CHAPTER VII
Monster Without A Name: Final Part
The kids watched her silent, whether it was from fear or a sense of awe, Alu didn't have the time to assess that. All she knew was this was it. If Mimic had somehow come here of all places—that meant that someone had tipped them off to her being at the curry shop earlier after all! Why hadn't she seen anything? Even gotten a vision? She wondered did her using her powers like she had meant this was some sort of universal consequence?
She was able to summon her words though—she just had to apply them somehow to the situation. The thing with her ability is she can't work with something that doesn't already physically exist. To be honest, her gift was like finalizing a rough draft that already existed. She couldn't prevent events that hadn't happened yet unless she already knew how it happened. When she went to choose between Odasaku and the children, she had done so believing her gut when it told her to wait. But now she'd defied that instinct. This meant that things were a lot messier- but that was fine with her. Life is messy. She wasn't going to sacrifice these orphans to some "divine" plan—that would be bullshit.
She didn't believe in gods. She did believe in Karma though and she would twist this situation to her advantage—somehow! The two younger kids sniffled again and Katsumi and Yu tried to shush them. Kousuke eyed her with a frown. "Hey, what are you going to do?" He asked, glaring at her—or rather just on edge about the situation.
Alu turned her gaze to the kids. "I have a plan—but I need you all to believe with all your might—in Odasaku."
"Of course we believe in him!" Katsumi hissed, and Yu shushed him quickly.
"Quiet! Do you want them to start firing at us?" Yu apprehensively hissed back.
"Shush, both of you!" Kousuke growled back. He turned to Alu. "What the heck are we supposed to do?"
Alu nodded. "I need you all to just believe that Odasaku will save you. Use that name—names have power…."
Her hands continued to glow. The kids looked at each other. "Uh, so just think it?" Katsumi asked, confused.
"Doesn't matter how you say it—just articulate with your words...and the rest I'll handle." Alu's eyes opened, glowing.
The kids looked at each other. They nodded, all looking determined. Sakura sniffled and Alu hugged her. "I'm scared…" Sakura's voice wavered softly.
Suddenly, a bullet shattered through the glass. The kids squealed with alarm, sinking lower behind the counter. The sound of the bullets flying through the windows became thunderous. Sakura began to cry louder now along with Shinji. Yu and Katsumi also teared up. Kousuke snarled however, though shaking, "Ah crap! They're shooting! What now!"
"Stay down!" Alu ordered, and the kids didn't have to be told twice. Alu pulled out her cell phone. The gunfire would buy her a few seconds where the enemy wouldn't be able to hear any of them well. She put the phone to her ear as it began to ring. Please pick up, she thought, desperate.
Dazai and Odasaku sat at Bar Lupin, both quiet. Ango had just left, after Dazai revealed the truth about him being a triple agent. Ango left behind the picture of the three of them. Odasaku looked to Dazai and then back at his drink. The men didn't say much. The air was heavy though. It didn't take much to tell that the mood was less than cheerful. Dazai had after all, just lost someone he thought he could call a colleague.
He had two choices.
Shoot the traitor, or let the traitor walk. Shooting Ango would be more trouble than it would be worth. Though he had stated it was due to changing his mind about shooting Ango, the truth was, Dazai just didn't want to deal with the messiness of the political turf war that would break out if Ango died. Besides, he'd make good use of him through blackmail. Ango took the trust between the three of them and used it to almost kill Odasaku after all, back when he'd been rescued from Mimic's base. Dazai found that unforgivable.
Whether or not Ango even realized that was the real reason for Dazai's anger with him, mattered little to Dazai. Dazai was used to not having what he wanted. Whenever he thought he'd obtained something it would never last. Odasaku's friendship was honestly the first thing that Dazai felt could actually last and even that, he was loath to think about losing. Fingering the rim of his glass, Dazai remained lost in thought.
Suddenly, it felt like his head was hit with a flurry of memories—of something that hadn't actually occurred yet. Holding his head, feeling a head ache coming along, Dazai began to groan. Was it the alcohol? It was too early for a hang over.
Odasaku blinked. "Dazai?"
"It's nothing," Dazai said, rubbing his forehead. He was lying of course. In that split second, he'd remembered something— a girl and… Odasaku dying after his orphans being blown up by Mimic the following day. What the hell was going on? Why did he remember this if it hadn't even happened yet? That girl— Dazai knew without hesitation that he'd just been transported into a "rewrite".
There was no way he could tell Odasaku though. Dazai's heart rate slightly picked up. Was this the girl's way of having him try to prevent Mimic from harming the orphans? He remembered clearly the future where she prevented Odasaku's death. This wasn't the first time Rewrite had been used on them. Dazai tried to analyze the best course of action here. Tell Odasaku or—
The two men twitched slightly when, without warning, Odasaku's cell phone went off. They exchanged glances. "Is Ango really seriously calling after all that?" Odasaku sighed with exasperation, flipping open his cell.
