Chapter: 6

A/N: Don't own anything related to AGk.

Tatsumi looked around as he rode his horse. He was riding towards his destination which was the empire. It had been five years since he entered in the mountain of adversity. And it had been five months since he got out of that mountain. He was thirteen now, wearing a black pant, boots and a sleeveless ragged jacket. His arms were wrapped in bandages from his fingers to his shoulders. His dark brown hairs were straight towards back and some of his hairs covered his right eye.
He had two swords, his mother and father's, on his hips. He had taken his father's swords as his own and explored its powers to almost its fullest. While training on the mountain, he came to know that his father's sword was made up of five ancient ultra omega class beasts. Those beasts were known for controlling five elements, water, wind, fire, earth and space. The book he collected from his father's dead body contained all the data about the sword.
In his training of five years he came to control four elements except the last one, space.
He had to defeat every elemental beast, in his mind, to make it submit and control its power. It was kind of a ritual to see if the holder of the sword is worth of the powers and if he deserves them or not.
But the last one, space, he was unable to defeat because even in his mindscape it has no physical body, just a voice.
Even Heinz could not help Tatsumi in this one.
His mother's sword also has two elements, wind and water.
Besides his swords, he also got trained in several others fighting styles, he learned them as the need arose, survival instincts.
Tatsumi hadn't had the chance to check the capacity of his power.
He was able to go toe to toe with Heinz after four years and left him behind in the fifth.

For five months he was travelling and passed through several different villages, some prosperous, some even didn't have to fill their daily stomach needs. Some were suffering from famine and some had so much that it was rotting.
He saw different phases of life. He saw how beautiful life could be and how bitter it could get. He saw a happy couple having just born a child. The mother's face was full of affection for their child. And in other village he saw the mothers selling their kids, be it a boy or girl, just to have a day's food. He also saw the dead eyes of those mothers who were selling their children for the money. It wasn't like they didn't love them, it was their compulsion to do that and for the act they had to kill their soul.

He saw so many horrid situations and circumstances that he himself felt like dead.
That is why he avoided those kinds of people and regions and passed through the good regions and forests.
But what's written in the future no one knows and Tatsumi also couldn't comprehend what happened until he saw the blood flowing out of the gut of the son of a great and noble duke. Tatsumi was so enraged that he lost it when the son of the duke tried to rape the innocent walking girl. He just grabbed her and threw her on the ground and tore her cloths.
The frustration of not being able to do anything for the people he saw on his travel, burst and next second he found his hand lodged in the gut of the bastard.
It wouldn't have meant anything if he hadn't been the son of Duke but he was and so Tatsumi had to kill the Duke too.
Several people praised him for killing the son and father and he didn't regret it even when the wives of the Duke cursed him. He was so boiling from anger that he didn't hesitate to annihilate the Dukes family and his whole legacy. He had the power to give justice so he gave justice to the people. But did the Duke's clan deserve it. May be no, but if someone raises a tree then all the peoples related to that person eat the fruits.
The Mayer was elected and Tatsumi was given several gifts from the Duke's treasury.
The thoughts of doing something for the people he left in several villages invaded his mind but now he couldn't go back because he didn't have time. He had to move.
He was still months of distances away from the empire but as he moved ahead his mind just couldn't get calm. His heart would beat faster when the scene of mothers selling their children would pop in his head. He wanted to move but his body wouldn't listen to him. It was like it stopped obeying him and suddenly he found himself riding towards the village in cold climate. It was the village with worst condition. Due to the cold climate they could not harvest much crops and the animals were all deep in the forest and since they were tens of foot taller so the hunter didn't had a great time in hunting. Sometimes they all died.
The leader of the village wasn't any better from the Duke he killed. He was a middle aged man with several wives and children and brothers. He had everything under his control. He forced unreasonable tax on the people in spite of finding the ways to make the villages economy better. He didn't do anything just ruled the village and whoever opposed him was killed in front of their family and the women were raped. His two sons who were around eighteen years old were already drowned in bodily pleasure. They had several concubines in their rooms, they were younger and older.

