Vol. 6
Ch. 9
Where The Light Touches Casts the Longest Shadow When One Tries to Reach in Desperation to Grasp It
"Ooh baby, let's talk about ~ a lovely death, together, yeah~" Dazai sang in English, loudly from where he was chained to a wall. He was in a room clearly meant for fun torture things, and while he could at least sit on the floor cross legged, his knees still hurt after sitting for so long.
There was no one around, and oddly security was light.
But most tragically, Dazai was so bored!
There were no windows in this room, and the only light came from a caged few lights sprinkled on the ceiling out of reach. Dazai huffed. The hospitality here was lacking. He'd have to give this place a one star review.
Dazai's neck smarted, but someone had rebandaged it while he was unconscious. Dazai decided to continue to sing his little fun song about a lover's suicide. "Take me with you~ yeah, don't wanna be alone when I cross to the other shore~ Won't you fall with me, yeah, yeah~" He continued, not caring if he was off key which to someone who could actually sing, this would be a form of torture in itself. "Let's you and I~talk sweet lovers suicide~"
"You always try to court women with a death wish?" The steampunk woman returned just then, opening the door.
Dazai eyed her, checking her out as he checked out any viable candidate for his lover's suicide. "Is it working? Have I made you swoon?" He smirked at her.
The woman made a disgusted face. Ah, nope, maybe she was a lesbian, Dazai mused. "Ah, you bat for the same team, then?"
"And you don't?" the woman countered.
Dazai blinked and then giggled at her blunt crass rudeness. "I bat for whatever team I feel like!" He brightly said, sparkly.
"Aren't you just the team's most valuable player," the woman rolled her eyes.
"Does the V.I.P. get any special privileges?" Dazai simpered, giving the woman big doleful puppy eyes. The woman sighed.
"Behave and you won't die," she brightly informed him, wagging a finger at him.
Dazai pouted. "What about Fyo~? Why hasn't he come to see me? I miss him so much!" Dazai complained like a lonely lover pining for the affection of their beloved. The woman with pink tipped hair just rolled her cerulean blue eyes.
"It's only been a couple hours," she deadpan said, gazing at Dazai, arms crossed. Dazai continued to wiggle a little bit, finally drawing his knees to himself and standing upright, gripping the chains of his cuffed wrists to the wall rings for support in helping his body rise off the ground. "He has other matters to attend to," she pulled out a small remote and Dazai eyed it, curious.
"Oh? We're gonna play a game?" Dazai inquired, brightly.
"Try anything funny, and this remote will trigger the microchip embedded into your neck," the woman stated.
Dazai shivered with pleasure, "And then what?" He asked, eagerly.
"Your blood vessels will explode and you'll die," she deadpanned.
Dazai giggled. "I knew Fyo-yo~ wouldn't let me down! He is a man after my own black heart!"
"You're awfully calm for someone who clearly cares 'bout the girl's business with Fyodor," she mused. Dazai twitched. He didn't stop smiling, but his cold gaze searched the woman's face for any clues of trying to rile him up. Was she here to try to make him angry? Perhaps try to engage how close he was with Alu.
He remembered the kiss.
Why had she kicked him during such a tender moment? Jeez, he was a bit irritated about that, to say the least. "I trust her," Dazai shrugged, despite his inner concern, he had no reason to express anything in front of this complete stranger. No, as far as Osamu Dazai was concerned, he was an actor on a stage right now. However, he definitely had questions for that fox person. He was going to enjoy that interrogation.
"How romantic," the steampunk woman huffed. "So you two are an item then?"
Dazai did have to wonder when his love life or Alu's became any concern of these shady characters, but then he realized that they may be trying to gauge if he was willing to risk something for her sake depending on the complexity of his feelings for her. Wow, a classic romantic drama situation— how annoying and predictable. "If Fyodor thinks she's on his menu then he's sadly mistaken!" Dazai beamed. "Alu does what Alu wants, I'm not tying her down~"
"So you like her?" The woman asked, intrigued. Dazai felt irritated. It didn't matter what he felt. Besides, feelings were an annoying crutch anyhow. Of course, Alu had kissed him. Drat, now he was thinking about it again. Be still his beating heart. Dazai felt his face warm slightly but just shot the nosy woman a grin.
