Vol. 4

Ch. 7

A Revolving Door is Like A State of Mind

Alu breathed hard, gazing at the detective hat in her hands. Suddenly, trying to sleuth things from logic and not the heart sounded way less painful to her. She wondered if that's why Ranpo chose to be impartial and called that being professional. She thought he was distant because of his lack of social skills and that still felt like a big part of it but after what she'd felt from him before—she wondered if he just was detached because it was the best way for him solve cases without getting caught up in the emotional aspect of finding the truth to any situation.

Alu almost wished she had his ability to just detach the way he did when solving anything. No, she shook her head, slapping her face with a free hand gently against her cheek. She knew emotions were important. She had a hard time expressing herself in the past and she still had trouble on some level sometimes but when it came to what she felt was right—she was always determined to not lose sight of what was important. What she'd seen from Ango hadn't actually been on purpose—-but she had just wanted to know what Ango's guilt was rooted in and somehow—she now knew.

She looked at the hat in her hands. Maybe it was time she stopped trying to take care of those three and their relationship problem on her own. A part of her wanted to ask Ranpo for help. But what would Ranpo even get out of it? It wasn't even an actual case. It wasn't even a job. It was something that certainly wouldn't interest him. She could hear his condescending tone now…and his judgemental attitude with haughty disinterest.

"What, you want me to waste my time on this? Are you stupid?"

She sighed, a mushroom cloud. Yep, that sounded about right. She groaned, rubbing her forehead, and placing the hat back into her pocket. She was the one who chose to get involved with those three—no point in dragging the detective into it. Even if his powers of deduction would be useful. She thought about Ranpo's own past.

She still had a hunch and if her hunch on Officer Chief Taneda had been correct, she felt with a twisting feeling in her gut, that her hunch about the death of his parents would be as well. She grimaced. Ryou was proving to be a real handful to try to understand, on top of everything, working with a psychotic Russian and an foreign terrorist organization led by a madman hellbent on killing or dying by Oda Sakunosuke's hand, and she still had to deal with this resurfaced issue of Tomoe and the alarming information she'd learned about the placement of children under the Division of Unusual Powers.

Ugh, why couldn't anything be simple?

Alu sensed someone behind her. With wide eyes, she turned, defensive and her eyes widened with genuine surprise. A familiar blonde haired girl in a red dress with blue eyes gazed at Alu, floating. "Miss Elise?" Alu asked, surprised.

"You weren't answering your phone and then a certain someone went and broke it," Elise said, deadpan. She floated over and in her hand, she held out a new phone—still the lilac color Alu had picked out before.

"Oh-oh no what happened?" Alu asked, bewildered.

Elise huffed. "That stupid Dazai threatened Rintaro today, and then broke the phone," she said, deadpan.

Alu grimaced. Ah, her prediction for Dazai destroying her phone came true after all. It must have been shortly after she'd passed a few days ago when Juubi had taken over. "I-I see…" Alu felt a bit guilty. "You went and got another one?"

"Of course," Elise said, haughty, "you're mine, not his. I won't let him think he can keep you from me!" She spoke brattily but Alu still oddly found it cute. She smiled, pleased to have someone that wasn't completely driven by male hormones to talk to. She hugged Elise.

"I missed you!" She said, honestly.

"Ack! H-hey!" Elise wriggled, surprised at the hugging and grumpy. She allowed it though, considering it was Alu.

Alu was glad for a distraction honestly. That and, she was intending to go check on Elise at some point. "How'd you find me?" She asked, curiously.

"Oh, I was following you for a while," Elise said with a huff. "Stupid Rintaro was whining about work so I ditched him."

Alu blinked. "A while? How long is that?" She wondered why she didn't sense Elise.

"Oh, I saw you go into that weird bar place a while ago." Alu realized Elise had been tailing her for some time then.

"Oh. You saw me hanging out with those guys then?" She said, curiously.

"Yep!" Elise sighed. "If you ask me, you shouldn't hang out with them. They're dumb. You should come play with me!" She grabbed Alu's arm, looking at her with a determined look of excitement.

Alu was amused by Elise's energy. It was refreshing. She nodded. "I'd like to spend time with you again, but I do have something I need to look into first…" Alu had a few things to do but as her thoughts uncluttered in her mind, she felt she could better focus again. One thing at a time. She had to remember to not overwhelm herself.

"We can do that together then! What is it?" Elise asked, impatient.

