Ah well... I think that you guys deserve this chapter since you all answered my question so fast. Sigh... I had such great ideas for a Naruto/AGK. But that is besides the point. I guess I'll just have to start a separate fic now.

So by popular demand (and a couple thinly veiled threats) you have the next chapter of Incursio and the Frozen Throne!

(I don't own any part of Naruto or Akame ga Kill)

Chapter 4

Tatsumi made his way to the training field where he had first met Bulat. He drew Incursio, putting it aside before starting his normal exercises. After a few minutes Esdeath found him. When she saw him training she sat on the stone steps the bordered the training field. She seemed to be deliberating with herself. Finally she remarked, "Tatsumi why don't you train with Incursio active?"

He halted his push-ups and looked at her puzzled. He said, "Because it's exhausting. I can't keep it active for more than a half an hour. I have to get stronger to increase the time I can use it."

Esdeath nodded and stood up, moving to where he had placed the sword. She picked it up and brought it to him. She said, "Use Incursio to train and you'll become stronger much quicker, trust me." Tatsumi stopped his pushups and stood, taking the short sword from her.

He asked, "How do you know?"

She explained, "Remember that old book I told you I had, containing lists of every artifact known? That has a whole chapter devoted to Incursio. The book was written by a man who also kept records for the empire. You understand that Incursio was given to its previous user by the Empire right. And it's been in the Empire's hands for 800 years. They have collected far more information on it that you could ever learn by yourself."

That sounded reasonable so he put Incursio in the guard position and activated it. Light from the blade engulfed him. He felt the energy forming armor as the light dissipated. A moment later he was wearing Incursio's armor. Tatsumi could already feel it sapping his stamina reserves. "What now?"

"Train like you usually would. Incursio is all about adaptation. If you train while wearing it you will adapt to whatever situation you're in. If you trained by the side of a volcano, you would eventually be able to swim through lava without taking damage."

Tatsumi blinked in amazement, "Really?!"

She smiled. It was a predatory smile. "Yes, In fact, you probably don't realize it, but the best thing you can do while training in your armor is to take hard hits." She motioned to his armor saying, "You can't see the difference, but your armor has already adapted to your fighting style. Because you are more of a defensive fighter and you are very evasive, Incursio had increased your speed and agility. However since you rarely take a hit, Incursio hasn't had the opportunity to harden its defense. Likewise, the more traumatic the situation, the faster Incursio adapts."

"But there is a limit to how fast Incursio will adapt before it will do physical damage to its user. If you adapt too fast then the armor will begin to mesh with your body, shortening your life span drastically." She took a step forward and put her arms around him. "I will help train you as soon as I'm recovered. But you have to promise me that you won't risk your life to improve your power. It's not worth it." She kissed him on the underside of his helmet and went back to sit on the steps. She called out, "Now, let's see how long you last!"

Ooo

It turned out that he was able to last over 40 minutes. Esdeath watched him keenly as he went through his standard exercises, which lasted about half of the time. Once he finished those, he summoned Inucrsio's spear and began to practice his forms. Esdeath admired how he had mastered the forms, but there was something...off about his style and movements. It took her a few minutes to realize what it was.

Every fighter had a style...a weapon, a move that defined them. And while he was excellent with the long spear, it didn't suit him. She stood up and walked over to where he was whirling the spear around in long arcs. He stopped and turned. His breathing was raspy with strain. He was approaching his limit. Tatsumi asked, "What...is...it?"

She said, "I think you need to force a change with Incursio. That spear doesn't suit you."

He disabled his helmet, which disappeared. His face was drenched with sweat. "What..do you... mean...doesn't suit me?"

"I've been studying your forms. You would do better with a long sword. That spear is designed for penetration and power. Your style of fighting would be better with a sword...perhaps even two."

Tatsumi felt his strength run out and he fell a couple of inches to the dirt as his armor vanished, leaving him with Incursio clutched in his hand. Esdeath smiled, "Take me to the armory...I'll find a weapon that fits you perfectly..."

