Kill the Nuisances: Tatsumi 8(Part 1)

"Thanks to the Jaegers," the child emperor started, "The number of bandits near the Imperial Capital has drastically decreased—and Night Raid has kept a low profile as of late; They must be quite afraid of you. We are pleased with your work."

Esdeath, "Yes. Once I discover the location of their new base, they will be punished."

"We have the utmost faith in you, but sadly we haven't found a suitor who meets your criteria yet. Though I should mention the minister here does have an unmarried son! I hear he has potential."

"Your highness; as I stated in my report, the position has been filled. You didn't concern yourself further."

"But didn't you tell us that he had vanished without a trace? How can you have a relationship like that?"

"The pursuit has made me want him even more. It seems this love is unfamiliar to me."

"Huh! That's deep."

Honest, "Not as much as you think, Your Grace."

Dining Room:

The Prime minister and Esdeath were having a conversation. "You seem to have rubbed off on the emperor; he's been very interested in romance of late. I think he's well on his way to a life of corruption and debauchery. Hahahaha! My plan is to make sure the emperor enjoys the sweetest life possible."

Esdeath, "Just don't allow him to fall into any bad habits."

"Right. Anyway, I have a favor to ask of you."

"I'm listening."

"A new species of danger beast has appeared around the capital; I would like you to get rid of them."

"Yes, I know; I've already started investigating that for myself. Until recently, creatures like these only lived in forests and in the mines, but just days ago a few forced their way into a couple's home, and devoured the husband alive. The woman survived because something scared them off."

"I heard that—they're also said to better resemblance to human beings; we could have a lot fun with these new toys, yes. Great General Budou has ordered that they all be destroyed, but I would love to examine them."

"As you wish." She got up out of her seat, "After hearing how deadly they are, I don't think I can resist hunting them. I suppose I could catch two or three for you. Please forward the reward money to the soldiers I have stationed up North."

"You truly are a benevolent leader, aren't you, general?"

"Hm. A soldier is more likely to fight to the death for a commander he respects; and when you consider that idea, it's easy to see why my forces are considered the strongest in the nation."

"That's comforting. Please pick out a few feisty ones for me."

Dusk:

The two merchants I saved from the earth dragon were trying to avoid running into the new danger beasts. "Hurry up! We need to reach the capital before dark!"

"I know, I know, I'm trying! We gotta get out of this area as soon as we possibly can!"

The horse stopped and panicked when it saw three of the new danger beasts leaping out of the forest. "What's that?!"

"Oh my god!"

Before they could reach the two, Bols bounced off the wagon, and punched one of the creatures in the face, knocking it back. "Just in time." The other two tried attacking, but Bols activated Rubicanté—"Now then; I'd better clean up!"—and incinerated all three of them in under a minute. Another three danger beasts saw and retreated out of fear. "Gentlemen, is everybody alright?" The two merchants were scared by Bols looking at them—though, they didn't know that underneath that big brutish exterior, he was a real softie—"Uh, I went ahead and took out the danger beasts for ya, so there's no need to be afraid."

The merchants screamed, until Seryu put a hand on one their shoulders. I'm not gonna go into what they said, so we'll just go to Wave and Bols. "So uh, that was kinda awkward, huh? You did a good thing, okay."

Bols was dark, "Those...people..." Then he resumed his true, lighthearted self, "They can feel safe now! Which is wonderful!"

Elsewhere, the remaining three danger beasts were running from the Jaegers, only to be frozen solid by Esdeath. "There we go; freezing these creatures was the most effective way of capturing them." She knocked on one of them, "It's true; I've never seen this kind of danger beast before." Kurome's mouth started watering to the point that she drooled. Esdeath snapped her out of it though. "It's not a snack."

The Next Day:

Bols walked in with tea he had made for Wave and Kurome, who were playing chess. "Wave, Kurome; the tea is ready!"

Kurome, "Oh thanks, Bols."

Wave, "Auh, thank you for always waiting on us."

Bols got bashful, "Oh, no, don't mention it! I like being helpful!" Wave looked concerned. "What's the matter, Wave?"

"It...still just kinda bothers me. I mean, you are a really nice person; but even when you killed the danger beasts and saved those guys' lives, they still judged you based on how you look!"

Kurome, "Yeah, but you did the same thing."

"Crap, I did!"

