Vol. 4

Ch.10

Mood

Fukuzawa was currently in his office when Ranpo walked in, looking absolutely pissed. Fukuzawa looked up, setting down a file. "It went well, I take it?" He, of course,was being sarcastic.

"Tch," Ranpo grit his teeth, mood sour. "I was right, as usual!" He paced, agitated in front of Fukuzawa.

Fukuzawa was quiet. "What did you glean from talking with Officer Chief Taneda?" He asked, concerned.

"They plan to be "allies" which really just means they're waiting for a chance to arrest her and forcibly capture her!" Ranpo said, agitated. "President…we have to get her to join the ADA!"

"You know as well as I do that is a decision she has to come to on her own," Fukuzawa sighed.

"These aren't normal circumstances!" Ranpo said, frustrated. "Damn it…why can't she just admit to herself she wants to be here…" he held his head, like it would roll off his shoulders from stress otherwise.

Fukuzawa pursed his lips. He wanted to say something to help alleviate the stress Ranpo was feeling but he'd be lying if he didn't admit he was feeling similar feelings himself. That girl was trying so hard to shoulder so many things for other people, Fukuzawa was worried she was short sighted when it came to matters concerning herself. Not to mention, he was still quietly unresolved about Odasaku's decision to go work for Officer Chief Taneda. Maybe it was because of how Alu had called out Taneda for still needing to grow as a leader, but something about her feelings towards him Fukuzawa detected that Alu wouldn't go work for someone like Taneda willingly. That's what troubled him. To what extent would Taneda go in order to obtain her as an agent? "What should we do?" He finally asked Ranpo.

"Uh, is now a bad time?" A girl's voice cut into their conversation. Ranpo and Fukuzawa's eyes both widened from surprise mostly. Ranpo whirled on his heel, to see Alu, standing in the doorframe, tilting her head at them both.

"You!" Ranpo said, pointing a finger at her, agitatedly.

Alu blinked. "Uh…yeah…?" She glanced at Fukuzawa. "Is Ranpo's head screwed on right this morning? He's being weirder than I feel he normally is."

"Ah," Fukuzawa eloquently replied, mostly still stunned that she was standing there so conveniently after him and Ranpo agonizing moments before how to contact her. "No, actually…your timing couldn't be better."

"Hey, hey! Don't ignore me!" Ranpo spluttered, getting into Alu's space, hands on his hips, agitated.

"Whoa—alright," Alu said taking a step back, startled.

"Ranpo, down boy," Fukuzawa said, getting up from his desk with a sigh.

"You heard everything we were talking about just now didn't you!" Ranpo pointed at Alu, eyes glinting.

Alu held up her hands. "Okay, guilty is charged," she said, sheepishly. Fukuzawa froze. Wait, this girl had been eavesdropping? How long had she been outside the door? He looked at her, and then Ranpo, and Ranpo continued to speak.

"Then you know why you should stop beating around the bush already!" He complained.

Fukuzawa sighed. Ranpo was still very impatient and childish sometimes. He worried this would drive Alu away. Instead, Alu just smiled. "Yeah…I've decided to stop running."

Ranpo and Fukuzawa stared at her. Ranpo picked his ear just to be super clear. "Can you repeat that?" He asked, stupidly.

Alu giggled lightly but she held up her hands. "…As things are, I realize that there are multiple groups starting to surface after me…and I've decided to join the ADA!" She held out her arms, with a grin.

Fukuzawa felt a bit of a wave of relief. Oh, so finally she was going to allow them to take her in. It was about freaking time! As he was about to speak, Ranpo's eyes narrowed. "—You can't join us with half-assed resolve."

Fukuzawa wanted a table between him and Ranpo so he could kick Ranpo from under it. "Ranpo," he started, exasperated.

"No, president, I know what she's doing," Ranpo said sharply, gazing at Alu. He took out his black frames, and pushed them up the bridge of his nose. Alu just eyed him, unaffected and smiling. "Not only is she joining our organization…" Ranpo's eyes widened with horror. He looked at Fukuzawa. "She's also planning to join The Port Mafia!"

Fukuzawa stared at Alu. "You can't join more than one organization—and certainly not one as tainted as that!" He was bewildered. Honestly the energy of youth was tiring him out. He needed a drink after this.

Alu shrugged, crossing her arms. "I'm not here to get your permission," she said, tilting her head at them. "I'm just here to say that I'll join the ADA as well."

"Tch," Ranpo sighed, frustrated. "You know you can be really fickle! Just pick an organization—trying to juggle too many is only going to make things more complicated!"

Alu sighed. "Okay? Then I guess I won't join the ADA?" She concluded, eyeing Ranpo.

