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Chapter Text

Chapter one PM, Arahabaki 

Gods do not have soulmates .

That was something I learned long ago. This body, whoever they were before I inhabited it, did not have a name written on their body. That was fine with me. I would tell them ,if someone asked, to either fuck off or say its covered, depending on who asked.

I have learned long ago to live with it. To live knowing that there may be a human out there with my name on them and I do not have their name. That still didn’t stop my breath from hitching when I saw Akutagawa Ryunosuke’s name. Written in worse chicken scratch than Dazai’s was a name I knew but forgot. A name I almost wish to forget again.

Byakko

“Cover that up before someone sees it you fool!” I whispered hissed to the fifteen year old. Akutagawa's eyes widened in surprise but hurriedly did as I said. I bit my lip contemplating what next.

“Never thought you’d be her soulmate.” Fell from my lips before I could stop them. “Your soulmate won’t have your name on them so you’ll have to tell them yourself. They’ll also go by a different name than the one on your arm.” I left before Akutagawa could say anything. Not like he could. He was stunned silent by the whole exchange.

~~~~~~~~

It wasn't odd seeing the name Arahabaki crossed out on my soulmate's arm.

It was even less surprising to see different names tattooed on their arm.

Chapter Text

Chapter one HD, Jouno Saigiku

I was thirteen months old when I first got measles. I recovered well the first time around.

I was six years old the second time I got measles. I became blind the second time around.

A name appeared on my body when I was around three. I would trace it over and over again till I had it memorized in my little three year old brain.

 My family had treated me like glass. As if I was a fragile little doll that would break at the slightest breeze. I hated it. At fourteen I ran away. At seventeen I got caught by a government dog. 

The first thing I did was spit in the direction of his face. 

“Hahaha! I like you kid! Join the Hunting Dogs.” The man I later learned was Fukuchi Ouchi spoke.

“Fuck you old man! Go to hell!” He laughed again. This man was really pissing me off.

“Well it’s either join me and my squad or prison bars.” 

YOU SAY THAT AS IF THERE’S A CHOICE YOU CRAZY OLD MAN!

I hated it at the Hunting Dog headquarters. He was here and was very weird. Then there was the Vice Captain who was older then everyone in the Hunting Dogs combined but acted like a preeteen girl. And all the Captain did was get drunk off the government salary.

And missions were always the worst. I was sent on two solo missions and I hated them. Another mission I was sent with him. I refuse to say I hate solo missions.

The only good thing was the surgery. The strength from them was addicting. The power almost made everything worth it.

Then a few months after joining there was a boy who was most likely no older than ten on the other side of my blade. His heart was beating so hard and fast that it was giving me a headache.

“Woah! Put the sword down Jouno. Meet the newest Hunting Dog … Whatever his name is.” 

“My name is Tachihara Michizou! I told you that four times already!” The squeaky high pitched voice came to the boy. Oh, sorry. Our new member.

“Captain. You can tell us if that’s just your kid from your mistress. I don’t think the Vice Captain would kill you that badly.” He said coming from behind me.

“He’s not mine!”

“I changed my mind and would like to go to juvie now.” At that the Vice Captain ran into the room slamming the door’s open. The sound from the doors hitting the walls made my flinch almost hard to hide. Whatever she was about to say froze at the tip of her tongue as she saw the boy.

“What’s with the six year old?”

“I’M EIGHT!” 

Tachihara became a fixture in the Hunting Dogs. Surgerys were less powerful for him then the rest of us do to his age. I was no longer the youngest hunting dog. As the months passed along I couldn’t help but resent the boy.

He helps the boy. He hangs out with the boy. He pays more attention to the boy more than me. 

I hate it.

I hate myself for being jealous of an eight year old!

Today was like any other day. Tachihara doing his homeschool homework, the Captain being hungover, the Vice Captain doing her makeup in the window (complaining how it’s hard cause the window is dirty), and him doing push ups in the corner. I’m not sure why today made me snap but something today did. Standing up I made my way over to him making sure to be careful of Tachihara’s pencils. Why an eight year old wants a pencil collection is beyond me. 

“Suehiro.” He hums letting me know he’s listening. 

“I need to talk to you.”

 “We are talking.”

“In private you fool.” 

“Can it wait till I'm done?” I could feel the other Hunting Dog’s eyes on me.

“It’s important.”

“Ok.” With that he got up, nearly hitting me in the process. “Watch it.” I hissed it. “Sorry.” I grabbed him and pulled him out of the room. The eyes from the other Hunting Dogs following us. Suehiro let himself be dragged by me all the way to my room. 

“What did you want to show me, Jouno?” He asked as the door to my room closed. I let go of him turning to face him. “It’s on my leg. Help me take off my pants.” I haven’t needed help getting dressed in years. There are occasions when I'm in a rush, I'll let my sister do my make up as it’s faster but having someone changing my clothes stopped when I ran away. “Okay.”

As my pants fell to my ankles I could feel Suehiro’s heartbeat race. Grabbing his hand I moved it to the inner part of my left thigh. I slowly trace the name with Suehiro’s finger. Hearing Suehiro’s breath hitch as he recognized his name on my thigh I had to hide a smile at that.

“That’s my name.”

“It is.”

“Why do you have my name?” 

“....”

“....”

“....”

Was that an actual question? There was a slight whine coming from Suehiro, most likely from him realizing that it was a very stupid question. I heard a rustling of fabrics then something brush up against my ankles. Suehiro went back to tracing his name on my inner thigh.

“Where’s my name?” I asked after a couple minutes. It was a question that's been bothering me for a while. Suehiro grabbed my hand and led me, much like I did him. I could feel bumps? on what was probably under his eye. 

“Your name was written in braille. My parents tattooed over it when I was a baby. It’s common in army families. It is under my left eye. Looks like three black pedals.” Suehiro traced the pedals with my fingers. 

I wanna have them memorized just like I have Suehiro’s name.

Chapter Text

Chapter one G, Edgar Allan Poe

Not having an ability means you are fragile.

