Vol. 4.
Ch.1
Therefore I Am
"Don't address me so indifferently," Akutagawa hissed, irritated. He wanted respect and this damn fox wasn't even taking him seriously. Akutagawa refused to let Rashomon be beaten by anyone! That included this brat!
Juubi smirked, leering at the boy. Rashomon retreated almost squealing from Juubi's touch, sucking back comically into Akutagawa with such force that Akutagawa found himself stumbling back with bewildered shock. "Your ability has more sense than you, it seems interesting."
"Tch, bastard!" Akutagawa flared up, trying to summon Rashomon but before he could, Fukuzawa wordlessly appeared behind him, and knocked him out. Akutagawa collapsed easily into Fukuzawa's arms. Fukuzawa looked at Juubi and just nodded.
"Now, as for the lightning ability user," Juubi hummed. Kunikida growled though, holding up his hands.
"Wait! Wait! Demons? Can you please explain to me what the hell is going on?" he spluttered.
"Ah," Juubi tilted his head, and quirked a brow at Kunikida, a hand on his hip. "I'm a demon fox, nice to meet you," he said cheekily, holding out his hand to Kunikida and smiling with sparkles.
Kunikida hilariously didn't feel any better. "Uh," he just stared at Juubi.
Ranpo just walked over to Yosano. "Can you heal her?" he asked quietly.
Yosano blinked. "I think so, but her fox demon is in control, isn't he?"
Ranpo nodded. "The longer he's in control, I fear the less control she will have."
Yosano's eyes widened, startled. She looked to where Juubi stood, conversing with the confused math tutor, and looked back to Ranpo. "What do you mean?"
Ranpo sighed. "Based on my ability, I've deduced that while she and the fox share the same body she is the host. Despite this though, in extreme circumstances, he can gain control, so it would benefit him to heal her slowly-in order to have control of her body for a longer period of time."
"You're saying he's stalling her recovery?" Yosano sounded horrified.
"Yes," Ranpo was grim. "The only way to bring Alu back to us, is to knock this guy out."
Yosano pursed her lips. She also knew only the basics about Alu's fox but she knew Ranpo would fill her in on the details later. Poor Kunikida's brain was having less success processing the existence of a 'demon', however, as he comically looked mentally fried in Ranpo's direction.
Juubi dodged a sudden sword slash from Fukuzawa, and he flipped behind Fukuzawa gracefully like an acrobat. "Oh? I see none of you actually appreciate my presence. I'm hurt." He didn't sound hurt in the least. "Must I remind you I'm not the enemy here?"
"You are intentionally keeping that girl in stasis," Ranpo curtly interjected. "You know if she heals too quickly you'll be pushed back inside and lose what little control you have of her body," he glared at Juubi.
"Oh, you really are smart!" Juubi clapped, and he grinned darkly. "Well, I admit, it's frustrating to be on the sidelines while others are taking action-but I'd have thought out of everyone here, you'd relate the most to that, Ranpo~" his golden rose tinted eyes glinted, his white pupils just gazing at the frozen detective.
"My job isn't to be on the front lines," Ranpo countered, stiffly.
"True, but my job is," Juubi hummed. "As you all know, Gide is still at large and this naive dumb little girl of mine just let the vat of information leading to him just walk out of here less than thirty minutes ago. So, if you'll all excuse me, I have a rat to catch and a leader to assassinate," he beamed at them saluting, and with a speed they couldn't keep up with, he leapt out of the window.
"Wait!" a voice yelled, desperately.
Juubi floated in midair, but he turned, arms crossed. Floating outside the window, he gazed at the desperate man before him, breathing hard, out of breath. He grinned. "Hello again, Osamu."
Dazai had run past the agency members, knowing he didn't have enough time to stop and get a fill in. But he'd heard enough from the time he'd gotten to this floor. "Take me with you!" Dazai yelled.
Juubi paused. "Oh? You want to go on a killing spree with me?" he asked, amused.
"I'll do whatever it takes to keep Odasaku safe!" Dazai declared, gritting his teeth.
"Very well," Juubi held out a hand and he made a gesture. Dazai's outer form glowed with a blue outline and he found himself lifted up in the air and floated over to where Juubi was.
"A-Anti gravity?" he spluttered.
"Don't look so surprised," Juubi shrugged.
