Chapter 6: Kill The Ally?

The members of Night Raid sat around the large table, the messenger hawk which Chelsea had sent perched in the nearby cage, the small scroll held shakily in Najenda's hands. She read it to herself, then reread it again to see if the words were true and not forged lies. She sighed and tossed the paper into the fire, some of the members gasped, some awaited the news eagerly. Najenda only sat there, taking a drag at her cigarette and staring at the fire, tossing her own cigarette into the flames, she had lost even her cravings after reading the scroll.

"What does it say ?!" asked Leone, leaning in closer as if reading the ashes of the scroll

Najenda only shook her head "Good news first ... Tatsumi is alive

There was general sighs of relief, some laughed and grinned widely as they rose from their seats, their comrade was still alive. His death no longer a reality, even Mine broke out in tears. Akame however, although glad and lightly smiling herself, she remained calm and awaited the second portion of the news, a small shadow filling her heart, the news would not be good and she knew it.

Lubbock grinned "What's the other half Miss Najenda ?"

She did not return his grin "Take your seats, it's rough"

"Rough ?" Mine said, sitting down again

Najenda nodded, trying to sculpt the words in her head "Tatsumi .. Is with Esdese now"

"With her ?" Akame mused

"He ... Smiles a lot around her apparently, that he has also become a Jaeger member and will not likely return to us"

Leone snarled "What did that blue haired bitch do to him ?"

Najenda shook her head "I believe ... He may be there of his own free will..."

Lubbock shook his head "I know this Esdese chick is hot ... but why would he betray us like this ?"

"Could it be a Teigu ?" Mine pondered

Susanoo shook his head "Tatsumi has been gone for almost a week, the capital is only a few hours from here"

Najenda cocked an eyebrow "What are you getting at ?"

"If a Teigu was being used of Tatsumi, they would have our location by now. We would be laid under siege the same day he did not return" said Susanoo

Akame coldly spoke, only the faintest tremor in her voice "So Tatsumi has betrayed us of his free will"

Leone noticed the lone tear coursing down her friends cheek "Akame ..."

She shook off the tear and drew Murasame "If Tatsumi stands in our way ... I will be the one to finish him, we have lost comrades before he joined.."

Lubbock sighed aloud "But .. Tatsumi was certainly one of a kind, he was so happy and determined ... I just don't see why. Even if it's love..."

Najenda decided another cigarette was needed "Love is ... well..Hard to control, Lubbock. But I can't help but feel Tatsumi still despises the capital"

Mine sneered "So do we capture him and brainwash him into joining us again ? We can't just wait for some slim chance that he is helping us"

Leone stood up, heading for the door "I won't be involved in his assassination ... I refuse to fight him, so long as there is a slim chance for him"

Lubbock stood likewise "I agree with Leone, we cannot treat him as an enemy until he kill one of our own...He is innocent until he aids the capital, we cannot kill him just because he is in love with Esdese ..."

The two stormed out of the room, splitting off down the hallway to their quarters, not looking back as they left. Mine buried her face in her hands and wept, Akame sheathed her blade and sighed, anther tear coursing down her cheek, Najenda planted her cigarette on the hardwood table and groaned, exasperated by the entire situation. She paused then looked up to Akame, a plan in mind.

"Can you check on Leone, try convince or at least have her understand how dire this situation truly is" Najenda asked

"And Lubbock ? What about him ?" Akame replied

Najenda lightly smirked "You will have more difficulty with Leone than I will with Lubbock"

Mine composed herself and began polishing Pumpkin "And Chelsea, what shall we order her to do next ?"

Najenda bit her lip "She must assassinate any of the other Jaegers as she sees fit, Tatsumi is to be left alone until we decide as a group"

Mine nodded "I'll send the hawk at once"

Esdese slipped out of her towel and stepped into the hot tub, sighing as the hot sensation crept up her body and reminded her of similar sensations that morning. She wanted to be with Tatsumi now, but he was in the bathhouse next door, all alone and unsupervised, how could she be with him ?. She froze, smirked at her idiocy, then ran out the door and burst into the room next door, Tatsumi squeaked and covered himself up, then relaxed slightly when he realized it was only Esdese who had burst down his door, noticeably stark naked.