Ranpo groaned. Even with his glasses on, he knew she had made up her mind about being in both organizations. The problem is he couldn't figure out why—and Ranpo did not like to be stumped. "I don't agree with your reasoning. Pick one or the other!"

Alu eyed both him and Fukuzawa. Fukuzawa was watching her, lips pursed. Alu pointed her gaze at him. "I have no intention of being a double agent, if that's your concern," she said, bluntly, "But I see value in becoming involved with both while I'm here."

"That's not how it works," Ranpo complained. "You're being manipulated! You can't go back there so freely!"

"I'm not being manipulated!" Alu rolled her eyes.

"Miss Alu, in this particular case I agree with Ranpo," Fukuzawa said sharply, concerned. "Please know that we speak from a place of concern for your safety. You don't know the likes of Mori Ogai like we do. He will use you and he will find a way to cut you off from any sort of aid we may have been able to give you if given the chance. Please, reconsider joining him even if you do decide not to join the ADA. We're not trying to trap you in a corner."

Alu quieted. She smiled apologetically at them. "I know that," she said, softly. "Honestly, I don't really think I'm doing this because I feel like I 'belong' or whatever…but Mister Mori did make a good point about there being other organizations right now tempted to come to Japan to stake a claim on my fox powers." She looked at Ranpo and Fukuzawa seriously. "I also got in touch with that boy from before—Ryou. He paid me a visit last night."

"What? That boy contacted you?" Ranpo said, alarmed.

"Yes, and we had a brief discussion," Alu sighed. "Apparently that Fyodor guy wasn't completely honest with his methods for helping him catch me, and he did try to apologize for that. So, I know that he's not a completely bad kid," she eyed Ranpo as she said this, gauging his reaction. Ranpo twitched, his expression beyond irritated.

He looked away. Alu reached into her jacket pocket, and took out the detective hat. Ranpo growled. "I already said, no takesies backsies!"

"I know," Alu said, with a small chuckle. She put the hat on her head, smiling at them. "I wasn't gonna give it back to you this time."

Ranpo blinked, still irritable but a bit less brittle. At least she took the damn hat this time. He eyed her, trying to analyze her and his green eyes flickered. Ah. So that was it. He sighed. "I suppose from a logical standpoint it does make sense," he glanced at Fukuzawa. "Prez, she has no intention of being a spy for either of our organizations. She mostly just wants to be close to us and avoid the risk of getting picked up by some foreign organization at this time."

Alu grinned. "That's right, if you won't take me on as an agent—then at least take me on as a client!" She beamed at both of the men who were stunned to silence. Ranpo was stunned because actually it was somewhat smart what she was doing—and actually he hadn't seen the standpoint of her being a client before this— and Fukuzawa was stunned because Ranpo was actually acknowledging someone else's point of view and that was about as normal as Mori being a Saint.

"Ranpo is right," A cold voice interjected from behind Alu. Alu nearly jumped out of her skin. She whirled to see Yosano standing there, a hand on her hips, frowning with utter disapproval at her. "You are being used by that monster. I don't support it."

Alu's eyes darted to Ranpo and Fukuzawa. They were watching her. Alu knew that a normal person probably did know better than to get close to someone like Ogai Mori. But, she wasn't a normal person—and there was more to Mr. Saturday Morning Cartoon Villain than simply what he was projecting. She sighed, a mushroom cloud. This is why she preferred to work on her own. Getting input from others was tiring when it felt like it took away her ability to act how she felt was best. "Look, he's definitely a creepy old man," Alu nodded, "But I'm interested in helping Miss Elise—"

Yosano grit her teeth. "We're being patient as we can with you, but you are seriously a foolish girl if you think that monster's puppet has any true sentience! He only wishes to trap you and use you for his own agenda!" She slammed her fist into a wall, causing the very area around her fist to look like a mini-crater had been left behind.

"Miss Elise has feelings of her own," Alu countered defensively, though she flinched. Ranpo was quiet. Alu's eyes watered a little though. She wanted to be cool like a cucumber and resolved but the tension was high and it felt like what she was trying to say was falling on deaf ears.

"We can only do so much for you," Fukuzawa said finally with a sigh. "Unfortunately, we cannot extend an invitation to have you join our organization formally as an employee…and to take you on as a client would involve financial support…"

Alu felt her mood falter. She took a deep breath, actually frustrated. "You're not listening!" She said, gritting her teeth, and clenching her fists, looking at all three of them, feeling like her words were falling on deaf ears. "I'm not being used by that guy! I have it under control!"

"It's not even his organization you want to join—you're just making more work for yourself," Ranpo quipped, with a frown.

Alu thought about Elise and how lonely she felt. She was a person. She was capable of feeling things. It wasn't all just puppetry. Alu knew that. She just wished these stubborn people could get that. She looked at Yosano. "Mori may be a weirdo, but he actually did care about you, you know!" She said, hotly.