Not having an ability means you can not fight.

Not having an ability means you are lesser.

Not having an ability means you do not have a soulmate.

These are all things that are common where I am from. It is common in the states to have these views. It is common to teach these views.

I grew up learning these views.

I grew up very differently than the other kids around me. The name appeared on the back of my neck at a young age. Two years later my ability had manifested. Or maybe it was the first time it was activated?

My education was streamlined. It was expected of me to be smarter than the non-ability users around me. I turned down the physical training option of my education. It never really appealed to me. Architecture, psychology, sociology, and English are my passions. 

It was slightly disappointing to my adopted parents that I wasn’t a soldier or a politician. But it was my calling. By eighteen I already had my private detective license. 

Between all of this I read what I could about japanese. The language of the name that is tattooed on the back of my neck. By the age of fifteen the name was burned into my brain.

Edogawa Ranpo

It was hard at first. Figuring out which name was the given one and which was the family one. Sometimes with foreign names it could switch languages and placement. The name was in the Japanese translation.

At age twenty the Guild had approached me. They didn’t need me to join full time, just help them with a construction project. I was hesitant at first but the moment I saw Moby Dick in front of me I knew I was taking the job. The beauty of the whale couldn’t be described with words, the best I could do was say it was 

“What a dream.”

At age twenty two I had worked wonders on Moby Dick. An architect, detective, and mystery writer of good standing. I was heading to Japan for the first time for a detective competition. I couldn’t help but dream that I would meet my soulmate there. Would they be younger than me? Older perhaps. Would they have an ability? If not I would not be their soulmate but they would be mine. 

Oh. 

I hope they have an ability.

Non-ability users do not have souls after all.

I met them at the competition. I tried to talk to them and got shut down. That’s fine, the competition is about to start. After the competition I lost, I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. But I steeled myself for what’s to come. 

“Edogawa Ranpo. I am Poe Allan Edgar. It is nice -”

“I don’t talk to losers.” I was stunned speechless. My social anxiety and my selective mutism were flaring. Without another word my soulmate turned on his heels and left. 

Rejected. 

I was rejected?

Was that common here in Japan? In the states that’s almost unheard of. And - and for - for losing?

I was subdued on the plane ride back. Filled with anger, hurt, and humiliation. I would make Ranpo Edogawa pay for making a love struck fool of me.

Back in America I bowed before a fire pit.

Master Fitzgerald holding a branding iron. The Guild’s g at the end. 

“As tradition. All Guild members must meet two requirements. Have an ability. And have the guild brands over their soulmates name. Do you agree to meet these terms and become a full fledged member of the Guild?”

“ Yes.”

The branding iron pressed against my neck. The scent of burning flesh entered my mind. Strands of hair fell to the ground, the lush red velvet carpet, as they got caught under the branding iron. Burning hair smell was something I never thought I would ever smell.

“You didn’t scream. Most would be on the floor crying right now.”

“I have felt pain worse than this.” The words were spat out, tears running down my face. Master Fitzgarled looked down at me with slight surprise.’

“Oh? And tell what was this pain?”

“Rejection.”

Master Fitzgerald's eyes widened then half lidded with pity. I cared for neither. I just wanted one thing.

I wanted revenge on Ranpo Edogawa!

Six years latter

“Where’s your soul mark?” The words tumbled out of my mouth. Ranpo froze while playing with Karl. He sighed and put Karl down. Pulling down his sock there facing me right above his right ankle was a scar.

“My parent’s cut it off when I was a baby. I didn’t know about you until Montgomery-san told me about your soul mark.”

“I’m sorry.” Ranpo looked up at me and smiled.

“There’s no need. I have long accepted the truth.”

Chapter Text

Age three I could feel a cold feeling on my chest. At first I ignored it. It felt like a cold pack on my stomach. I’m not sure what was going on in my mind at the time, I was after all three, but the cold feeling on my chest made me think of ice cream. And of course a three year old thinks of ice cream. They want ice cream. 

I was in the back seat of the car, my mom in the passenger seat, my dad in the driver's seat, and my big sister in the seat next to me. Here I was throwing a tantrum for ice cream.

“Snow? This time of year?” Mom’s voice was quiet as she whispered the question.

“WHAT!” Beautiful light green snow fell to reveal a giant ice cream in the middle of the road. Dad swerving to avoid it, mom and big sister screaming, me giggling all the way.

The car roof touching the road. A quiet sister and father. A crying mother.

As the light snow falls around them,

Fukuchi Michizou was the name written on my chest, 

cold to the touch.

Age four it was just my mother and I. In a house made for four. Oh such a quiet family of two in a house made for four.

The earth shook below us. The walls came crumbling down. The house of four was no more.

Beams of house laid over my mother crushing her like a weighted blanket. Hours upon hours the house beams laid over mother.

“Snow. At this time of year?” A civillen asked as they moved away from the rubble.

The light snowfall out of season covered the family of two from praying eyes.

Age six was a wedding. My mother is to marry a man I have never met. A man to be my father.

“You must be Makioka Sono! I’m Tanizaki Naomi. I’m your new little sister!”

We danced together till nightfall. Spent even more of night chatting. 

There was no snow that night. But more snowfall was to come.

Age eight was when things first ary. As if things haven't been slowly going down hill since age three. Purple bruises covered mom as if they were blooming flowers. All over her arms, back, chest, and legs. Never her pretty face as my dad - sorry, step dad always liked to say.

I never cared much for long shirts and pants. Always liking shorts and tank tops. Though that changed over the two years my mother has been married to this man. As purple bruises matching my mother appeared over my body.

Naomi never had a single bruise flower over her body.

It was a simple summer night when it changed. Mom waddles to cook dinner with her bleeding leg. My throat burning from the fresh new bruise. Naomi jumped in front of my body with her like a human meat shield. Normal night in the family.

But Step Father didn’t move Naomi away from me. This time he hit her. 

He hit Naomi.