"I don't know what you think you're trying to expunge out of me, but I can assure you, me beating you within an inch of your life once I'm released from these restraints has entirely to do with my own agenda~" Dazai brightly declared, little flowers growing out of his head as he sparkled at the woman with the innocence of a double edged sword hidden in one's boot.
"It always has to do with your own agenda," the woman quipped back. "You're a big man, aren't ya? Think you're so deep when you're about as deep as the shallow end of a kiddie pool," the steampunk woman walked back to the door.
Dazai actually felt affronted. "Oh? Someone hasn't been taught proper manners. Did your mother never teach you?" He smirked.
The steampunk woman opened the door and smiled sadistically at Dazai. "My mother taught me plenty. However, if I recall, yours was spineless."
Dazai twitched, but he knew no one knew of his past. Prior to joining the Port Mafia, the only person who knew about his actual past on some level, was Mori and Mori wasn't the type to gossip. He just giggled, smiling at the woman. She was intriguing to him. Had Fyodor perhaps managed to dig up some dirt in his past? He was going to have to pay that guy a visit once he escaped. "She was rather useless," he coldly agreed. "I feel like we're getting to really know each other. Is it too forward to ask for a name?"
The woman tilted her head at Dazai. "You won't remember it," she replied deadpan. "You have a habit of forgetting the names of women once you're done using them."
"Ah, so cruel," Dazai whined. "That's only half-true. If I like you, I'll definitely not forget your name!" He whimpered.
The woman shut the door, leaving Dazai once again alone. Dazai groaned. "Tch," he pouted, wondering if he was losing his touch in flirting with women. Or maybe she was just a thick-headed kind of woman. No matter, Dazai always did like a challenge. He knew that woman would prove useful against Fyodor…he just had to figure out how to get her to switch to his side.
Dazai looked at the restraints, and wriggled his wrists. He smirked. Bingo.
—x—x—
Fyodor walked down the hallway of the elegant manor he was currently in. He had multiple locations to move around, but this one was most effective for keeping a certain adobe-haired man out of the clutches of the ADA, DOUP, and of course, Dazai. Fyodor hummed to himself, plotting his day like someone plans a date with the devil. He of course, planned to antagonize Dazai, after all, he made things so much more interesting, but first, he had to go and personally thank his trump card for landing the elusive fox girl finally in his lap.
"You were no easy win," Fyodor said, stopping outside the door of a particular bedroom. "And yet, the thrill of the challenge was entirely worth it," he opened the door, smiling coldly at the tense man before him. "How is it, that one little insignificant existence is the root of so much chaos? You really are more interesting than you first appear, Oda Sakunosuke," he purred, shutting the door behind himself.
Odasaku was only here for one thing, and that had been a chance to talk with Kōsuke. He had only resisted his instincts to escape or to fight in order to not compromise his chance to see Kōsuke.
Nikolai dropped Odasaku down to Fyodor's office. He landed easily with Nikolai, already prepared for the fall. Not hesitating to reach for his gun, he glared at the calm cold calculating Russian before him, who sat on the edge of his desk, one leg crossed over the other, his chin resting on his interlaced fingers.
"Fyodor Doestevsky," Odasaku's animosity was not meant to be concealed.
"Brought you a big fan!" Nikolai crooned, hand on his hip.
"Where is he? I'm not here to play any games," Odasaku immediately cut through any informal stalling like a razor blade.
"So straightforward," Fyodor hummed, bemused. "First, have a seat."
"I'm fine standing, thanks," Odasaku replied curt and angry.
"No, no, don't yell at Boss! He just wants to be nice!" Nikolai ruefully pouted at Odasaku.
"I'm being civil and that's all," Odasaku snapped, and he drew his gun, pointing it at Nikolai. He had no idea why these two had allowed him to keep his weapons on him all this time but knew it was for some sick sort of entertainment. Sadly, Dazai would probably use this tactic too though Odasaku knew that unlike these two, Dazai never did anything like cruelly dash someone's hopes. He was cunning and cruel, but Odasaku could count on Dazai to be honest.
"I don't see an issue with this," Fyodor said, dismissive. "Nikolai, be a dear, would you?"
Nikolai preened at the attention and nodded. "My pleasure!"