"What are you doing here ..." He said Exasperated, his failure in hiding his blush made her grin wider

"I decided I'd have a bath with you, if you don't want me then I'll go and bathe with Wave or Ran perhaps ..."

Tatsumi twitched "Get in ..."

She giggled, she had learned how jealous Tatsumi could be, but she only loved him more for it "Thank you kindly"

She climbed into the bath, then climbed on top of him, her chest pressed to his. He recoiled back at the sudden mounting and sneered

"I've still got bruises from ... uh ... well you know. I don't think I can handle another run Esdese ..."

She smiled warmly and submerged her hand beneath the surface of the water, and gently stroked, leaning in to his ear and pouting cutely

"Can I not please you ? It can all be about you Tatsumi" her teeth biting down on his neck, ever so gently

He shuddered, the good kind "Do whatever you think is right!" He murmured, hypnotized.

He moved to his other ear, her tongue trailing her lips. She whispered seven words that in most cases would be combat, training or exploring related. Certainly not something used between a man and a woman in their private moments, she leaned in closer and repeated the phrase again. Her hand cradling him beneath the soapy water.

"I can hold my breath for minutes" she whispered

"Eh ?!" He replied shocked

Esdese submerged into the water, leaving Tatsumi alone above the surface, he was about to dive under with her when her intentions became more than clear, Instant arousal rushed to meet him as she worked under water magic on her man. He was worried she would swallow too much water, but she would rise to the surface, take a deep breath and dive back down, her mouth wrapping about himm driving his head back against the wall tiles, his eyes slanting shut with pure bliss and relaxation. He certainly did not regret letting her into the tub now.

Akame lightly tapped on Leone's door, then opened it slowly when there was no reply. Leone lay on her bed, face down against her pillow, her shoulders shaking lightly. Akame closed the door behind her and took a seat on her bed next to her, her hand instinctively reaching for the plate of food at her bedside table. She drew back her hand when Leone laughed lightly

"Go on ... Have it, I'm not hungry anymore"

Akame finished the plate in a few seconds and sighed "Under stress like this, I like to eat ... more than usual"

Leone turned her head slightly, cocking an eyebrow "You don't seem stressed at all, you are all ready to go out and kill him after all ..."

Akame did not show Leone how much that hurt her, she only shook her head "I...Well..."

Leone shook her head "No ... I'm sorry Akame, you of all people are probably feeling the most stress over this, you helped induct him after all"

Akame nodded to herself "I hide it well ... sometimes I cry, sometimes I'm not the strong one of this organisation ..." she trembled, holding back tears

Leone was up in an instance, her arms around Akame "It's okay Akame ... We don't have to kill him to we ?"

She pressed her face to the blondes shoulder and spoke through tears "I...I don't know ... but if he has betrayed us, what do we do ?"

"We won't know that for sure ... not yet at least"

Akame wiped at her eyes, the wetness was foreign to her often "My instincts want me to kill him, but my heart wants to forgive him ..."

Leone bit her lip "I know something that might ease those decisions, open that draw there"

Akame opened the draw the to bedside table, a decent sized bottle of aged alcohol sat, covered in a thin coat of dust. Leone swiped it from her hand, pulled the cork with her teeth and added a double finger into two cups, passing one to Akame.

"Let's just drink for a little while ... talk about other things, Boss will sort this mess out, then we will follow her orders"

Akame hesitated, then took a sip of the alcohol "cheers ..."

Lubbock sat in the small hammock chair opposite his bed, he had weaved it a while back to pass the time, he had also weaved a flower, which he examined now, delicately out of his threads, it looked like a silver plated rose, that glistened in the lamp light. In his other hand he grasped a small tumbler of whiskey, his fingers spinning the rose around like a ballet dancer, he wanted to give the rose to Najenda, but as too nervous to do so. a small knock came at the door, he reached behind him and tugged a cable, pulling the door open and close. Najenda entered the room and hung her coat on the thread line that acted as a drying rack. She looked at him gravely, then found a small smile to greet him with, he felt he could walk across the sun with that smile in mind

"N..Najenda...I mean .. Boss!" he stumbled

She smirked "You and I have known each other longer than the others, Najenda is fine, Lubbock"

He nodded "Yes ... right ...uh yes! what can I do for you ? A mission ?"

