
Chapter 27: ...Begins With A Single Step
The chapter begins with the camera providing a panoramic view of the Imperial Capital, during a bright sunny morning.
[Insert this soundtrack: A Snoggletog Prologue - Anthony Willis]
"This is the Imperial Capital." - Says a narrator with a very familiar voice - "It has approximately 200,000 square kilometers. All the first ten months of the year, we have a pleasant scorching sun, and in the last two, a climate so warm that it freezes to the toe."
We are presented with an aerial view of the Imperial Palace.
"Corruption here is rife. It's all down to the repulsive and hateful prime minister, who keeps getting in the head of the emperor, who is a child. His affiliates and the members of the Empire are hard bones and tasteless."
The screen undergoes a transition away from the Capital, over a forest, until it reaches a plateau.
"That's what the Revolutionary Army is for, an anti-imperialist faction. They have a secret group to carry out assassinations in the Capital and special missions."
A shadow darts across the ground, flying to a small pond.
When we get a better view of the lake, we see a Razorwhip dragon flying over the waterhole, carrying two people on her back.
"This group... is us! Night Raid!"
[End of soundtrack]
When everything becomes clearer, we see Akame (with a fisherman's hat made of straw) flying on Jade's back, with Susanoo sitting behind the girl, who was eating an onigiri.
Narrowing her eyes at the lake, Jade growls, drawing the swordswoman's attention.
Akame: Jade found something!! - She calls out to the Imperial Arm organic behind her.
Just as Akame warns, a fish-like danger beast leaps out of the water, intent on devouring the three individuals. Jade recoils in fear and Akame gives a start, smearing a grain of onigiri on her cheek.
Susanoo, with his cleaning manias, quickly removes the piece of rice cake from his teammate's face, looking at the piece of food blankly.
Susanoo: Done!
The aquatic danger beast leaps to try and devour the trio, only to take a swing from Susanoo's staff right in the stomach, injuring the creature to the point where it drops, dead.
Jade, feeling safe, lands on the ground, allowing the two humans riding her to descend.
Akame: Heh! I think tonight will be good, Suu! - She says, smiling at the Arm of Najenda.
"It's been a month since the Revolutionary Army's war with the dragons officially ended. Night Raid was on "rest" during this time period, as we had no missions. It was also enough time for the Revolutionary Army to get used to the dragons. Of course, at first it was a little tense, mainly because the dragons still had customs that irritated people, like eating almost anything they found, causing destruction and even defecating around. But we've learned to use the dragons' ways to our advantage instead of trying to work against them. The fact that they received advice and guidance from me on how to train their dragons also helped a lot." - Says the voice of the narrator.
Stealing this narrator's job, Night Raid was also fittingly introduced to its two new members: Susanoo: The Speed of Light, who was Najenda's Imperial Arm, being extremely effective in combat and even domestic service; and Chelsea; a derisive and quick-witted young woman who, despite not appearing to be a murderer at first glance, had just as many successful missions as Akame. She seemed to manage to get along with the group, except for Mine, for constantly teasing and making fun of the girl in pink.
While fishing for Akame and Susanoo, near the hut that was Night Raid's new base, we see a Deadly Nadder flying above the earth. The purple-scale dragon skims the ground, plowing the earth with his spiny tail, while a green-haired man astride it uses a sack to dump seeds into the earth as the beast plows.
Lubbock: Perfect, Typhoon! - He congratulates his dragon, who smiles -Come on, Mine!! It's fifteen o'clock!!!
At his call, a female Monstrous Nightmare appears in the heights, with a girl with pink hair and robes piloting her.
Mine: Fertilize, Pinky!
At the command of the assassin shooter, the dragon snarls and literally begins to defecate in the land sown by Lubbock and Typhoon. The feces would serve as fertilizer for the crop that Night Raid was growing.
Mine: Now I saw the advantage! - She proclaims proudly.
???: All up, Mine?!! - A voice says to the pinkette.
Looking ahead, Mine and Pinky see a brunette boy with a metallic left leg riding a dragon Night Fury. The dark reptile carried a bird-shaped danger beast in his paws.
Mine: Are you guys back from the hunt yet?
Tatsumi: And with an Evil Bird! Today we will have food for the whole night! - He looks at his reptilian friend - Isn't it, buddy?
Indra roars with happiness and pride.