Ooo

Their trip to the armory was uneventful. But when she walked in she smiled. Like a kid in a candy shop, she ran her fingers over the many blades. She found the wall that held a wide variety of swords, some common, some very exotic.

Esdeath scanned the racks till she found two that agreed with her. She took them down and handed them to Tatsumi. "They're a bit short for longswords, but they have the rage of features. Most will be at least very similar to these.

Tatsumi took them, his hands fitting well around the grips. He hefted them. They felt much lighter than Incursio's spear...and even lighter than the shortsword form of the artifact. Esdeath said, "Try out a few swings...get a feel for them."

Despite being exhausted he assumed a fighting stance. Esdeath stepped in before he could move. She moved his arms to a different position then she repositioned his legs and told him to lean forward slightly from where he was. He did so.

She said, "This is more the kind of stance you will take. When you're using two swords it's different than using one sword or a shield. With one sword you have more power and can be more precise. It also allows you to use your full strength for devastating overhead blows. When you fight with two it's more like a dance."

Esdeath slipped in behind him, her body pressing to his as she mirrored his stance. She said in his ear, "Step like this instead of your normal movement...take quick steps and keep on your toes." She kept up a steady pace showing him different movements for dual wielding.

After a while Tatsumi was starting to feel the strain of his muscles. They screamed for rest. Tatsumi gasped out, "Esdeath...I'm exhausted...could we stop for now?"

Her hands left his own and she stepped away. "That's fine Tatsumi. I didn't expect you to last this long after overusing Incursio." Esdeath smiled and replaced the swords on the rack. Then she walked back to him. She kissed him on the lips and then left the armory. After a second his mind reset again and he followed her.

Ooo

ooo

They met Akame, who was returning from her bath, a long towel wrapped around her. She looked to Tatsumi asking, "You look tired...what did you do?"

Tatsumi said, "Well, I did my normal training while wearing Incursio...so I'm shot for the day." He scratched the back of his head grinning. Akame glanced at Esdeath.

She asked, "Was it your idea?"

Esdeath nodded, "How did you know?"

Akame shrugged and continued past them saying, "Usually he trains for a couple hours..."

Tatsumi watched her go, but Esdeath was already walking onward. He caught up to her and asked, "Esdeath...it just occurred to me, but since you know so much about my Imperial Arm, you might know more about everyone else's."

She agreed, "Yes I studied the known Imperial arms that Night Raid had. What did you want to know?"

Tatsumi said, "I was wondering about everyone's actually, but it seems weird that Akame's only has one ability that we know of."

Esdeath shook her head. She said, "The demon blade called Murasame has more than one power. As far as I know it has three, not including it's trump card."

That made his jaw drop, "So I was right. You do know way more about them than we do... So what are the other abilities of Murasame?"

She thought for a moment. "The first one I know of is the one cut kill. Any living thing it so much as scratches...is dead, regardless of what kind of protection they have. The second is the ability to sense the presence of living beings nearby, even when magically hidden. The third...if I remember correctly allows the wielder to turn their body into one giant death seal. Anything they touch dies."

Esdeath paused, "The trump card...I only know what it is from rumor. It isn't actually recorded in my book. Supposedly, if the true wielder of Murasame cuts him or herself, they are transformed into the original demon that formed the sword...for a short time."

Tatsumi asked, "The true wielder turns into a demon...what if you aren't the um...true wielder?"

Esdeath smirked, "Obviously you would die...do you think she would survive to activate her trump card?"

Tatsumi shook his head, "I don't know...a demon...seems scary to me. At least my Imperial Arm is from a living creature and not some demonic spirit."

She shrugged, "My Imperial Arm is called Demon Extract and yours is called Demon armor. It seems to me that anything that is powerful enough to be made into an Imperial Arm...is deserving of the name demon."

They continued on and Tatsumi asked, "What about Mine's Imperial arm?"

Esdeath stopped walking. A look cross over her face. She said, "I'm not sure. I didn't read much about it..." She turned back to him saying, "Tatsumi...you're all sweaty...Why don't you go to the baths. I'll see you later."

He blinked and asked, "What will you be doing?"