His face twisted in shock as he heard the sounds of the children crying—and gunshots not long after.
Dazai looked at him, with a frown. "Odasaku? Who is it?" He was curious. And although he wouldn't actively show it, he was a bit worried. After all, it took a lot to make Odasaku lose his cool this quickly.
Odasaku didn't reply. He just looked like a statue. Finally, he registered the sound of an unfamiliar girl's voice on the other end. "Hello? Mr. Oda? Hello?"
"What…" Odasaku replied, in horror.
"Oh thank god, you picked up!" The unfamiliar girl sounded relieved despite the rattling gunfire in the background. Dazai recognized the girl's voice instantly.
Odasaku stood up instantly from his tool, hand shaking. No, his whole body was trembling. Dazai knew it was serious. Narrowing his eyes, he got up as well, leaving his money. He looked at Odasaku silently for direction. After all, it would be Odasaku's call on what they did. The girl was speaking to Odasaku but Dazai was having trouble making out the entire conversation. Something about her saving those orphans—and then being attacked by Mimi- Dazai's eyes flashed with Odasaku's. They looked at each other. They didn't even need to exchange words. They didn't know how this girl knew about Mimic which was being kept under wraps but if she had gotten involved with the children then—
Odasaku's strained voice growled, "Don't do anything until I get there! Got it!" He could hear Kousuke in the background.
"Hey, Big Sis, is Odasaku on the phone?" Kousuke was asking, tugging on Alu's trench coat.
"Kousuke!" Odasaku said, trying to get the attention of the kid—clarification—something— from someone other than the strange girl—but the phone clicked. He looked at the phone before stuffing it in his pocket.
Dazai took off with him—they didn't have time for words.
Alu looked to Kousuke after she'd hung up. "Yeah, Odasaku is on his way to save you—but you'll have to do what I say until then, okay?"
Kousuke nodded. "So just...say Odasaku's name? How does that help us?"
The gunshots had stopped for the moment. In fact, it was oddly quiet again. Alu's eyes narrowed. She peered over the counter. Three military cars in total were outside those shattered windows. Broken blinds and torn up furniture riddled with bullets littered the floor. She looked to Kousuke and the others. "My power uses words… if you strongly believe in that name that is most important to you...I can use it to ensure he can protect you."
Kousuke nodded. He looked to the others. "You heard her. We have to say his name!"
Yu tentatively whispered, "O...Odasaku…"
Katsumi went next. "Odasaku…"
Shinji sniffled, "O….Oda..s...Saku…"
Sakura shook, and she was crying so hard she couldn't speak. Yu just hugged her. Alu's eyes flickered. Even if Sakura wasn't able to say it out loud, she knew she was screaming it with all her heart. She nodded to Kousuke. "It's enough. Stay down, got it, guys?"
The kids just nodded. Alu moved out from behind the bar counter. She rolled towards the back door. It was locked. Of course. Not having time for this, she knew walking through the front door was obvious suicide. She sighed. She had said she was going to use her power after all to make the name those kids held most dear a powerful protector for them. She let her hands glow, she would have to stall until Dazai and Odasaku could get here. She hadn't asked Dazai to bring back up—she hoped that at least that would be implied.
Dazai was highly perceptive so she figured words weren't always necessary to get him to do something—especially since he struck her as the kind of person that hated taking orders. Alu's eyes glowed, her fingertips had runes dancing in blue around them. It was time to try something new with her power.
Outside, the armed Mimic vehicles were on standby. A soldier reported to their leader Gide back at the base that all was going as planned.
Gide was pleased. Very soon, those orphans—and whoever that mystery girl Odasaku no doubt hired to keep them safe—would perish. Then, Oda Sakunosuke would finally deliver upon him and his men the cleansing break from this world's coil that he so desired.
The soldiers cocked their guns when they saw a shadow moving through the front door. "Ready your aim," a soldier commanded his subordinates. The men nodded, and aimed their gun at the shadow. As the shadow slowly stepped into the light, with their arms up, the soldiers' eyes widened with absolute bewilderment.
"What the hell?" Gide heard his soldier say on the other end of the receiver.
"Sir…" before the soldier could speak, the sound of gunfire riddled the quiet night air once more. Gide's eyes widened.
"Report!" He commanded.
No response.
"I said report!" He repeated, impatiently, rising from his chair back at the headquarters.
"Sir…" another voice picked up the receiver. It was shaken.
"Report!" Gide said, impatient.
"There...there's...a bear…" the soldier said weakly.
"What?" Gide's expression twisted to angry bewilderment. "Then shoot it!"