[At that night...]
Our beloved Night Raid assassins sat at the table, gorging on the meat of the hunted danger beasts. The dragons were lying down, dozing, also satisfied with the meal they had been given.
Leone: Ahh... Suu's food is amazing! Even the tiredness of training is gone! - Says the blonde, happy and with a full stomach.
Akame: Thank you, Suu! - Says Jade's pilot, smiling.
Tatsumi approaches the blue haired man, smiling with his sword sheathed over his shoulder.
Tatsumi: Hey, Suu! Indra and I are going out for a bit tomorrow to map the region. What do you think about going with us?
Susanoo: That would be acceptable. - He responds, nodding his head.
Najenda, who has been watching everything from her chair, lets out a giggle as she smokes a cigarette.
Najenda: Hehe! I said Susanoo was amazing!
Tatsumi: What surprises me is that the Army is willing to give up such a Arm!
Najenda: No. While I was there, Susanoo was asleep; but he reacted to me and started to move.
Akame: Well done, boss!
Smirking, the Night Raid leader brushes some hair out of her eye as she holds her cigarette.
Najenda: Fufufu! We could even say... that it was just... - The leader speaks with a confident smile, while a bright aura radiated around her -... For my charisma.
Susanoo: Najenda reminds me a lot of my old master. - He confesses, smiling as he looks at his current master.
Najenda: Ah, she must have been a wonderful person!
Leone: Why don't you tell us a little about her, Suu?
Susanoo: Well...
Raising his head with an expression of triumph, Susanoo says:
Susanoo: ...He was a formidable general!
Najenda: "HE"?!! - The woman screams, her eyes widening as her cigarette falls from her prosthetic hand.
As she blushes, Najenda hears muffled laughter behind her. Slowly turning her head, she sees Leone fall out of her chair as she laughs uncontrollably. Beside her, Tatsumi struggled as hard as she could to keep from laughing.
Leone: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! She really looks like a guy!!! That must be why they call you "hot"!!!
Tatsumi: N-Nee-san...! You wouldn't laugh so loud...!!
To their bad luck, the two hear a chilling metallic noise that makes them freeze in fear. They didn't have to turn around to know that Najenda was right behind them, and the flexing of her robotic fingers was what was causing that agonizing noise.
Leone: Uh... Well, it's just that... - She murmurs, while the one-eyed assassin huffed in anger.
*BOFT*
*BOFT*
It didn't take long for both of them to be bent over to the general, huge bumps on their heads.
Najenda, although she has chastised the two, continues to hear more laughter. When she looks to the side, she sees that... Some dragons were also laughing at the fact that she was compared to a man!
Indra, Typhoon, Pinky and Rainbow were laughing uncontrollably at the woman's predicament. The Night Fury even fell backwards onto the ground, laughing so hard.
Tatsumi: Even they are making fun of the boss...! - Thinks the young boy, covering his mouth to avoid laughing and not taking another hit.
Sighing heavily, the silver haired woman sits back in her chair, burying her flushed face in her hands.
Najenda: Damn, what a shame...!!!
On the other side of the room, Lubbock, who was sitting next to Mine, growls with jealousy seeing the situation.
Lubbock: Ghñ... Susanoo quickly became everyone's favorite! He stole my job!
Mine: You've always maintained your role as a clown. - She refutes coldly, enjoying a piece of cake.
The discussion is interrupted when the door to the room opens, and a small, four-legged figure enters, approaching Lubbock and Mine, catching the latter's attention.
Mine: Huh? A jaguar from the Marque Mountains?
The feline meows and jumps on the couch, glaring at the sniper.
Lubbock: They're not afraid of people at all, are they?
Looking at the girl, or rather at the cake she was holding, the little wild leopard cuddles up to Mine, asking for food.
Mine: W-What is it? I'm already warning you that I won't give you anything...!
However, the animal's pleading face makes Tatsumi's pink friend blush.
Mine: Ghñ... Apparently, there's no way...! - She says, sighing in surrender.
However, the cat's eyes glow dangerously after the Pumpkin wielder utters those words. The cat leaps quickly, grabbing the Monstrous Nightmare pilot's plate in one swift motion. As it falls to the ground, the animal is enveloped in thick gray smoke, and a feminine laugh echoes through the mist.