She smiled, pushing forward to kiss him. He flushed red again. When she pulled back she said, "Never you mind about that. I promised to help you. I won't run away."

Tatsumi figured she was right about that much. "Ok...um...be careful." He passed her heading for the hotsprings.

Ooo

When he was out of sight Esdeath's smile disappeared. She kept still, listening for the tell tale sounds that had been coming like clockwork ever few minutes for the last hour or so. A second later it came, like a sharp exhalation of wind, magnified in volume. Her eyebrows knitted together and she walked in that direction, being careful to mask her presence.

Esdeath found the girl she was looking for a short while later. She crept close, pulling out a long wickedly sharp knife from her boot.

Ooo

Mine line up her next shot. It was almost two miles away. The outer limits of her range. Her finger tightened on the trigger as a whisper of fabric rubbing together alerted her to someone behind her. She growled, "Lubbock...I'm not in the mood, and I swear if you touch my butt again there will be a hole in you, big enough to put my foot though."

The cold ghostly touch of steel against her throat told her that she had misjudged the situation. She heard a voice, dripping with malice say, "Wrong...care to guess again?"

Mine couldn't keep herself from breaking out in a cold sweat. Esdeath noticed and Mine could almost hear the predatory grin. "That's correct, I am here to kill you, but I realize that it would upset Tatsumi if I did...and strain my relations with the rest of Night Raid. So instead I have a warning for you."

Mine asked, "What...is it?"

Esdeath said, "I know you like Tatsumi...maybe even as much as I do... I don't particularly care. I would be surprised if other girls didn't fall for him, however I want you to know something. If you try to take him from me...or attempt to drive a wedge between us...they will never find your body."

Esdeath whispered in her ear, "And before I killed you...I would torture you to the brink of death and the drag you back to life three times before the end." She pressed the flat of the blade to Mine throat as she said, "Perhaps if you're a good little girl you can be his mistress when I make him Emperor... just you remember that he's mine."

She felt Esdeath pull the knife away. She waited until the feeling of dread disappeared. She dropped Pumpkin and let her head fall to the grass. Letting out a little sob. For a second...she had really thought Esdeath would slit her throat...and not doubt, if she had talked back...Esdeath would have.

Her heart continued to beat overtime as she recalled the promise of an agonizing death at the older girl's hands. Mine let herself return to a relatively calm state. It required several minutes. When she did manage to calm down something Esdeath had said leaped out at her. "When I make him Emperor...be his mistress...remember he's mine..." Mine asked out loud, "Tatsumi...Emperor?"

Ooo

Ooo

Tatsumi slipped into the natural hotspring. The intense heat soothed his muscles as he closed his eyes. He made his way by feel to the other side of the spring where it was deeper and there was a natural shelf you could sit on.

His hand encountered something soft and squishy. He heard someone say, "Mmmm...your getting pretty bold Tatsumi... How bout a little higher. He jumped back, his eyes flying open. Leone sat exactly where he had been heading. She was looking at him coyly, grinning. Leone inquired, "So Tatsumi...do you like the view?" She shifted so that her large breasts rested half in and out of the steaming water.

Tatsumi turned around and took several steps to the side before walking backwards. He sank into the water again as his back hit the edge of the spring. He kept his eyes closed to avoid seeing Leone exposed. She had a nasty habit of breaking things when people saw her naked. He mumbled, "Sorry...I didn't think you'd be here still after an hour."

She sounded amused, "No need to close your eyes. It's Lubbock that I have a problem with. I don't mind you...as long as you don't stare too much." Leone giggled, showing sharp fangs.

He knew that Leone liked him, but it was a bit unnerving. She was a little like Esdeath. She made it seem like she was hunting you. And the fact that she turned into a half lion half human monster every once in a while, well, it made him less than enthusiastic about being this close to her.

Leone leaned over and draped an arm around his shoulders. She purred, "Come one Tatsumi...No need to give me the cold shoulder."

Tatsumi attempted an escape, but ended up losing his perch on the rock ledge. He dunked under the water. A second later he surfaced and tiredly dragged himself back onto the ledge. "Not right now, Ok Leone?" She nodded still smirking.

