Vol.2

Ch. 12

Of the Same Mind

Alu continued to watch bemused as Dazai pinned Ango to the ground, comically, sitting on his back with a hum. "Alu, I'll get him to apologize to you, lickity-split! Okay!" He said, giving her a thumbs up.

Alu blinked. She let out a small snicker, bemused.

Alu trotted over to Kunikida in order to hand him the unconscious little girl, shaking her head, amused. She felt her heart pang though. She didn't want an apology. Rather, she didn't see a point. As funny as the moment was, it wouldn't change how Ango saw her.

She handed the little girl to Kunikida, not looking at him.

Kunikida made a noise of surprise, but glancing at Odasaku he realized that this wasn't the time to complain about it. Kunikida just huffed lightly, and took her carefully from Alu.

"Thanks, Kunikida," she said softly, before turning from him and sort of looking at Dazai and Ango again.

Kunikida wanted to make up for how he had treated her earlier but again, he knew from Odasaku's look that now wasn't the time to stress her out further. Kunikida still felt bad though. Taking the little girl into his arms, he hoped that at least by doing this he could start making it up to her even a little bit.

Odasaku trotted over near him as Alu walked towards Dazai and Ango. "I don't think she's mad with you," Odasaku said quietly to Kunikida.

"I still said something incredibly insensitive," Kunikida said softly, his eyes flickering.

Odasaku nodded. "You feel bad about it. I don't think she's the kind of person to hold it against you," he replied, gazing at Alu's back as it was turned to them.

"There's so much I don't know about this girl," Kunikida continued, frowning at Odasaku.

"Yeah, that makes two of us," Odasaku said, with a small head shake. "But, once we get out of this factory and hopefully back to the city, I plan to try to get to know her better…"

Kunikida glared at him. Odasaku looked at him, puzzled. Why was Kunikida's gaze so hostile suddenly? He looked constipated and ready for another lecture. "Get to know her better?" Kunikida repeated, and Odasaku realized how it sounded. He grimaced.

"Uh, no, not like that," he quickly said, "I just meant that she helped out my orphans and I just want to know more about her so I know how to properly thank her for what she's done…you know, what she likes and stuff? Calm down, seriously, I know she's only a teenager…"

Kunikida huffed. "My apologies, I must still have some of that damn Dazai on the brain," he grimaced, "I don't think you're as bad as he is when it comes to being impossible to deal with. He strikes me as someone who has no tact, doesn't follow the rules, and probably spends his days chasing skirts and shirking his work!"

Odasaku smiled smally. While Dazai was a lot to deal with sometimes, he had a funny feeling that Kunikida and him would end up having to work together more in the future. Work together more… Odasaku's eyes flickered. "Hey, Kunikida?" He said softly.

Kunikida blinked. "Yeah? What?" He frowned at Odasaku.

Odasaku hesitated but he felt like this grumpy blonde guy would be good for Dazai. He just couldn't explain why. If anything were to happen to me… Odasaku found himself thinking. "I… I was wondering if maybe…Dazai could join the Armed Detective Agency as well?"

Kunikida's jaw dropped. "Absolutely not!" He snapped back instantly, "We don't hire vagrants!"

Odasaku let out a small sigh, smiling. He felt a bit sad. He wanted Dazai to find a place to belong to…and for some reason, the Armed Detective Agency really sounded like it would work. "I worked for the Port Mafia before…why can't he work here?" He found himself asking.

"Well, do you know what your friend does for a living?" Kunikida scoffed.

"Er," Odasaku had made a point of asking President Fukuzawa and Ranpo not to tell anyone about Dazai's past with the Port Mafia. Ranpo had previously informed them as well that Dazai had struck a deal with Taneda, head of The Department of Unusual Powers already though the details hadn't been discussed. Odasaku felt his heart clench with worry. He wanted Dazai to be met without bias and he already knew that things were hard enough for Dazai with his rep sheet. In fact, it honestly made more sense to have him at the Armed Detective Agency where he could have a clean slate. "…his past… is convoluted," he finally said. It wasn't a lie. Dazai's past really was a mystery. Odasaku realized he didn't know anything about Dazai prior to 4 years ago. What had his life even been like growing up?

"See? I'll bet his job was as a con-man! Honestly—-" Kunikida continued to rant.

Odasaku tuned him out, lost in thought himself. He didn't want Dazai to be alone in this world. That much, he knew. Odasaku and Kunikida's thoughts were interrupted by what was going on with Alu a few moments later.

Alu tilted her head, looking at the comical way that Dazai was sitting on Ango's back, crushing his organs no doubt, and she waved a hand. "It's okay, I don't need it," she said brightly, smiling at Dazai.

