This story continues 4 years prior to the introduction of Atsushi! Let's see how many shenanigans Alu can get into in this next volume!

Also, do go support the author's series. Bungou Stray Dogs is a really fascinating read. I just took the liberty with this fanfiction of honestly enjoying getting into the minds of these characters and I will always do my best to not be OOC. (Lol, I like them as they are. There will be some romance but not much, this is mostly about the development of the story if Alu of the Ten Tailed Fox got involved.)

BUNGOU STRAY DOGS "Underground" AU VOLUME 2

CHAPTER 1

Alu stared with wide eyes at this woman. Who was she? Why was she being so familiar? Alu frowned, gazing at the woman smiling at her. "Don't be afraid," Ms. Austen continued, "I am aware of what you're capable of...little fox…" In her gloved hands she twirled a light blue parasol. She peered at Alu from behind tinted glasses.

She snapped her fingers. The men looked hesitant but one sharp glare from her, and Alu found herself released from her prison and her shackles just a few moments later. She blinked, standing still, eyeing Ms. Jane Austen, apprehensive.

"What do you want," she found herself asking, on edge.

The woman laughed. "Oh, don't look so distressed! Were my men uncivilized? Tell me...I will have them apologize," she declared, full of energy for a woman that looked to be in her late 30's.

"Um...well your leader was kind of an ass," Alu said, deadpan, glaring at the leader in question.

Ms. Austen tittered. "Was he? Apologize!" She snapped her fingers at him. He looked appalled but he growled regardless coming over and bowing before Alu.

"I apologize for...mistreating you…" he sounded like he was eating glass.

Alu found this all rather odd. And it honestly was a bit unsettling. She didn't want special treatment and she knew for a fact that if this woman knew she was the fox girl that she would want her—no threaten her— to do something. Alu's eyes widened though in shock as the man began to choke.

"I apologize…" he said again.

"I apologize…" He knelt to one knee.

"I apologize…" His tone was tearful, no...fearful. He began to foam at his mouth as he found himself unable to stop apologizing to her. Then, he pulled out his gun.

"I apologize—"

Alu's eyes widened with horror and shock.

BLAM.

She stiffly stared at the man, as he crumpled, dead at her feet, blood pooling out from the gunshot wound to his own head. Alu shook. The other men were silent. Ms. Austen however tutted and she gestured to her men. "Please clean this up. I don't need people who are incapable of a simple apology staining my floor," she said daintily.

Alu took a step back, eyes darting to Ms. Austen with disbelief and apprehensiveness. "What did you do to him." Alu felt a cold shiver down her spine. What was this woman? A skill user? Did she make people want to kill themselves? Jeez, someone like Dazai would have a field day with this one, Alu thought grimacing as that guy's overly sparkly peppy face came to mind.

Ms. Austen blinked, and then she smiled at Alu the same way you'd smile at a child asking why the sky was blue. "I merely reminded him of his place."

Alu stared at her. This woman was nuts, she finally concluded.

"What do you plan to do with those kids?" Alu found herself redirecting the conversation, eyes darting warily over to the other kids in the cages.

Jane beamed. "I'll let them go of course!"

Alu felt a familiar sound of a duck quacking comically in her head again. She gazed at the woman, frowning. "What?"

Ms. Austen hummed, gesturing in the direction of the children. "I'm a reasonable English woman, dear," she hummed, "being diplomatic is the epitome of civility, is it not?"

Alu continued to stare. Okay, she kind of preferred Dazai's nutty rambling about suicide to this woman's blathering. Her head was really starting to hurt again. Why was Yokohama full of so many weirdos. Couldn't she attract someone normal just once?

"..."

"I know you already understand what I want in exchange for their freedom," Ms. Austen said with a cold smirk.

"Me," Alu stated without missing a beat. She grimaced. Great, a classic switch between some innocents and put the 'good' guy in a position where they couldn't say no with a good moral compass in tow.

