Only Louisa's squeaky voice snapped you out of your forlorn reminisce. The girl was happily talking about the man who saved you.
Ever since you joined this ability organization, you've been thickening your facade of being mischievous hiding that melancholy of loss. A naughty girl who knacks the big boss. You've pranked him plenty times.
For three years in this airship, you've been aching to discover your ability. The ability they have been talking about, that all odds are going to dwindle.
"I-- pardon me, Miss Alcott. I feel quite sick. May I need some time out?"
She silently nodded at you.
You traipsed out of the room, passing and bumping into strangers in the airship. You opened a small shut. Until you came out, feeling the wind of the sea hitting on your face was relaxing, so easy to breathe. They landed Moby Dick in the middle of a body of water.
Clenching your fists, you gripped the stick you've been carrying all along. It was made of wood, the handle just fits perfectly on your hand. So firm, just the right grip.
A wave of nostalgia hit you as continue to stare at the stick. The ship changed course and you stumbled back inside. Instead of hitting hard cold walls, it was a soft sensation.
"Gyaaaahh!!!"
Then the loud thud of bodies come.
"Oh, hey, Lucy. Thanks for the catch."
"Why did you open that?"
She shoved you off of her. Her grouchy attitude still visible on her face. Her maid attire broke your hard fall, seeing that her dress was really crumpled.
"Shall I buy an iron?"
"I don't need that."
The flare in her eyes stares immensely at you. But you payed no heed to her look. You remembered the garish clothing she used to wear and now to see her wearing a maid outfit.
"Then, please, accompany me to Yokohama just to traipse around."
She glowered at you, "I don't know why an eighteen year old scum asks a twenty year old to accompany her binge shopping,"
You took a swig of tea, replenishing your tired state. The both of you have been jovially wandering around Yokohama, albeit Lucy hated to admit that she was enjoying this. She wasn't even aware that she was wearing the maid attire as she goes sight-seeing. She expected you to binge shop and believes that you took hold again of Fitzgerald's wallet.
Possible. You could of have swiped Fitzgerald's wallet and buy yourself clothing. You only have two sets of clothing. A pair of black jeans, a white long-sleeved polo shirt. Which you are currently wearing. The second set would be a black long-sleeved polo shirt and shorts that you would wear along with stockings. Fitzgerald said so... it wasn't any to your liking. Lastly, a pair of combat boots for your feet.
Everyday you were going on with your laundry, but glad enough that your clothing is sufficient. Fitzgerald got enough money (or too much) to buy you more clothing, why few? You need plenty.
"Hey, JK, a Japanese isn't supposed to gulp down tea in a second." Lucy scolded, her harsh tone resonating in the silent cafe.
"But I'm not a Japanese."
She closed her eyes and sighed heavily, her breath almost reaching you, "we both are."
It was convenient to use Lucy's ability to exit the airship. That was the reason why you've brought along Lucy. Maybe you were forcing her to neglect her job as a helper and let her be kicked out of the group.
"Don't go mumbling about loudly. I can hear you wanting to make me a stray."
"You're my higher-up, I'm currently accompanying and assisting you at the moment so Mr. Fitzgerald has no reason to just let me go."
You finished drinking and wiped off your mouth with your sleeve, "good point."
You looked outside to the burning sky. The sun was setting, it's aura glistening over the edges of the clouds. It was a ravishing scenery. You looked back to Lucy. The red-head was also captivated to the beauty. You wanted to invite her to watch the sunset at the docks, but you had enough trouble at that kind of setting since yesterday.
Fitzgerald found Lucy impractical. Her ability was concluded not suitable for combat so she was demoted. Both of you were orphans, but for her side, she had it worse. Since she was indebted to the rich man, she had to serve him.
The bell rang. A certain boy who was about your age walks in, struts in silence like a cat. His eyes captivated you the most. A man covered in bandages trails behind him.
"Lu--"
But she was not there. The only thing she left behind was her unfinished tea. Within the blink of an eye, the girl disappeared. The bandaged man took the lead to come to you, his eyes full of surprise. There was this moment of fresh nostalgia.
Who was this man? The brown hair, the bandage covered body, the coat.
"You--" he pointed a finger at you.
"Hmm?"
"My lady, would you do me the honor of doing double-suicide together?" He kneeled in front of you, taking your hand as if he was proposing to you.
"Dazai-san!" The white-haired called.
The boy grabbed his companion's shoulder and dragged him away from you. The boy had a hard time pulling him because he kept clutching you. When the shenanigan was over, the three of you settled down and took a seat.
The man named 'Dazai' was still fawning over you, he was giving you winks and the pretty eyes.