As the smoke clears, Mine sees recruit Chelsea crouched down, holding the plate with the cake. The redhead looks mockingly at the shooter.
Chelsea: Now she's mine!
Mine: Gah!!! CHELSEA!!!
The redhead stands.
Chelsea: Hahahaha! Mine, you leave too many openings! - She teases, almost eating the cake that belonged to the pink-eyed girl.
And I say "almost" because, just as she was about to enjoy the food, Rainbow appears and eats the cake, leaving the two killer girls wide-eyed.
The female Ghost Reaper looks innocently at her pilot, smiling naively.
Chelsea: Damn it, Rainbow!!! It's not for you to eat my food!!!
Mine: Yours?! It was mine!!!
The dragon opens her mouth and...
Rainbow: "Yours?! It was mine!!!" - Mine's phrase echoes from the reptile's throat, with a voice perfectly matching Tatsumi's friend. Lubbock stifles a laugh.
Ghost Reapers have the ability to imitate sounds, including human voices.
Chelsea: I don't want you to be taking my stuff, got it?! - She says sternly to the colorful dragon.
Rainbow lowers her head in annoyance and regret, grunts sadly.
Lubbock: So, Chelsea... Was that the power of your Imperial Arm?
Chelsea: Hm! So it is! - She says, smiling calmly, although still irritated with her dragon - It's the Gaea Foundation. I can transform myself into whatever I want. Quite convenient, don't you think?
Chelsea: Mine, you better stay tuned, or you could be the next victim! - Says the girl, with a mischievous smile.
The sniper is none too pleased with the stealth assassin's mockery.
Mine: What?!! How about you?!! If they know what your Arm does, you become useless!! - She points to the redhead, who is not shaken by her screams.
Chelsea: It's true. My Arm is cosmetic, not battlefield. - She points to the west's girl - But that makes it even more worth it! Your face just now... was priceless!
Now out of patience with the bearer of the Gaea Foundation, Mine marches over to her dragon, who was dozing peacefully on the ground.
Still irritated, the girl in pink stomps close to the head of the Monstrous Nightmare, causing a loud noise that makes the Stoker class dragon wake up in a fright.
Mine: PINKY!!! PUT FIRE ON HER!!! - The young woman orders in a shout, pointing at Chelsea.
Pinky, however, irritated by being woken up abruptly from her nap and by her pilot yelling at her like that, also loses patience and grabs the killer with her mouth, trapping the girl by the waist up between her fangs.
Mine: ... And here's the warning!! - She yells at Chelsea, her voice muffled by the reptile's mouth cavity - If you do that to me again, this is what will happen to you!! - Says the Pumpkin user, pointing to the red-haired assassin.
Chelsea: Hahahahahahaha!!! - She laughs, laughing wildly at the sniper.
Tatsumi: Come on Chelsea, don't tease Mine like that. - Says the brunette, approaching her - We don't need any unnecessary tension.
Chelsea: Oh, don't be like that. - She says, smiling while poking the guy's nose with her finger - I was just kidding a little. Trying to teach a lesson about being attentive, you know?
Tatsumi: I understand, but Mine obviously didn't like it. - He declares grimly, putting his hands on his hips - Then please take it easy on her.
Chelsea: No promises. - The new member replies, shrugging her shoulders and leaving.
Tatsumi takes a deep breath as Chelsea walks away.
Tatsumi: I just don't want things to get tense right after we've gone through a battle like that... - He thinks, remembering the events of a month ago - ...One of the last things I need is Mine messing with someone we just met...
Mine: Hey... - She calls, still trapped in Pinky's mouth, who was snarling at her amazon - ...Can anyone use that trick to make a dragon sleep? Somebody?
Tatsumi: Oh, yes! I'm coming, Mine!
[The next day...]
It was morning, very close to a peak on the plateau, clouds were moving slowly and the sun was radiating all the vegetation... until a black figure crosses the sky.
We see that it was Tatsumi and Indra, who were flying to the peak mentioned above. The wielder of Incursio uses his metallic leg to wield the dragon's prosthetic tail, causing them to move down to the top of the peak, where the other Night Raid members watch, all astride their respective dragons. Najenda and Susanoo were beside them, also watching.
As it approaches, the Night Fury flaps his wings to soften the landing. He lands right on the right next to Mine.