They sit there for a while, until Leone decided to break the proverbial ice. She asked, "So... tell me Tatsumi. Why are you so reluctant around girls? I've always wondered, especially since you obviously aren't gay."

She raised her eyebrows quickly as if asking, "Please tell me you aren't?"

He looked at her and said, "I never really knew what to say to girls so I tried to avoid that sort of thing, even in my home village. Besides, you girls are complicated... no offence."

That caused her to burst out laughing. She held her sides as her bust jiggled. Tatsumi glanced away from her till she stopped shuddering. Eventually she leaned back. "And I thought that you'd had some horrible experience with some girl who was interested in you. It really is that simple huh? Too complicated..."

There was a pause and then Tatsumi said, "Well, I was kidnapped once..."

Leone blinked in momentary confusion then cracked up again. It required several minutes to get herself under control. When she had Tatsumi suggested helpfully, "At least I know how to defeat you now. All I have to do is start telling jokes and you'd be helpless."

Leone thought about that. An image of Tatsumi starting a comedic routine in the middle of a training match. She chuckled, "I don't think you're that fast a talker. Anyway I had something else to ask."

He raised one eyebrow in question.

She took a moment to let the humorous mood wear off before asking, "How much do you care for Esdeath?"

He stopped breathing for a second. Then he took a long breath. Leone let himself think about it, since it was a serious question. His response was a long time in coming. He closed his eyes saying, "I don't know. I...feel like I want to have deeper feelings for her. She's smart and she doesn't hide her feelings. She just tells everyone how she feels and, well..., kills them if they disagree with her. But, at the same time she believes that only the strong should survive, and she thinks that the weak are just a ladder to success."

He sighed. "I used to be one of the weak. I was brought up by the weak. And it was only a stroke of luck...or more like several strokes of luck at the same time that I'm alive today. And I like to have friends, to be able to trust someone. I mean...like Mine. I know we don't get along, but I trust her. I trust you and Lubbock and Akame, but when I think of Esdeath. I don't know, I get this horrible feeling like I might do or say something that changes how she thinks of me. Do you think she would feel the same way if she though I didn't have the potential to be very strong?"

Leone shrugged. "It's really hard for me to tell. Survival of the fittest is one of those things that's hard to argue with. I've lived by that rule to a point. I'm only around because no one has caught me yet. For me it's more like...survival of the smartest, but that's only another way of saying the same thing."

Tatsumi nodded and opened his eyes. He sounded confused, "I don't understand her. At first when she agreed to come with me I thought that she was just following her heart, but I think that she believes that this is another test. You know, a challenge to see if she really is the strongest." Tatsumi let his head drop. "I would rather not be a part of that. Even if I loved her now... would she be satisfied with that. And what about what she told me about making me Emperor? Would she be satisfied with Emperor and Empress, or would she want even more? I can't tell where the survival of the fittest ends and power hungry begins."

Leone said, "Let me tell you something Tatsumi. I personally don't care if she became the Empress as long as she was a good ruler. I wouldn't mind you being Emperor either because I know you would be a good one. And as much as I doubt either of those will happen, it doesn't change the fact that she is ambitions and so are you. You're just looking for different things." Leone smiled saying, "But it would be easier if you did love her."

He let himself imagine what it would be like to love Esdeath.

Leone watched him. He seemed to be deep in thought. Maybe he was wondering if he could come to have deep affections for the icy Esdeath? She thought, "It will be interesting to watch them. That's for sure... but what makes me wonder is how Esdeath is going to react when she learns how Akame feels. I'm not even sure if Tatsumi knows about that little detail. Not to mention Mine has a crush on him, even if she refuses to admit it. Things could get pretty heated. I'm just glad that Esdeath is more reasonable than Najenda led us to believe."

Tatsumi finally looked up and asked, "How can you be sure she would be a good ruler? I just can't wrap my head around the whole idea. Me? Emperor?! That's like putting a mouse in charge of a city lead by cats."

