Vol. 5.

Ch. 4.

The Future is Unclear But Go Forwards Regardless

Odasaku was alarmed with Kunikida. Only Ranpo and Dazai seemed to remain calm. "Oh no! Did they do something to her?" Kunikida asked instantly, analyzing her in Odasaku's arms.

Ranpo pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, and spoke up. "She's used all her energy, that's all. Judging from the timing of things, she could be out for a solid month!" He spoke the last bit cheerfully but Kunikida didn't share that cheery attitude.

"A month?!" He stammered, appalled.

"Her ability—her connection to that fox— still takes a toll," Dazai agreed. He glanced at Odasaku, sensing his friend's worried demeanor as he held onto the unconscious girl. Dazai's normally hard calculating gaze softened—only a little—and only around those whose company he valued. "Why don't you three take her back?" He said, nonchalantly.

"What? And leave you here?" Kunikida was surprisingly the one to voice his objection first.

"Well, yes," Dazai said, tilting his head at Kunikida. "My ability lets me annul another person's. If I get close enough I can cancel it out, you know?" He said, waving one of his bandaged hands like he was merely waving to a friend.

"How do you plan to get all the way up there? The helicopter is roasted, genius," Kunikida couldn't help but quip, frowning and folding his arms across his chest.

Dazai paused and tapped a finger to his lips. Then he smirked. "Oh, actually, that's something you can help me with," he said brightly.

"Huh?" Kunikida stupidly replied, eye twitching.

"Give me a grappling hook," Dazai said with a grin, "I'm going to use it to get up that building," he said matter-of-factly.

"That's dangerous," Odasaku interjected with a frown, concerned. He still held the girl in his arms, but he didn't want to leave his friend alone to deal with this problem—even if Chuuya was here.

"What's life if not a little dangerous," Dazai snickered, still smiling. It wasn't a question, rather a statement.

"I don't want to be responsible for you falling and breaking your neck," Kunikida growled. "No, we'll find another way…" Dazai however pouted. Before he could make a witty remark, Ranpo spoke up again.

"I think this works out," Ranpo said, piping up into the conversation, having been formulating his own plan all this time.

"It does?" Odasaku asked, his face and Kunikida's own face were both comically surprised. They both felt oddly out of the loop when paired up with a duo like Ranpo and Dazai. It felt like those two were just thinking on a whole different level.

"Yes, I'll go with Odasaku and take this girl to safety…but Kunikida, I think your defensive skills will suit Dazai's more reckless offensive nature best," he said, analytically and matter-of-factly.

"I don't need a bodyguard," Dazai said, waving a hand, dismissively. "Besides, I don't actually work for you guys, don't go wasting your manpower…"

"It's not wasted," Kunikida sighed, pulling out his book of ideals. Dazai quieted. For a guy who often voiced his objections, he was genuinely surprised that Kunikida was agreeing with Ranpo.

"We may not be part of the same organization, but as of right now, can I assume we're at least batting for the same team?"

Dazai's eyes flickered. He glanced at the unconscious girl. Now that she was unconscious, he noted just how drained she looked. If she was a plant, she would honestly look like one that wasn't watered in a while. Was this the kind of toll using that fox's power took on a mortal?

And why did she leave Yokohama? Dazai honestly pursued her because he had more questions than answers when it came to this odd young lady. He just closed his eyes and smiled a little. He didn't belong anywhere it felt, but as long as he was by Odasaku's side, he knew he had her to thank for that. "If it's concerning this girl…then yes," he said finally and his usual flair was replaced with a formal serious tone.

The roof lit up suddenly and a wave of flame crashed into the roof. The entire building shook. The force of the blast caused debris and wind to whip up and Odasaku quickly shifted to shield the unconscious Alu in his arms as Dazai and Kunikida went on the alert. Ranpo adjusted his cap as the wind roared past them. "Let's go, we've dawdled long enough," he said, bossily.

Odasaku nodded, and he glanced once more at Kunikida. Oddly, he felt more at ease knowing this young blonde outspoken man was by his friend's side. He still remembered his earlier conversation with Kunikida and how Kunikida had outright stated that vagrants can't work for the ADA and yet—here was this same man— opting to fight alongside Dazai. Odasaku found it a little amusing but it made him happy. It meant that despite everything, maybe, even Dazai could find a place to genuinely call his own…with these people.

