Vol. 4

Ch.12

When Gravity Pulls You Down To Harsh Reality

Alu stared back, hands behind her back, but just as quiet and Chuuya was feeling increasing impatience with the lack of direction things were going.

"Hey," Alu said, putting her hands on her hips, gazing at Fyodor. "You're really good at that."

Fyodor merely tilted his head, a small cold smile on his face. "I had no idea you were going to add words to my music—impressive."

"Oh that?" Alu suddenly felt her cheeks warm, embarrassed. "It wasn't that good—sorry, I couldn't help myself…you were making a beautiful sound…I probably ruined it, huh?" She scratched her head, sheepishly.

Fyodor was quiet. She had put it into words beautifully. However, Nikolai bounced over to her before he could actually reply. Fyodor was only a little annoyed. Nikolai Gogol had always been hyperactive with a lot of energy. "What are you saying? I've never seen ~Fyo~ look so happy! Not just anyone can take his sound and say what he's feeling for him!"

Fyodor wanted to stab his cello bow down Nikolai's throat but refrained.

"Tch," Chuuya's impatient attitude was boiling now. He didn't like not knowing where they were or what was going on. "If you're done, I'm going to return with this girl now. We're leaving."

Fyodor eyed Chuuya. "Ah, where are my manners? Won't you at least stay for tea?" He just smiled. Chuuya cracked his knuckles but Alu spoke up.

"Tea sounds nice," she said, brightly.

She glanced at Chuuya, with a look.

Chuuya growled, stuffing his hands back into his pockets. He had to stay calm. Clearly he wasn't going to get to punch anyone's lights out right now. Chuuya let out a sound of clear discontentment. He didn't think this was a good idea and he wasn't afraid to express that on his face, as he gazed at Alu.

Alu knew she had to be careful. If she had been here alone she'd be able to handle herself but with someone clearly volatile like Chuuya now in the picture, she'd have to make sure nothing happened to him.

"Fine, tea." His curt growl of a response made Alu purse her lips, almost amused. Chuuya struck her as an angry, barky little pomeranian…

"Excellent. Right this way," Fyodor beamed, and he rose from his musical instrument, and expertly placing the bow on the chair, with care, he left the small stage. Gesturing to one of the tables near it, he beckoned for them to come over. Nikolai tilted his head.

"Should I go prepare the tea?" he said, bubbly.

Fyodor hummed. "I've already prepared it," he said, and he clapped his hands together. A waiter dressed formally, in a white suit, came out, and Alu gazed at him. He had silver hair, silver eyes, and looked oddly happy-disturbingly so. Actually, he didn't look like a waiter at all.

"Your tea, Master," he said, professionally, and chipper, pushing the tea cart over to where Alu and the others were. On the tray itself were definitely some mouth-watering treats, and the tea was there as well.

Fyodor sat down and gestured for Alu and Chuuya to join him. Nikolai just giggled. "I'll go~I have other business!" He saluted them and then skipped off.

Alu was low-key relieved that Nikolai had left. He was seriously a bit of a screwball. Fyodor noted that Alu seemed less tense with Nikolai not there.

He hummed, as the waiter continued to serve them all their tea.

Chuuya declined, giving a glare to the waiter.

The waiter paused. "It's alright, Ivan, he won't bite, isn't that considered inconsiderate at tea?" Fyodor hummed, eyeing Chuuya with a leer over his own tea cup. Alu had never felt this much tension at a tea party. Then again, tea parties were usually held by little girls now-a-days. Actually these two had the tension of two angry little girls. Alu pursed her lips to try to shake the hilarious visual of Chuuya and Fyodor wearing dresses and obnoxious makeup having tea together like little girls. Alu could feel the tension though and she smiled at the waiter, Ivan.

"Thanks for the tea, mister!" she piped up.

Ivan giggled. "Of course!" he went over to pour her some, grateful to get away from the glaring Chuuya. "Would you like sugar?"

"Sugar and milk, sure," Alu said, gazing at him. Specifically, she was gazing at his head. He had bandages wrapped around it. He gave her what she asked for and then bowed back.