"Wait! Dazai!" Fukuzawa yelled, dashing to the broken window. "Senseless killing isn't the answer! We need to regroup! All of us!"
"I'm not a part of your little group!" Dazai called back, but for some reason, he felt a pang when he said that.
"What the hell are you talking about!" Kunikida roared. "You were the one we relied on to disable that bomb, remember! So what if you're not an official member of our agency? You're a part of us now whether you like it or not! Why don't you get it? Don't go making it all complicated!"
Dazai felt strange. He knew Odasaku belonged here. Odasaku had always been a good person just thrown into unfortunate circumstances when he was a child. But he turned it around when he was 14. Dazai was 18, and he hadn't done anything to turn his life around. He'd picked that age to begin going down the darkest path because he didn't like how bright other paths shone. They blinded him. Overwhelmed him. Even now, he felt his breathing labor. These people weren't people he knew well at all.
Yet Alu had somehow managed to get him to work with these people. Even managed to get that damn Ogai Mori involved. Not to mention roping in that damn traitor as well. But now, that girl had no control over her own body. Dazai knew the real reason he wanted to go with Juubi. If he could use his ability, he could somehow put Alu back in control. All he needed was to touch Juubi. In order to do that, he had to be close to her.
Yosano dashed over as well but Ranpo hung back, the only one who deduced Dazai's real intentions just from looking at him. He sighed to the agency members. "Let them go off and be dumb," he said brattily. "We have our own interrogation we need to do," he pointed to the unconscious lightning user.
Dazai noticed right away that Juubi was using his power to keep Dazai at arm's length. So it was true then, his ability was still something that Juubi was hyper-aware of. He glanced down below, one last time, seeing Kunikida, Fukuzawa, and Yosano still standing near the window. They turned away though, to acknowledge Ranpo.
Dazai took a deep breath. They were entrusting him to bring the girl back. He wasn't doing anything for them, necessarily. But he refused to fail this girl. He looked at Juubi. "So what's the plan?"
"You and I are going to go hunting," Juubi hummed.
"What information do you have on Gide?" Dazai asked, as Juubi floated them away from the building and onto the ground below. Relieved to have solid ground under his feet, Dazai was amazed his legs weren't jello.
"Oh we're not hunting him," Juubi hummed.
"Fyodor?" Dazai asked, without hesitation.
"Smart boy," Juubi hummed. "Yes, because he's the one who will lead us right to that man and all his little followers," he gazed at Dazai, with a fanged smile. "But if you use your ability on me, I won't be able to unlock those memories that girl so desperately wants to hide from you."
Dazai grimaced. It was human nature to be curious. And admittedly, the back of his mind was still very itchy. But, that girl must have made the past attempts hazy for a reason, right? He knew she wasn't someone to be dishonest by her nature. But, what was it that had made her seal away those memories? Ugh, this fox really was a tricky fellow. Dazai sighed, and took a deep breath. Should he give the girl the benefit of the doubt or get instant gratification by seeking out those answers himself?
The answer was obvious.
"Let's just focus on finding Fyodor," Dazai said, dismissively. "My memories aren't going anywhere," he walked past Juubi, hands in his trench coat pockets. Juubi looked momentarily taken aback, apparently counting on Dazai's selfish self-absorbed nature to get the better of him.
Juubi's eyes narrowed. Alu's words echoed in his mind, along with her annoying smile and cheerful attitude. "People can change, but only if you let them."
"Feh," Juubi growled. "Have it your way," he sighed and he fell into step, next to Dazai, looking around. "Now, according to my senses, that man isn't far."
"Good," Dazai said, smirking coldly. "I don't want you to get the wrong idea," he beamed at Juubi and in his coat, he revealed he was carrying a gun. "My resolve is different than what you may be expecting since meeting that girl. I have no intention of letting that man live."
Juubi paused, and then he chuckled. "Hm, you are such a fascinating little human," he hummed. "Let's do this, then," he took off down the street. "Try to keep up!" he taunted, cheekily. Dazai's eyes flickered. But he smirked back. He wasn't unfit, and if this guy was testing his stamina, then he'd have to prove to him that he wasn't dead weight.
—X—
Fukuzawa carried the unconscious Akutagawa on his back. He detested bringing this misguided boy back to that man, but Ranpo deduced that leaving him amidst the damaged hotel room rubble wasn't a great idea either.