Tatsumi stood at the hill looking down at the village. It must be around one mile away but was visible from that hill. The Ice surrounded the village completely. The forests were miles away from the village. It was all white.
Tatsumi got on the horse and moved towards the village. It was afternoon time so when he entered in the village there was no one. He wondered where everyone would go.
As he moved ahead he saw that everyone had the windows and doors closed of their huts and houses.
He shrugged; he knew where he would get information. He knew the old man, that ironsmith whom he talked to for a moment when he had passed from the village.
He sighed and wondered how he was going to find him.
The only sound that could be heard was of his own foot and the horse's. He looked around and saw a pitcher at the turn of street. He was thirsty and his water supply was already finished so he decided to drink it. But it was empty. He put the pitcher down and suddenly something struck his body so hard that he fell down.
''Oww...man what the hell'' Tatsumi cursed as he opened his eyes but his eyes widened when he saw that the something that struck him was a girl, a naked girl, ''Wh-what the...who are you and-'' he stopped when the girl immediately stood up and hid behind him, ''Save me, save me please. He would kill me'' the girl cried out in fear as the tears streamed out of her eyes.
Tatsumi looked at her; she was around his height but may be a little older than him by two years. She had a body of a teenager, slim, and...she had yet to get rip body. He thought as he scratched his chin.
''Hey are you listening'' she cried out again breaking his rain of thoughts, ''Y-Yeah...what happened'' he asked and she started to ramble, ''They got my mother, they got my boyfriend and they didn't even leave my little sister'' she said as she cried her eyes out.
''They have kept them in the prison. I was able to run away and now they are chasing me'' she said as her eyes widened in horror when she heard the horse's sounds.
Tatsumi noticed the girl's injuries; she had red finger marks on her face and forehead. Her hairs were disheveled and dirty. Her shoulders were swollen, almost bluish. Her neck had finger prints and her upper chest had red marks. Her breasts have red marks all over them. He gritted his teeth as he looked down her ribs. They were swollen, her stomach was swollen.
He felt a little relieved when he saw her down there. It was normal; no red marks, nothing, just some dirt.
Tatsumi stood there as the girl hid behind him crying.
Four horsemen came and stopped in from of him, ''Kid, step aside and hand that girl over here, If you want to live'' the man in front said.
Tatsumi's hair foreshadowed his eyes, ''Do you have water'' he asked and the man narrowed his eyes, ''What''
''I am thirsty and need some water. You can do whatever you want after that'' he said and the man looked at his companions.
The girl heard him and her eyes widened. She immediately tried to run away but Tatsumi grabbed her hand, ''Don't worry at all'' he said trying to reassure her. She nodded but she was skeptic of the boy now.
''Hey give him water and let him fuck off. We don't have time to meddle with some foreigner'' second man said to the first.
The man threw the water bottle towards Tatsumi. He caught it and after taking two gulps he turned towards the girl, ''Here drink it. You need it'' he said and she hesitated for a moment but then took the bottle.
''Hey what the fuck do you think you are doing you fucking brat'' the first man shouted angrily and threw his sword at Tatsumi.
The girl coward down but Tatsumi caught the sword and crumbled it in his fist, ''Hey, you assholes, can't you see she is drinking water'' he said as he turned towards them.
''Hey, kill the fucking dog'' the man shouted and they all ran towards Tatsumi but they all stopped and moments later their bodies fell down in pieces.
The people who had come out hearing the commotion had wide eyes. No one could see what happened. No one could see when he drew his sword and when he sheathed it.
The girl looked at Tatsumi and the pieces of her chasers with wide eyes. The street turned red.
''Wh-What...how...when'' she couldn't ask him.
''Hey did you drink the water. Don't make me force you'' he said in a little strict tone and the girl nodded unconsciously.
Tatsumi turned towards the bystanders, ''Hey you guys, will you keep looking or someone will give her something to cover her body'' he exclaimed and an old lady immediately brought a blanket for her.
Tatsumi turned to her and smiled, ''Well I am Tatsumi, what's your name'' he asked and the girl swallowed the water in her mouth and looked at Tatsumi, ''I am Sayo and Thank you for saving me'' she said as she bowed to him.

After that Tatsumi saved her mother, sister and boyfriend, Ieyasu. They told him that they knew how to fight but there were some soldiers they could not defeat.
Tatsumi than met old man Ironsmith and ended the reign of the current leader of the village and the old man was chosen as the new mayor.
They told Tatsumi that the old man taught them fighting but he knew little because he was a simple soldier in army. They asked him to train them and after several times of begging Tatsumi conceded.

One year passed in bringing the village to its legs. He trained people to fight and how to defend themselves. In that one year Tatsumi became a good friend of Sayo, Ieyasu and the villagers respected him. He slept at Sayo's house because her mother insisted to him. She said that she would be grateful to treat the boy who saved her and her family. Ieyasu getting a little jealous also started to sleep in the room given to Tatsumi.

One year passed and it was time for him to leave. Everyone begged him to stay a little longer but he had already wasted enough time.
Then Sayo and Ieyasu also decided to be a part of his journey and all three of them left the village.
Since they were three of them with three horses the speed of travelling was lowered and he still was training them whenever he could. He would give the tips whenever they stopped.

Their journey to the capital was slowed by a very heavy margin and it was because of Sayo and Ieyasu. They would stop at night and woke up late in the morning. And whenever they passed from any village they would visit its markets, wasting more time. But what made Tatsumi more annoyed was that they were perverts, both of them. They would start whenever they wanted, though they wouldn't go more than a sloppy and wet kiss in the public, they were total uninhibited when they were with Tatsumi or alone. Tatsumi couldn't sleep in nights because of the excessive noise of their rutting. So Tatsumi just went in his mind scape and slept near the water beast in his mind.

One night when they sat in the forest around the fire Sayo asked a question she wanted to ask for a while, ''Hey, Tatsumi, You didn't tell us why you are going to the capital. What is your purpose'' she asked as she plopped on Ieyasu's lap and took a mouth full of the meat.
Tatsumi stopped eating just as he heard Sayo's question and he closed his eyes to avoid letting his disciples see it. The previous warmness disappeared immediately and replaced with a cold fury but he couldn't stop his aura and just as it hit those two their eyes widened but it disappeared one moment later.
Tatsumi opened his eyes and found them looking at him with wide eyes.
He sighed, ''Sorry...I...'' he didn't know what to say.
He ran his hand over his face and sighed again, ''There is something I want. That's why I am going to the Capital'' He said but their expressions didn't change.
Tatsumi stood up and walked to the couple and ruffling their hair sat back down on his place. He lay down and slept.
A few seconds later Sayo blinked and then Ieyasu blinked. They didn't say anything. Sayo stood up from his lap and lay down to sleep and Ieyasu did the same. They fell asleep not before mumbling, ''I didn't know he can be that frightening''.