"Excuse me, I'll be taking my leave!" he said cheerfully before he left with the tea cart. Now Fyodor was alone with Chuuya and Alu.

Chuuya was on edge. "Tch, just get this over with," he glared at Fyodor.

Alu knew she should be careful. She looked at the tea in her cup. "So, didja spike this?" She asked, rather bluntly. Chuuya's eyes comically bugged like saucers. Clearly, straight up asking your enemy if your drink was laced wasn't common in his experience.

Fyodor blinked and then chuckled. "And what if I did?" He tilted his head, amused.

Chuuya was ready to smack the tea into his face from Alu's cup. But Alu took the tea cup and she held it to her lips. "Then I'd say, you're the one who lacks the most in refinement at this table," she cheekily replied, and she took a sip.

Chuuya was speechless. She was talking to Fyodor like she wasn't talking to a potentially very dangerous individual who could kill her with just a spiked tea cup! It made a certain brown-haired smug suicidal idiot come to mind and Chuuya felt his mood boil. No, no, no, he wasn't going to compare her to that guy! No way they were similar. He was just imagining it!

Fyodor's expression showed only mild surprise. He had to admit. He hadn't expected such a bold start to a conversation with her. He pursed his lips in a thin line. He wasn't upset by this at all. In fact, he was just more amused. This must be what Tea Time with a Demon is like, he just thought to himself, bemused.

Alu didn't want to rely on Juubi so much. If the tea was spiked, then it was spiked but she'd use her own wit and senses- since Juubi wanted to prove a point to her, she felt like proving her own point right back! She didn't taste anything off in the tea, and she put the tea down. "Just tell us what you want so we can go," Chuuya said, coldly.

"My, my," Fyodor hummed. "I'm trying to have a civil conversation with the young lady," he remarked, smirking at Chuuya. "If you're bored, you may feel free to jump off the boat, I'm serious!~"

"Okay, boys, boys," Alu said loudly, holding up her hands. "Let's not fight. We're just here to talk, okay? And seriously, I don't need your help, Chuuya, so if you're that uncomfortable, you know you can leave, right?"

"I'm not leaving you," Chuuya curtly replied glaring at Alu. "I don't care what sort of point you're trying to prove by taking on this guy on your own, but my orders are orders."

"I'm just a stranger though. I'd rather you leave before you get roped in," Alu asked, frowning at Chuuya.

"You're not a stranger," Chuuya said, curt. "Just because you're a stranger to me, doesn't mean you're a stranger to my boss. He wouldn't have sent me otherwise," he pointed out. "Besides, when it comes to keeping someone safe, it doesn't matter to me if I know them personally or not. I just do what I'm told, alright?"

Alu actually found that interesting. She gazed at Chuuya. He was rather tsundere to be honest. But she sensed he had a deep set loyalty at heart and that it was just his character. She actually thought he was a little cool. She giggled. "You work for the Mafia? Dang, you strike me more of a masked super-hero type," she teased him.

"What? That's so lame!" Chuuya complained.

Alu giggled louder and put a hand over her mouth. "The Super Chu-Chu!" she said, teasingly, grinning at him. Chuuya's face went completely red like a tomato. He really didn't want to be ridiculed-and not in front of the blasted enemy! Honestly this girl just picked the worst timing to have whatever she was thinking in the moment come out of her mouth!

"I said don't call me that!" He yelled at her. He slammed a fist on the table, and it was so hard, it caused Alu's tea to spill onto the white tablecloth.

Alu jolted, her smile faltering. Chuuya's eyes flashed. He hadn't meant to get that worked up, but he saw how her expression changed. Fyodor saw it too, and he just sipped his tea. Whatever tea was going to spill at this table wasn't gonna be coming from him. He was just going to enjoy this little show.

Alu just smiled sheepishly, at Chuuya finally. "Sorry, yeah...okay," she said finally, looking away from Chuuya. She knew she crossed a line but she still felt a little upset. She was just trying to lighten the mood a little since Chuuya was so suffocatingly frustrated.