"We're from the Armed Detective Agency. I'm Nakajima Atsushi and this is my colleague, Dazai Osamu,"
Atsushi Nakajima. The name was so familiar. Where have you heard it before?
Dazai took your hand again and caresses it.
"Well-- er... he's quite the ladies' man," you paused, you recalled hearing of the Armed Detective Agency, "I've heard of the agency..."
"You're not from here?" Atsushi takes a portion of his chazuke and gulps it on one bite. For a moment there, you thought how he quickly got his order.
"I was born in this country but my parents were Westerners," with that said, you swatted Dazai's hand away, "Oh, and I'm JK, JK Rowling."
Akutagawa walks, his coat swishing with the air. It still bothered him. Why couldn't he kill the girl? He had this feeling she was more than what she is through her appearance. His rule of eliminate all foes at once and leave one to be tolerated and throw it aside when it becomes useless wasn't applied.
A very peculiar feeling for him to feel. It was very peculiar of him to feel something. A gut feeling, perhaps. His stomach churned as he thinks more and more of it.
Who was she?
"Senpai, is something wrong?" Higuchi asks. She was the person who walked alongside him as they enter the hideout.
Akutagawa's old nom de guerre suited him perfectly. 'Silent Rabid Dog'.
Higuchi's question was answered with his silence.
"That's interesting," you remarked.
The café in the first floor and the agency at the third floor. Fascinating. It was a fuss getting out of Dazai's flirty antics and it was difficult to get a normal conversation going on. If it weren't for Atsushi, Dazai would have already assaulted you.
You ordered a cinnamon roll and coughed at the first bite you took.
"JK-san, are you fine?" Atsushi worriedly asks.
"Yeah..." you coughed between words, "I--I'm fine."
Somewhere along the conversation about the Armed Detective Agency, the door slammed open and there came a blonde man with his long, thin hair tied into a ponytail. He tapped his foot furiously while holding a book with the label 'Ideals'.
He glowered at Dazai's direction and Dazai paused on his current action.
"I only said it's Atsushi's break. Get back to work!"
The blond man pulled the eccentric Dazai out of the cafe and all disruptions ended. All was peace and quiet.
"Quite a show." You remarked, "was the blond man also a member?"
You received a nod from Atsushi.
"I'm so lost. Why did Lucy leave me? The old man is going to shave me." You sighed.
You sat on a bench at an empty park. The chirp of crickets and the slur of the cicadas harmonized together. It was night but the city was still filled with wandering people and couples and a single child buying vegetables for their supper.
If one would be worried about you, it would be Fitzgerald. He would recklessly come after you or send someone. But you have doubted that he would at these times. He seemed to be in his limit of your shenanigan.
A way to describe your situation, terribly hopeless. Lucy disappeared as soon as the two agents went inside the cafe. You suspected she knew them since she used to take out missions like Twain and Steinbeck.
You knew how much Fitzgerald wanted to capture-- you rememberred it at the most delayed time.
The leader of The Guild wanted Atsushi Nakajima. The man always spouted he wanted the man-tiger. You remembered him mentioning the name that's why Atsushi's name felt so familiar. Everytime you bring up something to Fitzgerald, it would swerve to a topic about the tiger and... Zelda.
Then something struck you. Was Fitzgerald making you a replacement for his daughter? Impossible. He wanted to revive his daughter from the beginning.
Guilt took over your mind as you remembered the most important people should be in your life. Your parents. Still, you felt something off with your guilt like a very big portion of the memory is gone. Remembering so much from a years old memory makes your head hurt. You'll leave it to a clueless state.
"That look on your face..." she uttered with the whiz of the passing cars, "you're thinking or were you worried?"
Her eyes was on the verge of tears streaming down. You don't know what her valid reason on why she would cry at a time like this.
Lucy could of have been the one worried and not you.
"What do you think of Atsushi?"
Your suspects were true. Her question proved it.
"You know Atsushi?"
Her forceful voice stopped you from tolerating her any longer.
"Answer me."
What should you answer?
A) He's a very great guy and I think he's pretty sweet.
B) He seems okay. Atsushi's a guy who'll get along well with everyone.
C)A person striving to get his hard work pay well.
(All choices were answered with Lucy's blunt reply).
"What a gorgeous comment I received."
A smile twitched on the corners of her lips. She tugged you off the bench and went to a place that you would exactly go.
However, you find it disgusting to find refuge inside the guts of a gigantic whale.
A) Atsushi's Affections 5; Lucy's Trust 5
B) Atsushi's Affections 3 ; Lucy's Trust -1
C) Atsushi's Affections 2