It was closer to sunrise than night fall. Naomi had cried herself to sleep in my arms again. Mother and StepFather asleep in their bed. 

This night was different.

I walked myself quietly to the kitchen. Lifted myself up on my tippy toes and stretched as big as I could to get the biggest knife in the kitchen. As I grabbed the knife I looked out the window.

“Snow. At this time of year.” 

I turned away from the window and moved towards the master bedroom. Quiet as the snow falls outside. Breath, footsteps, and heartbeat not heard. 

One would think it would be hard to kill a grown man in his own bed. 

One would also think his wife would be even harder to kill. Seeing as one might assume the man might protect her. 

They died in their sleep with a knife to the throat as the snow fell outside. A peaceful death they did not deserve but death they got. 

Quiet once again I moved to my room. A room shared with Naomi. 

“If I know from the start that I'm going to be alone, I'm not lonely. It doesn't bother me.”

With that the knife plunged into the six year old’s chest. I laid down next to her and stayed.

Morning came. The sun shone through the curtains. Cooking food wafted over the apartment. 

“Aneki! Wake up. We’ll be late for school.” Naomi yelled standing in front of the bed. 

Was it all a dream last night? That morning it was the same as last morning. The night was the same as always. New bruises covered my body. The next morning was normal as was the night. 

I had light snow activated for a whole year recreating my family. 

Age nine I fell ill. My body felt hot. I skipped school that day. Walking around I fell into the slums and promptly passed out. 

“Hello little one.” Was what I heard when I came too. I tried to speak but it became a coughing fit. “Dazai! Get the young lady some water.” 

“I’m not your assistant!” A boy’s voice that sounded more like a teenager's age spoke. A bandage hand gave me a glass of water. I greedily drank it. “Slow there child. You’ll make yourself sick if you hurry.” I slowed a little at that.

“I’m Doctor. Mori. This is another patient in my care, Dazai Osamu. The young lady coloring is Elsie.” I turned to look over and there was indeed a blonde girl coloring in the corner. The boy in the next cot was heavily bandaged. Both looked to be a good few years older than me. 

“What’s your name, little lady?” I thought for a minute. 

“Snow.” The doctor smiled at that.

“Nice to meet you. You gave us a little scare. You’ve been in and out of consciousness for about a week! Glad to see you fully up.” I nod at that. “Can you tell me what a young ability user like yourself is doing out in these parts?”

“Ability user?” It was a term I have never heard of before. Dazai snorted at that. Mori glared at him for that.

“May I?” He pointed to my shirt. I nodded. He lifted it up to show the name under the left side of my small developing breast. “This name means you have an ability. A power you alone can use. You probably haven’t manifested yours yet. Dazai here can stop all other abilities.” I turned to look at the other boy. 

It wasn’t long before that that I fell back asleep. Dazai sleeping in the cot next to mine. That’s when I heard it. The small quiet peep of a familiar voice. I woke up to it and looked around to see Naomi. Waving me over to the door outside. We hugged as we ran from the slum clinic. 

“Naomi what’s going on?” She turned to look at me. “Our parents are dead.”

I’m not sure what I came down with but I don’t want to know how long I would have lived in that illusion otherwise.

We lived like that for a few years. Running around Yokohama. During those years I learned of my ability . Light Snow . 

Men. 

Men were always my target. Thoughts of Naomi going hungry devodied any guilt. Light snow covered me. Beautiful young women, sometimes men. Always different looks for different men. Flirting with them. Listening to them. Money falling from their hands to mine. 

Men. 

Their blood covers their beds as they die from my knife. Only the ones whose kids or wives are covered in purple blossoming bruises. 

“You killed us. You killed us like you do those men. Play the sweet and innocent and kill us as we trust you.” 

Naomi’s words engrave themselves to me. Her hands covered my body in purple bruise flowers. The shorts and tank tops I like become permanently replaced with sweater paws and jeans. 

“I love you big brother. Thank you for everything you do for me. I owe you my life.”

Naomi cuddles. Letting me lean on her as I fall apart. I cry for her death as she hugs me and thanks me for her life.

Naomi is both my spiked collar chained around my neck as well as my crutch to lean upon.

Neutral territory is a place in Yokohama that has a giant No fighting rule. Where Port Mafia and the new Armed Detective Agency grit their teeth and walk past one another.

“Now, kid. One last time. Are you positive?” I laid down at the neutral territory tattoo shop seats. The shop everyone in Yokohama goes to when they want to get their soul name removed but won't burn it or cut it. Or even have someone else's name put on them.

A snowdrop flower covered my soul name. A flower that blooms in snow and is poisonous to people and animals.

“Just like you.”

I couldn’t tell if that was my head speaking in Naomi’s voice or if I made an auditory illusion. Or just another hallucination.

“You can’t have a soulmate. You are mine and mine alone.”

I looked up at the tattoo artist. Someone who’s probably covered the soul names of people far younger than little fourteen year old me.

“You kill them just like you killed your whole family.” 

I didn’t bother shaking Naomi’s voice off.

When I left, an orange - haired boy with a bandaid over his nose came in.

Age fifteen there was glass in my womb. Naomi’s words flittered in the air in her sing-song tone. My voice hoarse from screaming at her to stop it. I grabbed a vase and threw it. It shattered as it hit the wall. I screamed as Naomi laughed. In a fit I grabbed a shard and stabbed it where my uterus is. 

“How lucky! Now there wont be any kids to fuck up.”

Was that me or Naomi speaking? I’m scared of the answer. 

Naomi and I lived in a castle. Or at least I thought it was. At the time. In reality it was just a warehouse covered in light snow. But back then I thought it was real. Even now I still fall to my illusions not knowing what is real or not. The blood covering my arms, the bruises, the tattoo, the name, were they all illusions too?

At age sixteen multiple men were under my thumb as they fed me and Naomi more and more money. 

How many of those abusive men died under my finger tips?

I don’t know. Pigs like them don’t even deserve a number.

Unfortunately the Armed Detective Agency seemed to think differently. 