Chuuya felt a little guilty. He hadn't meant to lose his cool like that with her, but he wasn't used to being teased and having it not be a personal attack or something. Working in the Mafia, and even before on the streets since he had been around 8 yrs old, he had learned you need to have a spine to make it and he honestly couldn't tell the difference between harmless teasing and jeering insults most of the time. "Hey…" he began but Alu looked at Fyodor, her expression serious. Chuuya quieted.

"Chuuya is right. Let's cut to the chase," she said, her tone almost monotone.

Chuuya was glad she was on the same page now but why did he feel guilty about her sudden shift in behavior? He grimaced but kept quiet, just observing now for any side-effects from the tea Alu drank. So far, none.

"Ah yes," Fyodor beamed. "I wanted to talk to you Miss Alu about our recent encounter," he hummed, looking at his own tea, with a smile. It was cold and contemplative. "I want to extend an invitation for you to work with me," he said, brightly looking at Alu.

Alu raised her eyebrows. "Seriously?" she gazed at Fyodor. Okay so apparently everyone on this ship so far had a few screws loose.

"Yes, I'm serious!" he said with a hum. He rested his chin in hand, and played with the rim of his tea cup with his index finger. "...You're unique. I think you'd be happy...putting those skills of yours to some use for a greater cause!"

"A greater cause?" Alu said, bristling, a little irritated. "You call strapping bombs on children, a 'greater cause `?'' She retorted.

"For the greater good, sacrifices must be made," Fyodor hummed. "I think Chuuya here understands that better than anyone, don't you?" he hummed, gazing at Chuuya now.

Chuuya shivered. He didn't like the hunter tone and he bristled, standing up. "Do you want to fight?" he hissed.

"Oh no," Fyodor waved a hand, still smiling. "I just figured as someone who was a part of government experimentation, that- as a clone- you of all people would understand that it is because of sacrifices for the greater good that yourself was even created!" he beamed.

Alu looked at Chuuya with wide eyes. "Clone?" she asked, dumbly.

Chuuya grit his teeth. No one but a select few even knew about his origins! How come this bastard knew about it? He snarled and he kicked the entire table away. It smashes across the room. Alu jolted, but Fyodor just remained sitting, smiling, not flinching in the slightest, gazing at Chuuya. Chuuya snarled and went to grab Fyodor by the throat but Alu spoke up. "Chuuya! Stop!"

Chuuya paused for a second though anger was pulsating in his veins. He usually only got this worked up when he made the mistake of thinking about that traitorous bastard Dazai. "I'll kill you!" he said, and he moved to grab Fyodor by the throat again but Alu grabbed his wrist.

"Chuuya!" she said loudly.

With strength he wasn't expecting from her, Alu yanked him back, now standing between him and Fyodor. "Ack!" Chuuya found himself falling on his butt. He looked at her bewildered. Alu looked right at him. He grit his teeth. "Not just anyone knows about that!" he said, angrily. "I don't need him blabbing about things that are better left in the past!"

"It's okay, Chuuya," Alu said, gazing at Chuuya. "I won't tell anyone," she said, firmly.

Chuuya felt his chest twist. He didn't trust her. He didn't even know her. And he didn't care for pity. Did she not see him as human now? It didn't matter if she didn't see him as human, but he hated the thought of a complete stranger knowing so much about him-and not even from his own lips! He glared at Fyodor and his eyes widened. Fyodor was just sitting there, still smiling. Chuuya grit his teeth. That smug bastard was the one he was worried about!

"My, my," Fyodor said with a small sigh. "For someone artificially created, you do have quite a temper-almost like you're a real human!" he said, brightly.

"Shut up," Chuuya was thinking this but his eyes widened as he heard the words he was thinking spoken by someone other than himself at this moment. He watched as Alu turned to look at Fyodor with a glare. "I won't let you antagonize him. If we're here to talk, we'll talk. If you're here to pick a fight, Chuuya is right. It's not worth it and we'll be leaving."