Alu chuckled. Having Elise around was like having a little sister. Alu smiled. "If you want…" she trailed off. Having Elise around could actually prove really helpful if she needed some assistance with self-defense. But she also knew that Elise shared a mind with Mori Ogai. She gazed at Elise. "I honestly don't want that guy peeping in on my business though," she said, deadpan.

Elise huffed, crossing her arms. "I can block him," she said, matter-of-factly. "I do it often when I go off like I did earlier. Let him rot," she complained. She clung to Alu's sleeve, quieting. Alu blinked. Elise's sudden drop in energy concerned her.

"Elise?" She asked, concerned.

"I don't want you to stop playing with me because of him," she said, looking at Alu, upset.

Alu hugged Elise tightly. "Whatever beef I have with him, I promise you, I don't feel that way about you," she said, seriously, gripping Elise by her shoulders, kneeling down to Elise's height.

"Please don't worry," she said gently.

"I'm not worried!" Elise hotly stated, pushing away from Alu, her face flushed pink. Alu smiled at her, feeling genuinely affectionate for her. Elise was not someone who Alu wanted to ever abandon. So much for staying detached—of all the people to attach herself to in this city though, Alu was amused that it was someone even she hadn't seen as a possibility.

"That's good then! You'll get wrinkles!" Alu teased her, straightening up. Elise pouted.

"You're the old lady! You'll get wrinkles first!" She retorted.

Alu pulled Elise's cheeks. "Oi, Oi! I'm still in the springtime of my youth! I'm not that old!"Alu pouted. Elise whimpered and flailed, pulling free of Alu's grasp.

She rubbed her cheeks, rueful. "Hmph!" She huffed. "So what are you going to do now? It's getting late."

Alu blinked. She hadn't thought about it. She'd slept the last few days so she wasn't exactly tired.

Growl.

Her stomach alerted her that it had its own plans. Oh right, she hadn't exactly gotten any free food from the bar. She winced.

Elise's eyebrows raised. "Hey! I know what we're going to do now!" She grinned darkly and she grabbed Alu by her hand before yanking her over the side of the building and jumping. Alu yelped out of reflex—and shut her eyes tightly, but she found she wasn't falling. Looking with surprise up at Elise, she realized Elise was floating through the air, carrying her by her wrist. Alu wondered if she was heavy to Elise but considering Elise's super strength, it didn't look like holding Alu by her hand was actually straining her.

Alu found herself hanging comically though, dangling, and Elise glanced down before she adjusted her grasp so she was holding Alu by the back of her jacket with both her hands. Alu felt her stomach flip flop. Even with Juubi, if she were to be dropped from this height,—it would hurt a lot. "U-uh, I can walk," Alu said, tentatively. She had a fear of heights and she was getting some serious vertigo. She hated not having her feet on solid ground.

"This is faster," Elise said with a huff, and Alu was oddly reminded a little bit of Ranpo. Her bossy attitude was similar to his. Alu pursed her lips. Despite all these different people she had met with their own personalities, she was finding that they had a lot more in common if one just cared to pay attention.

It wasn't long before they came to a familiar building—the HeadQuarters of the Port Mafia. Outside the building, near a silver car, paced a very agitated Mori. "Elise-Chan!" He said, tears in his eyes, arms open wide when he sensed a familiar silhouette floating towards him. His eyes fell on Alu though and his expression was surprised. He wasn't expecting her. Alu noted that Elise must have been actually capable of blocking him from seeing what she'd been up to this evening after all.

"We're going to eat dinner!" Elise said, bossily to him.

"Anything for my darling Elise-Chan," he simpered, opening up the passenger side of the car to allow her to get inside. Elise crossed her arms. He blinked and the disapproving look made him whimper. "Oh—yes of course, where are my manners?" He sounded like a genuine airhead. Alu was getting some major whiplash here. But she knew better. She knew that this man was a snake. A dangerously poisonous one, not a cute little garden one that was harmless. He opened the passenger door smartly on the driver's side for Alu to get into. The driver's side in Japan was on the right. Alu blinked.

"Oh…" Alu felt uncomfortable. It wasn't that she didn't want to spend time with Elise. It was more like, she still hadn't figured out just how to approach Mori Ogai like he wasn't the potential plotter of the orphans' doom. She sighed though, inwardly. This was clearly after-work hours. She'd deal with 'work-mode' Mori tomorrow, she mused. "Thanks," she got into the car, and Elise slid into the backseat with her, ignoring Mori's whine that followed.

