Realization

The members of Night Raid had been restless this passing month. None more so than Mine and Sheele both of which spent day and night worrying for Parc's safety and that they may find a way to help him escape Esdeath's clutches.

Many a moment between them had been spent with their hands over their gems, gently stroking it for the comforting warmth it gave them, reminding them of Parc's own warmth.

Leone could also be added to the group holding a genuine worry for Parc, though she herself always acted tough to not let her fears for him be seen by the others. Having two depressed assassins was more than enough. Three would just be overkill.

Lubbock and Akame were the ones who took it upon themselves to keep watch around the capital for the Jaegers movements. Most recently, with the appearance of the new humanoid danger beasts, the Jaegers bar Esdeath were out and about travelling between villages being harassed by the beasts, putting them all to a swift death.

Then came the new guy and girl, the latter of which irritated Mine to no end. That vile, obnoxious lollipop sucking vixen spent more time tormenting and teasing her than working. She even went so far as calling her and the others fools for being so lackadaisical. Going so far as to call Bulat and even Parc weak because of what happened to them.

Mine swore if she didn't stop saying that vitriolic spew about Parc, she would take pumpkin and shove it where the sun don't shine.

Didn't help that this… vixen, had transformed into a cat and watched as Mine and Sheele had sex with Parc so long ago. Just the knowledge of that was enough to keep Mine from doing anything unregrettable for fear of her spouting those embarrassing details around.

Though, she was sure she had seen Chelsea whispering with Leone at one point about something or another that lead to Leone giving her a shiver inducing smile and proud nod of her head.

Lastly was Najenda who over the month since Parc's capture had been spending most if not all her time reading and rereading the reports he had gotten from Akame's sister. Making copies of each and every fine detail about the Jaegers to be sent back to the R.A in the future.

Even Mine could see some worry hidden behind Najenda's usual taciturn demeanour. Had Parc even wormed his way into her heart? That was a question Mine wasn't sure how to feel about. Since their little session, she had grown open to this whole polygamy debacle Parc was going about. Having no doubts that this Kurome girl he had under his control would eventually join whether by her own will or under Parc's orders.

And if Kurome joined the group of Parc's lovers, then undoubtedly Akame would be likely to follow as since her discovery of her sisters forcefully realigned loyalties had seemed… happier? If small smiles as she snacked were anything to go by.

All that really left was Najenda and Chelsea, the new girl to Night Raid. She really hoped Chelsea never got anywhere near as close to Parc, let alone become one of his lovers. He must have at least some standards to choose a girl appropriate to join Mine and Sheele in his bed and not some obnoxious, blood boiling prat.

"Can't sleep?" Mine heard the soft whisper of Sheele. Sheele's hand gently stroking through her hair while Mine was curled up into a ball in Sheele's arm as they lay atop Parc's bed beneath his blankets, surrounding themselves with his smell.

They had become close, closer than ever before after everything Parc did to them both. Coming so far as to take comfort in each other's embrace at night to help them fall asleep much easier than on their own.

"Of course not…" Mine mumbled burying her face into Sheele's chest, "I… I can't help but feel something bad is happening to him. I'm worried… I'm… I'm scared Sheele. I… I don't want to lose him." Mine's hand curled into fists, squeezing part of Sheele's nightgown in her grasp.

"I don't either." Sheele muttered a reply, "he'll be alright. I'm sure of it. He's can take care of himself." Mine's pink hair falling between the gaps between her fingers continuing to stroke Mine's back with her other hand.

"Still," Mine whined, "he's stuck there with Esdeath… I… I don't even want to think about what she's doing to him."

"Mnn…" Sheele hugged Mine a little tighter to her chest. The thought of the pain Parc must be feeling sending surges of worry through her heart.

"We'll get him out…" Sheele muttered with a voice lacking in true confidence in the statement. Esdeath was just too powerful to say with confidence that they could get a prisoner away from her. Especially considering Parc's status as she supposed future husband. "We have to…"

***

"Okay, seriously, what did she buy?" Wave was beginning to feel like he really was the only one truly worrying about Kurome and her sudden shift in personality. Where she would defend her candy to the death, she now seemed to be defending a brown paper bag from the wind from just how tightly she was holding it.

And that wasn't even adding in the small goofy smile on her face as she kept her head down staring into the slightly opened bag.

"And why does it make her so happy?"

Run who sat besides him, his hands reached out to the campfire answered, "it's probably just some type of snack she's saving for back in the capital."