Odasaku couldn't promise he'd be around forever. He couldn't shake the feeling that Gide was far from done threatening him and his orphans. If it hadn't been for this girl, Gide would have succeeded. Odasaku hated to think about what could have happened. But knowing that these people could potentially take someone self-destructive under their wing—he hoped that if something happened to him one day, that Dazai would be able to still fight to figure out the meaning of what it meant to live.

Because honestly, even Odasaku didn't know the meaning behind existence.

Odasaku felt uneasy. It was not good for him to rely on this girl so much. He still hadn't even come up with a way to even thank her for what she'd done. To be honest, he wanted to ask her why she'd even done it in the first place. Maybe the answer should be more obvious, but according to Dazai, it was because she arrived here from another world. Wierdly enough, that made more sense than anything else Odasaku could reasonably come up with.

Now, watching Kunikida and Dazai interact, though they hadn't known each other long, Odasaku felt for the first time, at ease for some odd reason. Even if something happened to him, he knew that Dazai wouldn't be alone at least, not anymore.

Carefully holding the girl in his arms, he glanced at Ranpo. He quickly shifted his gaze, because Ranpo's green eyes were drilling into him—and Odasaku was reminded oddly of a sense of deja vu. It was like this wasn't the first time that he'd seen Ranpo with that expression on his face of genuine serious concern. Wondering if Ranpo was secretly a mind-reader and feeling self-conscious, Odasaku just averted his attention to walking in no particular direction.

Ranpo trailed behind, but the silence that grew between them was apparently laced with unspoken feelings Ranpo wanted to express and didn't.

Dazai watched as his friend took off with Ranpo and felt a small sense of relief. At least with Odasaku out of the literal line of fire, he could focus better. He turned his gaze to Kunikida who had summoned some grappling hooks after all. He held one out to Dazai with a frown.

Dazai took it. "I thought you didn't like working with me?" He asked, bemused.

Kunikida huffed. "I don't." Wow, he was blunt. Dazai was amused at the blatant honesty. In some ways he reminded Dazai of Odasaku's straightforward nature, but in other ways they were different. Huh, why was he suddenly drawing comparisons? Dazai looked up, his thoughts turning to the body flying right at them.

Dazai's eyes flashed.

He had thought for a split second of comically side-stepping the body heading for them, like a comet, but he realized it was Chuuya—and he wasn't in great shape. Dazai and Kunikida tensed as Chuuya landed in front of them—or rather— toppled. Kunikida rushed over, worried. "Hey!" He barked at the singed red-head. Dazai hung back, observing Chuuya. Chuuya's clothes were singed, and his coat was gone. He had blood dribbling out of the corner of his mouth, down his forehead line, and he looked like shit. It was apparent that he had called upon Arahabaki for a power boost from the markings slowly ebbing onto his face and arms. Dazai quickly pulled Kunikida back by the arm.

Kunikida let out a noise of surprise, but Dazai merely knelt in front of Chuuya. "You can rest now," he said uncharacteristically gently, and he just placed a hand on Chuuya's cheek. Chuuya growled weakly, unable to focus on anything but Dazai in his current state. With a trail of blue light leaving Dazai's fingertips, Chuuya slumped finally, unconscious on the ground in front of him.

"Shouldn't we pick him up?" Kunikida asked, apprehensively. He felt like there was more to Chuuya and Dazai's relationship than Odasaku had stated but it wasn't his business to pry—besides… he had more immediate pressing matters.

"Eh," Dazai shrugged indifferently, straightening up.

"Tch," Kunikida grimaced, realizing the task of watching the unconscious red-head fell to him. "We still don't know the status of the enemy," he remarked, agitatedly.

"Do you hear that?" Dazai asked, tilting his head at the agitated blonde. He looked past the blonde, as though indicating for him to take a moment to look as well.

Kunikida paused. The fire ability user wasn't attacking and it seemed like the building was no longer the center of constant attacks. He looked at Dazai, as it dawned on him. "I don't hear anything," he replied, dumbstruck.

Dazai smirked. "Looks like our job here is done," he said brightly.

"Why did you have me stay behind if things were already handled?" Kunikida complained, feeling irritated at both Dazai and Ranpo for convincing him that staying by this moron's side was somehow a good idea.