"Elise-Chan? Don't you want to sit up front with me?" He whimpered.

"Not on your life," Elise replied, deadpan. "I want to sit with Alu," she said and she hugged Alu's arm, "She doesn't look at me like a pervert."

Mori looked struck through the heart. Alu pursed her lips. Despite everything that made this man extremely dangerous, it seemed like he and Elise really had a unique relationship. It was hard to explain, but Alu actually didn't think he was as big a pervert as he was made out to be by other people. Sure he wanted to dress Elise up and his ability was apparently his sex drive animated in the form of a little girl—but Alu felt like there was more to it than that. Nothing was black and white—not even this guy. Even villains have layers. "I'm sorry for imposing," she said, glancing at Mori. "If it's a problem…"

"Not at all," Mori said, waving a hand breezily. He sighed, starting the car finally and driving away from the building. "Actually, I was told you tried to come by earlier today, is that true?"

Alu blinked. "Oh, yeah…but the receptionist said you were in meetings all day," she admitted.

"Ah, she did mention that before I fired her," Mori nodded.

Alu's eyes widened. "You fired her?" She was alarmed.

"She denied you access, of course Rintaro fired her," Elise huffed, next to Alu. "She shouldn't have turned you away. How rude!"

Alu sweat dropped. "Wait, I didn't intend for anyone to get fired!"

"Well, it happened," Elise said, sticking her nose up in the air. "The next time you come, you're to be let up to see me—no questions asked!"

Alu felt guilty. "I get that even you are busy sometimes," she said, talking to Elise rather than Mori. "I didn't want to be in the way. You were in meetings today, right?"

"Boring ones," Elise complained. "I would have loved to be distracted by you!"

Mori remained quiet, letting Elise do most of the talking as he drove. But he glanced in his rearview mirror, just eyeing the different expressions on Alu's face. She really could be an open book. He hummed. "Regardless, it's under the bridge now. No point in dwelling! So, where would my darling Elise-Chan like to eat?"

"I wanna eat somewhere fancy!" Elise said, grinning. She eyed Alu up and down. Alu looked at her. Elise had a look that reminded her greatly of Dazai. That couldn't mean anything suspicious and mischievous, could it?

"Uh, no, no need for fancy," Alu quickly said. "Besides, I'm not dressed for it," she brightly added.

"That can be arranged!" Elise said, with a huff.

"Eh? I don't need to be dressed up for food," Alu said, frowning.

"Elise-Chan, I take it you want to take her to that French restaurant?" Mori asked, conversationally.

Elise nodded, fervently. "Yes! And what she's wearing is absolutely appalling, right?"

Alu looked again at her tracksuit. She thought it was simple and comfortable. Clearly, Elise wanted to play dress up with her though. Mori chuckled, and Alu found he was just as difficult as ever to read. She felt a small shiver from when he gazed at her—because it felt like he was trying to analyze her for something—but what? Alu looked back at Elise, avoiding eye contact with Mori. "Hey! I think I'm quite comfortable as I am," she said, ruefully. She pouted at Elise but Elise just puffed out her cheeks, adamant.

"No! I wanna dress you up nicely!" She said, loudly.

Mori chuckled. "I take it we'll be making a stop then?"

"You know where to go!" Elise bossed him.

Alu knew this guy was the head of the Port Mafia and a bad egg but for some reason, she found it really hard to see him like that at times like these when he was just a meek old man being bossed around by Elise. Alu sighed, deeply. She had a feeling she wouldn't get out of this dinner-date with Elise and him. She pursed her lips, a bit amused. She didn't dress up often but if it was for Elise, she would. "Alright, you've twisted my arm," she sighed, dramatically. "Dress me up," she grinned at Elise.

Elise paused and then broke out into a huge grin. "You bet I will!" She sounded excited and happy.

Even Mori had to smile a bit, as he looked at the road. Yes, these weird feelings he was feeling from Elise—he knew that she was going to ensnare that girl good in his web as long as he was patient. He was counting on it and it was the only reason he didn't keep these two apart because an ability gaining autonomy away from their master was not something he wanted to make a reality. He had to be careful just how close he would allow his ability to get to this fox girl.

After all, she'd come to Elise for help a few days ago—and he was just along for the ride it felt like. He still remembered how adamant Elise had been, tantruming for him to help her. He quieted, recalling the conversation with just a touch of possessive jealousy.

Elise looked at her phone and then at Rintaro.