Bols was down, "Wave, I told you before; I'm not a nice person. I've been through infected and diseased villages, and I burned them to the ground. I was an executioner; I burned innocent men and women to ashes. I've done so many horrible things. I've lost count of the names of those who want me dead." He clearly hated what he did in the past.

"But all you did was follow the orders you were given, right?!"

"What I do may just be a job, but karma is still karma; I figure I'm getting what I deserve: reminders, retribution..."

"But Bols, you shouldn't torture yourself like that! Listen, if you ever need a shoulder to cry on, I'm right here, okay?!"

Suddenly, Bols' wife and daughter(He's a really lucky guy to have someone as pretty as her—but also having such an adorable daughter; That's perfection!)"Honey!"

"Daddy!"

That left Wave dumbfounded.

Bols, "My girls, what are lovely ladies doing here?"

"You big Ol' goofball; you left your lunch sitting on the kitchen counter this morning!" That woman was extremely cheery.

"Oh my goodness!"

"Mommy, Daddy made a boo boo!" That family's laugh was absolutely heartwarming; seeing Bols had a reason to fight.

"You have such a demanding job, sweetie; if you don't eat lunch, you might get too lightheaded!"

"Yes dear, I'll be more careful next time."

"Daddy, hold me!"

"Oh alright, come here big girl." Bols then turned back to Wave, "Look, I appreciate your concern, Wave, but my wife and my daughter know all about the things I do, and, well, they still love me no matter what. It's because of them that...you know...that nothing out there is too much for me."

"God, I can't stand it; turn down the love! Oh man, I think this is twice in a row that I failed at comforting someone!" Kurome patted his left shoulder with her right hand, while slurping on one of her cookies.

Waterfall; ten minutes from temporary base:

Su and I were trainning by smashing falling boulders brought by the fall. I was wearing Incursio for it.

The first Boulder came, and I punched it in a random place; it still broke apart. "Hyaaaagaaahhh!" I was still disappointed, "Dammit! I can never hit the weak point."

The second Boulder came, and Su smashed it by hitting a certain spot with his staff. "No matter how resilient your opponent may seem, there's always a weak spot somewhere. You just need to find the difference."

"Yeah, I will. Do you think I'll be able to pull it off in the middle of a fight, because as of late, I had to rely on cheap shots in order to disarm opponents; and it only works on males."

"It always seems to present itself, eventually."

"You must be pretty observant then, huh Su; All I've had to rely on was pure dumb luck."

"Something like that; I was originally created to look after my master. I have been training to observe every little detail around me."

"That makes sense. Well, it's great to have you around; you know, since you came along, I've been a lot more confident that all eleven of us are gonna live to see the end of this whole thing."

"I'm an Imperial Arms; there's no need for you to include me in such things."

"It's a choice I can make." I held my fist forward, "Besides, you're a weapon and a companion!"

"Companion? Why?" Su kneeled down, "I'm not really sure I understand; that word refers to people who fight alongside one another."

"Yeah, that too. But it's a lot more than that; companions are friends who will always have your back...and I know that. We help each other out. For example, you're a relatively handsome guy; when all this fighting's over, you and I can help Ieysayu and Lub pick up chicks! How's that sound?"

"Hm. Not sure if I know how..." We fist-bumped, "But if that really is what you want from me, I'll do everything in my power to help you achieve it."

"Thank you, Su."

"Hey Su, Tatsumi..." Akame showed up, "The boss just called in an emergency meeting; we need to get back to base."

A point Fifteen Kilometers Northeast of the capital:

We flew to our new hideout.

Ieysayu, "You know, it doesn't really look like a 'new' hideout."

I said what Akame would've said, "When you keep escape options and ease of discovery in mind, it naturally ends up similar to the old one."

The girls were cheering.

Mine, "It's nice that we have a hot spring again."

Leone, "After we're done, let's have some drinks there."

Chelsea and Sayo in unison, "Sounds good!"

Lubbock ran back from establishing a perimeter. "Ms. Najenda, I've finished laying down a barrier around the base."

Najenda, "Good."

Su also came back from what he was doing. "I've also finished digging a hole for emergency escape."

"Oh, that was fast. As expected of you, Susanoo. With this, our base is fully operational." she said to him, much to Lub's dismay.

Lubbock, "Don't think you've won with this!"

Su, "What are you talking about?"

Me, "Lub, quit bothering Su!"

