Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I

Monster in the Moonlight

A beautiful sunset reflected on the calm riverbanks of Yokohama. Clouds drifted lazily, painted with hues of red and yellow from the dropping ball of fire. To any others, it was a sign of the end of the day. To another, it looked like….

...A bowl of Chazuke?

A boy was lying face down on the grassy banks of the river. He was starving to death and the only thing he could see was a bowl of Chazuke. The dried plum peppered with seaweed, and chicken, coupled with salted kelp.

Slight drool escaped his mouth and his stomach let out a ravenous sound. Tears prickled the boy's eyes as he sat up. Reality was catching up to him.

The boy had white choppy hair with a single side bang on his right side. He had unique tiger yellow eyes that were filled with hunger and desolation.

His name was Atsushi. He was currently on the brink of starvation. He had been kicked out of the orphanage he had been currently occupying and was now penniless and starving.

Yes… the boy’s life sucked…. Badly.

Atsushi stood up, his eyes glinting as he stared at the river resolutely. “I’m going to survive!” He exclaimed loudly. He paused, pondering on how to get the lovely Chazuke in his stomach. ‘I’m going to mug the next person. Survival is necessary.’ He decided, pumping a fist in the air.

He glanced around to find a person to mug when he saw a nice fancy hat floating in the river. It was black with a small chain on the side and crimson ribbon around it. Atsushi’s eyes glinted. Perhaps the hat would be worth something.

Decision made, he quickly waded through the stream and snatched the hat, quickly making his way back onto the desolate river banks. As he examined the soaking but still in good conditioned hat, he heard a loud voice.

“Fuck! My hat!!!” A slightly high pitched but male voice yelled in panic. “Where did it fly to?”

Following the voice, Atsushi turned to see a short, almost child like figure rushing towards the edge of the river bank a few feet from him. The person had not spotted him yet, too busy scanning the river. Atsushi took that moment to take a look at the man. The person had uniquely styled hair, curled and wild that lengthened on one side of his hair. It was a unique color of bright orange that caught his eyes other than the person’s voice or height.

The next thing that caught his eyes was the person’s clothes.

The person wore very fine but dark clothes. He was in  a black suit with a lighter grey best. He wore a white button up collared shirt that peeked out with a strange x shaped cross over it. He also had a small black choker around his neck.  A large ankle-length black coat with light-coloured lining and lapels  sat upon his shoulders like a cape.

He looked rich.

Atsushi took a step forward when the person turned around, his bright blue eyes meeting Atsushi’s. Atsushi blinked at the beautiful almost feminine face before he realized the person was a male. The pretty man’s eyes zeroed onto the hat and in a flash, he was in front of Atsushi, holding the hat to his chest.

Atsushi staggered backwards in surprise, the man had moved so fast!

The person grinned, setting the hat on his head despite the dampness. “You must have saved my hat.” It was a statement, not a question.

Atsushi nodded warily. “I did.” He said slowly.

“Thanks!” The other said cheerfully before offering a hand, “Nakahara Chuuya.”

“Nakajima Atsushi.” Atsushi said slowly. “You’re welcome I guess.”

Chuuya opened his mouth to say something when Atsushi’s stomach let out an enormous growl. There was a pause before Chuuya burst out laughing and Atsushi flushed red.

“...Are you hungry?” Chuuya asked tentatively.

Atsushi sighed, “To be honest, I haven’t eaten in several days….”

GROOOOWWWLLLLL

“This hat is very important to me.” Chuuya informed the white haired boy, “Since you saved it, I’ll treat to you dinner. What do you want to eat?”

Chuuya began to turn to walk away when a loud yell caused the short man to jump, back rigid.

“HEEEEEYYYYY!!!!”

Chuuya turned around, his face pale and eyes wide, “Shit!”

“So this was where you ran off to!” The person who yelled at them snapped out from across the banks. He was also a tall well dressed man with a vest and a ribbon around his neck. He had blonde hair and glasses.

Chuuya offered a weak smile. “K-kunikida!”

Kunikida crossed his arms, a frown in his face. “You ran off so suddenly in the middle of the job that I had to finish everything by myself! You’re usually not like this so what set you off Chuuya? Other than your horrendous drinking habits, you’re not too hard to manage!”

Chuuya flushed, “Who the hell are you calling a terrible drinker?!” He shouted back, waving his fist, “But now that you’re here, you can treat this guy!”

“Don’t go using my wallet on your whims!” Kunikida screamed out, “I know you have enough money on your own! With your clothes and everything, you must have a lot from your previous work”

Chuuya winced, “I… don’t really like using it too much!” He called out. “I’m only using the money I get from the Agency! You’ve been there longer so you should have more money!”

“If you stop using your money on your wine, you would have more!” Kunikida screamed.

Chuuya crossed his arms, ignoring the fuming Kunikida as he turned to the confused Atsushi, “So what do you want eat? Glasses there will treat you.” That caused another violent spiel from said ‘glasses.’

“If it isn’t so much trouble…” Atsushi began, “Can I please have Chizuke?”

“Chuuya!” Kunikida growled, “Feeding the boy is great and all but we don’t have time for this!”

Chuuya shrugged, “I was indebted to him.”

“You suddenly ran off,” Kunikida continued, “And one else can catch up to your speed in the agency, mins you. Now, because of you, I’m so behind on my schedule.”

“I’m not always causing you trouble.” Chuuya frowned, “I do my work you know! You could have someone else who is lazy and causes you trouble and makes you do all the work and tease you and is suicidal….” He suddenly trailed off, his face turning carefully blank before forcing a smile. “But you have someone as great as me!”

“That’s not the point!” Kunikida roared before he slammed his notebook down in front of Chuuya and Atsushi who startled. “You ruined my schedule and even once is a serious problem1”

Atsushi tipped his head.

As if Atsushi had asked a question, Kunikida began to rant. “This is not just a regular notebook either. It is my aspiration! The compass of my life! There is no ‘run after Chuuya’ or ‘feed some boy Chazuke’ in any of my schedule! You made me off schedule!” He pointed an accusatory finger at Atsushi before turning it towards Chuuya who was leaning back on his chair and yawning.

“Mngunumuu?” Atsushi mumbled through chewing.

Kunikida slammed his fist on the table, “We are busy people with work! Chuuya here ran off so he didn’t hear everything but the government has asked us to go capture a wild beast!”

“A wild beast?” Atsushi wondered out loud.

Chuuya grinned, “Apparently it’s a dangerous one.” He rolled his shoulders, “I haven’t been able to let loose in a while. Hopefully this serves as some challenge!”

“Well, thank you so much for the food!” Atsushi exclaimed. “After I got kicked out from the orphanage, I had to fend for myself.”

“What?!” Chuuya exclaimed, “What kind of fucking bastards would do that?” He cracked his knuckles, “I ought to set them straight! No child deserves to be thrown on the streets!” His eyes darkened.

“Calm down Chuuya.” Kunikida sighed. “Besides, that’s out of our hands. We’re not taking pity on unfortunate brats. We’re not a charity.”

“If you’re not charity, what do you do anyways?” Atsushi tipped his head.

Chuuya grinned, “We’re detectives!”

Kunikida grunted, “We’re not those detective that do little things like looking for lost cats. We specialize in especially important murders. Have you heard of the armed detective agency?”

“Why the hell are we following this kid around?” Kunikida grumbled.

The two were walking behind Atsushi who glanced at the two detectives nervously as he continue to walk down the road while looking for shelter.

‘“Because.” Chuuya hissed back, “He saved my hat and he said he was being followed by that tiger. If we follow him or stay near him, the tiger may come.”

Kunikida pressed up his glasses, “Your idea better be good.” He said warily.

“Hey! My plans aren’t bad. They might not always work like some people’s but they are often successful.” Chuuya protested.

Atsushi suddenly froze in the middle of the street as a loud clang was heard. Immediately he got in a feral position. Chuuya and Kunikida froze as well, their senses alert as they looked around.

Chuuya’s face turned serious as he raised a hand, his other gripping the collar of his long coat.

“Kunikida, can you check that out?” Chuuya questioned his whole body tense. His raised hand slipped inside his coat to close on the tilt of his knife.

Kunikida nodded shortly, “On it.”

“I-i-i-it’s here!” Atsushi stammered, eyes wide in panic. “It’s here to get me!”

“Calm down.” Chuuya informed him, “Kunikida went to check. Besides,” He cracked his knuckles with a smirk on his face, “I’ll beat it to pulp.” He promised confidently.

Chuuya turned his back on the boy to look around the area they had stopped. They were in the middle of a neighborhood, right at the point of intersection, leaving four different opening that the tiger could appear on. The neighborhood was closed off by brick walls so it was impossible to see beyond it nor try to escape through there.

Twisting his head side to side, he looked around, eyes darting around to look for any signs of movement. He also kept an eye out for Kunikida to return. There was something awfully wrong about this night. His instinct told him right now to run and leave everything behind. The last time his instincts told him that was the time that he had to use tainted.

Shaking his head to get rid of those thoughts, he frowned. “Hey, I don’t sense anything particular. We should move…”

Chuuya trailed off when he felt something behind him and he slowly turned around, his eyes widening in surprise when he saw Atsushi’s eyes roll back and his body began to change.

Without hesitation, Chuuya  jumped back, raising an arm to cover his face as the pavement where he had been standing before exploded, large pieces of concrete showering outward as a large paw slammed onto the ground.

“Well...shit.” He stared at the enormous white tiger with familiar golden eyes. “That brat’s the tiger?” The boy’s characteristics and his unique situation began to make sense as well as the things the boy had told them happening around him. “He doesn’t realize what he is.” He said out loud, his eyes meeting the tiger’s sentient yellow eyes.

The tiger let out a deep guttural roar before it lunged at him. Chuuya easily manipulated his ability to jump over the tiger, flipping and landing behind it neatly as the tiger whirled around to rush at him again. Chuuya turned, bracing his feet as he slightly bent his knees, his fist cocked back. The ground underneath his shoes cracked.

When the tiger was just a few centimeters in front of him, Chuuya drove his fist on the tiger’s large head, his whole body twisting as he slamming the tiger on to the ground by the force of his fist.

Atsushi predictably went down… hard. A huge tiger shaped crater surrounded him as he lied there, knocked out cold.

Rolling his shoulders, Chuuya let out a yawn. “And I thought he would give me some trouble.” He mumbled before he looked down to examine the tiger.

Chuuya nudged the still body with the tip of his shoe, frowning when he realized the tiger was completely knocked out. “Oi oi. Wake up! I”m not fucking carrying you anywhere or leaving you here!”

The tiger predictably did not respond.

Chuuya scratched his head, he suddenly realized the direness of his situation. He can’t just carry around an enormous tiger around in the middle of Yokohama! “Shouldn’t he have shifted back by now?”

Predictably there was no answer and Chuuya let out a frustrated sigh. With a groan, he took a step closer to pick the tiger up. Before his hand could touch Atsushi’s body, he heard clapping sounds. The sounds echoed eerily at the intersection, bouncing off the walls and making it impossible to detect where the origin of the sound was coming from.

Chuuya tensed, his whole body coiling in a crouched position as his head twisted side to side, trying to figure out where the clapping sounds came from.

He felt his blood chill and body freeze when very familiar lanky arms hugged him from behind, over his shoulders.

Dark locks tickled his cheeks as a chin rested on his shoulders.

“Wahhh~ The tiger’s knocked out cold!” A voice stated cheerfully. “Chuuya is so strong~”

Chuuya couldn’t move. Blood pounded in his head and he felt his body trembling slightly, from what, he didn’t know. His mouth felt dry and his pupils dilated.

“I was looking for Chuuya~” The voice continued, “And I finally found you~”

Chuuya’s spit was caught on his throat and he knew he was beginning to hyperventilate.

“Chuuuuuuuyaaaaa.” The voice drawled out as the arms around him tightened. Chuuya let out a yelp as he felt pain blossom on his left ear, “Are you ignoring me?” The voice had turned from cheerful and teasing to dark and dangerous.

“Did you just fucking bite me?” Chuuya shrieked, finally getting out of his stupor. “What the fuck?!” He felt a chill race through his spine at the change in the voice’s inflection.

“Ahhh! Chuuya finally answered me!” The voice stated cheerfully before snuggling into Chuuya. “I missed youuuuuuuu~”

“Get off of me!” Chuuya stated heatedly while his eyes flickered around, looking for escape or Kunikida. He didn’t want the man coming here to see this scene.

Not because he was embarrassed but because he knew Kunikida would not leave alive if he saw this moment.

“Waaaahhh Chuuya is so mean.” He could hear the pout in the person’s voice as the arms around him loosened and left him. Chuuya turned around, his teeth bared in a small snarl of distaste. However, he knew that no matter how hard he tried, the other would be able to see the palpable fear inside him.

The full moon shone its light on the clearing, bathing the tiger’s body in its light, turning it back into Atsushi’s prone form. It also illuminated the the man standing in front of him, shining him with an ethereal glow.

Chuuya felt his heart stop at the other’s face. The moment those arms had wound around him, he had known who it was. However, it was very different from knowing to seeing his face again.

He hadn’t changed at all.

White bandages were wrapped around one eye along with a large patch on his cheek. The man had dark brown hair that framed  his face along with the small smirk on his lips.  Dead brown eyes stared back at him.

He wore mafia black. From head to toe except the white button up shirt. A black tie, crooked, sat around his neck and an oversized coat sat upon his shoulder like a cape, much like how Chuuya wore his. His suit jacket was folded along the arms, stopping short of his elbow. Bandages were wound on his arms and one could see more bandages around the person’s neck.

Chuuya took a sharp intake of breath before asking, “What the fuck are you doing here, Dazai?” He felt proud of how steady his voice was. His voice had not betrayed him yet.

Dazai smirked, “I already told you. Have you gone deaf, Chibi? I wanted to see you again!”

“Well you saw me.” Chuuya snapped, “Now leave.” His whole body tensed, seeing him again just spelled for trouble.

“I can’t do that.” Dazai’s voice had turned cold and dull. His lone brown eye stared at him down. “I came here to get the Jinko you see.” His lone brown eye turned frostier.

“I won’t let you take him.” Chuuya growled. His hand landed on his hat, allowing him to push it tighter down on his head, “I don’t need my ability to kill you.” His left hand clenched into a fist.

“Perhaps not.” Dazai mused, “But killing me doesn’t mean defeating Port Mafia.” He said it so knowingly, as if he knew exactly what Chuuya was thinking and exactly what he would do. It was disconcerting.

“I don’t need to defeat Port Mafia.” Chuuya snapped. “Besides, if I can kill you now, there will be no one to stop me.” It was true, if Chuuya truly wanted to defeat Port Mafia after Dazai’s death, all he had to do was use tainted. Not everyone would be killed before Chuuya’s time was up but Port Mafia would be thoroughly destroyed and would take years for it to rebuild itself.

Dazai tilted his head, an amused smirk on his lips, “But can you kill me Chuuya?” His knowing tone infuriated Chuuya because Chuuya knew that he couldn’t kill Dazai. Not from the lack of will or even from the lack of strength but because unless Dazai wanted to die, he wouldn’t.

Chuuya opened his mouth to answer when Dazai continued, “Besides, your little friend in glasses, your new… partner, won’t be able to defeat Akutagawa.” He stated the word ‘partner’ with disgust.

Chuuya jolted, “You fucking bastard! What did you do to him?” He felt fear fill him, more than what he was currently feeling now. Chuuya had no doubt that he would survive this encounter with barely a scratch. The only one who was strong enough to even harm him was the Port Mafia boss and Kouyou-neesan after all. He knew for sure that both was not present at this moment.

Kunikida, however, was a different story. Although Kunikida had a unique ability and a good head on his shoulder, he wasn’t anywhere near Akutagawa’s vicious ability. Not to mention that Akutagawa would do anything to win Dazai’s favor, anything.

“The question you should be asking,” Dazai shook his head, “Is what I will be doing to him.” He smiled, “Aaaannnndddd the phone should ring about… now.”

As if on cue, the phone rang. Dazai picked it up, smiling as he flipped it open. The smile did not read his dead fish eyes and that frightened Chuuya more than anything. The man in front of him held no love for Kunikida and the only thing stopping him from torturing Kunikida was Chuuya. He left the phone in speaker mode so that Chuuya could hear what the other was saying.

“Dazai-san.” Akutagawa’s voice sounded from the speaker, “I got him.” The pure devotion in his voice was sickening.

“Good work Akutagawa-kun!” Dazai said cheerfully while staring at Chuuya challengingly. “His power involves writing, right? Why don’t you cut off his fingers so his power becomes useless~”

“As you wi-” Akutagawa begin when Chuuya interrupted, “Stop!”

Akutagawa seemed startled by the familiar voice, “Chuuya-san?” His voice held uncertainty, even Akutagawa had a healthy dose of fear and respect for Chuuya.

“I swear to God that if you touch his hair, Akutagawa, I’m going to end you.” Chuuya snarled in anger, “And everyone you care about.” The ground around him began to crack, “You would do well to heed my warning.”

“What a mafia thing to say~” Dazai said cheerfully, uncaring of the display of power and anger surrounding Chuuya.

“Chuuya?” Kunikida’s voice sounded over the phone, sounding pained and almost desperate. He did not know how these men knew Chuuya but that could come later… if he survived the encounter. “Take the boy and run! They aren’t to be trifled with! Don’t mind me!”

Dazai stared at the phone in disgust, “Akutagawa, you have your orders.” His voice had turned emotionless, flat. His dead eyes bore into the phone as if he could see Kunikida.

There was hesitance in Akutagawa’s voice as he warred over his loyalty to Dazai and to his fear of Chuuya’s promise. His loyalty to Dazai won out. “....As you wish, Dazai-san.”

“Wait!” Chuuya shouted again, “Dazai, please. I’ll do whatever you want, leave him alone.” The only way to get through this was Dazai, the one who held the key to everything.

“Anything?” Dazai’s eyes glinted. Glee shone in his eyes as his plan obviously came into fruition.

Chuuya swallowed, “Under certain limits. I refuse to leave the agency.” He wanted to bang his head on the wall; he should never have promised something so broad but it was the only thing that probably Dazai would have stopped for.

Dazai pouted before shrugging, “Okay then~ Akutagawa, knock him out and go back to base. Leave him on the streets… or in the dumpster. I’ll handle things from here.”

“.... Yes, Dazai-san.” The relief in Akutagawa’s voice was palpable. The line went silent.

Chuuya looked down at the floor in defeat, “What do you want Dazai?”

“It’s been four years already since we last met!” Dazai said cheerfully, picking his way past Atsushi’s prone body. He paused in front of Chuuya and Chuuya concentrated on looking at Dazai’s shoes. He felt his heart clench as he realized that the worn, bloodstained shoe was the same one he had bought Dazai four years ago. He closed his eyes as he felt Dazai’s hand reach out to raise his chin so that Chuuya was meeting his gaze. Chuuya opened his eyes to stare directly into Dazai’s lone eye.

“All I want is just a kiss!” Dazai flashed a smile. “That’s not too hard is it?”

“A kiss?” Chuuya couldn’t believe his ears, “You did all this for just a fucking kiss?!”

“It’s not just a kiss!” Dazai pouted, “It’s Chuuya’s kiss in four years! So I went looking for you~”

Chuuya looked at him blankly, “You’re not going to try to drag me back or anything?”

Dazai’s eyes darkened, “Not yet.” He said softly, calculatingly.“When the time comes, you’ll want to come back.”

Chuuya stared at him aghast before nodding jerkily, “And Atsushi?”

Dazai stared down at the fainted werecat, “Well,” He smiled cheekily, “If you give me another kiss, I’ll leave peacefully and the werecat can be in your care for another day or two.”

Chuuya hesitated before stepping closer, his eyes meeting Dazai’s dark eye. He felt fear and something else when he saw the lust and insanity in Dazai’s single eye as he stared at Chuuya hungrily.

With a trembling hand, he grabbed Dazai’s tie and pulled the man’s face closer to him. Hesitating, he planted a quick peck on the lips before starting to back away.

“Nah-ah!” Dazai’s hand whipped out, grabbing his arm, “That’s not a kiss!”

“Yes it is, you shitty bastard!” Chuuya snapped.

Dazai stared at him before glancing back down at Atsushi. The meaning was clear and Chuuya gritted his teeth before grabbing the bastard’s tie again and forced their lips together. He could feel the other’s grin as Chuuya opened his mouth, letting the other’s tongue in.

Immediately, Dazai took control, pressing Chuuya’s smaller body against his own as he ravished the smaller male’s mouth. Chuuya couldn’t help moan to his horror. It felt so right and Chuuya knew that he had missed this no matter how much he would deny it later.

The two finally separated when they ran out of breath.

“There.” Chuuya snapped, backing away, his limbs shaking when he felt some semblance of control. He felt mortified of how long that had gone on and the sounds he had made.

Dazai was frowned, his eye however glinted victoriously, before he smiled confidently, “Now that I know where you are, I’ll leave peacefully although I think you still owe me a kiss.”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t know where I was.” Chuuya stated, he was actually surprised that the man had approached him so late.

Dazai frowned, his single eye narrowing, “Chuuya is so mean, I was overseas for four years, ever since you left. In France of course, I was looking for you there.” He smiled coldly, “I came back a few hours ago.” He paused before continuing, “I miscalculated.” He admitted freely, “I thought you would have gone to France… no you would have gone to France but you didn’t choose, right Chuuya?” Dazai smiled, “Someone else told you where to go and hid you from my eyesight all these years. There are very few people in the world who can do that. I must say I know exactly who.”

Chuuya felt his blood run cold as the other turned around and began to walk away, a single hand waving in goodbye.

“Now that I’m in Yokohama again and I know exactly where you are and who you are with, I’ll see you again soon~” Dazai laughed before he disappeared in the shadows.

Chuuya let go of a breath that he hadn’t known he was holding when Dazai disappeared from sight. He fell to his knees next to Atsushi’s prone body, his whole body trembling.

Four years and the bastard still held so much power over him and the bastard knew it too.

Chuuya clenched his fist,  hating the fact that the single kiss made him weak on his knees.

He truly  hated the Dazai who had changed so much.

Most of all, he hated himself and the heart that beated faster whenever the bastard was there.

Chapter Text

II

The Dogs of Port Mafia

“I’m sorry!” Tanizaki bowed his head in apology to Atsushi who raised his hand placatingly. “That was pretty terrible of me!”

“Ah, be quiet!” Chuuya moaned as he nursed a cup of coffee. He was sitting in the bar side next to Kunikida in the restaurant on the first floor of the Detective Agency building. A terrible scowl was on his face as he glared balefully at Kunikida who was calmly reading his notebook, ignoring the hate vibes coming off of the small man next to him. “It was a damn test!”

“Don’t be so foul in the morning.” A pretty girl with long hair who was hanging off Tanizaki chided. She turned to Atushi and offered him a smile, “Hey, I’m Naomi and this is my Onii-sama~” She then proceeded to molest her brother to Atsushi’s horror.

“How can I not be foul when I want to be drunk right now!” Chuuya snapped, “If it wasn’t for someone, I would be enjoying a nice glass of wine right now!”

“Nice try Chuuya.” Kunikida raised his glasses with his finger, “However, if you were to be drunk right now, it would be troublesome for me and my schedule. Therefore, I expect you to refrain from such behavior in broad daylight. Moreover, Kid.” He turned his attention to Atsushi who perked up.

“From now on, you’re part of the Armed Detective Agency and therefore represents our Agency. Don’t trash our name or cause trouble, understand?”

Atsushi nodded slowly before he looked at the few agency members that were present. “So what did all of you do before you joined the Agency?”

There was a moment of silence as everyone stood to attention. Chuuya’s grip on his coffee cup got slightly tighter as he used his free hand to lower his hat, slightly covering his eyes.

“Well?” Atsushi questioned hesitantly.

“You have to guess!” Naomi supplied helpfully, “It’s part of the procedure.”

Atsushi sat back on his chair to survey the two siblings. “Are Tanizaki-san and his sister students?”

Tanizaki looked at him surprise, “How did you know?”

“Well, Naomi-san is wearing a uniform and it looked like Tanizaki-san is around her age.” Atsushi responded.

“Then what about Kunikida?” Chuuya questioned, his eyes sharpening.

Kunikida flinched, “Stop! My former job-”

“Was he a government official?” Atsushi questioned thoughtfully.

“Close.” Chuuya smirked, “He was a math teacher.”

“I don’t even want to think about it.” Kunikida grunted.

“What about Chuuya-kun?” Naomi questioned eagerly.

“I would like it if he doesn’t even try to guess.” Chuuya muttered but was predictably ignored as Atsushi gave him a hard stare.

“Was he... “ He stared blankly at Chuuya’s expensive clothes and foreign looks. “Perhaps is the son of a rich noble?”

There was silence before Chuuya shook his head, “Nope. I’m an orphan.”

“Oh.” Atsushi paused to stare at Chuuya who offered a somewhat strained smile, “Don’t think too hard. It’s a past better left buried.”

Atsushi opened his mouth to refute that statement when the ringing of someone’s phone stopped him.

Tanizaki reached into his pocket to bring out his ringing phone, easily flipping it open and answering it. “Yes? A job request?”

The woman in front of them was young, in her early twenties. She had pretty short blonde hair and swept bangs. She sat in front of them, confident yet cautious, wearing neat business like clothes.

Tanizaki reached forward and glanced at the clipboard, “An investigation request?”

“Yes.” The woman nodded, “There is a strange mean looking guy hanging behind our company building.”

“A mean looking guy?” Tanizaki repeated.

“Yes.” The woman said calmly. “He is dressed in rags, always walks in shadows, and speaks a foreign language. All in all, suspicious.”

“Aren’t those usually smugglers?” Kunikida asked sharply.

Meanwhile, Chuuya stared at the woman. There was something awfully off about her that he couldn’t quite place. Moreover, her request was a bit strange and the way she talked about it was off as well.

“If it is a smuggler, the police are the better people to go to.” Chuuya spoke causing the woman to turn to him. His eyes narrowed as he studied her face, “It’s a port city so smugglers are often common.”

“That may be true but I don’t have enough evidence.”

“So you want us to find evidence.” Kunikida stated before nodding to Atsushi, “Oi Kid, you’re going.”

“What?” Atsushi asked nervously.

“It’s an easy job for your first job.” Kunikida explained, “Plus Tanizaki will go with you.”

“If Onii-Sama is going, then Naomi will come along as well~” Naomi called out.

As Atsushi slowly and nervously began to prepare his things to go, Kunikida approached him alone. “Oi Kid. I have sympathy for your unhappy life so I’ll give you a tip.” He reached into his pocket to take out his notebook, flipping it open and taking out a single picture.

The picture depicted a single man clad in place with white tips in his long side bangs that framed his face.

“If you ever meet him… run.” Kunikida stated seriously.

“This person is...?” Atsushi questioned fearfully.

“Mafia.” Chuuya’s soft but almost harsh voice caused Atsushi to jump. He turned to see the short man with his arms crossed and his hat shadowing his eyes.

“He’s one of the dogs of the brutal Port Mafia that owns the harbor. His name is-”

“Akutagawa Ryunosuke.” Chuuya interrupted softly.

Kunikida spared him a glance before continuing, “The Mafia are more dangerous than even the underworld. And he’s one of the worst.”

“Why is he so dangerous?” Atsushi asked worriedly and slightly fearfully.

“It’s because he is an ability user.” Kunikida informed him, “His ability is extremely brutal and is specialized in slaughtering. Not even the police can contain him. Moreover…” he hesitated.

“Even I lost to him in a fight.”

“We’re here.” The blonde woman beckoned them to a dark alleyway.

“It feels somewhat like a demon’s den.” Atsushi mumbled nervously as he looked around the alleyway.

“Strange.” Tanizaki mumbled, his eyes narrowed. “Is this really the place Higuchi-san? Usually outlaws prepare an exit but this is a dead end. There is no escape path if the police came this way.”

“That’s right.” Higuchi reached up and tied up her hair in a high ponytail. “I know all about it but then again, this is a trap.”

“My targets… are you guys.” She snapped open her phone and spoke, “Akutagawa-san, I’ve captured them as planned. We can dispose of them now.”

“Did you say… Akutagawa?” Tanizaki exclaimed.

“For the sake of our Boss- I will gladly kill you right here!” Higuchi exclaimed as she raised two guns towards them.

“She’s Port Mafia!” Atsushi exclaimed when the woman fired.

“For my master’s sake… please die here!” Higuchi declared fiercely as she began to fire at them rapidly.

Blood splattered everywhere and Tanizaki and Atsushi stared in shock at Naomi’s blood torn body standing in front of them.

“Onii-sama… are you alright?” Naomi questioned softly before she fell face forward.

“NAOMI!” Tanizaki screamed when a gun was pressed against his head. Higuchi stared down at him coldly, “You’re not a combat personnel so why don’t you go join your sister?”

“How dare you… hurt Naomi?” Tanizaki snarled darkly as he stood up with Naomi in his arms. “ Light Snow! ”

Snow began to fall all around them. Higuchi frowned, ‘Snow? In this season?’

Higuchi without hesitation shot at Tanizaki when he dissolved causing her to start in surprise and fear. “What?”

“My ability turns this snow filled space into a smokescreen. You won’t be able to find out where I am.”

“Ugh.” Higuchi began to turn around in circles, shooting blindly when hands appeared around her neck and began to choke her.

“This is the end!” Tanizaki snarled when blood dribbled down the corner of his mouth. “Eh?”

He looked down to see a long black appendage plunged into his stomach. He fell onto the ground to reveal a man clad in black. One of his hand was covering his mouth but his cold soulless black eyes bore into Atsushi’s horrified eyes.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” The man stared at him blankly, “I’m Akutagawa.”

He coughed a few time, covering his mouth with his hand before staring at the ADA members coldly, “Like the young lady there, I’m one of the lowly dogs of Port Mafia.”

“Akutagawa Sempai!” Higuchi exclaimed, “Do not belittle yourself with them! I can handle them on my-” She was brutally cut off by a cruel backhand from Akutagawa.

“Don’t kid yourself.” He stated coldly, distastefully. “Your orders were to capture the Jinko alive but you were shooting aimlessly. What if you shot him by mistake, you useless imbecile.”

“What do you mean capture me?” Atsushi exclaimed causing Akutagawa to turn to him cooly. “Our orders were to capture you. Your companions lying over there…” He motioned to Naomi’s and Tanizaki’s motionless and bloody bodies, “Are… well, lying there because of you. You bring calamity among those around you by simply living.”

Atsushi froze as a man clad in white stared down at him cruelly. “You must have sensed it yourself, right?” Akutagawa questioned before stating, “ Rashomon.”

From his cloak, a huge tendril of black energy erupted, forming a somewhat draconic head with enormous fangs. Atsushi’s eyes widened and he barely jumped back as it lashed forward, destroying the ground where Atsushi had been.

“My Rashomon can devour anything. Resist and it will bite off your leg next.”

“A-atsushi-kun… run.” Atsushi turned to see Tanizaki staring at him determinedly. ‘They’re still alive!’ Atsushi thought in surprise and relief.

“From now on, you’re part of the Armed Detective Agency and therefore represents our Agency. Don’t trash our name or cause trouble, understand?”

Kunikida’s voice rang in his head and Atsushi lunged forward, taking action. Akutagawa’s eyes widened as his ability lashed out. Atsushi simply slid beneath the tendril and grabbed Higuchi’s gun that was lying on the floor. He turned and quickly pulled the trigger, shooting at Akutagawa.

Atsushi’s mouth hung open in shock and despair as the bullets simply clinked down onto the ground at Akutagawa’s feet. “That attack was pretty good but my Rashomon can eat anything, even the space between the bullets and me. Now…” The beast shot forward and in a flash, tore off Atsushi’s leg, “To keep with my promise.”

“KYAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH”

Akutagawa turned, ignoring the pain filled screaming behind him as he began to walk out. He froze when the screaming suddenly cut off short and he heard a cracking sound.

Snap. Crack. Snap. Crack.

Akutagawa stared as Atsushi’s body began undergoing a transformation, a small smirk appearing on his lips when a huge tiger took Atsushi’s place.

The tiger let out a roar as it lunged at Akutagawa whose eyes widened at the tiger’s speed. Rashomon spreaded out to protect him and a stray tendril lashed out, making a cut on the tiger’s left flank.

Akutagawa frowned when it immediately healed up, ‘Such regenerative powers.’

The tiger turned around to attack again when Akutagawa cut the tiger in half. “Che, it would have been better to bring him alive…” He trailed off when the tiger disappeared. ‘An illusion?!’

He turned around to see the tiger appear once again but instead of the wildness in it, it seemed that the boy had gained a semblance of control on the tiger.

Akutagawa smirked as his Rashomon created a huge clawed hand  sent to rip the tiger apart when a huge rock slammed between them.

Startled, Akutagawa jerked back, his hand shielding his face from the exploded debris and dust. He could make out a small shape with a fancy hat and a large cloak like coat.

The dust cleared to reveal Chuuya balanced on a huge chunk of rock that was now separating Akutagawa and Higuchi from Tanizaki, Naomi, and Atsushi.

“You’re from the Agency!” Higuchi exclaimed in surprise, “Why are you here?”

Chuuya stared down at them coldly, “What do you think?” His voice was cold as flint, “Did you really think that I wouldn’t notice?”

“Y-you…” Higuchi trailed off.

Chuuya gave them a cold glance before turning his head towards Atsushi, “Oi, can you hold on?”

“Somewhat Chuuya-san.” Atsushi mumbled, turning back into human.

“Good, cuz I don’t want to carry all three of you.” Chuuya stated calmly, his eyes still not leaving the other two.

“Stop right there!” Higuchi pointed her gun at Chuuya, “You think you’ll leave here alive?”

“Stop Higuchi, you cannot even hope to beat him.” Akutagawa raised his arm to stop her.

“You must be new.” Chuuya began quietly as the ground around him began to tremble, “If you think you can even think to defeat me. ”

Higuchi stumbled back as pure killing intent filled the air. Chuuya stared down at them as the rock underneath him began to crack.

“Hey Akutagawa.” Chuuya stared down at him, “I thought I told you… that if you hurt anyone I care about, I’ll end you. Now tell me… why are you after him?”

“There is a seven billion bounty on his head. If the Agency can provide that, we will leave him alone… if not…”

“Heh, are you declaring war on the Agency?” Chuuya questioned as he jumped down from the rock just as it disintegrated into dust. The concrete underneath his shoes cracked as he landed. “I want to see you try.”

“You’re just a puny agency!” Higuchi snarled, “We have dozen of enterprises under our control and our influence extends to politics and many other sectors of this city! We will destroy you!”

“No one has survived after defying us!”

Chuuya began to laugh causing Higuchi to start.

“Of course he knows all that.”

Chuuya’s laughter cut off sharply as a new set of footsteps echoed in the alleyway. Atsushi started, his eyes widening as a new person entered from the alleyway entrance. Something about this newcomer made his hair stand on end and hackles rise.

Something about this person was more frightening than even Akutagawa.

The man was clad in black, reminiscent to Akutagawa and even Chuuya. He was clad in bandages if the strips of white around his arms and peeking out from his neck was any indication. His right eye was also covered in swathes of bandages while his lone eyes stared at them with such dead dullness that made Atsushi’s blood freeze.

A large coat flapped slightly as he walked towards them, a somewhat cruel and knowing smile on his face.

“Dazai-san.” Akutagawa said the man’s name reverently as he moved slightly to the side, making way for the man.

Higuchi bowed her head, “Dazai-san! You needn’t come here and waste your time with them! And what did you mean by…?”

“Ah, him knowing all that?” The man, Dazai smiled. “Of course Chuuya knows all that! He was after all, part of the Mafia after all!”

Higuchi gasped while Atsushi’s eyes widened. He took a step back, suddenly seeing the similarities in Chuuya’s attire and that of Port Mafia.

“Look!” Dazai smiled, “He’s even wearing Mafia black. The exact same way he wore when he was part of Port Mafia. It’s like you never left Chibi!”

“Don’t call me that.” Atsushi shivered, he had never heard Chuuya’s voice sound so frosty. Chuuya took a step forward and another, the floor underneath him cracking as he did so until he was a few feet away from Dazai, “Oi, you said that you would leave him alone.”

“I said I would leave him alone.” Dazai smiled mirthlessly, “I never said about the Mafia. If you have complaints, take it up to the Boss.”

“Are you trying to piss me off Dazai?” Chuuya snarled. “I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. I don’t need my ability to kill you.”

Dazai opened his mouth to retort when Rashomon lashed out. Chuuya’s eyes flickered and he easily jumped back, landing in front of  Atsushi who startled.

“Chuuya-san… you will not be harming Dazai-san.” Akutagawa almost snarled.

Before Chuuya could respond, a fist smashed into Akutagawa’s face lightning fast. Higuchi let out a startled scream as Akutagawa crashed onto the wall, making a dent around where he had impacted.

“You, who can still barely use you ability and can’t even complete a mission without me coming here, think you can even take on Chuuya?”

Atsushi stared in horror at how the bandaged man had just punched his own subordinate ruthlessly onto the wall. His eyes glanced at Chuuya who stared firmly at the Port Mafia dogs.

“As disgustingly ruthless as ever.” Chuuya spat, “And I don’t need you to fight my battles Dazai.”

“Hmm?” Dazai turned back towards Chuuya, “But Chuuuyaaa, we’re partners!”

Higuchi gasped in shock, “P-partners? Then he’s!”

“My other half!” Dazai said almost sappily,

“Don’t fucking joke around Dazai.” Chuuya snarled, “Whatever we were, it’s over now. Now, I will warn you again.” The ground around them began to shake with the force of Chuuya’s ability, “If you dare to harm the Agency Members again, know that I will not be holding back. I will annihilate you.”

Dazai clapped almost excitedly, “My my Chuuya! If it is by your hands, I wouldn’t mind dying.” Suddenly Dazai was in front of Chuuya whose eyes widened at the frightening display of speed that he did not remember Dazai to possess.

“You look most beautiful when you’re angry.” Dazai murmured in Chuuya’s ears. Only Atsushi’s sensitive tiger ears caught it. The man carefully stepped back from Chuuya whose whole body was shaking.

Dazai turned his attention to Atsushi who flinched at having the man’s lone gaze on him. “So you must be Atsushi-kun! I heard Chuuya took you under his wing.” Dazai slipped past a frozen Chuuya until he was standing in front of Atsushi. “Isn’t Chuuya so nice? Unfortunately, I’m going to have to-”He suddenly ducked as Chuuya’s feet lashed above him.

“Ah! Don’t be so temperamental!” Dazai exclaimed as he dodged Chuuya’s move easily as he skid to a halt next to Akutagawa who had extracted himself from the wall. “It’s pointless. I know your habits and timing like the back of my hand! We’re partners after all!”

“Then you should know,” Chuuya’s eyes had turned murderous, “That you’re going to die.”

Dazai’s smile slipped off as he surveyed Chuuya’s face. “It seems like I pushed too far. We will be leaving then but Chuuya, you won’t be able to protect any of them.”

“Hah?”

“I’ll see you soon Chuuya.” Was the only reply as Dazai walked away with Akutagawa and Higuchi.

At the man’s disappearance, the tension seemed to drain out of Chuuya’s body leaving the man somewhat tired looking. The man’s eyes were dark as he seemingly were contemplating Dazai’s ominous words.

“Atsushi, let’s go.” Chuuya reached over to pick up Naomi and Tanizaki easily and began to walk towards the exit.

“Um, Chuuya-san…” Atsushi began when Chuuya cut him off.

“Just…” Chuuya trailed off.

“Just leave it.”

Chapter Text

III.

Behind the haze of a Drunken mind

“What? Chuuya-san isn’t here again?”

Atsushi looked towards the agency members who were all going along with their daily business without a care whether their black clad hat lover was with them or not.

It was the third day since ‘the accident’, as Atsushi privately dubbed, and Chuuya was still not present in the Agency office since that day. Atsushi did not know the man as intimately but something told him that Chuuya was a responsible person, especially for his work. Therefore, it was odd the man would suddenly stop appearing.

However, the careless reaction of the Agency people indicated something else.

“About Chuuya-kun, don’t worry about it.” Naomi took pity on the confused weretiger. “Chuuya-kun goes on random drunken sprees here and there, missing out several days. The several times he did it, we were frightened and checked on him. However, he told us not to mind him and think it as a spontaneous day off.”

“I’m still totally against the idea.” Kunikida growled. “Because of him, my schedule get off in random times.” He pushed up his glasses before sighing, “But I guess we can’t help it.”

“If you’re so worried, why don’t you go check on him?”

Atsushi turned to see Yosano Akiko, the Agency’s frightening doctor. Yosano offered him a smile, “Just in case he hasn't died of  alcohol poisoning. If he's in a sorry state, call for me.”  A deadly smile appeared on her face,”I’ll fix him right up.” The whole agency flinched.

Atsushi, unaware of the the sudden frightened atmosphere the other Agency members were emitting, nodded enthusiastically as he received the address to Chuuya’s home and his spare keys.

With a wave towards the other Agency members, he walked out of the building and onto the bustling streets of Yokohama.

The sun was still high up in the sky and he took the moment to admire the beautiful clear sky before he started his journey towards Chuuya ‘s home. ‘Chuuya-san lives pretty close to the Agency building. ‘ Atsushi noted to himself as he stopped in front of the door to Chuuya’s home. ‘But he strangely doesn't live in the dorms like the other Agency members. Isn't it more practical to live in the dorms?’

He reached in his pocket for the key to Chuuya’s house before he paused. It would be rude to barge in someone else’s house without at least knocking first. For all he knew, Chuuya could be currently completely sober right now.

He hesitantly rang the doorbell and paused. When he heard no noise, he reached into his pocket when the door opened.

Atsushi closed his eyes completely in relief and he looked up slightly at the person who opened the door, his eyes still closed as he said, “Ah, Chuuya-san, I just came to check up on you because you didn’t show up to work. I’m glad you’re awake and fine!”

“Ehh, I think this is the first time someone mistook me for Chuuya. I’m surely not short enough for that.”

Atsushi froze at the somewhat familiar voice and a sudden chill took his body. A trickle of sweat dripped down his brow as he slowly opened his eyes to focus on the person who answered the door.

The man, Dazai  his mind supplied, smiled down at him. It was a smile that didn’t reach his lone visible eye that stared down at him such darkness that Atsushi couldn’t help but take a step back. “Well then, come in.” Dazai informed him, opening the door wider and walking back in the house. Atsushi hesitated before he slowly reached into his pocket to call one of the Agency members when he heard the sound of a gun cocking. Atsushi immediately froze.

“I wouldn’t do that if I was you.” Dazai said calmly and coldly, “I heard from Akutagawa-kun that you have impressive healing abilities. We can always test it out.”

Atsushi, slowly took out his hand, displaying it to show that it was empty. Dazai smiled before he put away his gun. “Now then, Atsushi-kun, was it?”

Atsushi nodded slowly.

“Our conversation last time was cut short, wasn’t it?” The man hummed, “Chibi is so temperamental.” His lone eye suddenly focused on Atsushi with such intensity that made the boy freeze on spot. “Chuuya doesn’t know I’m here.” The man informed him, “And I want to leave it that way.” The unspoken threat was in the air.

Atsushi slowly nodded, “Then where is Chuuya-san?”

“Ah, he’s drunk.” Dazai smiled, raising an index finger. “Chuuya can’t hold his liquor at all! Not to mention, he’s a terrible drunk. Doesn’t remember a thing and is super clingy too.”

“Y-you’re taking advantage of him?!” Atsushi exclaimed somewhat horrified, “You’re trying to make him spit out information or something, aren’t you?”

“Information?” Dazai tipped his head, “I never tried but I doubt I’ll get anything out of him, drunk or not. Chuuya is stubborn and ridiculously loyal.” A cold smile spread on his lips, “I bet he hasn’t told anyone about me.”

“W-why would he need to mention y-you, D-dazai-san?”

Dazai shrugged, “Since the Agency has made an enemy out of the Port Mafia, it has made an enemy out of me. Truthfully, I’m in a bind, you see. I can’t just crush the Agency because my Chuuya would be devastated. Still, I have my orders as well. Choices, choices.” The man smirked, “Chuuya should have informed the Agency everything about the Mafia and every single one of our weaknesses. Only then, you might stand a chance. Might.”

Atsushi swallowed before staring at him resolutely, “Then why are you telling me this?”

“Because you’re Chuuya’s cute little student!” Dazai clapped his hands, a somewhat amused smile crossed his face, “Although you’re taller than him.”

“I need you to leave now.” Dazai stood up. “Your members should begin to worry.”

“W-wait! I can’t just leave you with Chuuya-san!” Atsushi protested bravely.