Tatsumi: All right, everyone! Let the dispute begin! Who will be the first?
Chelsea: I don't. I'm fine where I am. - The Gaea Foundation user quickly says.
Leone: Then I will!!! - The woman with the golden eyes shouts, raising her hand.
Akame: Are you sure you want to go, Leone?
Leone: I couldn't be more sure, Akame! Crusher and I are going to show we're tough and we've got guts!
She lowers her hand, touching her dragon's neck.
Leone: Bring it on, boy!!!
The Triple Stryke then flies into a sprint.
Leone tries to guide her scaly friend up, but Crusher ignores her and flies down, catching her by surprise.
Making a quick dive and passing very close to a lake, Crusher flies upwards again, while his rider held on tight to keep from falling out of the saddle. The reptile jerks his head upward, hurling the Lionel-wielder into the air. Gravity soon hits the woman and she begins to fall on her stomach, while her body presses the wind hard to the sound of the assassin's screams in hand-to-hand combat.
Leone: THIS IS AMAZING AND SINISTER AT THE SAME TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMEEEE!!! - She screams, getting closer and closer to the ground.
However, luckily for the brute, Crusher uses his mouth to grab the human by her top, then throws her back onto her back. The yellow duo fly back to the peak, landing where they were before.
Leone pants on her dragon's back.
Leone: That... was... intense...! So cool!!!
Tatsumi: Okay, who's next?
Lubbock: Oh, leave it to me! Typhoon and I have been practicing a lot!
He touches his dragon friend's neck.
Lubbock: Let's go, boy!
With that, Typhoon flies forward, the Crosstail wielder firmly in the saddle at his back.
The purple reptile does a dive while twirling, something it practiced with Lubb. When they reach the ground, the Deadly Nadder changes course to the front and flies over the lake, triggering his spikes. The Sharp class dragon drags his spiny tail through the water, causing the wet layer to splash sideways.
After passing the lake, the duo shoots upwards, making a looping motion. Then the greenette and the bipedal animal flies back to the mountain, landing where they previously were.
Lubbock: So what? Does anyone think they can top me?
Mine: Sing victory while you can, Lubb. Because Pinky and I are next! Let's go, girl! Let's beat 'em up!
After the Pumpkin wielder confidently proclaims these words, Pinky steps to the edge and starts to fall, such an action that makes Mine scream in fear, for not expecting this one.
Before the pink duo hit the ground, the Monstrous Nightmare shoots upwards, maneuvering between several huge boulders while the shooter screamed, afraid of hitting one, after all, her head passed very close to them and only missed them by mere centimeters. distance.
When they finally pass the rocks, the Stoker class dragon dives into the lake, hitting the water and diving quickly while submerged, chasing away the fish while Mine screams underwater, making air bubbles come out of her mouth.
The reptile decides her has had enough and flies out of the water hole, back into the sky. The animal with pink scales returns to where it was on the peak.
When she lands, Mine gasps, groping her body to see if she was in one piece.
Mine: Right, four members... hairy... I'm alive! - She mutters in a shaky voice, feeling every part of her own body as she mentions them - *sighs* I'm alive...
Akame: I will now. - Declares the swordswoman calmly - Let's go, Jade.
[Insert this soundtrack: Akame ga Kill - 01 Fallen Heroes - OST from 3:12]
The Razorwhip then flies away from the peak.
At first, Akame's dragon dives down, and then she spits out a breath of fire, causing an explosion of blue flames in the air, which the two friends pass through without any problems.
Soon after, they fly over the lake, and the Sharp class dragon drags the spikes on her tail through the water. After passing through the water, the Murasame wielder sends her friend flying upwards, and the silvery scaled reptile takes off, spinning as her flies vertically. As her tail still held the spikes up, the Razorwhip's whirls sent silver spikes flying everywhere.
The dragon then stops her movement and flies back to the peak, landing next to Mine and Pinky, which is where her was before. The assassins applaud her.
[End of soundtrack]
Akame: You turned out really well, Jade. - She says. The green-eyed reptile smiles at the compliment.
Tatsumi, also smiling, looks at his friend.
Tatsumi: Yeah, it looks like we're the only ones left, buddy. You're ready?
Indra: *cheerful grunts*
Tatsumi: Then, let's go!
[Insert this soundtrack: Dragon Racing - John Powell from 1:18 on]
Our protagonist duo takes to the heights, feeling the pressure of the wind.