Ango struggled a bit, though he knew it was futile. Still, he knew what Dazai was getting at. And okay, so maybe he had gone a bit off the deep end. He did feel guilty about it. He just was thinking about what was best for the situation though, for heavens' sake! He was frustrated at Dazai, treating him like he, himself, was a bad guy! If anyone was a bad guy it was Dazai! Dazai was the one who had no problem doing underhanded things after all for his own entertainment!

Dazai kept smiling, but he was clearly in a bad mood when it came to anything Ango related. He sighed however, hopping off Ango, allowing the government employee to finally breathe. Wheezing, Ango wobbled to his feet, honestly more drained in this past interaction with Dazai than he had been this whole night. "Ugh," he said, before he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and looked at Alu. "I admit I acted rashly," he said, bitter. "I merely thought at the time—"

"Hey Agent Sack-a-shit," Dazai grinned, "could you maybe try to make an apology that doesn't sound like you wiped your ass with it beforehand?" Ango grimaced with disdain at the way Dazai took his last name of "Sakaguchi" and butchered it even more.

Alu covered her hand over her mouth. Dazai really had a way with words. "Pfft," she said, looking in his direction. Why was he trying so hard to get this guy to apologize to her? Alu didn't get it, honestly. But she kinda knew that he was in her own way, looking out for her. Even though they barely knew each other.

It was because of Odasaku.

Alu thought about how Kunikida had barked about trying to figure out the kind of relationship Alu did have with Dazai. Honestly, it was tied to Odasaku. That was the nature of their relationship, Alu mused. The fact that they both cared about Odasaku though Alu knew that she didn't have the friendship veteran status. Not like she needed one to give a damn about someone else. Dazai too, she wanted to be his friend but would he actually want to be friends with someone like her? She wasn't actually really good at making friends, but she cared about the well-being of others. Dazai was an enigma wrapped in a burrito of mystery, but still, she could tell. He had a kind heart too. Even if it was fractured for reasons she didn't quite understand. "Dazai, stop, it's okay," she said, patting his arm, smiling at him.

Dazai paused. He looked at her face. She could tell he was searching it for any signs of distress. He still kept smiling. "Ah, but I…"

Alu dropped her arm.

Dazai quieted, just watching Alu.

Alu was smiling.

Dazai knew that kind of smile well.

It was like the one he wore every day.

Alu turned to gaze at Agent Ango Sakaguchi. She didn't really hold it against him. Of course she was out of control. A sane person would want to shoot her in that situation. She walked over to him, and Ango nervously eyed her, though he let her approach him. "I just want…to know one thing…?" She said, softly.

Ango blinked. "Yes?" He was hesitant. For more than one reason. What was it about this girl? The way she looked at him, like her very eyes were staring into the window leading into his soul. Yeah that sounded hella cheesy, but in this moment, Ango felt like there was no floor underneath him. The way she looked at him, it was making him feel like he was questioning himself? No, she was a complete stranger. He wouldn't let one little girl just uproot everything he knew he was doing right! He composed himself, looking —or rather— staring her down it almost felt like. If it was a battle of wills, he wouldn't lose! He had nothing to be ashamed of! He was just doing his job! That's all it was! Ango could feel his inner voice screaming.

"I have nothing to be ashamed of," Alu repeated. "I was just doing my job. That's all," she said, gazing at him as though relaying those thoughts screaming in his mind, out loud for everyone else to hear. Even Kunikida, confused as he was, was starting to catch on that something had happened between Ango and Alu—something not good.

Odasaku and Dazai were quiet. They looked at each other again, wondering if they should get involved. Kunikida glanced as well at the expressions on the faces of the other two men. "Hey," he said sharply to Odasaku. "What the hell happened here?" The other men didn't answer him.

"What, are you a mind reader now, too?" Ango found his voice shaking a little. He grit his teeth, looking at the girl before him. She was far more dangerous than even he realized. She had more tricks than any type of special ability user he'd ever encountered. Not to mention that she couldn't be found easily in any government system. He had tried at his boss's orders before to find out anything about her. But it was like she was a phantom, just dropped onto the physical plane itself. No doubt about it, she may be good today but what about tomorrow? What should he do? He had to protect the peace first and foremost.

"Agent Sakaguchi, right?" She said, continuing to look at him, without breaking eye contact.

Ango felt cornered somehow.

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" Ango found himself blurting, "I just saw you attack and my concern was who would be next! I reacted according to my training! Okay? I don't point my gun at others lightly!"