Next morning Tatsumi woke up and looked around. He stood up and went to arrange the breakfast. It was his job to arrange morning breakfast and lunch and the responsibility of dinner was given to Sayo and Ieyasu.
He walked in the forest running his eyes in every direction. When he was a fair distance away, suddenly he heard a sound of the bushes to the left and he got alert immediately.
He pulled out his knife and threw it in the bushes but just as it went inside the bushes he heard a sound of metal hitting metal and moments later two men jumped out of the bushes in front of Tatsumi.

Tatsumi narrowed his eyes when he saw that they were holding weapons.
''Who are you'' the men asked and Tatsumi raised an eyebrow, ''I can ask the same question to you'' Tatsumi said and the men looked at each other and then Tatsumi, ''We asked first'' they said and Tatsumi sighed, ''You are right. Okay, I am Tatsumi and came here looking something for breakfast for my friends...now who are you and what are you doing here'' Tatsumi asked. He didn't see any point in hiding his identity.
The men again looked at each other and then Tatsumi, ''We are from revolutionary army and came here to arrange the food for our comrades and some Medicinal plants for our wounded comrades'' one of them said.
Tatsumi looked at them with a raised eyebrow, 'Hmm...revolutionary army...wounded...' he thought. He had heard about the group from Heinz once. They were a rebel group against the capital's corrupted system but what this group actually was he didn't know but if they were rebel against Capital there were chances he could get something out of them of any Importance. They were wounded means that they were engaged in a fight recently and that was the place, he would fit there, as a doctor. But the problem was would they accept him without suspicions.
Suddenly he got an idea. He had many medicinal herbs with him which he had collected at the mountain of adversity.
''You said...wounded. How are their wounds I mean are they getting better'' he asked and they looked at each other, ''A few of them are getting better but the ones who have a sever wounds are critical'' they answered and pointed their swords at Tatsumi.
Tatsumi smiled; besides the herbs he also got experience in medical practice.
''Umm...well I have some experience in medical area so if you would let me see your comrades wounds then maybe I might be able to save them. There's a possibility they could be saved'' he said as he looked at them with as much kind and honest look as he could muster.
Both men looked at each other and after conversing with each other they decided, ''We will have to ask our leader first'' they answered and Tatsumi nodded, ''Okay you guys go and get the confirmation from your leader and meanwhile I will get my friends. I will meet you here'' he said as he pointed down with his finger. They nodded, ''Okay...'' They said and went to their way and Tatsumi returned to their camping site.
Sayo and Ieyasu were already awake. They jumped up when they saw a raccoon in his hands which he got while returning.
They immediately started to cook the breakfast and Tatsumi sat aside packing their stuff.
''You are packing already'' Sayo asked as she chewed n the cooked meat.
Tatsumi looked up and smiled, ''Yeah, we need to leave as soon as possible. I met some revolutionary army soldiers and we are going to join them'' he said as he continued to pack.
Sayo and Ieyasu looked at each other and then at Tatsumi, ''but why are we joining this group so suddenly. I mean we were going our own way they why so sudden'' Ieyasu asked as they walked towards Tatsumi.
Tatsumi finished packing and stood straight, ''I will explain it later. For now we are friends and we are travelling from your village...our village to the capital to earn money for our families and I am also a medicinal expert. That's all'' he briefed them both on what they were going to say.
Sayo and Ieyasu looked at each other and then at Tatsumi and shrugged, ''Okay but I expect an explanation later'' Sayo said as they all lifted their bags and prepared their horses.

They reached at the designated location and looked around for the other party, ''No one is here, Tatsumi'' Sayo noted and looked at Tatsumi.
''It seems they haven't come yet'' Tatsumi replied and got off of the horse.

Tatsumi suddenly put his hand on the handle of his sword when four men came rushing out of the woods with their weapons ready.

Tatsumi recognized the two men he had talked to, ''So what did your leader say'' he asked as he moved his hand away from the handle and Sayo and Ieyasu came beside him with their swords drawn.

The Four men lowered their weapons and a blue haired man came out from behind them with his sword in his hand. He came closer to Tatsumi and put his sword on his neck, ''Who are you'' he asked in a firm tone as he glared at Tatsumi.

''I am a resident of the village in south's cold climate and I used to treat the wounds of hunters there. You can say I am a doctor'' he explained without hesitating.
The man Tatsumi guessed was the leader still didn't move his sword, ''And these two'' he asked looking at Sayo and Ieyasu.
''These two are my friend Sayo and Ieyasu. They are from same village and you can say they are my subordinates'' Tatsumi answered and looked back at the leader.
The leader lowered down his sword and nodded, ''Okay, let's see what you can do'' he said and four man brought a stretcher with an injured man lying on it. He was unconscious.
They laid him in front of Tatsumi, ''He is the only one unconscious among all the injured soldiers'' he said pointing towards the man.
Tatsumi removed the blanket covering the body and observed the condition.
The body was pale due to the obvious lack of food and water. Whoever the doctor was wasn't doing a good job. He looked at the wound. It was an eight inches blue gash from the middle of the chest to lower right side of the abdomen.
This kind of gashes was nothing new to Tatsumi. He was wounded like this countless times and he treated his wounds by himself whenever Heinz was away.
What surprised him was the color of it. It was not red but blue and the skin around it was bluish. Another thing he noted was the fungus in it.
But more surprising fact was that Heinz had told him that the poisonous plant whose poison was used to wound the man, only found on the mountain of adversity. If it was true then how the person who injured the man could get the poison.
There was two possibilities, one was he went to the mountain and second was that mountain was not the only house for those plants.
Tatsumi looked up to the blue haired man, ''Can I know who did you fight'' he asked and the leader raised his eyebrow in a thinking mode, ''We fought the capital army'' he answered vaguely not wanting to disclose more information than needed.
Tatsumi nodded and pulled out a small bottle from his backpack and poured it on the wound.
Then he pulled out a lotion and smeared it on the affected area.
While doing this, a thought occurred to him, 'the people of capital might be able to reach that place'.
He finished bandaging the wound and stood up, ''That's done. He would wake up after one or two hours'' he said and looked at the leader.
The leader nodded and stuck his hand out and with a smile Tatsumi shook it, ''We can surely use a doctor like you'' the leader said and Tatsumi nodded, ''I Will be happy to help'' Tatsumi replied.
''Alright guys pack up we are leaving as soon as he gains consciousness'' the leader hollered to his comrades.