She shook her head, her smile broadening "Well ... I wanted to talk about Tatsumi, but mainly because Mine and Susanoo have been sent off to complete a small errand outside HQ, trip wires were activated, nothing serious I gather... So I wanted to ...talk I guess you would say"

"O...Of course! take a seat" He flicked a finger and pulled a chair forward with twine precision

She yawned and rolled up her right sleeve, unclipping braces "Do you mind if I take it off ? It gets sweaty ..."

'Take it off ...' the three words rang in his mind like a perverted melody "Uh... By all means! Najenda"

She placed the large prosthetic on the table and rubbing delicately at the stump "Much better"

Lubbock loved spending time with her, but he knew she had a point being here "You want to know what I think about this whole Tatsumi shit right ?"

Najenda nodded "If you don't mind ..."

He sighed "I think he is still on our side, but also on their side ... he might want to try mediate between us and the Jaegers and find a way to overthrown them minister, but who knows ... It's all so risky"

Najenda nodded "You are indecisive as to what we should do then ?"

Lubbock shrugged "More or less ... It's not like I had a female fan club like he did"

Najenda sneered "That better be a joke, mister"

Lubbock shrugged again "It is and it isn't, there's something about Tatsumi that I wish I had ..."

"Mojo ?"

"If such a thing exists ... I WANT ALL OF IT !"

Najenda rolled her eyes "You don't need Mojo, Lubbock. If you really want to lay with a women whom you like, all you need to do is just ask .. Don't fear rejection or ridicule"

He laughed, almost sarcastically "She's out of my league ... I'm not exactly a strapping knight in armor"

"Ohh is that so ? Who's this woman you fancy ?" Najenda jested

Lubbock blushed "It does not matter ... really, uh ... What about you ? Don't you have someone you like, you could have any guy in the revolutionary army if you wanted!"

She placed her finger to her mouth and thought "That's very true, I had not thought about it like that, I'll go see who interests me. Thank you Lubbock"

He felt his heart falter "Uh...Yeah sure, any time"

"Thanks for the talk, you are a great friend" Najenda smiled

He nodded, ignoring the pain in his heart "We leave Tatsumi for a few weeks, if we can cut their numbers down we must ... kill them all"

She nodded, seeing on his face what he hoped to hide "Is something the matter, Lubbock ?"

He recoiled "What couldn't be wrong ?"

"You seem angry ... no ... sad ?"

He turned away and began fiddling with strings and knots "I'm fine, thank you boss"

'He called me boss, something is bothering him ... Maybe I should not wait...no ... its better if I wait til later' Najenda thought, her face blue

Wave flipped the fillet in the pan, the crackling sound of oils herbs and spices baking into the fish was almost nostalgic to him, a reminder of his days in the navy, but perhaps even deeper than that, the days standing next to his mothers legs as she prepared dinner for the family. Bols may be an excellent cook, but Wave believed himself to be a master chef when it came to seafood, and by the hungry glaze on Tatsumi's face, the others seem to agree likewise.

Wave brightened "You cook often ?"

Tatsumi nodded "I cooked for Night Raid and back in my old village, no one seems to like helping however ..."

Wave nodded "haha you and I are more alike then I thought! I'm glad to have you aboard"

"It's nice to make new friends, especially when I'm with Esdese 24/7 haha..."

He cocked an eyebrow "The room is calm and quiet ... where is she ?"

Tatsumi grinned "At a meeting with the minister and Emperor ... those two" His grin darkened

"Why do you grin like that ... what are you thinking" Tatsumi could see that Wave was watching him cautiously

Tatsumi sighed "I'm here because I love Esdese and she loves me, I'm not here to serve a corrupt government"

Wave shrugged "Many people feel that the Empire is rather harsh ... but it is also fair is it not ?"