Leone smirked. "I never said that she would actually be a good ruler, or even a good person. I'm sure she would be an effective ruler, one way or the other. Anyway, I wouldn't worry about it. I doubt that the Capital's throne will feel the weight of you skinny butt any time soon."

He gave her an offended look. He asked, "Was that a compliment or an insult?"

She shrugged, "Take it how you like Tatsumi." She stood up and stretched, intentionally giving him a good view. He gulped. Leone winked at him over her shoulder and grabbed a towel from the side of the hot spring. "Well...I'll see ya later Tatsumi. Stay out of trouble won't you."

With that she waded away from him and into the steam of the hotspring. Once he was sure she was gone he let himself relax. He thought, "Jeeze...is it just me or does Leone have a death wish? If Esdeath saw her do that..."

He forced those thought out of his mind and let the hot water sooth his aching muscles.

Ooo

Ooo

Tatsumi walked into the main hall some time later. Mine, Esdeath, Leone and Akame were all there. He moved over to them. Akame was reading from a small rolled note.

As he drew close Mine glanced at him. The look was a bit odd. He filed it away for later thought. Stepping to Akame's side he read over her shoulder. It was a message from Najenda

Akame, I'm sorry for putting you in this situation, but I will be delayed. I may not return for two weeks or more. There was an assassination attempt in the middle of the revolution's base camp. We are still working to find out what caused it. I am needed here at the moment. If all goes well I will be back by the end of the month.

As for Esdeath, keep a close eye on her. I find it very hard to believe this information that Mine sent me. However do not attempt to attack or restrain her until I arrive and sort things out. None of you are a match for her. From what Mine's message said, the Capital is in an uproar. Do NOT attempt any high profile missions until I return.

Play it by ear for now.

Najenda.

Tatsumi finished reading just as Akame dropped her hand and said, "The boss won't be back for at least two weeks. We aren't to attempt any difficult missions until she does." She left out certain parts of the letter for obvious reasons. She didn't want Esdeath to be offended.

Tatsumi asked her, "So what is our move now Akame?"

She looked back at him and said simply, "We will take this time to do recognizance and train. Leone, you and Lubbock will talk with Esdeath as soon as possible. She will know much about the palace that we don't have info on. Once the danger dies down at the palace, I want both of you to infiltrate and learn the schedules of the guards around Esdeath's chambers. We need to get those artifacts she spoke of before her rooms are given to someone else."

Esdeath interrupted, "Something else that needs done very soon… Is we must send word to my army stationed in the north." Everyone looked at her confused for a moment.

Then Mine asked loudly, "And why would we do that?"

Tatsumi saw Esdeath tense in momentary anger. It looked like she was about to berate Mine when he said, "It's because their still loyal to you right?"

Esdeath turned to him smiling. Her demeanor changing from angry to pleased in a split second.

"Of course. My army in the north is still under my control. The entire army swore fealty to me as their general. That bond has been strengthened by dozens of battles, each one a victory. They will follow me where ever I choose to go. If you can get word to them before the Empire does, then they will be at my disposal again. I can order them to do a forced match south and then swing wide around the capital. They would take a path though the outlying country and follow the border down to this point. None would attack an army of that size unless directly threatened."

Esdeath put her hand on her chin. She shifted and went quiet as though working it out in her head. Eventually she said, "I calculate that it would take three weeks for them to properly mobilize and head south. Winter is on it's way so the journey would be difficult. But properly provisioned they could be here within four to six months."

Mine shouted, "Six months! How could it take any one that long to travel from the north lands to here?! It wouldn't take me a month and a half!" Tatsumi bent to his right and whispered in her ear. She went rigid with embarrassment.

Leone commented, "For a force of that size, setting up camp takes hours by its self. Just getting ready to go takes half the day. And since only a small amount of the soldiers would have horses, they would be moving at a footman's pace. Half the day is gone before they get going. And I would bet they have siege equipment as well, which is even slower to transport."

Esdeath nodded, "I made a point to include a variety of siege equipment. Most of it wasn't even used. It would be very useful to the revolution. Most of your siege weapons are either badly made or antiques. My reasoning is very simple. If you don't send my army a message then the Empire will. Do you really want the Empire to have my men at their disposal?" It was clear by the looks on their faces that they didn't.