Dazai paused, “I won’t hurt him.” He stated as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. The man pointed to the door causing Atsushi to hesitantly make his way towards it. “Besides, Chuuya won’t even know I was here. I hope this can stay between us Atsushi-kun!” Dazai smiled brightly, “Or else, you won’t like the consequences.” The last statement was soft but deadly.

Just like that, Atsushi was pushed out of Chuuya’s house.

Dazai turned around and walked into Chuuya’s room. Chuuya was splayed out on his bed, snoring. A tender smile crossed his face as he reached out to gently pat Chuuya’s hair as he rested his head against his other hand.

Chuuya mumbled out a inchlorent word as he buried his face deeper into his covers. “Neh, Chuuya.” Dazai purred softly, “You can only show this side of you to me only, okay? For now, I’ll let you play friends with those Agency members but don’t forget who you really belong to.” His hand slowly traced the choker around Chuuya’s neck.

“We’ll see each other soon.” Dazai promised before he turned around and left, leaving Chuuya behind.

“Uggghhhh, my head.” Chuuya grumbled to himself as he stood up from his bed. He let out a sigh, wrinkling his nose as the smell of alcohol reached his nose. He stared at his clothes which were days old from his drunken stupor.

He clenched his fists when he recalled Dazai’s smiling face, closing his eyes to calm himself down.

“Stupid Dazai…” He mumbled to himself as he stood up, slipping out of his clothes to take a shower. He then reached up and unbuckled the choker around his neck. Pausing when he felt something different, he paused to examine the choker. The blood suddenly drained from his face.

With trembling fingers, he stared at the small silver buckle. If Chuuya didn’t know almost every single piece of his clothes by heart, a habit formed during his time in the Mafia, he wouldn’t have noticed for a long time. In small, almost unnoticeable letters, something was engraved in the buckle.

He stared at it, squinting. Chuuya dropped the choker as if he was burned when he read the engravings on the small buckle.

Dazai Osamu

“What the fuck?!” Chuuya choked when he read the engraving. Ignoring his naked state, he turned and ran out of his restroom to open his drawers. With shaking fingers, he took out a choker, complete utter horror filling him when he noticed that every single one of his choker now had a name engraved in it.

He dropped it, stumbling backwards as he started to look around wildly, afraid to see the owner of said name standing there.

Turning around he slowly walked towards the shower and without glancing at the choker on the floor, quickly took a shower. Ignoring his trembling fingers and the sense of dread filling him, he quickly got dressed and put on his hat. His hand hesitated on a choker, the final addition to his outfit but did not put it on, ignoring the collar.

He rushed towards the Agency building, his hands tucked into his pockets when he felt something that was unnatural. He paused, reaching in and taking out a piece of paper.

Already knowing who it was from, he slowly opened it.

No Resistance.

Chuuya blinked.

He read the words over again. He flipped it around before rummaging in his pockets for more pieces of paper and finding none, he turned to stare back at the two words on the paper. The smooth, somewhat fancy script was definitely the bandage wasting bastard’s handwriting but the cryptic command confused Chuuya to no end.

“What the hell does he want?” Chuuya snarled out loud causing people to stare at him strangely. With a sigh, he brought his hat down on his head and began to walk more slowly towards the Agency building, pondering on what the hell that monster wanted now.

With a sigh, he crumpled the paper and threw it at a trashcan on a wall, pausing when he noticed a young girl with black hair and kimono. He felt a pang in his heart when he saw someone wear a kimono at this time and age. There was one other person like that.

Closing his eyes, he turned and began to walk past the girl when the girl reached over and grabbed the edge of his coat. Chuuya paused to stare at her in confusion when the girl snapped open her phone, “Found you.”

“What?” Chuuya began when an enormous construct of a woman with long hair, a mask like face with a long line under each eye, a long katana, and white kimono appeared behind her. For a moment, the construct was replaced with something else, similar but of different coloring.

“Golden demon?” Chuuya breathed when the girl said, “Demon Snow.”

Chuuya’s body tensed and the floor under his shoes cracked as the demon construct lunged at him. As he began to raise his hand to use his ability, two words suddenly echoed in his mind.

No Resistance.

Chuuya clenched his teeth, hesitating before he relaxed. ‘I must be fucking drunk.’

The last thing he saw before his vision turned black was of the girl’s dead eyes.

“Chuuya-san isn’t at work today as well.” Atsushi noted worriedly. A flash of bandages and a dead gaze erupted in his mind before he pushed it back. He felt like the man wouldn’t do anything to Chuuya yet.

“Don’t worry about it.” Kunikida said with a sigh before he pointed at Atsushi, “Why don’t you get to work right away?”

Atsushi’s response was interrupted by Tanizaki who stumbled in, his eyes wide with terror.

“Ah, Tanizaki-san, you’re alright!”Atsushi cried in relief.

“Thanks to Yosano-sensei’s treatment.” Kunikida pushed up his glasses, “Tanizaki, how many time have you been dissected?”

Tanizaki’s expression turned to pure terror, “...Four times.”

He suddenly crouched, his hands on his head as he mumbled to outloud, “Atsushi-kun, as a member of the Agency, you’d better not get hurt.”

Kunikida sighed, “That’s your fault, Tanizaki You didn’t run even when you knew it was the Mafia.”

Ranpo who had been sitting down on the floor with his back to the walls called out, “To realize when something’s wrong and running for it. That’s the ability to notice danger. For Example…. Ten seconds from now on….”

Atsushi turned to glance at the man in confusion when a new person made an appearance with a large yawn.

“I overslept.” Yosano walked while rubbing the back of her head. Atsushi blinked, “Yosano-san.”

“Ah, Atsushi-kun, are you hurt anywhere?”

“No, I’m fine.” Atsushi offered her a smile.

“Tsk.” She turned away with an annoyed expression.

“By the way.” She turned back around, “I’m going shopping and I need someone to carry my stuff… it seems like you’re the only one available.”

“EH?” Atsushi whipped his head around to see no one.

‘So this… is the ability to notice danger?’ Atsushi stared at the blank space desolately.

“D-d-do you still have more stuff to buy?” Atsushi questioned as he desperately tried to balance the enormous load .

“Don’t drop them.” Yosano informed him before she turned to him with a terrifying expression, “If you do…”

“Ahhahaha…” Atsushi laughed when a girl passed by him. He paused, his head turning to look at the girl with black hair with twin tails, dressed in a kimono. The girl also turned, meeting his eye before she turned her head away from him and continued on her way.

Atsushi blinked and was about to continue walking when a woman bumped into him. He let out a startled yell as one of the bags tilted over and a bunch of lemons dropped onto the ground. Atsushi yelped when a businessman in a suit stumbled and fell when he stepped on the dropped lemons.

“Are you okay?!” Atsushi exclaimed when the man stood up with anger, “HOW ARE YOU GOING TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS!”

“I’m really sorry.” Atsushi began when Yosano crouched down to pat down his pant leg, “Please forgive us, are you hurt?”

She smiled up at him when the man kicked her, causing her to fall on the floor. “GET THE HELL OFF OF ME! WHO DO YOU THINK I AM BITCH?”

He pointed down at her, “I CAN MAKE YOU LOSE YOUR JOB WITH ONE PHONE CALL…”

He froze when Yosano reached up and grabbed his finger and cracked it. “Bitch?”

Her face turned murderous and the man’s face paled, “Now you’ve done it. Then Shall I XX your puny XX by stepping on them like a proper bitch?”

She then gave Atsushi a glance, causing him to flinch before turning around.

The two quickly sat on the train. Atsushi looked down, “I’m really sorry about that.”

“Don’t worry about such trivial things.” Yosano waved her hand before she gave him a stare, “Wasn’t your leg chopped off?”

“Yes.” Atsushi confirmed before he let out a yelp when he grabbed his leg to examine it.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s just a pity I couldn’t treat you. Doesn’t matter.”  She turned to give him a glance, “But… you might not be that lucky next time.”

“Eh?”

“Last time, they were only defeated because they came for the Detective Agency head-on. Their usual method is to launch a surprise attack in the middle of the night. Be careful when you’re out late. You won’t know when or where they’ll come for you.”

Bzzz

“Ah~ An announcement from the driver’s cabin.” The two looked up in confusion at the voice the suddenly spoke out, “ I apologize for the intrusion! Now I am about to conduct… a little physical experiment! The aim is to evaluate people’s reaction and sensory input toward explosion under unusual circumstances! The test subjects will be you passengers.  Thhaaaank you very much for your cooperation! Now without further ado, please enjoooy!”

BOOOM.

Yosano and Atsushi grabbed onto their seats as part of the subway exploaded.

“Did two or three people just die? The next blast will do better than that!” the announcement speaker blared, “I have installed bombs at both the first and last carriages, enough to blow everyone to the moon!”

“Well then, representative of our test subjects - Atsushi-kun! If you don’t hand over your head… all the passengers will be on a one-way trip to heaven, you knooooooww~~”

“Wha-”

“Speak of the Devil…” Yosano smiled tensely.

“What do we do?”

“One, get captured obediently.” Yosano gave him a cold stare, “Two, jump off this train moving at high speed with dozens of passengers. Three…”

“Beat… these guys to pulp?” She smirked at him.

Atsushi nodded, causing her to turn around and confidently began walking upwards. “After al, we are agents of the armed detective agency”

“Let's go defuse the bomb.” Yosano informed him, “You go to the back, I’ll take the front.”

“What if I come across the enemy?” Atsushi asked.

Yosano smiled, “Kill him!”

Atsushi ran towards the back of the train, pushing his way towards the throng of people who were rushing to get away.

He reached the end when a small blur made his eyes widen. It was the girl from before! “Watch out! There’s a bomb…” He spat out blood as he was suddenly slammed away. With one eye shut closed he looked up to see the girl standing in front of him with a hand on her phone held to her ear.

“I shall kill whoever gets in the way. Demon Snow! ”

Atsushi laid in a pool of his own blood as he stared up at the young girl who stared at him with dead eyes, reminiscent to the man in bandages.

Behind her stood the manifest construct of her ability.

“Why… would a girl like you…”

“... My name is Kyouka, I am an orphan like you. I like rabbits and tofu. I dislike dogs and thunder. After I was taken in by the Mafia, I killed 35 people in six months.”

“...!” Atsushi stared at her in shock.

“ Keep the bombs safe, and kill the nuisance.” Her phone spoke out.

“You killed… 35 people!” Atsushi slowly stood up.

The construct in front of him lunged forward to attack him and he raised his arm… ’If I only had that power..!’ He stared in shock at his arm which had turned into a tiger’s arm.

He lunged forward, hitting the ability’s blade away and pointing his claw at the girl’s neck.

“Deactivate your ability and tell me where the bomb is.” Atsushi demanded quietly.

“My name is Kyouka and I recently killed a family of three.” She slowly opened her kimono to reveal a bomb.”

“Just… who are you?” Atsushi stared at her in shock and horror, “If you have a wish, you mustn’t keep it in! IS THIS REALLY WHAT YOU WANT TO DO?!”

“This is an announcement from the driver’s cabin. Atsushi-kun, the bomb at your end it set off by a remote. The only way to defuse it is to press the emergency stop button. It’s with the mafia at your end.”

“Give it to me. You have it, don’t you?” Atsushi reached out a hand. Kyouka hesitated before giving the switch to Atsushi.

Atsushi pressed the switch when the bomb let out a beep.

“Did you press it Kyouka?” The voice spoke over the phone.

“?!” Kyouka and Atsushi stared at the phone in shock.

“Don’t take it off… take the passengers with you. Show everyone how formidable the Mafia is.”

“What?!” Atsushi reached towards her, “TAKE OFF THE BOMB!”

“It’s too late.” Kyouka murmured before pushing him away.

Kyouka ran over to the side of the train where her ability had cut the door. She looked out towards the sea where the train way passing by on a track like bridge. She turned to look at Atsushi for a final time, “My name is Kyouka and I killed 35 people. I do not wish to kill anymore!” She then jumped off backwards.

Atsushi’s eyes widened before he lunged forwards after her. With a lash of his tiger like hands, he ripped off the bomb and threw it away, tugging the girl close to his body as the bomb exploded behind them, pushing them away with the force of the shock wave.

The two fell into the water where Atsushi grabbed Kyouka and dragged her on shore. A soft smile crossed his face when he noticed she was alive before his vision grew dark and he saw no more.

“....” Akutagawa stared at the phone on his palm before ending the phone call, a dark frown on his face.

“A pawn is just a pawn, however powerful it is.” He turned to glance at the person next to him.

“What about you? Are you a pawn or…”

“Heh.” Chuuya stood chained to a wall with shackles on both his wrists. “How the hell would I know?”

Akutagawa coughed, covering his mouth before he stood in front of Chuuya, “It’s awfully odd for you to take this quietly. You and I both know you can escape anytime.”

“I’m actually here on invitation.” Chuuya smiled harshly, “Tell your master to get his shitty ass here.”

Akutagawa’s eyes narrowed, “Don’t insult Dazai-san.”

“I can insult whoever the hell I want.” Chuuya glared up at him coldly, loathing the fact the younger boy was still taller than him. “How long have you been in the Mafia anyway? Dazai’s student and you’re still such low rank shit if your subordinates are that quick to betray you.”

Akutagawa’s eyes widened in anger but he held himself back.

Chuuya grinned, “And your shitty plans in luring Atsushi in, its shameful. Dazai would be so disappointed, heck, I'm disappointed. He doesn't even help your missions.” Chuuya smirked at him, “Still useless to him, aren't you?”

Akutagawa’s eyes turned furious and he raised his and to slap Chuuya. Chuuya stared at him head on as the hand came down to slap him when Akutagawa was stopped by a hand on his wrist.

“I thought I said to watch him and not to touch him. First you fail your mission and now you disobey orders?”

Chuuya grinned“Here to reign your dog in?”

“Something like that.” Dazai smirked as he dropped Akutagawa’s hand. Akutagawa took a few steps away from Dazai, bowing his head.

“Now that you’re here.” Chuuya ripped his arms off of the wall, causing the chains to break. He ripped the iron cuffs off of his wrists before giving Dazai a pointed stare, “You told me to not resist so I didn’t. You better have a good reason for this or I swear you’ll lose your head.”

“Akutagawa-kun, leave. I’ll let you off for now.” He waved a hand towards the standing boy.

“B-but Dazai-san!” Akutagawa exclaimed, jerking up. “He’s..!”

“You have your own mission to deal with.” Dazai said coldly, his eyes not leaving Chuuya’s face. “Go before I lose my temper.”

“Ug.” Akutagawa growled before turning around. He gave Chuuya a cold glare before he walked out of the prison like area.

“Oi, Dazai. I don’t have all day.” Chuuya snapped, folding his arms to hide his shaking hands. He hated the part of him that would shake every time he saw Dazai. It was pathetic.

Dazai smiled, flashing teeth, “Of course not. Chibi is so busy! So much responsibility, no wonder you’re short!”

“What does that have to do with my height?!” Chuuya snapped angrily.

“It’s weighing you down!” Dazai exclaimed before his face turned somewhat serious, “Chuuya…”

“Hah?” Chuuya questioned before he blinked, flinching back when he noticed Dazai was suddenly right in front of him. Dazai roughly grabbed his chin before lifting it to bare Chuuya’s neck. A hand traced his neck and Chuuya fought hard to keep still, shivering slightly when Dazai’s hand touched his normally covered neck.

“You’re not wearing them.” Dazai murmured.

Chuuya bit back a whimper as the grip on his chin turned bruising, “Is there a certain reason why I should?!” His foot lashed out and slammed against Dazai’s side, causing the man to lose his grip on Chuuya’s chin and slam into the wall, a crater forming around him.

Chuuya walked towards the man, cracks forming with each steps, “You fucking bastard. How dare you engrave your fucking name on my things?!”

Dazai slowly stood up, raising an arm to balance himself on the wall as he frowned at Chuuya. “Why not?”

“Why not?!” Chuuya repeated, “What absurd notion made you think that?!”

Dazai pouted petulantly, “Well, you’re mine! I’m letting you stay with the Armed Detective Agency for now but they should know who you really belong to.”

Chuuya choked, “What the fuck. You’re messed up.”

“What’s wrong with marking what’s mine for all to see?” Dazai questioned rhetorically, “If you don’t like that, I guess you could always go back to being next to me all the time.”

Chuuya flinched, his eyes widening in anger, “You piece of-”

“Enough with that.” Dazai interrupted, a smile appearing on his face, “How have you been Chuuya? You must’ve been so lonely without me and we haven’t really had the time to speak the last two times we met.”

“Lonely?!” Chuuya choked out, “For your information, I was chippier than a fucking bird.”

“Because of those Agency members?” Half of Dazai’s face turned shadowed and his lips turned down slightly.

Chuuya kept his face impassive, “Because you weren’t there.”

“Really?”

Chuuya took a step back as Dazai suddenly invaded his space, his face pressed up close to his. “Because I doubt that.” Dazai said softly, his eyes gleaming.

“Believe what you want.” Chuuya growled, pushing him away, “But the truth is undeniable.”

“Or so you say.” Dazai stated as he raised his arms in a stretch. “Now, you must wondering why I called you here like that.”

“I got fucking hit by that girl’s ability.” Chuuya retorted, “You better have a good reason. Mind you, what was that?”

“Hmm?” Dazai had the gals to act like he didn’t know.

Chuuya gritted his teeth as he hid his hands in his coat, the trembling in them not stopping. “Don’t play idiot with me, suicide freak.”

“Ah, I haven’t heard that in awhile.” Dazai said almost fondly. “No one ever calls me that. Mind you, no one insults me anymore.”

“Answer the question Dazai.” Chuuya ordered coldly, “I don’t have all day.”

Dazai sighed, his face turning completely serious, “The seven billion bounty. Don’t you want to know who is offering so much for your student’s head?”

“Hah?” Chuuya wrinkled his nose, “Why would you think that?” To be honest, the thought hadn’t crossed Chuuya’s mind. He had been quite drunk for a while after all.

“Chuuya, Chuuya.” Dazai shook his head, “What would you have done without me. There was a reason why I was the brains of Soukoku.”

“Shut up.” Chuuya snapped. “Why the hell are you acting like this? This teasing and everything. What the hell?! It grosses me out!”

Dazai gave him a flat stare, “But it made you stop shaking right?”

Chuuya froze, pausing to look at his hands which had indeed stop shaking from the familiarity of the situation.

“People told me I changed.” Dazai continued conversationally, “I don’t really think so but if this is the Dazai you want, I will be that Dazai. Anything for you Chuuya.”

“Don’t.” Chuuya snapped, “Don’t you fucking act in front of me.”

Dazai tilted his hand, giving Chuuya an appraising glance before shrugging, “Very well. I’ll get to the point then. I will tell you who is asking for dear Atsushi-kun’s head if you do something for me.”

“And that is?” Chuuya questioned warily, “I’m not going to kiss you again, you sick fuck.”

“Your words wound me terribly!” Dazai exclaimed with a hand on his chest before he continued, “Nothing like that. All you need to do is continue to wear your chokers again! Ones that I specially provided you, of course.”

Chuuya choked, “You’re crazy.”

Dazai hummed, “Not the first time I heard that actually but I believe myself to be pretty sane. If you don’t wear the choker, I’m afraid that Atsushi-kun will meet an untimely death by Mafia hands. Did you know I got orders from Boss to wipe out the Agency?”

Chuuya jolted, “He didn’t…!”

Dazai leaned back on the wall, crossing his arms, “Well, he gave me the choice. I haven’t decided yet, you see, but I can always…” He trailed off.

“I won’t let you.” Chuuya grit his teeth.

“You’re definitely powerful.” Dazai admitted, “If I wasn’t here, you would definitely be able to wipe the Mafia members unless the executives or perhaps Boss Mori himself comes to fight. Unfortunately for you, I am here.” He flashed a bright smile. “I know you like the back of my hand.” He leaned forward, his hands slipping into his pants pockets. “It won’t be hard to occupy you while I take them out, one by one…. Starting with your student, and then your partner, and then the doctor, and then the farmer boy…” He paused to give him a confident smirk, “I’ve already got a plan for every single one of them.” He tapped his head, “And you should know that my plans never failed before.”

Chuuya’s hand had begun to shake again, from fear, apprehension, or rage, he didn’t know. “I…”

Dazai smirked and offered a hand.

“It’s your choice.”

Chapter Text

IV.

The White Players Always Move First

“Chuuya-san! Why is she living with me?!” Atsushi wailed as he erupted into the Detective Agency office, his eyes wide and stricken.

“Oh that?” Chuuya tilted his head back to glance at Atsushi from where he was working to fill out what seemed to be a report. “It’s because we don’t have enough rooms.”

“But…”

“Doesn’t it help you save rent anyways?” Chuuya turned back to his report, “She also agreed to it so shut up about it.”

“But….”

“Well, I’ll hold you to that.” Chuuya ignored Atsushi’s complaints and got back to writing his report. He hesitated, staring at it with a thoughtful look.

“Chuuya-san. What are you writing anyways?” Atsushi questioned seeing his mentor somewhat glaring at the paper.

“Ah, a report on what happened during my capture by the Mafia.” Chuuya said offhandedly, “Nothing really happened though… I… got freed by an old acquaintance I guess.”

Atsushi froze, suddenly remembering Akutagawa and Dazai. “Acquaintance?”

Chuuya’s hand reached for the choker around his neck and the man fiddled with it slightly, “Something like that.” He dropped his hand as he turned around to stare at Atsushi evenly, “Now that I think about it, I found information about who is after you Atsushi.”

Atsushi eyes narrowed as Kunikida turned from his own work to stare at Chuuya who leaned forward, rested his elbows on his knees and gathered his hands together to rest his chin on them. “The person after your head is a man who leads a special ability corporation based in North America known as ‘The Guild.’”

“Does the Guild really exist?” Kunikida questioned thoughtfully, raising a hand to rest on his chin in a thinking pose. “According to hearsay, all of the members are said to hold important positions. However, they’re all actually  ability users in possession of a huge amount of capital. They’re like a third-rate novel villain.”

“Moreover, why would they go after Atsushi?” Kunikida pushed up his glasses.

“That’s the million dollar question isn’t it?” Chuuya groaned, “Unfortunately, the Mafia doesn’t know either. I guess we could ask them straightforwardly.” He smirked while cracking his knuckles.

“It’s always violence with you Chuuya.” Kunikida sighed.

Before Atsushi or Chuuya could react, the door slammed open as Tanizaki rushed in with wide eyes, “B-BAD NEWS!”

Suddenly, loud chopper noises filled the air causing Chuuya and Atsushi to rush towards the windows. As expected, a large white helicopter passed them, aiming to land in front of the building. It slowed down, dropping onto the road directly adjacent to the building door.

Chuuya’s eyes narrowed and he pursed his lips as he saw a tall man with blonde hair leave the chopper, wearing a white suit. He was holding what seemed to be a suitcase over his shoulder as he walked forward with two other members beside him. One was a red haired girl and the other a man.

“What the hell are they doing here?” Chuuya growled, his eyes narrowing, “Are they trying to pick a fight?”

“I’m very very pleased to meet you.” The man with sideswept blonde hair and white suit smiled brightly, his legs crossed as he leaned comfortably on the sofa. “President Fukuna… Fukuda…”

“Fukuzawa.” The Agency President’s eyes were closed as he sported a slight frown on his face.

“Yes that… Come to think of it, I probably shouldn’t have left my helicopter on the road like that but it’s the first time that I have visited a company without a helipad so it’s technically your fault as well.”

“Well, foreign guest from overseas, how may we be of service to you?” Fukuzawa stated patiently.

“The name is Fitzgerald. I’m from an overseas organization called ‘the Guild.’” Fitzgerald smiled, “I have conglomerates and five hotels under my name, as well as a railroad company, an airport, and…”

“Mr. Fitzgerald.” Fukuzawa’s voice had turned soft and somewhat threatening, “Is it true that you coerced the Mafia into attacking us by offering a bounty on one of my members?”

“Ah that was a miscalculation on my part, old sport!” Fitzgerald laughed, “I never thought a criminal organization would be so incompetent.”

“They were only incompetent because they didn’t put in the effort.”

Fitzgerald’s smile disappeared as he turned to see the newcomer. Chuuya was leaning against the wall, his hat shadowing his eyes.

“Oh?” Fitzgerald tipped his head, “And you are?”

“Nakahara Chuuya.” Chuuya replied in a clipped tone.

“What makes you think they didn’t put in the effort, old sport?” Fitzgerald questioned. “That money should have had them working all their efforts for it.”

Chuuya grinned mockingly, “Well, they sent Akutagawa to lead it. Everyone knows he’s just a failure, even he knows it. That’s why he is working so hard to gain that person’s favor.” Chuuya grudgingly admitted to himself that maybe he was still feeling bitter about the whole Mafia capture setup  and because he couldn’t take it out on a certain bandage wasting freak, said freak’s apprentice would have to suffice.

“Hmm, I don’t really understand what you’re talking about.” Fitzgerald shrugged, “But anyhow, that was a mistake on my part. Therefore, as an apology, I would like to offer a grand business proposal.” He clicked  open the briefcase he had carried with him.

Chuuya’s as well as Fukuzawa’s eyes widened in shock as the man displayed the stacks of money in the case, “I would like to acquire the Agency.” Fitzgerald gestured to the briefcase, “Please don’t misunderstand. I can acquire any company in this general area with ease. That’s not what I’m aiming for.”

“You mean…” Fukuzawa’s eyes narrowed.

“That’s right. Hand over your ‘Ability business permit.’” Fitzgerald smirked. “If an ability user corporation wants to start a legal business in this country, it must acquire a permit issued by the special ability department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. However, they refused any bribe to hand it over. So, if I want to browse around this city without getting on their wrong side… I need a permit.”

“I refuse.” Fukuzawa glared at the man, his lips pursed and eyebrows set in a deep frown.

“Are you sure?” Fitzgerald began only to be cut off as Fukuzawa continued, “Just as a life cannot be bought with money, the permit is the very soul of this Agency. It cannot be handed over for any price.”

Fukuzawa’s eyes sharpened, “It is not something that can be touched by rich snobs whose heads are stuffed with money.”

Fitzgerald’s pleasant mask dropped and his face twisted into something ugly, “Cannot be bought with money? That’s people’s favorite phrase. Boast all you want, but if there are no more members in this Agency… even if you change your mind by then, it’ll be too late.”

Fitzgerald’s eyes widened when the surrounding area suddenly turned frighteningly heavy as a strange weight began to bear down on him. He glanced behind him to see his two companions on their knees, trembling as they tried to stay upright. Meanwhile, he was using quite a lot of money to attempt to be not visibly affected It wouldn’t do to lose his pride and bow down to his opponent after all the threatening he did.

“Ooh?” Chuuya’s voice had turned dark and deadly as he stepped forward until he was standing beside the Agency president, “Are you threatening us?” The force increased. Chuuya cracked his fingers, “Do you even know who you are dealing with?”

“...old sport.” Fitzgerald’s voice was slightly strained, “Is this the effect of your ability?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Chuuya snarled, “Because of you, I’m in a fucking bad mood right now. I think that seeing you dead might improve it..” He trailed off when an arm stretched out in front of him. He glanced down to see Fukuzawa’s raised arm while the man’s eyes were still on the struggling Guild members, “Enough Chuuya.”

Chuuya gritted his teeth and looked away, the pressure pushing down on the Guild members disappeared. Fitzgerald eyed the small man warily as he fixed his tie.

A tensed silence surrounded the two opposing groups before Fukuzawa cut through it.

“I shall bear advice in mind.” Fukuzawa waved a hand towards them, “Have a safe trip.”

“I’ll see you out.” Kenji smiled as he gestured towards the door. Fitzgerald smirked confidently, now that the pressure wasn’t on him, “I’ll leave you a message in tomorrow’s morning paper. If it’s what I want, it is what I’ll get.” He then turned and left with his two members and Kenji.

The door clicked close.

“That bastard!” Chuuya took a step forward before glancing down at the Agency President, “You should have just let me-”

“The Agency is not the Mafia.” Fukuzawa stated calmly causing Chuuya to start, “They haven’t done anything yet and therefore we will not act out on it .”

Chuuya gritted his teeth before taking a deep breath, “President, there is a saying in Port Mafia. Any slight against the Mafia is returned twofold.” His eyes glanced down at the President, “It’s a saying that I’ve lived with for my whole life till four years ago.”

Fukuzawa frowned, staring at him from the corner of his eye as Chuuya began to walk away, “If they hurt any Agency members, I will show them what exactly that means. I trust you won’t stop me?”

“Hmph, do whatever you want.” Fukuzawa closed his eyes and tilted his head away. Despite the fact he didn’t really like the Mafia and the way they ran things, if it was the lives of his members at stake, he could see himself following the Mafia’s ways.

“HAVE YOU READ THE MORNING PAPERS?” Kunikida rushed in holding the morning paper in his hand.

He paused when he saw the Agency members staring at the screen. He stared at them puzzled when he realized that no one seemed to be looking at him.

“It’s on the news.” Atsushi answered when he realized that Kunikida was still staring at them quizzically at the lack of reactions.

Chuuya crossed his arms, a frown on his face, “A Port Mafia building just vanished.”

“Is this the message?” Kunikida growled angrily.

“This takes a unique ability.” Chuuya stared at it thoughtfully. “I can probably completely eradicate a building but not make it disappear like that.”

“Moreover, Kenji can’t be found anywhere.” Tanizaki stated worriedly. “He just disappeared without a trace… like that building.”

Kunikida clenched his fist before turning around, “If you meet a Guild member, run! Tanizaki, go with Atsushi and look for Kenji! Don’t go anywhere unaccompanied. Chuuya and I are going to meet with the Director!”

“I’m surprised that you’re actually calling me.” A cool voice responded from the audio of Chuuya’s phone. “But then again, I guess this does warrant a call. Can’t do anything without me, Chibi?”

“Dazai.” Chuuya gritted his teeth and ignored the jab, “I’m guessing you’ve realized the situation?”

“Something like that.” For once, Dazai’s tone was serious without any amusement or lightness. His voice suddenly grew softer, “Don’t worry your little head over it. The Guild ability user is already being taken care of.”

“What?” Chuuya questioned, his voice sharp, “What do you mean?”

“Hmm?” Dazai hummed, “You should really keep track of what’s happening to your… agency members.” Dazai stated the last part a tad distastefully.

“Answer the question.” Chuuya growled, “You remember our deal?”

A sigh was overheard, “If you wear the chokers, I’ll help you with the Guild problem… right?”

“Glad your suicide attempts haven’t made you completely stupid.” Chuuya groused before he became serious, “So what is happening?”

A yawn was overheard before Dazai let out a whine, “Chuuya makes me overwork and I don’t even get a kiss over it.” He grumbled before answering, “Boss went himself to take care of it.”

“What?!” Chuuya exclaimed, his eyes widening, “Mori-san did?”

“Yep.” Dazai popped the ‘p’, “And it looks like he succeeded. So, what are you going to do, Chuuya?” His tone turned dark, “Boss just gave out his command. ‘Enemies of Port Mafia must be thoroughly beaten and killed.’ Sound familiar?”

“What are you playing at?” Chuuya growled.

“At this point, you should return to the Mafia…. To me.” Dazai calmly answered him, “You should have realized by now, the Agency will be destroyed first.”

“Not if I can help it. Besides, the Mafia is behind me.” Chuuya snarled, “And so are you.”

“Do you really mean that?” Dazai purred, his voice oozing with confidence, “Your eyes don’t lie, whenever you are in my presence.” The voice over the phone turned dark, “And, is the Mafia truly behind you? You may fool everyone else, but you can’t fool me. After all, I’m your Partner~ I know you like the back of my hand…”

“What the fuck are you saying?” Chuuya snarled softly.

“Your disgusting sense of fashion says it all.” Dazai responded, “Even in the ‘light’ you still wear it… Mafia Black. Isn’t that right, Soukoku’s other half?”

Chuuya flinched, his hand suddenly reaching out to grab his coat.

“No matter how much you try to stand in the light, Chuuya,” Dazai said knowingly, “You still yearn for the darkness. What was the term again? Ah, your blood is black, Mafia Black.”

“People change.” Chuuya growled, his voice terse.

“You can’t change fact.” Dazai replied over the phone. “ The Agency methods are too… gentle for you, right? Your new partner also, is too lacking. He can’t match your every move like I can. He can’t watch your back like I can. Ah!” Dazai suddenly exclaimed, “You haven’t even told them about tainted . You don’t trust them. “

“Shut up!” Chuuya snarled, “You-”

“I heard about the Agency President’s ability.” Dazai sharply cut him off. “‘ All men are equal.’ The ability to give some sort of control over a person’s ability as long as they are under his jurisdiction. It’s not enough, is it? To control Corruption .”

“Shut up. Shut up. Shut up!” Chuuya spat, his whole body shaking.

“You need me to use your ability to its fullest extent.” Dazai said smugly, “Think about what I said. I need to go, Executive duties and all.”

“When have you actually done your duties?” Chuuya snapped, glaring at the phone in hopes that his ire reached the person on the other side of the call.

“I’ve always done my duties!” Dazai protested, “As I said, Boss is calling me right now.”

“Wait-” Chuuya started when Dazai interrupted him once again, “I’ll see you later Chuuya. Stay safe.” The last two words were uttered commandingly and seriously, stunning Chuuya to silence before the phone beeped.

Chuuya clenched his fist as he turned to stare outside the window. “I’ll prove you wrong, Dazai.” Chuuya vowed outloud. “I’ll prove to you that I belong in the light more than you belong in the shadows.”

“Elise-chan~” A middle aged man wearing an all black expensive suit with a striped tie smiled weakly, “Maybe you should cut back on the dessert a bit…?”

“Why?” A young girl, around 10-12 years of age with long blonde hair questioned. “Desserts are justice.”

“Even so…” The man said hesitantly.

“You just bought a new frilly dress, didn’t you Rintarou?” Elise’s words made the man freeze, his face holding a perverse desperate look.

Elise tilted her head to stare at the man, “Want me to wear it?”

The man was suddenly next to her, offering her a slice of cake, “Fancy another piece?”

“Boss.” A monotonous voice interrupted the two.

The man stopped, his face becoming serious from his perverted blushing smile as he turned around to glance at the speaker.

Dazai stood in front of the door, his face devoid of any emotion as he held a few sheets of paper in his hand.

“The survivors of the Guild attack have just told me that the Agency arrived at the scene before we did. They took away their members as well as Kouyou Ane-san. I’m afraid she’s now a prisoner of war.” Dazai reported.

The man tilted his head up to scratch his chin, “What a bunch of softies.”

“So, what do you say Boss?” Dazai blinked slowly, “They took an executive hostage.” Despite his words, he sounded quite uncaring.

“Hmm? Why are you asking me that, Dazai-kun. You should be able to handle it yourself.” Mori tipped his head to glance at him with wine colored eyes. His eyes glinted maliciously.

“What are you talking about, I wonder?” Dazai shrugged, “A lowly executive like me shouldn’t take command like that without deferring to the Boss… or else the Boss might misunderstand.” His eyes had turned so dark they were almost black. A cold smile rested on his lips as he stared at Mori challengingly.

Mori’s eyes seemed to glow with blood thirst, “Oh, is that so? Then… let’s kill the Director of the Detective Agency!”

Dazai’s eyes narrowed, his eyes darkening even further.

“Assassination is the best way. We just hire some killers and sit back and relax. After that, we can focus on the Guild. I hope… you have a plan to take care of them Dazai.”

Dazai’s eyes flashed, “Of course I do Boss, although I don’t think it might be something you would exactly approve of, considering the next plan you brought out.”

“Oh?” Mori tilted his head.

Dazai turned around, pausing in the door to glance back at Mori with a somewhat cruel smile, “I’ve been thinking… there is no reason to make an enemy out of the Agency.”

“You mean an alliance?” Mori tilted his head.

Dazai shook his head, “Not yet. For now, let us go with your plan. Everything will work out afterwards.”

Mori’s eyes narrowed before he looked away with a light smile, “I have high hopes for you Dazai.” He didn’t seem to mind the fact that his subordinate did not try to offer his plan. He held full confidence that Dazai’s plan will be beneficial to the Mafia although he suspected it may be more beneficial to Dazai himself. However, he didn’t voice his thoughts, just waving a hand in dismissal.

Dazai opened the door to pass through, “The Guild will bow down.”

Kouyou’s eyes snapped awake as she tried to sit up. She froze when she realized that she was in an unfamiliar setting, secured to what seemed like a hospital bed.

“It’s been awhile Ane-san.”

Kouyou’s eyes widened as she took in the area’s occupants. Her eyes flickered to Chuuya who was sitting down by her bed table with a somewhat somber look and the white haired weretiger who was glaring at her as he leaned on the wall.

“.... You think such feeble bondage could restrain me?” Kouyou questioned, “You should know better than that… Chuuya.” She said his voice dispassionately, almost emotionlessly.

“I know that better than anyone.” Chuuya informed her, reaching up to pull his hat down on his lap. His eyes were sad and resigned, the moment he left, he knew this would happen one way or another. ‘That’s why I’m here watching you.”

“It really has been a long time… Traitor.”

Chuuya clenched his fist, his eyes becoming dark while Atsushi eyed his mentor warily. He knew that the circumstances surrounding his mentor’s defection were not normal and that his mentor cared about this woman a lot with the way he wasn’t immediately cursing at her and was speaking respectfully towards her.

“Everyone in the organization is afraid of you.” Kouyou continued, “They want your head but are too afraid to do anything to incur Dazai’s wrath. With you gone, there is no one to curb his sadistic ways; even Boss is wary of him.” Her eyes narrowed into a deadly glare, “When I told you to leave him, I didn’t mean to leave the Mafia.”

“Do you hate me, Ane-san?” Chuuya wondered out loud suddenly, “For leaving without a word and leaving Dazai to do whatever he wanted?”

Kouyou’s face was cold and somewhat disappointed, “I told you long ago that Mori’s boy was trouble. You didn’t listen and look where that brought you. WIth your power, you probably would have made executive by now.” She avoided the question.

Chuuya glanced away, “What’s done is done.”

“Hmph.” Her eyes flickered to Atsushi who was listening to it all quietly, “Lad… is Kyouka safe?”

“She has gone missing…” Atsushi glared at her, “All thanks to you.”

“Heheh.”

Atsushi’s eyes widened as he stared at the woman who suddenly began to laugh.

“Hehehehehe.” She giggled.

“W-what’s so funny?!” Atsushi exclaimed in pure anger as his arm turned into a tiger’s arm. He was ready to lash out when he felt his whole body get heavy.

“Atsushi, enough.” Chuuya commanded, his arms crossed, “Go wait outside.”

“But Chuuya-san-”

“Now.” Chuuya gave him a sharp glare causing Atsushi to sigh and turn around to leave with one last glare towards Kouyou.

The door slammed closed behind Atsushi and Chuuya redirected his attention to the Mafia executive strapped to the bed.

“Ane-san…” Chuuya hesitated before his face turned hard as stone, “We are in the brink of war, on  opposite sides. If this had come even a year after my defection, I would have sided with Port Mafia… if you had taken me back.”

“Save your words.” Kouyou turned to stare at the ceiling, “Port Mafia does not take in traitors…”

Chuuya’s face turned carefully blank, “But Ane-san… Port Mafia took you in. You were a traitor too, willing to betray the Mafia for the man you loved, correct? Why would it be any different for me?”

Kouyou’s eyes widened in shock, “Y-you…!” She stared at the young boy, no man, whom she had taken care of and mentored, speechless in shock.

“You forget who spent the most time with Dazai, Ane-san.” Chuuya said emotionlessly, “I know how he works and I’ve picked up a few skills here and there… that I’m not afraid to use.”

“Chuuya…” Kouyou said softly but Chuuya ruthlessly continued, “And you trained me yourself, you know better than anyone what I am capable of for those I am loyal to. Currently, my loyalty lies with the Agency. Therefore, it will be in your best interest to spill.”

“Oho? Spill?” Kouyou’s eyes turned guarded from her shocked look.

“The mafia’s current plans and operations.” Chuuya stood up, settling his hat back on his head to stare down at her.

Kouyou looked away, “I never thought that the child I took in that day would be threatening me.” She said loftily.

The presence around Chuuya became heavy, “The question?”

“Have you forgotten the mafia’s rule, son? Loosen your tongue, lose your life.” Kouyou stared at him disdainfully.

“I don’t think you’re the one to make demands.” Chuuya stated coldly. “Let me tell you a bit about what the Agency is doing.”

“?!” Kouyou stared at him in surprise.

“Every single one of them except Atsushi outside has left to prepare for the upcoming war with Port Mafia and the Guild. Currently, I can order Atsushi to go after them, leaving the two of us alone.” Chuuya continued, “Moreover, I don’t need you to get Mafia information.”

Kouyou closed her eyes before opening them, “Dazai?” Her voice was resigned, “Somehow, I wonder who is the true traitor, Dazai or you.”

Chuuya grinned ferally, “The only price is my fucking pride but if it’s my pride over the member’s lives, I’ll throw it all away.”

“If I refuse?” Kouyou states softly. Her eyes zeroed on the choker, more of a collar, around Chuuya’s neck. She was trained to notice all details and she clearly saw the marked name on Chuuya’s choker.

Chuuya’s eyes turned cold, he reached into his coat to take out a long familiar knife. “You lose your life… loosen your tongue or not, either way, you lose your life.”

Kouyou smiled, “The Agency has changed nothing in you Chuuya. You’re the same as us… your blood is black.”

Chuuya stilled for a second, remembering the voice in the phone that repeated the same words, before giving her a hard unrelenting stare, “You led me down that path… and Port Mafia solidified it.”

“Oho, not denying it?” Kouyou’s eyes narrowed slightly and Chuuya reached over and locked the door. He turned around to meet her gaze, “I didn’t want it to come to this. I usually left interrogation to others but I know how it goes…”

His eyes turned cold as flint, “Shall we start?”

Dazai was standing alone in the middle of the alleyway, staring at the hired assassins who all had fainted on the floor. His face was cold as he took them in, “I didn’t expect much but still… this is just pathetic.” He flipped open his phone to stare at the small glowing dot on his phone map  that showed the position of the Mafia’s target.

“Maybe I should have taken someone with me.” He mused out loud as he began to walk towards the small area. “It’s not like I can completely attack the Agency on my own…”

With a hum he began to walk by them when he paused, turning to glance at the three assassins. “I should cover some tracks. Can’t have them blabbing.” He reached into his coat to take out a single hand gun. He pulled the trigger three times before putting it back in his coat pocket.

He left, whistling a merry tune, maybe he would be able to see Chuuya! The thought of it made a wide, excited smile cross his face. He left with an extra spring in his step.

Behind him, the three assassins were starting to become soaked in their own blood, a bullet buried cleanly in the middle of each of their foreheads.

A pair of footsteps echoed in the room, warning the occupants inside the base of the newcomer’s presence. The agency members who were waiting looked up to see their Director walk in without a single hair out of place despite the fact he had been attacked.

“Listen everyone.”

Everyone stood at attention.

“Back then, just two or three days ago, war was still avoidable.” Fukuzawa stared at them calmly, “But that bridge has burned down.”

“On one hand, we have the Mafia trying to take us down. On the other, we have the Guild trying to take us over. We must safeguard the Agency under this two-front attack.”

“Chuuya, elaborate.”

Chuuya stood up, a serious look on his face, “To be honest, against both the Guild, who possesses formidable capital and we lack information on, and Port Mafia, who has numbers on their side as well as formidable ability users, we’ll be destroyed instantly.”

The rest of the Agency started at that. Chuuya scanned everyone and remembered Dazai’s words , ‘You haven’t even told them about tainted . You don’t trust them.’

“I don’t know about the Guild because of our lack of information on them… however,” His eyes turned sharp, “I can completely cripple the Port Mafia to the point that they’ll be out for the count in the war so that we can focus on the Guild.”

“What?!” Kunikida stood up, his glasses flashing, “You could do that?”

Chuuya hesitated before nodding, “However, it’ll be a suicide move for me. I either get stopped on time and get captured and executed or I run out of energy and die.”

“That’s not even an option. We will get through this without losing or sacrificing a single member.” Fukuzawa cut through, “We’ll have to make do without it then.”

“Well then, here’s the plan we came up with.” Chuuya said calmly, “We will divide our offense and defense into different teams. Our main objective for this is to survive and to do that, we have to protect Yosano-san. Therefore, our defense team consists of Fukuzawa, Ranpo, Yosano, and Kenji. Our offense teams consists of Kunikida and Atsushi as well as Tanizaki and myself.”

Atsushi glanced at Kunikida while Kunikida tilted his head, “Oi, why me and Atsushi? Wouldn’t you being with Atsushi be a smarter idea? You’re technically his mentor.”

