Vol. 2

Ch. 13

The Truth Of the Matter

Alu shook her head, looking at Ango, with a sad smile. "You're not wrong. I am a threat."

Odasaku wanted to deny that but he didn't know what to say. How could she talk down on herself like this? He didn't like it.

Dazai remained quiet, hard to read at this moment, though he got to his feet, putting his hands into his pockets again.

Kunikida however, felt the need to clarify things because he's Kunikida. "That's not true! You're not a threat!" He said loudly looking at Alu. He set the little girl down on the ground near the orphans since she was unconscious and Odasaku stepped closer to keep an eye on her and the other kids since he didn't know how else to be useful at this time. Kunikida moved over to Alu and Ango.

"Kunikida, stop!" Alu said loudly, a bit on edge now.

Kunikida stopped in his tracks.

Alu looked at him. "I was responsible…for why you almost died," she said without missing a beat. "In control or not in control doesn't matter here. Agent Sakaguchi isn't wrong. He was merely doing his job. In fact…" she looked to Ango, and she spread out her arms, looking at him. "If I am a threat, then I can't blame you if you want to take my life to preserve the peace, right?" She said, gazing at Ango.

Ango's immediate response wanted to be that he totally agreed but he suddenly found a lump in his throat that was resting on his larynx. His esophagus felt dry. He wanted to justify it, one more time, for everyone in the room. He didn't need to justify it for himself. He was fine. He already knew what he did wasn't wrong. It wasn't! So… He tried to speak but nothing would come out.

Alu continued. "That being said, I just wanted to say, that whatever is going on in your heart right now….maybe you should listen to what's there instead of in your mind…sometimes anyways," she said smiling sheepishly at Ango.

Ango didn't believe in thinking with the heart. The heart was a muscle used for pumping blood. Everyone knew that. It was one of the first things he had drilled into him by his own boss, Chief Taneda, after all. And he respected Chief Taneda and all the ground he walked on. In fact, Ango practically saw Chief Taneda as his idol and someone to aspire to be like. As his boss would say, decisions are best made with the mind not sentimentality.

It was the mind where decisions were made. He wanted to scientifically tell her that but again, nothing was coming out. Even though he had no trouble before telling Dazai and Odasaku his thoughts, for some reason, he was having difficulty expressing them to this girl. She continued to gaze at him.

Ango just looked away. His heart was twisting. Normally, he didn't pay attention to what was going on there because normally, his chest wasn't in this much pain.

Why was she smiling?

"Stop that," he said, voice cracking finally.

"Huh?" Alu blinked, puzzled, tilting her head at him.

Ango knew everyone else was judging him —why wasn't she? She should be the one judging him most of all! "Why won't you get mad!" He said, raising his voice. "I…I tried to shoot you! A normal person…would at least…get a little…angry…" he covered his face with his hand, shaking, feeling drained and weak in his limbs, like he needed to just sit down but couldn't find the strength to even do that much.

Alu merely clasped her hands behind her back, and she gazed at Ango. "Getting angry doesn't change the facts," she said softly. "Even though I don't know you well, I want to say that I can tell…you're not a bad person."

Those words, 'you're not a bad person,' seemed to stick to Ango's mind more so than anything else she had said. He almost wanted to say, no, you're wrong, but he didn't. Wait, why had he thought that in the first place? Of course he was a good person. He worked hard to fight on the side of good. He wasn't some vagabond like Dazai. He wasn't some hit-man like Odasaku although Odasaku had put those days behind him for some time now as far as Ango knew. What did he have though? Dazai was smart, cunning, and ruthless. He was terrifying to have on either side of the chess board. Odasaku was great with guns, with a useful ability that made him almost invincible in combat. What did Ango have?

All Ango had was his mind. His ability was useful for information extraction but in terms of combat on the field he was average. Same with a gun. Still average. He was just an average guy. He wasn't like those two.

He had to work even harder to stand in the light.

Those two could just fall into the shadows however they pleased. Ango felt a small bloom of familiar jealousy in his chest but he refused to acknowledge it. No, no he wouldn't. There was nothing worth noting. Ango felt like time had just stopped for the moment. All of his thoughts crashed on him relentlessly like high tide at noon on the tide pools at the beach.

Ango squeezed his eyes shut. Damnit.

Damnit!

Alu hugged him.

Ango's eyes widened. "….!?" He looked down at her.

Was it an attack? His hand twitched instinctively for his gun but he realized he didn't have it. His eyes wandered to Dazai who was casually twirling it in his hand, looking at him with the absolute look of death you'd expect from one's overprotective big brother.