Kunikida carried the lightning user, who was also unconscious. Yosano had already healed the lightning user—but he was unconscious due to the nature of her ability, hilariously enough.
They turned into Yosano's infirmary door, Yosano holding the door open for them.
Fukuzawa placed Akutagawa onto one bed, and Kunikida placed the lightning user onto the other.
Fukuzawa's phone rang. Fukuzawa's hair fuzzed cutely like a flustered cat and he quickly grabbed his phone from the pocket in his robes, agitated. "Confound it all, who is calling me?"
"I see you returned with one of my agents," Mori's voice came out on the phone.
Fukuzawa hung up.
The phone rang again.
Kunikida gulped. "Uh, not to sound obvious, but shouldn't you get that?"
"No," Fukuzawa and Yosano both said flatly at the same time.
Kunikida looked to Ranpo—hilariously the only one he could depend on for a straight answer in this confusing moment. Ranpo just shrugged. "We could just toss him in the trash out back and let him get picked up by The Port Mafia that way."
"That's a great idea," Fukuzawa said deadpan. "However, I am against putting children in the trash."
"I don't consider murderers, children," Yosano hilariously picked up Akutagawa's corpse and before anyone could stop her, she flung it out the window. The ringing of Fukuzawa's phone stopped seconds later as a distant THUD and THONK was heard followed by the sound of the pain of an old man being squashed by a sandbag like body. The members peered out the window, and Ranpo shielded his eyes with his hand, whistling.
"Good shot, Yosano, you hit the boss," he said, approvingly.
Yosano just dusted her hands off and went to tend to the lightning user. "We have bigger things to worry about."
Fukuzawa grimaced. "There was no need," he began but Ranpo cut in.
"He would have sliced us all to bits had he woken up here, president," he pointed out. "Besides, I kept telling you to drop him off in some alley somewhere. You're the one who brought him all the way back."
Meanwhile, Mori used Elise to lift the sudden corpse off of him from down below. Elise just rolled her eyes, holding the unconscious Akutagawa on her back. "You're such a dummy, Rintaro," she huffed.
"Throwing my agent out a window, really, they say I'm the bad guy," Mori complained, rubbing his sore neck.
He paused however, looking up towards where Akutagawa had been tossed and saw Fukuzawa gazing down below at him. He smirked, and waved. Fukuzawa flipped him off with the other members. Ah. How mature these agents were.
Well, that blonde guy didn't flip him off, but he looked more ready to puke than anything. Specifically, because Kunikida was ready to puke. He couldn't believe the other members were so blatantly flipping off the head of the freaking Port Mafia. But they were acting like it was totally normal. Goes to show that they were raised by Fukuzawa. Not Kunikida though. He was raised by proper parents(lol). Kunikida just ducked out of the window, actually the only mature one there, hilariously enough.
Fukuzawa turned to Ranpo. "Do we know how we're going to track Osamu Dazai and Alu's fox beast?"
Ranpo was quiet. In his hands, he gripped a pair of black glasses—unbroken. He looked at Yosano. "I know it's hard to let this play out, but that girl does have a plan. She will find a way to reach out to us if we're needed." He shook his head. "I'm afraid, at this point, it's out of all of our hands. We just have to leave the rest to that girl."
Yosano grit her teeth. "We'll interrogate this guy at least—try to figure out what the enemy's next move is," she said, cracking her knuckles.
Ranpo put a hand on her shoulder. She turned, glaring at him, upset. But he just nodded, expression just as serious. "Do what you have to."
—X—
"Huh," Dazai said, gazing around the lower district of Yokohama. "Are you sure you can find the guy? Is your whiffer broken?"
"I'm a fox demon, not a dog one," Juubi snarled, insulted.
Dazai shrugged. Honestly, he never dreamed demons were real to begin with, but oddly he could totally believe it. Studying Juubi had been something he'd taken upon himself, but this guy was really thorny. Dazai wondered more about the kind of relationship that Alu shared with this demon. He knew it was none of his business but he felt the need to make it his business. He really felt like he was falling into that big brother role.
"I picked up his aura around here," Juubi growled, eyes glinting like an impatient hunter. "But it's disappeared as though into thin air, dammit all."
"Oh, so the trail's gone cold then?" Dazai inquired, disappointed.
"It would seem so," Juubi huffed. "But that won't be the last time we see that man."