"Wait, he tried to shoot…her?" Kunikida asked, horrified, looking to Odasaku for clarification. Odasaku just nodded, not taking his eyes off of them.

Kunikida thought about how he had been forced to shoot a normal pistol at his own attacker—but the catch was Kunikida's ability to turn things back to paper. When the bullet made contact, he had turned it back into paper—after all he had only had the chance to stun the opponent, catch them off guard. While he had let the bullet pierce the shoulder, he'd ensured that it wouldn't get far before turning back since Kunikida didn't like bloodshed and avoided it as much as he could help it. He often avoided it successfully using his stun gun or taser. While that situation had been a more extreme one, he had still managed to finish the fight without relying on harming his opponent too heavily.

Alu remained quiet. But she didn't stop staring him down. Ango felt like the longer she stared, the more he was made to feel guilty—but why? He wasn't in the wrong! He wasn't! There was danger—a threat— he acted accordingly! He didn't find pleasure pointing his gun at a child! But if it was for the sake of doing his duty then he had no choice! "I-I didn't have a choice!" He said, forcing himself to calm down, staring at her. "Please understand. I will, of course, take responsibility for my actions, and I'm certainly sorry that was the outcome that existed at the time," he continued.

Odasaku grit his teeth.

Dazai glanced at him, and his expression mirrored the anger Odasaku was feeling.

Odasaku was shaking. Anyone in their right mind would be able to see that Alu was a good person at her core. Anyone would have been able to see that she had been manipulated by an ability user!

Despite everything she had shown, she was still capable of feeling pain and guilt and even other emotions! Even though she had her moments of breaking. That was what it meant, to be human. And yet, Ango was trying to rationalize, and justify why he didn't see her as anything but a threat to national security. Like that's all that stood before him. Damn it, Ango, how the hell can you say that to her. How the hell…What Odasaku was feeling was reinforced by Dazai seconds later.

Dazai punched Ango in the jaw. Everyone's eyes widened, even Alu's. "D-Dazai!?" She cried out, alarmed.

"Why do you have to act like holding a badge suddenly makes it okay to walk all over others!" Dazai yelled, furious.

Dazai just loomed over Ango, glaring down at him, breathing hard, pissed off. Ango's glasses clattered to the hard floor, clattering and skidding a bit away. Ango groaned with pain, holding his jaw.

"Not everyone is able to just do whatever the hell they like!" He shot back at Dazai, angrily.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Moral High Ground!" Dazai hissed, "I didn't realize being a government dog meant you had free shooting rights on anyone you self-proclaimed as a threat, either!"

Alu grimaced. "Hey…hey, don't fight!" She shouted. She tried to get between them, standing with her arms out, between Dazai and Ango. She blocked Ango from Dazai's view. Ango blinked, wondering why she was stopping Dazai. After all, she surely resented him as well. Why wouldn't she?

He had tried to kill her, after all.

"Hitting a government official….I'll have to report that," he said, glaring up at Dazai. "Or you could just shoot me, I know you want to," he taunted Dazai, honestly so pissed he was seeing white. He didn't want to deal with someone like Dazai acting superior. He grit his teeth. Ango had agreed to help Dazai get a clean slate only because his boss had approved it although that hadn't been the only reason. Ango didn't know why his boss was suddenly okay with Dazai running around freely considering his rep sheet but then again, Ango had agreed to the task of wiping Dazai's past wrong-doings through a top secret organization of criminal record sweepers, if only because he felt like after what had happened with Mimic that he could mend that bridge a little with Dazai by doing this much. But here was Dazai, treating him like dirt. Ango didn't like feeling used for his position. "You're just using me," he said, voice shaking, glaring at Dazai, slowly getting to his feet, and wiping his bloody mouth. "You're no better than me!"

Dazai just covered his face with a hand and began to laugh, like a crazy person. "Oh, yes, poor you! Poor baby Guchi-gu," he said, leering at Ango with a glare from under his hand. "You may think poorly of me, but that just means you think worse of yourself!"

Ango saw white. "Take that back!" He yelled, and with his composure torn, he swung a fist at Dazai. Dazai moved to dodge it, with maniacal glee, ready to land another blow but suddenly, he felt someone grab his own wrist. Dazai's eyes widened along with Ango's.

"I said….stop fighting!" Alu yelled, and she twisted her body, flipping both boys over her shoulders like they were bags of sand. It was a tad comical in retrospect—a girl no taller than 5'5 flipping two grown men much taller than her by a good few inches like they were completely weightless. Ango and Dazai both felt the wind knock out of their diaphragms and they wheezed in unison lying on the ground as Alu let go of their wrists. Wordlessly, she left them lying on the ground and walked over to where Ango's glasses were, bending down to pick them up.