"Sharp you are," Ms. Austen hummed. "You work for me now, girl."

Alu was about to say something but she saw a truck back into the warehouse. Her eyes flashed. The kids were being taken out of the cages by the other thugs, and led into the back of the truck. Alu tried to step towards them but Ms. Austen merely put the parasol she was holding out in front of Alu, blocking her attempt to move. "They'll be dropped off in front of the docks," the woman continued. "And you'll be coming with me."

Alu didn't know if this woman was lying but she felt a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. Those kids weren't going to the docks— at least not to get law enforcement aid. Still, she didn't want anything to happen to those kids.

She knew it was an obvious bait and snatch situation. What she could do was at least play along—and besides— Alu figured she may as well keep this enemy close enough to figure out what she was planning for those kids. "I want to see them get to safety with my own two eyes," Alu stated, stepping back, eyes narrowing at the woman. She wasn't afraid of her. She was just irritated mostly at the situation. All adults were the same. They only showed interest in her when she had something they wanted. In this case, she had no doubt this woman was a nut who just wanted her fox's power for personal gain.

"Of course," Ms. Austen beamed.

"Promise me," Alu said sharply, "That you won't hurt them."

"I promise," Ms. Austen said, tilting her head, smiling with amusement at Alu, "...not to harm a single hair on their precious little heads," she purred out the last bit and Alu bristled a little.

"Any hair on their head or any part of them," Alu snapped. "I know what you want," she found herself saying in exasperation, distressed. "You want to use me like every other adult!"

Ms. Austen blinked, eyeing Alu after the outburst. Then she began to giggle. "Oh my, you sure are full of pride," she hummed. "It's that pride that will goeth before the fall, you know."

Alu had no idea what this woman was talking about. "Listen— I'll go with you," Alu finally said, eyes darting to the kids being loaded into the truck by the men. "But, I refuse to hurt others if it's not self defense—and I don't kill," she sharply stated.

Ms. Austen tilted her head, still smiling.

"Are you finished?"

Her tone was syrupy and sweet but it also felt like the coldness one would expect from touching black ice with their bare fingers for more than a few seconds.

Alu swallowed. She didn't want to be intimidated, but the hair on her neck raised. This woman...what was it about her that unsettled Alu so much? It wasn't even the human trafficking of those kids—there was something about this woman's demeanor. Alu shuddered. This woman was a killer. And whatever she had planned for Alu—Alu knew if she were to leave—then those kids would die.

—-xxxxx—xxxxx—

"President, are you in position?" Ranpo's voice came on over the earpiece in Fukuzawa's ear. Fukuzawa was currently at the sea port where Alu was supposedly being held, according to Ranpo's deduction. It had taken less than an hour of sleuthing for Ranpo to deduce the exact part of Yokohama that Alu was being held.

Ranpo didn't have much in the way of fighting skills, so he left that to Fukuzawa. Fukuzawa and Ranpo both knew that while Fukuzawa could take on many men at once—that they still didn't know the identity of the actual mastermind who orchestrated the girl's capture.

Ranpo had made it clear back in the alley though; in order to successfully get this girl from whomever was actually after her, they'd need help.

Ranpo stood, looking at Fukuzawa with a frown. "This was never about me," he bluntly stated to a stunned Fukuzawa. "From the beginning, I was a decoy to get to the girl."

"But how?" Fukuzawa found himself asking, wracking his brain. It didn't make sense. The girl wasn't affiliated with them officially. Not to mention, why Ranpo? The girl and him barely had any real interaction worth noting and using him as a decoy didn't make any sense.

"Luck," Ranpo stated. "Like I said. They saw me talking with her and no doubt made a split second decision to lure me and her to the alley to carry out their plan," he continued. "They aren't from the Port Mafia— I already checked when one of them grabbed me earlier. They're all common thugs— not even worth the time of the Port Mafia to recruit."

"Ranpo—is this what you meant when you said you thought you had it under control?" Fukuzawa found himself getting more grey hair amongst his silver ones.