"What now?" Dazai asked, tilting his head at Juubi.
Juubi rubbed his chin, he seemed lost in thought, which amused Dazai. For a demon, his mannerisms seemed oddly human. Was that the girl's influence? "Feh," Juubi growled again. "Where the hell is a good punching bag when you need one?"
"Oi, you're on our turf," a snooty voice came from behind Juubi and Dazai. The sounds of guns clicking, alerted the two men to the presence of ten young adult gangsters now surrounding them, guns pointed at them.
Juubi grinned darkly.
Dazai smirked as well.
—X—
Ango watched as Odasaku tended to the five kids near one of the non descript agency vehicles sent by Ango to collect them. He walked over, finally, finding enough courage to finally address Odasaku. There was a lot of unresolved tension between the two men, but Ango had to focus on the job at hand. After all, it had been at the girl's request he did this and he'd gotten permission from his own boss to do whatever it took to win her to their side.
The fact that Odasaku knew that to be his motivation didn't bother Ango. Rather, it shouldn't. Ango pushed down the nasty feeling he was sensing, crawling up his chest and lungs like some sort of tentacled guilt monster.
"Alright, we've procured a safe house for the time being, we'll need your cooperation," he said, speaking authoritatively to Odasaku like he was a stranger—and not someone who Ango had considered a close friend, once upon a time, anyways.
Odasaku just nodded, but the lack of eye contact somehow made Ango feel worse. He didn't like being ignored, but he looked at Odasaku ushering the kids into the black SUV.
Kousuke growled though and he refused to get in. "No! I won't do it!" He stood back, arms crossed.
The other kids looked at him, bewildered. Odasaku sighed with some exasperation. "Kousuke, you need to be a good example for your siblings right now!"
"Katsumi can be in charge!" Kousuke brattily retorted. "I'm gonna go help Big Sis!"
"You can't help her now," Ango said, interjecting crossly before Odasaku could. Odasaku frowned, glancing now at Ango and Ango sensed parental disapproval. It would have been a little endearing—Odasaku as a parent— if things were different, maybe Ango could have tried to get to know these orphans—No, no that girl was putting weird thoughts in his head. He couldn't afford to lose sight of his mission. Getting close was dangerous to begin with. Bar buddies is one thing but Ango knew if he had allowed himself to get to know those orphans, that he'd be outed as the weakest link not just with those two but in his own organization.
Ango's eyes flickered behind his round frames.
Yes, he knew he was pathetic. But he had to fight despite it all. Despite the odds stacked against him.
"Big Sis entrusted me to distract that guy yesterday!" Kousuke complained loudly. "She trusts me! Why can't you!"
Odasaku and Ango glanced at the boy with alarm. "Wait, hold on, What did you say?" Odasaku quickly asked.
Kousuke kept his arms crossed and he huffed, rolling his eyes. "Okay, so I wasn't supposed to say anything but, like, it's already happened so what! Last night, Big Sis texted me on your phone when you were asleep, Odasaku. She told me to play a game or something to distract the russian spy to buy her time to come help us. She said she could trust me and I accepted that challenge!" He grinned. "I'm gonna be a hero one day after all!"
Odasaku just processed.
Ango however, much quicker to process, eyed the boy, frowning. "You were contacted last night by her?"
Kousuke nodded. "Yep! She used Mister Dazai's phone!"
"I see," Ango wondered just how much this girl had presumptively planned this. How would she have known this far back? As far as Ango knew, they'd all gotten the same news this morning—but then again, this was Alu.
"I'm not going," Kousuke repeated, arms crossed at Odasaku. "I'm going to find Big Sis!"
"I'm going with the children, you need to come along," Odasaku said sharply. "Please, Kousuke. Alu wouldn't want you to throw yourself into harms way, do you really think you can help her by running off?"
Kousuke quieted. He looked really pouty but after a moment of scrunched up thought, he just let his arms drop to his sides. He looked sad. "No, you're right…sorry Odasaku."
Odasaku just trotted over and patted his head. "Your heart's in the right place, kid," he said gently.
Kousuke blushed and grinned, before he got into the SUV. Ango just watched this, quiet. Odasaku really did make a good father, he realized. He was so young but he spoke and acted like someone that wasn't only 23 years old.
"Are you coming?" Odasaku asked, looking at Ango finally.
