"I'm sorry. You both wanted to hear that the former Boss wasn't resurected by Arahabaki, and that this was all an elaborate plan by a Gifted enemy."

"Not at all. It was certainly an interesting story. Its thanks to you that the mystery has finally been solved."

-Dazai announcing to Chūya and Rondo the case about Arahabaki and the previous Port Mafia Boss's return has been solved

God Of Fire


April's first chapter is...well...this is what happens when you have orders to stay home much as possible/are quarantined... Also steadily going through my BSD inspired library. Fun fact is No Longer Human is actually a pretty good book. Go figure. BSD Dazai definetly has more in common with Oba Yozo then the author Dazai though I think.

How long?

How long had it been since she passed out?

How long had it been since her parents left her alone in their suite? The clocks in the room could have easily been changed to whatever time either man decided to make it after all. There was no relying on them.

The fifteen year old pulled the oversized tan trench coat tight around her slight frame. Senses hightened thanks to her power despite her currently wondering thoughts. Six things currently swimming through her mind. There were six things Yukiko was sure of as she ran through the dimly lit nighttime streets of Suribachi City, the once foreign settlement of much larger and pleasent Yokohama City:

Fact one was that the time frame was...well messed up was being kind. It was a total wreck which made no sense what so ever.

Second she'd been drugged by her parents.

Thirdly Leech, and the fact she'd gone dark, had something to do with this.

Fourth was whatever was going down was going down at the Suribachi City Docks tonight.

The fifth thing she was sure of was the Nakahara-Dazai Household didn't have a dog, let alone a Sheepdog.

And finally there was point number six, perhaps the most important point of all too. The sixth and final point was that Chūya Nakahara was Arahabaki.


Several hours earlier...

There were infinitely more worse things then being stuck in a car driving through the slums of Yokohama City which had been upscaled in the teen's fifteen years with members of the Armed Detective Agency. Or so was what Yukiko had decided to convince herself of. It made coping with the fact that was her current reality easier. Besides this particular car ride, in all seriousness, wasn't all that bad as the young ability user watched the pair sitting in the opposite seat of the luxery car. Instead of calling a cab, Chūya had called a Port Mafia driver to deliver the family to their hotel and the agency members back to their offices safetly. The man citing public transport was both too small and too dangerous for them to take. Yukiko was convinced it was so someone reliable could report back they were alright...minus her dad's planned wound though. Especially considering one of those concerned would undoubtedly be her Auntie Koi who always seemed to have an actual soft spot for her family. Or rather a soft spot for her and Chūya while understanding and accepting how much the pair of them needed Dazai, despite herself having not what could have called affection for the brunette man. Besides far from admitting to it the ability of the resident physician her dad worked with interested the young teen quite a bit. "Thou Shall Not Die.", said Yukiko eyeing the women sporting the golden butterfly hairpin in the seat beside Emily, "Thats the name of your ability right Doc Butterfly? Dad and Uncle Tachihara talk about you a lot but we've never talked before. Its a healing ability right?"

"Chibi.", came the warning from the hat-wearing man sitting opposite the agency women. The copper haired boss was leaning against the other window on Dazai's injured side. One gloved hand resting in a deceptivly calm manner on his lap, the other hanging in front of the detective's chest mindlessly tracing over the blue pendant clipped to his tie several times over.

Leaning forward as much as her seatbelt would allow the teen cocked her head at her father with a bit of an annoyed expression. "What?", the blue eyed girl asked innocently not actually seeing the issue that demanded a correction, "Its an honest question and its not like the organizations are fight-to-the-death enemies. You and dad saw to that. I was just curious about the Doc Butterfly's ability." She'd been talked to about this too more then once. This outright demand for information that people claimed wasn't her's to have, as well as abruptness with other Gifteds. But the Nakahara wasn't used to being denied information. Continuing on, "You won't let me go on jobs, you're always busy running Yokohama, dad spends his days at the agency solving crimes our people commit half the time to keep the balance and neither of you are finished until late at evening. What am I supposed to be doing locked up like a princess in a tower all day every day but analyze the abilities of every Gifted in the city? Did you know theres an ability user who can sniff out criminals and cause their 'accidental' death? Its supposed to be unavoidable but I think I could take him...if he is real anyway." An advantage to growing up in the Port Mafia and having causins in the special forces unit of said organization was intel. A constant stream of intel to feed her constant hunger for it. What was better was the fact that every bit of it Yukiko could count on to be perfectly accurate since their mother was Head of Intelligence. So Yukiko tended to know a lot more then she really should, considering she was a 'civilian member' or whatever that lame excuse her father had explained her position as meant. The only thing the fifteen year old liked more then fighting was information and gossip. Part of the reason why she spent so much time around her Auntie Koi and the Executive's Courtesans when she could. Though the knowledge the ability user's girls could obtain was somewhat limited but provided most minus the nitty gritty exact details. Still regardless of how Yukiko managed to obtain such information, the point still stood that the copper haired girl knew every Gifted and their ability in Yokohama City soon as they entered the city limits. So not knowing the exact extent of Thou Shall Not Die would not stand well with the teen.