It was night and they all stopped to rest. They made a fire at the center of tents and sat around it.
Tatsumi sat with his friends when the leader came to him with a mug of beer and handed it to him, ''For our new comrades'' he cheered raising his mug and Tatsumi nodded with a smile.
''So I am a revolutionary army's member now'' he said and the leader put his mug down after emptying it, ''No, not now. We still had to attest you joining with our commander in chief and then you will assist us in missions'' the leader said and Tatsumi nodded.

''By the way, what's your name, if you don't mind. Everyone here calls you leader-san'' Tatsumi asked as he also finished his bear and looked at the captain.
The leader chuckled, ''My bad for not introducing myself. I am the captain Enmado, of this seventh fleet'' he said and Tatsumi nodded thinking about the six fleets above seventh and others lowers than seventh.
Then captain stood up, ''Alright rest up. We will leave early morning'' he said and walked away.

Tatsumi lay down and closed his eyes. And two minutes later he heard moaning sounds behind him, ''Damn perverts'' he muttered and plugged his ears and slept.

Next day they reached to the headquarters and Tatsumi was taken to the commander's chambers to get verified.
Captain Enmado knocked on the door, ''Commander, Its Enmado, I am coming in'' he announced his presence and entered inside with Tatsumi and his friends following behind.
Tatsumi saw a hooded man talking to a tall, rugged, and wide man, with beard. The hooded figure stopped talking as they entered inside.
''Okay, I will call you later'' the hooded man said and vanished in thin air making Tatsumi narrow his eyes, It sounded familiar, the hooded man's voice. He tried to remember it, where he had heard it but couldn't just remember. It seemed like way back from his past but he failed to remember.
But he knew he had heard it before.
The captain's voice brought him out of his thoughts, ''Commander, the new recruits'' he said and the man nodded.
After they completed the formalities the commander looked up, ''Report'' he said the leader sent Tatsumi out before giving report.
Commander sighed, ''We need to find them. Najenda is a genius woman and she is a great asset to us'' he said looking at Enmado.
''Your orders sir'' Enmado said standing straight.
''Take some of your best man and find them as soon as possible'' he said and dismissed him.

He came out of the room and looked at Tatsumi and then his vice captain, ''Give them rooms to freshen up. We are going on a mission to find some people. Get ready to leave. I will meet you at the entrance'' he said and walked away.

Tatsumi took a room and Sayo and Ieyasu had to stay in separate rooms because of the rules. Though they whined, there was less they could do anything about the situation.

After half an hour the captain, his vice captain, one more soldier, Tatsumi and his friends stood at the entrance ready to leave.
Enmado looked at his team, ''Alright, everyone is here'' he asked and they chorused, ''Yes''.
The leader nodded, ''Alright, we have to find two of our comrades. They were with us but we got separated in the fight and now we don't even know if they are alive or not and if they are alive, we have to find them before they meet their end'' the leader gave Tatsumi and his friends a brief.
Leader looked at Tatsumi, ''Tatsumi, you need to ready for any medical situation that arises because we don't know what are their situations" he said and Tatsumi nodded.
With everything out of the way they made their way towards the location Enmadou had left Najenda.

Lubbock huffed as he moved forward in search of a safe Location where they could stay for the night. He had Najenda on his back who was almost limp on his back and even though she was having a hard time opening her eyes, she was well aware of her surroundings.
It had been a week since the fight with Esdeath where she had lost her arm. She was unconscious when Lubbock pulled her out of the river.
When Najenda opened her eyes she found herself in a clearing in the forest beside the fire which was made to keep her warm. When she looked around she saw Lubbock collecting more woods. He was naked above the waist. Najenda fell back down and lifted her left hand to caress her face and saw that it was under Lubbock's shirt. She sighed and then it came to her what had happened. She put her arm over her closed eyes and released a long heavy breath.
Now her attention went to her arm. It pained but only minor but she felt weakness which she deduced was a cause of bleeding. She lifted her arm and looked at it. It was bandaged. She also checked her temperature and it was almost normal.
She didn't need to guess who did it all. But she wanted to know how he stopped bleeding and how he dulled the pain to a level she almost didn't feel it.
She turned her head towards Lubbock and coincidently he looked at her.
He smiled, ''Finally you are awake. You really know how to make me worry'' he said as he dropped the woods he collected and sat down beside her. He took her hand in his left hand and put one hand on her forehead, ''How are you feeling'' he asked as he looked at her lovingly.

Najenda could see the worry and care in his eyes. She could feel the tenderness full of care in his hand on her forehead and she could see that he was exhausted and tired.
She sighed and smiled, ''I feel great'' she replied as she tried to sit up but he didn't let her and she gave up immediately.
''How many days has it been'' she asked before closing her eyes.