"For the rich yes ... The soldiers probably ... The poor ? The peasants ? No...It's hard out there" Tatsumi mused

"I never knew harsh times, I'll admit that. I'm from a fishing town up north, and fishing has always been plentiful and profitable, I'm sorry"

Tatsumi shook his head "No, it's fine ... as long as we all work together we can achieve a better future for this country"

Wave bumped fists "I'll work with ya! You are dating my boss after all ... how bad can ya be ?"

Tatsumi had the urge to tell him about all the Navy soldiers he has slaughtered, but he bit it back "What about you ?"

"Hmmm ?" Wave hummed

"Are you going to ask out Kurome ?"

Wave had been tasting the stock, it was now spraying from his mouth like a severed artery "W..W..WHAT!?"

"You think you're hiding it ?"

"W..Well ...I thought no on knew" Wave mumbled

"Perhaps no one does" Tatsumi said, with a sly grin

Wave sighed "I don't know man ... I don't know if I have the guts to ask her"

Tatsumi waved him off "You never know, you might die tomorrow and you might never know how she feels"

"you have to be persistent, only then will love flourish" Bols said from across the table

Tatsumi and Wave screamed in unison "AAHH BOLS !"

"AAAAH FRIENDS !" He replied frighteningly

Tatsumi sighed "We did not notice you come in... sorry" Tatsumi was wondering how such a large man could be so silent

Wave toyed with his fingers "uh ... how much did you..."

They could see Bols smiling beneath his mask "Enough to know your reluctance, Wave-kun"

Wave shuddered "What do I do ...How do I ask her"

"Ask who ?" Kurome asked from within the doorway

Bols, Wave and Tatsumi screamed in unison "AAAAH KUROME !"

she faintly blushed, as if knowing the answer "Esdese has returned Tatsumi, she requests your company"

"Where is she ?" he asked

"Board room, do you need me to show you ?"

"No ... She's likely to come looking for me before I start for her" He mused

And just as he predicted, Esdese was waiting in the hallways for him, her impatience bringing a smile his face. He approached her, his hands curving around her smooth cheek, leaning in to kiss. She gave in immediately, folding her hands behind him in a crushing grip that whooped the air from his lungs, his face pillowed by her chest. She smirked and let him loose, gesturing to walk with her. He gripped his hand around hers, their fingers tangling together like vines. A faint blush crossing her cheeks like fields of roses.

"How was your day ?" Tatsumi asked, stroking his thumb across her index

She warmed "Terrible, riots in down town, the minister reeks of meat and smelly brew ... The emperor says nothing without the ministers lips to his ears"

Tatsumi stiffened "You know you could change that ..."

She grinned wildly and elbowed his ribs "Not a word of that, or I'm likely to climb on top of you and hurt you"

He returned the grin and pushed her against the wall, his hand on her breast "Not likely, Esey. you owe me one, I'm likely to climb on top of you"

caressed where it felt good, she let out a shaky sigh, the flush on her cheeks more vivid now "Just ... Make sure no one hears that nickname"

He smirked, kissing her neck he whispered "It'll be our secret, Esey"

She pushed him back and carried on down the hall, a skip in her step "Don't get too comfortable with dominance Tatsumi, we know who holds the leash"

He shuddered and caught up "Yes mam ..."

"I did not call you to just hang out and potentially make savage love to you" she said

"But it's totally going to happen, right ?"

She elbowed him again "Information from the minister, things I should not be telling you, but I will"

"what news ?"

They stepped into the living room, where they had been caught out the day before, naked and exposed. Tatsumi saw the bear skin rug and blushed, good memories. He sat down and gestured for her to sit with him, instead she sat on him, it was no surprise. he sat back and yawned, the day had diminished and he was tired, he had spent most of the day lazing around the house, helping cook and reading up on Jaeger files in the archives. She leaned in and kissed, gently biting on his lower lip, her hand sliding up his shirt to his chest, her palm feeling the steady beat of his heart

Before arousal took over him he protested "T...The information, Esdese"

She sneered "Very well, what I heard from the minister"

"Yes"

"Night Raid have a spy in the city, the Teigu gives them the ability to disguise themselves as anyone they please"

"Chelsea ..."