“True.” Chuuya reckoned, “But then we would be focusing too much of our offense onto one team.”

“The most important thing,” Fukuzawa took over, “Is to make sure this base is kept safe.”

“ Prepare yourselves! From now on, this is a war of abilities from three different organizations…!”

Chapter Text

V.

Throw the Bait and Watch them Swarm

“Why? Why are you going to such extremes…” Nathaniel Hawthorne stared at the man, no boy, clad in black. Blood dripped from the boy’s mouth as he hunched over slightly, holding his stomach. Nathaniel grimaced as he held his own side, pain lancing through the wound but the boy was in an even worse condition despite the fact that Nathaniel had done little damage to him in general.

The boy’s eyes sharpened, his pupils shrinking as he stared back at him with a frighteningly maniacal focus, “All I want...is a simple word.” The boy panted out, pure desperation and longing etched in both his tone and his eyes. “A simple, trivial word... From a certain someone!” He yelled, “Just for that word, I have gotten back up, time and time again, no matter how disgracefully I was defeated or crushed!”

Nathaniel stared in shock at the boy who stared at him with such fanatic obsession as he spoke. ‘What on earth.. Has driven him to go to such lengths? This man is a merciless killer of the Mafia… but at the same time, he harbors such strong desire. There is ‘something’ for which he keeps fighting. For which he is willing to put his own life at stake. This something must be so unshakable in his heart that it is practically some sort of ‘faith’....’

His eyes closed before he opened them again, drawing in his focus. “‘Fight with everything I have’, you said?” Nathaniel stated calmly, he used the cross to slice a long bloody gash on his hand. “I have changed my mind. I shall grant your wish.” He pointed his index finger in a gun shape. His ability, The Scarlet Letter, gathered around the end of his finger as it aimed at him.

The boy… man...seemed to gather himself as he glanced up. He then started to lunge forward when Nathaniel let the word go. The man’s unique ability lashed out to protect himself when the words separated and lashed out at him. The man’s eyes narrowed and Nathaniel’s eyes widened as something struck his neck, causing a huge spray of blood to erupt.

Nathaniel smiled and the boy’s eyes widened.

THE SCARLET LETTER!

The blood formed into millions of letters and words, surrounding the man in an orbit of crimson letters formed by his ability.

Akutagawa’s eyes widened in shock and apprehension when Dazai’s face flashed in his mind. Flashes of Dazai appeared in the forefront of his mind; the man’s dark brown locks framing the face with a small cruel smile; the glimmer in the man’s eyes as he spoke of suicide along with the soft smile that Akutagawa wished was aimed at him; and finally the pure adoration and obsession that Dazai openly revealed whenever he thought of that traitor Chuuya.

Akutagawa gritted his teeth and pushed his body and his ability.

RASHOMON, JAWS OF ENDLESS GATES!

Rashomon formed around him, enormously large fangs snapping open and closed. After a moment's pause, it lunged towards the man when it tore into something unexpected instead.

Nathaniel’s eyes widened in shock as he beheld Mitchell, the woman taking the beast’s fangs in his place. Despite her attempt to protect him, the inertia of the attack slammed the two of them into a wall, causing it to crumble and land on the two Guild members.

Akutagawa deactivated his ability, slowly walking forward until he stood in front of the pile of rocks. His eyes took a melancholy light as he stared at the puddle of blood dripping from the bottom of the rocks. He collapsed on his knees and a voice came to him, unbidden.

“No one can bear to live on if  no one ever tells them, ‘it’s okay for you to live’!”

Akutagawa stared at the blood almost sadly as he recalled Atsushi’s words, “I don’t need your lecture… to understand that kind of thing.”

----

The detective agency members that were left in their headquarters were lazing around, waiting for something to happen but also hoping nothing would occur. 

Ranpo let out a yawn as he rested his head on the table, “I have nothing to do~ I wanna go out!” 

“The Mafia will snap your neck if you go out now.” Yosano said nonchalantly as she flipped through the newspaper she was reading. 

“Nothing out of the ordinary on the security cameras?” Fukuzawa questioned while reading a novel. 

“So far, it’s all boring.” Yosano answered, glancing at the security cameras on the computer screen. 

Fukuzawa kept his eyes on his novel, “The lecture hall has no regular entrance. The only way to storm the place would be through the unused underground railway tunnel. So if our enemies try to get in, they will be spotted by the security cameras there.” 

“Not to mention all those traps set along the railway. They can hardly attempt an invasion in this terrain… without a force of considerable size.” Yosano commented with a smirk. 

“War is so boring! I’ve exhausted my reserve of sweets in less than a day…” Ranpo moaned when something caught his attention. “Let’s play mahjong with this, Yosano-san!” Ranpo exclaimed, lifting the laptop showing the security footages. 

Yosano turned to him with an evil chuckle, “Oh? On what stakes?” 

Before he could respond, he noticed something flickering in the security cameras. Ranpo’s eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out what was wrong before they widened. He stared at the screen in shock before he reached over to put his detective hat on his head, his face serious. 

“Is something wrong?” Yosano stood up. 

“Director.” Ranpo said calmly, “We’d better summon the defense team back to base.” 

Fukuzawa looked up, his eyes narrowed as he snapped his book closed, “Is the enemy here?” 

Ranpo turned the laptop to face the director as Fukuzawa asked, “How many? 

Fukuzawa’s face became shocked as he stared at the screen. 

“One.” 

The screen showed a man clad in black from head to toe. A long large coat covered his shoulders as the man turned to give an amused smile at the camera. Bandages covered his right eye and if one looked closer, they would be able to see bandages peeking out from the collar of his shirt and around his arms. The man waved a hand in greeting towards the camera before he snapped his fingers. 

The screen turned black. 

---

“Camera No. 2 and 5 are down!” Yosano exclaimed. 

“Activate the automatic gun emplacements!” Fukuzawa commanded. 

The man glanced at the area with a blink as machine gun appeared from the ceilings. A small smile curved on his lips as the machine guns exploded. 

He then continued on, whistling a merry tune. 

Yosano, Kenji, and Fukuzawa stared at the figure in shock as he approached the camera. 

“Hello~ I am Dazai. ” The man said cheerfully, “I see you’re quite undermanned if you’re using those machine guns! Mind you, it’s very effective over someone like me!” He ignored the fact that the machine guns had been destroyed immediately and were actually not at all effective on him. 

“It’s awkward to talk to a camera.” The man continued in a bright happy tone, “Why don’t you come out~” 

Ranpo looked up to stare at Fukuzawa, “Director.” 

Fukuzawa turned to looked at Ranpo, “Are we all agreed?” 

Ranpo gave a sharp nod. 

---

Dazai continued on, humming a little suicide tune. “I wonder if Chuuya is here~” He laughed to himself, unable to suppress his glee. “The Agency is too easy to destroy, perhaps I should just let it go~” 

He paused, noticing something near the end of the tunnel. A woman holding a giant knife and a farmer's boy stood facing him and blocking him from continuing on. 

Dazai blinked before frowning, “Is that all?” 

The woman just smiled, “All clients should schedule an appointment before visiting the detective agency. If you’re unhappy with the reception here, feel free to go to another one.” 

“Ehhh, that’s too much work!” Dazai waved a hand as he smiled, “Besides I didn’t come here for that so do I still need one, Ms. Detective?” 

“Nope!” Kenji exclaimed, “If you’re not here for our service, you don’t need it!” 

“Oh? Then what are you here for?” Yosano tipped her head, “If you’re not here for our services, I’m guessing you have another motive. I suspect you’re not here to destroy us. ” 

Dazai smiled, his single eye closing, as he raised his hands to show that he was completely unarmed, “Bingo~ Wow, you guys are all real detectives. I’m impressed.” His lone eye opened, “Where is your director?” 

Yosano pointed at the camera, “Over there.” 

Dazai started to check his pockets, “Ehhhh, where did I put it again. It was somewhere here... “ He began to empty out his pockets as he looked for whatever he seemed to have misplaced. A lightbulb sign went off over his head and he walked over to the camera to show something. 

“Here it is~ This is a present from the Boss.” He showed a somewhat wrinkled photograph. 

“Those are… members of the Guild?” Fukuzawa answered quizzically. 

Dazai nodded with a smile, “By any chance, is Chuuya there?” He asked the question hopefully, sparkles surrounding him. 

“Oi, answer the question.” Yosano snapped from behind him, causing the man to turn. 

“Ehhh, you detectives are so forceful and so impatient.” He smiled, “Just like a certain hatrack. Very well.”

He turned back to look at the camera before pointing to the picture, “This is charity.” He said, “The place and time of their appearance are all stated on the back of the picture. They have been lured to this place with the promise of bait. It seemed like you guys needed a hand so the Boss decided to gift you with a present. You can do whatever you want with them.” 

Fukuzawa frowned, ‘This is indeed a perfect chance to ambush ability users of the Guild… However….’ 

“I see.” Yosano smiled, “That’s quite an offer, but let us propose something better.” Her eyes turned murderous as she smiled maniacally, “Let’s chop you up piece by piece and have you spill what you’re really up to!” She raised her blade threateningly. 

Dazai frowned, “But that sounds like that would hurt! I don’t mind dying, actually, I would love to die.” 

Yosano and Kenji blinked to stare at the Mafia member, “Ho? Then why don’t you please die for us right now?” 

Dazai smiled, “I would love to… except that no matter what I do, I can’t die.” He began to step towards them, the aura around him becoming dark, “But that can wait. I decided that I want to commit double suicide with someone I love. A romantic double suicide!” He spread his arms wide, a somewhat deadly smile on his face. 

“Oh?” Yosano smiled, “Why don’t you tell us who so we can bring her right to you.” 

“Really? How kind!” Dazai clapped his hands, “You would really do that for me? Okay, I’ll let you all live because of your kind offer.” The sparkles around him disappeared as a dark oppressive aura formed instead, “Please give me Chuuya and I’ll leave all of you alone. Ah, I might even help you destroy the Guild.” 

“Chuuya?” Yosano blinked, “Why would you want him? Moreover, how do you know him?”

Dazai frowned, “He hasn’t told anyone about me? I’m hurt!” 

“Che, whatever.” Yosano crouched, “I apologize, but we can’t give you our precious Agency member. Therefore, we’ll go with our first suggestion. Kenji!” 

“Hai!” Kenji reached over and tore the metal bar from the railroad tracks. 

Dazai’s hand reached into his coat and in a flash, he fired three shots in rapid succession. Kenji yelled, barely dodging the bullets as they hit the iron railroad bar, only for Dazai to suddenly appear in front of him. Dazai smiled and tapped his shoulder. Kenji let out a yelp as he dropped the long piece of metal railing, the long iron rod becoming too heavy for him the moment the man’s finger landed on his shoulder. Before Kenji could figure out what was wrong, a fist slammed into his face and sent him crashing into the wall. 

Dazai let out a sigh before he pointed the gun at Kenji’s forehead, stopping Yosano’s lunge midway. “Doctor-san.” He smiled cruelly, “My hand might slip if you try anything dangerous~” Yosano gritted her teeth before she said, “You’re fast.” Her eyes flickered around, trying to figure out how to save Kenji from that position. 

“Believe me, I was slow.” Dazai smiled, “Just four years ago I was useless in physical combat.”

“Oh?” Yosano’s eyes flickered towards Kenji who had fainted, “But you defeated a member with just one punch.” A bead of sweat dripped down her forehead. 

Dazai frowned, “I had a partner that did most of the physical work.” He informed her, “But since he defected, I had to actually train and improve. Well that and other things.” Dazai clicked the safety, “So you won’t give me Chuuya?” A beat of silence, “Then looks like this boy’s got to g-” 

“Here is my answer, envoy of Port Mafia.” Fukuzawa’s voice interrupted. 

Dazai paused to glance up at the camera, “Hmm?” 

“I am mindful of your proposal. If the Detective Agency is successful in defeating the elite forces of the Guild, you will have eliminated an enemy without lifting a finger for yourself. Under such circumstances, it is an ingenious plan for killing two birds with one stone.” 

“It’s beneficial for you as well.” Dazai replied, “What about my proposal about Chuuya?” 

“Indeed, provided that everything you have divulged hitherto is true.” Fukuzawa responded sharply, he ignored the Chuuya comment completely. 

“It is a sophisticated strategy to manipulate one’s enemies by feeding them false information. Do we seem like we would tear at any prey within sight? Is that what you think of us, a rabid pack of stray dogs?” 

Dazai just smiled as Fukuzawa continued on, “But if you think such a mediocre tactic would be effective against us, then the Mafia is unworthy of being our opponents.” 

Dazai suddenly erupted into laughter, “This is too funny!” Snickering, Dazai lowered his gun as the grin on his face disappeared, “This is why you all are unworthy of being Chuuya’s teammates. I worry that being with idiots such as yourselves will make Chibi more stupid than he already is.” He began walking towards the camera leisurely, “Is this really all the intelligence the Agency has to offer? I’m disappointed, I really am.” 

Fukuzawa glanced at Ranpo who sighed, “Well, well.” He reached into his coat to take out his glasses. 

“What are you hiding?” Fukuzawa demanded harshly. “What is the Mafia’s move behind the scenes?” 

Dazai stared up at the camera, his face utterly blank, “Nothing.” 

“I see, that’s how it is...” Ranpo interrupted, cutting through the tension. 

Ranpo leaned forward towards the camera’s slightly to stare at Dazai’s video image, “Oi, Mr. Bandages. Are you the one who leaked the intel to the jolly duo of the Guild?” 

“Hmm, am I?” Dazai smiled, his lone eye staring at the camera with a look bordering on cruel. 

“The Guild must have suspected it as a trap, but they still decided to go through with it because the bait is too appealing.” Ranpo’s eyes narrowed, “ What are you luring the Guild with?” 

“This is obviously a trap to lure us in.” A gaunt looking man with long black hair frowned as he stared at his partner, a blonde farmer. 

“‘With your abilities, it should be a piece of cake for the two of you even if it really is a trap!’ is what Mr. Fitzgerald said.” The blonde man, Steinbeck replied, “Not to mention the bait is really mouth watering! If the abduction or even elimination is successful, the Agency is all but defeated!” 

“YOU’RE USING OUR CLERKS AS BAIT?!” 

Dazai shrugged, “The detective next to you is quite impressive. The brain of your operation, I presume?” 

“ANSWER THE QUESTION!!!” Fukuzawa demanded. 

Dazai sighed, “Yes, yes. I mean you have more than enough time to go to their aid right now. Moreover, the Guild doesn’t know that you’ll mobilize. Of course this is also beneficial to the Mafia but it’s beneficial for you and the Guild as well. Boss sure is kind, right?” He questioned rhetorically.

“You…” Fukuzawa growled when Dazai ruthlessly continued, “If it was up to me, you wouldn’t have the option to save them. The Clerks would be dead by the time you get there and your members would fight much harder to avenge them against the Guild members. Moreover, I would be waiting with a team to finish off the victors.” Dazai paused, “But Mori-san obviously hasn’t thought that far and I don’t see why I should clue him in either.” 

“Why are you telling us this?” Ranpo’s voice sounded over the speaker, his voice cold, “You could just tell us the bait information and leave.” 

Dazai blinked, “Ah, you are a smart one.” He praised, “Very well, because you asked so nicely. I made a promise with Chuuya.” He put a hand on his waist and offered a hand, “In this three way war, I will help the Armed Detective Agency survive no matter what… second to the Mafia of course. The Mafia has already made our move… ” Dazai’s lips tilted downward into a frown, “We plan to win… no matter what the cost.” 

“Oh, and what did Chuuya offer in response?” Ranpo questioned sharply, slightly startled that one of their members would go behind their back to make a deal with a Mafia member, an executive if he remembered correctly from what Tanizaki and Atsushi relayed.

“That is a secret between Chuuya and me.” Dazai smiled cruelly, “You can ask him if you want, he won’t answer. Now, listen carefully or you won’t survive. One of your teams, the one with Chuuya in it, should go towards the ability users and save your clerks. The other team, the one with Atsushi-kun, should wait near the train station…. Ah, do tell Chuuya to make his way there as soon as possible… or else your clerks and your group will end up dying. Mori-san isn’t really idle.” 

He turned and began to walk away, starting to whistle a merry tune. 

Yosano clenched her blade. 

“Ranpo… is he lying?” Fukuzawa asked softly. Ranpo sighed, “At times like this, the truth is most compelling. That man... how frightening.” 

“Are we going to do as he says?” Fukuzawa questioned somewhat harshly. Ranpo narrowed his eyes, “He’s not lying. He truly believes that his way will keep us alive.” He paused, “Just what is his connection with Chuuya…?” He trailed off to a contemplative silence. 

Fukuzawa sighed, defeated. “...Notify the Clerks to evacuate immediately. Also… Contact Chuuya.” 

“What is it?” Tanizaki questioned as the shorter man opened the door and got back in the car. Chuuya’s face was angry, his fist clenched, “That fucking piece of shit.” The man snapped in anger. Chuuya took a deep breath before he turned to face Tanizaki, “We need to go save the Clerks.” 

“What?!” Tanizaki shouted in fear and surprise. 

Chuuya leaned back, a frown on his face, “I’m sure we can save them… but…” He trailed off as he frowned in anger. ‘What the fuck are you up to Dazai?’

“All Clear.” 

“Why aren’t we going to the parking lot?” Haruno questioned.

“I remember something Chuuya-san told me before.” Naomi admitted, “He said it was something an acquaintance of his always said. ‘When you and your enemy share the same amount of intel, the side who does the unexpected always wins. But when your enemy possesses more intel than you, you lose by default.’ Chuuya-san also said that his acquaintance's plans never failed. I thought it was something worth noting down.” Naomi explained. 

“So that’s why we’re going for the unexpected and escape through the staff passage?” Haruno questioned causing Naomi to smirk. She pointed at the cars lined up, “These parking spaces are reserved for the staff working at the lounge. Let's take a car.”

“But what about the keys?” 

Naomi flashed the car keys. She tossed it to Haruno, “I swiped it off a waitress when I first arrived at the lodge.” 

“If you were an ability user, you would be more competent than your brother.” Haruno commented. 

Naomi smirked, “Of course.” 

“How could the Guild catch us so quickly?” Haruno questioned while driving quickly down the road. 

“Must be the Mafia’s doing.” Naomi answered, “If our agents respond too quickly, the Guild would suspect it’s a trap. If we respond too slow, the Guild would gain the advantage. So the Mafia fed information to both sides at just the right time and had us go at each other.” 

Haruno grimaced, “A truly formidable enemy.” 

A jarring shock caused both of them to slam forward, only saved by the seat belt. “!?”

“What?!” Naomi exclaimed when Haruno cried out, “SOMEONE IS MESSING WITH THE CAR!” 

Naomi slammed the door only to yell out, “The door is jammed!” 

She glanced outside, only to look in shock as large thick vines appeared out of nowhere, surrounding and holding the car. 

They began to tighten, causing the car to groan as dents began to appear around it. 

“AT THIS RATE, WE’LL BE CRUSHED!” Naomi yelled only for it to suddenly stop. 

“It stopped?” Haruno questioned, confused but relieved. 

“Apologies ladies.” 

The two looked out the window to see a blonde man wearing farmer-like clothes. From his neck, the large grape vines protrude outwards, becoming the huge mass that was wrapped around the car. 

“You really took me by surprise there.” He continued, “As expected of the Agency, always prepared for all sorts of scenarios aren’t you? Do you know about the propagation of grapes?” He questioned, “Grapevines thrive when they’re attached to other plants. They are often propagated by grafting.” 

He paused before explaining, “The grapevine is connected to my body so it may not look like much. However, by grafting, I can control the entire flora as an extension of my ability. So it was easy to track you down by the vibrations detected by the roots in the ground. Get it?” 

He smiled, “Now no need to scowl. We’re just here to make a tiny request.” 

“Request?” Naomi questioned harshly, beads of sweat dripping down her head, “Request pretty much means “dispose after use” to you villians.” 

“Villains?” The man questioned, “I think there is a misunderstanding. The Guild isn’t a bad organization, nor am I villian. I even have a little sister at home.” 

“Then let us go.” Naomi ordered. 

The man smiled when the grape vines suddenly crushed the car a bit more, causing the two clerks to scream. 

“Sorry for the wrong idea. The missions given by the Guild pay well. If I fail… my family will starve. You surely understand?” 

Naomi closed her eyes, ‘Please make it, nii-sama!’ 

“Snow?” The man behind the grapeman commented out loud. “What a curious country, snowing at this time of the year…” 

He didn’t notice a foot coming out behind him before he was suddenly kicked with great force, causing him to fly far into the trees. 

“What?!” Steinbeck turned around only for Chuuya to suddenly be there, a fist slamming into him. Fortunately, he was able to block it with his vines but they tore apart easily under the assault of gravity and he was sent down the road.

“Naomi!” 

“Nii-sama!” Naomi looked out as Tanizaki quickly ripped the car door open, “Five minutes from now, a passenger train will come along the tracks by the foot of the hill. We’ve asked them to stop for ten seconds when they’re in the area. Get yourselves on the train!” 

Naomi and Haruno quickly climbed out and began to run off. 

Steinbeck scratched the back of his head as he glanced at two clerks disappearing down the road. “I knew something like this would happen. The information came from an unreliable source after all.” 

Chuuya who was pointing a knife at him laughed harshly, “You got it from a certain bandage wasting idiot, didn’t you?” 

Steinbeck looked at him, “Oh, the man was clad in an awful amount of bandages.” He recalled thoughtfully.

Chuuya smiled sardonically, “That guy is the most unreliable person in the world.” He informed him, “Now, let's keep this simple. If you don’t go after them, I won’t go after you. I know about your ability to a certain extent. You know nothing of mine.”

Steinbeck smiled, “I’m sorry, I can’t do that.” His eyes suddenly widened when Chuuya appeared in front of him and fist slammed in his face. He went flying, crashing into a tree. Chuuya walked after him. He pinned Steinbeck down and grabbed the grapevine that was attached to the man’s neck. 

“If I take this out…” Chuuya smiled, “I wonder what will happen?” In a flash he tore it off causing the man to scream. 

Chuuya took out his knife, “I need you to answer my questions.” Steinbeck smiled back painfully. However, his attention wasn’t on Chuuya.  “What took you so long… Lovecraft?”

Chuuya’s eyes widened as he looked up to see Lovecraft walking towards them. “What the- that should have broken his ribs completely! He shouldn’t be able to move!” 

Tanizaki opened his mouth to activate light snow when large tentacles erupted, grabbing the two of them. “What the fuck is this!” Chuuya snarled, struggling. His body began to glow red as he began to activate his ability when Tanizaki let out a scream. 

“I don’t know what your ability is.” Steinbeck called out, “But if you do activate it, your friend there will die.” 

Chuuya let out a soundless snarl, he glanced at the road, remembering Ranpo’s words. ‘The man said that you need to get to the train station as fast as possible.” 

Chuuya snarled, trying to escape. If he knew Dazai and his plans, if Chuuya didn’t make it to the train station, something would happen to the Agency… and it would all be Chuuya’s fault. 

Before he could attempt anything, Tanizaki replied something that Chuuya didn’t catch towards what one of the Guild members said. Chuuya blinked, shaken out of his thoughts to figure out what was going on. 

Chuuya looked up in shock when he saw a truck driving towards them. 

The two were tossed away as the truck crashed into the tentacles holding them. Chuuya, using his ability, helped Tanizaki land on his feet. The moment he did, he turned towards Tanizaki, “I trust you can make it back on your own?” 

“Yes, why?” Tanizaki looked startled. Chuuya grimaced, “I have to check something out, Director’s orders!” 

Tanizaki nodded and Chuuya turned and ran, manipulating his gravity to make him faster. 

--

Haruno and Naomi arrived in the train. 

They let out a sigh of relief, “We’re safe now.” Naomi told Haruno. Haruno nodded when she knocked into something. “Ah!” She let out a yelp of surprise before turning towards the person she had crashed into. “I’m sorry!” 

“Sorry?” The child with half black, half white hair tipped their head. A strange creepy doll was in their grip. “I should be the one to apologize.” They smiled, “Are you hurt?”

Chuuya stood gasping in the alleyway, his hand resting on a building wall as he tried to keep his breathing in check. 

“Fuck, I can’t believe I outran a train and arrived here before they did.” Chuuya mumbled, taking off his hat to fan his face. A frown made its way onto his face, “Do I still trust that bastard to the point that I’m rushing off like his bitch to wherever he points?” He questioned out loud as he began to walk towards where he guessed Kunikida and Atsushi would be when he noticed something. 

He paused before calling out, “Come out.” 

A black blur appeared before Chuuya and had a blade pointed at his neck. “Gin...huh.” Chuuya glanced at her before frowning, “You can come out too.” 

“I see you noticed our surveillance on you.” 

Chuuya glanced back to see the blonde girl, Higuchi, pointing a gun at him. Chuuya snorted, “That gun isn’t going to do anything. So what the hell do you want… or what the hell does Dazai want?”

“We’re here to kill you.” Higuchi answered. 

Chuuya barked out a laugh, “Both of your idioticness makes me laugh.” He pushed away Gin’s blade from his neck, “Everyone in the Mafia who knows me knows that the only person that can stop me is Dazai. Even then, I can still kill him if I try.” 

Higuchi sighed, “You’re right, we’re not here to kill you. I’ve come to deliver a message from the Boss, not Dazai-san.” 

Chuuya’s eyes narrowed, “Boss? What does Mori-san want with me?” 

“The message goes as follows: Chuuya-kun, are you interested in returning to the Mafia as an executive member and Dazai’s other half?” 

Chuuya stared at her in shock, “W-what?”

“I’ve read through your records.” Higuchi stated, “The other half of Soukoku (Double Black). I know of your methods and I know of your strength. Your blood is as black as the rest of us… as black as Dazai-san’s.” 

“Dazai?” Chuuya’s face had become overshadowed before he began laughing, “Don’t compare me to him. You and I both know what type of monster he is. I’ve heard he has become worse from Ane-san… ah, Kouyou-san to you I guess. As for Soukoku... that’s in the past.”

Higuchi sighed, “I guess that would have been a bad connection…”

“But why are you here?” Chuuya stated thoughtfully, “You even knew I would be coming here…” 

“We are here for the sake of your protection.” Higuchi responded. 

“Protection?” Chuuya frowned, “Why the hell would I need protection?” The floor around his shoes cracked, “Are you trying to imply something?” 

“The Boss has released “Q” from confinement.” Higuchi explained, causing Chuuya’s eyes to widen in shock and slight fear. 

“As if Dazai would allow that.” Chuuya shook his head although the area around him became noticeably heavy. “He and I...Soukoku… was dispatched to confine Q and that’s saying something. There’s no way Dazai would suddenly undo all that hard work.” 

“It was Mori-san’s direct orders… Dazai-san had no say.” Higuchi responded, “The mafia will do anything to win this war.” 

Chuuya stared at her in shock, “Do you realize what you just did? Q’s ability is fucking Mind Control. If that thing gets loose… no if that thing touches me…”,Chuuya stared at them in horror, “That’s the reason why you two are here, isn’t it? It’s to stop Q from touching me and activating… tainted.” 

The two just stared at him silently. “But Dazai told me to be here…” 

“Dazai-san?” Higuchi questioned in surprise when Chuuya turned around, “Damn it, Atsushi and Kunikida! Of course that sadistic bastard would love to see me see my new partner and pupil like that. It’s just like him!” 

“This is my power!” Atsushi exclaimed, holding Naomi by the throat when his body suddenly began to feel heavy. 

“What-” He dropped the girl as he fell to his knees, his hands trying to support him and hold his body up. 

“Atsushi! Look carefully!” Chuuya yelled out, his hand outstretched as he manipulated Atsushi’s gravity. 

Atsushi blinked before looking at his surroundings in horror. “A..all this time.. It’s been me? I… I didn’t want this!” 

Chuuya looked around, spotting the doll before turning to face Q who stared at him with sudden shock and fear. They remembered clear as day, the monster Chuuya had become when Q had tried to use their ability on him and Dazai’s cruel words. 

They also remembered the confinement that had occurred afterwards. 

They scooted backwards, “If you hurt me, you’ll go crazy too! You’ll die!” Q screeched at Chuuya who took a step forward, “Dazai isn’t here to stop you! You’ll just kill everyone!” 

Chuuya grimace, “Not much of a difference from what Atsushi is doing, right? At least if I do it, you’ll die as well. Release him.” 

Q opened their mouth to refuse and Chuuya bit his lips before beginning a specific phrase he knew that Q must remember as clearly as he does, “O Grantors of Dark Disgrace,”  The aura around him became heavier and darker, black markings began to appear around him and Q let out a scream of fear and panic. “ Do not wake me-” A hand landed on his shoulder and Chuuya blinked as his mind cleared and his ability disappeared. 

“Now that’s enough, Q.” Dazai’s familiar and sorely missed voice sounded next to him. Chuuya followed the hand on his shoulder to look at Dazai who was staring at Q with a frightening look. Dazai simply walked towards the laughing doll and grabbed it, his ability No Longer Human nullifying the Qs ability. Atsushi fell on the floor. 

Chuuya quickly made his way towards Atsushi, “Where’s Kunikida?” 

Atsushi let out a whimper, “Chuuya-san.. I didn’t want to-” 

“Enough, I understand.” He gave a hateful glare towards Q who stared at the ground, trembling as Dazai spoke to him quietly but harshly. Q glanced at Chuuya before looking away. 

“Where is Kunikida.” Chuuya said once more, causing Atsushi to whimper, “He went after Tanizaki-kun. To pick him up. Chuuya-san I’m no good… I don’t deserve to live..” 

“Atsushi..” Chuuya frowned before grabbing him by the collar and shaking him, “Shut up. I fucking know how it feels to wake up and see everyone dead around you and knowing that it’s all your fucking fault. I know how it feels but you’ve got to live with it or else you’ll live in it forever.” 

Atsushi stared at him in shock and Chuuya stood up, “We both have our pasts so I won’t force you to forget it or come in terms with it… heck I haven’t yet...” He gave Dazai a glare, “But don’t let it eat you up.” 

Dazai offered Chuuya a smile, “I’m sorry about this.” He apologized with a fake smile, “You know how Q is… although I thought I told you Chuuya… Never to use Corruption when I’m not there.” His face turned cold, his eyes darkening to almost black in color while his lips turned downward, clearly expressing his displeasure. 

Chuuya laughed hollowly, “You’re the one who fucking called me here. It’s always like you to be late, bastard, but I know you like the back of my hand… partner.” 

Dazai just blinked before he pointed at the train, “Q, go and make yourself useful… before I get rid of you.”

Q glared at Dazai hatefully before getting in the train car. Dazai called out after the small child, “And go after Chuuya again and not even Mori-san will be able to stop me… got it?” 

Q frowned before turning around and calling out, “Chuuya’s new friends are all weak… Chuuya-san too for trying to sacrifice himself. But once Dazai-san isn’t there… I wonder what’ll happen~” 

“Y-you!” Higuchi took a step forward when Dazai shook his head, “That’s fine. This will be the last time Q will see the sun again after all.” 

He turned to Chuuya who was staring at the leaving train with a pale face. 

“Don’t worry Chibi.” Dazai said cheerfully, a cheer that didn’t reach his eyes, “Q won’t even come close to touching you again like this… although there might be exceptions…” He trailed off before turning around and walking away. 

“Dazai.” 

Chuuya’s voice stopped the three Mafia members in their tracks, “Don’t forget your promise.” He said gritting his teeth, “We made a deal.” 

Dazai’s eyes traced Chuuya’s choker, his eyes spotting his name engraved on the small silver buckle, “Of course.” 

Chapter Text

VI.

The highest hand; Royal Flush

Atsushi climbed up the stairs leading to the room where their prisoner, Ozaki Kouyou was situated in. His eyes were downcast, his mind plagued with recurring thoughts and memories of what had happened. Self-loathing filled his very being despite Chuuya-san’s kind but harsh words.

He paused, staring at the door for a split second before he steeled his nerves and opened the door.

“Oh?” Ozaki Kouyou lifted her head, tilting it ever so slightly to stare at the door in surprise. She sat on the side of the bed, her hands holding a book.

An amused smile flitted on her face, her eyes narrowing in interest, “How unusual… have you come alone, lad?”

Atsushi remained silent, slowly closing the door behind him.

Kouyou turned back to her book, her smiling widening, “Relax.” She casually flipped a page, “As you can see, I am currently under confinement. I cannot even serve you snacks no matter how much I would want to.”

Atsushi’s eyes narrowed, “Confinement?” He reached behind him to test the door, “In an unlocked room?”

Kouyou just smiled, she tapped her head, “The lock is here. Put in place by Dazai, it’s invisible to the eye.”

“Dazai-san?” Atsushi immediately became guarded, “He’s the enemy!”

Kouyou let out a sigh, immediate distaste filling her features, “It’s that accursed lad’s fault that I am in this position…” Her hands tightened around her book, “I told Chuuya to stay away from Mori’s boy but I should’ve known he wouldn’t listen… boys are like that, wouldn’t you agree?” She tilted her head.

Atsushi frowned, “That doesn’t answer the question.”

“You didn’t ask.” Kouyou replied smoothly, “But yes, Dazai.”

“He’s on your side!” Atsushi exclaimed.

Kouyou’s expression darkened, “He’s on no side but his own. You will do good to remember that, lad. Dazai Osamu will do everything and anything that benefits him and if being in Port Mafia and doing Mori’s orders benefits him, so be it. If keeping me confined here will do so, he will do that. As you can see.” The woman’s face turned sorrowful, her hands tightened on the book, forming creases and wrinkles, “Even my strong and proud Chuuya is shackled by that boy’s promises and whispers… along with the remains of that undeserving trust.”

The woman suddenly shook her head slightly, as if clearing away her thoughts, “Well? What have you come here for?” She paused, “To kill me?”

She glanced at him from under her eyelashes, “Or… have you run away from the frontlines because you made a blunder of some sort?” Atsushi’s eyes widened and he jerked, causing Kouyou to stare at him in surprise, “What? Did I actually get it right?”

“No.” Atsushi emphasized angrily before he looked down, “I was just… I was just trying to protect everyone.” For a moment he remembered Naomi’s and Haruno’s faces frozen in fear.

He paused, staring at Kouyou’s unimpressed look. She harrumphed, “That boy is rubbing off on Chuuya. Why, both Chuuya’s protege and Dazai’s protege,ending up as troublemakers.” She let out a sigh, “Just forget about it. No one expects much from snotty nosed brats like you anyway.”

Kouyou started pouring the tea she had been preparing during their short talk. “More importantly, is it alright for you to be here?” She picked up her cup, blowing it as she turned to face him, “Should you not be by Chuuya’s side? Are you not in the middle of war?”

Atsushi hesitated before he glanced away, “Chuuya-san is on his way to a negotiation… with a government agent.”

Dazai stood leaning on a metal fence, his expression dark, his single eye closed. It flicked open when the sound of the rumbling engine of a car became louder. He pushed himself off of the fence, putting a hand on his hip. The car stopped in front of him, causing the coat on his shoulder to flap and billow.

“It’s been several years… Dazai-kun.” Ango stepped out, his hand reaching up to correct his glasses. His face was calm and collected but with closer inspection, one could see the small shake of his hand and the sweat beading his forehead. “I trust you’re alone?”

Dazai suddenly grinned, his arms opening wide, “Ango~ You look well!”

He abruptly bypassed him and turned around, pointing a gun against the back of Ango’s head. Ango’s glasses glinted ominously; the smile on Dazai’s face was completely gone, replaced by a blank face and a dark eye.

“You’ve got some serious nerve to actually come meet me here.” Dazai said softly, “Do you think that I’ve actually forgiven you?”

Ango glared back at him coldly, “You owe me for keeping him alive. Port Mafia is not the only one who wants his head. The government and many other people want him gone.”

“....” Dazai’s eye flickered from the woman holding a blade at his throat to the man pointing a gun at him. He glanced back at Ango before smiling again, “Yep, I know.” He quirked his lips with an amused look, pulling the trigger, “Well, you knew this would happen. That’s why your gun isn’t loaded, right?”

“You’re quick to pick this up. This makes things easier.” Dazai handed him the unloaded gun when Ango noticed a glint of something else. His eyes widened a split second before he let out a choked cry of pain. He grabbed his shoulder as he stumbled backwards, blood stain spreading around the small bullet hole in his shoulder.

The other two agents with him moved to attack Dazai when the man just snapped his fingers. In an instant, the two fell down dead from a bullet in the middle of their foreheads.

Ango stared at him in shock and fear. “Y-you..”

“Did you really expect me to leave you alone after everything you’ve done?” Dazai smiled, his single eye staring down at him coldly. “I can’t believe you actually had the guts to appear in front of me. Who’s the suicidal one now?”

“The Special Department-” Ango began, only to be cut off by the gun pointed at his forehead, “Will think that the Guild did it.” Dazai finished with a cold smile, “There are Guild Members waiting to ambush you, did you know that?”

Ango’s eyes widened even more as Dazai continued, “It’ll be a piece of cake to make it look like they did it.” Dazai stared down at him and Ango was reminded again exactly why Dazai was nicknamed ‘the demon prodigy of Port Mafia.’ If he didn’t know any better, he would’ve thought that Dazai was truly a demon from the darkest pit of hell.

“If you die here and I place the blame on them… the government can’t do anything, right?” Dazai smiled mirthlessly, “Your hands are tied as long as the government is concerned.”

“You can’t do this!” Ango protested, “Mori promised no harm will come of me by Port Mafia’s hand.”

“Mori doesn’t know about this.” Dazai responded, “And when have I ever agreed with or to everything Mori promised. Besides, remember? The Guild is the one killing you.”

“That is…” Dazai turned his head to look at the newcomer who was staring at the two of them in shock, “unless you’re going to stop me…” His eye met wide blue ones who stared in shock at the two dead government workers and Ango’s bleeding shoulders.

“Chuuya.”

“I see. The Special Ability Department is the leading ability organization in the country. If the Detective Agency manages to persuade them into an alliance, they will have gained the biggest trump card.” Kouyou mused out loud.

“You don’t seem to care very much.” Atsushi stated warily, “Aren’t you an executive member of the Mafia?”

Kouyou turned to him, killer intent erupting suddenly around her as Golden Demon formed, “Indeed I am, I wonder if I should slice you right now and report everything to the boss.”

Atsushi’s eyes widened in fear when Golden Demon disappeared and Kouyou waved a hand in the air, “I say that but Dazai has made it impossible.”

“What on earth did he do to you?” Atsushi recalled the man’s dead fish gaze, “He’s also an executive, isn’t he?”

Kouyou sighed, “We merely struck a deal. It concerned both Chuuya and Kyouka, my two precious children. I couldn’t refuse.”

She looked down sadly before she turned to face him, “Kyouka is about to start a massacre in this war. If that comes to a pass, she will never fulfill her wish of ‘living in the world of light.’” She looked down in sadness, “Such is a fate befallen on me.” Her eyes flickered up to meet his, “Lad, please help Kyouka.”

“...Dazai… What is the meaning of this?” Chuuya glared angrily at the man clad in bandages and black.

Dazai smiled innocently, “These people were loitering in our meeting space so I was cleaning them out!”

“Don’t fucking kid with me!” Chuuya snapped angrily. “Why the hell did you even call me here? And what are you doing with Sakaguchi!”

“Just dealing away with a traitor.” Dazai smiled darkly, “Don’t tell me you forgot all our times hunting down traitors together. This is just one of them.”

“Nakahara…” Ango hissed when he let out a grunt of pain when he was kicked directly in the ribs. Ango went sprawling to his side, skittering on the ground due to the force of the blow. He coughed, glancing through the broken lenses of his glasses to look at Dazai who was staring at him with his foot still raised from kicking him. A grimace crossed his face when Ango realized that he now had several broken ribs.“Don’t say his name so casually.” Dazai stared at him with a new type of glint in his eye. One that scared Ango more than any look he had ever seen on Dazai’s face.

“What the fuck?” Chuuya snapped before rushing past Dazai to crouch in front of Ango, “Oi, are you really trying to kill him?”

Dazai’s face darkened at the obvious care that Chuuya was showing Ango, “Chuuya, move.”

Chuuya froze, his eyes widening when he heard none of the teasing or flirty notes that always accompanied his name. He turned to face Dazai, his body shifting to a more battle ready crouch, “Don’t tell me what to do… shitty mackerel.” He tossed forward the nickname, hoping to dissipate the sudden deadly tension that surrounded them.

“Chuuya.” Dazai repeated, “Move.”

A part of Chuuya, the Mafia part of him that refused to die, screamed at him to obey but the new Chuuya, the ADA Chuuya, stayed firmly in front of Sakaguchi. If he moved, Chuuya knew that Sakaguchi would breathe his last there.

“Don’t order me around.” Chuuya barked, the ground around him began to crack from his nervousness. This wasn’t like the Dazai he was used to. But then, a deeper part of him reflected, Dazai had changed a long time ago… that was why he had left. The past few days of their familiar banter and Dazai’s same pathetic antics had caused him to forget it.

Dazai’s eyes narrowed and Chuuya braced himself when Dazai closed his eye and abruptly turned around.  After a few moments of tensed silence, Dazai spoke up. “Chuuya, get ready.” Dazai’s voice had lost much of the cold anger, “The next stage… will be ours.”

He turned and left without as much as a backwards glance.

Chuuya stared after Dazai’s retreating back, “Next stage…?” A cough broke him out of his thoughts and he looked behind to see Ango coughing up blood. “Oi oi! Are you okay?” Chuuya gently shook Ango.

“Nakahara-kun.” Sakaguchi raised his head to face him, “You need to tell your friends to run. You can’t win against the Guild!”

Chuuya blinked before his eyes narrowed, “No. We will.” He cut the other off. But we should get you to safety.

Ango coughed again, “There are Guild members waiting-”

“I took care of that.” Chuuya dismissed easily, “They attacked while I was coming… with a car. Really, a car.” He used his ability to help Ango up, “We need to take you to a hospital.”

“... Thanks… I owe you one.” Ango mumbled before the world went black.

Clang, clang.

John Steinbeck walked down the stairs to the basement where the Guild prisoner was held. The young child was held by thick vines and tree roots, bound forcefully.

He smiled, “Yo, how are you feeling?”

“It hurts… ” The child said in pain, thier eyes wide, “i t hurts, it hurts, it hurts, my body…!”

“Well, blame the tactician that came up with this emergency plan or yourself for pulling the stupid stunt of messing with Lovecraft's mind.” Steinbeck shrugged as he stepped closer to the child.

“...kill you… I’ll kill you!”

Steinbeck smiled before he reached over and stepped on one of the roots of the tree, causing it to snap.

Screaming filled the small basement.

Atsushi glared at the man who sat on the lavish chair inside the large whale named Moby Dick.

“Good Morning, young man tiger.” Fitzgerald tilted the wine glass he was holding.

Atsushi silently glared at him hatefully.

“Are you enjoying your cruise on the Moby Dick?” Fitzgerald questioned with a smile. Atsushi’s face grew more furious. “Moved beyond words,’eh? Splendid.” He set down his wine glass.

The door opened and Atsushi looked behind to see the red haired girl, Lucy, sporting a maid’s working clothes. Her eyes widened when she saw him before she turned around and continued cleaning the place.

“She…” Atsushi murmured causing Fitzgerald to glance at her, “Ah, Miss Montgomery? Well, we have no need for those whose abilities have been figured out to have no strategic value but she begged to stay with us, so there you have it.”

“Now..” Fitzgerald smiled, “I brought you here because I think you should know what the Guild is after. About why I took you with me.”

“What?” Atsushi eyed him warily.

“We.. are searching for a certain book.”

“A book?”

“It’s the only book in the world.. That is impervious to fire and all abilities. Someone with the abilities of clairvoyance prophesied that the book in question is currently within this piece of land known as Yokohama.” Fitzgerald explained.

“What does that have to do with me?” Atsushi glared at him angrily.

“You are, quite literally, our ‘Tiger beetle,’ or guide if you will. We’re playing host to you in the air… because we can’t have you reduced to ashes along with the city below.”

“What?”

“The Special Ability Department has been stripped of its power. All that remains are the Detective Agency and the Port Mafia. But these two organizations are seriously a handful. It’d save me a lot of trouble to just raze the city to the ground.”

“Raze to the ground? What kind of ability would be powerful enough to…” Atsushi’s mind flickered to Chuuya and the frightening ability of gravity but he didn’t even know if that was enough to destroy a whole city.

Fitzgerald smiled and he reached over to grab something from next to him. “This thing… ring any bells?” Atsushi stared at the doll that Q had held onto in horror.