"We're..trying...but sir...it's…." the soldier cried out in pain as the bear threw him out of the vehicle. Yes, this bear, in question, was terrifying not because it was the size of a car. No, this bear was terrifying because it was simply a stuffed animal with the strength of a tank. In fact it wasn't just any stuffed bear. It was Sakura's, and Alu was its eyes and puppet master.
Using the bear, she timed her attacks to take out as many as the soldiers that she could. She was still huddled with the kids, having returned to them and told them her plan. Sakura sniffled, clinging to her. Hugging Sakura tightly, Alu allowed her power to flow through that bear—
She had been the one to rewrite the bear not as just a stuffed animal—but a version of Odasaku that whenever the kids were in danger—would activate, allowing whoever was trying to protect them control of it.
In fact, She was more than pleased with the result. "Ah! Big Sis, you're bleeding!" Kousuke cried out with alarm as blood dribbled out from Alu's mouth. Alu choked.
She coughed into her hand, feeling the blood bubble up from her lungs—her throat. So, this was the consequence of straining her power beyond its limits. She felt light headed. The kids looked at her scared. Though she felt light headed, with a headache that made her skull feel like a hot iron was being pressed to it, she refused to give up hope. "It's alright...just believe..in that name…"Odasaku…' with everything you got, got it!"
The kids sniffled but they shut their eyes tightly, and they all began to chant—even Shinji and Sakura. The bear outside glinted, its coal eyes filling with a blue fire. The soldiers screamed as they were tossed like rag dolls around a playground.
The ones that didn't end up unconscious or smacking into the vehicles, tried to shoot the bear to no avail. It was too quick, and yet—it was still just a stuffed bear in the end. Eventually it became so riddled with bullets that not even it could move. It twitched. It tried to step forwards but finally it was reduced to tatters at the soldiers feet. The remaining soldiers jeered.
Alu meanwhile, could hear the jeering victory cry from outside. "You all did...extremely well..Odasaku would be proud," she said, petting Sakura's head as she hiccuped. The kids looked to her, trembling. She wiped the blood from her mouth on her sleeve. She pushed Sakura gently into Katsumi's arms. "Stay here…"
"W-what happens now?" Kousuke asked, afraid and not hiding it anymore.
"Phase 2," Alu said, tapping a finger to her lips, smiling reassuringly at them. She had no idea what the plan was now but she wanted these kids to know that they would be okay. She'd bet her life on their safety. If this was the universe's way of punishing her for using her gift selfishly to protect these orphans then so be it. Maybe she wasn't worthy of this gift. But that didn't matter. She would go down trying to make the world even just a bit brighter.
Her eyes glowed as she turned away from the orphans. Going through the door, Alu felt oddly calm and resolved. Would they shoot on sight? She had no way of knowing, but at the same time, she knew what she had to do. She put her hands up, walking out of the building, leaving Kousuke and the kids in hiding.
"Hands up!" The remaining handful of soldiers pointed their guns at her. By this point, the gunfire had alerted local law enforcement. Alu could hear the sirens in the distance. Apparently so could the members of Mimic. They cursed, getting into their vehicles, attempting to bring their wounded with them. Alu just kept smiling.
A bullet ricocheted to her left. She flinched. "You're going to die first, bitch," one of the soldiers snarled, and she heard the shot ring out. Even before it struck her, she could feel it pierce her bulletproof chest—it was marked for her heart. She found her body skidding back and she rolled in the dirt. With a groan, she let her ability activate.
The soldier in question yelled in sudden pain, as the same bullet was now lodged in his shooting wrist. Screaming, he let go of his gun, clutching his bloody hand. "What the hell! Agh!" His fellows growled, and Alu knew what would happen next. Closing her eyes, it was time to get serious, herself.
Murmuring under her breath, a blue light glowed between the soldiers of Mimic and her. Slowly, she got to her feet, as the bullets that had been raining down on her seconds before began to rain down on the soldiers instead. They all screamed as the bullets went for every non vital part of their bodies that they were instructed to hit. The soldiers all crumpled. "Who the fuck is this bitch?" Someone screamed, firing wildly at her. Alu felt her body was heavy. She drew herself to a knee but she was dizzy. She had used her power too much. Even she knew that she was pushing past her limit. Where were Odasaku and Dazai?
She'd timed it so they'd be here by now. A shot rang out again. Ah, so this was truly it. She'd failed after all, to protect those orphans. She felt the bullet pierce through her worn vest, this time managing to lodge shallowly in her left shoulder. With a cry of pain she clutched her shoulder. The problem with her gift is she had to be able to articulate it out loud. As it was, she was losing blood and in too much pain to think straight anymore.
"Stop it!" A voice screamed. Alu's eyes widened with a jolt. Looking up she saw a shaking form attempting to shield her from the soldiers' gunfire.