Yosano looked appalled. "Oh no, he's already brainwashing you!"

"I tried to tell her," Ranpo sighed, adding. He shook his head and then found a hat smack into it from Alu's hands.

"Fine! You know what! I shouldn't have to explain every little thing I do to you guys anyways!" Alu said, voice rising, upset. She hated feeling like this. She didn't want to fight them. She wanted them to have her back—-because she'd have theirs, no questions asked. But that wasn't the case it would seem. They were convinced of their own narrative and not open to suggestions. "Hey, Mister Fukuzawa," Alu said, voice shaking, as she looked at the president, glaring.

President Fukuzawa had his lips in a thin line, but he gazed at the girl, fired up in front of him. Honestly, angry Alu reminded him a lot of bratty teenage Ranpo. They had quite few similar traits and Fukuzawa thanked the universe they hadn't come as a set back when he'd first met Ranpo. "Yes?" He asked, tentatively polite. She looked upset and he glanced at Yosano and Ranpo to silently tell them to back off a bit on her. Yosano just grit her teeth, upset and worried. Ranpo held the hat, just gazing at Alu.

"Your ability is "All Men Are Created Equal, right?" Alu said, keeping her voice from shaking.

"It is…" Fukuzawa frowned, not sure what this had to do with anything.

"For someone who has an ability named that—you've got no right to judge who has a right to be called man's "equal" or not!" Alu said, fiercely. She glared at Ranpo. "For all your deduction and genius—it means nothing if you're too blind to value the lives of others!"

Ranpo looked smacked, again.

Fukuzawa sighed but before he could speak, Yosano had grabbed Alu by the shoulder. "That's enough! Don't make us the bad guys!" Yosano said, frustrated. "We're worried about you!"

"Leave me alone!" Alu yelled, and she shoved Yosano so hard that Yosano found herself slamming into the wall. Alu gasped, eyes flickering. Ranpo jolted with alarm, eyes widening. He and Fukuzawa were instantly by Yosano's side as blood trickled a little out of the corner of her mouth from the force she hit the wall.

Alu stepped back, breathing hard, pupils dilated. Her eyes, her nails, her physical form felt like it slightly shifted. She could feel her emotions drawing out her inner demon fox. Her eyes were a shade of pink pupil mixed with mahogany shaded eyes. Oh no. She hadn't meant to hurt Miss Yosano! "S…" She couldn't apologize—her voice was stuck. Alu wordlessly ran out of the room before Fukuzawa or Ranpo could have any hope of stopping her.

Alu was grateful Kunikida wasn't in right now. She hated that she was already upsetting the other members as it was. Why do I have to go and pick a fight every single time? I didn't mean to hurt Miss Yosano! I really messed up. I don't like being a part of places like this because all I am capable of doing— it feels like— is cause trouble! Alu hated that she was causing problems. That's all she was doing. She was unpredictable and her temper sometimes took over causing things like this to occur.

You're a burden, that's why.

No. Stop it.

It wasn't Juubi taunting her—no this voice belonged to another. Someone Alu tried desperately to push down. Her eyes watered as she ran from the direction of the agency building. She hurt Miss Yosano—why would they want her back after that? If she wasn't arguing with Ranpo, she was not capable of not voicing her views to the president's face. She felt like she and the agency were like oil and water. She didn't understand why Ranpo was convinced she belonged there—every time she was there it felt like the exact opposite was true.

I told you not to get attached, Juubi said casually from inside her mind.

Alu slowed to a walk, breathing hard, clutching a stitch in her side. She felt weak and didn't want to deal with Juubi's lecturing. Her body trembled. She hated that he was right. She really was getting in too deep. She thought she could cleverly balance both the agency and the Port Mafia but it would seem she didn't have that luxury. She sniffled. She hadn't actually even said yes or anything to Mori!

She recalled their conversation, though brief.

It was late.

Elise watched Alu out on the balcony, quietly hanging back. Alu was back in her normal aged form. She looked at Elise and Mori. "I can tell, this is a beautiful city from up here," she commented, gazing at the pretty lights. Mori did pick a good location. The Ferris wheel was in the distance.

"It is," Mori agreed.

Elise was quiet.

"Sorry I'm up so late…just can't sleep," Alu said, smiling apologetically at Mori and Elise. "You both don't have to stay up on my account."

"I wanna keep you company," Elise said, firmly.

Alu sensed Mori was of the similar wavelength though his reasons were not as accessible and straight forward as Elise's. However, she brushed some hair behind her ear and gazed at them, serious. "You really love this city, huh Mister Mori?"

Mori nodded. "I do," he said.

Alu looked back out over the city streets. The lights twinkled like Christmas trees. "You know…I think I'm starting to love this city too," she murmured.