Emily chuckled a bit at the nickname the other young girl gave to the agency member beside her. Though she was silenced pretty fast by the look of 'not helping' she recieved from said doctor.

Meanwhile the Port Mafia Boss sighed. This argument was not helping him when he was already tense thanks to his ex-partner being injured and his old gang on the loose hunting members of the organization which Chūya now ran. "How many times has Koyo told you in your lessons that just asking flat out like that about a person's ability is bad form? Aside from being a personal thing, it leaves you open to be manipulated.", Chūya explained using the familiar explanation as to why he was calling out the teen on her questioning Yosano. He could feel the man leaning against him shake a bit with amusement glad at least one of them was finding this entertaining. Though otherwise Dazai kept his eyes closed and mouth shut listening to the conversation.

"And the killer detective?", Yukiko prompted eagerly eyeing her father expectantly waiting for an answer.

"If Yukito Ayatsuji was real and the military police had him working for them, they'd set the Homicide Detective on your dad and me years ago. Since we're both still here I think it's safe to say someone has been listening to the rumors of Koyo's girls again.", rapping a finger on the center of the blue pendent at Dazai's tie, "I thought she had a talk with Etsu, Hatsumomo and Keiko about telling you crazy rumors and stories from work. Apparently they need another talking to. Damn you're just like your idiot dad." For emphasis on which one of them was the idiot, and to annoy his ex-partner in the process as a bonus, the mafia boss gave a quick rough tug on the brunette's bolo tie.

The brunette was prepared though, as Yukiko was sure she saw the man's lips twitch in fighting back a smirk. A grumbled "Not here. Be patient Slug, always so demanding." made the girl's father's face redden for reasons the wannabe mafioso refused to let into her train of thought. It would not be until later that the teen realized that blush was forced weather or not there was good reason behind it.

The teen herself meanwhile didn't need to let her imagination get away with her like that. No. Thank. You. That was the last place the copper haired teen wanted her mind to ever be. Instead Yukiko chose to refocus the topic of conversation on something a little more tastefull and civilized befitting their kept company. Looking back at her dad's co-worker, "Sooooo your ability then doc? Unless you like guessing games which I happen to be really good at."

"Ms. Yosano's ability is awesome and really rare even for ability users. Plus its super handy." A certain little crow chirped up taking it upon herself to answer for the female doctor. Emily turning her head to look at the women sitting beside her with a bright expression on her face. One of almost awe in all honesty. A lot like how Yukiko knew she often looked at her Auntie Koi...that look being just short of reverence. "Its a healing ability. Even though its not for fighting, its still really strong because it can heal anything by covering the injury in butterflys.", the Nakajima offspring explained as though she was proudly describing her own ability.

Yosano put a hand on Emily's head moving it back and forth to mess the younger girl's hair. The women smiled before looking away from the pinkette looking warmly at Yukiko, "Though it wasn't her question to answer, Em here gave you the right answer. My ability is as it sounds 'Thou Shall Not Die' is a healing ability that can take care of any sort of injury. Including healing my own wounds as well as somebody else's." An odd flicker came over the doctor. It was odd but not one that the copper haired wannabe mafioso was unfamiliar with, for it was one the male detective got in his eyes from time to time. "The drawback to my power is, in order for even my own wounds to be healed, the target of my power must have suffered fatal injuries."

"What if they aren't fatal then?", asked Yukiko cocking her head to the side, "Does your ability not work then and you can't heal them? I mean obviously you couldn't use your ability on dad because of No Longer Human right?"