Akame looked disappointed. "No message hawk would survive in the north with winter coming. We would need to send a human messenger...and soon. The Empire won't forget they have an asset like that just sitting there."

Leone said happily, "I know just the guy for the job. I can get him to leave by the end of the week if you can get the message written Esdeath. He'll ride hard and fast. It's the only thing he knows how to do."

A minute wet by as Akame went to fetch paper. Mine disappeared on the pretence of doing chores. Tatsumi turned to Esdeath. It had come to him that there was something missing from the plan to send orders north. He asked Esdeath, "Um...how are you going to make it where they know the message is from you?" He saw Esdeath's smile disappear.

"Oh dear...I completely forgot. My attendants were slain. There isn't anyone with the army that can read my code..." Esdeath seemed shocked by her own forgetfulness. She said, almost to herself, "How could I have forgotten them...?" Pacing away from him, she seemed momentarily lost.

Leone and Tatsumi shared a look. He walked over to Esdeath and asked, "Are...are you ok?"

She didn't respond. Tatsumi put a hand on her shoulder. It was unsettling that she was so unhinged by missing that detail...at last she turned back to him. She asked, "Is it right for me to have dismissed their existence like that...? They died so recently and I knew them for a long time... Despite their failure, I should have at least remembered their duties were left undone in their absence."

Tatsumi said, "It's ok. You just need to figure out how to send a message right. Is there a way to make sure they know it's from you?"

As he asked, her body tensed once then twice. She forced herself out of her trance. "Yes...I can send a message to Inudara. He was the younger brother of Daidara. He might not be able to read the code, but he will recognize it for what it is. They will know it is from me."

Leone asked hesitantly, "But will the rest of your army believe him, that it is actually from you?"

Esdeath said, "Do you think that anyone in my army has the balls to pretend they received a message from me. Any orders that they thing might possibly be from me...they will obey. Simply out of fear should they choose to ignore it, they know they would pay for any disobedience." Esdeath smirked saying, "Such is the advantage of having an army that fears you."

Tatsumi reigned in the urge to shudder at her words. Sometimes she was just...unnerving. He wondered if she knew how uncomfortable it made him...Probably not.

Ooo

A few minutes later Akame returned with parchment and ink. Esdeath took it and sat down at the main table. Tatsumi waited as she started out with a complex code. The letters weren't even the same as the capital's language., yet she wrote quickly and with ease.

Tatsumi asked, "What language is that? You seem pretty skilled in it for it to be a secret code."

She nodded as she finished the coded part of the letter. "This is my home tongue. The language of the Old Northern tribes. I'm one of only a few survivors. In my years as a general I've met only two others with any lineage like mine, and neither had direct blood ties to one of the clans. I've used this as my secret code for years. The old tongue is much more complex than the Common that those in the Capital speak."

Akame walked over to her, "Are you going to tell them anything about your situation? Or are you simply going to give them orders for a forced march?"

Esdeath stopped writing and looked up. The smile on her face was… predatory. "I'll tell them we will be attacking the Capital of course. I might be a scheming general, but I don't out right lie to my men. If I did there would be no trust between us. As I've already told you, I may seem heartless, but that's more a byproduct of my efficiency."

Akame shrugged, "I never said I had a problem with it."

Tatsumi chuckled, "Yeah… with Murasame, she's kinda the peak of efficncy. Even you have to deal enough damage with your ice to kill. Akame just has to break the skin."

She glanced at Akame, as if measuring her. Once again blue met red with a calculating gaze. "I suppose you're right…" Esdeath turned back to the letter and started to detail her orders for the army. It was a few minutes before she finished.

Once she was done she handed it to Akame. The defacto leader of Nightraid checked over the letter wordlessly before passing it to Leone. Esdeath said, "The coordinates for the army's main camp in on the back. Make sure your.. messanger gets there on time. I don't fancy facing my own army in the field of battle."

Leone gave a sloppy salute and grinned, "As you command!" Then she headed out.