"I needed someone to pick up the dead weight," Dazai said brightly, pointing at Chuuya's snoring form, butt sticking in the air now, dead fast asleep.

Kunikida felt his forehead vein twitch.

Oh, interacting with this guy was just asking for a migraine.

Irritated, he threw his grappling hook at Dazai's head. It hit Dazai comically, and a split second later, like a cartoon animation, blood spouted like a whale expelling spray from Dazai's skull. Kunikida picked up Chuuya and stomped off in the direction that was facing away from Dazai.

To hell with that bastard! Kunikida fumed, promising himself he'd never ever be caught working as that guy's official partner in any circumstance! Thank goodness this was only temporary!

—x—-x—-x—-

On top of the roof, a boy stood, a young girl by his side, sucking her thumb. Unconscious near them was the fire ability user—a young man with dark hair, pale skin, and a tattoo of a lion across his chest, past his bare chest revealing sleeveless purple hoody. The boy sighed. "Tch," he looked at the little girl who was already opening a portal hole around the unconscious fire user's body. "It would seem this fight ends in a draw tonight.."

"What do you wanna do?" The little girl, Yari, asked, gazing loyally up at the agitated boy. "Wanna attack them?"

"No," Ryou grimaced. "I know of those two… just that red-head was enough to take out Lionel, we can't underestimate what other cards this fox girl is going to play…" he gazed over the side of the roof.

He felt his blood run cold.

While he was gazing down and despite the distance between him and the two adult men, he could sense that the brown-haired man was staring right at him—even as he was discussing something with the blonde man, clearly out of Ryou's hearing range. But that cold stare felt like it could transcend any distance. It was a stare that stated that they were the prey, not the other way around. Ryou shivered. "Change of plans," he said, eyes narrowed. "If we're going to get that girl… we'll have to eliminate the unstable variable— Dazai Osamu."

—-x—-x—-x—-

Dazai lay comically on the ground, holding his head. "Ow, you meanie," he whined at Kunikida.

Kunikida just huffed, still walking away. "You're fine. I'm leaving so either come or stay, I don't care," he bristled, moody.

Dazai simpered. "I think I'm too dizzy to walk…will you hold me too?" He stumbled over as though to lean on Kunikida, and Kunikida felt his skin crawl as his pony tail zig-zagged in absolute horror at the thought of having to carry a grown-ass man like Dazai— At least Chuuya was fairly light…and short… almost like a woman.

"Hell no," he barked, avoiding Dazai's swervy body language. "Stay away from me, you weirdo!"

Dazai, honestly amused, couldn't help but think of tormenting this guy even more. So he decided to crab walk over, which in turn, resulted in Kunikida running like hell— despite carrying Chuuya, he was remarkably quick to yeet away from Dazai.

Dazai just merely sniggered to himself. But, once he was sure Kunikida was out of eyeshot, he pulled out his phone with a small hum. He held it to his ear. It rang.

Odasaku was currently looking at a potential hotel to stay at for the night with Ranpo, Alu on his back like a backpack, still asleep. Ranpo had his phone open though he complained about it being too difficult to use so he was making Odasaku gingerly juggle the unconscious Alu and scroll for a hotel to stay at. At that moment, Odasaku's own phone buzzed in his pocket causing him to nearly jump out of his skin.

He practically dropped the girl and Ranpo's phone but Ranpo wordlessly caught his phone, just holding onto it so Odasaku could prioritize grabbing his own. The caller I.D. … was unknown. Still, Odasaku rarely gave out his number and he had a feeling he knew who was calling. He held his phone to his ear, now gingerly placing Alu on a park bench behind himself. They had managed to find some local park nearby so they were stopping here for a moment. It'd been actually a while since Dazai and Kunikida had parted ways from them.

Ranpo hummed, his own phone going off seconds later. He fumbled to use it. "Ah, heck..," he whined, finally putting it to his ear. "Who is it?"

He paused.

Odasaku picked up on his phone and a familiar overly cheerful voice greeted his eardrum. "Odasaku! Hey!"

Ranpo meanwhile spoke into his own phone. "Eh…where are we…that's a good question!" He said brightly. He was of course talking to Kunikida who was trying to figure out where they'd gone so he could regroup with them.