"So you know her. I won't ask you for any information, unless you truly wish to help us"

Tatsumi shrugged "I would like to help you, but she is new to Night Raid, her Teigu is as you said. I'm not sure what else I know could help"

she understood his reasons and nodded " I figured as much, well ... if we find her, we will kill her, you know that right ?"

Tatsumi flinched but nodded "Yeah ... I figured that would be the case, but if she has her Teigu, it will be hard to do so" He pondered

Esdese gestured to her chest, the emblem black against her pale skin "I felt something this morning, as if she were nearby ... for you safety and to keep you dead, I'm not sure if you can walk freely outside the mansion, not until we know for sure"

He bit his lip "I figured something like this would happen, but what does it matter ?"

"What do you mean ?"

"I'm with you Esdese, I love you and I'm not going anywhere with Night Raid unless you join Night Raid yourself"

"You know I won't"

"I don't expect you two, but all I'm saying is that I'm with you. Whether or not if I'm alive or dead, I'm not leaving your side"

She caressed his neck, eyes filled to the brim with desperation "You ... You mean it ?"

"Yes" He said, without hesitation

She snuggled in closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder, watching the flames dance

"Do you wanna go to sleep ?"

she shook her head "Not yet ... Let's just relax like this, you make me happy, sleeping would only ruin this feeling"

"I think what I fear most, is going to the bed, and being dominated again ..."

She flicked his forehead "You like it though"

He laughed "Not a word to anyone, Esey"

She snarled and bit down on his arm, he yowed in agony, still managing a pained laugh, soon the both of them were laughing.

The sun had set, Akame and Leone passed out due to excessive drinking,Najenda figured Leone goaded Akame into drinking more, but they had all received more dire news that day. Mine had retired to her room, Susanoo had left Najenda to go hunting for the next days breakfast. And Lubbock, well, he was on the other side of this door, which she nervously waited outside. She finished her cigarette and gently knocked on the door

'what if he is asleep' she wondered shyly

but the door opened, Lubbock opened it, still fully dressed "Najenda ?" he yawned

she was glad to see her name used again, he was no longer angry or hurt by what she had said. She decided it was now or never.

She moved into the room, gripping his hands in her own, placing them on her hips "How about this ?"

He blushed brighter than tomato stew "W..W...WHAT.. AM I DREAMING!"

She hushed him "You told me I could choose whoever I like"

He nodded enthusiastically "I'm awaiting the moment I wake up ... any minute now!"

She held his head still and moved in, locking her lips with his own, moaning lightly "You awake yet ?"

He was struck silent "I thought you were going to ... you know ... decide on a man"

She snickered "I had you in mind long before you gave me the idea, you really aren't good at hiding things you know"

"Th...That means ..."

She pulled his face to hers again, this time the ferocity in her intimacy increased ten fold, her tongue doing all the convincing needed. They pulled apart and stood, breathing harder now. She removed her coat, and tossed it onto the desk. Pushing him onto the bed and climbing on his lap, her steel hand gently pinning him to the bed.

"It means good things for the both of us. I can't promise you a relationship or a future, but I can promise you that I will be intimate with no other man, you will be the one I go to when I'm in need ... and you will come to me when you are in need"

Lubbock grinned "Oh I'll always be in need"

She returned it and bit her lip "If that is your wish"

Lubbock gripped her waist "You know my feelings for you then..."

she nodded "Yes, I've known since you left the army to follow me, but that was only a hunch"

"What ... do they mean ? exactly ..." He asked nervously

She thought for a moment "They are important to me, I do like you. And no doubt they will grow over time, right now however I just want your company, is that enough ?"

He nodded "More then I could ever ask for"

"Then you will sleep with me ?"