Meeting room:

Najenda gave us a rundown. "Now that we've returned without delay, the targets this time are the aforementioned new species of danger beast. There have been many cases of them mobilizing in groups, and despite it being rudimentary, they display signs of intelligence. Individually they have strong physical ability, and even martial arts masters have challenged them to test their abilities and lost. Even now they lurk in mines and woods to the South of the capital. They greedily feed upon people and livestock. The Jaegers and Imperial Army exterminate them daily, but it seems they're numerous and are still many left."

Mine held her hand on her chin, "If the empire's having difficulty with them, then it doesn't seem to be a trap."

Najenda tapped her cigarette into her ash tray. "You might call it helping the empire, but...that's fine, right?"

I said what Akame would've again. "Of course. It's just circumstantial this time. Besides, as far as we've heard, they need to be promptly exterminated."

Leone, "I wouldn't wanna run into any soldiers, though."

Najenda, "We are Night Raid. We can just move at night when the empire is resting."

"Ah, right."

Sheele, "That's the kind of group we are."

Chelsea on the other hand..."Hmmm, we're going to go beast hunting, accepting such a risk...It's fine if we leave it to the Jaegers. Like I said, you're all soft..."

I remembered to zip up my pants—because of last go round—before I spoke to Chelsea. "I don't like seeing innocent people in pain, Chelsea...we understand what you want to say." She perked up, "...but even now, these guys might be attacking someone. We might be killers, but we're also allies of the people. Even if it's just to save one person, we need to speed up the extermination!"

"...Well, I thought you would say that. I get it, I get it."

Su was alarmed by Ieysayu instead. "...Ieysayu...I have something I want to tell you."

I immediately thought to myself, "Ah crap!"

Ieysayu, "What is it, Su?"

"Your fly is down. It bothers me, so close it."

"...Ah!"

Me, "Dammit, Ieysayu...!" Almost everyone else was laughing.

Leone, "After Tatsumi nailed that speech, how uncool!"

Lubbock, "Hey, hey, how do you feel? How do you feel?"

Mine wasn't laughing, "That's what he gets when you try to be cool, Tatsumi! How did you get stuck with him as a friend?"

Ieysayu was seemingly embarrassed. "Sh...Shut up!"

"First of all, I'm just stating my honest point of view. And second, he has his ups as well as his downs."

Akame seemed to pity him, "I'm sorry Ieysayu...I had noticed, but I thought it was a fashion statement or something."

"I'm not that much of an open and liberal person, alright!?"

She crouched down, "From now on, I'll pay attention and look every now and then."

Ieysayu tried covering it, "No...Don't do that!"

Lubbock, "I got one, 'I want to save the people...with my fly wide open.'"

Ieysayu grabbed and shook him, "Hagh, I'll beat you for that, Lubbock!"

Leone, "Don't worry about it too much, your fly was open for the sake of the people, right?"

I went up to Chelsea and Najenda, "Welcome to an average day at the hideout. I swear, it's like dealing with children!"

Najenda, "This is how we are in Night Raid. It'll be troublesome for you, Chelsea."

Chelsea, "That's fine, but...I'm worried. Like how I read in the records, how Bulat was...I feel like that kindness is someday going to take the lives of you and the others, Tatsumi..."

Garden; beside the imperial palace:

"...Ran, I have something very important to discuss with you. Based on the minister's research, those danger beasts were once people."

"I knew it. Their physiques did seem unusually human, as I recall."

"Someone was turning them into monsters...only an Imperial Arms user could manage something like that."

"There's a distinct possibility that these new danger beasts could have been the doctor's experiments. It's probably not a coincidence they started wreaking havoc right about the same time the doctor disappeared."

"Is there more evidence?"

"When I went to investigate the laboratory, I remember noticing that the place seems surprisingly empty; especially knowing that he was always conducting experiments. I find it rather odd."

"So, that means he must've had another, secret lab somewhere, right?"

"Yes. And whatever he was keeping locked up in there somehow found a way to escape after he was gone. It could also be an unknown third-party stole his Imperial Arms to make the monsters, but then again, the attacks seem so random. I guess it's possible the doctor stumbled upon the enemy while he was out looking for Tatsumi. He found their hideout, and tried to capture them and turn them into his test subjects, only to have the tables turned and be killed by them, instead."

"I'm beginning to think that he may have been more insane than I ever thought he was."

"If the Doct really was the one who created those danger beasts, then there should only be a limited number. Eventually, the problem should resolve itself."

"There's more to this than how many we're dealing with. For starters, were those monsters truly capable of escaping on their own, or should we assume that somebody wanted to set them free?"

