CHAPTER 1:

"Prelude of a Soldier's Dying wish"

The unknown young girl peered at the fight from behind the brick wall of the building. She watched quietly as the red haired man faced off the leader of the gang, Mimic. Wordlessly, she watched as the scene played out. It wasn't her time to interfere yet. Not that anyone would notice her. Brown hair, brown eyes, and light sun-kissed skin, she didn't stand out in the clothes she wore or her demeanor. Since she was a teenager, she was even more invisible to most adults anyways.

Not being detected was the most important thing. Just one slip up could mess up her ability to track the moment when she could help this red haired man's fate change.

Odasaku groaned. Akutagawa had just tried to attack him for some reason not obvious to him. Why was this kid so high maintenance? Dammit. To make matters worse, Odasaku was staring at the leader of "Mimic" —an elite organization that had managed to permeate Japan's borders through some unknown method.

This guy was somehow convinced that he was the one Mimic had been waiting for. What the hell did any of that mean?

The leader raised his gun but Odasaku was prepared. He felt his heart thud, as his vision showed him that in the next six seconds he'd be shot in the forehead. However, when he tried to calculate for that, he felt his power activate again—thus revealing the same outcome.

"Can't be—" Odasaku's voice strained in bewilderment.

"What's the matter? I haven't even made a move yet, and you're sweating…" Jeed said, amused.

Odasaku didn't have time for this shit. He cocked his gun at the bastard. With a snarl, he snapped, "what did you do?"

"I simply saw a future where you proceeded to dodge to the right, so I merely proceeded to adjust my aim," Jeed replied, "But it would seem that you saw that future as well, and compensated accordingly," Jeed continued. "Which, I also witnessed," his smug tone made Odasaku's skin crawl.

This bastard was much more dangerous than even Odasaku had anticipated. And it seems they shared the same ability! That had to be the only explanation.

This guy really liked to hear himself talk. He continued, "Your ability to see a few seconds into the future, I know it well, because I have it too. The predictive ability we have is omnipotent. Which is why you are the only one who can kill me and end this war. As a member of The Port Mafia, killing me, the enemy leader, must be your greatest desire…"

Odasaku realized this guy was a real nut job and somehow he was dragged into this mad-man's sick fantasy of a glorious death. Odasaku had absolutely no desire to give this guy what he was seeking. It wasn't his problem. He lowered his gun. "Not interested," he replied, terse. "I'm only here to help one of my colleagues out."

"What?" Jeed's expression showed slight surprise. "What kind of Mafia member are you?" His tone was almost disgusted. Odasaku would have been possibly even slightly amused since this was a common response when he told non-mafia affiliated members that he didn't kill on reason.

"One that doesn't kill people," he said, closing his eyes, gritting his teeth lightly. The images of the five orphans he saved were what kept Odasaku grounded. They reminded him that he could be different and that he had a choice on how he used his gun. To protect people that he cared about, cheesy as it sounded, was Odasaku's real reason for sticking it out in the Port Mafia. He knew that if he had tried to leave, those kids would be in danger.

And Dazai…

Odasaku's memory flashed momentarily to Dazai and their bar time together. What kind of face would that kid make, if he abandoned him? Odasaku didn't really get Dazai, but in a way, they got along without needing to mince words together. In a way, Dazai was possibly the only other reason Odasaku hadn't been able to bring himself to leave.

"Guns are tools for killing people!" Jeed continued, "You put yourself in a war zone!" He continued incredulously, knashing his teeth together.

"I'm not interested in violence," Odasaku reiterated.

"What?" Jeed's disbelief was irritating Odasaku. How many times did he have to repeat himself to get this bastard to listen?

"The only thing I'm interested in…" He slowly opened his eyes again, to face the reality of where he was instead of the nice vision he had in his mind of being with the kids or Dazai at the bar. "...is living my life." This was all Odasaku wanted. A simple existence.

"Life is nothing compared to the glory of death!" Jeed continued.

Odasaku didn't have time to retaliate. Literally. He felt his ability kick in, and he saw through his heart beat him moving to the left to avoid a bullet and get hit. But then something peculiar happened. It rewinded. He was back in starting position and attempted to move to the right. Only to get shot, again. The third time he just tried to crouch and didn't even have a chance to do anything else before he was shot.

