Tatsumi shows up.

As the sun began to set, Wave entered Esdeath's chamber, a flummoxed look on his face.

"Ma'am, I think you'll want to see this?"

"Oh?" The general rose, eager to see what could disturb him. As she approached the palace gate, she saw the one man that could make her frozen heart thaw in an instant--for him at least. "Tatsumi, you came back!"

"Yeah, sorry I bailed so quick Esdeath, but...it's probably better if I give my reasons in private, if that's okay."

"Of course; I'll be happy to hear why you left...what's that chain you're holding?"

"Oh, I scared up a gift for you in case you didn't take me back at first, but I guess it isn't the type of thing you can return, so I'll give it to you anyway."

Pulling the chain, the battered members of Night Raid entered through the gate. Being restrained, the guards let them pass as Esdeath's jaw nearly hit the floor. She knew Tatsumi had the potential to be a general, but even she would be hard pressed to defeat all of Night Raid by herself.

"How did you do this?"

"It wasn't easy, but I fought smart, plus my teigu evolved mid-fight and gave me a real advantage." Tatsumi smiled that same smile that made Esdeath fall in love with him that day, and any judgement she could've had went out the window.

"You bastard! We trusted you!" The pink haired one, Mine, Esdeath recalled, lashed out. Just as she was about to freeze her solid for insulting her love, Tatsumi slapped her face right on a preexisting wound before delivering a harsh command.

"Shut it, bitch!"

Esdeath didn't know what to say. She'd never heard Tatsumi swear before, but the way he handled that uppity...bitch was amazing! Mine's pained expression made her nethers so hot, even more so that her dear Tatsumi had caused it.

All her dreams seem to be coming true...The journaling worked!

"Wow, Tatsumi, I didn't know you were that strong. I definitely couldn't do what you did." Wave remarked, marveling at the sight. Surely, the Empire would be much safer with Night Raid dealt with.

"Oh, please, come in. Wave, take them to the dungeon."

Tatsumi passed the chain to Wave as he walked with Esdeath into the castle. She knew he wanted to talk in private, so she led him to her bedroom where she knew they wouldn't be disturbed.

"So, why did you leave?" She was genuinely curious why Tatsumi had decided to leave her when they were so perfect together.

"Well, you see...I was scared of you, okay? I mean, you're an Imperial General that everyone knows is a sadist, and I thought you loving me meant you were going to hurt and maybe even kill me. Plus, I do still believe the Empire needs to change for the better, and you didn't really respond well to that. So, when I saw an opportunity, I ran."

She could hear the honesty in Tatsumi's words, and it touched her. Everything he was, said and did seemed to. She supposed that's what love was.

"Tatsumi, I only hurt traitors to the Empire, and there are many so I never run out of playthings." Pulling him into her sizeable bust, she added "You're my lover; I would never hurt you."

She continued. "I also believe the Empire needs to change, and I have a lot of influence to make things happen, even more now that you've dealt with Night Raid. Once the Emperor hears of your feat, you yourself could demand any number of reforms."

"That's nice to hear. I'm glad I came back." Tatsumi said as he relaxed into her chest. In their first night together, she noticed that he had never relaxed in her presence. She'd thought it was only the nervousness of meeting his true love for the first time, but it had been her that drove away the love of her life.

She decided something then and there: Never again. Tatsumi would never want to leave her again, she'd make sure of it.