"So are you going to join us then? If you want I can make sure Rintaro doesn't make you do anything you don't wanna!" Elise said, trotting over to Alu's side, hopeful in tone.

Alu chuckled. "I appreciate that," she said, glancing at Mori. His expression was unreadable. She kept smiling. "However, I can't join…I'm sorry…"

Elise pouted. "If you join then we can protect you!"

"I don't believe in labels," Alu said, softly, kneeling down to Elise's height. "To be honest, the more I think about it, the more joining would make our relationship—and those other friendships more complicated. If I say yes—I'd have to say yes to joining the Armed Detective Agency as well. I don't want to ever be on the side that would have to fight you if I can help it… just as I know that you wouldn't either."

Elise bit her lower lip, and looked upset. "You shouldn't care about those other organizations or people! Just stick with me! I have cool people we can play with every day!" She clenched her dress in her fists, face flushed. "I don't want you going to anyone else!"

Alu smiled apologetically and pet Elise's head. "My loyalty is always to my friends," she said.

Mori sighed. "If you're not going to solely join my organization…what will you do? I have no doubt a war will brew to obtain you…I'd rather Yokohama not become a blood bath."

Alu straightened up, putting her hands on the railing. She glanced at both Elise and Mori. "I know." She mulled over her thoughts as she'd been thinking about this for a while now. "Even if I'm not directly linked to your organization…I feel strongly that I want to get to know it better. I'm sorry I'm not conventional," she smiled, sheepishly. "…Rather than 'join'…I merely want to be able to lend you aid when you need it…as long as it's not for anything underhanded of course."

"So an ally," Mori thoughtfully said.

"Yes…although, neutral renegade sounds more appropriate here," Alu nodded. "I'm sorry…if I were to join I would no longer…" Alu trailed off. Elise glanced up at her. She clung to Alu's coat.

Mori had a feeling he knew what Alu's reservations detailed. Honestly, he understood that himself. He tilted his head at her. "…be free," he finished her sentence for her.

Alu nodded. "If I'm your subordinate—I lose that freedom of choice… I become a pawn…" she ran a hand through her hair, and smiled at Mori, a hand on her hip. "…And I'm not a pawn…I'm the Queen."

Elise giggled and clapped her hands together. "Oh! I get it! Okay! You tell Rintaro! But this means you'll still play with me right?"

Alu nodded to Elise, hugging her. "I'll always be your friend!"

Mori was quiet. He put a hand over his mouth though, thinking. Her response was amusing. He chuckled finally. "Very well… a partnership then, so to speak?"

Alu took a deep breath. "Everything I do is because I care about people—even someone like you," she said, gazing at him.

Now, Alu was wondering if she even had a friendship with those members at the Armed Detective Agency. After flinging Yosano back like she was a fricken Jedi, Alu wasn't so sure. But, she still cared about them. Of course she did. They were good people—but what she was doing herself…was it because she was a good person? Or because she was desperately trying to fill a void in herself?

Even though Alu wanted to form actual connections with these people—it felt like half the time they were just more concerned with Juubi's existence. Even joining the different agencies felt like it was only because of him—not her. All it seemed like was that most of them were seeing her "fox" form. Alu disliked using Juubi because of this very reason. She didn't dislike Juubi himself or how much he helped her. She disliked her own lack of strength. She knew she was pretty dependent on him for a lot. Unfortunately, in any world she did travel to, once the wind of Juubi's existence was caught, it was like governments practically fell over themselves to try to obtain him. Alu's eyes flickered.

There wasn't anyone here in this world that was quite like her. Why would there be…?

A boy with silver hair and purple yellow eyes curled up in a cell—in what was supposed to be a room, and cried.

"You're useless!"

"You should just die already and stop wasting space!"

"I'm not," the boy's tiny voice wavered. He didn't look much older than a young teen. He was maybe around Alu's height. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"

The vision cleared from Alu's mind as quickly as it came and she reeled a little, feeling dizzy. What was that? She rubbed her head with a groan.

Huh, you had a vision, didn't you? Juubi couldn't see or share the visions with Alu unless she prompted him to. That was something that was also rather unique to her—Juubi just enhanced her own existing talent for foresight or dream catching as she tended to call it.

It would seem…there's a silver haired boy in this city that I'm supposed to find.

Hey, hey, let's stay on task for once. Didn't you say you wanted to go check out the address that boy left you for Fyodor?

Alu blinked. Oh yeah. She reached into her pocket pulling out the folded piece of paper. Unfolding it, she looked silently at it. That's right. Ryou had given her this yesterday. He had stated that Fyodor seemed to have departed that location some time ago but it was at least something to go on. Not wanting to think about the agency right now, or her inner self-loathing, Alu took a shaky breath.

"Let's go, Juubi."