Tatsumi makes Indra's prosthetic suit for a diving move, and with that, the toothless dragon flies down towards the lake at such high speed that it was almost impossible to see them with the naked eye.
When they get close to the water hole, the Night Fury follows a horizontal flight, causing the water below him to be thrown to the sides.
Leaving close to the lake, the two friends maneuver between the rocks, skilfully dodging obstacles.
Tatsumi smiles before performing the next move. He leaps to his feet on Indra's saddle and jumps off, starting to fall, though it doesn't worry or scare him. The reptile with an artificial tail also falls, plunging downwards.
The two dive straight down, to the sound of a shout of joy from the Incursio wielder. He looks smiling at his dragon, who reciprocates with a toothless grin as his tongue flicks in the wind.
With that, when gravity makes them stay a few meters away from the ground, the brunette moves in the air and returns to his friend's saddle. The brown-haired boy adjusts his prosthesis and they fly horizontally before they can hit the ground, finishing his radical maneuver.
Upstairs, Night Raid smiles and cheers for the boy and the dark dragon. Akame, Susanoo and Najenda were silent, but they smiled at him too. Meanwhile, Chelsea was pretty quiet.
Back at the two, Indra flies upwards, firing several sequential plasma shots, which explode in the same area, causing a flashing purple light show, witnessed by the assassins.
Mine: They're still the best... - She says, smiling at the green-eyed duo's performance.
The two smile as they fly back to the peak. Indra flaps his wings carefully, smoothing the landing.
[End of soundtrack]
Mine: You guys were great.
Akame: Congratulations to you two. - She says.
Leone: Dude, you rocked!!! - She exclaims, clenching her fists.
Lubbock: That light show was the best part!!
The leader of the group approaches, with a proud smile.
Najenda: Congratulations, all of you. Let's go back to base.
[5 minutes later...]
The team is gathered at the base, Najenda in front of her subordinates and the dragons.
Najenda: It seems that you all have your own way of flying your dragons. And here there is little air. Flying radically in a hostile environment... I can say that you all got stronger.
Mine: Absolutely! I can feel the results! - She nods, flexing her fingers.
Najenda: Chelsea. - The one-eyed one calls, directing her gaze to the redhead.
Chelsea: Huh?
Najenda: How about it? After watching Night Raid for a month, what do you think?
The Gaea Foundation user lowers her head slightly, with a simple smile.
Chelsea: They're strong. They are even stronger than my previous team.
Tatsumi smiles at the sneaky assassin's opinion. Mine clenches her fist, grinning.
Mine: Yeah! She admitted!!!
Chelsea: But...
The group looks at her, already sensing that they haven't heard anything good.
[Insert this soundtrack: The Vulture of Doom - John Powell]
Chelsea: Strength alone is not enough to survive. And dependence on dragons will not save them from their enemies.
Tatsumi: Dependency?! - He thinks indignantly.
Tatsumi: But dragons aren't weapons we have to depend on. They are our companions, they are worth as much as our entire group! - He says, raising his hand to Indra, who waves with a snarl.
Chelsea: You're a guy who seems to love his teammates a lot, Tatsumi, but that's what concerns me.
The young man with green eyes arches his eyebrows, confused.
Chelsea: I read in the records about someone called... Sheele, and about Bulat, the two who died on active duty; and I can say that they were good people...
Mine's provocateur's gaze turns wistful and somber, her smile leaving her face.
Chelsea: ...But they seem like failures to me as assassins.
Tatsumi and Mine widen their eyes, perplexed and internally irritated to see the recruit insulting their two deceased friends like that.
The girl with the lollipops just turns her back on them, walking towards the cabin.
Chelsea: If you don't do something with your soft hearts, or stop treating dragons like pets... things won't work out, even if you have infinite lives. Beware of all sentimentality.
[End of soundtrack]
As she left, Mine clenched her fists in fury.
Mine: This woman... simply has no limits!
Najenda: As always, she is very sincere in what she says. - It's just what the woman says.
Tatsumi, beside Pinky's friend, was clenching his fists, trying to contain his fury. Who did that girl think she was to insult dragons like that? Better: Who did she think she was to insult Sheele and Bulat like that?!