“The emergency plan.” Steinbeck explained to Q who was staring at him pain, “The key of this plan is to combine your ability with mine. My “Grapes” is the ability to establish a sensory link between the host and the trees. This time, I’ve linked you up with all the trees in Yokohama. The clueless folks down below are stomping all over their roots, knocking on their trunks and chopping off their branches as usual. So the signals of all their pain are being transmitted down to you.”

“I’ll curse you.. I’ll kill you..”

“Yep, that’s the most important bit.” Steinbeck pointed a finger at the pained child. “You have the ability to curse those that cause you harm. The cursed will fly into rage and attack anyone within sight. So here’s the question.. What do you think will happen… if your ability is activated right now? This is the Emergency plan, also known as the “Incineration of Yokohama.” Your city will be destroyed by your own hand.”

“Why.. all I’ve ever wanted is to live happily. I never wanted this ability, but why do terrible things always happen to me?” Q questioned, tears dripping down their face.

Steinbeck looked almost sadly down, “Well, there are those who hold immense wealth and power. There are those who cower and weep in despair. There are those who were ordered to interrogate children. In the crude language of adults, that’s just how it is. ‘Why me” you asked?’ If you were born with this ability, then you have no choice but to die with it too.” Steinbeck stared at them with melancholy. “God exists, He just doesn’t love you.”

“No… NONONONONONONONO!” Q screamed, “ This rotten world… I’LL BURN IT DOWN! I’LL CURSE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!”

“BE CURSED, BE CURSED, BE CURSED!”

“Oi, Chuuya.”

Chuuya turned to look at the door from where he had been looking out the window. “Kunikida?”

His eyes widened when he saw a black handprint on Kunikida’s neck. The man inclined his head at Chuuya, his face serious, “Tell me what’s the deal.”

“HEHAHEHAHEHAHEHA” The doll in Fitzgerald’s hand started to laugh that creepy laugh.

“It’s begun then.” Fitzgerald smiled cruelly, “All that’s left is to damage this doll.”

“All right… I surrender.” Atsushi hissed, “The Detective Agency and I will provide our full support in aiding your search… please just don’t destroy that doll!”

“Oh? I see… that’s an interesting proposal.” Fitzgerald smiled, “Fine, we’ll establish a partnership… but only with those who survive this.” The doll ripped.

“Let me out! What you’re doing is unforgivable!” Atsushi exclaimed before he turned to look out the window. Smoke is already billowing! The Detective Agency and the police might be able to do something if they work together. No. That won’t work. They already have people inside the police.

I have to do something…

You? You’ve got to be kidding.

Atsushi turned around to see his old headmaster. You bring misfortune towards everyone who gets involved with you. Do you know why? Both the young girls, Kyouka and Montgomery used to be safe before they got involved with you. You’re the one who dragged them into this ordeal.

Hallucination? Leftover effect of mind control?

It’s imagination. It’s all a matter of imagination. His headmaster answered. They are in such sorry states because under those childish delusions of yours, you offered them gratuitous kindness without fully understanding their situations.

“I’ve told you time and time again, haven’t I? Shut up!” Atsushi screamed, attacking the image, only for it to disappear.

“Serves you right.”

Atsushi looked past the bars of the door to see Montgomery. “You… Why are you here?”

“I’ve been ordered to dispose of this gross piece of trash.” She lifted said piece of trash, revealing Q’s doll. “So I thought I’d come and watch the poor kitty mewl.

“Let me out of here!” Atsushi screamed, “If we don’t hurry, everyone will…”

“By ‘everyone,’ you mean you and your companions, right? I’m not in the deal… oh right, I guess it’s alright to let you go… when the town’s burn to crisp and you alone are all that’s left of it. By then you should understand how I feel.”

“Then run! I do understand how you feel. I used to be…” Atsushi began when she cut him off.

“Don’t patronize me! How could someone so blessed as you understand my situation! The Guild is all I have left!” She screamed, “Say, have you worn the same set of patched up leftovers for a whole year? Have you ever been hit with a hot, glowing iron poker? Have you washed dishes all day long with frost bitten and bleeding hands?

“Can you even imagine… what kind of terrible agonies I’ve been through?” She raised her sleeve to show him her burns.

“...” Atsushi looked down. “The pain seeps right into the bones the first day. But it’s the most unbearable on the third day. Every little shift causes your clothes to rub against your burns. It hurts so much that you want to die.” He lifted his shirt to show her his burns. “I too, lived in a similar place. So I understand all your fears and loneliness.”

“But loneliness does not always have us under tyranny. After joining the Detective Agency, I finally realized that loneliness is just a patch of cloud that floats in and out of sight. If we were a bit more imaginative, we would have realized this sooner. Indeed everything is just a matter of imagination. Among those below, there are people who are just like us. Leaving them to die is no different than abandoning the past version of ourselves. Will you really just do nothing?”

Lucy Montgomery looked down and in an instant, the surroundings were changed by her ability.

‘This is..?” Atsushi looked around.

“It’s too late. It’s stated that once the “cursing ability” is activated, there is no stopping it.”

“No, there is a way.” Atsushi cut off, his mind flashing to the man clad in bandages halting the ability from affecting him any longer.

“If Dazai-san touches the doll and activates his ability “No longer human,” the curse will be nullified… that was how I once got saved.”

He was suddenly slammed by Lucy’s doll, Annie. “That won’t work! We’re in the air right now! You don’t even know where he is. How are you supposed to get the doll to him?”

Their eyes met and Lucy suddenly seemed to understand, “I see… you’re doing it anyways.” She looked down, “You could be shot by Moby Dick’s anti aircraft artillery or fall to your death or get torn apart by rampaging people on land.. You’ve already considered the possibilities and still plan on going.”

“It said in a book that I read a long time ago,” Atsushi said firmly, “Not once have I regretted the things I did. I only regret the things that I did not do. I want no regrets.”

Atsushi’s eyes widened when Annie suddenly loomed over him, only to blankly stare as it/she plopped a bag in his arms.”

“It’s a parachute, meant to be used in an emergency but now it’s yours.” She pointed towards a door, “I’ve linked that door to the outside. So all that’s left is the landing.”

“Is this okay?” He looked at her, “If I go, the Guild will…”

Lucy winked, “Solitude has always been my constant companion. In any case, no one has ever managed to defeat Annie, I’ll be safe as long as I stay in this room.”

Atsushi began to make his way to the door when Lucy spoke again, “Hey, do you remember that time we met as enemies? At that time, you and your colleague, and that doctor…”

“Ah, that man turned out to be the Mafia boss.”

“He certainly seemed like it, no wonder.” Lucy admitted frankly, “Even now, I can still recall how he said, “Thoroughly retaliating against an opponent that means you harm is the most suitable solution” and his gaze that could chill people to their very soul. Back then, I only lost because you worked together with that man. Now that I think about it, had the Mafia and the Agency cooperated in working together from the start, perhaps not even the Guild would have stood a chance against you.”

She paused before pushing him towards the door, “Hurry, someone is coming.”

“Hey are you sure this is fine? Are you really invincible in this room? But doesn’t that mean that you can never get out of here?”

“Just how dumb are you? It’s obviously an excuse. Make sure you survive, then come and get me out. I’ll be waiting.” She smiled at him.

He glanced back at her, “Understood.” Without hesitation, he jumped down.

“THE MAN TIGER HAS ESCAPED! PREP THE AIR CANNON!” 

I must get the doll to Dazai-san. His mind flashed back to the man, But I have no idea where he will be. It’s not like I can run into Mafia headquarters either. Perhaps Chuuya-san might know?

The doll began to laugh causing him to shout, “I know this is reckless! Shut up!”

As he went down, he noticed a Mafia member shouting, “Guard the traffic network with your life! Shoot anyone who dares to make a run at us!”

His eyes widened when something passed by him and he looked around before opening his parachute. However, it wasn’t long before something hit it, causing it to deflate and Atsushi to free fall once more.

Still a no go, huh? I don’t want to die like this… but it can’t be helped.

Grrrrrrrrwwlll…

Atsushi turned, in his mind’s eye, to see a large white tiger, the manifestation of his ability growling at him. “It’s you…” The tiger leapt at him, its fangs sinking into his shoulder. That’s right… You hate me… Go on, eat me. I too, hate myself. He reached over and nudged the tiger, “Thanks for everything.”

The tiger's eyes widened.

Atsushi’s body twisted in midair as it turned into a large white tiger. It slammed onto the floor before staggering up, its legs were twisted and bleeding from the impact of the fall. Sickening cracks sounds erupted and Atsushi laid where it once stood, his legs completely healed.

Atsushi’s eyes widened before he looked at his hands, “I’m still alive?”

Laughing sounds caused him to snap back in attention as he noticed Q’s doll. “I have to hurry and get it to…” He staggered towards it only for the ground in front of him to explode from gunfire. He quickly grabbed it and ran, dodging the shots.

He turned the corner, only to freeze as he took in the terror that Yokohama had become. His eyes caught a baby stroller, rolling towards a large hole and rushed towards it, dodging the bullet shots.

I can’t make it… His face turned determined and he rushed forward, saving the stroller before it fell. He skidded to a halt, only to be face to face with a Mafia member, Tachihara. “You’re..!” Tachihara began only to be suddenly handful with a stroller. “Sorry please take this kid!”

“WAIT! SHITTY DETECTIVE!” Tachihara screamed while Atsushi just ran. Atsushi paused, suddenly turning around to meet Tachihara’s eyes, “Where is Dazai-san?!”

Before Tachihara could respond, Atsushi turned and ran, barely dodging some bullets. He continued to run when he noticed some objects lining the streets. Were these here before?

His eyes suddenly noticed a careening object and his eyes widened, “A Tanker truck!!!” When it exploded.

Atsushi fell on the floor, coughing. He let out a groan and struggled to stand when bullets pierced his legs, rendering them useless.

Atsushi’s body shook but he continued to try to reach the doll on the floor, crawling towards it to the best of his abilities when he noticed a pair of worn black shoes.

He looked up to see a familiar man clad in black and bandages, his lone eye meeting Atsushi’s. For the first time, there was a glimmer of light that made the man seem more alive, “Victory is yours, Atsushi-kun.”

“D-dazai-san?” Tears dripped down Atsushi’s face, he never thought there would be a time where he would be happy to see the Mafia executive.

Dazai smiled, “Good work, the city is now saved.”

“Watch out Dazai-san! The enemy attacks from above!”

Dazai glanced up, a cruel smile lighting his face, “Do they?”

He pressed a button and suddenly the whole place was filled with pink smoke. The doll quickly faded away due to Dazai’s ability and Dazai grabbed Atsushi by the collar of his clothes and threw him down the stairs leading to the underground.

“Oi Dazai! Be careful!” Chuuya’s voice flittered into Atsushi’s ears causing him to look up from his position on the bottom of the floor. Chuuya’s gentle hands smoothed his head in an almost motherly fashion, “Good work Atsushi, I’m proud of you.”

“Eeehhhhh, is Chuuya proud of me too?” Dazai tipped his head like a puppy, “I even saved him!”

Chuuya gave the other a cold glare as he helped Atsushi sit on the stairs, “You fucking threw him down the stairs!”

“He’s alive, isn’t he?” Dazai dismissed.

“How did you…” Atsushi questioned.

“Well, I’ve been watching out for where you were gonna land. Well done, with this, Yokohama’s safe…” Dazai smiled, “Or that’s what I would like to say. Unfortunately, as long as Q is within their grasps, they can do this anytime they want.”

“Che, and whose fault is that?” Chuuya growled, shaking his head. “If it wasn’t for the Mafia releasing that thing, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Dazai shrugged, “Bring it up to the Boss.”

Chuuya sighed, “Because of you, the Special Abilities Department can’t help us. Right now, the Detective Agency is in a bind.”

“Why is it because of me?” Dazai pouted, “It’s all the Guild’s fault.”

“Chuuya-san.. Dazai-san.”

The two turned towards him, their coats flapping.  For a moment, Atsushi noticed how at ease they were with each other and how right they looked standing next to each other. The similar way they wore their coats merely highlighted the fact.

“It says in a book I read long time ago, “Not once have I regretted the things I did. I only regret the things that I did not do.”  Atsushi paused, knowing he was holding both their attentions, “It also says, “The head may err but never the blood.” I had an idea while I was falling through the sky. You may say it’s completely out of question but when I see you two and especially your actions Dazai-san… I think it is the one and only solution indicated by my very blood and soul.”

“An idea about what?” Dazai stared down at him indifferently. Chuuya stayed quiet, allowing his ex-partner to do the talking… like always.

“About collaborators. The strongest in all of Yokohama and they protected this city more fiercely than any other. There are no better collaborators than this organization in our war against the Guild.”

Chuuya’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Atsushi, not liking where this was going. Dazai’s single eye peered down at him solemnly, an amused smile quirking on his lips.

“I am talking about…” Atsushi  looked up to directly meet his eyes with Dazai’s, the person he expected would be the most important factor in this agreement.

“The Port Mafia.”

Chapter Text

VII.

Return of the Darkest Duo

Double Black

Armed Detective Agency Headquarters

A dark cloud surrounded the sofa where a small figure with a small fancy hat and startling bright hair sat. The aura around him was oppressive and the members of the Armed Detective Agency felt it accurately. A thoughtful and angry frown sat on the man’s lip as he clenched his fist.

“Don’t just sit there and do nothing!” Kunikida folded his arms to glare down at Chuuya. Chuuya glanced up, leaking deadly killer intent, “Hah?”

“You’re usually not this bad! Besides, you and Atsushi saved the city.” Kunikida’s glasses flashed.

Chuuya grunted, “There was another piece of shit involved but yeah.” He sighed, “The director assigned me another mission.”

Kunikida blinked, “Now that you mention it, the director had a very long conversation with Atsushi yesterday. Was it about your next mission?”

“Correct.”

Kunikida looked behind him to see the Armed Detective Agency’s director. The director folded his arms, “Chuuya, how is the negotiation for a secret meeting with the mafia boss going? Do you think he will come”

Chuuya sighed, “I don’t know about Mori-san. He’s always been unpredictable to me really. However, Dazai should be coming for sure. Atsushi’s idea piqued his interest, whether he doubts its actual possibility or not. He’ll be there.”

“Oh?” Fukuzawa questioned.

“It’s the perfect chance to kill you director.” Chuuya offered.

“That’s still preferable than seeing my members bleeding or dead.” Fukuzawa turned around and began to walk towards the door.

Kunikida glanced at Chuuya, “Hey Chuuya… fill me in. A secret meeting with the Mafia?”

“Yea.” Chuuya leaned back on the couch, “Atsushi's proposal has developed into disgusting shit. Even with the Guild as the larger threat…”

“HANG ON! HANG ON! HANG ON!” Kunikida yelled. “In any case, first of all, why would you be arranging this secret meeting…. Is it your connection with Dazai Osamu?”

The aura around Chuuya got darker, “Why is it always him?!” He mumbled before he turned his head to meet Kunikida’s eyes, “It’s because I was a Mafia member. Everyone knows that but you.”

Port Mafia Building

Behind the tinted glass walls, rows and rows of body bags lay, holding the bodies of Port Mafia men.

Mori Ougai, the boss of Port Mafia looked down at the carnage with a somber face. Dazai stood a step behind him to his right, his face dispassionate.

“How many casualties?” Mori questioned, folding his hands behind his back.

“We’ve lost 18 direct members. If we’re also counting people working for our sub-organizations, almost a hundred.” A man reported with a dip of his head.

Dazai stared at the bodies, “If the Armed Detective Agency had not gotten the doll to me in time, there would have been an even larger casualty count. Who knew our own weapon would be turned against us?”

Mori gave him a short glare at the unseen jab, “As the boss, I can’t raise my head in front of my predecessor.”

At that moment, the sound of the door opening caused the two men to glance at a familiar figure clad in a rich colored kimono.

“Oh, Kouyou-kun!” Mori stretched his arm wide.

“I was evicted by Chuuya from the Detective Agency.” She said with a small smile but her eyes had a steely glint as they stared at Dazai who merely smiled in response. She reached into her sleeves to bring out an envelope. Dazai’s smile widened.

“An invitation to the Agency Director’s tea party, I believe.”

Mori smiled ruefully, “.... I see, so it has come to this.”

Eight years Ago…

“How are you feeling boss?” Mori Ougai, wearing a doctor's coat, questioned a frail man lying on a large lavishly decorated bed.

“Doctor…. Order the Executive members to “Purge.” Be it opposing factions or the military police, all those who defy the Port mafia must be killed.” The man on the bed commanded. “By sundown.”

Mori’s hand twitched, a thin scalpel appearing in his gloved hand, “That’s not reasonable.”

The Boss’s eyes widened with a manic glint, “It matters not how many men we have to lose…. Kill. Just kill.”

Mori just gave a tired smile, “Understood Boss.” He rested his scalpel on the man’s throat. With a savage slash of his hand, he cut open the artery, causing blood to splatter and coat the wall.

*Clang*

He dropped the scalpel. “...The Boss… Died of a serious illness. His dying wish was to have me succeed him as the next boss.” He turned around from where he had been taking off his gloves.

“And you were the witness understood?” He smiled, his face splattered with blood. A young Dazai Osamu, covered in bandages stared back at him, a small frown on his lips.

Present time... Promised meeting place

Chuuya leaned on the wall, his hat covering his eyes and his arms crossed. He paused before he raised his head and walked forward, an easy smile on his face.

“It's been a long time… Boss.” He lifted his hat in greeting towards the approaching man. The man offered a smile, “It’s been four years.”

Chuuya nodded shortly as Mori surveyed him, “You look like you haven’t changed at all Chuuya-kun.” He smiled, “If I didn’t know better, I would say you look like you’re still in the Mafia.”

Chuuya cocked his head, “Why does everyone keep saying that?” His eyes flickered to the people behind Mori. Black Lizard… No Dazai…

“Boss of the Mafia, Mori Ougai-dono.” Fukuzawa approached. His eyes surveyed the group with Mori as well as if expecting Dazai to slink out from the shadows.

“Director of the Armed Detective Agency, Fukuzawa Yukichi-dono.” Mori responded, then took steps forward until they were right in front of each other.

“Finally the day has come.” Fukuzawa closed his eyes.

“The Detective Agency and the Port Mafia.” Mori smiled, “If the Government higher-ups catch word.. That the head of the two largest ability organizations in Yokohama are having a secret meeting, they will definitely be foaming at the mouth.”

Fukuzawa stared at the other seriously, ‘I shall get straight to the point. A certain newcomer at our agency… has proposed that we enter an alliance with the Port Mafia.”

“Hmm, Dazai-kun has informed me about it.”

“I am opposed to it. Siding with an illegal organization.. Goes against our policy.” Fukuzawa stated coldly. Mori’s eyes slid towards Chuuya’s who held his gaze fearlessly.

“However,” Fukuzawa continued, causing Mori’s attention to focus back onto him, “Coming from someone who has been subjected to the Mafia’s repeatedly violent treatment and even abduction, the proposal is unusually poignant.” He raised his head, “Thus as the leader of the Agency, I must take it into serious consideration.”

“Neither of us is destined to have it easy, eh?” Mori laughed, his hand resting on his chin.

“My final decision is that… even if an alliance cannot be struck, I would still like to call for a detente.”

Mori’s eyes widened before they narrowed, “What an interesting proposal.”

“Reasons being first and foremost…” Fukuzawa started to explain his reason when he was cut off by Mori. 

“Have you read T.Shelling?” Mori interrupted.

“Pardon?” Fukuzawa stared at him confusion.

“What about J. Nash and H. Kissinger?” Mori continued without missing a beat. 

"‘They’re all academics that studied war strategies.”

Everyone whirled around as a new figure walked to stand right next to Fukuzawa facing Mori. Fukuzawa’s eyes widened and he turned, his hand landing on his blade as he stared at the bandage clad man that had appeared so suddenly and easily within their midst.

Dazai smiled, raising a lazy hand “Yo.”

Chuuya gave him a short glare and for a moment, their roles were reversed. Dazai stood next to the president of the Armed Detective Agency while Chuuya stood with the Boss of Port Mafia. Chuuya accurately felt the irony as well as knowing that it was certainly a possibility if not for Oda Sanosuke and Dazai Osamu’s action and words.

Dazai gave Mori a glum look, “Someone’s been stuffing it all in my head.”

Fukuzawa gave him a wary glance, “... I have read Sun Tzu.”

Mori sighed, ‘Wars between countries and wars between illegal organizations like the Mafia… are not so different.”

“Even if we violate an agreement, there is no one to sanction us. What if the Mafia suddenly breaks that detente? What if the Armed Detective Agency betrays us? The party that abides by the detente will surely suffer heavy losses and if there is a party that actually benefits from breaking the pact, the detente agreement is null right from the start.” Mori paused, "The agreement will only stand if both parties are in perfect accordance but…”

“That’s impossible.” Dazai finished his sentence.

“Exactly. We from the Mafia take our honor and grudges very seriously and many of us here have suffered at the hands of you folks from the Detective Agency.”

“My subordinates have also been targeted by you lot multiple times, if I recall?” Fukuzawa said coldly.

“But nobody died. Much to the disgrace of the Mafia. Isn’t that right, Chuuya-kun?” Mori tilted his head to stare straight at Chuuya, “You should know better than anyone what the Mafia expects.”

Chuua glared at him, “100% success rate…”

Mori just grinned.

“...Hmm how about this?” Fukuzawa’s hand rested on his katana.

His eyes narrowed, “How about we settle our scores… right here, right now.”

The Black Lizard behind Mori tensed and lunged forward. Chuuya shifted away from Mori, taking a few steps so that he was safely on the side of the Detective Agency. Dazai stood comfortably next to Fukuzawa despite the fact that the Mafia had moved to attack the Agency Director. Kunikida swiftly took out his gun and pointed it towards Dazai in case the Mafia Executive made his move.

Meanwhile, in a flash, Fukuzawa cut apart Gin’s and Tachihara’s weapons. The two looked back in shock to see the two leaders of the two respectable organizations in a stalemate, a blade at each of their throats.

“...I thought you had sworn off wielding your Katana.” Mori looked down at Fukuzawa from where the man was crouching, his blade pointing towards Mori’s bared neck while Mori’s scalpel was a hair’s breadth away from Fukuzawa’s throat.  “Fukuzawa-dono, lone swordsman “Silver wolf?”

“Using a mes to kill. Your lack of medical ethics has not changed one bit… Doctor Mori.” Fukuzawa glared at him, “Do you still have a fetish for young girls?”

“Well, aren't you still muttering to cats these days?” Mori responded before his eyes widened as Fukuzawa disappeared. He turned to see Fukuzawa standing further away. His eyes narrowed, seeing a boy hidden behind the bush. “... an ability that can produce solid projections?”

“Well, this has been a lovely meeting. Let's leave the rest till next time, on the battlefield.”

“Tonight, the Detective Agency will mobilize to retrieve ‘Q.’” Fukuzawa informed him.

“So?” Mori questioned.

“Just for tonight, stay out of our way. For our mutual benefit.”

“Why should we?” Mori smiled in response.

“Because this is the one thing we have in common… we love this city. As inhabitants and protectors of this city, we must never let foreign ability users destroy it.” Fukuzawa gave Mori a hard stare.

The man in question simply turned to walk away. “The Guild is powerful, the Detective Agency doesn’t stand a chance against it alone.” He stopped in front of Chuuya. “Till the next time, Chuuya-kun. The invitation to return as an executive member of the Mafia still stands.”

“So that you can rebuild our reputation,” his eyes flickered to Dazai before shifting back to Mori, “again by using the Guild?” Chuuya questioned.

Mori tipped his head, “Essentially yes. If you two were united, the Guild would pose no threat.”

“I’m thankful for your confidence in me.” Chuuya began before pausing, “Or is it confidence in your damn Protege? He’s worth much more than I am, no?”

Mori smiled, “Don’t ask questions you’ve always known the answers to, Chuuya-kun.”

Chuuya bared his teeth, “I, for one, am against collaborating with you.”

“But you’re not against collaborating with Dazai-kun?” He glanced at the bandage clad boy who seemed to be talking to the Agency President.

“It’s his fault I’m in this position right now.” Chuuya rolled his neck, “You know that very well, Boss. He’d better do his shit correctly.”

“It seems that everything he’s been doing has been leading up to this.” Mori smiled.

“And you let him get away with it?” Chuuya questioned.

For a moment Mori looked wary, “You’re quite unaware of how your old partner has changed, aren’t you?” The man questioned.

Chuuya hesitated before responding, “I know enough.”

Mori smiled before turning around, waving for the rest of the Mafia to gather. Dazai turned around and began to walk off, but not before pausing in front of Chuuya, tilting his head slightly with a cruel smile, “I will be seeing you tonight.”

Forest Clearing

“So this is where Q is being locked up.” Chuuya looked around, his coat flapping slightly in the wind. He paused in front of the small shack in the middle of the clearing.

The sound of a switch turning on alerted him that he was not alone.  His eyes widened and he reached his hand to block out the bright lights that suddenly flooded the clearing.

“Good evening. We meet again.” John Steinbeck and Lovecraft walked out of the woods with a couple of men, “Our tactician is very good at predicting the enemy’s moves.”

“... A trap, huh.”

Port Mafia Headquarters; Bloody Room

“If Chuuya-kun remained in the Mafia and Dazai was under my control, defeating the Guild would be no more than…” Mori trailed off, looking at the previous Boss’s old room where a blood splatter painted the wall. He turned to Hirotsu.

“Despite what I said to the Detective Agency, striking an alliance is actually a logical sound solution. Entering an alliance is essentially making an advanced payment. We first suffer a loss on behalf of the other party, then we will receive our profit a hundredfold in return. And that makes it possible to put away our past grievances and enter the alliance.”

Forest Clearing

Chuuya pointed his hand, a smirk on his face, causing a huge rock to slam into Lovecraft’s face, sending him smashing into the trees. Steinbeck looked at Chuuya with wide eyes. Gunshot echoed everywhere as they shot their guns at the small figure. Chuuya simply stopped them cold with his power, but his smirked diminished as he noticed a new figure’s approach.

The figure had appeared from behind the group of Guild members. He moved silently and efficiently as he dispatched the grunts and threw them easily in a pile.

Port Mafia Headquarters; Bloody Room

‘“Double Black.” The most vicious duo in Yokohama’s underworld… that once wiped out an enemy organization of ability users in a single fight… shall be resurrected just this once.” Mori grinned up at the moon, a savage expression on his face.

Forest Clearing

“Let me make this clear.” Chuuya growled, jumping up on top of a pile of dead men to stare at the lone person who had defeated them, “Once these trash are taken care of, it’ll be your turn, you hear me?”

Dazai looked up at him from where he was pointing a gun at a man. He fired without looking at the man. “Don’t stand on my pile like you’re taking credit.”

“Like you haven’t done that.” Chuuya growled in annoyance, “Although…” He dropped to land next to him, “I can’t believe you can actually pull your own weight now.” He examined the pile of dead men with interest and wariness.

“Impossible!!! This kind of ambush wasn’t covered in the strategic forecast…!” Steinbeck’s ability stretched from his hand when Dazai appeared suddenly next to him. He tapped his shoulder, “That’s a big no no.”

Steinbeck’s stared at him in shock, “What?! An ability nullifier?”

Dazai just waved with a smile.

Steinbeck’s eyes widened as he felt a crushing force on his neck, sending him flying into the woods. Chuuya, who had used Dazai’s arm as leverage to kick the other, landed neatly next to him.

“This is the worst.” Chuuya muttered. Dazai smiled, “... I also hate every second of this.”

Chuuya looked at the other startled, a flash of confusion and uncertainty flickering on his face. Why was Dazai acting like the old times? Didn’t he tell the other to quit the last time they had been alone together?

Port Mafia Headquarters; Bloody Room

Mori smiled cruelly, “Present a united front against the Guild... And sound the horn for the counterattack.”

“Oi shithead.” Chuuya glared at Dazai, “Why the hell are you acting like that?”

“Like what?” Dazai looked at him innocently.

“Like… that.” He gestured to Dazai. “Like before. I told you that I don’t appreciate it.”

“What are you talking about?” Dazai tipped his head, “I’ve always been like this. I haven’t changed.”

“You little.” Chuuya growled before staring at him seriously, “Don’t kid with me Dazai.”

Dazai’s eyes flickered to him, “Oh?” He turned and began to walk towards the shed, opening it easily. “Loosen up Chuuya! It’s been so long I’m feeling nostalgic!” He paused to reach into his coat to load his gun.

“Shut up.” Chuuya snapped in anger, “I’m not liking this situation at all. When I left four years ago, I was expecting that to be our last meeting ever, okay?”

“You know that wouldn’t ever happen. Now that I’ve found you, I won’t let go.” Dazai smiled darkly.

“.... What’s with the new skill set?” Chuuya changed the topic.

“I decided that if I wanted to keep things safe, I needed to do it with my own hands.” Dazai hummed, “So when you come back to me, you don’t have to worry about fighting anymore. I’ll protect you~”

“Don’t make me sick, bastard.” Chuuya growled, the ground underneath his feet cracking, “I’m not letting you control my fucking life again.” He paused, “And tell me that when you’re actually stronger than me.”

“I wonder about that.” Dazai gave him a cool glance.

Chuuya gritted his teeth, “This is only for now, you asshole.”

“You need my help to get your Agency through this war, correct?” Dazai questioned.

Chuuya gritted his teeth, “I can’t lose them.”

“And I can’t lose you, Chuuya.” Dazai stepped forward, “Are they really worth that much to you?”

Dazai didn’t wait for him to answer, he began walking down the stairs.

“They’re important to me.” Chuuya answered after a moment, “Like Oda Sanosuke was to you.” He slowly followed after the taller man.

Dazai froze before he turned his head, his face cold, “Don’t mention his name.”

“Why?” Chuuya met his gaze, challenging, “He was your friend right?”

“Was.” Dazai said absently, “But he’s dead now.” He walked forward, “And here is our sleeping beauty.” In one smooth movement, he pointed his gun towards Q and fired.

Chuuya lunged forward, barely stopping the bullet from killing Q. “Oi are you crazy?” He glared at the other, “Aren’t you supposed to collect Q?”

“It's a menace and a threat.” Dazai said dispassionately, “Better kill it now then deal with it later.”

Chuuya hesitated when Dazai pressed on, “It killed a great deal of Mafia men, many of who were in your squad, under your command.” He paused, his eyes taking a cruel glint, “Even that last trainee you trained.”

“What?!” Chuuya looked at him startled, “He’s still alive?”

“He was alive.” Dazai shook his head, “I didn’t kill him four years ago, no matter what you thought. He’s dead now. Q killed him.”

“Still, it doesn’t make it right to kill Q.” Chuuya reasoned. "Che, your way of calling them is pissing me off now. They're still a boy... you shouldn't be calling them 'it'." 

“When were you ever righteous, Chuuya?” Dazai questioned. A twisted smile appeared on his face, "I recall you passionately calling it a thing. But this is exactly what Q is. A weapon." 

Chuuya gave him a glare as he tilted his head up proudly, “Ever since I left the Mafia… ever since I came to the side that saves. Righteous or not, I'm not letting you kill Q, whether you consider them a person or a tool." 

Dazai stared at him, his eye flickering with surprise. He stepped forward hesitantly, his hand ghosting on Chuuya’s cheek as if he wanted to touch him, but was too afraid to, “You sound like him.” He whispered before his face hardened, “You can’t sound like him. I won’t let you.” His hand harshly gripped Chuuya’s chin.

Chuuya’s lips twisted into a snarl and he smacked Dazai’s hand away, “What the fuck has gotten into you?” He growled, turning around to cut the roots. Q fell forward and Chuuya hesitantly caught them, distaste appearing on his features.

He turned around and began walking up the stairs, “Hurry up idiot.”

Dazai stared at his hand before turning around, his eyes murky and dark with thoughts. He turned around and followed Chuuya up the stairs. Chuuya glanced back at the silent Mafioso worriedly, a slight jolt of fear running down his spine.

Dazai had consciously gone out of his way to banter with him: the same stupid way he used to act, the way he was before Oda Sanosuke’s death. It wasn’t enough to make Chuuya forget about the monster Dazai had become and even less so, what he used to be. But it had been enough for Chuuya to become comfortable with the man again… like the old times. Chuuya wanted to smack his head on the wall.

That moment of darkness that had completely covered Dazai’s single eye showed Chuuya what Dazai was trying so hard to hide from the rest of the world and it chilled him to the very bone.

Dazai Osamu was very much insane.

Chuuya was literally yanked out of his thoughts as Dazai’s bruising but familiar fingers grabbed his arms and pulled him out of the way of an enormous tentacle. “Wha-”

Dazai stepped out of the shadows, pushing Chuuya closer to the wall with the movement as he surveyed what had caused the damage.

“For some reason, my shoulders been feeling stiff… since a while ago.” The tall man with long hair mumbled, his body twisted in awkward angles, his head completely bent back. “Have I worked my body too hard…?”

“As expected of an ability user of the Guild, such incredible strength.” Dazai murmured, a hand on his chin.

The man’s body twisted, letting out cracking sounds.

“Here it comes, what should we do?” Chuuya dropped Q carelessly to the side. He didn’t have time for extra baggage. He dropped his coat on top of the boy as an afterthought.

“Oh no, Chuuya won’t be doing anything.” Dazai smiled, “It’s nothing to sweat over. I can nullify this kind of attack with just my pinkie-” Something slammed into him before he could finish the sentence, sending him careening towards a tree.

“DAZAI!” Chuuya yelled in shock before his eyes flickered towards the tentacle that had smacked Dazai away. It was curling to attack him. Chuuya punched the advancing tentacle, his body flashing red as he used his ability to strengthen his power.

“What a heavy… punch.” Lovecraft’s head cracked sideways.

“Hey Dazai!” Chuuya yelled, rushing over to the man who was slowly standing up and quietly laughing to himself.

Chuuya looked at him with fear, did Dazai really decide to go insane? “That’s sick, did you get hit on the head…?”

Cough.

Dazai looked up. Blood dribbled down from his lips, splatted all over his face and soaking the bandages around his right eye red. Dazai’s lone eye was dark and Chuuya could see the cogs behind his eyes whirling.

“You.. you’re actually badly hurt?” Chuuya stammered in shock.

“Those tentacles… are pretty strange… my ability nullifier is ineffective against them.” Came the absent-minded response.

“No way… seriously?” Chuuya questioned in shock, he took a step back.

“My ability nullifier makes no exceptions. So that leads only one possibility.” Dazai wiped his mouth. An amused smirk played on his lips, “That isn’t an ability.” His eye glinted darkly.

“Huh..?” Chuuya turned around to stare at the man who began walking toward them, “So tired… so sleepy… I’m... starving… Finish the job… then I can… go back.” He mumbled.

“Hey, that’s a hell of a joke. If that’s not an ability, what else can it be?” Chuuya questioned, staring at the thing with false bravo.

“Can’t be helped, let's use that from back then.” Dazai said carelessly. Chuuya glanced at him confused before his face grew rigid with slowly dawning understanding.

“Operation “Shame and Toad”. How does that sound?”

“Huh? Shouldn’t we use “rain falls outside the window frame” or “the fake flowers of deceit”?” Chuuya questioned with an annoyed glance. He felt his body relax as his mind shut down all his misgivings about Dazai and went back into the past to four years ago when he and Dazai were partners.

This was just another job.

Dazai seemed to sense the change in Chuuya’s mindset as a terrible grin appeared on his face, “Chuuya.” He purred, “Have my battle strategies ever been wrong?”

Chuuya stared at him before turning around to face Lovecraft, an annoyed expression crossing his face, “Dammit, you really suck people dry, don’t you.”

Lovecraft tilted his head in surprise as Dazai approached him, his hands extended to reveal that he was unarmed. An easygoing smile flashed on his face.

Lovecraft faltered for a moment before enormous tentacles erupted from his arms to attack Dazai who suddenly ducked, allowing Chuuya to place a hand on his shoulder to jump over Dazai. With a kick, he hit the approaching tentacles, landed to stomp on Dazai’s shoulder to jump on the extended appendages. Lovecraft looked at him in shock as Chuuya ran up the tentacles to reach the main body. His fist slammed into the man’s body, piercing it.

“Gravity manipulation.” Chuuya said in Lovecraft’s ear.

“!” Lovecraft’s eyes widened as his whole body was slammed down onto the ground. He stared up at Chuuya in shock, “My body… feels heavy…”

“I have the ability to manipulate the gravity of whatever I touch. Stay there till the sun comes up.” Chuuya turned towards Dazai who was sitting on a fallen tree, a smile on his face, “Nicely done.”

“Sheesh… lording over me as if I were a shepherd’s dog.” Chuuya growled in annoyance. Dazai smiled, “If I had a shepherd’s dog, I would’ve used one instead of getting Chuuya’s hands dirty~” An amused smile flickered on his face, “Of course, since I didn’t, I had to settle for Chuuya instead.” At that moment, Dazai appeared behind him, causing Chuuya to jerk. Dazai draped himself on Chuuya, leaning his whole weight on the smaller man, his arms hanging over the man’s shoulders and his chin tucking the smaller man’s head. He knocked off Chuuya’s hat.

“You bastard.” Chuuya tried to glare at him as he struggled to dislodge the lanky man, “MAY YOU DIE AS THE ROTTENNESS SPREADS FROM YOUR CORE TO THE REST OF YOUR BODY!”

“Eh! But you might die from your hat consuming your mind first!” Dazai grinned, “That’s why I’ve been telling you to burn your hat!”

The cracking sounds made the two pause to stare back at their fallen foe who was slowly standing up. “So sleepy… such a chore… but... my contract with Mr. Fitzgerald… must be fulfilled.” Dazai stepped away from Chuuya, his face turning serious and contemplative.

Something shot forward and slammed into Dazai, sending him flying, his coat wrapped in a tentacle’s grasp. Chuuya turned in shock as a monstrous thing formed out of tentacles, towering over them.

‘Hey.. you’ve got to be kidding me.. Right?” Chuuya turned, rushing over to Dazai. “Dazai… you-”

“Chuuya…” Dazai slowly lifted his head, his face dark and serious. He slowly got up and turned to face the monster, “He took my coat.”

“If you’ve got time to worry about your coat, hurry up and think of what to do with that stuff of nightmares!” Chuuya pointed angrily at the monstrous being.

Dazai stared at the monster, “I did not come here expecting this.” He admitted, his eye met Chuuya’s, shocking the smaller man with the gentleness in them. “We only have one move left.”

Chuuya flinched, “One move? You want to use “Tainted”?”

“We’ve been known as the “Double Black”... Since the night we annihilated the enemy organization along with all the surrounding buildings with ‘ Tainted’. ” Dazai stared at him solemnly, “However, if I step in too late, you’ll die.” His lone eye stared directly into Chuuya’s soul, “Do you still trust me with your life Chuuya? It’s your call.”

“My call, you say?” Chuuya glared up at him, “When has it ever been my call Dazai? Ever since that night when we met again under the moonlight, things have spiraled out of my hands and into yours. It’s not like I have a choice whenever you say something like that!”

He turned around and with a bravado/confidence that he did not feel, called out, “I’ll remember this Emo!”

Dazai responded back, “Do your best, simpleton!”

“Enemy of all women!” The familiar banter was helping him calm his nerves, a tactic of Dazai, no doubt.

“Double black (small).”

“WHO THE HELL’S (SMALL)!?”

Chuuya stopped in front of the monster. He took a deep breath as he slipped off his gloves.  ‘ If Dazai is insane, I must be crazier to do this… to trust him like all those years ago. I knew I should’ve sent someone else instead… but they probably would have died in this situation.’

“ O… Grantors of Dark Disgrace… Do not wake me again!”

Dazai watched with mounting admiration as the darkness surrounded Chuuya. The surroundings around him began to shake as if the earth itself was feeling the weight of Chuuya’s might. Chuuya’s hands became covered in blank inks of darkness as Chuuya’s true ability began to manifest. The ground around him shuddered and cracked.

“Ugh…” Steinbeck, who had lost consciousness due to Chuuya’s kick slowly opened his eyes. His eyes widened in horror as he saw two monsters attacking each other. “What... is that?”

A knife rested on his neck, “Do you want to know, loser from the Guild?”

“!” Steinbeck turned his head slightly to see the bandaged men. He seemed to be in a worse condition than before, with the blood stains on his face and clothes. He was also missing his customary cloak-like coat.

“That is the ultimate form of Chuuya’s ability.”

Chuuya’s hands were almost pure black from the dark pull of his ability. Black streaks slithered up his arms, slowly encompassing his face as well. The area around him was heavy with the monstrous power that surrounded his small figure, rocks lifting into the air from the gravitational might surrounding Chuuya.

In a burst of speed and shattered ground, the figure moved and in a flash, Lovecraft was cut into half. Chuuya turned around midair, black holes forming in his hands before he shot both of them at Lovecraft’s enormous body.

Lovecraft exploded.

“In his “Tainted” state, Chuuya can manipulate surrounding gravitations.. And increase the density of his own body. He can crush a tank with his bare hands. The projectiles made of compressed gravitations are voids that consume all matter. However he can’t control that ability on his own. Once he activates it, he’ll keep raging till he dies.” Dazai smiled cruelly, “We call it Corruption.”

Even as Corruption raged and destroyed Lovecraft, the monster kept regenerating and reforming itself. “Still… what on earth are those. No matter how many Chuuya chops off, they grow back in an instant.” Dazai’s lone eye slid to stare at Steinbeck, “As his colleague, surely you know what that thing really is?” The blade pressed into Steinbeck’s neck, causing a clean cut.

“Humph, even if I do, I have no reason to tell you, do I?”

RUMBLE.

Dazai’s face darkened as he looked up. Chuuya stood in the mass of chaos. Blood dripped from Chuuya’s mouth, his face covered in black streaks.

“Chuuya’s at his limit.”

“Unfortunately for you, Lovecraft can’t be destroyed from the outside.” Steinbeck shrugged.

“From the ‘outside’ you say?” Dazai smiled. “In other words, it’ll work if it’s an attack from within, right?”

Amidst the coiled tentacles, the black coat that Mori had gifted him when he made Executive was twisted and stuck inside. A cruel, elated smile made its way onto Dazai’s lips as he took out a button to press. The bombs inside his coat pockets beeped before erupting.

As Lovecraft tried to reform his body, he looked up when he sensed an enormous gravitational pull. Corruption was high in the air, his hand outstretched on top of him where an enormous black hole formed and was just waiting to consume its target.

“Finish it off, Chuuya.” Dazai grinned savagely as Lovecraft exploded.

As the smoke cleared off, a lone figure stood in the middle of an enormous crater. Blood dripped onto the ground, splashing in front of the figure’s feet.

Chuuya began to laugh as he began to create balls of black holes over and over while sending them careening randomly.

Dazai appeared next to him, using his newfound speed to grab Chuuya’s wrist, “The enemy has already been destroyed. Rest Chuuya.” He looked at the other man with a soft and gentle expression.

Dazai watched as the darkness receded from Chuuya’s skin and the light returned to Chuuya’s beautiful eyes. Chuuya fell forward into a crouch, pushing away Dazai’s attempt to hold him.

“*Cough* Dammit, shitty Dazai. Why didn’t you stop me… the moment it was over… *Cough*.”

“I wanted to,” Dazai crouched next to him with a smile, “But you were too beautiful.”

“I trusted you.. And used Corruption... make sure to take me back to base… safe…” Chuuya thumped his fist into Dazai’s chest.

“Leave it to me… partner.” A dark smile spread on Dazai’s face.

“Unbelievable. That Lovecraft actually got... “ Steinbeck stared at them in shock as he limped towards them, “Who the hell are you?”

Dazai stared at him with a cold smile, “It was a long time ago… but we were known as…” His eyes flickered back to Chuuya who was dozing off cutely. He reached forward to lean the other man on his shoulder as he picked up the smaller man, bridal style. He paused near the other, “I trust you’ll back off in this war?”

Steinbeck nodded, he joined to feed his family, not to die. Dazai continued onwards, pausing to pick up Chuuya’s coat and take out his gun. Ignoring Steinbeck’s shocked gasp, he shot Q three times, once in the forehead and twice in their chest to make sure the kid was dead.

He then calmly walked off, holding the redhead in tow, only pausing to step on Chuuya’s hat with a particularly vindictive smile.

“Wait!” Steinbeck croaked, trying to ignore the dead kid and the devastated landscape as he held his arm awkwardly, “You never finished your sentence. What were you known as?”

Dazai turned, his single eye glinting, he simply said two words. The two words were spoken with sorrow and pride along with a hint of nostalgia.

“Double Black.”

Chapter Text

VIII.