It took a year for them to convince me to join. And they buried my record of crimes. Ranpo was not happy about me and Naomi joining. He really didn’t like me. 

More accurately he didn’t like Naomi.

When I joined I put a new illusion on myself. The last time I didn’t have an illusion covering me I was - I think it was before I had an ability. It doesn't feel right anymore. When was the last time I've seen what I actually looked like? A few months after I joined, a man named Dazai Osamu joined.

I met Michi-chan a few times before we spoke. But back then he was just the punk wanna be from the Port Mafia. Then he became Tachihara. Then he became Michizou.

It started with the serial suicides. I had ended up in Port Mafia territory and this idiot was chasing his ability with a shoddily made wooden crossbow. 

That was the first crack in Tachihara Michizou’s mask. 

Then after my language lesson to learn English I caught him with Jouno of the Hunting Dogs. My heart slowed to a freeze, my steeps lighter than a feather. I listen in with Light Snow covering me.

My blood dropped when Jouno still noticed me.

That was the second crack in Tachihara Michizou. 

Then everything spilled like a dam breaking.

His ability.

The Hunting Dogs.

His mission as a spy.

His brother.

Being ordered to get closer to Akutagawa for more information

Dating Akutagawa Gin to complete that order.

Falling in love with Gin.

The break up.

Yosano Akiko .

Everything came bursting out of him. Finally desperate to no longer hold it all back.

There was trust.

There was no trust.

We fell in love under Light Snow's illusion.

We always had a knife at eachothers back waiting for betrayal. 

“I feel stupid now.” Was Tachihara’s words as the Port Mafia tied me up. The boss and the rest of the ADA are going as fast as they can away from here.

“Aren’t you always?” The male Akutagawa twin snapped back. Tachihara raised his hands in surrender. 

“Hey i'm just saying when they had their non combative clerk out with there front line fighters it should have raised some flags.” Everyone was slightly quiet at that for a moment.

Executive Nakahara groaned at that. I really had to hide a laugh at that. I was actually really worried that it would draw some attention. A clerk like myself should have raised some eyebrows.

I made sure the chair blocking the door was secure. The keys locked the door and the Black Lizards were now trapped in their own interrogation room.

Light Snow covered me as I made it to the Don’s room. It was odd. It wasn’t the first time I snuck into Port Mafia headquarters. Sneaking in to see Tachihara on more than one occasion. But this time - this time I truly feel excited to be here.

The thirst for the kill was radiating off of me. I care for the Agency. I do. To an extent. But this. This had nothing to do with them.

I’m going to kill the Don of the Port Mafia because I want to.

Blood dripped as Golden Demon pierced my chest. The mission had failed. But I made sure to leave a little present for the Port Mafia.

A deep ragged cut straight across the Don’s soul name. 

When I got to the truck I was more pissed that my shirt and binder were ruined more than anything. That binder was semi expensive.

Throwing both to the ground I covered my upper half with the red jacket around my waist. I was pissed.

Nobody hurts Naomi.

The next day after the celebration party after mutual destruction I once again snuck into the Port Mafia headquarters. Their security system sucks . I jumped on Tanizaki’s bed in his apartment to wait for him to come back.

His scream as he saw me in his bed was even more high pitch then during the serial suicide attack. I swear he screams like a prepubescent girl.

“What are you doing here?” He looks ready to bolt. As if an attack could come from anywhere. Considering who I am, that is a fair assessment.

“I need you to buy me a new binder.” He stops and looks at me for a moment.

“Why?”

“Because Executive Ozaki destroyed mine and so you're buying me a new one. That one was fairly expensive. It almost cost me seven thousand seven hundred fifty yen, Asshole!”

Tachihara just groaned and plopped on his bed next to me. His Hunting Dog green jacket was thrown somewhere. He put his gun holsters on the desk near the bed. 

“Why so expensive.”

“Good chest binders are expensive chest binders.”

His chest to the machres his head turned to look at me. He narrowed his eyes at me and stared. Before I could ask he opened his mouth.

“Are you flat chested or something?” I promptly slapped him. Then grabbed one of his guns from the holster and hit him again with the handle. Over and over again.

“I get it!” Wack. ”I get it!” Wack. “Quit it!” Wack. “I’M SORRY! ALREADY!” I put the gun down on the other desk, the one closer to me.

“Was that necessary?” 

“You're the dumbass staring at my chest.”

“There’s nothing to stare at!” I just rolled my eyes at that. Lifting my shirt I dropped the illusion around my chest. Revealing the two size too small sports bra and the underboob tattoo covering my soul name.

“Oh.” Was what he said. “I keep forgetting I’ve never seen what you actually look like.”

“Idiot.” Tachihara rubbed his thumb against my tattoo. “I didn’t take you for the type to reject your soulmate.”

“And I didn’t take you for a romantic fool.” 

We slept together that night. Tachihara became Michizou. He slept as I traced the black lizard tattoo on his left shoulder. 

What name was under that tattoo? It wasn’t Tanizaki Junichiro. Makioka Sono? Tanizaki Sono? A name I used under my illusions when seducing older men out of their money? 

It does not matter. 

I never did tell him he was my soulmate did I?

Tachihara became Michizou after that.

I’m not sure how everything just spiraled after that. But it did.

Bleaching strands of my hair.

Having those strands braided. 

Adding more piercings.

Wearing more metal in general for that idiot to find me.

After the vampire infection I could feel the heavy dangling weight of the dog tag around my neck.

“My brother always told me I was his truth. It was his way of saying I love you. You are my truth. Marry me.”

My dumbass said yes. 

The ring of Michizou’s brother and his fiance felt heavy around my neck.

It was odd. Or maybe it wasn’t. Naomi’s been kinder since Michizou has been in my life. I have taken more assaination jobs since meeting him. My clothes have been getting steadily darker. My makeup has been getting darker as well. 

The scars have started to heal up.

“What they don’t tell you about living in the light is that the light hurts so bright it’ll make you blind.”

