Chapter 8: Number 49

Kurome looked at Bulat with wide eyes "W-We can?"

Bulat nodded panting, "The geezer said that anything that goes into the forge, becomes a teigu. I guess, that it includes humans."

"You... you want to turn Tatsumi into a teigu?" Kurome asked and Bulat nodded, grabbing Tatsumi bridal style, and getting into the chambers "Wait!" Bulat turned to her as the battle raged on "He... he will still be Tatsumi?"

"I hope so." Bulat said putting Tatsumi on the golden bed and the key on a small space. Once inside, they ring started to spin, activating all the machines that started to scan Tatsumi's body. After some brief seconds, they started to work on it.

"This better work..." Bulat said as he rushed back to the fight.

Needles got into Tatsumi body. His arms, legs, neck were being injected. Tatsumi could feel his blood burning. His veins about to explode. His heart beating at a rate that definitely isn't normal or healthy.

His life started to flash on front of his eyes. The days training with Old Man Ken, ignoring Ieyasu and Sayo to do his jobs, his first time in the capital... all that... and meeting Kurome. The nice times they passed together.

All that, slowly, started to fade away.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Teigu Number 49, is a success." A voice said as slowly the machines started to leave Tatsumi's body alone. Once Tatsumi was fully visible, his eyes were snapped open with an electric green color.

He turned his head to see Kurome and Akame fighting. He was now shirtless, and had a red circle popping out of his chest, where his heart was supposed to be.

In a blink, he rushed to Akame and kicked her away sending her crashing to the wall. Najenda, seeing that Tatsumi wasn't human anymore, ordered the retreat.

With a distraction, Night Raid managed to run away. Tatsumi shortly after looked at Kurome and simply said "Kurome..." Before passing out.

*2 Weeks Later*

Tatsumi blinked slowly and coughed a little. He sat up when someone jumped to hug him "Tatsumi! You're awake!" Kurome screamed hugging him.

Tatsumi blinked a little, confused by the sudden embrace, but he slowly smiled and hugged her back. "Yeah. Guess that I didn't leave to the other side after all." He said as Kurome buried her head on his shoulder.

"Don't do that again." She said and broke the embrace and looked at Tatsumi smiling. "I'm so happy..."

"Me too."

"Ejem!" They turned to Bulat that just entered the room, grinning at them "Excuse me love birds, but I want to see my Bro."

"Hey Bro... mission accomplished." Tatsumi joked and Bulat grinned at him.

"Without any casualties." He answered back making Tatsumi laugh "So, ready to leave?"

Kurome lost her smile and looked at Tatsumi that looked at her back. He squeezed her hand and smiled at her "No." Bulat blinked confused.

"No? What do you mean no?"

"I... I finally have something that I know that I have to fight for. Something that I know that is good." Kurome smiled at his words and squeezed his hand.

Bulat sighed "Okay... guess we're staying."

Tatsumi raised a brow "We? I'm not asking you to stay. I know how much you hate the Empire."

"I know, but I know you need me to avoid you just dying in a corner. So, like it or not, I'm staying. Besides, there is a chance we can change the Empire from inside." Bulat explained his reasons and Tatsumi smirked.

"Thank you for caring, Bro."

"Always." He said before leaving.

Kurome laid before Tatsumi and hugged him "I'm also going to take care of you." She promised and Tatsumi hugged her back.

"Like wise. So... you love me?" He teased and Kurome blushed and buried her head on his chest.

Tatsumi laughed and patted her head "I love you too."

They end up falling asleep together in bed.

*Next Day*

"This is simply amazing Tatsu! Your body is healing itself at great speeds, fighting the damage of your Teigu! Besides, your Teigu looks like it is part of your body now! Your simply fabulous!" Stylish said making a checkup on Tatsumi that chuckled and rubbed the back of his head.

"That's good right?"

"More that good! But I wonder, if you over use your Teigu maybe your body won't be able to resist so much. Because from the tests we ran, every single aspect of you became... well, better. You're stronger, faster and more resistant. It's like you're-"

"Not human..." Tatsumi interupted and Stylish shrugged.

"That's one way to put it. But look at the bright side! You will have a couple more years in the bag. Hell, if you retire now, you might even live forever! Because you are like an organic Teigu." Stylish said and Tatsumi scoffed.

"Thanks for the kind words, doc. Can I leave now?" Stylish nodded and Tatsumi left.

'Retire...'

"Maybe when everything is settled. For now, I still have a debt."

Next Chapter: Forced Allies

A/N: Hello! Roy here. I am writing this A/N, because I have an announcement: Lately, I've been watching Kimetsu no Yaiba and I want to write a fic about it. But because the story is still going, I decided to do a little change; make a crossover between the Thin Line (This is story) and Kimetsu. My mind is set on it, but my question is the following; You want to see it pre-cannon, ergo, before Tatsumi found Khan, the key, or from the point we are at now? Keep in mind, this crossover won't be cannon, it will be in it's own little bubble. And that's all.

Till Next Time.