"Are you with Kunikida?" Odasaku asked, glancing at Ranpo, finding it odd that they didn't just share one phone to call them.

Instantly, a tirade of complaints from Kunikida about Dazai graced Ranpo's ear unceremoniously and he made a face, hanging up on Kunikida, not wanting to deal with his angst. "Seems they separated," he merely said, shrugging.

Odasaku had to admit, Ranpo was an odd one. "Ah, no…he left," Dazai said brightly. Odasaku was a little alarmed. If Dazai was alone then he… Odasaku's chest clenched from concern, slightly. Even though it sounded like Dazai had things handled, it didn't change the fact that he didn't know what was going on. "Where are you?" Odasaku asked, apprehensively.

"I'm just going to take a little walk… under the moonlight," Dazai said cheerfully before hanging up.

Odasaku was definitely worried. He frowned at Ranpo. "I'm going back," he said, agitated.

Ranpo however just tilted his head at Odasaku. "Why? You'll just be in the way," he said, bluntly. Odasaku froze. Huh? In the way? He felt his brow crinkle.

"I wouldn't be in the way," Odasaku replied, confused and a bit affronted. "What does that mean?"

"Well, he wanted you with me so you wouldn't be hurt," Ranpo replied, bluntly. "Plus our type match up makes more sense. Think of it like a video game," Ranpo said brightly, "Since you have an ability and I don't, it makes sense that your ability will be useful to me as it is literal foresight to any danger…"

Ranpo wasn't wrong but Odasaku couldn't shake the feeling that Dazai was doing something dangerous—as usual. He was even more worried that if Kunikida was separated from him that it meant he was planning something…

"Please watch the girl," Odasaku said, curt. He didn't like being pushy but he was suddenly very worried about Dazai's lack of concern for his own safety.

"If you go, nothing good will come of it," Ranpo said calmly, gazing at Odasaku with his piercing jade gaze.

Odasaku felt his chest twist. Ranpo wasn't making any sense. He didn't have time for cryptic bullshit. Odasaku clenched his teeth. "Just help Kunikida find out where you are…" He turned on his heel. He could sense that Ranpo was being serious—but so was he.

"If you do this," Ranpo said, still serious, "…you'll die."

That admittance hung in the air between them. The clouds above were thin, and the bright moonlight began to cast shadows on Ranpo's figure. Odasaku paused, for a moment, to gaze at the oddball detective. For someone without an ability, he couldn't shake the feeling that his deduction skills were truly on a level unique to Edogawa Ranpo. Once again, he couldn't shake the odd sense of Deja Vu. Why did it feel like he'd had this conversation before….with this —normally— childish detective?

"I will do what I need to in order to assist him," Odasaku finally stated, firmly.

"If you go after him, only death will follow," Ranpo said, still gazing at Odasaku.

Odasaku gazed at Ranpo.

This kid didn't mean any ill will towards Dazai. But, something about the serious tone and language made Odasaku uneasy. Was he stating that as long as he cared about someone like Dazai…that it would lead to his own demise? Odasaku couldn't tell if it was out of a place of concern that Ranpo felt the need to tell him this, or if it was merely just him stating a possible outcome of what could happen. It seemed Ranpo didn't think Dazai was a threat to the members of the ADA or the girl…so why was he fixated on Odasaku's own relationship with Dazai?

"Death follows me already," Odasaku said, tone melancholy. He was an ex-assassin after all. He was numb to the idea of fearing it, since in his line of work, and with his history, it felt like death was the only constant that he understood well.

With that being said, Odasaku took off, back in the direction they'd come to return to his friend's side. Be careful…Be safe…Dazai! He thought, with all his might. He had met Dazai when the kid was 14, and he was himself only 18. He hadn't been with the Port very long but he was even more surprised when this mere kid had suddenly decided he was "interesting" and latched himself to him like some growth. At first Odasaku didn't pay it much mind, but over time, he'd come to value Dazai's company. Dazai had been, his very first…and now his only, best friend.

Ranpo gazed, not objecting, as it was up to Odasaku what he chose to do with the information provided to him. But Ranpo couldn't help but shake this feeling that a storm was brewing. He gazed at the unconscious girl Alu. His phone rang again. Ranpo put it on silent. He gazed at the girl again. There was so much about her that was a mystery. She was the one case that the Greatest Detective Ever had yet to solve.