"Who do you think you're asking ..." He laughed

She rolled her eyes "Of course, what was I thinking"

She unclipped the braces on her arm, slipping it off and letting it fall to the floor with a loud clunk. She removed the bandages from the stump of her arm, rubbing at the aching scar tissue. Lubbock swept her had aside, planting his kisses along the wounded arm, softly over the scar tissue, up her arm to her shoulder. She leaned down and met his lips with hers

"Most men shy away from the arm ..." she added shyly

"I like it, if you still had your arm, you would be too perfect to be real. It's a beautiful reminder to me"

She poked his forehead "I don't know if I should be offended or touched"

"Touched ... please"

She felt behind her, unzipping the back of her vest, letting it drop off her, exposing her naked breasts. Lubbock felt instant blood loss and a Wiley grin cross his face. She laughed, knowing full well he loved nothing more then the sight of them, she let him explore her eagerly, it felt good to be touched the way he proceeded. He kissed from her neck, trailing down her collarbone to the tips of hers breasts, his hands curving around her ass, pulling her closer to him as he kissed down her body. She unbuttoned his shirt with her only hand, a dexterous act that she carried out with a determined aroused stare. he reached for the eye patch, she shook her head

"Leave it on"

"Kinky" He laughed

"Shut up, I don't want to spoil the moment"

"It won't and you won't, let me see you completely"

She nodded to herself then removed the patch, her eye replaced with glass, it matched the color of her other eye, but unlike her real eye, this one did not tremble or dilate. He pressed his hand to her cool cheek, she moved it to her mouth, biting on his index finger and tangling her tongue around its tip. he exhaled, pleasingly.

"I've wanted you ... for so long" Lubbock whispered

She tore off his pants and stepped out of her own, standing in nothing but black lingerie "Then have me" She replied eagerly

Kurome had left the kitchen an hour before, Esdese and Tatsumi no doubt asleep or making the danger beast with two backs. Ran had come and gone, leaving Wave and Bols alone in the kitchen, cleaning the dishes and making small talk. Wave was worried about Tatsumi's past life and how it may affect their future, but he gave the idea no further thought, if not he would likely lose sleep thinking about it. What itched the back of his mind was something different however, something was not right.

Bols looked at him worriedly "Is something the matter ? Wave-Kun ?"

Wave shook his head "Something feels off, It's like my Teigu is on edge ... I don't know why"

Bols shrugged "Perhaps it is your feelings for Kurome, clouding your sense of ease"

Wave paused, scrubbed a dish then nodded "That must be it, you're right Bols"

Bols blushed, not that Wave could see it "Oh... thank you Wave-Kun, it does me well knowing I'm helping!"

Wave cocked an eyebrow "It's late Bols, why aren't you home with your family ? Don't tell me you two are having ... troubles ?"

Bols shook his head, passing a dryed dish to Wave, who turned to stack it away "No ... I left to go home hours ago, I left before Tatsumi and you had your conversation about Kurome"

Wave whirled, puzzlement on his face "Whaaa ?"

Chelsea, no longer Bols, stabbed the long needle into the base of his neck, severing through muscle, bone and nerve. Wave dropped the plate, his grip loosened, Chelsea leaned and caught it before it caused a commotion. Wave stumbled against the sink, blood spurting from the hole in both the front and back of his neck, the holes running red with his last life source. He collapsed against the sink, coughing and sputtering, his eyes dimming.

Chelsea leaned over and whispered "You are perhaps the most innocent of all the Jaegers ... I'm sorry you were enticed to join them, but you chose this path"

Wave reached out across the room, a portrait of Kurome hung on the wall. His hand fell away and darkness took hold.

Chelsea turned and flicked the stove off "Assassination complete, mission a success ... I'm sorry Tatsumi"

she darted out the door and into the busy streets, awaiting the next opourtunity to strike at the Jaegers.

Authors Note:

Thanks for waiting so patiently everyone! :P

I had a lot of School work which is now completed, passed and handed in.

So I had a sudden burst of freedom, which is always nice :D

What did you think !?

Chelsea is hitting them hard!

Najenda X Lubbock :D ?

Please review!

Thanks guys

~Phillip