''Four days'' he answered with closed eyes as he tried to stop the oncoming tears.
''What happened in these four days? How did you handle my...bleeding and all that'' she asked with a heavy tone. It was really a bad memory.
A grim look appeared on his face which didn't go unnoticed by Najenda but she stayed silent.
''Well I got you out of that river but you were unconscious by then and your arm was pouring the blood out. First I tried to give you CPR and have you regain your breath but you still did not open your eyes and that was a bad sign.
I tried to stop bleeding but couldn't by any method. I started to freak out in panic. I was afraid as hell. I didn't know what to do. I was cold feet.
But suddenly I remembered what I have, my taigu… wires. My wires have a special ability. I can make them burning hot. So that's what I did. Using my hot wires I cauterized your arm and wrapped it in my wires and then gave you some anesthetics which were fortunately dry because of being in a plastic bag in my pocket.
Then I realized you are already unconscious. I panicked again but thank to god nothing happened.
We stayed there till next morning waiting for someone to find us but no one did.
Next morning I decided to move towards the direction we were going, hoping that I might reunite with them. I lifted you on my back and moved but after walking for four hours I didn't meet them instead I faced some cannibal group and...'' he stopped suddenly and closed his eyes and a pained look appeared on his face when he remembered something.
''They trapped me and almost killed you but I came to know their intentions before it was too late.
I lifted you and ran while leaving nets of my wire behind me.
I was so afraid that I did not stop until my legs gave up. I woke up in the night. Fortunately, it was full moon so I could see clearly. I lifted you again and moved. I did not care if it was night. I had to find someplace to stay but couldn't find so I continued moving.
I walked for hours and then rested for a while and again walked for hours and then rested. After cannibal people I faced two danger beasts, some animals, insects and several other animals.
After four days I found a river and some fruits trees near it. It seemed a little safe to me so here we are. I laid you down and well realized that you were still unconscious so before I go into freaking mode again I noticed you were breathing.
So I made a fire, collected some fruits and water and was collecting some woods.'' he finished and when Najenda lifted her hand to his face he realized he had tears flowing out from his eyes, ''Damn I must look like a girl now with crying and all that'' he said as he wiped his tears.
Najenda sat up and looked at him, wondering why she had rejected him first time when she realized he loved her. At that moment she realized that accepting him as her partner was the best and wisest decision of her life. She felt like she wanted to hug him and kiss him after he did so much for her.
And she did, she snaked her hand behind his head and pulled his face for a soft kiss.

Their lips met and their emotions ran wild. Najenda pulled him to her more while kissing him as their lips moved with each other.

Lubbock lifted his hands and tangled his fingers in her hairs and kissed her back with the same passion.

Their kissing lasted for several minutes and then their lips parted. They leaned back and looked at each other, ''There were several occasions when I thought that you are not going to make it but...'' Lubbock said and stopped and looked down to shake off the horrible memories.

Najenda smiled and pulled him to her breasts like a kid which he voiced after a few moments, ''I am not a kid you know. I am a man now'' he responded as he snuggled to her soft breasts more making Najenda chuckle.

Najenda leaned back and laid down with Lubbock on her.

She closed her eyes and ran her finger through his hairs, ''Lubbock...'' she voiced, ''Huh...'' Lubbock responded.

''Thank you...'' she said and moments later shrieked when Lubbock pinched her side, ''Don't you ever say thank you to me again. I am not a stranger. I am your boyfriend'' he said and she nodded with a smile.

Suddenly Najenda stiffened, ''Did you hear that'' she asked and Lubbock nodded and sat up immediately as he looked around.

''Lubbock''

Lubbock heard someone call his name and Najenda and Lubbock turned towards the voice and found Enmadou standing there with his team.

Enmadou rushed to Najenda immediately, ''Damn her'' he growled gritting his teeth as he noticed Najenda's arm.

Najenda smiled, ''It's okay Captain. I am fine now'' she said and he just shook his head, ''Tatsumi...take a look at her and see if she is fine or not'' Captain ordered and Tatsumi got to work.

Najenda sat down and Tatsumi started to observe the cauterized wound.

Enmadou turned to Lubbock, ''And you, what the hell were you doing. You were with her to protect her and you failed. What kind of bodyguard and subordinate you are. You are one useless kid'' Enmadou growled in anger.

Lubbock gripped his taigu hard and gritted his teeth. He was tight lipped just because Enmadou was a captain and he knew if he said anything it could have a bad effect on Najenda's reputation. So he just looked down.

Tatsumi looked at the arm. It was a clean cut and he could see the burning marks on the wound, "By the way how did you lose your arm if you don't mind asking me" Tatsumi asked as he took a glance at Najenda who was looking at Lubbock who was getting a reprimand from Enmadou.

"In a fight with a general" she answered straightly in a monotone which Tatsumi noticed.

"And If I am not wrong then that boy with you cauterized your wound to stop bleeding" he asked and got a hum in response. They could hear Enmadou very clearly. Tatsumi now understand the reason of her distaste.

Tatsumi smiled, "By the way I can guess just from looking at him that he went through a hell of a time" he said as he looked at Najenda making her look at him, "Seriously….Don't make me laugh" she said as she looked at Lubbock again.

"Yes seriously, I have been through tough times myself so I can tell when a person can have that look in his eyes which that boy had when I saw him first" Tatsumi said as he started to bandage her arm after treating it.

Najenda sighed, "Yeah, he went through hard times for me" she said as she continued to look at them.

"And it's really great that you have a subordinate who could go through so much for his leader. Now a day's no one go through so much for their leaders" Tatsumi said as he finished the bandages.

''And it's done'' Tatsumi said as he looked at Najenda.

Najenda nodded as she looked at her arm. There was no pain at all.