Odasaku grit his teeth. Dammit, he would have to improvise! This bastard was a real piece of shit. As the bullets fired, Odasaku managed to roll in front of them, and cocking his gun on a knee, pointed it right at the bastard grinning like a maniac in front of him.

"Excellent!" Jeed crooned, "That's the way!" As Jeed stood there, he suddenly felt a thud, flashing red in his own mind. "What?" He exclaimed suddenly, leaping back as Odasaku managed to fire some bullets at his feet.

Landing back, Jeed snarled, "Is this your way of telling me that you refuse to fight me?"

"I have my reasons for not killing people...you'll have to look elsewhere," Odasaku replied coldly.

"Why is that?" Jeed yelled, angry. He went on to tell Odasaku how he and his men were forced to wander the world looking for some glorious worthy end. Again, he reiterated that Odasaku was the only one who could deliver that to them. Ugh, Odasaku needed a drink. He had such a headache from dealing with this nut job.

"I can't help you with your dream," Odasaku cut off Jeed's rant. "Because I have a dream of my own to fulfill…"

He didn't know why he was telling Jeed anything but maybe if Jeed knew why he didn't kill, he'd leave him alone. (Lol fat chance. but worth a shot, eh?) "Someday, when I can quit the Port Mafia, and become a free man, I'll find a quiet room, one overlooking the sea…" He thought about the old man's words to him all that time ago. His own story, how he wanted to write it, that's what the old man meant. Odasaku wanted to fulfill that dream of a beautiful ending… one not tainted by bloodied hands.

"Then...I'll be able to become a writer," he explained. "Take up a pen, and throw away my sword for good… Someone once told me that writing a story is akin to having control over a person's life," he continued, ignoring Jeed's disbelief. "A man who takes a life, has no right to be responsible for another's. That's why I don't do it."

"And that's the reason why you refuse to deliver respite upon us?" Jeed's voice shook with anger. "Is this really your answer?"

Odasaku closed his eyes. His resolve wouldn't waver because he had a purpose to fulfill. For himself. And for those children. "That's right."

Jeed had enough of Odasaku's lame reply. Odasaku's eyes snapped open as he felt another vision coming. Odasaku quickly rose, and realized the gun pointing in his direction was meant for Akutagawa!

He leapt in the way without a second thought, taking four bullets to his chest. It hurt but not as much as it would have had he not come prepared. He grunted, rolling back. "Stop this!" He groaned, guarding Akutagawa's unconscious form.

"A bullet proof vest, huh?" Jeed didn't sound terribly surprised. In fact, he sounded more thoughtful than anything. Odasaku however felt his body get hit with what felt like painful burning coals all over. Even if he wasn't badly hurt, his body quivered with pain. "That pain is a privilege of the living," Jeed lowered his gun, subdued, "it's something we lost long ago…"

He slowly walked over to Odasaku, "We are already dead. Our souls have long left our bodies..." He continued to speak. Odasaku groaned, and raised his head, irritated at this guy's one sided way of thinking.

"It doesn't have to be this way!" He glared up at him, "I don't know what happened to you in the past...but you still have a choice over how you live in the present!" He raised himself more.

Jeed pointed his gun at Odasaku's forehead. "Don't you see! Only you can end our suffering!" Odasaku knew that he wouldn't be able to move in time if that man pulled the trigger. His priority was keeping Akutagawa safe. However, Jeed lowered his gun, disappointed in Odasaku's stubborn refusal to grant his wish.

"Because you are the only one who can guide us to the battlefield of purification, I cannot kill you either…" Jeed said, turning and walking away. Odasaku had no idea what the hell that even meant. "I must make it apparent to you who we really are—then you will understand," he continued as an armored vehicle drove up to him.

"Between the two of us, only one of us can be allowed to remain here. I hope you look forward to it…" He got into the vehicle as it drove off. Odasaku glared at the vehicle. He didn't like the sound of that.

Meanwhile, the girl slipped back into the shadows. It was her turn now to follow the white-haired man.