He remembered his early days at Night Raid. When he still felt lost, confused and afraid of what was to come, he didn't really have any friends in the Night Raid besides Bulat, Akame and Sheele. The former wielder of Incursio taught him how to fight and always helped him get stronger, encouraging him to never give up. The one slice assassin always worried about him and treasured his company, wanting him to always come back alive. The purple-haired woman seemed to be kindness in person, comforting and hugging him in his moments of emotional vulnerability.
Now, that girl who had only been with them for a month, would show up and just say they were failures as assassins?! The will of Indra's pilot at that moment was to advance towards the redhead and punch her in the face, cursing her for all the insults that came to his mind. However, something in his mind - maybe his conscience - told him that he would be wrong to judge her without knowing her.
As his reason and emotion battled each other, he felt a metal hand gently grip her shoulder. As he turns his head, he sees Najenda looking at him wistfully.
Najenda: Please, don't think badly of Chelsea. - Says the woman with eyepatch, with a calm voice - She went through... difficult events. She just doesn't want you to die.
Tatsumi: Hmph! If that's the case, she didn't need to disrespect aniki and Sheele like that.
The Susanoo user sighs, realizing it would be a difficult process.
Najenda: In time, you'll understand her, Tatsumi. And I hope she understands you all, too.
[At that night...]
Outside the hut, while most of the team was sleeping, three guys in particular were sitting around a campfire.
Tatsumi, Lubbock and Mine looked wistfully at the flames that crackled in the fire.
[Insert this soundtrack: The Vikings Have Their Tea - John Powell]
Tatsumi: So what did you want to talk about, Mine?
Mine: Aren't you guys upset? About how Chelsea talked about our friends earlier today?
The young swordsman bites his bottom lip as he remembers the incident.
Tatsumi: ... Well, of course. - He says, roasting some marshmallows - I don't want her saying anything about them.
Mine: Well, I have a plan for payback!
Tatsumi: Huh?
Mine: When Chelsea is alone, we will silently approach her, laugh at her and say: "You leave a lot of openings too!".
The pinkette then stands up.
Mine: AND WHILE SHE IS DISTRACTED, I WILL DEAL THE LAST BLOW AND DECLARE VICTORY!!! IT'S PERFECT!!!
Tatsumi: ...
Lubbock: ...
The guys weren't trusting the pink haired sniper's plan.
Tatsumi: I feel like nothing good will happen if I do that...
Mine: What's the matter? We have a common enemy! We need to work together!
She crouches down to look firmly into the eyes of Tatsumi, who remains impassive.
Mine: Come on, Tatsumi. Just this time!
Tatsumi: ...
The dragons trainer sighs.
Tatsumi: Okay, okay. But how are we going to teach her a lesson?
Mine: Well, you think about it with Lubb. - She says, getting up - In the meantime, I'm going inside to think about this alone.
She walks out and opens the cabin door.
Mine: Even today, she'll see!
She then closes the door, leaving the assassin boys alone outside.
[End of soundtrack]
Lubbock: Tough, as ever. - He says.
Tatsumi: Hm... A way to attack silently, huh?
Lubbock: Let's see... We could do something using our Imperial Arms.
When thinking about it, a lightbulb lights up in the head of the greenish. The Crosstail user slams fist into hand.
Lubbock: Aha!!! I have an idea!!! Good ones!!!
Tatsumi: Huh?
[Hot springs north of the base; Minutes later...]
Tatsumi: Damn you, Lubb!!! - He thinks angrily. He was using Incursio, with the armor's invisibility power activated.
The country boy was hiding behind a large rock, which distanced him from the hot springs, in which Chelsea is bathing.
(Flashback ON)
Lubbock: Okay, it's almost time for Chelsea's bath! You turn invisible and go to the hot springs from behind! So you sneak up behind Chelsea while she's in the shower, and throw a bucket over her head from behind! It will surprise her!
Tatsumi, however, is uncomfortable with the idea of invading a girl's bath.
Tatsumi: Is it okay to do something like that...? - Questions the brunette, roasting his marshmallow.
Lubbock: Idiot! We have just cause in Mine's orders! You can only do it now!
The youngest sighs, surrendering. Indra's best friend gets up... before landing a punch in the green haired boy's face, sending him staggering backwards.