I put in my two week notice at the Agency. Took a full time job as an assassin. Never actually got married to Michizou but call him my husband anyway. Spend far too much time at the Hunting Dogs headquarter with Kenji then I probably should. I have been happier since I stopped trying to live in the burning light.

I wasn’t expecting a job offer from the Don of the Port Mafia himself.

Chapter Text

Chapter two PM , Akutagawa Ryunosuke

I never questioned why there was only one name on my left hip. There was never a need to. There were lots of people who stayed in the slums that never knew their last name. 

I never really bothered with it. If I meet them I meet them. If I don’t I don’t. But Gin always had a fascination with the name. Tracing the name with her finger for hours, if allowed. Maybe that was why I just didn’t burn the damned thing off.

It wasn’t till Chuuya-san did I really question my name.

A person who wouldn't have my name on them and would go by a different name.

A non ability user then.

Female as well.

I didn't really go looking for them. I never really saw the point. Fate would decide if we meet or not. But I did start thinking about her more. 

What had happened to a non-ability user's life to warrant changing their name?

What had happened to make it so they only had one name?

They promptly went into the back of my head as the Jinko came into my life. 

The very very very annoying Jinko.

This weak and naive Weretiger had Dazai’s approval.

And then this damned pain in the ass has to go and make my job harder. 

The damned boat fight that still leaves lingering phantom pains.

That first damned job on Moby Dick was a nightmare.

The damned fight in the serial suicide fog.

Now that's when everything went to shit even faster.

Random meetings in alley ways.

Random fights in said alley ways.

Talking. Or more like non yelling bantering.

The damned fools mentor dying. 

I wasn’t sure what to do with that one. Was it really closer to knowing it was an accident? Who knows.

Probably not for a damned fool running away from his past.

I couldn’t say I’d feel great knowing that Dazai died in a fucking car accident.

Then the damned mutual destruction battle.

Stupid fool calling me a lawn mower . The damned kid probably doesn't even know what a lawn mower is! 

Not killing for six months. My job has a high kill count. Damned Jinko! Always making my job harder.

“Hey Princess.”

“What Jinko?”

“Let’s leave out the horse thing, ok?” I turned to look at him. He raised an eyebrow. I hate that he just had to raise an eyebrow for me to understand.

“Yes. Let's keep our pride intact.” Weretiger snorted at that.

“You have pride?” He could barely keep the snickering out of his voice. I stopped walking and turned to face him. 

“And what makes you think I don’t have pride?” I snapped. The Weretiger snorted again at that. Then looked at me up and down. “You mean besides the fact that you dress like a sickly Victorian child for work, or the fact you have no eyebrows, or the fact you're the walking embodiment of notice me senpai, or the fact you're just a walking praise kink!?” My face turned red.

“I AM NOT A WALKING PRAISE KINK!”

“SO YOU ADMIT TO DRESSING LIKE A SICKLY VICTORIAN CHILD FOR WORK AND THE FACT YOU'RE THE WALKING EMBODIMENT OF NOTICE ME SENPAI, AND THE FACT YOU HAVE NO EYEBROWS!”

“AS IF YOU DON’T SPREAD YOUR LEGS FOR DAZAI WHEN EVER HE ASKS!” 

I would be foolish to not have noticed the hickies on the boy’s neck that should have healed. The way he limps that correspond with a rough fucking. Or the fact that Dazai’s scent woofed from him.

“YOU SAY THAT AS IF YOU DIDN’T!” We both reached the road. Both the Armed Detective Agency and the Port Mafia have left ages ago at our request to leave us behind. Now both red and puffing for breath.

That night I couldn’t sleep. Dreaming of when I paid Dazai back for letting me stay with the Port Mafia. After giving up sleeping I made myself some fig tea and avoided thinking about how the naive Weretiger might be paying Dazai back right now.

Blood trickled down my thighs as Dazai went roughly. Arms and legs covered in Dazai hand shaped bruises. Voice hoarse from screaming. 

He likes hearing me scream.

Over time those fights in back alleys turned into training seasons in Port Mafia warehouses. Those verbal bickering avoided Dazai altogether. Dinner after words were always on my pay (as the ADA pay was horrid, the grunt unit got paid more) or pre-made by Atsushi. The idiot needed to eat more.

Then the ADA got framed and the word became idiots.

Then my head got cut off. 

It hurt less than one might think.

Stupid Atsushi better be alive. 

There was a ragged red scar crossing one end of my neck to the other. And even worse is that damned Weretiger still wont give me my coat back!

A damned week since the damned battle and the stupid overgrown cat still has my coat!  

“WHAT!” I opened the door to my apartment at two thirty in the morning to find the Weretiger on the other side. Still wearing my coat!

“Nothing.” He then turned to leave. I used my coat the he was still to wrap him up and drag him back. “You can not come to my apartment at the cackass of dawn and not tell me why.”

“I had a nightmare and Kyoka is sleeping.”

“And why are you here ? Why not go to Dazai?” The fire in the damned cat’s eyes burned more than I like to admit.

“Nevermind. Just get inside. I can’t trust you to not get kidnapped so you'll sleep on the couch. Like a good cat .” The Weretiger just snorted at that. “Will you be a good Princess and sing me to sleep?”

The both of us awoke to Gin’s laughter as she took pictures of us napping and cuddling on the couch.

“Why did you even come here anyway, Weretiger?” The damned Weretiger shrugged as he made the three of us breakfast. “I sleep easier when I know the subjects of my nightmare’s are alive.”

I just snorted and rolled my eyes at that.

“Aren’t you heading to work, Princess?” 

“Yes, Weretiger. I am clearly going to work in my night clothing.” He rolled his eyes at that.

“And why not, Penguin?” 

“None of your damn business, Kitten-chan.” I rather swallow my damned tongue before saying I'm scared to go back. To say that I haven’t gone back since.

“Gin grabs your brother’s work clothes.” They nodded, the damned traitor.