"I wasn't born yesterday," Ranpo huffed, pouting at Fukuzawa, putting his hands on his hips and frowning at him. "I knew they were thugs, but I also knew if I acted like that then they'd reveal their real motif and I'd be able to keep an eye on that girl per your request."

Fukuzawa blinked. Ah, so Ranpo went to this length for keeping an eye on that girl? Okay, that totally made this better.

His vein twitched.

Not.

"Ranpo, when I said keep an eye on her… I didn't mean go get into a thug battle with her," he groaned, rubbing his forehead with his hand.

"It seemed like a good plan at the time," Ranpo stated, subdued. "She was being targeted even before she talked to me. I staked out her place and planned to get her to just follow me back to the agency. When one of the thugs that had been hiding in the shadows came out so easily I figured why let go of such an opportunity to figure out who the real mastermind was orchestrating her capture? Besides...I calculated all the risk— and honestly…" he quieted.

Fukuzawa blinked. "Ranpo?" He frowned, stepping closer, hesitantly reaching out a hand to touch Ranpo's shoulder. Ranpo was always short but Fukuzawa knew that he wasn't a lost little boy anymore.

"I had the deduction down perfectly," he looked at Fukuzawa with a frown. "And yet—she defied my prediction."

"Huh?" Fukuzawa blinked, confused. He knew better than anyone that Ranpo's ability to pick a situation apart and predict the outcome was legendary— just like his father had been before him.

"Not once did she transform to save herself," Ranpo said, gazing at Fukuzawa with a bewildered frown.

"I see," Fukuzawa eyed Ranpo. It takes a special kind of individual to stump Ranpo. Not knowing how she worked—-Fukuzawa wondered if perhaps this girl would provide some healthy sort of challenge for Ranpo in terms of social engagement. Either way, he sighed. "I don't imagine she likes parading around advertising her fox form," he pointed out.

"That doesn't matter," Ranpo said curt, crossing his arms, "In this situation, it was the only way for her to get herself out of there alive—with me included. Instead, she just...threw me…." Ranpo trailed off, scratching his head with genuine irritation. Fukuzawa pursed his lips.

The boy was flummoxed.

He didn't say a word. Not a peep. But he suddenly understood why Ranpo had been so urgently invested in getting back to the girl. Sadly, it didn't have to do with her—more like her actions that he was trying desperately to figure out with his own way of logical reasoning. She didn't fit the logic of his Genius—and was thus frustrating him.

Fukuzawa cleared his throat. "Be it as it may—we still need to get her safely away from those thugs," he said, brisk.

Ranpo nodded. "I was getting to that," he huffed, taking his glasses off and putting them in his pocket. "We won't be able to go in with just Ms. Yosano...we need Kunikida if we're going to have any chance of success."

"Kunikida isn't answering his phone," Fukuzawa sighed.

"Leave that, to me," Ranpo stated, and Fukuzawa gazed at Ranpo's serious expression. A motivated Ranpo was honestly more terrifying than a slacker Ranpo.

This brought them back to the present. Ranpo hadn't said exactly how he planned to get Kunikida to come out from his less than a week in "retirement", but Fukuzawa knew if anyone could cook something up it was most definitely, Ranpo Edogawa.

In fact, Ranpo was currently standing outside the apartment where Kunikida currently was 'holing' himself up, glaring at the door with irritation. "Good, don't move until I say so," Ranpo ordered Fukuzawa brusque in tone and hung up on him.

Fukuzawa wondered what happened in the world to have his role switch where he was taking orders from a kid a good decade younger than him. He sighed. Well, it wasn't like he didn't trust Ranpo.

But to think this was the same kid that used to dog him all the time.

Fukuzawa wondered just how Ranpo was going to get Kunikida to agree to help with this particularly sticky situation. Blackmail came to mind evidently and Fukuzawa just rubbed his forehead. He just prayed—and as someone who doesn't typically pray— that whatever Ranpo did decide to do, wouldn't end up alienating Kunikida forever.