Tatsumi: I'll follow your plan, but I don't want to see you anywhere near those hot springs, Lubbock. If I find out it's your plan to spy on girls in the shower, you're going to be in pretty bad shape.
Lubbock: Tatsumi, I would never do such a thing! - The wire manipulator refutes in a feigned offended tone, taking a few steps away from the youngest - I respect a woman's privacy and would never consider doing something as indecent as spying.
Tatsumi: Then stay the hell away from the hot springs. - He warns, leaving to leave and get ready - I'll meet you and Mine as soon as I'm done.
Lubbock: Great! I'll leave it to you! Go there and get the job done! - Typhoon's pilot exclaims, giving Tatsumi a thumbs up.
Once Tatsumi was out of sight, a perverted smile spread across the Night Raid clown's face.
Lubbock (thinking): This is perfect! So I can know how furious Chelsea gets when she's spied on in the shower! If she just laughs and lets him go, then I'll move on!
(Flashback OFF)
[Insert this soundtrack: One Leche - Henry Jackman]
Tatsumi: I feel bad for spying so much... - The killer thinks, staying behind the rock - Then I'll end this soon...
Meanwhile, the dragon trainer looks up at the sky, thinking about Chelsea's appearance and how beautiful she is.
Tatsumi:: But... there's no denying that I'd like to see a little...
Trying to let go of the perverted thoughts, he punches himself in the face.
Tatsumi: DIE, YOUR BASTARD!!!
Shaking his head to regain his composure, the Red Death assassin picks up the bucket and takes a deep breath.
Tatsumi: Ok... Let's go!!!
Holding a bucket, he tiptoes to the hot springs, seeking to sneak past the redhead.
But, however... The current wielder of Incursio is taken aback when a tall, burly figure emerges from the waters, clad only in boxers.
From the back, the individual looks over his shoulder.
Susanoo: Fuu... - He murmurs.
Tatsumi: GAAAAAAH!!! A GUY!!! - The boy screams mentally, horrified.
Susanoo: You're there, aren't you? - Najenda's Arm says, looking towards the green-eyed boy, even if he was invisible - I can tell.
Surprised at how easily the Imperial Arm organic noticed his presence, Tatsumi disables his invisibility.
Tatsumi: S-Suu...? But how...?
The horned man crosses his arms over his chest, eyes closed.
Susanoo: Incursio can make you invisible... but that's about it. It can't make your presence go away.
The brown-haired young man arches his eyebrows from under the armor's helmet. Susanoo opens his blue eyes, staring at Bulat's friend's face seriously.
Susanoo: Don't forget that. If you forget, you will die.
However, the swordsman narrows his eyes thoughtfully.
Tatsumi: Strange... Something about that sentence... It seemed familiar...
With a bit of distrust, the user of the armor made from Tyrant approaches the bluish, lowering his head.
Tatsumi: Yeah... You're right.
When the boy gets close enough, Susanoo smirks.
Susanoo: Fuu...
The blue-eyed man moves his arm to give Tatsumi a playful blow on the head, but is taken aback when the brown-haired teenager previously grabs his wrist tightly, smirking under his silver colored helmet.
Tatsumi: I got you... Chelsea!
[Finish soundtrack at 0:55]
"Susanoo" laughs in an amused tone, before being enveloped in a grayish smokescreen, which, when it dissipates, reveals that it was Chelsea all along. The red-eyed redhead was completely naked, except for a white towel wrapped around her body. She had a lollipop in her mouth.
Chelsea: Heh! - She says, smiling - How did you know it was me?
Tatsumi: You perfectly copied Susanoo's appearance and voice, but not his speech pattern. - He explains, making the girl arch her eyebrows - You still spoke like yourself.
The Gaea Foundation bearer laughs with her mouth shut.
Chelsea: Fufufu! To have memorized something as simple as speech patterns, you must be even more interesting than I thought. I can say that you have my respect.
She looks down at her right wrist, which was still held by the Night Fury's rider.
Chelsea: Can you let go of me now?
Tatsumi: Huh...? Oh!! Oh, of course; I'm sorry!! - He says, quickly letting go of the recruit's arm.
The redhead bends down slightly to be closer to Tatsumi, twirling the lollipop around in his mouth.
Chelsea: I sensed your presence here, so I guessed your intentions and thought I'd give you a fright. But it looks like you took me by surprise, too. I think it's a draw.