"Kousuke!" She yelled, with a strangled horrified cry. "Don't—!"
BANG.
Alu watched as though in slow motion as Kousuke was shot in the stomach. He coughed up blood before collapsing to the ground. Alu forced herself to go over to him, ignoring the pain in her shoulder, adrenaline pumping through her from the horror. "Kousuke!" She screamed.
Suddenly, more gunshots fired out, and she braced herself for them to be for her. The gunfire continued but not in her direction. She opened her eyes after a moment, eyes wide. Realization dawned on her. In front of her had driven up black cars. Out of them, stepped members of the Port Mafia.
She paid them no mind. All that mattered was saving Kousuke! She tried to say something as she hugged him to herself but her body was too weak. Her voice wasn't coming out. She found herself tearing up for the first time since the whole attack began. She'd managed to stay calm up to this point—so calm… "Hey...Big Sis…" Kousuke murmured weakly in her arms, clinging to her sleeve.
"Kousuke, don't talk— I'm going to save you, okay?" She choked out, trying to assess the damage. Her voice was raw and felt bloody. Just talking to him was making her throat feel fire.
"It's okay...Big Sis...not afraid...of dying…" Kousuke said softly, "Just… promise me...you'll tell Odasaku...that I …wanted to be a little bit cool...just like him..."
His eyes began to close. Alu couldn't let this be the end. Someone had to help! Anyone! She let out a scream, her eyes glowing as the tears flowed. Her cry became warped. Without warning, a bright blast of blue and white light surrounded her body and Kousuke.
So, do I finally get to come out and play? A voice jeered in her mind.
Save them.
...As you wish.
An inhuman cry tore from her throat. The Port Mafia members, Mimic members, and even the local police that were driving to the scene all screeched to a halt. "What the hell is that thing!" A police officer said, stopping his vehicle to look out the window.
Before them, was a glowing, angry, red fox—as big as a bus.
In one of its two tails, it held Kousuke.
Dazai and Odasaku had long since arrived on the scene. In fact Odasaku had seen the moment of Kousuke getting shot—and then the transformation of that girl into something not of this world.
"What the hell...Dazai...what is she…?" He asked, horrified.
Dazai was silent. Whatever she was, she gave off the same chaotic energy as Chuuya. His eyes narrowed. "I have a hunch. But now's not the time."
Even as he spoke local law enforcement conversation was picked up on the Port Mafia radio in the car they'd arrived in. "Retreat—retreat— Port Mafia will handle—"
Dazai sighed. "It seems Boss is having me do cleanup...again."
Odasaku didn't even pause. He had to make sure that the other orphans were okay— if anyone could save Kousuke— well, he knew that Dazai would be able to. Dazai let out a noise of surprise. "Dazai… take care of Kousuke," Odasaku said, before he ran off in the direction of the coffee shop.
Dazai blinked. "Ah...yeah...okay…" He sighed. "Odasaku really loses his head when it comes to a couple of orphans…" he didn't get it but well, if it was important to Odasaku, he wouldn't let him down. He looked at the fox that snarled, and smashed two of the Mimic vehicles with its bare paws. Well, this was going to be a cake walk.
That was sarcasm.
He heard the guns click of his own members. "Our orders—do we shoot it?" One of the Mafia members asked, terrified.
"No, don't shoot!" Dazai ordered. The men looked at him like he was nuts.
"But sir—"
"I said, I'll handle it," Dazai's cold cheerful tone made the other men immediately shut up. They knew better than to get in this one's way.
Alu knew what had to be done. Inside her own mind, she could sense everything that was going on outside. Here, pain couldn't reach her. She knew the rest was up to him now.
The fox demonic spirit creature cackled. "This is going to be fun!" The fox smacked its paws down on the street, causing the ground to crack. Port Mafia members cried out and stuck close to their vehicles.
Dazai, however, calmly began to walk in front of the beast. No one dared stop him.
Inside, Odasaku could feel tears stinging in his eyes as the four orphans that remained hugged him tightly, shaking and crying. He was so glad that they were safe. They were safe! He hugged them tightly. He prayed Dazai would be able to save Kousuke.
"My, my, this is rather a messy job, isn't it?" A young man's voice commented from next to one of the Port Mafia members. The member looked in alarm at a boy, dressed from head to toe in what looked like a detective outfit. He had his hand in a bag of chips. How could anyone think of eating at a time like this, the Port Mafia member thought, as sweat dropped in distress and incredulousness.
The kid in question, made a duck face with two chips in his mouth, looking at the stunned member. "Who the hell are you?" The mafia member asked, suspicious, pointing his gun at the kid. The kid looked at him, completely unaffected.
"Who am I? Well now I'm just insulted," he huffed, his eyes opening to glint a sharp green. "My name is Ranpo… and I'm the world's #1 Detective!"