I was stripped, bathed, forced into my work clothes, new work jacket, and hauled off into work like a sack of potatoes. Slung over his damned shoulder.

That went on for a week before I just gave up and did it myself. And no my heart didn’t skip a beat everytime the fool traced the name over my hip. 

Still didn’t stop a fight from breaking out in a back alley. 

“I’m not in the mood Akutagawa.” I knew that. The unhealing marks on the tiger’s neck were proof of that.

“The Weretiger not up for a fight. The world must be ending.” I snorted and rolled my eyes. I don’t even know why I’m picking a fight with Weretiger. I knew first hand the pain of being under Dazai. In both forms.

And how very much alone I wanted to be afterwards.

“And you're such a saint? My apologies, Angel.” Before I knew it a fist was to my face. And the next thing was both our hands around each other's necks choking. Lips pressed hard . Waiting to see who’ll pass out first. 

It then led to us fucking in the alley way. I tried to make marks but they healed instelly. Even more proof the marks on the Weretiger were from Dazai. The damned Weretiger kepped kissing and licking at my scar. 

As the Weretiger lifted his pants I just had to ask. “Can I have my coat back now?” 

“No.”  Then the fool did something I did not expect. Using his own claws he cut a line on his wrist. “ What are you doing?” 

“Something you’ll either thank me or punch me for.” Before I could ask, blood was being forced down my throat. As I was frozen the Weretiger left.

“ How?” Was the word out of the head doctor's mouth the morning after. “Your stage four lung cancer went to stage three literally overnight.”

“I don’t know.” I kept my mouth shut. I was not as smart as Dazai. Hell, not even as smart as the Weretiger (at times) but I knew that damned cat had something to do with this. 

And fuck it was right, got not clue if I wanna kill its or thank its for this.

It was odd and yet not so odd. How our relationship changed yet didn’t change with the addition of sex and kissing. It was still fifty fifty if we would fuck or fight. I  even started using the correct pronouns for the fool after that night. One third of the time the damned cat lived at my apartment, its shared dorm, or Dazai’s dorm. Sometimes coming straight from Dazai’s dorm if there were premade plans.

“ WERETIGER! ” My voice echoed across the apartment. Both Gin and Atsushi ran into my room. The damned Weretiger is still wearing my original coat. I am never getting that back am I?

Gin took one look at me and nearly died. Holding back her laughter in spurts of giggles. While the damned fool grinned. “I knew that would look good on you!” The bob hairstyle bounced as the weretiger giggled. 

If the asshole would regrow its hair then why didn’t it?

On my work shirt around my waist area was a damned bright blue flower embroidered on it. 

“When the fuck did you have time to embroider my shirt with out me noticing!?” That made the tiger nervous. Rubbing the back of their neck.

“I couldn’t sleep so I kinda sorta stole your first aid kit.”

“Why?”

“Used the needle and thread and embroidered your shirt.”

“Why?”

“In hopes of falling asleep but failing and now there’s a cut flower on your dress!’

“It’s a shirt damn it!” 

All the while Gin giggled at the whole situation.

Now whenever the damned cat has a free second it is embroidering a flower belt onto my work shirt . Even during missions! The first three flowers on my front are blue with the first flower being the biggest. The rest are an even brighter pink. 

I started wearing Gin’s dresses to work. Wearing my younger twin’s off work clothes is less embarrassing than a damned embroidered flower belt. No one really bats an eye. Not the first time I came to work in a dress. Not even the first time I came to work in Gin’s dress.

Sometime during this mess my soul name felt as if Dazai was using, No longer human. The pain was so unbearable that I couldn’t even go to work. I pathetically limped my way to the bathroom. What I saw made my blood drop.

The name Byakko was being replaced with the name Arahabaki. 

I passed out. It took another two days for me to be able to go back to work. Without a word to anyone I stormed straight to Chuuya-san’s office. 

“I know we’re drink-

“Why the hell do I have YOUR NAME ON ME!?”

“Sigh. I was wondering if you were going to ask about that. Sit down. I’ll explain what I can.” I sit down in a chair across from Chuuya-san’s desk.

“Nice shirt by the way.” I looked down at myself and saw that I was wearing the flower belt embroidered shirt. God fucking damn it. I got up, grubbed, stripped the shirt and changed into a red dress Chuuya-san always keeps in his office. Seeing as how none of his other clothes will fit me and the dress is just practically a shirt for me with mine and Chuuya’s height difference. I sat back down now wearing the dress, my shirt where the dress was.

“She is an idiot.” Was the first thing out of his mouth. “Byakko?” Chuuya-san humorously laughed at that. “Who the fucking hell else would it be?” 

“I’m sorry you had to get dragged into this. She was - she was cleaning up my mess for me. And this is the end result. You shouldn’t have gotten involved but you did. And for that I'm sorry.” Taking a closer look at Chuuya I could see the heavy bags under his eyes. 

“What happened?” They looked at me with heavy lidded eyes. “I told you. She was cleaning-”

“I mean tell me what actually happened. You didn’t want to drag me into this mess, well to bad. I’m already in this mess Chuuya-san.” Chuuya just sighed at that and shook his head. 

“This really isn’t my story to tell.”

“Well I'm a part of this story now.” They smiled at that. 

“You’ve always been a part of this story, Akutagawa. You are now realizing it.” I try not to throw something or scream and just storm out of his office. It was halfway down the building that I realized I was still wearing Chuuya’s dress.

Sighing, I continued walking down the building. I was too used to things like this. When I got to my apartment I held back a very loud sigh. There in my old coat was the Weretiger.

“Hey.” I bit my tongue when I saw his face. Red bloodshot eyes signifying tears. Red puffy lips signifying lip biting. 

“Order out for dinner?” I kept my tone even. One wrong move and we’ll both snap. It nodded at that. 

We ate the take out in silence. The sex afterwards was just pity sex. Though for who i’m not entirely sure. Atsushi traced the name on my hip not even asking why it’s not the same. 

I wonder how I got tangled up in this mess.