Najenda looked at Tatsumi, "You talk too much, you know" she said as she shot him a glare making him scratch his cheek.

''Anyway, thank you and keep your conclusion to yourself or else….'' she said in a warning tone and standing up walked towards Enmadou and Lubbock.

Enmadou continued, ''You know how important she is for us. Her life is far costly than your measly life. You are not cut out to be a bodyguard and subordinate. You are fired and No longer a member of revolutionary army'' Enmadou finished and moved his hand towards Lubbock's Taigu but before he could touch it Najenda caught his wrist and looked in his eyes, ''Mr. Captain...'' she looked in Enmadou's eyes, ''He is 'my' subordinate and you have no right to talk to him that way and We haven't yet joined Revolutionary army and you are already firing my subordinate'' she said in a firm voice and removed her hold on his wrist and continued, ''Let me make it clear, Lubbock will be fired only when I say so, not you or your higher ups can fire him'' she said making it clear that no one in revolutionary army could threaten him in any way.

Enmadou nodded with gritting teeth and a shocked expression on his face, ''Okay. Miss Najenda, I am sorry I stepped over the line but...'' he said and looked at Lubbock, ''We don't want lazy and useless people in the army but anyway I apologize if I said anything wrong'' he apologized to Najenda and Looked at Lubbock again then back to Najenda, ''Don't you think you are favoring him more than it is needed'' he asked and Najenda sighed, ''He is my team and my team is like a family to me so of course my team members will be close to me and I will favor them over others'' Najenda said and Before Enmadou could say anything Tatsumi spoke up, ''Captain, I think we need to move. Miss Najenda needs proper medical attention'' he said and Enmadou nodded, ''Okay, let's move'' he announced and after collecting his accessories Lubbock and Najenda started to walk with them.

As they moved Enmadou noticed that Najenda was walking slowly so he offered his support but Najenda refused saying she is fine and Lubbock can help her.

Tatsumi walked up to Lubbock and smiled, ''I can only guess about the troubles you must have faced to save her'' Tatsumi surmised and Lubbock looked at him surprised, ''How do you know'' he asked But Tatsumi just smiled.

''I am Tatsumi. I have just joined the army as a medical support'' Tatsumi introduced himself and Lubbock did the same. He also told him about Najenda and his team a little.

Tatsumi nodded and thanked him for sharing the information as they all made their way to the headquarters.

Three days later- Enmadou with the search team and Najenda and Lubbock stood in the office of the chief commander. It didn't take them much time in his office and they came out after half an hour.

Commander suggested Najenda to rest and talk later when she is rested but she said she is fine and ready to do the job. They talked about her status and work. They also talked about the team. Najenda told him her demands and he approved them without much trouble since they were simple demands like she would choose her teammates by herself, they would directly report to her and would only service her orders and no one else's and no one would have any authority regarding her subordinates. She said it while looking at Enmadou.

Later they were offered their rooms to rest. Lubbock whined a little for not getting the same room as Najenda but a look from her shut him up.

''So what's our next move'' Ieyasu asked to Tatsumi in the Night when they were in their room. They had same room but separate bed.

''Well...I am thinking to go along with Najenda's team'' he replied and Ieyasu raised his eyebrow, ''Najenda's team...but Tatsumi she is weak and only has one arm and she is a woman... And are we going to really work in this army'' he whined and shook his head, ''The head of revolutionary army hasn't chosen her because she is powerful. It's because she has a sharp mind. She is genius and that boy Lubbock is strong. I can feel it. And you guys will join her team not me. I don't have time for doing their jobs. I have wasted enough time already'' Tatsumi said and Ieyasu whined, '' but why do we need to join her team. We want to go with you'' he said and closed his eyes.

''Things are going to get complicated and dangerous and even though I have said that your lives are not my responsibility I can't put your lives in danger and I am talking about extreme danger not what we have gone through till now'' Tatsumi said looking at the ceiling.

Ieyasu whined and Tatsui sighed. He was behaving like a kid, ''Come on, Ieyasu, It's not like I am leaving you and going away. I will be with you but without joining revolutionary army. I am not going to do their jobs against the empire. Do you understand'' Tatsumi said making Ieyasu relax.

Suddenly they heard a knock on the door and then Lubbock entered in the room.

All three boys sighed when they came to know that three of them will share the room.

Lubbock lay down on the bed and sighed. He was tired as hell and he needed to sleep, ''Tatsumi, Thanks'' he said and Tatsumi raised an eyebrow, ''For what''.

''For treating Najenda's arm'' he said and Tatsumi smiled, ''She already thanked me. So don't worry about it'' he said and turned over his side and faced Lubbock, ''by the way, you guys have good chemistry. I mean you didn't say anything to not stain Najenda's reputation and she also stood up for you. That's great'' he said with a smile and looked at Lubbock but sighed when found him sleeping.

After a week when Najenda had recuperated enough she called Tatsumi for a meeting. He met her in her room with his two companions. Lubbock was also there.

Najenda looked at Tatsumi and smiled a knowing smile, ''So Tatsumi, can you tell me about yourself I mean the truth not this doctor facade'' Najenda asked as she put her right leg over her left and folded her arms under her large bust making Lubbock's mouth water.

Tatsumi raised his eyebrows and looked at Iesayu, ''See, I told you she is a genius''

Tatsumi looked back at Najenda, ''Well, what do you want to know exactly except this doctor facade'' he reiterated her question.

''Everything about you, Since I am going to be the leader of my team, I would like to prefer if they tell me about themselves truthfully, just to make the teamwork effective and transparent'' she said and Tatsumi smiled, ''That's good but I won't tell you everything about me except that I am not a doctor and you have no harm from me, I can reassure you about that'' he said as he looked at her.