Wave didn't believe it in the slightest, there was something else about it. The way she treated it better than her candy. She would lay the bag down besides like a baby when she slept and if even Run got near her when it was in her arms she would dart away from him.

Run could see Wave was intent on arguing with him so with a sigh he said, "what does it matter? Even if it's not some treat, it her business. Do her the courtesy and stop prying. She may be our colleague, but she also has her own private life, just like you do and just like I do. If she wants us to know, she will tell us."

Wave flinched at his words that not so subtly were calling him 'nosy'

"I know, it's just… Ugh…" Wave ruffled his own hair. "You don't think she's seeing someone do you?"

Run paused as he was blowing warm air into his hand, his head tilting to look at Wave with a raised brow. "Even if she was. It is her business. Unless, are you possibly jealous?"

"Wha? No, no." Wave waved him off with a slight redness to his cheeks, "It's jus-"

"Jealousy is a very natural reaction, Wave. We all feel it at some point in our lives to various degrees. Some find jealousy in objects; others find it in people. All jealousy is rooted in a sense of longing, a wanting of something or someone that someone else has. It can be very healthy so long as you do not let your jealousy morph into envy."

"Run."

"Now envy is a terrible, deplorable thing. It will make you do something horrible and forcefully take the object of envy from the one they belong to. Possibly even harming or damaging that you envy in the process." Run's lecture came to a slow stop when Wave began snapping his fingers next to his ear.

"Okay, I get it. But I'm not jealous. I've got a girl waiting for me back home," Wave awkwardly scratched his cheek. "Or… at least… I hope she is? I didn't actually confess to her before getting my orders."

"Really?" Run felt his own curiosity perking up.

"Yeah. Her names Aina. We were bunkmates in training, got separated into different units after but we always kept in touch after that." Wave snorted, "even had this whole plan set out for asking her out on a date. Planned to take her to the pier for some fishing and ask her out at… some point during it."

Run frowned, lips parting just slightly in confusion, "you wanted… to ask a girl out while you were fishing?"

"I know!" Wave exclaimed with a excited tone, "sounds like fun, doesn't it?"

"No. not in the slightest." Run was as blunt as they came and it hit Wave like a hammer.

"What do you mean 'not in the slightest'!? Fishing's great. Spending hours, just yourself a friend and something good to drink just listening to the wind no one bothering you. I miss the sea…" his hands slumped after his rant about the joys of fishing.

"Wave…" Run groaned, planting his palm into his face, "I don't think 'fishing' is much of a place to ask a girl out on a first date."

"What? Why?"

"Because, some, myself in particular. Consider spending hours alone, with a girl I like, with no one bothering us. A date."

Beeping noises came from Wave as he processed it putting together everything he just said, then comparing it to what Run said, soon coming to a sudden and blinding, "oh my god, your right…"

"I tend to be."

"But, we've gone fishing so many times so it can't be a date… right?"

"Oh for the love of," Run rubbed his temples with a groan, "how many times?"

"Since we first met?" Run nodded to his question, "I don't know, like, every other week when we're not on duty."

"She ever say no?"

"No?"

"She ever not show up?"

"No. She was always at the fishing hole before me."

"How close were you when you were fishing?"

Run was slowly realizing, though, not quite there. Apparently he was quite dense, something Run really thought he should have noticed about him earlier. "I- She was always next to me."

"How many times she 'accidentally' drink your drink?"

If Wave was still dense after that question, he was the densest person in the world. "We share our drinks…"

"Right. Last question, if you figure out the answer, I'll give you a gold star. Did she ever put work on the side to go fishing with you?"

"No! She would ne- well… there was that time just before I shipped off for my first pirate hunt… and when she was supposed to be guarding a cruiser but said she didn't want to go so she pretended to be sick…"

Wave blinked profusely while Run spun his hand in a 'come on, you've nearly got it,' type of motion.

"Does… Does Aina… Like me? Like 'like, like' me?"

"Chances are. With everything you just said. Yes. And likely for a while now. How long have you been in the navy?"

"Fi-five years… Oh god." Wave buried his face into his hands. "I'm so dense."

"Yes, yes you are." a yawn came from Run, an indicator to his tiredness. "While you come to terms with that, I'm going to bed."

"Five years… Five years she like me and I didn't notice?"

He didn't even hear Run speak. And he doubted Wave would hear him get up and walk over to where he set his tent up.

He was correct.