Chapter Text

Chapter two HD, Okura Teruko

I was a good hundred or so years old. I personally stopped counting after I turned around eighty. The name Fukuchi Ouchi was written a good twelve years after I had gotten my ability. By then I had a beautiful daughter. 

She was so small and young when she died. I - I don’t think I could tell you why I took the body or the age my daughter was when she died. After so many years I can’t really remember what she looked like. What she was like. Or anything about her other than the age she was when she died.

Towns turned to cities. Cities turned to dust. People come and go. Language has changed so drastically. 

It was odd.

I actually never expected to meet the man named Fukuchi Ouchi. I expected him to be dead long ago. Then I met him. A young man on the field.

No, not a man.

A young teen in a war zone. Fighting.

Though the age of teens had changed so often. By the time I was his age I was already an adult by the standards of the time. I followed this boy .

I followed him as he became a leader. A sheltered military boy. A criminal with wit and bite. And a boy I would later call my son . 

A son.

I never thought I would have a child again. Hiding away in cupboards we giggled. He was so small.

I cried when Mitchi called him dad. 

I sobbed when he called me mom.

It burned when the one I loved stabbed me in the back. 

It hurt like no other. I gritted my teeth and became a leader. 

I have always been a mother first

A lover second.

The betrayal of him blinding my son hurt worse than him betraying me.

I am a soldier.

I am a leader.

I am a mother.

I am not a lover.

Maybe that is why I'll live all eternity. To be alone.

Chapter Text

Chapter two G, John Steinbeck

Howard Phillips Lovecraft

The name tattooed on my lower back. It appeared two or so years after I had gotten my ability. To this day I still truly have no clue what it means. It burns. And burns. 

Hundreds of languages searched and not a single clue. 

After around a year I kinda just stopped looking for the name. I had more things to worry about. 

Money.

It was easy. A bit tight but easy. Just Ma, Pa, Uncle, Rose, and myself. Then came my little siblings. 

Soon Rose started working also. Fingers cracked and bloody. Workers' hands. 

I knew I had to get work. Ma sick in her bed. Pa not home for days on end. Uncle looking after Ruith and Winny. 

It started out small. Maybe even a bit stupid. Having trees fall down near people. They branched stealing their money. I worked well. 

Then I got greedy. And this was how the stupid part came in. I had tree branches in rich peoples houses and robbed them.

I like to reiterate that I realize this was stupid. 

Now.

So I stole valuables from the guild. Pawned the valuables. Got caught. And ended up in debt to the guild.

I had far more on my mind then a soulmate.

I was sent on jobs to repay all that I had stolen. I just sighed and went along with it. It was better than my head being blown against a wall.

Then I met him. 

The boss called me one day and there he was standing behind the boss looking out the window. 

And in my brain My first elegant thought was “Who’s this walking corpse behind my blackmailer?” What I said instead was “Yes boss? You needed me.”

“Meet your partner for the next mission. Howard Phillips Lovecraft.” Both of our eyes moved to the man? All the person did was stare out at the window. “He’s odd. But he gets the job done.”

I didn’t really care much for the man. He was nice? I didn’t hate him. He was odd just as Fitzgerald said. Did his work, carried his share, so I really couldn’t complain. 

But he just kept staring at me.  

And at the time I had no Idea why. Till the end of the mission.

The job was finished. Report given to the boss. And soon I was in an empty office, held upside down by tentacles, being stripped by my work partner. 

“There it is.” His fingers traced the name on my lower back. It made me freeze in my struggle. Blood rushing to my head, my shirt on the floor, my overalls around my knees, the cold of his fingers tracing the name tattooed on my back like a tramp stamp.

“I don’t see my name written out in my language very often.” My face felt flushed, though I couldn’t tell if that was from blushing or nearing to pass out. 

It was odd. Not a bad odd. But odd none the less. He became my permanent partner for jobs.

He never really touched me after the first time. But he never really touched anyone. 

He never really spoke to me. But he never really spoke to anyone. 

He gave me most of the money made. I didn’t fight that as hard as I could have. 

I was young. At the time we met I had just turned fifteen. I didn’t really think much of it. We had a seven year age difference and there could be a chance we might be platonic soulmates. Rare but possible.

His behavior really never crossed into lovers. But it felt odd to say brother. Too young to really say father.

We just were. 

I liked that. Him just being there.

Our relationship was just as odd as him. But that was fine. The word soulmate was all we needed to describe our relationship.

Chapter Text

Chapter two ADA, Dazai Osamu

I never really cared much for my soulmate. I knew young I was going to have an ability. Long before I even got it. Or maybe my ability came before the name. 

It's difficult to tell with my ability.

The name Arahabaki felt like a stab. Like my life was as fake as people's love for me. A fake god for a fake love.

I made sure to burn it off. 

Then I met Mori.

Then I was really glad I burnt the damned name off.

And then I met Ango and Odasaku. Then I was really grateful to burn the name off. 

I couldn’t bring myself to burn the name Ango off my arm.

I had their names tattooed. As if I wasn’t the third wheel.

The Odasaku died. The name Sakaguchi Ango is comfortably hidden on his heart.

I ignored Chuya. Ignored his name under the ink, under the burn.

“Let's make a deal.” Atsu- no Byakko offered one night.

Ango and Odasaku became my true soulmates in exchange for cutting off Arahabaki of my soul.

Oh. Byakko learned so much from me. 

Whatever she gained from this deal won't matter for I won.

Chapter Text

Chapter three PM, Ozaki Kouyou

I was in love.

Stupid, stupid girl I was. 

He loved me.

He used me.

His name was written beautifully over my heart.

I burned it off with a Port Mafia brand.

A foolish orphan girl working the red light district. She fell in love with a John. Oh, such a common story for a young worker. 

I hated Mori for killing him.

I could never thank Mori enough for killing him. 

I fear for Kyoka. Weartiger, watch out for her.