''Tatsumi, you-'' she got cut when Tatsumi spoke, ''I am not joining you. But I will be with your team'' he said making Najenda raise her eyebrow.

''But these two will join you and they can tell you about themselves'' he said as he pushed Ieyasu and Sayo forward.

Najenda fell silent and looked at Tatsumi, ''Do you know what you are asking me'' she retorted.

He nodded, ''Yes, your trust and you can trust me with your life. If I am with you I won't let any harm come to you or the team'' he declared making Najenda surprise. Was he that strong that he declared before even knowing what may come, she thought. But whatever, she wanted him with team and he agreed to it.

''Alright, but on one condition'' she asked and Tatsumi nodded.

''You won't do anything without telling me first'' she said and Tatsumi nodded, ''Agreed'' he said with a smile.

Najenda smiled and nodded. She looked at lubbock, ''Take these two's information'' she instructed him and stood up, ''Alright, We will be leaving tomorrow morning towards the other base of revolutionary army, 200 miles south from here. We will visit these bases until I found anyone for my team'' she announced and left the room but stopped at the gate and looked back at Tatsumi, "By the way you can at least tell me what is your goal" she asked making Tatsumi smile, "My goal is same as you" he replied.

"And that is…." She asked.

Tatsumi's eyes narrowed and a dark look appeared in his eyes, "Destruction of Imperial Empire" she said making Najenda's eyes go wide.

Tatsumi stood up and left the room leaving his companions with Lubbock and Najenda standing there.

He moved toward the record department. He had to check if they had something on what he wanted.

Najenda and the group stood in the commander's office to leave.

''Why is Tatsumi going with you'' Enmado asked with narrowed eyes as he looked at Najenda.

And before Najenda could say anything Tatsumi spoke up, ''it's my decision Captain and I never joined your team or you. I wanted to join revolutionary army so I came with you here and I think Najenda's team would be good for me'' He said and captain gritted his teeth. He knew Tatsumi's importance as a doctor but he made a mistake of not making him properly join his team.

''Alright we will leave then'' Najenda said and nodding to commander left the room followed by her team.

They exited the head quarter and made their way towards the destination.

Najenda pulled out the papers which were given to her by the commander. She read them and sighed.

''What's the matter'' Lubbock asked as they all stopped moving.

Najenda looked at the group, ''We have a mission. There's a branch of the empire's medical department 100 miles away from here and they are doing experiments on humans there'' she said detailing the mission.

They all nodded and made their way to the location.

Tatsumi moved his horse forward to Najenda's and looked at her, ''By the way Najenda, I know you were in a fight where you lost your arm but who did this'' he asked his curiously.

Najenda sighed, ''It was an old friend'' she replied with a grim look. She didn't want to remember all that again.

''An old friend...what's your friend's name. I mean if I ever crossed paths with this friend of yours then...'' he stopped and waited for the answer.

Najenda sighed again; there was no point in not telling him.

''The cruelest general of empire...Esdeath'' she answered with gritted teeth.

Two years passed:

The atmosphere of headquarters of Night raid was gloomy and sad because they had just lost their most kind member Sheele. They had gone on the mission to kill a policeman and they succeeded but they lost her. Tatsumi didn't go with them because it was a simple mission but it seemed like they had Intel on their mission and was ready for them. Tatsumi regretted his decision of not going but at the same time no one could foresee that she would die a painful death.

He sighed as he looked over the forest from the top of the headquarters. He didn't go on missions ever until after what happened with Sayo and Iesayu. Sayo and Iesayu had gone on a missionBut got captured on that mission and when he found them their condition was worse. They were close to death. Tatsumi never killed anyone until it was necessary but at that time he wanted to kill someone but he controlled himself. He knew Esdeath would be here at any seconds so he lifted them and went away leaving the cleaning work to the other night raid members.

He treated them himself until they got better. He didn't know if Esdeath was also involved in such things but he believed in her.

So when the next mission came he decided to go on the cruise with the members. It was he who turned the three beasts into stones.

Three people went on the mission and they were Bulat, Iesayu and Sayo. But this time Tatsumi volunteered to go with them. It was the first time he had volunteered to go on a mission. He never went on a mission until Najenda persuaded him. He also went on this mission because he was a bit angry at what happened with Ieyasu and Sayo on their last mission.

He also went on some missions with other team members but only when it was extremely necessary. Most of the time he did his own research about what was going on in the capital and what was Esdeath up to.

But on the missions he only interfered when it was absolutely necessary otherwise he would just stay in the back or stay hidden. He also came to know about the generals and the teams they made and he had to take action when both of the teams attacked them together.

He would stay behind and will pull his sword from its sheath a bit and would control wind element and would remove all the oxygen from the atmosphere around the Jaegers and wild hunt which made them unconscious.

They had found Akame after they left the revolutionary army headquarters two years ago. It was the mission they were given. There were two sisters Akame and Kurome. They were able to get Akame but Kurome was taken.

After Akame they found Mine whose village was attacked by imperial army. They had killed every person in the village leaving a few, mostly women to rape them.

It was at that time when Night raid reached there and it was the time when everyone saw how powerful Tatsumi was. What Tatsumi saw made him mad as hell. Everyone was dead and the women were being raped in front of their children.

Tatsumi almost lost control of himself there but he controlled himself and a few moments later what night raid witnessed was a brutal massacre of the army. They just stood there and watched with wide eyes what Tatsumi was and what he could do.