Chuuya was low-key pleased that she was sounding more mature than he felt because honestly the only thing he was thinking right now was beating Fyodor's face in. Forcing himself to calm down, he reminded himself that he couldn't let his feelings dictate the direction this was going to go. After all, releasing Arabaki was not in the question. Normally he was such a pro at controlling himself too-at least he thought so. Honestly, he was low-key grateful that she was taking charge because he could focus on her and it was allowing some of his rage to simmer less strongly.

"I understand," Fyodor said, gazing at Alu with a rather sharp look. Alu glared back, but she found his eyes unsettling. Normally people had some light in their eyes but Fyodor felt like he had absolutely no reflection. "My apologies. As it seems our table has been destroyed, perhaps we should wrap this conversation up as I do have to fix the damages," he said cheerfully.

"I can't join you, sorry," Alu said curtly. "Sorry."

"Ah, pity," Fyodor said but he sounded completely unsurprised. He snapped his fingers and Alu's eyes flashed, sensing Chuuya was being oddly quiet. She heard the sound of something being pierced and Chuuya let out a noise of pain and surprise behind her. Alu's blood ran cold. She whirled. She saw movement out of the corner of her eye and she gasped, seeing Yari with Ryousuke, holding an unconscious Chuuya. Blood dribbled out of the corner of his mouth. His body was entirely limp. Alu's eyes traveled to the sword sticking out of Chuuya's stomach. Her pupils dilated with horror.

"What do you think you're doing!" She yelled, looking at Chuuya with a jolt. "Why'd you hurt him!" Her head swiveled to look at Fyodor, knowing full well it was on this bastard's orders that these two kids were doing this.

"I needed to give you proper incentive," Fyodor hummed. He glanced at Ryou and Yari. "You know where to bring him," he said with a hum.

"What are you going to do to him?" Alu said, trying to move over to Chuuya. Ryousuke summoned more glowing light swords and they just swirled around Chuuya, threatening to pierce her if she moved too close. Alu paused, eyeing that. Yari meanwhile wordlessly opened another portal hole and she and Ryou began to pull the unconscious Chuuya through it. "I said stop!" Alu panicked.

Juubi!

So you need me? Juubi was tormenting her and Alu hated his timing for it.

Fine, you're right! I can't do anything without you! Now please help!

Hehe, fucking finally! Juubi was pleased to have won out this round and Alu felt her body course with his power again. Her eyes glowed silver. "I said... don't touch him!" She snarled, and with speed faster than they could anticipate, she shoved her way through the swords. They shattered from her very clawed touch, causing Ryou's eyes to widen. "Ryou!" she roared and she grabbed Chuuya before turning on her heel, and she gave Ryou such a disappointed look in passing but she moved so quickly it couldn't be certain if he'd seen it.

But he had seen it, and the look of guilt on his face showed.

Faster than anything else they'd ever seen, she whipped out a fox tail to smash through the ceiling of the ship like she was cutting a hole into an aluminum can, and she lunged for the water, splashing into it. She hated leaving Ryou and Yari behind-but they chose to work with that man-despite everything. So Ryou's peace visit really had been a trap to get her on this ship! She really didn't want to admit that Ranpo had possibly been right. It was so discouraging that Ryou seemed to be proving him right again and again.

On top of this she realized that Fyodor had allowed Chuuya on board no doubt to capture him as well! Somehow she'd gotten someone innocent like Chuuya involved-again! Alu groaned inwardly. She really was better off working alone. What she needed to prioritise now was get Chuuya medical help!

Fyodor came outside, to look over the rail. His eyes widened. Looking below, he saw her, standing on water, holding the unconscious Chuuya bridal-style in her arms, glaring right up at him with silver glowing hair and golden rose tinted eyes. Fyodor felt a shiver of excitement. So, this was her answer.

She took off, and he just continued to smile. He already knew going in that she wouldn't join him-but he hadn't expected her to pull this off-he'd thought having Ryou and Yari there would be the perfect crutch to keep her on board a little longer-and yet once again, she'd acted in a way that he hadn't thought she would. What an unpredictable fun game of cat and mouse they had going on.