"You know, I too have a lot of times when I question whether what I'm doing is right or not," Alu said, pulling back and she put her hands behind her back again, smiling warmly at Ango. "…I know that what you're doing is because you really care about people."

What was this?

Ango felt something wet on his face.

Oh? Was it raining? No, that didn't feel right. They were in a building.

Ango reached up and slowly touched his face.

His glasses —felt —were fogged.

He quickly turned away from Alu, wiping his face. What was it about what she was saying that was making his heart ache? He didn't think with his heart normally, so why was it feeling like it was being slowly crushed by guilt?

"Ah! You're all still alive! Wonderful!" A cheerful familiar voice said, waving his arms wildly from the factory doors, his detective cape fluttering over his shoulders, leading to the rest of the building and no doubt, eventual exit.

Kunikida was relieved to see Ranpo again. Unless it meant more trouble in which case he wondered if he should seriously consider resignation again…

Kunikida was uncertain what to do in the situation with the girl, but he felt a bit of admiration for her. She really is a truly kind young lady, he found himself thinking, momentarily impressed with how she diffused this situation despite really having no idea what was going on with Dazai and Agent Sakaguchi besides their obvious argument about almost shooting the girl. He didn't condone shooting anyone lethally despite the situation but well, Ango was technically a government official and he had been acting on his ideals even if they weren't shared by anyone else in the room.

Dazai and Odasaku had both observed Alu actually making Mr. Stubborn cry and they were honestly a bit well, impressed and surprised. It was a mixed bag of how they felt. They still absolutely couldn't forgive Ango for how he treated them, or how he had made an attempt unapologetically on that girl's life, but, to know that he was capable of being moved by this girl's kindness…they glanced at each other, a small smile on their faces, mirrored. That girl was really something else, they both were thinking.

Kunikida meanwhile quickly dashed over to President Fukuzawa and the others. "President! Yosano! Ranpo! You're all okay!" He sounded so relieved.

"Sorry," President Fukuzawa said, with a sigh, frowning at Kunikida. "Ranpo got Yosano back, and we had to walk back here."

"Ah, Alu!" Yosano dashed over to Alu, checking her out now. "Are you okay? I'm sorry you were left alone with all these strange men—oh and Kunikida!" She added as an afterthought.

Kunikida didn't know whether he should be insulted or not. However, he did turn to Ranpo and the president, urgently. "So I counted but we're still missing one of the children," he informed them.

"No, they're all here," Ranpo hummed, looking at Kunikida with his squinting look of being completely unaffected.

"Ranpo, I want you to know, as a math tutor, I do know how to count too," Kunikida said, his vein twitching, "and I can tell you there were eight."

President Fukuzawa vaguely recalled that as well. He put his chin in his hand, frowning. He looked to Ranpo. "Kunikida is correct," he said, and he sounded surprised. Honestly, Kunikida was irritated with that tone. Did the President think he was dumber than well…the kids he taught math to?

"No, there were eight," Ranpo said, smiling. "But now there are seven, therefore, there are only seven children here!~" he deduced like he was explaining basic algebra to a bunch of little kids.

Fukuzawa sighed. "We can see there are seven," he said, a bit exasperated.

"That kid," Ranpo said, his green eyes showing as he opened them to gaze at President Fukuzawa and Kunikida, "…was never part of the group."

The other two men, quieted, realizing what Ranpo was implying.

"So, do we report it?" Kunikida asked, frowning.

"No need," Ranpo said brightly. "After all, he's long gone along with Ms. Austen~ however, I have a feeling that he will be back~" he hummed.

Kunikida and Fukuzawa exchanged glances.

"What makes you say that? Is it because they'll both still attempt to capture Alu?" President Fukuzawa asked, concerned.

Ranpo nodded. "Yep!" And his green eyes glinted dangerously, "…and when he comes back, we'll catch him like a little fly in a trap!"

"Uh, so we're arresting him in order to get to that British woman, then?" Kunikida found himself asking dumbly.

"Silly Kunikida," Ranpo said with a smirk, making Kunikida feel more depressed about his apparent self image in this company, " …if we don't catch him, he'll just keep coming back to capture that girl!"

"Right, but our division, once he's captured, would simply have to send him back to Europe. Not to mention, that woman isn't from our country either so the both of them…wouldn't we hand them both over to Chief Taneda's department at that point?" Kunikida grimaced, looking to Fukuzawa for clarification.

"I believe Ranpo is trying to say that if we catch him, then we can handle things from there in terms of getting him off the streets at least so he can't cause harm to Alu or others," Fukuzawa deduced.