A smirk, "If my patient is wounded but doesn't meet the conditions for my ability, then I either have to heal the old fashioned way without it or make them fit my ability's conditions so I can heal them." And just like that the odd look behind the butterfly hairpin wearing detective was gone. The women's attention ended up turning from daughter to father as she eyed Dazai, "Of course it would have been a lot easier to care for a certain someone if he removed the layers of cotton and gauze from around himself. I warned you about trying to help you with those still on Dazai."

"Come now Yosano, whats under them is one of the Seven Wonders of the Agency so wheres the fun in just letting everyone find out? Something had to replace my former profession. You all found it so easily thanks to Atsushi, luckily I think he forgot about the 700,000 yen reward.", the detective who was being talked about gave his co-worker a wide goofy grin and attempted chuckle. The chuckle didn't go over well because it pulled at his newly stitched side which in turn caused Dazai to cringe inward. However his brighter haired ex-partner held tight enough to him to keep the man from collapsing there in front of the hotel.

That and of course a warning glare from said other man was pretty helpful for persuading Dazai to cut out the shenanigans. "Would you shut up already you reckless scheming asshole? You're annoying forced laughter is going to rip open the doc's handiwork again.", the mafia boss harshly warned the dark haired detective.

Turning her attention to the one who reined in her co-worker, Yosano eyed Chūya from inside the car as though hesitating to leave the brunette in the other man's care. However this must have been out of simple concern for someone she worked with. For otherwise it appeared that the women had no intention of arguing with the teen's father who now supported Dazai. Oh the girl was sure the internal want was there but it was as if Yosano knew better. "Speaking of I'm guessing you know those bandages have to be changed soon as possible. The blood soaked through the bandages at the site of the stab wound and in all these years he hasn't so much as dropped a hint as to whats under those wrappings. I would imagine you'd have an easier time.", said the dark haired doctor pausing as though thinking what she was about to voice wasn't such a good idea. But the pause was merely a breif pause. "The president isn't going to be happy about this. Dazai should really go to the hospital to make sure there isn't anything more serious then what I stitched. If the knife managed to hit a vital location-.", she said giving both the young Gifted's parents a pointed look.

The wannabe mafioso could have sworn she saw Dazai stiffen and him moving closer to her father almost seeking protection at the mention of going to the hospital. Though she could have also just been imagining things too.

Then again.. No less then a growl erupted from Yukiko's father and she swore he caught himself from completly bearing his teeth like a feral angry dog. "Tell Kunikida to kiss my ass. This suicide idiot was my problem long before he was the agency's. I can handle this bastard a hell of a lot better then any of you, or a hospital, ever could.", Chūya snarled before turning around starting to lead said bastard away from the car, "Chibi mind getting the elevator? Rooms on the fifth floor and I'm not dragging your dad up five flights of steps."

"So possesive and why not~~~~!?", Dazai whined giving the gravity-manipulator the biggest set of puppy dog eyes and pouty lip combination Yukiko had ever seen him give her father before, "Still don't want to carry me over the threshold then? May I remind you we live together and have a daughter. You can't get more commited then that right? And after you claimed me to boot!~" And yet the brunette seemed to relax at the other man's words of refusing to hospitalize him despite Yosano's advice just the same.

"I will drop you and make you crawl to our room. Knock. It. Off."

"Sorry Slug. But messing with you takes my mind of my injury here which, by the way, is really uncomfortable. Maybe we should continue this little chat at the next meeting?", Dazai appologized quickly immedietly back tracking. Even with the sincere appology the black-clad detective still chuckled before looking at a watching Yukiko and winking mischeviously.

With a roll of azure eyes at her parents, the fifteen year old turned around to head for the automatic doors leading to the lobby of the Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu. Though she caught sight of Emily peeking around Yosano in the car window in the process. The wannabe mafioso ignored the Nakajima offspring though to continue through the elegant lobby to the automatic lifts. It was hard for her to imagine this part of town as real slums back in her parent's teen years. Even if this hotel was on the edge of the spherical crater-like city and the majority of the buildings here did look like they should be condemned, the city was better off then she had expected really. Call her crazy but the place as a whole didn't scream to Yukiko's particular defination of city slums. The guilded hotel really didn't help sell the image of this being a dangerous, less-then-pleasent place either. At least the girl wouldn't have to want for luxery on this messed up idea of a family vacation her parents dragged her on. A fact which still puzzled her by the way. Once the two men had made it to the elevator, their offspring poked the button whose number corresponded to the floor their room was to be on. Another several minutes later and the female ability user was leading the way into the family's suite.