"Oh? She called?" Mori asked, surprised as he looked over some paperwork at his desk. It was late but he preferred to work late. "Wouldn't have expected a call so soon after the other day," he sounded, bemused.

"Alu isn't shallow!" Elise hotly retorted. "She likes me, not you and don't you forget that, stupid Rintaro!"

Mori pursed his lips. While he had given his ability a chance to be a bit more autonomous, he hadn't expected her to quite become this outspoken. It both intrigued and bothered him. Still, he knew in the end he was the only one capable of controlling her. Elise was his ability, she only belonged to him. Mori wondered what he should do if a time came when he had to remind her of this fact. He didn't want the fox girl as an enemy—she had a power so similar to Chuuya that honestly, it'd be a completely irresponsible move to anger her any further. But, Mori didn't want his ability to forget who was in control. He knew he could turn Elise off—reset her— but then again, that would upset the fox girl. Mori knew he was treading on a fine thread as it were with her. In a way, he found she had tied his hands when it came to how he could control his own ability—whether that was intentional— although Mori had a feeling it was actually ironically an accident that things had developed in this fashion. While it was clear that girl held a poor opinion of him, she did seem solely interested in being Elise's "friend".

This shared feeling system he had with Elise was also different than usual. Normally, Elise felt nothing—well, nothing he hadn't programmed her to feel— but now he was getting bits and pieces of feelings he didn't instigate from her of what felt like was completely random. She didn't have an actual will of her own. That wasn't possible. So how come his own feelings were somehow being muddled into having Elise feel things like she was when with that girl?

Mori was honestly perplexed. He wanted to continue to poke at this, and experiment however. In the end, his goal was to ensnare that fox girl and make her one of his valuable pawns. Somehow, despite knowing the truth about his underhanded dealings with Gide, she'd chosen to still reach out to Elise for assistance.

"She says that organization, Mimic—has found someone even worse than you to follow!" Elise said, hands on her hips.

Mori blinked. "Oh? They moved on already?" He sounded bemused. After he'd managed to obtain the legal permit, his plans to have Oda finish off the leader had fallen through because of that fox girl— and Dazai had made it clear if he got any more involved with Mimic that he would leak very valuable information to Officer Chief Taneda. Mori sighed, a mushroom cloud. Honestly, he felt like he didn't deserve such abuse from Dazai. Dazai had been almost cute once too! Guess aging up made him all sour—partly why Mori preferred children. At least they were still moldeable—controllable…. And dare he say it…cute.

"Yes. They're with someone named Fyodor?" Elise continued, frowning at Mori. "Do you know of him?"

Mori tilted his head. "Can't say I have heard of him," he admitted, frowning. This was of course all just to have a conversation. Elise knew whatever Mori did after all. This was just the act of a conversation for the sake of conversation…

"Either way! She said if you help her, she'll make an offer you can't refuse!" Elise said hotly.

"Oh? What type of offer? You did tell her that I'm only into children under 12, right?" Mori asked, a bit cheekily. He was a bit jealous that Elise held this girl in such high regard. They barely knew each other! He disliked how quickly his ability seemed to like her so much more than him! He felt bratty all of a sudden.

"Stupid perverse Rintaro!" Elise threw her crayons at his forehead.

He comically felt them impale his face and he groaned, rubbing the spots where the crayons left smarting red marks. "I was joking!" He whined.

"She didn't say—but she says the situation requires our help!" Elise huffed. "You want her on our side right?"

Mori rubbed his face. Well, that was true. He did want to corner her into becoming his to control. He sighed. It did sound beneficial. But what did she want of them? "Depends, what is she asking us to do?" He asked.

"She wants us to take out Gide's men tomorrow, she's already sent us their locations…" Elise said, looking at her phone.

"Gide's making a move? What has he planned?" Mori frowned, genuinely interested.

"He is working with this Fyodor to kidnap one of that red-haired guy's kids," Elise said, huffing, "and apparently he has men that will be posted to have additional bombs laid out in the city near the Ferris wheel."

"Oh? I see… spread the good guys thin so they have to prioritize—-smart," Mori said, stroking his chin, curious about this Fyodor now. What sort of person was this man to work with someone like Gide?

"So she wants us to disable the other bombs?" He asked, tilting his head.

"Yes—and to ensure that Gide's men can't send reinforcements." Elise gazed at Mori. She frowned. "You're too obvious. Why are you so happy?" She narrowed her eyes, suspicious as a small smirk began to spread across Mori's face.

Mori hummed. "I'm just so touched she asked for our help," he simpered.