Tatsumi asked, "So… I was wondering…" he glanced at Akame, "Do you know all of Murasame's abilities?"

Seeming surprised by the sudden interest in her sword she blinked, "Why?"

He gestured to Esdeath. "She said she knew all about it."

Akame turned to the former general. Esdeath smiled, "I already explained that I have detailed knowledge on all of the Imperial arms that the capital has… or possessed until recently. Your blade may be mysterious, but even those secrets can be unraveled over time." She asked, "Do you have a high compatibility with your weapon?"

Akame shifted, "Najenda guessed I had 93% compatibility. That is higher than any of our imperial arms except for one of our.. former members. His Imperial Arms has rejected everyone since then."

Tatsumi whistled, "Wow… I didn't know you were such a close match. I don't think I fit Incursio that well!" His eyes were drawn to the weapon at her hip. Akame's crimson eyes met his for a moment. Something passed between them for a second before she glanced to the side.

"I'm sure you are well matched to Incursio. Bulat said so."

Akame's voice was flat, but both Tatsumi and Esdeath felt something off about it. He shifted and examined her body language. She seemed a bit stiff, but she was always like that, unless she was killing someone…

Esdeath was better able to read Akame and her own body tensed slightly. Were the girl's cheeks turning a bit pink? She didn't have a chance to speak as Akame spun on her heel. "I don't require your help… I know Murasame's powers."

It was only a moment before Akame disappeared as well. Tatsumi watched her go puzzled, "I must be imagining things… She never acted like that before now… did she? And why his she been so curt with Esdeath. I expected her to be more friendly since they have similar views on survival."

He sighed and turned to Esdeath, "Well… um… I guess it's just us again… What do you want to do?"

She rolled her eyes, "Tatsumi… I love you, but you shouldn't be so hesitant. What do you want to do?" Her voice was playful as she walked behind him, twining her arms around his chest. "Well? I doubt you've recovered from using Incursio… Perhaps we should go take a nap…"

Esdeath smirked as he blushed. "Oh… is that what you were thinking? I wasn't suggesting we do that. You're exhausted after all. Wouldn't be fair to my precious lover…."

He attempted to get words out but he was failing, "I.. um…that's…"

She bit his shoulder teasingly, "You keep making that face again… Come on. If you need direction, I'll take you along with me…"

Tatsumi didn't know whether to be grateful that she wasn't playing with him anymore… or scared of what her intentions were this time. "Oh god… please tell me she doesn't actually want to go and.. sleep again. My heart is going to stop for good if I keep waking up next to her…"

Ooo

Ooo

Akame sat in her room, looking at the blade of her sword. Murasame… The one cut killer, said to have slain more than a thousand men. She knew… that she'd doubled its tally in the relatively short time she'd used it.

The blade tilted, catching the light from the candle she had lit. She found her own eyes staring back at her. Immediately her mind conjured up different ones… Green emotional eyes, unruly brown hair, and a lopsided grin. It tugged her own lips into a small smile, though it was more sad than she could admit. "Tatsumi… you do not see me as an assassin. You have always seen me as myself, even when you thought I was strange…"

One hand rose to her lips as she tilted the blade, reflecting her face, bare of any makeup. She forced herself to smile. It looked so… unnatural to her. Almost… unattractive.

She dropped the blade.

It was not something she wanted to think about. Tatsumi… he was her friend… but he was also Mine's friend. And the pinket was always so close to him, maybe not in that way, but still. She could be with Tatsumi and act normal…

She couldn't. It was a condition she'd set for herself a long time ago. No emotion… no fear… no soul. A weapon..wielding a weapon.

Akame frowned and gripped Murasame tightly, bringing it around till the edge rested over her other hand. Quick and decisive, she cut her finger. Blood stained the blade as it burst from her skin. She watched it flow, down her hand… and down the edge of the sword.

Her eyes closed as she thought tiredly, "No emotion… A blade cannot hurt that which does not feel….."

And there is the end of the chapter everyone. I worked a bit of overtime getting this one out to you. Hope you like the character development! And you all remember to review!