The Fall of Moby Dick

“Ugh, I don’t even know if I have the rights to do this.” Chuuya grumbled in anger, annoyance flashing across his face as he marched through the hospital hall, a large bouquet of flowers and a basket filled with fruits in each hand.

He had felt something akin to fear ( Akin. He didn’t feel fear, Chuuya rationalized to himself) when he had woken up on a bed that smelled of the familiar scent of blood, bleach, and Dazai. For a moment he had wondered if all his days in the Agency were a dream, an elaborate manipulation of his mind in order to escape the prison of Dazai’s room. He was quickly broken out of that irrational thought when he felt the pure ache that always accompanied corruption. A small smile appeared on his face as he realized that his time with the Agency was real.

It was quickly wiped off when he heard the sound of running water being turned off. He froze, eyes widening as he realized that he was in Dazai’s room, weakened due to Corruption. Before he could decide a course of action, the door to the restroom opened and Dazai walked in. Chuuya looked away with a slight blush when he realized that Dazai was naked (without his stupid bandages for once!) with only a small towel around his waist.

The man only yawned before going over to the cabinet next to his bed and taking out a big roll of bandages. Chuuya kept his eyes firmly on his lap, trying to ignore the almost naked man next to him. He blinked when the roll of bandages was dropped into his lap. He looked up to see Dazai grinning at him, all teeth gleaming in a predatory smile.

Chuuya lowered his gaze to the bandages and then back up to Dazai’s expectant look. No no no no no. He shook his head frantically, “No.” He pushed away the bandages as if they burned, “No.”

“Why not?” Dazai questioned softly, “It’s not something you haven’t done before.”

“No.” Chuuya firmly shook his head, his eyes wide, “You can’t just tell me to use Tainted, to release Corruption, and now drop this on me. That was because there was no other choice. Dazai, we’re over. You hear me? We’re over. Our partnership ended the moment you bartered with Mori. The moment you no longer put us as equals. Just because we…” He trailed off when Dazai’s hand reached to gently caress his cheek.

“Chuuya.”

Chuuya flinched, closing his eyes when he felt Dazai lean closer to him, feeling the man’s warmth and drops of water still clinging to the man’s skin. His forehead met the man’s bare shoulder as he was pressed into a hug.

“You’ve always been a terrible liar.” Dazai’s breath ghosted over his ear. “You’re mine just as I am yours.” Dazai said and if it was anyone else, it would have been sappy as fuck but this was Dazai.

For all his pretence of being sappy and whatever shit he spouted in front of other women, to Chuuya his words were a threat and a promise. It was something frightening.

“Now, don’t be difficult.” Dazai plopped down and offered his arm to Chuuya, “I’ll do the rest, just my upper body because it’s hard to do it alone, okay?”

Chuuya sighed before looking up to meet Dazai’s eyes and felt something in him break. He reached up to touch Dazai’s right eye, the one he kept covered, “I thought…” he paused, “Your eye… what happened?”

Dazai smiled, “I don’t have a partner in the Mafia anymore, one that’ll watch my back.” His right eye was dull, a light grey. It was a drastic contrast to his sharp left eye whose intelligence hid the shimmer of insanity.

“Don’t kid with me.” Chuuya snapped almost sharply, “What happened…. What did you do?”

Dazai frowned, “Why do you think I did something?”

At Chuuya’s look, Dazai relented, “It’s not like I needed it anyways.” He muttered petulantly before he smiled cruelly, “When you left, I truly looked at the world with both eyes. I saw the light that Odasaku and now you chase after so much and the darkness I now reside in.” He paused before he met Chuuya’s eyes evenly, “I found I didn’t like what I saw.”

“So you blinded yourself?” Chuuya snapped in anger.

“The light blinded me.” Dazai responded poetically before continuing, “Enough about me. If you don’t hurry, that little Mafia traitor is going to die soon.”

“Mafia traitor…?” Chuuya questioned.

Dazai signed, “Izumi Kyouka.”

“What?”

Dazai just nodded towards the bandages causing Chuuya to growl before starting to wind the white strips along the man’s right arm, his hands easily going through the task.

“As loath as I am to see my Chuuya go,” Dazai began, “I can’t have Yokohama’s destruction happening so this is the only way to prevent it.”

“What are you-” Chuuya began only to be cut off by Dazai’s look. Dazai continued with a low hum, “The girl, Kyouka is going to need to die if we want to win the war.”

“What?!” Chuuya stood up angrily, “What are you saying? We’re going to sacrifice the girl for that?”

Dazai sighed, “That hat of yours must have swallowed up your brain.” He grimaced, “Good thing I trashed it.” He left Chuuya’s previous questions unaddressed.

“...YOU WHAT?”

Dazai ignored Chuuya’s furious look as he pulled the smaller man back onto the bed and gave the bandages another pointed look causing the man to sigh and start to bandage him back up again.

“As I was saying before all these other tangents, I need you to go talk to Ango for me.”

“Sakaguchi?” Chuuya’s eyes narrowed, “After your episode with him?”

“Exactly that. Now, here’s what you need to do…”

And that was why Chuuya was currently standing in front of the hospital door with the name Sakaguchi Ango printed in the name plate.

He reached towards his head to flatten his hat on his head, freezing when he realized that he didn’t have it on him. A murderous aura began to surround him as he remembered Dazai’s comment, “That fucking asshole! He murdered my hat and just dropped this information on me so that I forgot to beat the shit out of him for that!”

Chuuya glared at the nameplate before slamming the door open, “Sakaguchi!....” He trailed off when he stared at the hospitalized man.

He was completely covered in bandages from head to toe, obviously in critical condition. The man was awake though and stared at him with an unimpressed look.

“I doubt that the hospital encourages such murderous intent outside a patient's door.” he said cooly, “Have you come to kill me?”

Chuuya blinked, “What happened to you?”

“Well, after you gave me to the agents, we were ambushed by some men who crashed into us with their car.” Ango gave him an icy glance, “Turns out that only the airbags in my seat malfunctioned. Any particular reason for that, Nakahara-san?”

“Are you implying that I did something?” Chuuya gave him an angry glare. Before losing focus for why he came in the first place, he took a deep breath, “I don’t know about your airbag problem although I’m pretty sure that the culprit of that is the murderer of my hat.”

“Your hat…?” Ango glanced at his bare head, “Ah, so that’s why there was so much killing intent outside my door.”

Chuuya sniffed as he dropped the flowers and basket on the small table next to Ango’s bed. “That Dazai…” He trailed off to survey Ango.

“So, why are you here?” Ango tilted his head, “I’m guessing it has to do something with Dazai-kun, no?”

Chuuya’s face twisted as if he had swallowed something vile. “The Detective Agency will take care of the injuries you’ve gotten from the car crash and Mafia.”

Ango’s eyes narrowed, “And? For what?”

Chuuya hesitated before continuing, “A member of the Agency was captured by the military police. We want to rescue her, before the final showdown with the Guild.”

“Ah, the one who killed 35 people..?”

Chuuya gave a short nod.

“From what I’ve heard, she’s being held on board a UAV used for isolating dangerous ability users.” Ango informed him.

Chuuya tilted his head, “You guys can do something about it, right?”

“Indeed. It’s possible for the Special Ability Department to override the law and give pardon… given that the girl… is really a member of the Agency.” Ango met Chuuya’s eyes seriously.

“What? Kyouka-chan isn’t a member of the Agency?” Atsushi exclaimed.

Tanizaki sighed, “‘Not yet a member because she hasn’t taken the ‘admissions test.’”

“You’ve taken it as well, right?”

Atsushi paused, remembering the test with the Agency and his selfless but stupid action with the bomb.

It was true that Kyouka hadn’t gone through the admission test...

--

“Murder is murder.” Ango gave Chuuya a shrewd look, “While it’s true that the Special Ability Department and the Armed Detective Agency share a collaborative partnership, my authority is not sufficient to grant amnesty to someone, who, on top of not being an Agency member, is a mass murderer to boot.” Ango paused, closing his eyes, “We would, however, gladly offer other forms of assistance… for instance, providing support in your operations against the Guild.”

Chuuya glared at Ango, keeping himself from barely cracking the hospital floor, much less bringing the whole building down. To be honest, he didn’t really care personally about that girl who had made her own choices in this war. However… his mind flickered briefly to his student, Atsushi and his foster mother of sorts, Kouyou. The two of them cared for her and the girl reminded him a teensy bit of himself.

Before he could respond (threaten him with more harm), his cell phone rang. With a sigh, he flicked it open, “Chuuya here.”

“Do you still pick up your phone without looking at the caller ID?” Dazai’s smooth and annoying voice sounded over the phone.

“The Agency phone is as safe as the Mafia’s.” Chuuya snapped disgruntled, “And less people call me for ransom and those that do are usually important.”

“I’m guessing Ango said something unsatisfactory? You’re very grumpy.”

“You know what he said or else you wouldn’t be calling at all.” Chuuya growled.

“Give him the phone. I need to talk to him.” Dazai ordered. Chuuya paused, he considered hanging up and ignoring what Dazai wanted him to do. These days, he really felt like Dazai’s bitch again, biting when Dazai ordered, coming when Dazai called.

“If you hang up, Kyouka-chan’s going to die~”

Chuuya looked to the sky and prayed to whatever thing was up there that he would have enough control to not crush his phone.

He took a deep breath and thrusted his phone at Ango, “Sakaguchi. Phone. Now.”

Ango’s face had turned completely blank but Chuuya’s keen eyes could see a small sheen of sweat on his brow. Ango shakily picked up the phone.

He paused before saying, “Dazai-kun.”

Chuuya didn’t know whether to feel off at the fact that Ango had immediately known who he had been talking to. With a sigh, he crossed his arms and waited for Dazai to finish talking since Ango obviously wasn’t saying anything.

“Very well.” Ango finally said. “If what you say is true… we will offer you support.” He offered the phone back to Chuuya who put it back to his ear.

“Chuuya, listen carefully. Tell Atsushi-kun that his job is to infiltrate the Moby Dick alone. Detective-san should know what to do. You will hand him a com link that’ll be in direct access to me. I will direct his movements.” There was a long pause before Dazai said, “No matter what, don’t go up to Moby Dick or else you’ll play my hand and you won’t like what you’ll see.”

“Is that a threat?” Chuuya hissed as he gave a short nod to Sakaguchi before he left the room and walked towards the entrance of the Hospital.

“Oh my dear hat-rack… oh wait you don’t have a hat anymore.” Chuuya sputtered angrily, “Why you-”

“When have I ever threatened anybody? I don’t do threats! That’s too much effort. It’s fact. Statement.” Dazai replied breezily. “Now, unlike some chibi-detectives, I have work to do.”

“For once.” Chuuya grumbled, ignoring Dazai’s whine before he hung up. He stared at the sky, “Your plan better work asshole.”

Atsushi landed neatly onto Moby Dick, easily infiltrating its depth. He hesitantly pressed the com that Chuuya had handed to him on his ear and said, “I’m in.”

“Good work Atsushi-kun. ” Dazai praised him. Atsushi twitched at hearing the Mafia Executive’s voice over the comlink. When Chuuya had proposed the idea in front of everyone, the whole Detective Agency had refused… except Ranpo-san who had calmly said in an amused voice that this situation might be for the best.

Atsushi didn’t really see it although, Dazai-san had helped them multiple times in the past and the man had treated him somewhat kindly… more so than many others could claim. However, even the beast in him was oddly subdued near the man and his nose, oh his nose, itched with the scent of blood and death that always accompanied the man like a cloak.

“How is it in there?”

“Very quiet.” He answered, “Nobody’s here… this is strange, where is everyone?” He reached over and opened the door when a voice answered him, “Practically, everyone has fled.”

Atsushi flinched back in shock. A familiar, well dressed aged man was sitting on a rocking chair with his legs crossed. He had a small pipe in his hand as he met Atsushi’s eyes evenly.

“Whoever’s left will also be taking the next freighter off Moby Dick.” he tapped his pipe, “You know why, kiddo?”

Atsushi stared at him shock, ‘That’s right! This man… he’s the one who called on Moby Dick.’

The man gave him a solemn glance, “Because the war is coming to an end. The next blow will reduce all the Guild’s enemies to ashes…. Along with Moby Dick.”

“Ashes… don’t tell me!”

“You must’ve planned to sneak in while it was heavily manned. However, the main forces of the Guild are operating off board right now.”

“Don’t you find it strange?”

A white car was rushing along the road. Mark Twain glanced outside the car from his seat in the back, “Hurry up Steinbeck, or else we’ll be caught in it.”

“Yea, stage two of the incineration of Yokohama: “The fall of Moby Dick.” If the plan is executed, this city, already wrecked by the cursing ability, will be… “

“ Completely annihilated. Furthermore, the impact will….”

“The area of impact… econompasses the Detective Agency’s and the Mafia’s bases…?!” Atsushi looked at the man in horror.

The man stood up, “The descent has already started. Impact is less than an hour.”

“But the Moby Dick is your ability! You should be able to stop it!” Atsushi yelled desperately.

“Moby Dick is indeed my ability.” The man admitted sorrowfully, “But with 70% of its structure weaponized, I no longer have any control over it.”

Atsushi tapped his com, “You heard that Dazai-san?! We must abort the operation and began evacuating.”

“Listen Atsushi-kun. No change of plans.” Atsushi stared in shock as Dazai continued. His voice had turned cold and commanding, “Seize control over Moby Dick with your own hands and stop its descent. The only one who can do that is you, who is currently on board.”

Atsushi gasped before meekly questioning, “Dazai-san… you’ve predicted this situation, didn’t you?”

“I  did consider the possibility.” Dazai admitted, “But even taking that into account, I still believe you’re the best choice.”

“Even above all the other Mafia users? Even over Chuuya-san?” Atsushi questioned sharply.

Dazai hummed, “Essentially yes. Chuuya would’ve been ideal, of course, but he’s currently indisposed after our last mission together. Therefore, you are the best choice. Don’t question me. Can you do it or not?”

“.....,” Atsushi closed his eyes, “How can I stop this fall?” He directed the question to Herman Melville, the user of Moby Dick. The man closed his eyes, “You’ll have to use the control terminal. It’s through the hallway on the left. Of course, it's heavily guarded.”

Atsushi turned around to leave before he paused, “All hands have abandoned the ship. Why have you stayed behind?”

“Why, you ask?” Herman Melville paused, “Moby Dick was once a special lifeform that freely roamed the skies before it was altered into an airborne fortress by the Guild. If it is to crash into a foreign land and slaughter all the people there… I think going down with it… is the least that I could do.”

He stared outside into the sky and Atsushi was struck by the melancholy and sorrow prevalent in the man’s eyes, “Moby Dick was very beautiful before it became mechanized…. Just as how the Guild used to be.”

RIIINNNNGGGGG

Dazai blinked before he responded, “hmm?”

“Dazai-kun. I hope everything is going well with your plan. ”Mori’s voice sounded over the phone.

Dazai paused before reaching over to hang up causing Mori to shout, “Wait! Don’t hang up!”

“What’s up Boss? I thought you were giving me free reign over this operation.” Dazai responded blandly.

“Well about that…” Mori hesitated and said sheepishly, “Judging by a report I received from my subordinate.. I’m afraid your free reign… is about to come to an end.”

Atsushi rushed onward, taking several steps at a time when he slowed to a halt. Akutagawa turned towards him, his cloak snapping in the wind as their eyes met.

Atsushi immediately felt rage, “AKUTAGAWA…!”

Akutagawa stared at him with fury, “ JINKO…!”

In a flash, they lunged at each other.

Atsushi struck first, his fist reaching towards Akutagawa when it was stopped by Rashomon. ‘He’s gotten quicker at putting up his defense!’

“How impudent.” Akutagawa grinned savagely as a strip of Rashomon struck out. Atsushi twisted in mid air before he lashed out with his leg, only to be blocked by Rashomon again.

Atsushi landed a few feet away in a crouched position. “You brushed up on your acrobats haven’t you?” Akutagawa questioned.

“What are you doing here?!”

Akutagawa tipped his head, “I’m here to kill you.”

“I’ve been tracking you down since my defeat last time… but the Detective Agency has been operating clandestinely since the outbreak of the three-way conflict.  I was only able to pin you down this time because I now have access to your mission plan thanks to our “alliance” with the Agency.”

“So you want to kill me to avenge yourself of the humiliation you suffered? Now of all times when Moby Dick is in danger of crashing into the city? That’s cheap. ” Atsushi stared at him shock, “I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU…. WHAT YOU’RE DOING IS UTTERLY UNFATHOMABLE!”

“I never asked for your understanding.” Akutagawa looked away.

“My, my…” Atsushi froze as Dazai’s voice sounded over the com. His voice was dark and dangerous, causing shivers to race down Atsushi’s spine and the tiger in him to sink down wearily. “It seems like I haven’t completely beaten his quirk of being a lone wolf out of him. That will be rectified as soon as possible. Atsushi-kun, we don’t have time for him. Charge on ahead.”

“But…” Atsushi looked at Akutagawa who was standing in his way.

“It’ll be fine. Follow my directions and you’ll be able to bypass him easily. First…”

“Akutagawa.” Akutagawa’s eyes focused on Atsushi.

“I’m currently on line with Dazai-san.” Akutagawa’s eyes widened, “I think he wants to speak to you.” He then turned, grabbing the comlink with Dazai, and threw it away from him.

“DAZAi-SAN!” Akutagawa, lunged off the railings to grab the comlink. He used Rashomon to stop his descent and put the mic in his ear, “Dazai-san?!” He asked his superior and mentor desperately… only to be met with static.

A large airplane flew in the sky. Its insides were nearly empty if not for a petite young girl with a white kimono crouched in a small containment area.

She sat hunched in the corner, filled with self loathing when something rang.

Beep.

“Hello Kyouka-chan. Can you hear me? This is Dazai.”

Kyouka flinched, her eyes flickering up to the mic where Dazai’s voice was sounding. She had always been under Akutagawa or Kouyou. However, she knew of the man due to Kouyou’s words of disgust and hidden fear as well as Akutagawa reverence. No, the whole Mafia knew him and while she had never conversed with him personally, she had seen the man from far away when he gave Akutagawa orders… orders that she carried out. Sometimes he would walk in the aftermath of her work, survey it before leaving without another word.

Either way, the man was darkness personified if Atsushi was light.

“After negotiating with the Special Ability Department, the Detective Agency has permission to get you back on land. I’m going to tell you how to pilot the UAV. First, go to the control panel…”

“It’s fine.”

“Oh, is that so?” Dazai flicked a switch, “Then I’ll be honest with you. I have no reason to be doing this and the Agency has no reason to save you. You’re not an official member yet. The Agency has an admissions test that you haven’t passed. It’s a test to assess whether a recruit has the will and courage to save others, even complete strangers.”

Kyouka’s eyes narrowed, “I’ll most likely fail the test.”

“Ah, I can’t believe I’m quoting him.” Dazai’s voice sounded over the com, “How did it go again? Oh, “former murderers have no right to be good people.” Do you honestly believe that?”

Atsushi panted heavily as he ran from both Akutagawa and Fitzgerald. He fell on the floor when a tendril of Rashomon pierced him.

Akutagawa walked towards him in a sedate pace, “I take back what I just said about you being unfathomable. I understand now. When you were on the train, when you were on the ship, and even right now… all this time, Jinko, you have been trying to shake off your childhood memories, fighting in the hope that others would give you permission to live.”

“How utterly..” Akutagawa stared at him with disgust, “ irksome.”

Two tendrils pierced Atsushi’s shoulders and dragged him up to hang in front of him. “Do you seriously believe, Jinko, that anyone would acknowledge your right to live?” He leaned forward until they were face to face, “You think you just have to fight and cough up some blood for other’s sake, and someone would come along and stamp you with a seal that says ‘worthy to live’?”

Atsushi winced, “What’s wrong… with thinking like that?”

Akutagawa threw him onto the floor, “Disappointing.” He stared down at him, “Killing morons like you… even a hundred times over… will bring me no honor or accomplishment.”

Atsushi glared at him from the floor, “You’re doing this… for accomplishment?”

Akutagawa gave him a angry gaze filled with longing and desperation. “ With no accomplishments, he will never acknowledge me. Dazai-san… will never…”

“...! Dazai-san?” Atsushi sat up, “What has Dazai-san got to do with this?” His eyes flickered as the image of Dazai punching Akutagawa and his words over the com mike appeared in his mind eye.

Before Akutagawa could respond, the wall near them crumbled and Fitzgerald walked through the hole he created. “There you are.”

“Kyouka-chan,” Dazai sounded bored, “Everyone has their own strength and weaknesses, your talent apparently lies in the act of killing. Which leads you to believe that you are not fit to join the Detective Agency.” Dazai yawned, “That’s complete nonsense.”

“The reasons of yours is so shaky I can smash it in a second. Tell me Kyouka-chan, how many lives have you taken with those hands?”

“...35.”

Dazai laughed. It was a cruel patronizing laugh, “A mere 35? I expected more from Akutagawa’s dog. Seems like he still can’t do anything right. Do you know how many I’ve killed? How many Chuuya has killed?”

The last name seemed to jolt Kyouka. She looked up in surprise and confusion.

“Listen to me Kyouka-chan. I may not be in the Agency but as an Executive, I’m privy to some information. You know nothing about the Detective Agency. Nobody is omniscient. That’s why we have “possibilities.” Even Atsushi-kun, who gave you a chance, used to be known as a beast of calamity. At this very moment, he is fighting to protect this city in some nearby airspace, with his life hanging by a thread.” Dazai paused.

“Why are you doing this… Dazai-san?” Kyouka questioned, “I should be disposed of as a traitor.”

“True.” Dazai mused, “Well, it can go both ways actually. To me, you’ll be disposed of either way so I don’t really care what you chose. Unfortunately, we both have someone we care about, ne? Contrary to popular belief, I’m human too…” Dazai sighed, “Kyouka-chan, if that’s what you want, I could make it so that you can keep murder your way of life. The Mafia would welcome you back at any time and I’ll even take you under my wing. But you’re not the only one in such a predicament. ‘What should one do when one’s ideal is at odds with reality?”

“People are always fighting to find the proper way to live. What do we fight for? How should we live? No one will ever tell you the right answers to these questions. All we have is our right to feel lost, to dash recklessly through the depths of the gutter, like stray dogs splattered in mud…”

“I’ve won… Zelda…” Fitzgerald stood in the edge of the ship. “Wait for me..I’ll make you.. “ He fell backwards, a bitter smile on his lips.

Atsushi stared at the man in a stupor before his eyes widened, “Oh right! The control terminal!”

He fell face forward when Rashomon grabbed his ankle and made him fall. Akutagawa gave him an unimpressed look as he held his arm, “Moron.” Rashomon lifted the control, “It slipped out of his pocket when we dealt the final blow.”

Atsushi ran towards him, “Shut it down quick!”

“T-three more seconds!” Atsushi looked at the control when it bleeped and continued to count down to stop at one second.

Atsushi slumped on the ground with a sigh of relief when he was kicked in the chin by Akutagawa. “I’m dying to tear you from limb to limb this very instant, but unfortunately, I have run out of strength.” Akutagawa planted his foot on Atsushi’s head, “Bear with this for now.”

Atsushi tried to force his head up, “You bastard, I’ll remember this the next time we meet.”

In a dark basement, a lone man grinned a cruel smile as he pressed enter on his keyboard.

The control in Atsushi’s hand beeped and the Moby Dick shuddered.

Atsushi frantically looked at the control to see it say ‘Descent’.

“DESCENT?! THIS CAN’T BE! I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!”

“Give it to me.” Akutagawa snatched it from Atsushi’s hand and clicked on it several times before he threw it away, “It’s dead. Something must be wrong, let’s head to the bridge.”

Static.. Static…

“..on earth… should.. What...happened...no use! Nothing works here either!”

Kyouka looked up at the sounds.

“AT THIS RATE WE’RE GOING TO CRASH!”

Kyouka’s eyes widened, ‘That voice!’

Akutagawa and Atsushi looked around the control, “We don’t have time! If we don’t think of anything, everyone will be in danger!” Atsushi yelled in panic.

“It’s no use.” Herman Melville walked in, “Someone has hacked into the system and seized control over the ship.”

“No way! Who in the world…” Atsushi stared at him with fear and desperation, ‘We’ve already come this far. At this rate… the Detective Agency .. and everyone in this city will...!”

“There is still a way.”

“That voice.. Kyouka-chan?!”

Kyouka leaned towards the mic, “I am informed of your situation. It may be impossible to make the Moby Dick ascend again, but we can make it fall before it reaches the city by smashing an object of considerable mass into it. I will cause the collision with this UAV.”

Atsushi looked on with relief, “I see…! Kyouka-chan, you’re amazing! With this, everyone will be saved!” He turned to Herman, “Please prepare the parachutes!” He turned to the mic, “You should get out of there quickly too, Kyouka-chan!”

“I can’t.”

“Huh?” Atsushi started at the mic in horror.

“I am a prisoner, My legs are shackled. I can’t get to the room where the parachutes are.”

“No way.. Then!”

“Forget about me.”

“NO! YOU CAN’T DO THIS! CHANGE THE COURSE!”

“All my life, I have never had a glimmer of life. But today, I finally realize … that, I too, can make a choice. If I save everyone by sacrificing my own life…  I can definitely pass the admissions test…. And become a member of the Detective Agency. There is no reason to hesitate.”

“STOP IT!” Atsushi screamed.

“It’s crashing into us! We have to go!” Herman yelled. Akutagawa forcibly grabbed him and began to run. Atsushi screamed, “Let go! KYOUKA-CHAN! LISTEN TO ME!”

“Thank you… I’m so sorry.”

Atsushi, Akutagawa and Herman stared as the UAV plane crashed into the Moby Dick, sending it careening into the water instead of the land.

The three landed on the harbor. AKutagawa coughed a few feet off from Herman Melville who was holding onto Atsushi.

“No way… why would she… why…” Atsushi murmured.

“Kyouka… what a fool.” Akutagawa looked at the sea solemnly, “If she had not held onto the hope of living in the world of light… she would not have to lose her life so senselessly.”

“That’s good enough, Atsushi-kun.”

Atsushi and Akutagawa’s heads jerked up to stare as Dazai stalked forward from the shadows, his black coat billowing behind him like a cape.

“Dazai-san…”

“Kyouka overcame herself and saved the city with honor and virtue, as befits a member of the Detective Agency. She fulfilled her wish.”

“But still…” Atsushi clenched his fist, “Why did she have to die?”

“That was, indeed, a harsh way to conclude this event.” Dazai sighed and shrugged with his eye closed, “I’m gonna get an earful from Chuuya.” He opened his eye, “However, there was actually a valid reason for her action.”

He tilted his head with a smile when another sets of footsteps appeared.

Atsushi’s eyes widened as the Agency Director walked up with Chuuya. Chuuya smiled warmly at him, “The Director’s ability, “All men are equal”, is only effective on his subordinates. In other words, it only works for those in the Agency. It’s an ability of inhibition that grants a person control over their own ability. That’s the reason, Atsushi, why you have some semblance of control over your ability. It’s because you joined the Agency.” Chuuya gave Dazai a short glare before smiling reassuringly at Atsushi, “What this idiot didn’t tell you was that Kyouka had passed the admissions test, right before the crash. That means-”

“I hacked of the chains with Demon’s sword and escaped.” Atsushi stared at her in shock and joy as Kyouka smiled at him, Demon Snow hovering over her like a wraith.

Atsushi ran towards her and hugged her.

Dazai yawned and gave them a bored look, “Sorry for keeping you in the dark,” He didn’t sound sorry at all, “Otherwise it wouldn’t have been an admissions test, correct?” He glanced at Chuuya and Fukuzawa with hooded eyes.

“Could it be… you knew everything from the start?” Atsushi stared at the bandaged man in slight fear.

Dazai just smiled, “The city was saved; the enemy defeated; and Kyouka passed the test. I did feel uneasy at first, but I’m glad everything worked out nicely.”

“You’re lucky it did.” Chuuya grunted, “Or else I would’ve beaten the shit out of you.”

Before Dazai could respond, Akutagawa spoke up, “Dazai-san.” Immediately, Dazai’s gaze turned cold. “Now that nothing can get in the way… I will prove my power…”

“Hard to say, you’re already at your limits aren’t you?” Dazai stared at him with a hooded eye, “You even managed to beat the leader of the Guild.” Dazai tilted his head, “If you didn’t, I would have killed you. Do you remember what I said during the Mimic incident? That if you disobey me again, I will punch you twice and shoot you six times?”

The Agency members looked at him in shock, “Oi Dazai-” Chuuya stepped forward as Fukuzawa’s hand rested on his sword, “To treat your subordinates this way-”

Dazai let out a sigh as he shrugged as he turned around, “I’ll let you go this once because of your success. I expect the same efficiency in future missions…. Good work.”

Akutagawa stared at him in shock before he fell over in a dead faint. Dazai turned around at the sound of a thudding body, a frown appearing on his face. Dazai then reached into his coat to get out his gun, “Guess he’s still useless…” Atsushi started to reach over to protect Akutagawa when Dazai’s other hand reached out, snatching something from mid air.

“Oi, don’t commend them and then try to kill them right afterwards.” Chuuya snapped in annoyance. “If you have energy to pull the trigger, you have energy to make a phone call.”

Dazai stared at Chuuya’s phone before smirking and dialing some number, “Higuchi? Hurry and pick up this dog.” He hung up and tossed it back to Chuuya.

“Well, I’m done with my work. I’ll probably get an earful from Boss about how I handed this matter.” He smiled cruelly at Fukuzawa, “You owe me, director.”

Fukuzawa clenched his fist but nodded tersely, “Very well. I’m not so proud to think this could’ve been rectified this quickly without your aid.”

Dazai just yawned again, “Chuuya~ You owe me one too.” He turned to glance at Kyouka who met his eyes squarely, “My talk with her brought out some unpleasant memories. I’m guessing this is your decision? My offer is still open.”

When Kyouka met his lone eye and shook her head bravely despite the obvious shaking in her limbs, he turned and walked off, humming a song.

“Although you’re correct in your claims that trusting him will definitely win the war with the least casualties…” Fukuzawa watched the disappearing figure, “I can’t help but have a bitter taste in my mouth. That boy…”

Chuuya sighed, “I apologize for making this deal with him without your consent. However, if he had fully decided to destroy both us and the Guild…” He trailed off, “I can imagine us suffering heavy losses.”

Fukuzawa sighed before he patted Chuuya’s head, “Good work.”

Chuuya smiled slightly before going to congratulate Atsushi.

And so… The massive war of abilities that had taken Yokohama by storm … finally came to a close.

Chapter Text

VIIII.

The Calm Before the Storm

“Aha!” Chuuya nodded to himself in merriment as he stared at the door of a dark bar. Atsushi stood next to him, looking out of place as he stared at their surroundings warily. “Chuuya-san…”

The man just waved a dismissive hand at him, while his other rested on his own shoulder, holding onto his coat.

“Hush.” Chuuya smiled excitedly, “Because of your great work at the Moby Dick, I’m buying you a drink.”

“But Chuuya-san….” Atsushi muttered nervously, “I’m underage.” His eyes flitted to the dark windows and door nervously. More than that, he really didn’t want to go in the place.

Chuuya froze, spinning to stare at Atsushi in shock, “What?” His eyes flickered up and down, examining the taller boy, “You’re what?”

“I’m underage.” Atsushi said a bit more firmly and slightly resigned.

“Why does that matter? We’re Mafia!” Chuuya snapped before pausing and slapping his forehead, “Shit, I forgot I’m not part of the Mafia anymore.” He let out a groan, “We’re law abiding citizens now!”

Atsushi sweatdropped, “Why do you sound so depressed… ”

Chuuya let out another groan as he turned around, “That sucks big time. I was hoping to buy you something nice to commemorate this victory. It’s your first huge one in the Detective Agency, right? I mean we did have a celebration but I never got you something as your mentor… I guess I’ll go buy you ice cream or something. Cake?” Chuuya began walking down the street, his coat flapping behind him, “I heard there is a good cake shop here somewhere…” He mumbled to himself.

Atsushi nodded despite the fact that Chuuya was no longer looking at him, a smile of relief flashed across his face, accepting the offer of cake more more willingly than a drink. He began to follow his shorter sempai when the door to the bar opened. Chuuya whirled around, his hand gripping his coat tighter as he stared at the opening door with wariness, hackles raised.

Atsushi looked at him with confusion when he felt the hair on the back of his neck rise. He knew who was opening the door, he only felt like this around one person.

Confusion flashed on Atsushi’s face when the person he had been expecting did not show up. Rather, Higuchi stared at them warily before she stoically held her head up, “Chuuya-san, Jinko… you’re invited. Come in.” She took a step back.

Chuuya’s eyes flickered, “And why would I need to be invited?” He tilted his head in an arrogant fashion, a new hat sitting on his head after Dazai’s murder of his previous one.

“The bar was bought by the Mafia a day ago.” Higuchi answered calmly. Her hand however gripped the handgun in the back of her pants nervously.

Chuuya’s eyes narrowed in annoyance before he whirled around, “We were going to leave anyways. Tell him I said he can shove his invitation up his ass.”

“Chuuya-san. Jinko.” Akutagawa’s voice sounded behind Higuchi, calling them in the similar fashion as the blonde haired woman,  causing Atsushi to flinch and then glare while Chuuya let out an exasperated sigh. “Is he going to send the whole fucking Mafia?” The short man growled under his breath.

“Dazai-san requests your presence… even if I have to bring you by force.” Akutagawa brought his hand up to cover his mouth.

“Oh? The little boy who couldn’t even beat my student?” Chuuya cracked his fists. His blue eyes burned with indignant anger. Did Dazai think him that weak?  Higuchi tensed when Akutagawa’s eyes narrowed, his clenched fists indicated how angry he was at Chuuya’s statement. However, the boy didn’t take the bait, He just tilted his head to look at the white haired boy who looked ready to pounce on both of them. “Jinko, what do you say?”

Atsushi hesitated, his eyes flickering to Chuuya and then back to the two mafiosos, “What does Dazai-san want with me? Are you sure it’s not only Chuuya-san?”

“Yes. He wanted you.” Akutagawa gave him a look of irritation before he turned around and walked in. He obviously gathered Atsushi’s decision from his short questions. Chuuya took one look at Atsushi’s face and sighed, “Are you sure?” He didn’t want to have anything to do with the wolves den but what kind of mentor would he be if he let his student walk in alone?

Atsushi nodded, “Yes. I want to ask him why he chose me. ”

“There’s nothing to it.” Chuuya mumbled before he walked forward into the bar, “You just best served his purpose after all. That’s the type of person Dazai is. Don’t expect too much.”

The bar silenced the moment he walked in, Atsushi trailing behind him. His eyes flickered from the high down to the lower ranking members in the bar. Their eyes were trained solely on him. Chuuya bared his teeth in a mockery of a grin causing everyone to flinch. He loved the fact that he had so much power over them one way or another.

Atsushi looked around at the mafia men in fear and hesitation. Chuuya just scanned the area, his frown deepening when he noticed that the person who called him was not there, “Where’s the man of the show?”

“If you’re looking for Dazai-san…” A voice spoke up, causing Chuuya to look at the person who spoke. Tachihara looked back at him steadily, “He’s in the back.”

Chuuya recalled the boy used to have a hero worship of him back in the day. Amusement flashed in his blue orbs as he took in not only the respect that remained in the boy’s eyes, but also the quiet confidence that he had lacked four years ago.

Chuuya cocked his head to the side, “Tachihara… and Gin.” His eyes flickered to the silent girl who gave him a sharp nod, “Hirotsu-san too…” He hummed, “Is Mori-san here?”

Everyone tensed at their boss’s name but said nothing. “I’ll take that as a no. Ace nor Ane-san are here… meaning that Dazai is the highest ranking member in this establishment unless another executive is  currently present. Seeing as most of them ran like the cowards they are due to the Guild, unlikely. ” Chuuya hummed. “Alright. Atsushi, let's go find that shit-head.”

“C-chuuya-san?” Atsushi questioned. Chuuya grinned, “There’s only four ability members here. You can take on two of them, I can take on the other two. No worries if a fight breaks out.” He said it cheerfully and loudly to everyone causing the Mafia men to start.

“Y-you!” A man in black with equally dark sunglasses stood up angrily, “How dare you speak so disrespectfully towards Daza-san and the rest!”

Chuuya merely gave him an annoyed look when Akutagawa appeared from the hallway leading to the back. A expression of distaste crossing his face at the ruckus that Chuuya had intentionally caused.

With a sigh, Chuuya just walked past Akutagawa to the back, pausing only to call out Atsushi who quickly followed. He had been meaning to rile up the men so that a fight broke out.  After all, Dazai would be the one cleaning up the mess this time. Chuuya opened the door, only pausing to stare in distaste at the scantily clad girls that were all over the large sofa that Dazai sat on, a game console in his hand.

He blinked again, double taking a bit when he realized exactly what was in the room with Dazai. When did the bandaged bastard ever take in this type of amusement? He ignored the growing ache in his chest as he stared at the man.

It was an odd picture, Dazai who sat on the plush sofa playing a game on a pink PSP despite all the girls that were obviously trying to catch his attention. Chuuya’s eyes flickered to the few guards that stood along the wall, their eyes flickering to a girl for a few seconds or so before standing back at attention.

Atsushi meanwhile had turned deep red and was looking away in embarrassment. Chuuya surveyed the scene before his feet lashed out. He kept the power low because he didn’t want to make a Dazai sized hole in the wall. The girls screamed, stumbling away from Dazai while the guards and Atsushi started. Dazai only reached up to block his kick with his forearm, his eye still not lifting from the screen of his console.

Chuuya’s eyes narrowed, “Look at me when I’m talking asshole!” His body twisted as his other foot came up. Dazai ducked under the kick while the girls backed away from the two. Chuuya landed deftly before kicking the table at Dazai. Dazai’s eye flickered up before he put away his game. He didn’t make any moves to defend himself.  The mafia men, at that time jumped into action, grunting from the impact of the flying table, but successfully preventing it from hurting Dazai. They set it back down.

“But Chuuya.” Dazai finally spoke, “You didn’t say anything when you came.” He pouted petulantly.

“And what’s with them?” Chuuya just gestured to the girls, “Did you just make my favorite bar a fucking whore house?” The floor beneath his shoes cracked.

Dazai smiled, “Are you jealous?” At Chuuya’s deepening frown, “I didn’t bring them. The boys called them. It’s not my fault they all decided to follow me here.” He stared at him with obvious glee. He had done that on purpose and he took great joy in the fact that it had riled up Chuuya.

Chuuya huffed before he grabbed a bottle of wine that had been resting on a stand next to the sofa and took a large gulp. “Alright, what the hell did you want?”

“Can’t we drink as partners?” Dazai questioned innocently, “It’s been awhile since our last partnership.” Dazai raised his cup of scotch from the small stand near him. “ To Double Black.”

“Then why call Atsushi here?” Chuuya snapped, he was in no mood for this.

“Because… Akutagawa and Atsushi should drink to their new partnership!” Dazai smiled, a flash of teeth. Chuuya’s eyes narrowed, “Don’t tell me…! That was just once. It won’t happen again.” He clenched his fist, “I won’t let it happen.”

“Will you?” Dazai just smiled, “The rats are creeping up from the sewers. They’ve had enough eating on the dead.” He stated cryptically, “If it isn’t them, it’ll be us.”  He waved a hand to his guards, “Go enjoy yourselves and take those annoyances with you.”

Hesitantly the guards left with the girls, leaving only Atsushi, Chuuya, and Dazai in the room. Chuuya stared at him in shock, “You mean he’s-”

“I’m afraid so.” Dazai said, lounging on the sofa, “He’s the mastermind behind Moby Dick’s fall.”

Atsushi stared at the two in confusion. His eyes flickered between the two. Chuuya started pacing, “Shit. So he survived after all. I mean we suspected but… I thought Corruption would have done him in for good.”

“This is the demon we’re talking about.” Dazai said loftily, “It couldn’t be that easy.”

“You called me in here to tell me this?” Chuuya whipped his head to glare at Dazai.

“That among other things.” Dazai leaned his cheek into the palm of his hand, “It’s not safe anymore Chuuya.” His eye darkened, “It’s time you come back to me… quietly.”

Chuuya flinched, “What?”

“I can’t keep you safe if you’re so far away.” Dazai said simply, “Either you return to the Mafia obediently or I’ll have to force you.”

Chuuya just dropped the wine bottle on the ground. His face had turned completely white but his eyes had hardened into chips of ice. “We’re going Atsushi.” He turned and walked out the door without another word. Dazai just watched him go, “So that’s your answer?”

Predictably, Chuuya did not respond.

Atsushi took a step forward towards Dazai. He came here to ask Dazai something although it seemed he had learned more than he had intended or was meant to hear.  “Dazai-san. I wanted to ask you a question.”

“Hmm?” Dazai looked up, “What is it Atsushi-kun? Would you like to join the Mafia as well? I’m not opposed to it. Chuuya can continue to train you then.” Atsushi’s eyes narrowed slightly at the way Dazai spoke. As though Chuuya had already agreed to be part of the Mafia again.

Atsushi flinched when he realized what Dazai had just proposed. “N-n-no. I-I’m happy where I am. T-t-thanks for the offer. I-I-I appreciate it.” He took a deep breathe, “I wanted to ask you… why did you help us?”

Dazai’s single eye darkened, “Hm? What makes you think I helped you specifically? I was just using the ADA to further my goals.”

“That’s a lie.” Atsushi stated, flinching when Dazai’s single orb drove into him with his intense stare, “You helped us because of Chuuya-san right?” He took another step forward, “What happened between you two?”

Dazai’s lips curled into a dangerous smile, “Like I said, I was just using you to further my goals. It wouldn’t have been hard for me to infiltrate the Moby Dick on my own and kill Fitzgerald with my own hands. He’s just a rich snob without his ability after all. It just happened that having ADA in my debt was more beneficial for me.”

Atsushi hesitated before he straightened up, his eyes taking on a determined glint, “I don’t know what went on between you and Chuuya-san nor the reason why he wears that choker with your name embedded in it.” Yes. His keen eyes, enhanced by his ability, had caught the name.  “However, I won’t let you hurt him.” He gave Dazai a glare, “Whatever you’re planning involving Chuuya-san, stop it.” He jutted his chin stubbornly and proudly,  “I will hurt you if you hurt him.” He ignored the figure of the man that haunted him standing behind Dazai’s shoulder, staring at him coldly.

Atsushi took a step back when Dazai burst into laughter. He felt fear creep down his spine at the almost maniacal laughter that left Dazai’s lips. For a second, Dazai’s figure flickered, changing into that of his headmaster. The words that left Dazai’s lips weren’t from Dazai but from someone else. Atsushi stared in mute horror and growing denial.

“ You? Protect Chuuya?” He said it incredulously, “You, who can’t even escape your own shadow? You, who needs my help to do anything? You, who can barely win against Akutagawa?” Dazai reached up to wipe his brow, “Who are you trying to fool Atsushi-kun? You can’t protect anything. Not your own home. Not the city. Not the Agency. Not little Kyouka-chan. And especially not Chuuya.”

Dazai took a step forward, the illusion disappearing but Atsushi stared at him with growing wariness, a sinking feeling grew in his stomach.

“If it wasn’t for me, Yokohama would be in flames and you a failure.” Dazai whispered. “Learn your place. I only allow you to be near Chuuya because he likes you. Cross me again and I will remove you… permanently. Understand?”

Atsushi glared despite the growing fear. With a bravado that he did not feel, he stood his ground. “I don’t understand anything.” He snapped, “I don’t understand you. I don’t understand your actions and your words. Most of all, I don’t understand Chuuya-san and the way he deals with you. But what I understand is that you’re hurting him. I won’t allow that to continue.”

With that, he turned around and walked out the door. Despite the cruel words spoken by Dazai, Atsushi felt like he had done something worthwhile. For the first time, a sense of pride grew in his chest.

“It seems I’ve become too lenient.” Atsushi heard Dazai’s soft murmur behind him with his sensitive ears. “A reminder is in order…”

He heard no more as he walked out to the bar. Chuuya was staring behind Atsushi warily, a flicker of confusion in his eyes, “Atsushi?”

Atsushi smiled, “Let's go Chuuya-san. Back to the Agency where we both belong.”

Chuuya nodded, his face softening. He turned back to Hirotsu, who he had been conversing with when Atsushi had left Dazai. “Tell Mori-san that I must speak with him. It’s of utmost importance… about the last order he ever gave to me.”

That garnered looks of confusion from everyone, even Hirotsu although there was a look of dawning understanding in his eyes. Say whatever you would of the old man but stupid wasn’t one of them. He was very perceptive.