Ranpo hummed, and tilted his head at the president. "You were close! I'm impressed. It's not actually Ms. Austen at all who is in charge. He is the one who is trying to capture Alu." Ranpo's green eyes glinted excitedly, like he had been bursting to share this for a while now. "Actually, it totally makes sense because he's the real mastermind behind Alu's capture!" He said brightly.

Fukuzawa and Kunikida stared with absolute abject shock at him. That little kid was what now?

—xxxx—xxxxxx—xxxxxx—-xxxxx—-

Alu felt like the voices around her were far away. She had to keep smiling. She had to make sure that Agent Sakaguchi knew that she didn't blame him. She was a monster in the eyes of others. It wasn't that the label bothered her. Labels didn't matter. But she was frustrated at herself because she hadn't been able to stop Ms. Austen's ability from affecting her and had actually hurt someone because of it.

Anyone could be next.

That included Miss Yosano.

In fact, Ango's blunt black and white way of thinking actually reminded her of how important it was, to keep distance when completing a mission. Her eyes flickered and she pulled away from Yosano's hug. "I'm fine, I'm not a little kid," she pouted as Yosano flustered over her —which to Alu— felt like being doted on by a caring big sister. Alu's heart ached. She shouldn't project what wasn't actually real. So why did her heart yearn for that sense of familial closeness? Probably had to do with the fact that Alu didn't know what it felt like, to really be cared for like she was part of a family.

Alu had always been on her own. After all, a house is not always a home. But, thinking of Dazai as an older brother and Yosano as a big sister? Oddly enough, it was out there enough to be legit and a real wish, as far as Alu was concerned. A small smile played on her lips, though it was empty.

But she knew better.

She didn't belong with those two. She couldn't stay in the lives of those Orphans she saved for Odasaku for the long term either. She didn't have a place with the Armed Detective Agency. She'd even attacked one of the members. And there was no telling, when she may do so again. Perhaps not intentionally, but it didn't change the fact that what Alu did was not a profession that allowed for her to get too close to others.

"President Fukuzawa has already orchestrated for those orphans to be picked up as well," Yosano continued, smiling at Alu. "You did it, you said you'd save them and you did!" She smiled at Alu, giving her a congratulatory pat on the back.

Alu wasn't so sure. She had noted Ryou was missing but where? She looked to Ranpo. "Ranpo, do you know what happened to that, boy, Ryou? He's missing."

"Oh? His name is Ryou?" Ranpo said, brightening up with a grin that made no actual sense to Alu. "Thanks for that!"

"Uh," Alu blinked, confused, looking at Kunikida and the President now. "Did I miss something?"

"We were merely discussing our own plan to retrieve that boy, rest assured," President Fukuzawa said bluntly. He wasn't exactly lying. Since he sensed how distressed emotionally Alu was, he definitely didn't want to fuel that any further. His casual look to Ranpo made it clear he would rescind his snack privileges for longer than a month if he happened to blurt anything at this time to the girl.

Ranpo, of course valuing his junk food over his own life, just kept his mouth shut from expounding any further on the matter.

Kunikida also kept his mouth shut on any further detailed expulsion. He did want to be helpful in all of this, but he just hated feeling so…useless. Kunikida felt depressed honestly. He had inadvertently caused this young girl distress and while he couldn't take back what he'd said earlier, he did want to at least make it up to her. Kunikida wanted to be someone that others could depend on.

He wanted to be someone that she could depend on too.

Alu's eyes felt shadowed by her bangs. Had she done it? What had she actually accomplished here? She had managed to save people here from dying…but that didn't change the fact that death had occurred a lot today. She had been sloppy. She'd put so many lives in danger. Life isn't like a fairy tale. Real people get hurt and they don't always come back if it's too late. "Mm," she mumbled, with a shaky breath.

Yosano noted something was wrong. "Hey? What's wrong?" She asked worriedly, frowning at Alu. She put an arm on Alu's shoulder, gazing at her with genuine concern—a kind person at heart.

Alu pulled back, and took a few steps away.

Yosano blinked. Alu took a deep breath. She looked at everyone in the room. There was so much she wanted to say but her own heart, it felt clouded. Yeah, she was upset. Ango had told her he was frustrated with her because she wasn't upset with him.

But that wasn't it.

She was upset.

She was upset because out of everyone in the room, he had been the most honest one there. And it hurt more than anything to know that she didn't—no— couldn't bring herself to trust in their kindness over his cold-hearted resolve. "I'm upset," she found herself saying, the tears starting to flow again. "Miss Yosano…I'm upset…" she held her face in her hands. Yosano hugged her instantly.