No promises, he could practically hear Ranpo say in his mind's eye. Fukuzawa stayed perched, like a good loafing kitty, waiting for his puppy to give him orders of what to do from this point out.

Meanwhile, inside the apartment, Kunikida, lay in his bed. Yes, the normally cleaned up Kunikida was lying in a shirt he'd spent the last three days wearing, lying in bed with some of Katai's junk food, watching really sappy movies about god-knows-what-Kunikida even watches in his free time- sorts of drama while letting his blonde hair fall around his shoulders, devoid of any sort of ponytail.

He'd decided to just pull himself out of the agency since he wasn't cut out for protecting people like he thought he would be. Even Katai was a better person than him at this point, and his friend Katai just stayed in his Futon all day staring at technology in the office room that was set up for him! Kunikida had decided that after he moped, he'd just go find some boring office job once he was done with school and tutoring. But, did he even deserve to tutor? What sort of teacher could he call himself when he himself was utterly useless?

Kunikida sighed, dejectedly. I only wanted to make this world a little brighter by sharing my ideals… He forlornly looked to his notebook that was tossed near a trash bin. That's where his ideals belonged after all.

"Oi! Kunikida!" A familiarly annoying voice yelled from outside the front door. Kunikida flinched. Oh, it was just Ranpo.

He knew that Katai had tried to get in touch with him about at least talking to President Fukuzawa about reconsidering his resignation but Kunikida knew with a heavy heart that someone like him, didn't deserve to consider himself seriously to even revoke a resignation done with the intention—-

The sound of a door being slammed open caused Kunikida to nearly jerk to the ceiling like a terrified cat swinging off a lamp. "What the hell?!" He spluttered.

Standing before him, was Ranpo, who put his hands on his hips. "Okay, that's enough moping! We have work to do!" His bossy no-nonsense tone made Kunikida feel like he'd stepped into an alternate reality. Was this the same Ranpo that complained about hard work and just ate sweets all day at his desk—unbudging unless directed by the President?

Kunikida stared at Ranpo, mouth a bit open—okay—a lot open.

"Don't stare like a fish," Ranpo replied, stomping over. "Get dressed! Come on! Up and at them! What do I have to do? Carry you? Cuz I'm totally not gonna do that!" He complained loudly and Kunikida was honestly relieved. Okay, so this was the same reality after all.

"How'd you get in?" Kunikida asked dumbly.

"Duh, I used the key," Ranpo rolled his eyes, crossing his arms, standing before Kunikida's bed. "Now get up!" Oh, Katai must have given him the spare key, Kunikida surmised.

Kunikida grimaced. His eyes flickered and he looked away. "No."

What happened next was honestly the last thing Kunikida expected. He heard the door slam. He blinked. What? No speech? No throttling? Did Ranpo just leave?

As Kunikida pondered this, he noticed something left on the ground. It was his notebook. When had it moved? He frowned, reaching for it. It was now near where Ranpo had been standing before. He took the book, feeling the weight in his hands. It was a light book despite its thick appearance but it was the opposite weight of what he held in his heart.

A slip of paper was tucked into the top corner of it. He took it out. The writing was Ranpo's, definitely. His expression twisted as he read the note. His eyes widened in shock.

"What…?" Kunikida's voice shook, though his emotions were hard to discern.

—-xxxx—-xxxx—-xxx—

Fukuzawa continued to keep watch. His gaze narrowed as he saw a suspicious black truck arrive. This was the first real bit of activity to unfold since he first started staking out the warehouse Ranpo had directed him to. Fukuzawa's sharp eyes followed the truck even as it entered the warehouse and left his field of vision.

What was Ranpo planning?

Fukuzawa hoped it wasn't something that involved him putting himself in harm's way. That kid had a real knack for that though he'd mellowed out over these past eight years at least. Well, at least until today. Fukuzawa sighed. He'd have to be very, very clear with Ranpo when he gave orders that he was to carry them out without getting himself put into a dangerous spot, apparently.