Chuuya gave him a curt nod, one that Hirotsu returned. Chuuya beckoned to Atsushi before he walked out, the door slamming behind him.

Atsushi quickly moved to follow him when he was stopped by Akutagawa’s quiet but deadly voice.

“Jinko… do you understand what you have done?”

Atsushi turned his head to stare into Akutagawa’s eyes. So he had been listening in on their conversation. He hesitated, his mind flashing to the mirage of his headmaster that had appeared and taken over Dazai’s own image. Has Dazai become a person like his headmaster to him now?

“Yes.” He stated simply, “But it had to be done.” He kept his head high. He refused to bow down to his headmaster. He would refuse to bow to Dazai as well.

Akutagawa stared at him with a mixture of pity… and was that respect? “You’ve just awakened something that was forced into sleep  four years ago  Now we’ll all suffer from it… starting with him. ” His eyes stared at Chuuya’s figure who was impatiently waiting outside the bar, unaware of their conversation.

Atsushi’s eyes hardened, “Not if I can help it.”

Akutagawa’s eyes flickered back to him. “If you really wish to know about the foolishness of your actions… ask Chuuya-san…”

Akutagawa let out a cough before he stared straight into Atsushi’s eyes.

“About what happened four years ago.”

Chapter Text

X.

If thou gaze long into the Abyss

The Abyss will also gaze into thee

There was a saying that he had firmly believed and followed during the war with the Guild. Now, however, he couldn’t help but think that it no longer held true for him.

“I have never regretted something I have done, only the things that I did not do…” Atsushi mumbled distractedly, paraphrasing the words. Oh gods, how wrong he had been. “I have never regretted things as much as I have now.” He whispered, staring at the terror that had begun to engulf his mentor.

It started several days after his foolish declaration to that monster.

Chuuya-san, Kunikida-san, and Yosano-sensei had been walking in the shopping mall with him. Unfortunately for all three of them, they had been forced to come with her and be her carriers. Despite his short height, Chuuya-san had the easiest time, secretly manipulating his load’s weight to make it lighter.

The four of them had been having fun, cringing at Yosano-sensei’s threats, laughing at Kunikida-san’s angry ramblings about being off schedule, and just enjoying each other’s presence.

That quickly went downhill when a man had the gall to sexually harass Chuuya. They had been waiting in the subway streets when a man reached out and groped Chuuya-san’s bottom. As quick and foolish as the man had been, Chuuya-san’s murderous rage was more frightening, especially since Yosano-sensei brought him back barely from the reaches of death after Chuuya’s unrestrained pulverization of the man.

Kunikida, with how firm and proper he was, hadn’t said anything. Instead, he had used his ability to produce a knife, similar to Chuuya’s own for Chuuya to use. It was even him, who had the forethought to drag them into an alleyway. Although frightened and slightly wary of the brutal way Chuuya-san was in… teaching him a lesson, he had felt it was right.

After that event, everyone had been pissed when they realized that they missed their train and had to wait another hour before being able to reach the Agency headquarters.

Although in a foul mood, the four had thought it would end like that.

How very wrong they were.

The message came first to Atsushi. It was delivered by the delivery man from an anonymous person to him. When he opened it in the middle of the Agency, he had been horrified.

A hand, coated in blood with fingernails ripped off, was sitting in the box. He dropped it, stumbling back in fear and terror as he stared at the box. Chuuya-san had the most peculiar look on his face as he picked up the box, a face of recognition… and fear.

Chuuya-san’s act of lifting the box dislodged something from it, a bloody envelope.

For some reason, Atsushi had been compelled to pick it up and read it before anyone could act. He flipped it open to see a blood red letter with the message spelled out in what was undoubtedly blood.

Next time, make it permanent… so that it doesn’t happen again.

He threw up.

The letter fluttered to the ground as Atsushi continued to dry heave. The other Agency members had turned their attention to Atsushi in concern when Ranpo walked forward and picked up the letter. He had his glasses on and eyes open to reveal gleaming intelligent green eyes.

“What a dangerous guy you’re involved with Chuuya.” Ranpo said amicably, he flashed the letter to Chuuya’s pale face, “Mr. Bandages won’t be stopping here.” He stated it like fact.

And as with Ranpo-san…. He was correct like always.

It didn’t stop there.

The next one arrived the next day. It was addressed to Kunikida. Inside the box was the same man’s feet, savagely ripped off. The letter to Kunikida was addressed the same way as the one to Atsushi. Anonymous and written in blood.

If he loses his feet… he’ll never be on schedule again, right?

Although grim at the words, underlying confusion ran throughout the whole room. Ranpo simply lifted the message to read the words, a frown on his face.

“He knows  more about us than I thought. After all, it’s important for Kunikida to be on schedule.” The implications of his statement chilled them to the bone.

The next delivery was addressed towards Yosano. Yosano calmly ripped off the packaging to look at a decapitated head.  Despite the obvious terror on his face, there was not a single marking. A quick examination showed that both of his eyes had been ripped out and stuffed in his mouth.

“Oho…” Yosano smirked, “How interesting.” She flipped open the letter addressed to her.

Why try to save a dead man walking?

“So he’s patronizing me for allowing him to live. Heh.” Yosano stared at the head, “How am I going to dispose of this?”

“Send it back to the Mafia.” Chuuya finally spoke up. His voice was toneless, almost dead. His eyes however were like chips of ice.

Yosano glanced at him before shrugging, “We should dispose of it here. Can’t have this image being traced back to us.. Sending heads to the Mafia…”

The day passed by somberly.

The final message was delivered to Chuuya-san. Everyone watched as Chuuya opened the package. Unlike the others, the box was obviously wrapped like a gift. Almost with a fearful look, he pulled off the cloth covering the contents, dropping it like Atsushi had to stare at it with fear and slight disgust.

Everyone shifted over to take a look at what laid inside.

Atsushi couldn’t help but choke.

In the pristinely wrapped box was a bloody human heart. Ranpo reached over, picking up the accompanying letter and read it aloud as it seemed like Chuuya was in shock.

“My heart still beats for you. His will not ever again.” Ranpo dropped the letter, frown appearing on his face, “How distasteful.”

“T-t-that bastard!” Chuuya snapped. He whirled around, walking towards the door with murderous intent.

“How dare he… ” Chuuya snarled as the area around him became dense, a red glow beginning to surround him.

Atsushi’s eyes widened when he noticed something black beginning to wrap around Chuuya’s gloved hands and wrists.

“Chuuya-san!” Atsushi yelled desperately, “Control yourself!”

His words seem to snap the man out of his growing rage. Chuuya’s attention flickered to his fingers, his eyes widening with a different type of horror as he stared at the receding red and black marks.

The room became deadly silent as the Agency members watched Chuuya silently and fearfully, waiting for his reaction.

Atsushi steeled his nerves, remembering Akutagawa’s words.

“Chuuya-san…” He said tentatively, “I think it’s time… You tell us about what happened four years ago.”

His words seemed to pull Chuuya out from whatever stupor he had been in.

“What?”

“What happened four years ago?” Atsushi repeated firmly.

Chuuya stared at him, dismay crossing his features, “That’s-”

“I would like to know that as well.”

All the members turned around to stare at the director who stared back at them with distaste. “You should have informed me about this situation.” His eyes gazed coldly at everyone before landing on Chuuya where they immediately became softer but his voice grew harder and unrelenting.

“Tell us… what exactly is your relationship Mori Ougai’s most treasured pupil… Dazai Osamu?”

“As you know,” Chuuya began reluctantly, “I was part of Port Mafia four years ago.”

He paused, his eyes meeting every Agency member’s eyes squarely. The members were sitting in the meeting room, carefully making sure that no one else was listening in before Chuuya continued.

Even Ranpo, who usually was uncaring of these things, was looking at him with interest, his glasses perched on his nose.

The newest member of the little group, Edgar Allan Poe, also looked at him with fascination but his posture held hesitation at being part of the tight knit group despite his enemy status a few weeks ago.

Chuuya took a deep breath. “But this-” He gestured helplessly to the pretty package sent by Dazai, “Started a few months prior to that but everything… starts with a man.”

“A man?” Atsushi couldn’t help but interrupt, “Dazai-san?”

Chuuya shook his head somberly, “No… but he is what made Dazai become who he is today. Dazai…” His voice cracked slightly, “Wasn’t always like this. It’s true that he was cruel and merciless but he wasn’t like this.”

He nodded towards the box again.

“He was stupid and annoying and a master manipulator. But he was also a pathetic suicidal excuse for a human. People thought he was a monster… but to me… he was…” Chuuya trailed off before shaking his head again.

“Anyhow… it all begins and ends… with a man named Oda Sakunosuke.”

Dark Age - Two years prior to defection.

“Hah?” Chuuya cocked his head in disdain, “A Mafia member who won’t kill? Is that guy stupid?”

“Eh, I think he’s interesting.” Dazai shook his glass of scotch, staring at its murky depth. He twisted his body to glance at his partner who was examining his glass of wine with interest.

The two sat in a quiet bar corner, enjoying each other’s company for a short time after their mission. The two were young, much too young to be drinking in a bar. Yet, the two looked like they belonged in the bar as much as anyone there.

“Hmph, it’s like you to be interested in weirdos.” Chuuya shrugged, “Mark my words though, he’ll probably die soon with his attitude.”

“He’s really strong though.” Dazai reflected thoughtfully, “His ability, Flawless ,   allows him to see six seconds into the future and his combat skills are no joke either.”

“Hmm, for you, that’s a quite a compliment.” Chuuya mumbled, setting his glass of wine down, “But why is he in the Mafia? He would do better with an honest job like a bodyguard, right?”

Dazai frowned, “He’s taking care of some orphans… sons and daughters of the people he killed as an assassin in his younger years.”

The 16 year old Chuuya tipped his head, “What a softy. He’s piling up weaknesses.”

“True.” Dazai agreed, “That makes him more interesting, maybe I’ll introduce you to him one day.”

Chuuya scowled, “No thanks. People like that make me sick.” He dropped down from the stool, ignoring Dazai’s snicker at his short height. His right hand rested on his right shoulder, gripping his long coat. His other hand grabbed his hat and set it on his own head.

“People like what?” Dazai questioned, however, his expression indicated he already knew the answer.

“Hypocrites who try to ‘redeem’ themselves.” Chuuya called over his shoulder as he began to walk away.

Dazai turned his attention back to his scotch, “Hypocrites, huh?”

“That was an annoying mission.” Chuuya grumbled, massaging his shoulder. Dazai just hummed as they left the tall standing black storehouse.

The building looked normal from the outside. However, if one looked inside, they would find a bloody massacre.

“Well, we both finished without a single scratch.” Dazai shrugged.

“It’s because you did nothing while I killed everyone off!” Chuuya snapped indignantly. Dazai smirked, “But I planned everything! Chuuya just had to follow my orders… like my personal attack dog.”

“Why you!” Chuuya took a step forward in anger, “Do you want to die?”

“If you can even reach my heart to stab me.” Dazai responded, “You’re a bit… too short for that. Maybe if you jump..?”

Chuuya let out a mixture of a shriek and scream as he lunged forward. Dazai just laughed freely as he ducked under his kick and ran off toward the direction of the cars waiting to pick them up. The two immediately calmed down near the car, greeting the grunts waiting for them.

“Are you finished Dazai-san?” A man stepped forward, dipping his head in a bow. Chuuya wrinkled his nose, annoyed at the fact that Dazai got so much respect when he practically did nothing. He ignored the fact that Dazai did the research and the planning.

“Yup.” Dazai smirked before turning towards Chuuya, “I’ll see you later then, Chibi.”

“Who’re you calling chibi!” Chuuya snapped before he frowned, “Are you going somewhere? I thought we were going to have a drink together.”

Dazai just smiled, “Is Chuuya gonna miss me?” He cooed in a somewhat annoying voiced before he turned to get in the car. He tilted his head to respond, “I’m having a drink with Odasaku and Ango.” He informed the other before closing the door.

Chuuya stared at the leaving car for a moment before getting in his own ride to the Mafia headquarters, readying himself to write the report that Dazai never wrote. He rested his chin on his hand as he looked out the window, a frown on his place.

When did Dazai ever refuse to drink with me?... and when did he become so close with those two?

Present time, ADA Headquarters

“At that time, the two of us were known to all of the Yokohama underworld and beyond.” Chuuya informed them, ‘The two of us were sent to missions more frequently than ever and any free time spent between the two of us was after the missions. It was usually me who refused to go drink with him because I did all the physical work but that was the first time he refused me.” Chuuya shrugged, “If I had known what would occur due to his friendship with Oda Sakunosuke, I would have put a stop to it. And believe me,” Chuuya smiled a somewhat cruel smile, “I had enough hold over Dazai to convince him to avoid him. Instead, I didn’t and Dazai slowly became what he is today.”

Chuuya clenched his fist, “The two of us became more than partners by the time we began to be called Soukoku. ”

“Wait, you’re Soukoku?” Kunikida interrupted, his voice full of awe and wariness, “You and Dazai Osamu?”

Chuuya grunted, “After the two of us brought down a whole ability organization, we took on fame and the name. The two of us were Mori-san’s greatest weapons… but I was expendable compared to Dazai and I learned that soon enough.” He said bitterly.

Dark Age - 1 ½ year prior to defection

“Chuuya-kun,” Mori’s smile was chilling, “You have a new mission.”

Chuuya dipped his head, stepping forward to grab his assignment. He paused in front of the desk, taking a swift glance at the contents of the folder.

“A year long mission in France?” Chuuya looked up from the folder to look at Mori in shock, “Alone?” Without Dazai? Was unsaid.

Mori laced his fingers together, resting his chin on them, “Yes,” He raised an eyebrow, a mocking glint in his eyes, “Is there a problem, Chuuya-kun?”

Chuuya simply dipped his head in response, “I-, no. None at all. I was just surprised you’re sending me alone…”

“Soukoku is not needed for this mission… unless you think you need someone?” Mori glanced up at Chuuya through his lashes, his wine colored eyes glinting darkly.

Chuuya gritted his teeth in anger at the thought that he needed Dazai. “Of course not Boss.” He replied in a clipped tone. He turned around, his coat fanning out behind him as he walked towards the door, “I’ll see you in a year Boss.”

“I expect good results.” Came the reply.

Chuuya just stepped out of the door, barely stopping himself from crashing into someone. He frowned as he craned his head up to look at mussed dark hair and bandages. “Oi, get out of my way, shithead.”

“Chuuya!” Dazai just exclaimed gleefully, “I didn’t expect to see you here.” His eyes flickered to the file in Chuuya’s hand, “A new mission? Am I going to be briefed soon?”

Chuuya just “tch”ed, “No, it’s a solo mission.”

Daza’s frown appeared, he took a step closer to Chuuya, causing the other take a step back, “To where?”

Chuuya pushed him away, “To France.”

“That’s quite far.” An unfamiliar deep timbre voice caused Chuuya’s head to snap to the person behind Dazai, someone he had not noticed before.

The man was taller than Dazai, with a rough touch of facial hair on his chin and wild dark red hair. He wore a tan trench coat, one that covered the guns peeking out from his clothes.

Chuuya tilted his head slightly to examine the man.

Dazai’s face was thoughtful before a pout appeared, “Ehh, why so far! What will I do without my Hatrack?!”

Chuuya lashed out to kick Dazai, frowning at the way he easily dodged his attack, “Stay still dammit!”

“As much as I love Chuuya’s love taps, they hurt sometimes!” Dazai responded, twirling around and hiding behind the taller man.

Chuuya just snorted before turning his attention to the newcomer, one that seemed to be immune to Dazai’s strange antics.

“You are?” Chuuya tilted his head slightly.

“Oda Sakunosuke.” He responded calmly, “And you must be Hatrack.”

Chuuya’s eyes narrowed as his temper flared, “Don’t call me that.” He growled, taking a step forward. The man raised his hands in a nonthreatening manner, “I apologize but that’s all Dazai would say about you.”

Chuuya turned his glare towards Dazai who was hiding behind Oda before he sighed, “I don’t have time for this.” He began to walk towards his room, “Oi Dazai, when you’re done, come find me.” He raised a lazy hand in goodbye as he walked away.

Oda Sakunosuke looked at Chuuya with a contemplative expression “Is that your so-called lady friend?”

“Isn’t he pretty.” Dazai grinned vindictively.

“He’s not a woman.” Oda gave him an unimpressed half lidded look.

Dazai smirked, “But he moans like one.” His eyes glinted mischievously when he saw the slightly sick looked Oda was sporting.

“Too much information.” Oda informed him flatly causing Dazai to shrug before smiling brightly, “He’s pretty enough to be one.” He turned to look towards the large door, his face turning collected and closed off, the face of a mafia executive. “Now, let’s see what Boss wants so I can go look for my shortstack.”

“You sure took your time.” Chuuya glared halfheartedly at Dazai who smiled as he closed the door to Chuuya’s room behind him. “Aww, did Chuuya miss me?”

“As if.” Chuuya stated halfheartedly before he walked over to the small table in the corner of his room. He sat down, gesturing for Dazai to sit down on the chair facing him. A glass of wine sat in the middle of the small table, next to a small vase of crimson roses.

Dazai glanced at the roses with an amused look, “Oh, you kept them.”

Chuuya glared at him with a scowl, “It seemed like a waste to throw them away.” Dazai just smiled victoriously as he sat down to examine the wine.

“What’s the occasion?” Dazai questioned, peering at him with a half-lidded eye.

Chuuya just tossed him the mission file he had received, “Why don’t you see for yourself?”

Dazai caught it in mid air before he flipped open the mission, scanning through it rapidly, his frown darkening with each passing page.

“A year.” Dazai finally said after a period of silence. Chuuya just leaned back on his chair after pouring himself a glass of wine.

“So this is Mori’s game?” Dazai murmured to himself, his eyes flashing when Chuuya leaned forward to knock his knuckles on Dazai’s head. “Stop it.”

Dazai looked up in confusion.

“Stop overthinking this.” Chuuya shrugged, “ Why does everything have an ulterior motive to you?”

Dazai gave him an unimpressed look, “And this is the reason why I’m the brain of the operation.” He laughed, “We’re in the Mafia, of course everything has an ulterior motive, especially regarding Mori-sensei.” He paused before he leaned forward to curl a lock of Chuuya’s hair behind his ear, “Don’t worry your pretty little head over it. I’ll do all the worrying and the thinking, okay?”

He stood up and pressed a gentle kiss on Chuuya’s forehead, “All you have to do is trust me… and follow my lead.”

Chuuya smiled in response.

“Always.”

Chapter Text

XI.

The Dark Era Pt. 1

“ You don’t know how gratifying it is that I am free of you~ ” Dazai’s cheerful tone filtered through the phone. I miss you, remained unsaid.

Chuuya snorted, glaring at the captured men he held under gunpoint, “I’m in the middle of a job, you bandage wasting bastard, why the hell are you calling me?” Are you in trouble?

“I just wanted to make sure you haven’t died without my carefully laid plans and guidance.” Dazai sang back at him. No, are you?

“Just tidying up the traitors.” Chuuya sighed as he massaged his head. He gave a fingered wave at a black suited man next to him who immediately bowed. In a flash, the warehouse was illuminated by flashing lights and the sound of multiple gunshots. A small group of bodies slumped down onto the floor. With a nod to the man in charge, Chuuya walked out of the warehouse.

“So, what are you up to these days? Terrorizing that rookie?” Chuuya breathed out, his breath fanning across his face in white wisps in the cold air of France.

“Akutagawa?” Dazai paused, “He’s as pathetic as usual, a waste of space.”

“If he was, you wouldn’t deal with him.”

“Aww, you know me so well.” Dazai cooed at him before his voice turned serious, “As pathetic as he is, his ability is powerful. With time, he may become useful enough to keep. As of now, he will be disposed of the more recklessly he acts.”

Chuuya snorted, “Seeing as you’re the one holding his leash, should I be worried?”

“Of course not~” Dazai answered back, “Chuuya has nothing to worry about from me.”

Despite all the lies that Dazai spun, the carefully weaved manipulation, and the controlling intent behind each of Dazai’s words and actions, Chuuya trusted Dazai’s words unconditionally. Even behind Dazai’s forked silvertongue, the soft tone in which he spoke was all Chuuya needed.

He let out a small scoff, ignoring the way his limbs warmed up and the sudden rush of blood to his cheeks, “Psh, I have plenty to worry about. Starting from your suicidal tendencies. All you do is get blood in my carpet. If you’re going to die, go die without troubling me.”

Dazai just laughed, “For that statement Chuuya, I’ll make sure to test out my new suicide method in your house~ There’s currently no one to stop me there!”

“Y-you wouldn’t dare!” Chuuya choked, all the warm fuzzy feelings disappearing in a snap. He was suddenly filled with something cold. He had installed new carpets before he left dammit!

Only Dazai’s laughter greeted his ears before the phone call was disconnected. Chuuya let out a furious shriek before letting out a string of expletives.

His eyes flickered to the watch on his wrist. It was worn and quite cheap in quality, a sharp contrast to the rest of Chuuya’s attire, but he wore it with a strange fixation and fondness.

6 more months before I go back home… huh.

Mori Ougai hummed as he rested his chin on his intertwined fingers. His wine colored eyes flashed as he gazed out at the Yokohama skyline, a thoughtful look on his face.

“Hmmm, I wonder.” His eyes flickered to a file set on the small table to the left of  his large throne-like chair. Several pictures laid scattered on top of the fine print. His eyes flitted across them, passing through the familiar bandaged face of his protégé, the large glasses of the government mole, the serious face of the man who refused to kill, the white haired man of the foreign country, and finally, the blue eyed face framed by ginger orange hair.

With a smirk, he reached towards his right where a marble chess set sat, the pieces in different areas of the board as if previously played. His hand grasped the smallest piece, a pawn. He lifted it to eye level, the black pawn glistening in the sunset of the fiery sun that illuminated the room, penetrating the large glass frames of the building.

“A pawn can turn the tides of the game once it reaches the end.” He spoke aloud, his voice echoing in the large and mostly empty room.

His ability Elise sat nearby, drawing whimsical things with the new set of crayons he had gotten her. She paid him no mind through his words.

“So what kinds of ripples will you make,” Mori continued as he shifted his focus to the chess set, “Oda Sakunosuke?”

With a cold click, the piece was set down in the middle of the board.

“With this, investigating in the Mafia should be easier, take it..” Mori smiled pleasantly towards his subordinate. On the table, between them was a piece of paper known as the “Silver Oracle.” Oda Sakunosuke stared back at him with a blankly dull expression and with the smallest hint of a pause, he accepted the paper.  Mori just smiles as he noticed the set angle of the man’s shoulders. The piece of paper was the so-called “transfer of authority.” The words of its bearer were equivalent to that of the organization’s leader. Although limited towards the five executives, anyone who saw the paper was free to be ordered by the bearer. To defy it was to betray the Mafia itself and traitors never lived too long.

“With this, even if the other party is an executive, you can arrogantly boss them around” Mori informed him with a laugh before peering at the unsuspecting  man through his eyelashes, “Speaking of which, you and Executive Dazai are secretly friends, hmm? A friendship that disregards one’s rank… Regardless, he is an outstanding man. If you have any difficulties, you should look to him.”

“I have no plans to do so.” Oda Sakunosuke stated calmly and simply. He really didn’t.

“Really?” Mori pressed, “The title of ‘Youngest Executive in History’ isn’t something earned by bluffing. Even though he is a troublesome heretic in the eyes of his colleagues, his abilities are truly outstanding. For all you know, in four or five years, he may be able to kill me and sit on this chair.”

Oda stared back at him expressionlessly but Mori wasn’t a doctor for nothing, not to mention the Boss of Port Mafia. He could see the small flicker in the man’s pupils, the dilation in them due to the quickened heartbeat. So the man was unsettled by what he said. A savage grin spread on Mori’s face.

“I look forward to good news.” Mori dismissed the man, watching him go with a bemused expression. The man’s steps did not falter despite the eyes boring into his back. He walked steadily and strongly to the door and excused himself.

The door clicked close behind Oda and his footsteps faded away.

Mori tossed his head back and laughed.

It was such a pity the man stopped killing. If he hadn’t insisted on keeping his foolish ideals, he might have been a bit more useful.

But at the end of the day, an attack dog that won’t bite is a no good dog and no good dogs were put down even if the whole pack had to fall.

There was a patch of land along the coast of the Port of Yokohama. It was a warehouse district surrounded with small vessels and stolen cars from all around the world. Large machines used for manufacturing large-scale explosives were parked there. Without special permission, the police, let alone ordinary citizens, could not enter the area as they pleased.

The land was owned by several illegal organizations, the top being Port Mafia.

This morning, three bodies had been found, washed ashore.

Several men clad in black surrounded the body. At the head was a gray haired man, clearly in his elderly years who blew a ring of smoke, a cigar at hand. His face was carefully blank as he stared at the three bodies.

The bodies washed up were that of the Port Mafia and considering the time and severity of the situation, one of the five executives had been called to inspect the bodies.

“Go investigate if the deceased had any family members. If there are… leave the explaining to me.” The gray haired mafioso commanded. He paused to draw out a golden pocket watch to check the time. “The executive will be arriving soon. Before that, tidy everything up.”

However, before the men could move, a voice interrupted them, causing them to halt their movements to look up.

“Good morning everyone~” A cheerful voice greeted from amongst the crowd.

A  young man dressed in mafia black, clad in many white bandages appeared from the crowd. His single uncovered eye was focused on his handheld console as he walked towards them with a spring in his step.

Hirotsu, the man in charge, quickly extinguished his cigar, tossing it into a cigar box in his breast pocket. All those dressed in suits raised a hand to their chest in the highest form of respect.

“Ahh really! There’s no way to win this! This sharp bend is especially hard to manoeuvre - everytime I pass through here -Aah! I’ve been passed again!”

“Dazai-san.” Hirotus greeted, “Apologies for the trouble it took to come out here. The victims are the security guards of our weapons store. As for the details-”

“Now that you mention it, it’s been a long time since someone has been brave enough to pry with our weapons store! How were they killed?” Dazai commented, his attention completely focused on his game.

“All three took 10 to 20 shots of 9m bullets and died on the spot. The firearms in the store were stolen. Specifically, we lost 40 automatic pistols, 8 shotguns, 2 sniper rifles, 80 hand grenades, and 18 kilograms of explosives. The electronic lock at the entrance was opened with the correct passwords. As for the information leak, we are still investiga-”

“I’ll take a look. I’m leaving this to you.”

“Eh?”

Dazai tossed his handheld console to Hirotsu who lunged forward, fumbling with the game, “The trick is to use the speed boost when you turn towards the finished line. Now then, where’s the body?”

“Yes,... that , they’re all placed over there, M-may I ask, how do you press the button-”

Hirotsu raised the handheld game in confusion while Dazai walked towards the bodies.

The bodies were placed in a row, all three dressed in the  same attire as the surrounding men. Their skin had swelled from floating in the water for a few hours but were not horrifying enough to be a consequence of drowning. The blood from their wounds had already bled out into the sea.

Dazai hummed as he looked over the corpses indifferently.

“They didn’t even take the weapons from the holsters, how pointless. Also… the bullets went right through the bodies. Judging from the number of bullets, it should have been a submachine gun fired at close range. To have come into such close proximity without being detected, the enemy’s hand isn’t half bad. I’m starting to get excited. What about the camera footage?” Dazai turned towards Hirotsu who was staring disappointedly at the game, his head lowered in shame.

The display of the game was flashing a destroyed car.

“It’s too shameful…” Hirotsu mumbled. Dazai stared at him in surprise as if he had forgotten he had handed the man the game in the first place.

“Hirotsu-san…” Dazai narrowed his eye.

“That… if you can give me one more chance, I definitely can…” Hirotsu stammered, trying to desperately explain his failure as he gripped the game.

“It’s best to get rid of subordinates who are causing problems because of drugs.” Dazai stated abruptly, without context.

“Drugs?” Hirotsu questioned, “No, no one touches that stuff. The subordinates as well… my subordinates are exemplary as well…”

“The gun holstered at your waist.” Dazai pointed to the gun. Hirotsu hides the gun in reflex, “You don’t have the habit of carrying a gun. Moreover, you’re a very cautious person when it comes to weapons; you wouldn’t randomly stick it into your bet. Which means this isn’t your gun. Considering that it’s been kept in that condition, it’s probably your subordinate’s.” Dazai paused before continuing, “Hirotsu-san, as a commander of a hundred, you have at least 20 or so subordinates under you. Was this gun borrowed from your subordinate? Unlikely. At this early hour, there aren't cases that require the use of guns. This gun was confiscated; the evidence is the white powder and blood stains left on the handle. But there are no traces of these on Hirotsu-san’s clothes. But there are heavy bags under your eyes. Based on this, we can infer that your subordinates were involved in some drug disputes.” His single eye flickered to meet Hirotsu’s shocked ones, “Last night, you caught them and confiscated their weapons because you didn’t know what they’d done.”

“That is..” Hirotsu began to explain when Dazai continued.

“Hirotsu-san, your subordinates violated the mafia’s regulations. The drug industry may reap great benefits, but it’ll only attract trouble. The Special Ability Department, narcotics bureau, and the military police’s anti-organization surveillance committee will be lying in wait for us to make a blunder, using this excuse to report us to the government. It’s not enough to just confiscate their weapons.”

“But…”

“Hirotsu-san. Although I don’t quite understand your reasons, executives are up there for a reason. Once you become one, even if you don’t like it, you’ll have subordinates beneath you. Using those useless idiots to succeed isn’t my thing. I dispose of any good-for-nothings. You should take care of them.”

“...Extremely sorry.” Hirotsu choked out the apology in response.

Dazai stared at him dispassionately. In Mafia terms, ‘to take care of’ was simply a death sentence. If one does not obey the orders of an executive, they too were scheduled to receive a death sentence.

Hirotsu remained silent and Dazai’s single eye bored into him coldly. The silence continued uncomfortable when Dazai suddenly burst out merily, “Just joking~”

Hirotsu stared at him with confusion.

“It’s precisely because Hirotsu-san wouldn’t carelessly get rid of his subordinates that so many people follow him. It’s a trait that Chuuya has too.” The last part was stated in an irritated mutter, “Oh well, I’m leaving this to you. I’ll keep it from the Boss.” He laughed cheerfully, patting Hirotsu’s shoulder.

Hirotsu nodded stiffly, his hand unconsciously reaching for his throat which had gone stiff.

As the youngest executive in mafia history, Dazai was a living legend. They said that the truth will never slip past Dazai’s eye, both from within and outside the mafia. Moreover, no one could tell what Dazai fancied or detested, what he approved or denounced.

The only one close to knowing was the other feared half of Double Black and he was often seen bemoaning greatly about how unreadable Dazai was.

“Now, back to business. Chuuya would be angry that I diverted my attention from the main problem. Do we have a footage of the attacker?”

The only thing singular and predictable about the young executive was his offhanded comments about his partner, a feared member in his own right. Even then, the comments ranged from cruel insults to loving compliments.

On Hirotsu’s command, a man clad in black came forward with several pictures. The pictures revealed several men breaking in and moving the Port Mafia’s arms and explosives out of the store. Their heads were wrapped in old cloth bags and they were dressed in filthy tarps.

“They’re soldiers.” Dazai laughed lightly as he scanned the photos, “And they’ve definitely received training.”

He shifted through the pictures through different angles.

“Upon first glance, anyone would think they’re vagabonds. But to avoid any gaps in their defence, they’re advancing in a diamond formation. Hirotsu-san, can you see this gun model?” He pointed at a gun holstered at one of the attacker’s waist.

“This is a very old model. It should even be older than me. Judging from its grey body and thin muzzle, it’s an old European Pistol known as ‘Grey Spectre.’ I saw this gun yesterday,” Dazai’s eye narrowed, “These weapon storage thieves raided us before. Which means this was a feint. This is starting to get fun.” A cruel grin crossed his face, “They’re more interesting than I thought.”

Holding the photos, Dazai’s single eye narrowed in concentration as he pondered to himself. He began to walk around, a thumb on his lips as he paced in circles, muttering to himself.

“Does this mean that the information we received about those illegal goods was deliberately leaked? We focused all our forces on one point and weakened the weapons store’s security. Then they stole - stole a large quantity of firearms. Why? To sell? No! If that were the case, it doesn’t have to be weapons. I see, this is-”

He stood, deep in thought while all the subordinates waited patiently for the young executive to finish his train of thought.

“...”

“I feel…”

After a longer period of silence, he finally said, “...a little thirsty.”

“I’ll get someone to buy you a drink.” Hirotsu gestured to one of his subordinates. The one member ran off in a frenzy.

“I want a very cold coffee, with more milk.” Dazai called after the running man, “Ah, but don’t put ice inside. If they have decaf, get that. Double the sugar!”

The man in black sweated as he repeated the details of his order.

“Hirotsu-san. The weapons store the enemy raided this time is no ordinary store. This is one of the three important stores containing the Port Mafia’s emergency weapons. Security is extremely tight. If any unauthorised personnel approach the store, they would sound the security alarm. Not only were they able to easily disable the alarm, they also keyed the correct security number. Only authorised executives and higher ups know this code. The question is: how did the enemy get hold of such an important code?”

Hirotsu’s expression darkened, there were many answers to that question.

‘This strip of land will become a battlefield.” Dazai raised his head towards the skyscrapers, laughing, “I can even imagine the columns of flames rising over there and the sky burnt to crisp.”

“Is there no way to get hold of information about the enemy?” Hirotsu questioned.

“Unfortunately, no.” Dazai answered as he looked at Hirotsu with a dead gaze, “My subordinates were planning on getting the prisoners talking but at a moment’s opportunity, they swallowed poison hidden in their teeth and committed suicide. The only word we got was the name of the enemy.”

The dead gaze darkened, becoming heavier and more sinister, as though representative of his next words. If Dazai’s stare was directed at any ordinary person, they would have gotten nightmares for the next few days. Dazai’s eye, as dark and heavy it was, foretold the impending blood and violence that was to come.

“Mimic.”

Oda Sakunosuke was running, his breaths coming out in short pants as he furrowed his eyebrows as he ran towards the building the sniper had been on.

He had been examining Ango’s hotel room when he had been assaulted by the image of his own death through his ability, Flawless.  

Quickly, he had taken the best course of action to avoid his untimely death and was now making his way towards where he had seen the sniper. In his hand, the safe he had gotten from Ango’s room.

The sniper wouldn’t have been able to get far… he had to find out the man’s true identity.

As he sprinted towards the building, he fished out his phone, quickly dialing a number. When the person on the other end answered, Oda quickly asked, “Is this Dazai?”

“Ah. How rare it is for Odasaku to call me! Something must have happened! Hohohoho, please hold on as I use my prodigious mind to make a guess...Ah! Odasaku must have thought of a very interesting joke and couldn’t wait to share it with me, so he called-”

“I’ve been attacked by a sniper,” He cut the other off.

Dazai inhaled sharply, silenced by Oda’s words.

“In Ango’s house. Currently chasing the attacker. Point of fire from the building opposite Kosho Road. To flee, one has to pass either Kokuyou Temple, or the port’s unloading bay, or head out from the street behind the boat shop-” Oda began to curtly explain when Dazai cut him off, “You want me to cut off his escape route right?”

Oda blinked in confusion. The only reason he had called Dazai was because he couldn’t think of anyone he had to go to for help on such a short notice. He was one of the five executives, second only to the leader. Under normal circumstances, it would take a month to request for an audience or get a mere glimpse of him. To call someone of his status and issue an order was like asking the prime minister to walk his dog.

“Dazai, I have the ‘Silver Oracle’ on hand right now. If you don’t mind-”

“There’s no need, that sort of thing doesn’t matter anyway. You’re in danger, right?” Dazai stated clearly, “I’ll call for men to seal the roads. I’ll be right there. Don’t pursue them too closely Odasaku.”

Heaving a mental sigh of relief, Oda hung up, continuing on his pursuit.

His mind began to whirl with the possible reasons the sniper had targeted him and what had happened to Ango. Moving to cut through the gardens of two families, he leapt over the garages of three private estates. If the enemy wasn’t familiar with the area, he should be able to catch a glimpse of their back.

While Oda had been thinking this, a hand from a gap between two buildings grabbed him from behind and held him. Skillfully, the man attempted to slash him with the blade. Oda, in response, simply shifted his head to the side, allowing the blade to brush past his ear.

In quick succession, Oda kicked the man, the counterforce throwing him onto the litter strewn on the ground. He raised his head to catch a glimpse of his attacker.

The man was a foreigner, dressed in dirty grey rags. He looked like a vagrant but the black filth on his face seemed to have been left behind by his fingers, purposely applied. The man held his knife masterfully, his stance swaying side by side as he walked, both arms raised in front of his face. The enemy emanated a strong aura of murderous intent like a well-trained guard dog.

Based on his features, Oda Sakunosuke could conclude that the man knew that he was from Port Mafia but had no intention of backing off or giving him an opportunity to do so due to his connection to the organization. Based on this, Oda could infer that the man was the sniper that had attacked him.

The man took a step forward, only to pause as something flickered right in front of his toe. A bullet had just been shot.

His eyes flickered to the gun pointed towards the ground before meeting Oda’s eyes for just a second. Oda simply raised his gun to point at the man’s head.

For a moment there is silence, then a bullet flies past Oda’s ear. Oda stiffened, his body turning cold as he realized that there was another enemy behind him.

The moment the enemy began to retaliate, he should have known that there was more than one.

Without a pause, Oda snatched a trash bag, flinging it into the air as a smokescreen while firing wildly in hopes of using the bullets to form a cover.

Oda twisted, unable to discern if his actions had been effective in blocking the blade wielding man. The dagger and pistol clashed, causing sparks.

He swept his leg at the opponent’s ankle causing the man to fall as he whipped out another gun. Without being aware of his actions, Oda aimed his gun at the man’s nose, knowing that he could not miss from this distance no matter what. If he shot the man, the man would die immediately, without feeling anything.

However, he didn’t shoot. Instead, he backed away, maintaining the distance. At that moment, a voice penetrated the silence and tension.

“Odasaku! Get down!”

Even before hearing the voice, Oda had already begun to bend down, throwing his body to the ground as the alleyway exploded in flashes of light and explosions. His ability had foretold this.

Four men in black surged forward from the alley’s opening. Every single one of them raised their submachine guns, walking past him.

In such a small alleyway with so many deadly bullets flying in the air, even a veteran would not be able to dodge the rain of bullets. Under the barrage of gunfire, the two let out screams of pain.

“What will I do with you, Odasaku? You could have killed them in a single breath if you wanted to.”

Oda blinked as Dazai appeared with a spring in his step, looking like he could start whistling. To Dazai, an alley filled with the sound of gunfire was no different than a busy shopping mall on a holiday. It was normal.

Looking at the offered hand, Oda took it, using it to rise to his feet. He surveyed the back alley.

“Did you kill them?” He questioned, looking at the fallen assassins.

“Mh hmm.” Dazai hummed in response, “Even if we caught them alive, there’s no hope of getting information out of them. These guys love the taste of stuffing poison in their teeth.”

Oda remained silent, staring at the dead men with a heavy feeling in his heart. Dazai smiled at him gently and knowingly, “I know that’s not what you meant, right? Odasaku, these guys are professionals. Even if it’s you, Odasaku, it would have been very hard for you not to kill them.”

“You’re right.” Oda nodded, Dazai was often right whereas he was often wrong.

“You’re in a bad mood… I’m distorting your principles, I’m sorry.” Dazai smiled. Dazai rarely apologized.

“Oda Sakunosuke, the Port Mafia wonder with the moto: ‘Not to kill anyone no matter what’.” Dazai shook his head, “It’s all because of your troublesome motto that you’re the organization’s little runner boy. You’re obviously blessed with great abilities-”

Oda simply shook his head solemnly, “I’ve already heard such complaints tens of thousands of times when I was filled with disdain towards myself. The important thing at hand are these raiders.” He gestured with his gaze towards the dead attackers.

“You said you were attacked in Ango’s residence?”

Oda nodded, explaining what had occurred in the hotel room. Dazai listened wordlessly.

“So that’s how it is. The sniper rifle is probably stolen from our weapons store.” Dazai stated, “Can you check if there’s an old pistol model on their waist?”

Oda glanced at the two fallen raiders, noticing firearms that fit Dazai’s description perfectly at their waists.

“It’s a fairly old European pistol. It’s shooting ability and accuracy are pretty rough, which make it unsuitable to use in such a narrow alley for a gunfight.” Dazai picked up the gun from the corpses, examining it in interest, “This gun is probably just for show. It’s probably used as an emblem of their identity.”

“Who are these men?” Oda questioned.

“Mimic.”

“Mimic?”

“We’re not entirely clear on the details, but it seems that they are a criminal organization based in Europe. At the moment, we don’t know why they’re in Japan or why they’re starting conflict with the Port Mafia.”

Dazai glanced at Oda’s puzzled expression with understanding, “In any case, we’re still investigating the details.” He shrugged, “We should be able to find something if we investigate into this sniping attempt at Ango’s residence.”

“They were trying to get ahold of this safe,” Oda raised the white safe, “This was in Ango’s room. However, there’s no key to unlock it. If we could just figure out its contents, there may be a clue-”

Dazai smiled, “What, is that all? That’s easy. Pass it over to me.”

Oda handed the case over to Dazai who shook the safe to confirm if there was anything inside. He turned around to rummage through the trash, smiling when he found a paper clip. Dazai bent the tip of the paper clip and inserted it into the keyhole.

At Oda’s deadpanned look, Dazai’s eyes sparkled, “Chuuya locks his house up.”

Smart man… but apparently not enough.

Oda stared as Dazai wiggled the paperclip and in a second, the lock opened with a satisfying ‘click.’

“There, it’s open.”

This guy was really good.

“Now then, what’s in here?”

Dazai opened the lid of the safe to peer inside. Oda peered over his shoulder to see a familiar old grey pistol.

“Why?” Oda questioned suddenly, “Dazai, just now, you said that this gun was an ‘emblem’ of their identity right? What the hell is going on?”

Dazai didn’t reply, only narrowing his eyes as he stared off at empty space.

“We can’t say anything for sure with this alone,” Dazai finally spoke, “Maybe Ango seized this gun from them. Or maybe they placed this in Ango’s house to distort the evidence and frame someone. Maybe this isn’t a gun, maybe it’s a symbol. Or maybe-”

“I get it, you’re right.” Oda cut Dazai off, “We don’t have enough information. I’ll look into this gun some more. Sorry for troubling you.”

“Odasaku…” Dazai began only for Oda to cut him off again.

‘Thanks for saving me, but I should investigate this matter further. If I find anything, I’ll let you know.”

Dazai stared at him wordlessly, displeasure in his eyes. “Then let me tell you something I noticed.” Dazai said with a stiff expression, “Yesterday - when we were drinking at the bar, Ango said that he had just returned after finishing a deal, right?”

“That’s right.”

“That was probably a lie.”

Oda stared at Dazai in shock and confusion.

“You saw Ango’s briefcase, right? He had cigarettes, a foldable umbrella, and his antique watch spoils. The umbrella was wet, so it was wrapped in cloth. And it was raining in Tokyo.”

“Is there something wrong?” Oda questioned, “It was raining, so his umbrella was wet. I think that’s a logical conclusion.”

“If Ango was speaking the truth, then he wouldn’t have needed to use that umbrella.” Dazai informed him, his eyes narrowed. Oda stared at Dazai’s unreadable expression, “Ango should have driven his car to the deal point. If so, when would he have used his umbrella? It couldn’t have been before the deal, since the umbrella was on top of the watch case. And it wasn’t after the deal either.”

“Why?”

“Judging by the wetness of the umbrella, it wasn’t used in the rain for only two or three minutes. It had been in the rain for at least 30 minutes. Even though he was in the rain for so long, Ango’s shoes and trousers were dry. The deal was at 8pm, and we met at 11 pm. If he used it in the three hours after the deal, there wouldn’t have been time for him to dry them.”

“Maybe he brought a change of clothes.”

“His briefcase didn’t have the clothes he changed out of, and there wasn’t space for them to begin with.”

Dazai paused before continuing, “The umbrella wasn’t used before or after the deal, moreover, it wasn’t used during the deal. The wrapping paper wasn’t wet. On top of that, a medieval-era antique watch should never come in contact with water, which means that the deal should have taken someplace indoors where it wouldn’t get wet.”

“Then, the truth is…?”

“My guess is that the antique watch wasn’t obtained from a deal, but it belonged to Ango all along. As to why the watch was in his briefcase, it’s because he stuffed it in before he travelled. He didn’t go to settle a deal, but met with someone in the rain, talked for half an hour or so, and waited out the remaining time before coming back.”