Tatsumi: So you went out of your way to transform and ambush me. - He murmurs, rubbing his chin.
Sighing regretfully, the boy suddenly bows, surprising the lollipop-loving assassin.
Tatsumi: I'm sorry for invading your privacy, Chelsea. Mine wanted to get back at you for what you said earlier, and I kind of got dragged into her plan.
Chelsea: And you weren't upset by what I said? - She asks, tilting her head slightly.
Tatsumi: I'm not going to lie, I got really angry.
The boy with green plants-like eyes raises his head.
Tatsumi: But deep down, I felt that I was wrong for judging you without knowing your motives. You also pointed out the shortcomings of Incursio's invisibility... What you said about that was absolutely correct. I will make sure to put this information to good use in battle.
The girl's eyes slightly widened in surprise.
Tatsumi: Like everyone else here, I can sense that you've experienced a lot of pain... and that you're thinking of the good of all of us.
Sighing sadly, Chelsea turns away.
[Insert this soundtrack: Dorothy Pleads - Rupert Gregson-Williams]
Chelsea: You know... you have a point.
Looking at the horizon, she clasps her hands behind her back.
Chelsea: Recently... I've had the experience of going on a mission and coming home... only to find out that my entire team has been killed by a dragons attack.
Tatsumi is startled, remembering a piece of information Najenda told him.
"Chelsea is the sole survivor of a team from the region."
Chelsea: I just feel... uncomfortable... being around dragons, even though now, in some ways, they are our "friends". I... I don't want you to end up the same as my old team.
The boy lowers his gaze, reflective.
Tatsumi: I understand now... She said those things... thinking of us.
The wielder of the Arm formerly of Bulat clenches his fists, disabling Incursio. Soon after, he smiles.
Tatsumi: Well, well...
His murmur draws the attention of the newest member of Night Raid, who turns her head to face him. The boy was smiling with his eyes closed and a tinge of red on his cheeks.
Tatsumi: ...You're also very sentimental, Chelsea!
Tatsumi's slight mockery and smile make the Gaea Foundation user blush shyly.
[End of soundtrack]
However, she tries to replace shyness with anger, taking a bucket and throwing the water from the container on the boy.
Chelsea: It's nothing like that! I just don't want to have a bad conscience afterwards!
The redhead then smirks with her eyes closed, raising her index and middle fingers.
Chelsea: Oh! And the next time you come spy on me taking a shower... - She makes a slicing gesture with her fingers -...I'll chop them off, so be prepared.
The threat from the master of disguises makes the dark-haired boy tremble instead.
Tatsumi: C-Chop what, specifically...?
However, he widens his eyes in bewilderment and understanding and looks down. He covers his crotch with his hands, desperate.
Tatsumi: Oh, mommy!!! They, not!!! - He yells, terrified of what could happen to his 'precious things'.
Behind them, a catlike sound is heard. Glancing back, the two assassins see a gray cat with green eyes, covering its mouth with its paw in a surprised gesture and looking around, astonished at Chelsea's threat to Tatsumi.
Tatsumi/Chelsea: Where did that cat come from?! - They think unanimously.
[Streets of the Imperial Capital; next morning...]
In the midst of several citizens strolling, two stood out. They was Esdeath and Run.The strongest woman in the Empire was looking around, looking worried about something. The blonde looks at her.
Run: Captain?
The general looks back to fix her gaze on the man.
Run: Does something ail you?
She looks straight ahead, holding her cap.
Esdeath: In crowds, I always start looking for Tatsumi.
Concerned about this, the bearer of the Mastema takes a paper from his tunic.
Run: Captain. - The bluish woman looks at him - To be blunt, we found a lot of people in the army that resemble Tatsumi. If you wish, we can take you to meet them.
Esdeath: That's pointless, Run. - She rebuts - There's only one Tatsumi in the world. I will not accept anyone other than him.
Run: I'm sorry. - He asks, bowing to her as she walks away.
Inside, though, the blonde felt frustrated about something.
Run: This is not good... A sadistic woman who works for the minister. Even though she was powerful, I thought she would be more of a scum. But actually... she's more interesting than I thought, and I've had a very comfortable place to work.
The user of the Wing-shaped Imperial Arm smiles at a glance.
Run: Looks like... I'll have to put my original goal on the back burner for a while.
To be continued...
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