Chapter Text

Chapter three HD, Suehiro Tecchou

The Hunting Dogs were odd. I’m not sure about the vice captain but I knew about Tachihara and Jouno. Two criminals that had one of two choices were juvie or Hunting dogs. I’m not really sure why they chose the Hunting dogs and I knew they wouldn’t tell me if I asked. But I’m happy that they did. I don’t think our little family of five would be a little family of five without them.

I was born into a military family. I was born with braille under my eye. I was born knowing that I was an ability user. I never knew what my name said. I never questioned it.

I just did what was expected of me. Trained. Joined the military. Figured out my ability. Fought. Got offered a position for Hunting Dogs. Joined because that is expected of me.

I never really expected to like it. And at first I didn’t. I felt like a third wheel to the Captain and Vice Captain honeymoon phase. I was happy when Jouno came around. We were usually partnered with one another. 

Then Michi joined the Hunting Dogs. I wondered if this was what it was like to have an older brother.

I wasn’t sure why it took two years for him to tell me he was my soulmate. I knew he wouldn’t tell me if I asked, so I didn’t. I never thought I would meet my soulmate. But now that I have I really couldn’t imagine a world without him. 

Nothing about our relationship changed much. It was still the same talk. Still the same hanging out. It wasn’t a world shifting, it was just perspective shifting.

I focused more on him than the other Hunting Dogs. I noticed little details. He always had his walking stick with him. Though he never used it around the base or missions. He liked shades of blue though he could no longer see blue. 

How when we first kissed he blushed redder than his earring. It was both our first kiss. How when we fell into bed together he was no longer in charge. No longer ‘holding my leash’ as the Vice Captain once put it. It was odd being in charge. But nice knowing that he trusted me enough to take care of him. 

Jouno didn’t know how to spell his name. And so I did not know how to spell his name. In exchange I spent hours tracing my name over his inner thigh

Chapter Text

Chapter three G, Lucy Maud Montgomery 

Lucy Maud Montgomery didn’t know how to read. That was a common occurrence with orphans. Though rare in ability users. The government does what it can to shoot ability users up the ranks. 

Lucy Maud Montgomery never cared to learn to read. Surviving was far more important. How could you meet one's soulmate if you were dead after all. Every ability user has a soulmate you have to live long enough to meet them. 

You can die before you meet your soulmate.

Lucy Maud Montgomery doesn't want to die.

By the time Lucy Maud Montgomery had the means to learn how to read she wasn’t able to read her soulname. There was a burnt G in the middle making it impossible to read it.  

Lucy Maud Montgomery looked at the soulmates within the guild. The boss and his soulless soulmate. She couldn’t help but pity the man. A disillusioned soulmate that could never love him back the way he loved her.

John Steinbeck and Howard Philips Lovecraft. Lucy was never sure if they were platonic or romantic. She never cared enough to find out nor was she close enough to the two to ask. But she didn’t need clarification on what type of relationship they have to know that Lucy will never have that kind of love.

Margaret Mitchell and Nathaniel Hawthorn. Those two can never stop fighting. One could hear them from across the Moby Dick. She saw Twain walk in the direction of their yelling and immediately turn around. Lucy didn’t think the two could stand each other; she was proven wrong. They both almost died for each other. It showed her love comes in many forms.

Louisa May Alcott and the boss. It was a rare one sided bond. Everyone in the Guild knew but the boss.

Edger Allen Poe and someone he Poe refuses to mention. A rejection. The Guild pities him more than they do Alcott.

Lucy Maud Montgomery was just happy to be alive. Love, platonic or romantic could come later.

Chapter Text

Chapter three ADA, Yosana Akiko 

Shunzen Tachihara.

I worked in my grandfather's candy shop. A bowl of candy dropped from my hands as the name colored my skin. It didn’t hurt. It felt cold. 

Shunzen Tachihara.

It was weird for a kid like me. It all changed. Everyone either treated me like their savor or their demise. No one knew what my ability was. It hadn't been unlocked or it has and I haven't found the right conditions for it. It could be years before the name showed up that I had my ability or years after the name showed up that my ability will show itself. 

It was confusing for a little seven year old me. 

I remember it. Even after everything I don't think I could forget the sign for the shop falling on grandpa's head. Or the butterflies that erupted after words.

I could never get the blood stains off the sidewalk.

At ten I met him .

Mori Ouagi.

At eleven I met him.

Shunzen Tachihara.

A young soldier boy. An ability that was weak but useful. A young man that is now in the eye of Mori Ouagi because of me.

I was young, not stupid . I was a doctor. I knew about rape. Grandfather made sure his young grandchild going into a war with no fighting experience might experience if captured by the enemy. I knew why Shunzen Tachihara had bruises on his neck and walked with a limp. I knew why the limp was worse and the bruises bloody on days I disobeyed.

I was Shunzen Tachihara chain. 

I really was his salvation and demise.

Braided hair, adorable metal sculptures, cuddles, tales of his little brother (and only his little brother I noticed but never mentioned), mentioning me as his angel to his letters to his brother.

No matter how much pain I brought him he never brought me pain.

I was his angel.

He was my tie to reality.

I was shattered when he died. My ability couldn’t heal me from a broken heart. 

I eventually healed with the help of Ranpo and the President.

That's what I thought at least.

Then his little brother showed up.

His little brother made my heart ache. I could see it. The way Mori looked at him. The make up caking his neck and the slight limp he walked with.

The Hunting Dogs looked out for the youngest member. I could see how Michizou walked closer to the Vice Captain. They saw each other as child and parent.

The soulmate pair saw him as a little sibling.

Junichiro loves Michizou. 

Michizou loves Junichiro.

I could see Junichiro mentally getting better. Naomi was spending less and less time at the Agency. That was fun learning. Thank you for not telling us about that Ranpo. I think with sarcasm.

I wanted to say something. Do something.

I just let Michizou and Junichiro walk away. Junichiro could save Michizou in a way I never could.

I just hope Shunzen forgives me.