“Why do you think he met with someone else?”

“An intelligence agent like Ango typically chooses a rainy street as a secret meeting point. As long as he carries an umbrella during the conversation, he can shield his face and avoid being noticed by people or security cameras. Even if someone tried to listen in, the sound of rain would muffle the conversation which beats conversing in a car or someplace indoors.”

Oda had a comprehensive understanding of what Dazai was trying to say but to find a glimmer of hope, he tried to raise an objection.

“Maybe Ango really did tell a lie. But Ango is an intelligence agent with all of Port Mafia’s highly confidential information. There must be one or two top secret meetings he can’t tell people about; we can’t blame him…”

“In that case, all he needs to say is ‘I can’t tell.’ If he did, neither you or I would pursue the matter, no?”

“...” Oda found himself speechless.

“So Ango lied about the deal and purposely used the watch he brought out as evidence for an alibi. Even if you overlook that, what reason would he have for keeping the meeting a secret from us?”

Dazai’s gaze was icy cold, as if trying to say that Ango had predicted such a situation would happen.

‘What time did the deal end?’

Oda recalled Dazai’s question when he saw Ango’s paper box. Dazai had taken one look and deduced everything he had just explained, as if asking only to confirm his suspicions.

Ango, Mimic, attack.

Everything was starting to come together.

“Odasaku. You need to be careful. The current situation has progressed into your metaphorical cup of water and it’s at the point of overflow.” Dazai stared into his eyes, “If you throw anything new in, the water will overflow. You won’t be able to manage it alone. From here on out, let me handle this. I’ll leave Ango to you.”

“Ah, okay…”

The two turned around and began to head out of the alley when Oda felt something off.

“Dazai!” Oda shouted in alarm at the gun raised towards Dazai from the attacker, who had gotten up.

“No one… move…” The attacker rasped hoarsely. Even if Dazai’s subordinates or Oda shot the him, the attacker was too close and the muzzle of his gun was already aimed towards Dazai.

The attacker raised his gun in his right hand while his left hung limply by his side. He looked like he was unable to stand, half of his body leaning against the wall for support. Despite this, Dazai was still within his line of fire.

“Unbelievable.” Dazai looked at the attacker as if he was some exotic item, “Being able to stand even after taking so many bullets. What admirable resilience.”

Between the two assailants, one had already stopped breathing while the other seemed fully intent on using the last of his strength to take Dazai to the grave with him.

“Dazai, Don’t move. I’ll think of something.” Oda commanded, his hand slowly reaching for his gun. The gunman in grey could kill Dazai at any moment due to the muzzle aimed at Dazai. Even if he shot the attacker’s heart in one shot, the attack might still be able to pull the old pistol’s trigger. He had to time it correctly.

“Your organization’s name is “Mimic,” am I wrong?” Dazai questioned. The attacker didn’t reply.

“I don’t expect an answer from you. Actually, I respect you guys a great deal. There’s never been an organization that has come at the mafia so directly. More importantly, no one has ever successfully pointed a gun at me with such murderous intent before.” Dazai paused, “Anyone who even tried became paste on the floor due to the force of gravity.”

He began to walk towards the attacker leisurely as though taking a stroll down the park.

“Dazai, no!” Oda lowered his voice.

“I hope you too can see the gratitude in my eye.” Dazai continued to speak to the gun wielder, “All you need to do is curl your finger a little. I’ve been waiting impatiently for this to happen, you see. It’s kind of hard when your partner actually tries to protect you but lucky for the both of us, he’s in France.”

Dazai’s eye glinted, “Hey, do you think he’ll gain some information about you guys since he’s in Europe?” The wielder’s hand shook slightly.

Dazai smiled, “My only fear is that you’ll miss the shot…” The distance between him and the muzzle was now less than three meters.

“You should aim at either the heart or the head, but I recommend the head. You only have one chance. My colleagues aren’t kind enough to let you shoot a second time.” Dazai tapped his forehead with his fingers at the spot just above the brows. “But you can do it. You're a sniper right? Your face has marks from handling a sniper rifle. You’re not the observer.”

Dazai continued to approach the attacker as if he was welcoming him, “Alright, shoot. Right here. At this distance, you can’t miss.” Dazai smiled brightly, “Regardless if you shoot or not, you’ll be killed. That being the case, you might as well try taking down one of the enemy’s executives.”

“Dazai!” Oda shouted. Even though he was right in front of him, Oda felt that Dazai was tens of thousands of kilometers away.

Dazai continued to point at his forehead, walking towards him with a serene smile. The attacker bit his lip before pressing down.

Oda’s eyes widen before he whips out his gun and the two fire at the same time. Oda’s bullet pierced the attacker’s arm and sent him spinning.

Dazai, inches away from being shot, leant back.  Dazai’s subordinates shot their guns, the bullets tearing into the man. In a blink of an eye, the man fell, pierced and torn apart by multiple bullets.

Still leaning back, Dazai took two, then three steps back before stopping in his original position.

Dazail finally stated, “How disappointing…. I didn’t manage to die again.”

Dazai straightened himself and Oda noticed that the top of the executive’s right ear had been torn off, blood flowing freely from the wound.

“Sorry, you must have gotten a shock.” Dazai informs him when he noticed Oda’s gaze.

“My acting was pretty realistic, huh? I knew that he would miss from the start. The marks from the sniper rifle were imprinted on the left side of his face, right? That means he places the sniper rifle on the left. He’s a left hander. But he was holding gun in his right. He wasn't using his dominant hand and wasn’t standing steadily. Considering that he could only take one shot with that old pistol, unless he rested it against his body, there would be no way he could have hit the mark.”

Oda remained silent, simply staring at Dazai who continued to smile as he explained.

“After that, I talked to stall for time, waiting for his arm to get tired. As long as I approached him slowly, he wouldn’t shoot immediately. Plus, I was waiting for Odasaku to think of something. That’s what I was thinking. Logical, no?”

“Makes sense.” Oda replied, his voice emotionless.

“Besides… I verified something important.” Dazai’s words, now completely serious, brought Oda’s attention back to the teen.

“When I mentioned Chuuya... his eyes flickered slightly… no a better explanation would be that when I mentioned France.” Dazai informed the other, “It seems that there is definitely more information on them in France… the Order of the Clock Tower, perhaps.”

Oda simply stared as Dazai began to mumble to himself. If one had examined him more closely, they would notice that his hand was clenched into a fist.

If Dazai was not who he was and their relationship was not what it was, Oda was sure that Dazai would have punched him.

“So spicy! It’s so spicy, Uncle, it’s so spicy! You didn’t put lava in as a secret ingredient, did you?!”

“Hahaha, is that so? Odasaku always eats this. Welcome back, Odasaku. How are the kids?”

Oda was visiting the curry shop that currently housed the orphans that he had asked the shop owner to take care of. He had just returned from checking in on the kids to see Dazai eating the curry.

“It was pretty thrilling, but I managed to avoid defeat.” Oda just replied, “But they predicted where I would grab and covered it in wax crayons to make it slippery; I almost broke into a cold sweat. Uncle, you said before that if there were ten of them, they could rob a bank. But I think in two years, they can do it with just the five of them.”

“Should I go recruit those kids?” Dazai laughed, swiping the sweat off his brow “I heard, Odasaku. You’re taking care of kids? Furthermore, they are the orphans who lost their parents from ‘Dragon’s Head Rush.’”

Oda just nodded, “That’s right.”

“Oda Sakunosuke, the mafioso who refuses to kill andis obviously incredibly skilled but isn’t interested in standing out, is raising five orphans.” Dazai laughed, “How strange. Probably the strangest person in the mafia.”

Personally, Oda believed that as long as Dazai was around, that position would not belong to him.

Rather than arguing however, he just simply turned around and handed the curry house owner a cash filled envelope.

“Is this okay?” The owner asked, “this is practically all your earnings, right? If you don’t mind, I can help pay for some of it.”

“It’s fine. As long as I can eat curry here any time, that’s enough for me.”

“Does Odasaku always eat such spicy food?” Dazai questioned as he chugged down a glass of water, “It’s so spicy, my chin is going to fall off.”

“Then what are you doing here?” Oda took a seat next to the other.

“I wanted to report about that thing to Odasaku. We got lots of information, especially with regards to the enemy.”

“Sorry Uncle, do you mind leaving us for a while?”

“Sure sure. I’ll be in the back prepping some ingredients. If a customer comes, do let me know.”

“Ahh so spicy! Why does curry rice have to be so spicy? Does it have anything against the human race? If it wasn’t so spicy, more people would eat it. What an insult to food culture!”

After some thinking, Oda replied, “If the number of people who eat it increases, there won’t be people to eat other foods. Food culture will collapse on itself.”

“I see.” Dazai nodded sagely.

“So, the report?”

“Let’s start with the conclusion. They’re a foreign criminal organization that has only recently moved into Japan.” Dazai began, “They were a reputable ability criminal organization in Europe but were expelled by the ancient English organization ‘Order of the Clock Tower’ and escaped here.”

“A criminal organization from Europe?”

“Europe is the stronghold of ability users. There are top class ability users amongst their government and criminals, constituting a very complex and delicate domain. Because of that, there are very strict bodies monitoring ability users and the most talented ability users have a lot of experience navigating around the law.” Before Oda could say anything, Dazai continued, “But that being said, there isn’t a place on earth that criminal ability organizations can just easily illegally immigrate into. There must be some sort of insider: someone within the country helping them.”

“For them to specially come all the way to Japan, what do those gifted criminals want?”

“Who knows? We can only ask them. Having said that, I have a conjecture. These penniless guys have fled to a foreign land with no one to rely on. Putting it more bluntly - these guys need more money to start up. Hence they might be planning on seizing the Port Mafia’s territory and smuggling networks to establish dominance.”

“Let me finish first.” Dazai interrupted Oda’s string of thoughts, “I know what Odasaku wants to say. For a criminal mob in shambles, these soldiers are too experienced. I thought so as well. The sniper and the observer pair’s battle movements are a clever tactic rarely seen around these parts. Actually these people are of military origins. According to the reports, the head of the organization is a powerful ability user and soldier who led his subordinates into hundreds of battles with his power. It shouldn’t be too long before we get more details. In short, don’t underestimate them. If they launch a coordinated attack on an organization-wide level, even the Port Mafia’s bases will be shaken.”

“Does the Boss know of this?”

“It’s already been reported to him,” Dazai responded, “In the end, I was appointed as the battle strategist and frontline commander to tackle Mimic. I’ve already settled some matters and set up a few simple mouse traps. It shouldn’t be long until the war begins to show signs of activity.”

Dazai stretched in his seat, “Ah, if only Chuuya were here! It would be easy to simply get rid of them all~”

Oda became accurately aware of what Dazai was talking about and wondered if the Boss would bring Dazai’s partner back from France… “Did you get this information from….?”

Dazai nodded slowly, “Kind of… Hatrack isn’t very smart with all these things, you know.” He paused, “But it was enough to piece it together.”

“But the root of all questions is,” Oda brought the attention back to the situation at hand, “Shouldn’t the government bodies have investigated and acted against a gifted criminal organization like Mimic?”

“Are you referring to the Ministry of Home Affairs’ ‘Special Ability Department’?” Dazai tilted his head, “The problem is that the Special Ability Department is a secret organization that rarely shows its face. On that note, the Port Mafia would also be one hundred percent classified as a gifted criminal organization. For all we know, wouldn’t they think that having the Port Mafia and Mimic kill each other off is a great opportunity, while they sit on the sidelines to watch?”

Finally Oda brought up the unspeakable question, “What about Ango?”

Dazai remained silent before explaining, “We can pretty much say for certain that the code of the weapons store was leaked through Ango.”

Oda remained silent.

“To avoid internal conflict in the organization, individual codes are given out. And then-”

“When Mimic raided the store, the code they used was the same as Ango’s code, right?” Oda finally said, crossing his arms to puzzle things out.

“Hey Dazai, is there a possibility that someone is playing the situation to set Ango up?”

“The percentage isn't zero.” Dazai admitted, “If someone within the mafia joined forces with Mimic, it might be possible. But I can’t think of anyone else who would stand to gain from doing that.”

Dazai suddenly began laughing, interrupting the period of silence that had come between them, “I initially thought it was a normal criminal organization - but if it’s an organization that Ango would seek refuge in, that means they’re not the sort of people to come crying and begging for forgiveness after a little lecture. On top of that, Ango as an enemy won’t be an easy adversary, not at all. Isn’t this exciting? It’ll definitely force me into desperation, and then -”

“Dazai!” Oda called his name for the sake of cutting him off.

“Then, I should be heading off.” Dazai simply stood up and turned around as he began to walk away. Oda rubbed his hands together, “For you to think that away, is it because-”

Before he could finish, Dazai’s phone suddenly ringed, cutting him off. Dazai apologized before picking the phone up, “It’s me.”

After a long period of silence where Dazai listened to what the caller was saying, he suddenly smiled, “Understood.”

When he turned to smile at Oda, his expression was positively gleeful, his eyes dark.

“The mouse has fallen into the trap.”

Chapter Text

XII.

The Dark Era - The Fall of Mimic

Dazai walked down the stairs leading towards a dark basement.

A white fog silently seeped through the cracks in the stone walls, filling the basement with a lake-like mist. The black walls excluded warm air, absorbing the screaming and hopelessness, giving off a dark radiance.

The Port Mafia underground prison… many came in alive but very few left breathing.

Wordlessly, Dazai walked forward, moving deeper into one of the Mafia’s most secure holdings. The cell was box-like with a low iron gate as the only entrance and exit to the room. There were no windows and handcuffs and chains lined the walls.

Currently in that room, lied three corpses, recently deceased.

Dazai took in the scene and the three dead Mimic soldiers before slowly tilting his head towards his subordinates, “I want to hear an explanation.” He said slowly.

The four mafiosos in the room, one a small thin boy dressed in a black coat, glanced at each other before one of them bravely spoke up.  

“The Mimic soldiers who attacked the mafia’s casino were caught after inhaling sleeping gas and were brought here.” A subordinate in a suit answered the question promptly, “Originally we were going to interrogate information about their comrades. The poison for suicide hidden in their molars were already removed.”

“I know everything up to that point.” Dazai said coldly, “Because I planned it. What I’m asking is what happened after.”

“One of the soldiers woke up earlier than we had expected,” The man responded vaguely, “Before we could get the handcuffs on, that soldier had already snatched our guns, shooting his fellow soldiers to stop them from leaking any information. After that he turned to attack us, but-”

“I took care of him.” A new voice proudly interjected.

Dazai slowly turned to look at the boy in the black coat. The boy tilted his head up to meet Dazai’s gaze, his eyes sharp, “Is there are problem?”

“So that’s how it is.” Dazai paused before saying,  “Ah, there isn’t a problem.” he glanced at the boy, “So, you beat down these indomitable, scary soldiers and protected your comrades. Akutagawa, you’ve done really well!” The bright praising words and tone didn’t reach Dazai’s eyes. Instead, it seemed to turn colder and more deadly.

Dazai began to walk towards the black coated boy, “If you didn’t have your ability, it would have been impossible to defeat such a strong opponent in one strike. You’re worthy of being my subordinate. Luckily, because of you, all three of the enemy soldiers we caught are now dead. Those soldiers were caught after painstakingly laying down traps. Our lead has now been cut short. If there could have been one survivor, we could have interrogated them for all sorts of precious information: the enemy’s base, the enemy’s motive, their next target, their commander’s name and origin, as well as the commander’s ability. What a great job indeed!” He said scathingly.

Dazai’s gaze was positively murderous.

“You don’t need any reports. Trash like this can be ripped apart all by myself -” A fist in the face cut the boy short.

Akutagawa went flying, his head hitting the concrete floor and rebounding with a dull thud.

“You must have thought I wanted to hear excuses. Sorry for the misunderstanding.” Dazai responded coldly, rubbing the knuckles of his fist.

“Tch…” Akutagawa groaned, his body swaying as he forced himself up from the devastating blow.

“You! Lend me your gun.” Dazai demanded from a nearby mafioso watching the scene unfold. The man handed it to him immediately.

From the pistol, Dazai took out the bullets, leaving only three in before loading the bullets back into the gun.

“Among my friends, there’s one man raising orphans by himself.” Dazai pointed the gun at him as he continued, “Akutagawa, if the person who had picked your starving self up from the slums had been Odasaku, he definitely wouldn’t have given up on you and would have patiently taught you. That is the ‘right’ way. However, I am a man who is hated by ‘the right way.’ A man such as myself will do this to useless subordinates.”

The moment he finished speaking, Dazai pulled the trigger. Three gunshots, three flashes of light, three empty bullet shells clanged onto the ground.

“....” Sweat rolled down Akutagawa’s forehead.

“Ooh- If you put your heart into it, you’ll be able to achieve it, no?” Dazai questioned cheerfully, his voice mocking.

The three bullets were frozen in space, centimeters short of Akutagawa’s face.

“I’ve taught you quite a few times already, haven’t I?” Dazai stated happily, “Just slicing up poor captives aren’t all of your ability’s limits. It needs to be used like this for defending as well.”

“Until now...such a method of defense has never succeeded.” Akutagawa answers weakly.

“But now it has succeeded… just like that. Congratulations.” Dazai responded with an eerie smile, “The next time you screw up, I’ll hit you twice and fire five shots. Understood?” His voice was colder than ice.

Akutagawa remained silent, panting.

Dazai snorted, “Now then, disciplining talentless subordinates ends here. Get to work. Try investigating the corpses, you might be able to find something.” Dazai ordered the three Mafia members on the side.

One of the subordinates stepped forward, “May I ask… What part of the corpses is there to investigate?”

Dazai stared at them with disapproval, “Everything! Do you even need to ask?” He turned towards the corpses, squatting down to examine the clothes, “Find out clues about their base. The soles of their shoes, the scraps in their pockets, remnants of food, attachments on their clothes; they’re all clues. Really… All my subordinates think that a mafioso’s job is just to torture and kill their enemies. At this rate, Odasaku just might be able to solve it all by himself.”

“Oda Sakunosuke… I know that man.” A man in sunglasses started cautiously, “Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but Dazai-san… I saw that man cleaning the back of the office a few days ago. I absolutely do not believe that someone like him is suited to be Dazai-san’s friend, neither is he someone who can compete with the enemy this time.”

Dazai stared at the subordinate with a single wide eye, “Are you for real? Odasaku and I are not suited to be friends?” His expression was of utter bewilderment.

“Yes…”

The other subordinates nodded their heads slowly.

“You’re all idiots!” Dazai stared at them with a dumbfounded look. He smiled at them bitterly, “Listen carefully, for your own good, I’ll give you a piece of advice. It’s best you don’t provoke Odasaku. Absolutely not! If Odasaku gets angry from within his heart, the five people in this room would be killed before they can even pull out their guns.”

The subordinates stared at him speechlessly while Akutagawa stared with a stiff expression.

“Odasaku is scarier than any mafioso when he gets serious. Akutagawa, you’d never be able to win against Odasaku, not in a hundred years.”

“What bullshit is this…” Akutagawa said quietly, gritting his teeth, “That’s not possible, Dazai-san. Who do you take me-”

“Besides, if it wasn’t for Chuuya, I would daresay he might have been my partner… if not for his no-kill rule. That’s how skilled and dangerous Odasaku is… not that Chuuya is skilled and dangerous.” He suddenly commented offhandedly, “Chuuya’s just a drunk shortie.”

The subordinates, although stunned at the high praise of comparing the man Odasaku to the other legendary half of Double Black, easily brushed off the insult towards Chuuya’s skill. Dazai, for some reason, always insulted the gravity wielding man’s abilities but at the same time complained about the man’s lack of presence in times like these.

“Alright, get to work! The enemy is troublesome, but if we don’t hurry and settle this fight, things will become even more troublesome once the Special Ability Department comes to put out the fire.”

Akutagawa glared at Dazai, his hands still on the cold stone floor.

Before the men started to move to check the men, a phone rang. Everyone paused, looking around to check whose it was. Dazai simply stood up from his position to fish out his phone from his pocket, a bright look appearing on his previously cold and annoyed face. The men watched slightly stunned at the look of pure unmasked adoration appearing in Dazai’s usually cold face.

He quickly picked it up, sunshine beginning to radiate from him. His subordinates stared at him in shock and fear at the stars shining in Dazai’s single eye.

“Hatrack~” Dazai cooed, “It’s rare for you to call me! Have you finally decided to burn that abominable hat of yours?”

Dazai’s face turned carefully blank at whatever the person on the other line said. “Oh?” He tipped his head to the side, listening to what the other’s words with a contemplative look on his face.

After a period of silence, a malicious grin appeared on Dazai’s face, “Why I must say, I’m impressed.” He turned to look down at the corpse, “Half the world away and still better than these fools I call subordinates.” He complimented the other, “Huh?  What happened? Well…” He turned to glare at Akutagawa, “A dog of mine just killed off all the mice that would have led me to the mouse hole, that’s all.” Dazai’s face twisted in annoyance, “Bah, it’s not my fault… and no, I haven’t put him down yet. It’s not a matter of softness.”

There was something inaudible before Dazai sighed, “I’m not the only one on the case, if you’re so worried. Odasaku is too! Even if you’re not here, I won’t be smeared to a paste on the sidewalk… It’ll be on your new pristine carpet! I have a new method you see! It’s a quite bloody one too… it might hurt a lot though…”

Dazai laughed softly before his face turned serious, “Make sure to come back in one piece shorty.” He stared down at the dead bodies with a cold look, “The lack of competence in my subordinates makes it impossible to do anything quickly. If you were here, we would be able to get rid of Mimic overnight… now….” Dazai let out a sigh, “I actually have to do something! Troublesome… it’s not my fault Chuuya is such a good dog!”

There were some furious curse words that everyone could hear through the phone’s speaker before it went dead. Dazai stared at his phone with an awed expression, “He actually hung up on me.” He said out loud before a dark frown crossed his face. Every single one of the men in the room winced as Dazai’s mood turned from foul to worse. Whatever Akutagawa did had made the man angry but the person who had hung up on Dazai had made the other man furious.

Dazai turned to look at his subordinates, “What are you all doing? I thought I told you to search the bodies. Goodness, even Chuuya, all the way in France found out more things about them than my own subordinates combined.” He glared at his phone.

He turned and began to walk towards the entrance, the men in black starting towards the bodies in order to search through them.

“Give me a report as soon as you’re done. I just need to figure out the base… I already got the other information after all.”

“Ahhh, you’ve woken up, Odasaku. How are you feeling?” Dazai smiled at him with a cheerful expression.

Oda looked around his room, a classic Port Mafia hospital. “Like I’ve gotten a hangover for the next fifty years in one breath. Did you find Ango?”

“No. My subordinates only found Odasaku on the ground when they got to the scene of the explosion. The enemy disappeared without a trace. Akutagawa was distraught because he ‘missed the chance to kill the traitor.’……..so Ango was there after all?”

After a pause, Oda recounted the tale.

“Ango was caught, an explosion. Andre Gide and the Black Special Ops Forces, huh…” Dazai pressed a thumb on his lips as he assumed his thinking stance. He stood motionless for around a minute. His eye flashed as he considered things.

“The situation’s happenings can be split into two categories.” Dazai finally began, “One being the criminal organization Mimic’s attack, the other being Ango and the Black Special Ops Forces’ secret movements.”

“Are the Black Special Ops Forces and Mimic two different organizations?” Oda questioned.

“They are different. To go one step further, this massive commotion resulted from a connection between three forces - the Mafia, Mimic, and the Black Special Ops Forces. However, we can ignore the Special Forces for the time being. The danger is still Mimic. While Odasaku was bedridden, there have been six stores in the mafia’s turf that were bombed. The damage is increasing every minute.”

Oda blinked as he considered Dazai’s words. A small curry shop flashed in his mind.

“But the smaller shops have been lined at the back.” Dazai explained as if noticing Oda’s thoughts, “Mimic is different from other enemies in that they are astonishingly fast and strike viciously, appearing without a sound. Even if we want to attack their base, they come and go without a trace, hence making it hard to launch a surprise attack. It’s as though we’re dealing with ghosts. They live up to their names as ‘Grey Spectres.’”

“I still don’t have a good grasp over their attack style. But we can confirm that they really plan to raze the mafia’s territory to a flatland. Even the ghouls of hell wouldn’t do something as crazy as that. With Akutagawa as the lead, the combat squad members have assembled themselves into teams to retaliate… But we don’t even know the enemy commander’s ability, which is rather disadvantageous. I wasn’t able to find or figure anything out from the information provided from France either.”

“The ability user named Akutagawa… I remember he’s your subordinate.” Oda backtracked thoughtfully, “I heard he has a very strong combat based ability…. Even he’s not enough?”

“Ah, Akutagawa is a sword without a scabbard.” Dazai smiled slightly, “It won’t be long before he becomes the mafia’s most powerful ability user. However, someone needs to teach him how to keep his blade.”

Oda stared at him in surprise. He had never heard Dazai praise his subordinates so unreservedly.

“Is he really that outstanding?”

“When I first saw him in the slums, I shuddered. His talent is far above that of others. His ability is extremely destructive and he himself is fairly stubborn. If left ignored, he would be at the mercy of his ability and it wouldn’t be long until he self-destructs.”

“Returning to the topic at hand, the threat before us is still Mimic. A five-executive conference has already convened, and it has been decided that we will use all of the mafia’s forces and face Mimic. At this point, it’s at the stage of martial law.”

Oda stared at him surprise.

“The Black Special Ops Forces’ motives are still unclear.” Dazai informed him, ‘But judging by the way they handled Odasaku, they shouldn’t come attacking with fangs bared immediately. The biggest threat is still Mimic. Just now, my subordinates, Akutagawa included, seemed to have been surprise attacked. Mimic is like a beast that eats venomous snakes. Fighting on the main road in front of the art museum-”

While listening to Dazai, Oda slowly got off the bed. He tested his fingers, feeling a slight numbness in them but not enough to take him out of the game.

“Odasaku, you aren’t thinking of going, are you,” Dazai said chidingly, cutting off his rambling.  

“We have to face the fight with all of the mafia’s forces, right?” Came the reply as Oda put on his coat.

“And here I thought that Odasaku wasn’t interested in fighting.” Dazai answered with a smile, his eyee flashing in amusement.

“I am uninterested.” Oda put on his gun holsters, “But my chest hurts for some reason. For example, owing two people favours…”

Dazai stared at him silently as he walked over towards the exit when something flied through the air.

Oda turned around to snatch it from midair, opening his palms to see his car keys.

“As for owing people, forget it. The other party doesn't remember what they’d lent you.”

“I’m not good at forgetting.” Oda retorted, “Dazai, you’ve helped me a few times on this matter. Your subordinates are under attack, right? They need help.”

“If that sort of thing is counted as owing someone a favor, it’ll only make people feel hurt.” Dazai smiled weakly, “Then, who else do you owe a favor?”

He didn’t reply to the question.

And although Dazai didn’t press, both had the same thoughts.

“Chuuya-kun.”

“Boss.” Chuuya answered reverently, his tone quiet. He stood alone in the small Port Mafia hold in France. The Mafia, although not predominant in France and definitely not the strongest, still had bases and grounds under its command. There had been unrest and Chuuya had spend much of the year controlling and expanding it.

“How are things in France?”

“Nothing is amiss.” Chuuya answered, “There was some disquiet.. Some French mafia and gangs attacking and ransacking the place. However, I was able to quash the problem and destroy much of the powerbase of those groups.” He paused and when the boss didn’t say anything, continued, “I’ve also been able to gather some more members for the French base. Tentatively, I would say they’re loyal but I cannot be sure since it’s only been a couple of months. If an Executive can spend several years here, I believe we will be able to have a strong base here.”

“You’ve done a good job. None of the executives would’ve done better.” Mori praised. Chuuya felt a small smile bloom on his lips at the praise.

Chuuya hesitated before tentatively asking, “And if I may, how are things back in Japan?”

“ Ah, so you must’ve been the informant for Dazai about Mimic.” Mori didn’t sound surprised. “I actually called you about that.”

Chuuya straightened, his eyes sharpening.

“There was a five executive meeting today.” Mori informed Chuuya calmly, “ About the Mimic problem. They’ve been posing as a huge threat and we have been unable to… confront them, if you will. They’ve proven quite slippery as Dazai-kun is quite aware. Therefore, it has been decided that Port Mafia will put all of their resources in destroying Mimic.”

Chuuya swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. He clenched his free fist. He didn’t know the situation had turned so dire… of all times to be away!

“Of course, the Mafia’s full force isn’t felt unless our greatest team is here.” Mori continued, “Mimic will not understand what slight they’ve brought to us unless we destroy them completely.”

Chuuya felt his heart jump to his throat, could this mean…!

“That’s right.” Mori answered Chuuya’s unspoken question, “I need you to come back to Japan soon.”

“As you wish Boss.” Chuuya answered softly, “I will be there in a day or so.”

“The matter might already be rectified by the time you’re here.” Mori informed him, “It’s not like Dazai-kun to be idle once he sniffed something but then again, Mimic has definitely been skilled in evading him. Could he be losing his touch?”

“It’s simply the lack of information.” Chuuya found himself defending his partner, “With so little to work with, even someone like Dazai will be floundering. Europe has been frighteningly tight lipped about the group, I only got out their leader’s name… not even the ability.”

“Don’t worry about that.” Mori commanded, “Do not tell anyone about your arrival. Only I will be privy to that information… we have moles in the Mafia after all. That means that Dazai-kun won’t know either… understand?”

“Of course Boss.” Chuuya answered dutifully.

“Good, I will see you soon.”

Oda Sakunosuke screamed his heart out to the sky as he sees a yellow bus with his entire world go up in flames.

It was over.

Everything was gone.

All he had left was….

Revenge.

A small sightseeing boat floated on Yokohama’s waters.

There were only a few people seated on the boat. A young man with a scholarly face, wearing a pair of round glasses sat in the middle. The Special Ability Department’s agent, Sakaguchi Ango stared directly in front of him with a stiff expression.

“Long time no see, Ango. Thank you for your invitation today. How does it feel now that you’ve returned to your original job?” The man to the right of Ango questioned with a polite smile.

Ango lowered his gaze nervously, leaving Port Mafia’s boss Mori Ougai’s question unanswered.

“Please don’t bully our youngsters, Mr. Mafia Boss.” Across from Mori was a bald,  tall man in his prime: the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ topmost commander - Chief Taneda.

Behind the two were direct subordinates from their respective organizations… however, both groups stood unarmed.

Ango began nervously, “Thank you for coming here today. Let me repeat once again, this is an unofficial meeting. Recording or photography by persons other than those involved will be regarded as betrayal and the meeting will be suspended immediately.” He kept his eyes on the Yokohama skyline.

“My dear Elise is making a fuss for me to buy ice cream for her when I get back. Are there any good shops patronized by the government, Chief  Taneda?” Mori questioned with an open smile.

“Hahaha, what a good question.” Taneda laughed, “I should bring some local delights back for the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ official waiting for our report too. If I bring your head back, they should be very happy.”

The murderous intent behind Mori grew.

Mori only smiled coldly.

“To think, you have to take the effort of currying favor with the big shots from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It must be very tiring, Chief Taneda.”

“It’s nothing compared to those hiding in the sewers, shaking in fear, not knowing when they’ll be exterminated by the government. Such a small matter is nothing.”

Despite the cheerful and relaxed tone of the two, the deadly intent surrounding them was undisguisable.

Ango broke out in a cold sweat under the pressure of the two deadly esteemed leaders.

“Without further ado, let’s get onto the main topic. Tandea-san of the Special Ability Department has two requests for the Port Mafia’s Ougai-san. The first is to not interfere or attempt to harm me, Ango. The other is to exterminate the gifted criminal organization that has illegally immigrated from Europe to Japan - Mimic. Is that okay?”

“Regarding the first point, that is not a problem. Don’t look at me like that, I am very thankful for Ango. You are very outstanding, and have been a great help with my work. Even if that is undercover work. Even now like this, with you as the middleman, realizing this meeting with the Special Ability Department. I even want to send a bouquet and give you a hug.” Mori replied with a mild expression.

“Then-” Ango began only to be sharply cut off.

“But as for the second point, I cannot promise this with certainty. All in all, they are a terrifying bunch of people. Because of Mimic, our buttocks are always on fire. If I could, I would want to run away crying.” Mori stated humorously. His eyes however were deadly.

Ougai gave Taneda an indecipherable smile. Taneda’s eyes flashed with a razor sharp gleam before he closed his eyes, signaling Ango.

“Now then, the Port Mafia’s request for the Special Ability Department is-”

Chief Taneda let out a short and heavy sigh. He reached into his suit and drew out a black envelope.

Mori Ougai’s smile is all teeth.

“Odasaku!”

Dazai’s voice stopped Oda who had set his heart on destroying Mimic.

“Dazai? What is it?” Oda turned to face the younger boy who stared at him with a strange look in his eye.

“Odasaku, I know what you’re thinking, but I have to stop you. Even if you do that-”

“Even if I do that, the kids won’t come back?” Oda questioned dully.

Dazai fell silent before saying, “Judging from the scale of the war, we know Mimic’s remaining forces number approximately twenty. They still have strength to spare, and their base should be around the mountainous region in the west. The details are-”

“I already know where they are because I received a letter of invitation.”

“They're slowly concentrating their forces at one point. Even if we gather all of the mafia’s forces, we don’t know if we can defeat them.” Dazai continued on only for Oda to cut him off.

“There is no need to gather them.”

“Odasaku, listen to me. A few hours ago, the Boss seems to have attended a secret meeting with the Special Ability Department with Ango as a middleman. There is something behind the scenes. If I can make sense of it-” Dazai desperately continued, trying to change Oda’s mind.

“Something behind the scenes? There’s nothing behind the scenes Dazai. Everything is over. What happens next isn’t important, what I’m about to do is the same, is it not?” Oda replied blandly.

“Odasaku.” Dazai started quietly, “I hope you will forgive me for speaking so strangely, but don’t go! Go and rely on something, hope that something good will happen next, that something will definitely happen. Ehhh… Odasaku, do you know why I joined the mafia?”

Oda looked at Dazai with interest.

“I joined the mafia hoping that something would happen. Violence or death, instinct or desire. If I could hang around people who display the qualities of mankind up close. This way I would be able to find some-”

Dazai paused, “This way, I thought I would be able to find some reason to live on.”

Oda finally said, “I wanted to become a novelist. Even if it was for a mission, I believed that if I killed someone, I would lose that qualification, so I didn’t kill anyone. But that too has ended. I no longer have that qualification. I only have one wish now.”

“Odasaku!” Dazai called desperately as Oda began to walk away, “Wait! If you only wait, I’m sure the Mafia will gather the forces to destroy Mimic! You don’t have to do this and go against your ideals.” Oda stopped and Dazai continued on, “Listen, Mori-sensei called all of the Mafia together to go against Mimic. That means that Chuuya has probably been called to come back soon too. If he is here, Mimic won’t be too much of a problem! Please, if you wait-”

“That’s not definite. He might take hours, he might take days.” Oda simply responded. “Dazai, you said you haven’t found a reason to live on? You’ve already found it… that person you speak so fondly of. It’s him. If you lose him, would you be able to say the same?”

Dazai fell silent, his outreached hand falling listless as he watched his friend go.

For some reason, at Oda’s words, Dazai’s heart felt unexplainably heavy.

“Boss.” Chuuya bowed, his hat held by his hand.

Mori smiled at him, “Ah, Chuuya-kun. You’re here early.”

Chuuya kept his head bowed as he waited for his orders.

“I planned to send Double Black in but there’s a new plan.” Mori hummed. He handed a file to Chuuya who stood up, took it, and flipped it open to scan at the information inside. There was some new information he didn’t know regarding the battle with Mimic but he knew enough about them to render most of the information unimportant. He flipped a page, pausing when he saw a map.

“That’s the Mimic base. According to Dazai, it seems Oda Sakunosuke is already there. I just need you to go and kill off any stragglers” Mori waved a hand, “… and save Oda Sakunosuke if he’s not already dead.” He added, almost like an afterthought.

Chuuya’s eyes flickered towards him warily, “If I may speak out of turn…” At Mori’s slight tilt of his head, Chuuya continued, “Why did a Mafia member that refused to kill go to an enemy base...alone?”

“Ah, Mimic did a personal slight against him.” Mori stated knowingly, “He probably went to kill them all off in a suicide mission.”

Chuuya clenched his fist, “I see.”

“Well, there’s not time to tarry.” Mori grinned, “Why don’t you hurry along then.”

“As you wish.” Chuuya bowed once again before turning around, settling his hat on his head and leaving through the door with a quick nod towards two of Mori’s subordinates keeping watch on the side of the doors.

Dazai was walking.

There was no hesitation in his steps as he walked briskly, it was as if his heels were about to slice through the carpet.

He slipped into the Mafia headquarter elevator, pressing the key for the topmost floor. He closed his eye, waiting for the elevator to arrive.

Once it reached the top, Dazai opened his eye, his pupil fixed straight ahead at the door at the end of the corridor.

The tall men in black standing in front of the office both wordlessly step forward to block Dazai’s way.

“Stand Down!” They commanded.

Without even looking at their faces, Dazai continued on. The men, however, froze due to his sheer presence, taking an involuntary step back.

Ignoring their reactions, Dazai continued forward, opening the door and entering in a rough and impolite manner.

Mori raised his head, his eyes glimmering in amusement. The look in his eye told Dazai that he had been expecting him.

“Aiya, Dazai-kun. How rare of you to come to the office of your own volition. Let me prepare some tea. I recently received some expensive tea leaves from Northern Europe. Paired with some cakes, it’s simply divine-”

“Boss.” Dazai interrupted harshly, “Do you know why I have come?”

Mori didn’t reply but he smiled slightly, tilting his head.

“Of course, Dazai-kun. Is there urgent business?”

“That’s correct.”

“I promise no matter what it is, I will approve it.” Mori smiled slightly, “If it is what the prodigy Dazai thinks, then there shouldn’t be anything wrong. No matter the time, you’ve always made a great contribution to me and the Port Mafia, and I hope today will be no different.”

Dazai fell silent, observing the other with a single coal black eye. Mori’s smile widened as his eyes took on a dangerous glint. Even to Dazai, speaking to Mori was like walking on knives. With just a slight misstep, the situation could become dangerous.

After a moment to recollect his thought, Dazai continued, “Then, do you agree to mobilizing the organization’s executive-level gifted squad to storm Mimic’s headquarters to save Odasaku?”

“That’s a good start.” Mori nodded in agreement, “Sometimes, speaking the truth will earn you the greatest negotiating power. You may, I agree. But can you tell me the reason?”

Dazai’s single eye continued to bore into Mori’s. Mori’s eyes narrowed slightly, an intelligent look piercing through Dazai. It was also the same look that Dazai often directs towards his opponents and colleagues.

Like father like son… or in this case, like mentor like protégé. An onlooker would feel as if he was seeing two sides of the same coin.

“Right now, Odasaku is currently in the enemy organization’s base carrying out reconnaissance alone.” Dazai informed Mori emotionlessly, “As an emergency measure, I have already sent mafia members in the vicinity to offer assistance, but the forces are simply not sufficient. If this goes any further, a valuable ability user like Odasaku will die.”

“But he is a junior member.” Mori tilted his head, “Of course, he is an important comrade. But is there a need to mobilize the executives to the frontline for support?

“There is.” Dazai replied sharply, “Of course there is.”

Mori fell silent, examining Dazai.

Dazai stared back resolutely.

“Dazai-” Mori paused, being the victor of the wordless battle, “I want to ask you something. I can understand your plan, but I’m afraid Oda doesn’t wish for anyone’s help. What are you views on this?”

Dazai remained silent, wordless.

Mori opened his filing cabinet, drawing out an envelope.

“Dazai-kun, as the boss, I am at the top of the organization, but I am also a slave to the entire organization. For the survival of the Port Mafia, I must automatically submerge my entire body in all the filth. Consuming the enemy’s strength, allowing our own people to unleash their greatest potential, for the organization’s continued survival and prosperity. Logically, no matter how cruel the action, I must carry it out happily. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

Mori placed the envelope in his hand on the table. The envelope was a large black premium envelope with small bronze patterns around the edges.

The moment Dazai’s eye slid to the envelope, his breathing stopped.

“That envelope is-” Dazai cut himself off sharply as his mind began to whirl with the newfound information.

“So that’s how it is.” The pieces fell into place, “So that’s what this is all about.”

Dazai turned around, “I’ll be taking my leave.”

“Where are you going?” Mori questioned with a smile.

“To find Odasaku.”

Dazai didn’t turn back at Mori’s words, walking to the doors of the office’s exit. As Dazai’s hand reached the decorated handle, a clicking sound of a gun caused him to pause. Dazai closed his eyes before he let out a small sigh and turned his body towards the office.

His eyes flickered towards the four armed mafia members that suddenly appeared from the room next door. All of them are carrying automatic rifles, every single one of them pointing at Dazai.

Dazai stared at Mori dully, unsurprised. Mori smiled back at Dazai.

“The tea isn’t ready, Dazai-kun.” Mori informed him, “Alright, sit.”

Dazai remained unmoving.

“Odasaku is waiting for me.” A man in black walked forward to press a gun to Dazai’s forehead.

“Sit.”

Dazai glanced at the muzzle before turning back towards the center of the room and standing in front of Mori.

“I’ve been thinking,” Dazai began quietly, “Between the mafia, Mimic, and the Black Special Ops Force, who is the one manipulating these three organizations? When I realized Ango was a member of the Special Ability Department, I reached a conclusion. That conclusion was that this is the Special Ability Department’s plan. Their motive was to let the mafia and Mimic, two illegal organizations causing the government a headache, to kill each other off. If they were lucky they would both perish together- I thought this was a playbook written by the Special Ability Department, that this was the real reason behind this war. But I was wrong.”

Dazai paused, staring into Mori’s eyes.

Mori shrugged his shoulders, a smile flitting on his face, “I’m listening.”

“The person who painted this picture was you, Boss. Using the illegal organization Mimic as a threat, you pulled the Special Ability Department to the negotiation table. And the pawn in the center of this plan was Ango.”

Dazai spoke with half lidded eyes.

“Boss, the reason you sent Ango to infiltrate Mimic’s ranks was not to obtain information on Mimic. Because you knew that that Ango was a spy from the Special Ability Department from the very beginning. Am I right?”

Mori simply replied, “Huh.”

“If you think about it that way, the meaning behind several truths will change accordingly. At the same time Ango passed us insider information on Mimic, he had to pass this information on to the Special Ability Department as well. They are undead ghosts that will not listen to negotiations or compromises, only seeking a battlefield. Such danger cannot be compared to the mafia. If this went on any further, conflict would break out between them and the government agencies. This is what the Special Ability Department thought. The next thing they thought of was to fan the flames of war between Mimic and the Port Mafia, manipulating matters by leaking information to Mimic through Ango. As long as Mimic bites the hook, the mafia has no reason no to fight back. Based on this line of thinking, they instructed Ango to engage in combat- all according to your plan.”

“You’re overestimating me, but it’ll still be troublesome for me,” Mori smiled, “To the mafia, the government agencies are also a demon-like existence, an opponent that cannot be manipulated easily.”

“That is why you would come up with such a large scale plan-because the value of that envelope is worth all that effort.”

Dazai pointed at the envelope.

“You’re right. The Special Ability Department is a demon-like existence. No matter how strong the Port Mafia becomes, we live in fear of the possibility of being raided after provoking the Special Ability Department. That is why by paying the price of exterminating Mimic, you have made a deal for that certificate.” Mori admitted shamelessly. He met Dazai’s eye evenly, one that Dazai met with his own stare.

Mori’s smile widened.

Dazai walked closer to Mori, reaching over and taking out the contents of the envelope.

Inside, there was a certificate with words written in beautiful calligraphy and stamped with the Government seal.

“This certificate is an agreement to carry out business as an ability user corporation - the ‘Ability Business Permit’.”

A silence fell upon the two.

“I...just…” Dazai finally forced out the words stiffly, “I just can’t accept it. The one who secretly told Mimic where the orphans Odasaku was raising were hidden was you. Other than you, no one else could have obtained information on the hiding place I chose. You killed the children - to get Odasaku, the only ability user who can go against Mimic’s commander, to go forth and fight the enemy.”

“My answer is the same, Dazai-kun. If it’s for the organization’s benefit, I’ll do anything. Moreover, the Port Mafia gathers the city’s darkness, violence, and illogical existence. As it stands, what else is there to say?”

Dazai understood. Mori’s logical calculations, thoughts, and plans were all for the sake of Port Mafia. Logically, Mori was correct and Dazai was wrong.

“But…” Dazai turned around and headed back towards the exit. Immediately, Mori’s subordinates pointed their guns at him.