Well it's title was hotel suite but it was more like a close copy of the family's penthouse apartment which topped one of the towers making up mafia headquarters. The entire room done up in soft shades of beige, gold and pale cream. Two large plush beds taking up the majority of the room with dark wooden bedside tables between them. Paintings of white camillas and roses on the walls with gold gilded frames. Soft cream carpetting. Panoramic wall of floor to cieling windows over looking the water to the lights of the main part of Yokohama on the other side. The red flickering lights of the top of Port Mafia Headquarter towers especially visible from the family's room. Two pale suade loveseats with matching foot rests near the wall of windows. A clear glass vase of bamboo sitting tall in a corner giving the room a touch of green. Soft golden glowing lamp light dimly lighting the room. Everything spoke of not an ounce of luxery was so spared or missed. Chūya's obvious taste for the glamorous, luxery and refined clearly evident even when supposed to be keeping low and in a less polished area of a location. "Papa's choice hunh?", wondered the copper haired teen outloud to herself before turning back towards the suite-penthouse entrance upon the blips of For The Tainted Sorrow and No Longer Human entering her radius. Sure enough her parents appeared in the doorway with the brighter haired man speaking in low tones to the man he supported. Speaking of... Crossing her arms, "You know, speaking of inconspicuous, I find it really weird that the receptionist didn't question why you were half carrying dad to the elevator like that Papa. Did dad hit on her or did you bribe her to keep quite when you guys checked us in? This isn't one of the organization's hotels." Even with her questioning Yukiko kicked off her shoes carelessly sending them crashing into the dark wood panaled wall near the bed close to the room door. The sandy trench coat was next as she started carefully peeling it off thinking of where she could hang it for the night. With it off, Yukiko drapped it over her arm making her way to the closet. Grabing one of the free hangers within the girl paused before turning around watching both men head for the bathroom. "And do you, uh, need help with dad?", she asked.

Kicking open the bathroom door when they reached it, "Thats because its not one of ours. This hotel actually belongs to the Fitzgerald Corporation, guess our staff aren't the only ones that know to keep their mouths shut.", replied Chūya adjusting his ex-partner carefully against him. Said ex-partner now apparently having given up on trying to keep up the act of still being able to do things since they were out of public eye. Or rather out of agency, and apparently guild too, notice. "Just bring me the duffle bag with your dad's name on it. It's going to be awhile, gonna have to undo all that useless doctor's handiwork and re do it. The wound was too big for what she could do...thats if I decide not to kill him myself instead."


"Papa." An image of Chūya flashed before the young teen's eyes. Crimson coming forward to outline her form as she ran through the Surbachi City streets. Her foot hit pavement causing it to brake out in a series deep gashes in the pavement. Her fist gripped tight around the suicidal detective's cellphone as she ran. The coat she'd been temporarily gifted billowing around her with each desperate step. The darkness of night not deterring her, rather wrapping itself around her much like a embrace from someone precious to her. Yukiko's family operated in and ran these moonlit hours. Being afraid of the dark when loved ones were watching your back from them was pointless. "Why!?", she growled while recalling the hastily typed text message her dad's phone had been opened to when she picked it up, "Why dad and the elborate plot though!?"

YOU PASSED OUT FROM EXHAUSTION HELPING PAPA WITH ME

NO NEED TO WAKE YOU, TAKING DOG FOR A WALK

BE BACK IN ROOM BY MIDNIGHT

PARTY AT 10:00, THE SURIBACHI DOCKS FOR THE SHEEPDOG

BE THERE AT 11:00

WE LOVE YOU

;) PAPA AND DADDY

The message glowed on the screen of the communication device locked in the teen's fist. It was nine o'clock at night. According to the text that was an hour before the so-called party and two hours before she'd been instructed to arrive at the docks. But the young space manipulator didn't care. Screw the detective's time guidelines. The Nakahara-Dazai offspring wanted answers and she was going to get them one way or another.

This case was going to be closed tonight one way or another.

*sigh* Dazai and his vague codes and games... All this to teach Yukiko a important lesson...