"Alright," she glared menacingly at all the men, "Which one of you bastards upset her?"

Everyone —except the President who was out of the loop— pointed to Ango, including Ranpo who knew just by looking what had transpired thanks to his rapid super deduction skill.

Ango flinched.

Yosano smirked evilly. "Ah, I see, so you dared make this girl cry?" She looked ready to send him to hell. Odasaku and Dazai were absolutely not going to stop her.

Dazai hesitated before he decided it was time to depart himself, leaving the rest to the A.D.A.; and his friend.

However, Kunikida cleared his throat and stepped between Yosano and Ango. While Kunikida didn't agree with Ango's way of thinking, he none-the—less wanted to keep things professional. After all, murder was definitely not something the Armed Detective Agency was about and even more so when it came to government allies. While he didn't agree with how Ango treated Alu, he believed in a calm, mature way to handle this matter. Keeping a level head was something Kunikida was naturally good at—unless it was related to Dazai (l.o.l…..)

"It's a complicated matter," he found himself saying. "It's … to be honest, I'm not quite sure what is going on but the gist is, he tried to shoot her…when I was attacked by her earlier…"

Yosano's eyes widened with alarm. "What? Alu wouldn't—"

"—but I did," Alu found herself correcting Yosano, rubbing her own arm, and looking away guiltily from them both. "I did attack him. And he'll argue I wasn't in my right mind, but it doesn't change the fact that …because of me…he could have died. I have a power inside me, of a fox… and Agent Sakaguchi…most likely saw me as a monster when that form was released and attacked Kunikida—he saw me rightfully as a threat that needed to be dealt with."

That acknowledgement hung in the air. Yosano grit her teeth. "So that's why those bastards separated me from you all. Didn't want me healing anyone, huh…well it's okay though. You still handled things!" She said to Alu, trying to make Alu feel better.

"Again, I'm not dead, and that's also thanks to you, young lady," Kunikida added, with the deep voice —of a man that was hilariously only a few years older than her—, wanting to make Alu feel better. He honestly wasn't into punching government employees, but Ango's behavior was dangerously close to earning a punch from Kunikida for how he had chosen to try to take this girl's life without trying to find another solution to how to resolve things first. Again, Kunikida knew how to keep a level head-and that would make him a far more formidable kind of opponent for anyone.

"That's right," President Fukuzawa added, looking at Alu earnest, "you saved lives today."

Alu could feel all the kind words, but they honestly didn't feel like she deserved them. She hugged herself. She was upset with herself. "I don't deserve that praise!" She shouted. Hadn't they heard her? She was sharing a body with a fox demon and they were acting like it wasn't a big deal that she'd harmed one of their members with that beastly power? True, Ango had been unconscious when she'd used re-write so only a few people— Odasaku and Dazai mostly— knew about her actual ability in this world, but she hadn't yet revealed that Juubi wasn't an ability—but another living being that resided within her. Honestly, there is no casual way to introduce that in a conversation and Alu didn't really feel like expounding unless it would be necessary.

Everyone quieted, and even Ango couldn't stop looking in her direction at least from where he stood, apart from everyone.

The police that worked for Chief Officer Taneda arrived then. They went over to the normal kids, wrapping them up in blankets and offering them water. Alu let the normal law enforcement do their thing. They weren't important.

The Head of the Department of Unusual Powers also arrived, standing near Ango and the others. He was quiet, however, observing the ongoings. Ango found it hard to look at him. He didn't know or understand why but facing his boss, felt like it would be to only admit that he'd have to acknowledge to him at least that he messed up, somehow.

Odasaku also stepped back, letting the police officers take the normal children. However, Odasaku made sure to keep holding the little girl since it was at Alu's request that she stay with him for the time being. He wanted to make good on that.

Dazai as well, hung back, separating himself from the others, including Odasaku, giving distance to them all. In a way, Dazai slid back into the shadows. He didn't even alert Odasaku, finding it was time for him to try to disappear without a noise. Dazai had a deal with Chief Taneda but that involved laying low and Dazai didn't want to draw attention to himself more than needed to be done.

Dazai and Odasaku wished they knew what to do for Alu in this situation but they didn't. This was just something she had to get off her chest. They just hated that she justified Ango's abhorrent behavior and talked down on herself so easily. They wanted her to know that she wasn't a monster.

Not to them.

She was… someone they wouldn't mind considering a friend.