Kunikida looked to her, concerned. "Should…we interject?" He asked Odasaku, tentative.

Alu straightened up.

Odasaku just kept his gaze on her. He had a feeling she had this under control or rather, it didn't feel like she needed him to 'save' her. Actually, thinking about it, she seemed the type to try to shoulder everything herself and save herself without relying on others too heavily. He felt worried. He wanted to help her but it felt like this was something she had under control, for now. He would trust in her own strength.

She turned her head, and smiled at Kunikida. "It's fine, they're just having a fight on the playground, right boys?" She beamed menacingly at Ango and Dazai.

Ango gulped. He had a feeling if he did try something it would only cement Dazai's already ill image of him. And he didn't want to do anything to just confirm Dazai's baseless accusations.

Dazai sat up, rubbing his shoulder, wincing. But he was quiet.

Ango glanced at him, and his eyes flickered. A fight on the playground? Really? They were two grown ass men that fought on opposing sides…not in a sandbox with a playground slide between them.

"Hey, Mister," Alu said, stepping before where Ango sat.

Ango blinked up at her.

She held out his glasses.

"You dropped these," she said, softly.

Ango felt his heart wrench. She was not a bad person. Of course he knew that. He could tell from looking at her. But she was a threat. She had to be some kind of threat at some point. If he wasn't careful then he'd be the one facing the end of the barrel…or worse… he could still see the claw-like hand that had torn through Kunikida's stomach. That same hand was now extended out to him.

Huh?

Extended out?

Ango's eyes flickered. He looked to the normal looking human hand, outstretched to him. There had been claws before. No, there had been more blood before. It's true that her hand wasn't completely clear of the blood but it had mostly been wiped off. Regardless, it was a hand. A hand of a person. Ango didn't know why she was reaching out her hand to him. Looking away, he got to his own feet, not taking it.

Alu blinked, but she gave him space. She went over to Dazai next, squatting before him. "Are you okay?" She asked, frowning, concerned about Dazai honestly. He had such an outburst. It was clear that he and Agent Four-Eyes really did know each other.

Dazai was finding it hard to look at her. He felt guilty. He was trying to stand up for her, but she kept having to be the one to break up the fighting. But why wasn't she angry? She was allowed to be upset. She had been upset earlier when she tried to apologize for her own actions. So why was she letting Ango get away with not having to apologize for his own towards her? Dazai sat cross legged, grumpy, and he just placed his hands in his lap. He didn't look at her. "Yeah, sure, I'm fine," he grumbled.

Alu smiled smally. She pet his head. Dazai blinked. Her hand was warm. It felt nice. Sometimes Odasaku would also pet him. He wondered if he had a thing for head pets? Probably. He was one of Bungou's stray dogs after all. "I'm glad to hear it," Alu said quietly.

Ango pulled out his phone and he tried to call a number on it. "Ah, well this is unfortunate," he grumbled, with an irritated huff, pocketing his phone. "There was no point in that show earlier, it seems there's a signal jammer so I can't make calls even if I wanted to," he glared at Dazai with a huff.

"Hey," Kunikida said, shakily, looking at Ango. "Did…did something happen between you and that girl?"

Ango blinked. Oh right, Kunikida had been unconscious. He nodded. "Yeah. She attacked you and I reacted accordingly…to put her down as the threat she showed herself to be in that moment."

His deduction made Odasaku and Dazai twitch with absolute frustration. Kunikida himself was a bit appalled at how easily Ango just wrote off the girl's life but then again, Alu had attacked him. "But, she wasn't in her right mind," Kunikida found himself saying. "I know for a fact that she wouldn't have done that otherwise!"

"Really?" Ango scoffed now, irritated that it felt like it was just a growing party of all against one the longer this drew out. "Would you still say that if she did it while completely with it?"

"But she wasn't," Kunikida started.

"That's enough!" Alu said, interjecting, her tone serious.

All the men shut up, looking at her. Alu put her hands behind her back and she gazed at Ango. "Agent Ango here, isn't wrong," she said, looking at the other three men. Ango's eyes widened with surprise.

Wait, she was agreeing?

Now he really was confused. He was convinced of his own convictions but to have her confirm that he wasn't in the wrong actually kinda seriously threw him for a loop. What the hell was this girl thinking? "You do agree?" He found himself asking, as though for the verbal confirmation more than anything.

It was the weirdest thing.

Having her agree with him—didn't actually make him feel better.