Fukuzawa, lost in thought, jolted a little when his ear piece began to ring in his ear loudly. He blinked, quickly tapping the button for speaking. "I'm here, what's the status?" He replied, curt.

"Oh, uh, status?" Odasaku's voice was on the other end. It sounded puzzled.

Fukuzawa blinked again. "Ah, I thought you were someone else," he sighed. "I did say I'd call you back later…"

"Oh, I was told to call you," Odasaku confessed on the other end.

Fukuzawa stared at nothing in particular and yet he realized it must have been Ranpo who reached out to Odasaku. Was Ranpo trying to get Odasaku involved? Fukuzawa frowned. "Was it Ranpo's idea?" He may as well get the details.

Odasaku replied, "Yes?"

It sounded like he really had no idea what was going on. Fukuzawa rubbed his forehead with a sleeve, honestly bewildered at Ranpo's behavior. At least tell him what's going on, he wanted to chide Ranpo.

With a huff he figured Ranpo wanted to utilize Odasaku's unique foreshadowing ability and fighting skills for potentially going up against whomever had Alu captured. "Did he tell you anything?"

Odasaku was quiet for a second. Fukuzawa furrowed his brow, impatient. "He just told me to call you about something only I can do for you," he finally said. Fukuzawa huffed. Odasaku wasn't even in Yokohama. Even if he did manage to get a car or a train here it would take way more time than they had.

What was Ranpo even thinking? "Oh, I see you," Odasaku continued.

Fukuzawa blinked, confused. Huh? Oda could see him? How? He frowned and turned his head. He nearly fell over. There, below him, still too far to hear but close enough to see, out of sight of the enemy, was Oda, looking up at him, having just pocketed the phone he'd used to call Fukuzawa on. Ranpo's sense of timing was absolutely terrifying sometimes.

Fukuzawa watched as Odasaku easily managed to come up to where he staked himself. Odasaku ducked behind the same wall Fukuzawa was currently utilizing from up high as vision coverage. He just gazed at Fukuzawa, quiet. Fukuzawa felt awkward. Of course, he figured Oda did too considering Ranpo apparently told him nothing about what was going on. "Who is watching the children?" He frowned, concerned.

Odasaku nodded. "Kousuke is old enough...besides, it seems Ranpo already planned for that...he pulled a favor with the police department? They sent two officers to just keep an eye on the children at his request."

Odasaku sounded bewildered. Fukuzawa was stunned-as usual— by Ranpo's thoroughness. He really had everything planned out. Fukuzawa breathed sharply through his nose, turning away from Odasaku to gaze at the warehouse again. His eyes flickered, as he heard the rumble of the engine. The truck was on the move.

"Tch," he groaned. There wasn't enough time to explain to Oda what was going on. "See that truck?" Fukuzawa nodded towards it. Odasaku nodded in return, concentrating.

"Yeah," he replied, still puzzled but he seemed prepared.

"Okay, that girl—the one that saved those kids? You remember her, well she's been captured by a gang," Fukuzawa said, his eyes locked on the target—the truck— as it began to pass by them below from where they were stationed. "We're jumping, now!"

Without warning, Fukuzawa leapt gracefully from the high ledge he was perched on, landing like a cat, crouched on top of the moving van. Odasaku's own muscles reflexively reacted and although he didn't look particularly dainty, he was rather graceful himself. The driver inside the truck jolted when he heard two light thuds on top of the roof.

"What the hell," he growled, gesturing to his colleague. The other thug nodded, and pointing his gun at the ceiling, smirked sadistically.

Fukuzawa's eyes widened and he grabbed Odasaku's arm, yanking him back. At the same time, Odasaku had a vision. There was the sound of bullets shooting through the roof of the truck. One struck Fukuzawa in the arm and thigh as he attempted to pull Odasaku out of harms way of the bullets aimed carelessly for him as well.