"Understood. I will continue to evaluate the situation as thoroughly as possible."

"I'm counting on you; we don't know exactly how serious this is yet."

"All that aside, it's unusual to see you stopping to admire the flowers like this."

"Hm? Oh, these? Well, when you rub these particular flowers into an open wound, they cause excruciating pain. I use them in light torture."

"I'll be sure to remember that."

In the outskirts, Seryu was finished killing the new species of danger beast in the area she was in. Already, she was questioning her motives and actions. "Are these embodiments of evil the products of the very man I praised for saving me? What else did I not know about those I idolized?"

Nearby, the hooded man was observing. "That's one of those Jaegers everybody's talking about. Living up to their reputation. Well...but, I'd say the group I've called for is a bit stronger." He started walking away, still having that sinister smile on his face. "Until they arrive, I'll have you all play with my toys for a bit longer."

Mountainous region near the capital; Night:

Lubbock and I were walking up a natural pathway up one of the mountains; already, he was complaining. "So I get paired with a guy?"

"Stop whining, Lub."

He turned his head to the back, "There aren't any soldiers camping here, right?"

"*Sigh* We have information saying that they withdraw during the night if there close to the capital, remember? Don't be so paranoid."

"You know, Timidity is something indispensable for us killers to survive. Even Ms. Najenda said that. Remember that, all right?"

"First of all, there's a difference between caution and cowardice. And second, speaking of which, you sure do call her Ms. Najenda instead of Boss, huh."

"We...Well, you see, her and I...we've known each other since the imperial army days." Lubbock started telling his story, "...I was the fourth son of a big merchant in the region. Well, I was never deprived of objects since I was a kid, I could do anything skillfully, and I was bored of the world."

I had a deadpanned look on my face. "I don't see a problem."

"IT'S THE TEAR JERKER FROM HERE SO LISTEN! During that time, Ms. Najenda moved to the region where I lived. It was love at first sight. So then I volunteered as a soldier, using my skillfulness, I climbed to a position where I could serve at her side."

"And when she defected, you were the only one who followed her to Night Raid."

"Because of my love for her...I guess...? When we escaped the empire I wrote us both as dead in the records. I'm gallant, aren't I...but I haven't been rewarded. It's saddening...a real tear jerker, right?"

"You're gonna have to confess to her one day, Lub. ...Okay! Now that that's out of the way...It seems awfully too quiet. Where are the danger beasts?"

"It might be that the mountains have already been hunted dry. I've got strings set too. But there's nothing getting caught."

I immediately equipped Incursio, "Lub, I'll check the summit. From here, I'll go it alone.", and I traveled to the summit of a mountain alone.

The summit was the same; quiet...too quiet. "Hmm. Nothing out of the ordinary here, and no sign of even one danger beast." I deactivated Incursio, "This is too easy...Where are they?"

Then, a disturbingly familiar voice; "Were you expecting someone else, Tatsumi?" It was the revenant, Kung Lao.

"What're you doing here, Lao?"

"I wish to test your stamina."

Fight

Lao threw his razor hat at me, but I used my sword to throw it right back at him, and grabbed a rock to throw at him. He teleported behind me, to chain it with a tornado, only for me to grab and throw him when I recovered. I then chained a standard, high, and spin kick on Lao, and juggled him with three uppercuts. Kung Lao grabbed me and laid me across his knee before delivering a barrage of punches to my face. He then slammed his elbow into my stomach before sending me flying across the arena with his knee. I got up and performed an X-Ray move, ending the fight.

Tatsumi Wins

"I wonder how the others are doing." Lao teleported away, "I hope they're safe..."

Overhead, Esdeath was riding her pet dragon, scouting the area. "I might've called it a 'night patrol', but to think that I would go for a stroll because the moonlight is so pretty...It's something completely out of character for me to do. The way I've become a little odd like this is your fault too, Tatsumi..." She then spotted my silhouette from above, unaware it was me. "Hm?...A silhouette...a danger beast? Hmph...If that's the case, what an unlucky fellow." She jumped off her ride, towards the summit. "I'm in a bad mood from being depressed."

She landed behind me, drawing her rapier. "Ah, crap!" is what I was thinking.

"I'm your opponent..." she said in a high tone, "I'll try some new torture techniques on..." she stopped as she became shocked to see it was me, "...huh...Ta...tsumi..."

For those who couldn't tell when they read, there's a lot of changes in the characters' personalities, and certain scenes. Let me know which changes you like the best.

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