Ango felt his heart jolt. Odasaku was addressing him so casually. Yet, Ango shuddered, seeing a vision of blood trickle from Odasaku's forehead suddenly. His forehead showed a bullet wound, and then the blood. The blood was on his own hands when he looked down. Ango breathed hard. It wasn't real but the guilt was painting a pretty vivid picture in his mind.
"Ango? Ango? Hey!" Ango collapsed, feeling weak in the knees. Odasaku frowned, kneeling near him.
Ango just covered his face with a hand. "You must hate me," he found himself saying, voice shaking.
Odasaku was quiet. Suddenly, Ango felt strong arms lift him up, to support him. He looked to where Odasaku had an arm around his waist, the other holding Ango's arm around his neck and shoulders. "You think too much," he grunted, and Ango detected irritation? Ango was so confused.
He helped Ango into the vehicle but Ango quickly interjected. "I'll drive."
"Oh? Alright."
Ango managed to somehow get back to reality to strap in and he adjusted the review mirror, still thinking about Odasaku's action. Why was it that even when Odasaku should hate him as openly as Dazai did, that he chose not to? It almost felt more painful to be treated—well— normal? No, normal wasn't the right word. Decently.
Yeah.
He was being treated, decently.
Though Ango repeatedly told himself he wouldn't let feelings get in the way of his work, he couldn't stop the wave of guilt that crept into his heart. It had already consumed his mind.
"So, why is your department so willing to help me, a nobody?" Odasaku asked, conversationally, but his stern gaze only made Ango feel like he was a child being scrutinized by a disapproving elder.
"As you guessed before, that girl said she'd comply with me if I ensure your safety," Ango said, trying to be just as conversational even though his stomach was doing goddamn summersaults internally.
"I see," Odasaku quieted.
That girl was already sacrificing so much for him. No, she'd already sacrificed so much. Why was she willing to give up her freedom for this organization that Ango belonged to? Odasaku didn't feel right about just letting her take this fall for him. He should be the one negotiating for the safety of those orphans! Not her. His eyes flickered. He looked at Ango. He disliked the liar he had thought was a friend. But, he had to think about the orphans too. That girl was going to sacrifice her freedom for him, and he couldn't allow that. His heart sank. He knew he couldn't do both agencies. Though he had briefly felt like he could belong to the Armed Detective Agency, Odasaku was realizing fast what the correct course of action had to be. He looked at Ango, serious. "I'll take her place," he said, deadpan.
Ango nearly hit the brakes from surprise. Tense, he just slowed properly to a red light. He glanced at Odasaku, incredulous. "What?"
Odasaku sighed. "You heard me. I'll take her place. I don't want her throwing her freedom away," he said, gazing at Ango. "I can't allow it. Those orphans are my responsibility. If your organization is taking such steps to keep them safe, then I need to do my part. Besides, the Armed Detective Agency would only be burdened by someone like me…" Odasaku's eyes flickered and he looked out the window, briefly.
"You can't be serious!" Kousuke shouted from the back seat, alerting the two grown men that—oh yeah, those kids are here too— they weren't alone.
Odasaku glanced over his shoulder. "Kousuke, don't interrupt," he said cross.
"No! You already work with that awesome place! Don't go with four eyes! You clearly don't like him!" Kousuke complained, oddly perceptive—well children could be highly perceptive and Odasaku was finding out that Kousuke really was going to be an outspoken sort of person as he grew up.
These children were growing up.
A few months ago, they would not have had that opportunity had that girl not come into their lives. Again, Odasaku felt like he wasn't doing enough. That Gide, how long was his presence going to haunt everything that Odasaku had worked so hard to protect? Dazai had only told him that Gide was after his life and that the girl was trying to stop them from getting into a real fight. Odasaku knew Dazai was also looking out for him, but he still felt powerless to do anything to help either of them.
All he could do was sit here while others seemed to take the reins. Odasaku grit his teeth. He couldn't just keep quiet like a good little boy. He was tired of being on the sidelines. He wanted to take action. But what could he do? He glanced at Ango while Kousuke moped in the backseat.
"Ango," he said, seriously.
Ango glanced at him. Both men had expressions that mirrored the expressionless cold air that was tense between them. But both had a silent understanding laced in there as well. "Yes?"
"I need to talk with Chief Officer Taneda," he said, seriously.
