『バウンド』 Bound

No Turning Back

After making sure the blade of his sword was well sharpened, he placed it in its black sheath and watched Akame carefully finish sharpening Murasame.

"I can't wait to take back Incursio." Tatsumi said. His plan was to find the person who decided to make use of his teigu and make sure that the weapon goes right back to the rightful owner, himself. It will be difficult since he will be going against a teigu with an ordinary sword.

"Is that all you are going to do?" Akame asked blankly and Tatsumi sweated.

"Obviously not... Najenda said I'm going to stick with her and the Imperial Army. We're going to deal with The Emperor and the Jeagers. She said you were going to fight Esdeath, right?"

Akame nodded while sheathing her teigu.

"I have a trump card that could possibly defeat her. Or at least proactively damage her. I can only use it once, and I plan to take her out as soon as possible." Tatsumi understood. No matter how much he wanted to believe Esdeath had a kind heart deep down her sadistic mask, the woman was an evil plague to the world. There was no cure for her cold heart. She was born to kill, and she will be reprimanded for it.

"What about everyone else?" He asked. "I heard Leone is going to go for the Prime Minister."

"Yeah. Mine and Lubbock are going to evacuate the Capitol and provide back up whenever it's necessary. I truly hope we will make it out okay." Tatsumi reached over and patted Akame's head with an encouraging grin.

"Don't worry! I made a promise to Lubba, and I won't hesitate to make a promise to you! After all, I did say before that I will survive, didn't I?"

Akame nodded while smiling back.

"Yes. And when all this is over, shall I lock your bedroom door?" Tatsumi grabbed his sword with an embarrassed scowl while leaving the living room.

"You're not letting me live it down, are you?" He mumbled with pink cheeks. From behind, Akame shook her head happily.

"Nope."

...

"Heeey cutie~!" Tatsumi barely looked from the pot he was boiling lobsters in.

"Oh hey Leone. Need anything?" He asked politely. Leone seated herself on the counter beside the stove.

"Nah, just giving my favorite boy a little company." She said with a wink. When Tatsumi narrowed his eyes at her, she sweated. "I promise, no more flirting! Y-You have such a scary look these days..."

"Sorry. It's just that it makes Lubba feel insecure about it, even if he won't admit it." Lubbock's version of coping with jealousy is performing subtle, hostile acts while pretending to be innocent.

"I understand. You're just a rare gem to come across." Tatsumi forced himself not to blush at the compliment. He never understood why his being coming from the countryside suddenly makes him special. It must have been his gullible personality and quickness to turn down a female's offerings. "I don't blame dear Lubbock for being so possessive. He doesn't seem so keen to share~"

"He's not like that..." Much. Tatsumi is also guilty of being a little possessive. Like the one moment earlier when Lubbock had bent over to pick up a dropped book and Najenda happened to be looking away from her report for several seconds. Of course Tatsumi did not make a scene, but once Lubbock entered his room later, let's just say from now on his hands do not only hold Lubbock by the waist in a make out session.

"I was always curious to ask but I didn't want to make it a big deal with the girls. How did you and Lubbock get together?" Leone asked interestedly and Tatsumi cursed his cheeks for warming up.