Alu was having trouble putting how she felt into words. She felt guilty though. She really hadn't managed to do anything useful in the end. She wanted to do more for those kids, and she had only managed to make more trouble for the Armed Detective Agency when that woman had gained control over her. "Please…stop acting…like I did nothing wrong," she hugged herself tighter. "It's okay..to admit it… I did those things… yeah I was able to fix them…I was able to save lives…but that power isn't entirely my own! I don't have any great power on my own! I'm not…I'm not a great skill user, even." She found herself speaking through her tears, but it was hard to breathe. "It's clear, though I've tried to hide it, that the only reason I'm getting this praise is because of what I fixed— not because you all actually…care about me."

Everyone thought she was completely blameless in all of the events that transpired, but that's not what Alu knew to be true. She was being told that she couldn't possibly be at fault and that was because these people were only accepting half of the reality. She was in this spotlight because she had been able to fix the damage but that was the only reason these people could talk to her like she wasn't to blame. She didn't want to be in the spotlight. She didn't want to be looked at only because she happened to have powers. She was afraid. If she wasn't special, if she hadn't been able to fix them, fix the situation, bring Odasaku back, how would these people be treating her then? She was used to being on her own. She was used to friends that would come and go in her life. She knew that she would be on her own regardless of how she was being treated now.

Of course she would.

Since coming to this particular world, it was only because of her ability —'rewrite'— that Odasaku didn't take a bullet to the brain after all. Ranpo had been shot in front of her earlier as well. She hadn't forgotten. She wouldn't forget. How could she ever forget when she'd been the reason he'd been shot in the first place?

The healing later on of Kunikida and Ranpo? That hadn't even been her to begin with. She had borrowed power that wasn't her own. Alu hated feeling powerless. She knew she wasn't alone when it came to having Juubi with her but these people? These people were dangerous to get too close to. If she got too close…she'd only end up getting left behind again. She had come here to fulfill the vision about those orphans and save them. She'd long overstayed her welcome already. Whatever happened with Mimic and these others, she had to let it go.

She just had to walk away.

She had to walk away.

Or else.

"It may come off as cold hearted…but Agent Sakaguchi…he's not one to mince words or look at things with rose-tinted glasses. Even if his mind is making the decision while the voice in his heart is muted, he still acts according to what he believes will keep others safe. That's why… I am not angry with him. I am used to being looked at like a monster. It's not that I care that he sees me as one—that anyone who doesn't know me— sees me as a monster. But I can't stand empty praise! I don't need pretty words!" She found her voice raising, hot tears rolling down her cheeks. "Having Agent Sakaguchi here is actually refreshing!"

Ango felt his heart twist more. That didn't make him feel any better about what he had done. He made a fist. His eyes were dry again but that girl was incorrect about one thing. His heart hadn't been on mute since the moment she'd said those words from earlier to him. Now, his heart felt like it was still screaming. He had to steel himself. He had to go back into his shell. That was the only way to survive, as a government agent. He wasn't a government dog with a Master. He wasn't a dog at all. Or a pig. He was an agent of the law. He was still human.The sound of some police coming into the room, jolted Ango from his thoughts.

"You did well, it sounds like you acted appropriately when handling that girl…" Department head Taneda said softly, "I know you'll have a detailed report about your interactions here today with her," speaking just loud enough for Ango to hear, and Ango's eyes widened, as he realized Taneda was there for the first time. Why did he feel this melancholy? Those words usually brought happiness. Why did it feel like he hadn't earned it this time?

Alu wondered if she should leave? She couldn't afford to get too attached here. True, in other places she'd been she'd gotten used to meeting some interesting people and making friends for the moment while she used her powers to help those in need. But she knew never to stay too long. It should feel that way now. But she felt this strong tug in her gut telling her to stay. She wanted to help Odasaku more. She wanted to see those orphans again. She really liked the Armed Detective Agency members for the most part. And Dazai was a funny guy too despite being wrapped up in his enigmatic persona.

Why am I doing this? No, I don't want to push them away. They're so nice…but I'm scared…I'm scared that if I get too close…

Pamf.

The sound of a hat being placed on her head made Alu's eyes widen with bewilderment. Ranpo smiled at her, with a Ranpo grin, his eyes squinting as always. However he let them open a little, his hand on his hip. "Congratulations!" He said loudly for all to hear.

"Huh?" Alu felt confused.

"You pass!" Ranpo continued, wagging a finger, smirking at her. "You're officially a member of the Armed Detective Agency!" His green eyes sparkled, and showed a childish sort of excitement of someone completely unaffected by anything going on around them.

Alu looked at him like he'd laid a golden egg. Which honestly would have made about the same amount of sense in this moment.