They were happy that Tatsumi was not with other side.

So they take Mine with them and went to their way. Mine developed feelings for Tatsumi after he saved her life. And after a while Tatsumi understood her feelings but he didn't have any feelings for her except camaraderie. And the second reason was well…he didn't like loli with pink hairs.

After that they found Bulat and then Leone. All the work was done by Najenda and her assistant Lubbock. Tatsumi just supported.

After that they decided to make their headquarters from where they could operate. So several miles from the capital in the deep forest they made their home. And after a few months they recruited Sheele.

Tatsumi sighed as he lay down on the roof and stared at the sky. He liked Sheele though he liked everyone but Sheele was different. She was like a mother to all of the members. He sighed again and he had thought he wasn't an emotional person anymore.

He was also thinking about Najenda's order of killing Esdeath. Damn it, if only he could just go and face Esdeath everything would be alright but he didn't have courage.

After the moment Najenda told him about Esdeath. He was shocked to hell. He never expected his Esdy to do something like that to her friends but on another note she was living with psychopaths so it must have rubbed on her and she was a sadist to begin with. He knew that.

So when he came to know everything about Esdeath from his investigation, he decided to end his days of celebation and go and see her. He was ready but just as he entered in the capital he got nervous and afraid. Would she accept him after he left her to die. Did she still love him? Was she still searching for him like she had said or had moved on already? He wondered if she hated him for leaving her alone like that in the hands of those filthy humans. He couldn't save her, the one whom he called his second half, so what kind of lover he was. Leaving her like that. Love means to live and die together and what he did… betrayed her when she needed him the most.

An unimaginable fear gripped his heart because he couldn't stand his own thoughts and he didn't know what to do. He couldn't even talk to anyone about it. He hadn't told Najenda that he was associated with Esdeath because he didn't know how she would react if came to know the truth. There were several possibilities and he could end up as a traitor.

So whenever he would think of reuniting with Esdeath he would chicken out. He would chicken out from seeing the person he wanted to seem for so many years. What the hell was wrong with him? He had to talk to someone or he would go mad but to whom. The question was who to trust with his secret.

And in the end he didn't tell anybody and tried to resolve the matter by himself. Every one noticed something wrong with him and even asked what the problem was but he just dismissed saying he was feeling unwell.

But in the end he decided to talk to Sheele but she was going on a mission with mine and others. So he decided to talk with her when she returns but she never returned and his problem never solved.

He tried several more times to reunite with Esdeath but….he couldn't gather the courage to see her. How would he even look in those beautiful eyes of hers? Damn it. He was desperate and helpless. No one knew but he would cry in nights when the pain was unbearable. He was so close to her but still so far.

He sighed as he rubbed his eyes off moistness. He took deep breaths. They had a mission with a merchant and whole night raid was going there and it was his responsibility to protect them on the mission. He was their trump card if something happened. Tatsumi had accepted the offer immediately.

It was night time when Tatsumi suddenly heard a knock on the door. He stood up and opened the door to see a grinning Leone standing there with a wine bottle in her hand, "Hiya Tatsumi, what are you doing alone in a night. Come let's have a drink" she gushed while slurring her words.

Tatsumni sighed, "I am not in the mood Leone" he said and started to shut the door but Leone pushed the door open and entered inside and flopped on his bed and drank from the bottle.

Tatsumi sighed and sat down on the chair, "Leone, I think you should go to your room" he suggested making Leone sigh.

"Tatsumi, you know where my room is and I can't sleep while your perverted friends fuck each other's brains out…come on I am also a human" she said as she took a gulp from the bottle.

Tatsumi just shook his head, "Okay you can sleep on the bed I will sleep on the couch" he said and Leone sprawled on the bed.

There was silence for a minute when Leone turned on her sided facing Tatsumi, "Tatsumi, do you love someone" she asked and Tatsumi didn't answer but blushed a bit.

Leone was beside him next moment with a grinning face, "You have a girlfriend right …oh man" she said as she sat down on the couch Tatsumi was laying by pushing her butt in his midsection and slipping him back.

"Who is it, who is it, is it Mine…come on tell me" she said like a kid with excitement.

Tatsumi sighed, 'Should I tell her' he thought for a moment and then decided to just go for it . She was drunk so she might not remember it tomorrow.

"Come-on Tatsumi tell me" she said again as she pinched his cheek.

Tatsumi sighed as he yanked her hand from his cheek, "Well…its complicated and it's not Mine" he said making Leone smile sadly, "Poor girl. So what's the complication" she asked and Tatsumi exhaled loudly, "Well, I had left her in a very bad situation and we haven't met since then so I am not sure how would she take it if I went in front of her now" Tatsumi briefly explained making Leone sighed, "Come on, just go and tell her. if it works then fine and if it doesn't then…" she leaned closer to him, "Your big sis Leone is always here to comfort you in her bed" she said and leaned more but Tatsumi pushed her up, "Don't make me through you out" he said with a blank look and standing up took the bottle from her hands and lifted Leone and threw her on the bed and made himself comfortable on the couch.

Leone groaned, "Stupid Tatsumi" she said and fell into a deep slumber.

Tatsumi sighed and closed his eyes. Next day they had a meeting with the merchant and he needed to be on his full potential. With that thought he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

A/N: Well, I have skipped many things in this chapter which will be done in flashbacks of Tatsumi and also of Esdeaths, if I want to add something in Esdeath's story. Tatsumi and Esdeath will reunite in next chapter and I am thinking to change their reunion a bit by removing something and by adding some things so if you want to give your suggestions about how their reunions should be then you are all welcome.