes down her curvaceous body, exciting her even more.

"Tatsumi, I don't know what you're doing, but I really like it."

His intent not showing on his face, he traced his blade down her middle until it hit the ice on her waist lazily, separating the fabric of her uniform in half, Esdeath watching him intently with her sultry grin. The next moment, Tatsumi was hit by a great ice pillar. To shocked to act, he flew back into the wall behind and struggled to move away. Esdeath's eyes narrowed in sharp satisfaction as he noticed the ice cuffs holding him in place against the cracked wall. Projecting small protrusions in all directions from her waist, she was able to smash herself free as the block shattered. She quickly stood up, hand resting on her hip.

"Don't forget, as of now, it is I who will dominate you" she proclaimed. "If you want to control me, you must force me to submit to your will through your sheer power."

Tatsumi tried to force his hands and feet through his frozen shackles, but they wouldn't budge. Grimacing, the veins in his head glowed brighter. After a brief struggle, he managed to crack his left cuff.

"I am much more experienced with my Extract than you are with yours. Consequently, my ice is stronger. You cannot hope for escape now" Esdeath explained, slowly striding to her prey.

Her words seemed to sink in, and Tatsumi relaxed his muscles. The new light in his veins faded, the deeper blue returning.

"That's a nice bra Esdeath" he stated.

Esdeath's grin widened.

"And if it weren't for your blade, you wouldn't be seeing it. That fact is one of the many reasons I am so... sweltered for you right now" she replied. "It was not just your blade either, if I wasn't holding back, it would be you flashing what's under your clothes right now."

Tatsumi rewarded her with a sly smile.

"I can believe that."

Esdeath held her rapier to his throat.

"You have lost, admit your defeat."

"You got me, ice queen."

She slowly sheathed her sword as the light from his veins fully dissipated, and his brown eyes flooded with green again. His silver hair began to slowly fade to his natural brown.

"I sure have, my ice king."

Esdeath caught Tatsumi in her arms as he fell from the wall, his cuffs now gone.

"Despite the fact that this was a relatively short training session, I am more than satisfied by the rapid growth of your new abilities" she whispered in his ear.

"I could do another go, I think" Tatsumi whispered back.

"No, it is better that you rest. New teigus can be unpredictable and sufficient rest is invaluable when learning to use a one."

"Fine" he sighed, relieved for the deep gurgling in his head to be silenced.