Eventually, Kunikida, wheezing, found his way back to them in the park. Ranpo was surprised. "How'd you find me?" He asked, curious.

Kunikida wheezed, still carrying the unconscious Chuuya. "How do you think? Katai had to hack your phone's coordinates," he huffed, honestly wanting to smack Ranpo for hanging up on him earlier. Kunikida's eyes flickered. "Hey…where's Odasaku?" He asked, bewildered.

"Oh…he went back for his friend," Ranpo replied, oddly subdued.

Kunikida blinked. "Ranpo…this guy dealt with the danger that faced us… Do you think there's still more?" His tone was serious and on edge.

Ranpo gazed at Kunikida. "Our priority is getting this girl back to safety… you can leave him though…he's probably used to being left behind after a fight," Ranpo replied, matter-of-factly, gazing at the unconscious red-head being held bridal style in Kunikida's arms. The young unconscious man was gripping his hat tightly—despite being unconscious— to himself. Ranpo had a feeling there was more to this Chuuya Nakahara than met the eye. Still, not his beast, not his burden.

He gestured to Kunikida to switch out Chuuya for Alu. Kunikida grimaced. Even if he didn't know Chuuya, he didn't feel right about just leaving him. He wasn't Dazai.

Ranpo huffed with impatience. "The guy will be fine. Our priority is to get to safety with her," he repeated. Kunikida twitched with irritation.

"Must we leave him here, unprotected?" Kunikida huffed, agitated.

"Not our problem," Ranpo shrugged. "Besides, he's technically a criminal so you don't have to feel bad about leaving him behind," he finished, brightly.

Kunikida gazed at the man he just simply placed gingerly on the bench, taking Alu instead onto his back. It wasn't like Kunikida wanted to care about a criminal, but right now, Chuuya was unable to defend himself. In Kunikida's list of ideals, leaving the defenseless in danger was immoral—no matter who they may be. Still, he couldn't carry both Chuuya and Alu, and he knew with a sinking feeling that Ranpo had already planned for this.

"Very well," he gruffly said, still unhappy.

Ranpo sighed dramatically. "Aw, jeez, don't mope!" He complained. "Let's go! Let's go!"

He began to push Kunikida brattily down the park path, and Kunikida just let him. The girl trembled in Kunikida's arms. She made a noise, like she was struggling to breathe, and Kunikida's eyes flashed along with Ranpo's own. He quickly brought her into his arms, and cradling her head, was concerned with the feverish expression she had.

"She needs medical attention," Kunikida said, fretting.

"Tch," Ranpo already had his phone pulled out. He put it to his ear. "Hello? Yo, Yosano? You free?' He paused. "Ehh, what the prez doesn't know won't kill him,,, I think," he mused. "Ah yeah, we're at xxxx location in Osaka…yeah… probably Hotel xxxxxx… "

Kunikida saw Ranpo's expression comically look fearful. Clearly, Yosano was lecturing him—no doubt about going off without telling the president or her. They were close like a family, and Kunikida knew that Yosano was one of the few people Ranpo cared about deeply.

Ranpo finally hung up, and he gave Kunikida a thumbs up like he hadn't just had a lecture rip into him. Kunikida honestly had to admire Ranpo's… quirky nature. He really was odd.

—x—x—-x—

Dazai hummed a common children's nursery rhyme, "London bridge is falling down…." He hummed, articulating in English from his usual Japanese tongue. "Falling down…" he looked around the building's interior. It was hilariously still standing despite the major crater in the ceiling leading to the top. Evidence of charred material and Chuuya's wild punches were apparent as well. "Falling down…London bridge~ is falling down~" he hummed, and his eyes got accustomed to the dark, along with the moonlight in the windows— as the lights were broken from Chuuya's violent attacks earlier. "…my fair lady…" as he murmured the last note, he felt a gun click to the back of his neck, while he was still squatting near some files he'd found in a cabinet in one of the other rooms.

This particular folder caught Dazai's particular interest—because it was a Bounty Hunter's hit list…and Alu's name was prioritized.

However, as the gun clicked to the back of his bandaged neck, Dazai couldn't help but feign some surprise—had to keep the show going, after all. "Don't move," a cold gruff female voice said from behind him.