Odasaku's heart beat like a thunderclap in his chest. There was no more time. He grit his teeth, and as Fukuzawa made to pull him out of harm's way—Odasaku had no choice but to grab Fukuzawa in turn—and fling them both off the truck.

Fukuzawa let out a yell of confusion, as Odasaku yanked him with no explanation off the truck. They tumble rolled on the hard cement, now left behind as the truck drove off. Fukuzawa groaned, his body hurting all over from the tumble roll. He was getting way too old for these shenanigans.

Odasaku groaned himself. Fukuzawa looked over. His expression twisted with alarm.

Blood pooled from Odasaku's side. He clutched it, trying feebly to raise himself to his knees. Fukuzawa instantly was by his side, helping him sit up, cradling Odasaku's upper torso in his arm. "Hang on!" Fukuzawa said sharply.

"No...time...you have to go after...her," Odasaku breathed hard. He felt weak, he was losing blood too quickly.

"I won't leave you," Fukuzawa stated sharply.

Odasaku almost smiled past the blood dribbling down the corner of his mouth. "Why...I have to wonder…?" He murmured, weakening by the minute.

"Save your strength," Fukuzawa ordered, trying to get in touch with Yosano.

Yosano was currently with Ranpo checking out the docks where the ships were stationed. There were all kinds of boats, but Ranpo had a specific one in mind he was trying to find. Yosano picked up her cell. "President?" She asked, glancing to Ranpo. Ranpo perked up.

"Oh good, this must mean he's gotten—" Ranpo began but the smug smirk faltered when Yosano's expression twisted with concern.

"Understood," she said curtly, hanging up. She turned to Ranpo. "I'm sorry Ranpo, you'll have to scout this part alone— I'm needed where the president is."

"What's wrong?" Ranpo asked, alarmed. He didn't like not knowing something. Especially if it had to do with the president. Had he miscalculated something? His predictions told him that the president and Odasaku could handle themselves!

"That man we're protecting—Oda was it?— yeah, he's been shot, and it's not looking good," she said curt.

Ranpo's face looked shocked. His plan included Odasaku. What was going on? Was he losing his touch? He'd analyzed this case and come up with the result with the highest success—and Odasaku was not someone who would let himself get shot easily! "I don't understand," Ranpo's voice wavered.

"Whether or not you understand isn't the issue here," Yosano said, frowning. "The president asks that you stay low and out of sight. He'll be joining you shortly. He's going to carry Oda as far as he can while I catch up to them."

Ranpo's heart was thudding in his ears. No, he calculated for success. This was supposed to be a successful retrieval. Odasaku was too smart to be hit by a mere rogue bullet. How had he been hit so easily—so early on? What the hell. Ranpo was upset at the situation. He clenched his fists.

"He shouldn't have gotten shot," he found himself whining.

Yosano shook her head. "Ranpo, I know you're upset but sometimes things just...happen…" she trailed off. Ranpo looked at her, though he was a year older than her, he was acting honestly like an angry little kid.

"I have to do everything myself, as usual!" He huffed, turning on his heel, finally.

Yosano blinked. She pursed her lips. His words stung, but she had observed Ranpo for over six years now. She was used to his tantrums and outbursts. She took off to find the president, leaving Ranpo to figure out how to solve this case with Odasaku down for the count.

After Yosano left, Ranpo's cocky demeanor shifted to just absolute irritation. He knew he calculated things perfectly. By all logical reasoning— Odasaku and Fukuzawa should have been on top of that truck—having used it to make themselves blend in with the actual criminals for boarding the ship where Alu was being held. "I knew there was always the possibility of one of them getting shot—-but with Odasaku's ability and Fukuzawa's prowess they should have been the perfect matchup! There's no w—-" Ranpo froze.

It dawned on him.

A small faint smile actually began to creep on his face. He honestly looked like someone who had just struck gold—in the logical sense.

"I see now...so that's how you wanna play…"