“You cannot go, Dazai-kun.” Mori said persuading, “Stay here. Or do you have a legitimate reason to go to his side?”

“I want to tell you two things, boss.” Dazai turned his head, narrowing his eyes, “First, you won’t shoot me, neither will you order your subordinates to shoot.”

“Why? Because you’re hoping that someone will shoot you?”

“No, because there is no merit in doing so.”

“Indeed, but the same can be said of you. There is no merit for you to defy me and go to his side, no?”

“That’s the second thing, Boss. Indeed, there is no merit. I am going for one reason, because he’s my friend. I’ll be leaving now.”

Uncaringly, Dazai strolled towards the door. However, before he could leave, Mori once again stopped him.

“Before you do anything foolish, Dazai-kun.” Mori smiled with a flash of teeth, “And think foolish thoughts, I believe you ought to hear me out completely.”

Dazai stared back dispassionately.

“You believe this whole thing was an elaborate scheme to get this permit,” Mori waved towards the black envelope, “And that I am sacrificing Oda Sakunosuke for it.”

“Am I wrong?” Dazai asked quietly, his single eye unwavering, “You haven’t denied my words.”

“No.” Mori admitted freely, “You’re right.”

He leaned back on his chair, “But why should I sacrifice a valued comrade and ability user? I thought to myself for awhile on that.” He paused before wickedly grinning, “Don’t give me that look Dazai-kun… I’ve taken the steps to protect your precious Odasaku.”

“What… are you talking about?”

Mori smiled at him with satisfaction, “I sent someone after him. Unless Oda Sakunosuke does something idiotic as sacrifice himself for the person due to a stray bullet... “ Mori shrugged, ‘That’s another story. However, I’ve sent my best after him and if this doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will.”

“Who did you send?” Dazai grounded out coldly,

Mori grinned, “Why, someone I’m sure you agree with. You trust him inexplicably after all.”

Dazai’s eyes widened, “You mean-”

“That’s right.” Mori smiled wickedly, waiving for the men around him to lower their weapons.

“I sent Nakahara Chuuya.”

Chuuya stared at the Mimic base with an impressed look.

“I never thought he would have something like this in him.” Chuuya poked a dead body with his toe.

With a shrug, he continued on his way, pausing to kill a survivor, slitting his neck with his favorite knife.

Chuuya cocked his head, hearing faint sounds of gunshots. His eyes flickered to the several dead mafia members on the ground. Not too many but they still were there.

Moving on, Chuuya quietly slunk his way to the final door where the trail of dead bodies led. He paused, stopping to peek through the doorway.

There was a massacre.

Nearest to him was a group of dead Mafia men and on the other side, the Mimic men. Chuuya cocked his head, examining the men and felt his heart leap to his throat when he realized that a large number of them were Dazai’s men. Immediately, he scanned through them, looking for a familiar bandaged body. A sigh of relief escaped him when he realized that the familiar mop of brown hair was absent.

His eyes flickered up when he noticed movement. He paused, noticing a silver haired man, one he deemed as the Mimic leader.

The other was Oda Sakunosuke, the man who was fighting the other man with… the intent to kill? Chuuya stood back, opening the door wider to examine them. The two were so immersed in each other’s presence and fight that they did not notice Chuuya, clad in black and emitting not even the slightest killing intent.

Chuuya was trained by the best after all.

His eyes narrowed as he took in the two’s battle. It seemed that the man had the same ability as Oda, something that stunned him and frightened him greatly. Was there someone with the same devastating power as For the Tainted Sorrow ?

His eyes examined the dance between the two ability users. If he was correct, the ability foretold one’s death five seconds before it occurred. His ability, For the Tainted Sorrow, could bypass it by forcibly raising the gravitational field around him strongly or by touching the white haired man once. What he didn’t know is if it foretold any dangerous circumstances or only death.

Shifting slightly, he crouched, waiting for the opening. He wanted to jump in immediately but the way Oda fought intrigued him. He fought with a sense of purpose but at the same time, it was as if he wanted to die. It was something he saw reflected in his partner, Dazai.

The other man, Mimic’s leader, also fought in a similar way. A martial artist like Chuuya found himself entranced by the dangerous dance between the two, the way they moved in sync and avoided each movement masterfully. It looked as if it was a planned dance.

Chuuya’s eyes narrowed as he noticed the two’s movements shift from their deadly dance  and lunged forward. The dance had come to a close.

The white haired man’s eyes widened as the bullet meant for Oda sunk onto the floor by some unforeseen weight as Chuuya appeared out of nowhere, manipulating his gravity to make himself feather light. Without hesitation, he fired another bullet.

The man raised his hand, blocking Chuuya’s strike and ducking under his kick. Oda let out a surprised cough as he staggered back, bleeding from his wounds. His hand was pressed against a wound on his chest, not completely fatal but dangerous if left alone.

Chuuya had been unable to sense the extra bullet that had been fired. It didn’t matter, Chuuya reminded himself as he flashed through a rapid series of attacks, easily dodging the bullets that fell onto the ground as they neared him. The man held himself admirably in the assault, dodging several deadly blows due to his ability. Although a master at many different combat ability, including hand to hand, Gilde found himself the lesser of the two in skill.

The Mimic leader staggered back, holding his right arm where he knew several bones had cracked, rendering it useless.

“Who are you?” The man spat, anger clouding his gaze as he realized his perfect fight with Oda had been interrupted.

Chuuya just rolled his neck, “Your executioner.” He replied. He tilted his head to examine Oda, eyes darkening when he realized the man was in a dangerous state. The Mimic leader, too, had several bullet holes in his body but he didn’t have the gun wound on his chest.

“Oi, Oda.” Chuuya barked out, “Can you walk? If so, start making your way to Mafia headquarters or call for help, I’ll take care of him.”

“You can’t kill me.” The man snapped, “Only he can.”

Chuuya gave him an unimpressed look, “Seeing six minutes or something into the future doesn’t mean you can stop it. It’s like if you get poisoned by something that is slow acting, you’ll see yourself die but you won’t be able to stop it.”

“It’s five seconds, hatrack.” Oda said dully, “And I have no intentions of running away.”

Chuuya tilted his head to examine Oda, “You plan to die here.” He stated.

Oda didn’t reply but his face said everything.

“Well, too bad for you, I don’t intend to let that happen.” Chuuya turned back to the Mimic Leader, “I personally don’t know you but you’re important to Dazai. Besides, I won’t let anyone die under my watch if I can help it.”

He cracked his knuckles and smiled, “Do you know what my ability is?”

The other man raised an eyebrow.

“It’s gravity.” Chuuya grinned savagely, “You can’t fight with gravity with a few shitty bullets.”

The man’s eyes widened as he saw something due to his ability, “You-” His protest was cut short as he fell to the ground, gravity taking ahold of him.

Chuuya turned and began to walk towards Oda, “Oi, are you alright? He’s still alive… if you want to the honors.”

Oda stood up with difficulty, staggering towards the other man, “Those children… Why did you bring them into the war?” He questioned. He already knew the answer but he wanted the answer.

Chuuya slightly released his hold on the man's face to allow him to speak, “For salvation… it was necessary…”

Slightly confused, Chuuya stepped up until he was right next to Oda, “Oi, we should really get you to a hospital.” He glanced worriedly at Oda’s wounds, “I think I have a roll of bandages here somewhere…”

Oda coughed, “For your salvation, you killed those innocent children?”

Chuuya’s eyes widened as he took in the new information, his brain connecting the info. “You killed those orphans so Oda will come kill you?” He took a slight step forward, anger clouding his gaze. Gilde choked as the pressure on him increased. He felt his ribs snap.

“You piece of shi-”

Chuuya’s head snapped up as he felt a murderous intent, his body reflexively preparing to dodge,  but it was too late. His eyes widened in shock as Oda’s body convulsed in front of him, taking the multiple bullets that were mean for Chuuya. The man had seen himself get shot as well as Chuuya. In a quick decision, he had taken both the shots, protecting the shorter man. As Oda’s body fell, Chuuya saw a Mimic member behind his leader’s pinned form pointing the gun at them.

Chuuya let out a furious roar as the Mimic leader was crushed to paste on the ground. In a flash, he was in front of the shooter, slamming his shoe into his head, crushing it.

Turning around, he quickly fell to his knees next to Oda’s body, bunching his coat and trying to stop the bleeding from Oda’s body.

“That’s enough.” Oda croaked out causing Chuuya to growl, “What the hell were you thinking! If you had told me, I could have stopped those bullets.”

“It might’ve been too late.” Oda groaned, “Besides, it’s better this way… I wanted to be a writer.” Oda informed Chuuya suddenly, his eyes rolling up to look at the sky, “But I thought that someone who killed another can’t be one… so I stopped killing. And I tried to make amends.”

“You can tell me this over a cup of wine.” Chuuya snapped irritably, “Focus on breathing.”

“I’m going to die.” Oda said sensibly before staring into Chuuya’s eyes, “You… you’re a kind person, aren’t you.”

“Hah?” Chuuya tried to staunch the blood flow, becoming more desperate when it didn’t stop and Oda’s face became pale and his breathing rougher and faint.

“The mafia life… it doesn’t suit you.” Oda murmured, “Dazai told me many things about you… you’re too kind. Have you… ever thought of being on the side that saves people for a change..? Like what you’re trying to do now? I wanted to tell this to Dazai… to apologize and to say goodbye…” Oda breathed in, “I’ve seen it once, seen you return from a mission with this dead look in your eyes… It’s as if you hold the weight of the world sometimes.. Dazai’s mind might be brilliant but he never seemed to realize that.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Chuuya snapped stubbornly, trying to ignore the sudden pounding in his ears and the slimy feel of Corruption gathering in his fingers… the memories of waking up in the middle of a destroyed battlefield with blood on his hands and screaming in his ears.

His mind flashed to the image of a young Dazai, filthy and covered in blood, his dark eyes staring at something akin to terror at Chuuya. Even Dazai had once been afraid of the monster he had become… no the monster he was.

“Become a good person. Save the weak, protect orphans. Then maybe, that weight will lighten and that darkness in your eyes will fade. Maybe… you will find others to hold the weight with you”

“The weight on my shoulders…” Chuuya trailed off, his hands freezing at Oda’s words. Oda took in a shuddering breath.

“Tell Dazai… I’m sorry.” Oda finally said, “And that he should find his worth not in blood and violence but in protecting those precious to him.”

“I…” Chuuya faltered, “I will.”

“‘Humans live to save themselves. They will understand this before they die’... Well...said…” Oda’s face had turned ghastly pale.

“I really want to eat curry…” Oda murmured. With trembling fingers, he reached into his coat to draw out a cigarette from his coat. He brought it to his lips.

Oda took out the accompanying matches but he dropped them, his fingers lacking their strength. Chuuya caught them, lighting the cigarette.

“You fool.” Chuuya finally said quietly, “You should tell him what you told me yourself. I… I’m sorry that you have to spend your last minutes with me. You should’ve spent it surrounded by friends.”

Oda smiled, “I don’t mind this… spending my last hours with you.” He said decidedly, shocking Chuuya.

He inhaled the lit cigarette, his eyes closed and a satisfied smile on his lips.

The cigarette fell to the ground.

Chuuya took off his hat, pressing it on his chest as he bowed his head in respect amidst the dead bodies of both Mimic and Mafia.

He remained unmoving even when a familiar voice echoed past the door.

“Odasaku!”

Dazai burst through the door, his coat flying around him as he rushed in. “Odasaku!”

Chuuya didn’t raise his head even as Dazai fell to his knees opposite of him, Dazai’s bandaged hand appearing in his view as it gently touched Oda’s face.

“Odasaku…” Dazai trailed off softly.

“I…” Chuuya finally said quietly, “I’m sorry.”

Dazai didn’t respond, just silently staring at the man’s face. He suddenly exclaimed, “You’re an idiot, Odasaku, you’re a big idiot… to accompany this sort of guy into death, you’re an idiot.”

Oda didn’t respond, his serenely smiling face like stone.

Dazai remained silent after that. The two sat in a silent vigil. Chuuya closed his eyes to pay respect towards the dead man.

“Anything that I never want to lose will be lost.” Dazai murmured, cutting through the silence, “It is given that everything that is worth wanting will be lost the moment I obtain it. There’s nothing worth pursuing at the cost of prolonging a life of suffering.”

Chuuya gritted his teeth, “That’s not true, you idiot.”

Dazai raised his head and Chuuya felt his heart leap to his throat at the look in Dazai’s eye. It was completely dead.

“Oda wanted me to tell you,” Chuuya began, blinking when Dazai’s eye sharpened at that, “to tell you that he’s sorry and he believes you should find your worth not in blood and violence but in protecting those precious to you.”

Dazai remained silent, closing his eyes and tilting his head towards the sky. Chuuya turned his gaze back down to Oda’s body, grabbing his soaked and ruined coat to cover the man’s body. After a moment, he settled his precious hat onto his head and stood up, turning around to leave Dazai to mourn in peace.

As he reached the door, Chuuya paused, hearing Dazai’s soft murmur.

“If I were to lose him, would I still be able to say the same?” Dazai whispered, “I still haven’t told you the answer to that question…” He paused before he said in a louder voice, “Chuuya.”

Chuuya flinched at being addressed but stayed put, waiting for Dazai’s words.

“I can’t lose you too.” There was something raw about the way he said it. As if he no longer could keep up the barriers he had held up his whole life.

“I won’t die easily.” Chuuya finally responded.

“It’s not easy killing someone who could predict his own death and look where he ended up.” Dazai replied, his voice turning colder by the second. Chuuya felt he should say something, do something. But for some reason, he found himself rooted to the spot, unable to move.

“It’ll be difficult to kill you… but it’s not impossible. A stray bullet, poison… Corruption…” Dazai murmured before he stood up. Without a single glance at Chuuya, Dazai walked past him.

Chuuya watched him go… feeling as if he was losing something important.

Chapter Text

XIII.

Do you remember?

“I see.” Fukuzawa’s voice penetrated the deep silence that had fallen on the ADA members. Poe, an author at heart, itched to put down the tale of betrayal, friendship, and loss in a book but he knew that it was inappropriate to do so. Still, he could hope.

Atsushi stared at Chuuya, his heart full of sorrow at the death of such a great man. For the first time, his heart went out to Dazai, who had lost someone greatly important to him. His eyes flitted to all the Agency members… would he become someone like Dazai to protect those precious to him?

Yes. Atsushi realized with dawning horror and resignation...he would.

For that, Atsushi felt foolish for challenging Dazai… for declaring that he would protect Chuuya in Dazai’s place. Despite the grotesque packages sent to the Agency, Dazai had, during the war against the Guild and Mafia, as well as a bit during the Akutagawa attack, had helped the Agency one way or another.

“The story isn’t over yet.” Chuuya cut through the Agency member’s respective thoughts. “Whatever pity you have for him… trash it.” He snapped, “Because he doesn’t deserve any of it.”

“What do you mean?” Kunikida questioned sharply, “The man lost a great friend, one that seemed to have truly helped him during his Mafia years…”

Chuuya flexed his fingers, “Dazai perverted Oda’s words, changing and twisting them in his mind. I wonder what Oda would say if he saw Dazai as he is right now. He probably regrets speaking to me that day…”

“But it is because he spoke that you are with us now.” Fukuzawa stated softly, folding his arms.

“If it had been Dazai who had spoken to Oda last…” Chuuya finally said, “I am sure he would be here, in this position right now. You would definitely know the tale of his defection because it would be him, in this Agency, guiding it and saving lives like Oda told him to.”

“But then you would be in the Mafia.” Atsushi protested.

Chuuya laughed sharply, “Oda was wrong.” He finally said, “I was born to be in the Mafia. I sit here, with all of you, trying my damn hardest to fit in, to work towards the Agency goal but I can’t erase my past. The first thing I think when I see an adversary is the fastest way to kill them. When we are trying to get information, every single Mafia torture method runs through my head.” He took a shuddering breath, “When the Guild attacked, my first instinct wasn’t to protect you all but to get revenge.”

Chuuya stared at all of the members’ serious faces, “My blood is black.” He said softly, “Mafia black.”

“Well,” Yosano broke the heavy silence that fell upon the group at Chuuya’s admittance, “As long as you’re trying, it doesn’t matter.” A cruel grin split on her face, “I often think of the first way to kill someone as well.”

A collective shudder went through everyone.

“What happened afterwards?” Ranpo suddenly questioned. He had a frown on his face, “I can make several deductions but I would rather not use my ability to figure everything out.”

Chuuya hesitated, “I…” He looked away, “I’m not ready to tell you that.” He stated firmly, “He…” Chuuya just trailed off.

“Please.” Atsushi finally said, “Akutagawa talked to me. He said it’s important that we know the reason why you left.”

Chuuya gritted his teeth, “Even that fucking dog is getting in my business.” His eyes flared in anger before he took a deep breath to calm down.

“Do you know the name of Dazai’s ability?”

There was a collective look of confusion in the group. Chuuya continued, “They say that the name of your ability reflects your personality. Dazai took it a step too far…” He tilted his head, “As the Demon Prodigy of Port Mafia, Dazai was already something akin to a monster. His methods were brutal and he truly defined what the Mafia was. We were Soukoku (Double Black),” Chuuya couldn’t help the pride that echoed at that declaration, “The most feared duo in the criminal underground and even to those in the light.” He smiled sadly, “I joined the Mafia a lot later than Dazai who was in the Mafia from a young age. Our years together as Soukoku was short but it was…” He trailed off.

“What I’m trying to say is… Dazai was always morally black.” Chuuya informed them, “But there was something that kept him in line and from crossing too far… to the point of no return. Oda and Ango… they were his life lines.” Chuuya said bitterly, he had never been that important, “When they left/died, his world fell apart and sometimes he’s a complete idiot.” He closed his eyes, “Dazai….”

He opened his eyes, “He’s No Longer Human. ”

“Dazai-kun.”

Dazai inclined his head, “Boss.” He greeted the man seated behind a large mahogany desk. His lone eye narrowed ona black folder on top of the desk. Mori simply smiled at him, gesturing him to take a seat in the chair on the opposite side of table.

Dazai swiftly crossed, seating himself lightly. His single eye darkened as he stared at the pitch black folder.

“That folder…” He trailed off. Only one type of folder was colored that pure color of black. He had stopped seeing them four years ago… at his own request.

Mori smiled wanly, “I see you recognize this.” He flipped the folder open to reveal pictures and detailed information.

Dazai stared at it with a guarded look, “If I may ask… why…” He trailed off.

Mori hummed, “Well you see,” He entwined his fingers before setting his chin on them, “It seems that you didn’t completely wipe out the organization Fabled Raven. ” He nodded at the folder, “A straggler seems to have been on a mission when the organization was wiped out.”

Dazai’s single eye narrowed as his mind began to race, creating and discarding scenarios at rapid speed, “I’m guessing he has been causing problems?” He said slowly, a hand resting on his chin as he continued to think.

Mori inclined his head, “In a way.” He said vaguely, “But not directly to the Mafia.”

Dazai’s eye sharpened but he declined to say anything.

Mori smiled lightly, “He’s been…. Looking up information…” He trailed off and looked at his protegee expectantly.

Dazai, taking the hint, began to share his thoughts, “You have called me here alone.” He began, “None of your guards are inside. Elise-chan isn’t in here either… so you’re trying to appear as unthreatening as possible towards me.” He paused, his single eye narrowing, “What you’re sharing is sensitive information… and that folder…The straggler hasn’t directly done anything towards the Mafia except be part of the previously wiped out organization Fabled Raven. However, his existence is an eyesore so he should be wiped out. At the same time, it’s not something you would call me alone to speak about… even someone as worthless as Akutagawa can easily take care of the problem.” Dazai hummed, “What he’s doing is concerning enough to bring me into this but sensitive enough that only the two of us should be privy to it. If I have to guess…”

His single eye met Mori’s bright and amused look straight on, “That straggler is probably looking up information on Soukoku… am I correct?”

Mori smiled brightly and clapped his hands, “Brilliant, Dazai-kun. I couldn’t have done better.” He praised before his face turned serious, “It seems he isn’t interested in you…”

Dazai’s single eye darkened and he smiled lightly, “ Oh? ”

Mori simply closed the folder and slid it over to Dazai, “I’ve kept my end of the bargain, Dazai-kun.” He said coolly, “But you’re treading a dangerous line. The Guild incident has been brushed off but you made things much more complicated than they needed to be.”

Dazai slowly blinked his eye, neither agreeing or disagreeing with that statement. He smiled darkly, “But Mori-sensei,” He tilted his head to meet the other’s eyes squarely, “Everything worked out in the end. Moreover, we can have a tentative alliance with the Armed Detective Agency. That would put us in a better position with Government officials, no?” He paused, ‘They are in our debt… and they know it. Furthermore, I have stayed your loyal dog and made a bloody name for myself for the Mafia’s sake. Are you still wary that I may take your life?”

Mori grinned, “Very well, Dazai-kun.” He stated with barely concealed amusement, “I take back my statement. As for your question, I’m not sure what you’re saying.”

Dazai nodded his head, letting the question slide. His eye landed back on the folder, “May I take some men to get rid of him?”

“Do as you wi-”

The door slammed open, causing the two of them to abruptly stand up. Dazai whirled around, his coat flapping around him as his eye landed on the person who had forcibly interrupted their meeting.

His single eye widened as he stared at the white hair and tiger yellow eyes of Nakajima Atsushi. For all his predictions, he hadn’t ever thought that the weretiger had the guts to ever interrupt a meeting between a Mafia executive and the Boss. It was illogical for the young boy to had that enough courage, much less to have the necessity for it. Immediately, his mind began to whirl as he tried to calculate several scenarios before roughly discarding them.

“Atsushi-kun?” He couldn’t help the bewildered tone that escaped him. Behind him Mori waved off the Mafia men who prepared to shoot the boy who had gotten past all their defenses and barrelled into a secret meeting between their boss and most frightening executive.

Atsushi was covered in bullet wounds and scars. However, what really caught Dazai’s interest were the bruise wounds and marks on his clothes. Before he could examine them any further, the wounds began to heal.

“Oh? If it isn’t the ADA jinko.” Mori smiled, “It’s been a while young man.” His face was calm with a small hint of a friendly smile on his face. His wine eyes glimmer dangerously and Dazai knew that his mentor was interested in what the weretiger had to say.

“Y-you’re…” Atsushi trailed off before his eyes fixed on Dazai’s. “Dazai-san!” He stumbled forward until he was on his knees in front of the other.

“Please!” He begged, “Please save Chuuya-san!”

“W-where am I…” Chuuya groaned as his eyes began to adjust to the light. He blinked as he forced himself to take in his surroundings. He was in a small dark basement with only a small lantern in the corner to light the area. His hands were chained to the wall, reminiscent to the Mafia prison. With a snort, he reached within himself to use his power and break the chains but he came up short. He blinked, trying to reach and grab a hold of his ability...only to find nothing. A flicker of dread and horror began to grow in his stomach as he continued to try and call out to his ability. Again, he found nothing... Not even the constant whisper of Corruption. He only ever felt like this when he was touching Dazai. Yet, the familiar bandage wasting bastard wasn’t there.

Not only could he not feel his ability, Chuuya couldn’t feel his normal strength. For some reason, he was weak, his body heavy.

He frowned as he tried to remember what occured, only to come up blank. He couldn’t remember what happened nor why he was currently captured.

He weakly tugged at the chains, his mind whirling as he tried to figure out what had happened. He closed his eyes as a headache throbbed in his brain. He paused when a memory of a terrified Atsushi crossed his mind. With a frown he delved deeper in… only to see shocked, angry, and worried faces of the Armed Detective Agency members. However, for some reason, he couldn’t figure out why.

Before he could ponder any longer, light spilled into the room and onto Chuuya’s face, making him wince.

He raised his head weakly to see that the door to the basement had opened. A man came down the stairs, a strange flask in his hand.

“Who the hell are you?” Chuuya growled, glaring hatefully at the man. The man, seeing that he was awake, smiled.

“Ah!” The man grinned. He had tan skin and dark curly hair. “My name is Paulo Coelho… your new partner.”

“Partner?” Chuuya stared at him puzzled, “What the hell are you-” He coughed, cutting himself off.

Paulo smiled a tad cruelly, “Well you see… I used to be part of the organization Fabled Raven… sound familiar?”

Chuuya’s eyes widened in shock… the fall of that organization had made Dazai’s and his partnership official. “Are you here for revenge?” He snarled.

“Kind of.” Paulo admitted, “But to be honest, I fell in love with your power.” He grinned, “If I had your strength, I thought to myself, I could become the strongest man in the world! Therefore, I decided I’ll make you my partner and destroy the ADA and Port Mafia.”

Chuuya frowned, “And who said I’ll be your partner?”

Paulo grinned, “You’re already my partner.” He smiled as he pressed a button on a remote that appeared suddenly in his hand.

Chuuya blinked as he noticed the small TV monitor in the corner. He hadn’t noticed the monitor in the dim light and his rough awakening.

“What the hell are you…” Chuuya trailed off, falling silent as he stared at... himself attacking the ADA members. He felt his mouth fall open as he slammed his foot into Atsushi’s ribs, flinching at the sickening cracking sounds and the scream that tore from Atsushi’s throat. He choked when he saw himself quickly take care of Kunikida and toss Tanizaki away like a ragdoll despite the light snow .

“What…?” Chuuya croaked as the screen went black again. “..How?”

Paulo smiled, “Well you see…” He showed the flask he had been carrying, “My ability is called The Alchemist. As you can probably guess, I can create things that I want using alchemy. Unfortunately, there is a time limit and everything eventually reverts back to its original condition before my alchemy had been put into effect. Depending on what, the time limit changes. This here,” He shook the bottle, “Has the ability to nullify a person’s ability completely for a certain amount of time. It’s what you’ve been taking.” He took out a syringe. Chuuya cringed as he saw a strange green liquid coming out from the bottle and fill the syringe. The man continued to talk in a calm voice, “My ability is unique in that I can bend reality to a certain point. I gave you one of my greatest creations. It erased your memory and I replaced it with something that makes you think I am your master. In short, you’ll follow every single one of my orders without fail. Once again though, it has a time limit. It’ll be much easier if you do this willingly but I doubt you’ll do that.”

Chuuya’s eyes widened, “Y-you bastard!” He pulled on his chains, “Y-you..!” He found himself speechless as he realized that he wasn’t just a prisoner, he was also his jailor’s weapon.

Paulo smiled as he forcibly grabbed Chuuya’s hand, plunged the syringe into his vein, and inserted the strange liquid into his body. Chuuya struggled weakly.

The man stood up again, turning around and walking away, “I’m sure there will be more people coming to ‘save’ you but you’ll convince them that you’re not the one needing to be saved… they are.”

Chuuya’s vision blurred as the Paulo’s ability began to take effect and Chuuya saw no more.

“Bleh, Chuuya has terrible taste in alcohol.”

Chuuya blinked, staring at Dazai with a confused look. Where was he? Wasn’t he captured? Why was Dazai there?

“Ah? Is Chuuya already drunk?” Dazai waved an arm in front of his face. Chuuya felt his own body move to slap the hand away, “ What the hell Dazai?” Chuuya blinked as he heard a young voice sound from his throat… it was several pitches too high.

Dazai smiled, his eye glimmering with amusement, “Chuuya responded! You’re such a lightweight!” The boy leaned forward, hugging the smaller body, “Hmmm... Chuuya is cuddly.”

“Gerroff me!” Chuuya mumbled against the other boy’s shoulder.

“You should stop drinking wine.” Dazai murmured into his hair, “It’s making you short.”

Chuuya’s movements became rougher, his protest louder. Dazai just laughed, a warm sound, “Drink milk instead!” He hugged the boy tighter.

Chuuya suddenly felt detached… suddenly he was outside the young Chuuya’s body, staring at the scene. He... was dreaming.

Chuuya forced the clingy Dazai away from him, “What did you say?!” He screeched angrily, “I’m not short! And I don’t need to drink milk!”

“Eh?” Dazai gave him a confused look, “But you’re…” He scanned the boy from head to toe,” a midget.”

Chuuya screamed obscenities, lunging forward to attack the other.

Dazai laughed, whirling away from his hands and darting away to... Where was it again?

Suddenly Chuuya didn’t know anymore. Where had they been?

Where had Dazai gone…..?

When did that happen…?

….Who was Dazai?

“It would do better if you calmed down.” Mori suggested with a mild smile. His eyes however told a different story.

Atsushi trembled, his eyes wide with fear as he grasped the hand holding his throat. He was currently pinned to the wall with a hand on his throat, slowly choking from it.

Dazai stared into Atsushi’s eyes before he slowly loosened his grasp on Atsushi, taking a step back as Atsushi slid down the wall to fall onto the ground, gasping and holding his throat.

“Now Atsushi-kun, was it?” Mori said calmly, “Could you explain the situation to us?”

Atsushi gasped, clutching his throat before he began hoarsely, “Chuuya-san was telling the Agency about…” He glanced at Dazai who stared at him a single blank eye, “four years ago.. When a strange gas filled our agency. No one could do anything and everyone quickly lost consciousness.”

Dazai’s head turned slightly, his eye meeting Mori’s.

Atsushi, unaware of the silent exchange, continued to speak, “When we woke up, nothing had changed… except Chuuya-san was gone. We looked all around for him but we couldn’t find him. Fortunately, Ranpo-san was able to track him down using his ability but…” Atsushi shuddered, “Chuuya-san didn’t know us.”

“What?” Dazai snarled out, causing even Mori’s eyebrow to rise.

Atsushi flinched, “I don’t know but Chuuya-san didn’t recognize any of the Ability members. He also said he followed the orders of a man named Paulo only. He… didn’t even recognize your name, Dazai-san.”

Dazai’s face turned carefully blank but if one looked clearly, they would’ve seen the terrible look in his eye.

“This is troubling.” Mori finally said, “If Chuuya-kun is currently brain washed and in the hands of the enemy… I’m guessing your whole group got annihilated?”

Atsushi hesitated slightly before firmly nodding, “He… was too powerful.”

“Why, of course.” Mori nodded in agreement, “Chuuya-kun was one of the strongest members of the Mafia. If he had stayed, I’m sure he would’ve easily become an Executive. A fantastic one at that.”

“Where is he?”

Dazai’s voice cut through through the tension, sharper than a knife.

Atsushi flinched before standing up, “I...I can lead you to him.”

Dazai nodded sharply towards Mori, “If I may…?”

“Of course.” Mori nodded causing Atsushi to bow towards the man, “Thank you very much.”

Mori smiled sharply, “Chuuya-kun’s strength is something to be wary of.” He simply said. Atsushi turned and ran out with Dazai stalking after him, his coat billowing behind him.

“Oh, and Dazai-kun?”

Dazai paused.

“Those who dare to bark at the Mafia…”

“Are completely crushed.” Dazai replied monotonously.

“And any slight against the mafia…”

“Is returned threefold.” Dazai answered murderously before the door slammed behind him.

“You’re awfulling clingy today.” Chuuya growled in annoyance. Dazai’s arms were around his shoulders as the taller boy hugged him from behind his back. Dazai rested his head on top of Chuuya’s… which was devoid of a hat for once.

“Mori-sensei is mean.” Dazai pouted petulantly.

“It’s because you’re an idiot.” Chuuya snapped.

“But I’m your idiot.” Dazai retorted.

Chuuya’s face turned red and he tried to dislodge the long lanky arms from his shoulders, “You idiot! Stop saying weird things!”

“But it’s true!” Dazai grinned, burying his face deeper into Chuuya’s hair. Chuuya grumbled but settled down to allow the taller boy to snuggle into him.

“Ane-san told me to stay away from you.” Chuuya said abruptly causing Dazai to lift his face from Chuuya’s hair.

“Ane-san?”

Chuuya hummed in response, “She figured us out.” He informed the other, slightly hesitating when saying ‘us’, “She told me that you’re only going to be trouble… to strictly keep it at a partnership.”

Dazai’s eyes glinted darkly, “And are you going to listen?” A dark smile spread on his lips, “And when was Chuuya such a loyal follower of Ane-san? It’s only been a year since you joined the Mafia.”

“Hmph, why do you care?” Chuuya snapped, “Besides, I can make my own decisions…”

“Hmm, but your height says otherwise!” Dazai exclaimed causing Chuuya to yell angrily, pushing Dazai off him. “What did you say?!”

“I said,” Dazai smiled, “Chuuya is cute when he’s angry~”

“Y-you!” Chuuya screeched when Dazai lunged forward and pressed his lips against Chuuya’s. Chuuya stood there stunned as Dazai stepped back, a small smile on his lips, “Was that Chuuya’s first kiss?”

Chuuya just gaped.

Dazai tilted his head to examine the other’s face closely and smiled in satisfaction when he noticed that Chuuya didn’t look disgusted or unhappy… just shocked.

“I want to be Chuuya’s first for everything!” Dazai declared happily causing Chuuya to be startled out of his stupor. “Then be the first person I beat to death!” Chuuya yelled angrily, running after the other.

“Ehhh, but Chuuya already killed people before!” Dazai yelled back.

“You can be the first person to die the most painful death by my hands!” Chuuya snapped back.

“But I don’t like painnnn Chibi!!!”

“GET BACK HERE YOU BANDAGE WASTING BASTARD!”

“Ah, I didn’t think you would come back.” Paulo grinned sharply at Atsushi who glared at him hatefully.

The stood in a large abandoned lot in front of a small white run down building. The area was surrounded by a forest with several pieces of machinery spread here and there. Paulo stood superiorly on the steps leading to the building door, slightly looking down at Atsushi and Dazai who stared at him with an assessing stare.

The surrounding ground had marks of a recent battle with dried blood and craters.

“Please return Chuuya-san back to us!” Atsushi barked out angrily. His hands were clenched into tight fists.

“Return?” Paulo gave a bewildered gasp, “But Chuuya is the one who wants to stay with me! He doesn’t even know who you are.”

“Paulo Coelho.” Dazai cut through their conversation, stepping forward with a cold look in his eye, “Ability: The Alchemist. I should have hunted you down.” The way he said it was full of killer intent.

“So you knew I was still alive?” Paulo questioned thoughtfully. Despite the deadly intent surrounding Dazai, Paulo stared down at them with confidence.

“Nothing gets by me.” Dazai simply responded, “I was young and naive to think that you wouldn’t cause any problems in the future. I’m here to rectify that mistake now.” Dazai in turn, responded with cold certainty.

“Hmph.” Paulo frowned, “Acting all so high and mighty… it pisses me off.” He cocked his head, “Chuuya!”

After a slight silence, the door behind Paulo opened to reveal Chuuya. Chuuya was dressed in his regular clothes, down to everything from his choker to his shoes. He was missing his large coat and hat. Dazai’s eye roamed the figure, taking note of the small needle marks along the man’s arm and neck.

“You’ve been injecting him with something.” Dazai noted, his voice calm. Atsushi’s eyes flickered to Dazai, widening when he saw the small shake in the man’s tightly clenched fists.

“Hmm, very little gets by you, does it.” Paulo commented, not denying Dazai’s accusation.

Dazai ignored him, stepping forward to meet Chuuya’s eyes. Dazai’s eye darkened when he realized that Chuuya’s eyes, bright and clear… did not even have the slightest indication of recognition. Chuuya wasn’t even being drugged to forget Dazai or have hazy memories. He simply did not know who Dazai was.

“Hey Hatrack.” Dazai started pleasantly, “Where did you put your hat?” He had an open posture and a mile smile. His single eye, however, stared at the other calculatively.

“Hat?” Chuuya tipped his head, “Why would I wear a hat?” He responded calmly, unfazed by Dazai’s nickname.

Dazai face twisted to something ugly before it was gone in a flash, “Do you know who I am?” He asked again in a seemingly pleasant manner. His eyes however held growing violence and a thirst for blood.

Chuuya glared, “You’re Paulo’s enemy.. Thus my enemy as well.”

“That wasn’t what I was asking.” Dazai said cooly, “I asked if you knew who I was.” His voice now held no pleasantness. It had turned biting and sharp.

Chuuya frowned thoughtfully before he slowly shook his head, “Of course not… should I?” He asked hesitantly. The man’s presence triggered something in him. He felt safe… at the same time endangered. His instincts told him to trust and run… he had never felt like this before.

“Enough chit chat,” Paulo began only to jump back in shock, barely missing a bullet.

“I’m not talking to you.” Dazai said coldly, the gun still pointed at Paulo. Atsushi looked at him with amazement. The man had withdrawn the gun so fast and shot the other without even looking at his target. His eyes were still fixed on Chuuya’s.

“Oi!” Chuuya stepped forward, blocking Dazai’s gun from aiming at Paulo, “How dare you shoot him!”

“Do you really not recognize me?” Dazai questioned.

Chuuya bared his teeth in a snarl, “I said I don’t!” He cracked his knuckles.

“My name is Dazai Osamu.” Dazai declared, “The name engraved in the choker on your throat.” Chuuya’s hand immediately went to his throat with confusion before he clenched his fist and lunged forward to attack him. “Why the hell would I have your fucking name on my throat, stranger?”

Dazai shifted his body, dodging the other’s fist easily. He ducked under the kick and spun out of the way.

“It’s no use.” Dazai said darkly, “I know your timing like the back of my hand.” He flashed a sharp smile, “I’m your partner after all.”

“Stop lying.” Chuuya growled, taking out his knife to slash at Dazai who dodged out of the way. “My only partner is Paulo!”

Dazai’s single eye turned black before he turned to shoot at Paulo. Chuuya immediately manipulated the gravity around them to make the bullets fall harmlessly to the floor. Dazai’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully, a calculating look in his eye.  “Atsushi-kun.” Dazai ducked under Chuuya’s kick, “Keep the man occupied.” He twisted to dodge Chuuya’s punch. “Don’t kill him.”

“Y-yes!” Atsushi answered before lunging at Paulo. Paulo quickly drank something, causing him to suddenly grow extremely muscular, a strange aura surrounding him. “I’m not all that useless either!” Paulo sneered before attacking Atsushi.

Chuuya smirked, “Enough of this!” He began to glow red, “Eat Gravity!”

“Chuuya, Chuuya.” Dazai shook his head, he gave a little shrug,“Have you forgotten what my ability was?”

“I don’t fucking know you!” Chuuya snapped back before his eyes widened. He stared at the other, surprise and a hint of wariness in his eyes as he realized that Dazai hadn’t moved an inch. “Wait… why aren’t you…!”

Dazai smirked, “My ability is the perfect partner to your For the Tainted Sorrow. ” Dazai informed him, “Only I can let you use your full potential without dying.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Chuuya snarled as he attacked the other with more vigour.

“My ability is called No Longer Human. ” Dazai answered calmly, he tapped Chuuya’s forehead before whirling out of the way, “I can nullify any ability with a single touch. My ability makes no exceptions.” Chuuya rolled on the ground, skittering to a halt. The moment Dazai’s finger had touched his forehead, his ability had canceled, causing his weight to increase dramatically. The sudden loss of his ability sent him reeling.

Chuuya spat at him before lunging forward again. Dazai tilted his head to dodge when he felt a knee kick him in the stomach, Dazai went flying from the force, he flipped in the air, skittering to a halt. He coughed, blinking when he noticed the blood staining his hand. He wiped his lips to look at Chuuya who was staring at him with satisfaction, his leg still raised.

“Heh, I guess four years of training is not enough to fight on par with you… best martial artist in Port Mafia.”

Chuuya growled, “Spouting nonsense again. I told you! I don’t know you and I’m not part of the Port Mafia or some Detective Agency!”

“Heh! That’s right!” Paulo exclaimed from where he had Atsushi pinned to the ground. “Now kill him!”

Chuuya lunged forward, a knife at hand. Dazai paused before spreading his arms wide, welcoming Chuuya’s attack. His lips moved, mouthing inaudible words to Chuuya for his eyes only.

The sharp knife stopped a milimeter away from Dazai’s bandaged throat. Dazai stared down at Chuuya, a solemn look in his face. Chuuya stared at Dazai’s lips, his mind trying wrap around the words this stranger had spoke. Although he had been unable to hear it, he could read lips.

“W-why..” Chuuya jumped away from Dazai, “Oi, why aren’t you fighting back! Do you want to die?”

Dazai smiled, “A life without you isn’t worth living. Unless, would you like to have Double Suicide with me?”

“Hah?”

Dazai sighed, “Do you really not remember anything?” He tilted his head, “Do you remember our first mission? Our first kiss? The dragon head incident?” After a slight hesitation, Dazai asked, “… Your gang?”

Chuuya frowned, “What the hell are you blabbering about?”

Paulo just snarled, “Chuuya, kill him!”

Chuuya blinked before shrugging and lunging forward to attack him again. Dazai sighed. He grabbed Chuuya’s wrist, and flipped him over his head. Chuuya landed on his feet neatly, turning around to face Dazai again only to see that Dazai had touched Paulo, releasing Paulo’s own Ability’s hold on himself. Dazai easily kicked the other away, shooting both the man’s feet in rapid succession to make it impossible for him to run. Paulo screeched as the bullets dug into his skin, he reached into his pockets for a pain killer of some quick heal formula when Atsushi pounced, pinning the man onto the floor. Without the effects of his ability, Paullo was just a weak man to the might of a tiger.

Chuuya hissed in anger, slightly startled by the man’s speed. Somehow, the man’s prowess in battle surprised him… like he wasn’t supposed to be that good in fighting.

“Honestly, you’re pathetic.” He looked down at Atsushi with a frown. He stood over Paulo and the young boy, his eyes still on Chuuya who hesitated to attack, seeing Paulo in a compromised position. Atsushi just coughed up blood, wincing as he dragged Paulo up to stand with him.

“Enough is enough.”Dazai declared with a tone of finality. “I gave you a chance out of my respect for you Chuuya. You failed to take it.”  His face had turned completely cold and devoid of all emotions.

Chuuya hesitated before he straightened, “Finally done spouting all that shit? Are you going to fight me seriously now?” His eyes flickered with a strange sort of anger, “And what do you mean respect? You never had any fucking respect for me, you bandage wasting bastard…” He suddenly trailed off, a strange look of surprise  and confusion spreading across his face… as if he had no idea why he had just said that.

Dazai’s eyes glowed in victory.“It hasn’t been long since our fight with Lovecraft.” Dazai said calmly, “So I didn’t really want do this but oh well.” A twisted smile graced his lips, “If this doesn’t work, we can die together. Isn’t that great?”

“What are you-?” Atsushi began only for Dazai to speak, “How did it go again? Oh yes…” Dazai’s eye met Chuuya’s squarely.

“O’ Grantors of Dark Disgrace.”

Chuuya faltered as if he was in a trance. Those words… echoed in the very fiber of his being and every part of him screamed. His blood pounded in his ears and he felt his vision start to tint with red. Suddenly the next words appeared in his mind and before he realized it, he felt himself speak it out loud, “Do not wake me again.”

Atsushi stared in terror as strange markings crawled up Chuuya’s fingers and up to his face. His eyes darkened until they were almost black and until a strange sort of insanity filled them. His eyes only foretold death and destruction.

The world shuddered as dark wisps of Chuuya’s ability manifested, forcing the surrounding area into submission. The ground seemed to buck under this newfound weight and Atsushi trembled, his arms shaking from the sudden pressure that was forced onto his shoulders.

The three of them were hiding behind some wreckage, forcibly dragged there by Dazai after Chuuya suddenly begin to change.

Dazai, himself seemed fine. Paulo laid pinned to the ground, staring at Chuuya with pure unadulterated terror. His eyes however were slightly clouded… as if he was having a flashback.

Dazai savagely grabbed Paulo’s hair, forcing it up to make the other stare at Chuuya. “You remember, right? That is what allowed Chuuya and I to destroy Fabled Raven in a single night. Your members dropped like flies, their bones breaking under the force of gravity. Others were twisted into something unrecognizable by those black holes.”

Black holes had gathered around Chuuya’s hands as he tossed them into the ground. A strange broken laughter began to sound from his lips as he began to wreck the surrounding area around them.

“Chuuya will keep on raging till he dies and his body breaks down.” Dazai continued, “He can’t control that part of his ability… even Fukuzawa Yukichi’s All Men Are Equal, cannot give Chuuya control over Corruption.”

Paulo let out a whimper, “You plan to kill him?” He asked in shock.

“Your ability is based on a liquid substance that enters the body.” Dazai responded dully, “I can negate it when it is in direct contact with you but it seems like I can’t when it is in another’s body… at least with For the Tainted Sorrow interfering. However, Corruption , has proven itself able to flush out drugs from Chuuya’s body, rendering any type of tranquilizer or poison useless against him in this form. Only my No Longer human, can stop him in this state.”