He waved a hand with a grin and Odasaku's eyes widened. He had a vision where he was falling again? Where? He couldn't see what was on the other side. He dodged the hole as best he could, but suddenly, a hand appeared on his ankle at the same time. Odasaku grit his teeth, fighting against the clown's severed limbs but he didn't fire his gun. If he did just one wrong move, then if they really did have a lead to Kōsuke he would be the reason it was lost. After all, Alu had stated that Kōsuke had been kidnapped by Jane Austen and she still had ties with this man, clearly.
"Tch," Odasaku resentfully consented to letting the clown restrain him. His injured hand still bled, but Odasaku wasn't focused on it at the moment, clenching it into a fist.
"Be a good boy and this will be finished quickly," Fyodor brightly said.
Odasaku felt Nikolai's fist collect with his stomach and he coughed, doubling over. Nikolai cackled gleefully, and Odasaku was forced to his knees, the clown using his floating hands to keep Odasaku's hands behind his back, while his body leaned on Odasaku making it hard for Odasaku to react quickly. Odasaku could feel his ability firing, trying to give him various options for escape in a desperate attempt, but he found himself powerless to act on any of them. If he did, he was honestly afraid they would hurt Kōsuke. "And~ Donesies~" Nikolai crooned, slipping something onto Odasaku's right ankle.
Odasaku was bewildered. It felt like a bracelet. It wasn't very thick, actually thin and shique in nature, but he knew immediately it was a way of trapping him in a more 'obedient' manner. Odasaku felt his stomach churn as his old days as a child assassin began to resurface. He remembered the panic, fear, psychological abuse, the binding…the submission. Odasaku grit his teeth, not wanting to look vulnerable in front of these guys. He had to be strong, for Kōsuke's sake, dammit.
But this ankle clasp bracelet felt familiar. Odasaku couldn't shake the sudden feeling of dread pooling into his stomach. There was a knock at the door. "Come in," Fyodor hummed.
Someone stepped into the room, and Odasaku's eyes widened.
He was tall, with dark mahagony hair slicked back, except for a cowlick that swept over the bridge of his nose. His empty yellow eyes, with a green hue, gazed at Odasaku. A sadistic smile spread on his pale face. A mole under his right eye, and a scar from his left ear down to his cheekbone, was perhaps the only thing more disturbing than the man himself. Odasaku felt panic force its way freely onto his face.
Not this person.
This. Wasn't Kōsuke.
Odasaku wanted to say something but he didn't even know what he'd say. The man, dressed in a suit, adjusted his sleeve cuffs, as he shut the door behind himself. "It's been a while, Oda," his icy saccharine charm made Odasaku shudder. His instincts screamed at him to run, just run, and to not stop.
"You may let him go," he gestured to Nikolai.
Nikolai glanced at Fyodor for confirmation and Fyodor tilted his head, smiling. Nikolai let go of Odasaku and stepped back, going over closer to Fyodor instead in order to hover. Odasaku immediately pointed his gun at this man—no, this monster.
The man paused and then he just chuckled. "Oda, don't be a child."
"Stay away," Odasaku's voice shook, his throat clenching.
"But we've finally been reunited after all this time," the man tapped his face where the scar on his face lay bare, despite the sideburns the man grew on the sides of his jaw. "You left so suddenly last time…"
Odasaku tried to pull the trigger. But, his finger wouldn't move. Then, he remembered his dream. To be a writer, to lay down his gun someday, to no longer kill. As he stood there, unable to do anything from the physiological paralysis wrapping around his nervous system like a snake, the other man closed the distance, hugging Odasaku with tender affection. Odasaku was frozen, as his gun hand dropped to his side, finally. Odasaku felt the light in his fighting spirit all but completely fade. Kōsuke was depending on him, but he couldn't even save himself. What had he thought he could accomplish on his own? The other man took Odasaku's face into his gloved hands, and he tilted Odasaku to look at him.
"What wonderful eyes you still have," the older man complimented Odasaku.
Odasaku felt numb.
No, he felt worse than numb. He felt nothing.
"Imagine my surprise when I learned you no longer worked for the Port Mafia," the older man said, caressing Odasaku's cheek before letting the frozen younger man go, and stepping back. "Dostoevsky and I have an arrangement for you," he continued.
Odasaku was hearing the words but he was finding it hard to register anything. This man was truly scum. He was lower than Fyodor even, and that was saying something. Odasaku knew exactly how he had given this man his scar too. He had been fifteen, and told this man he no longer wished to work by his side any longer because he had a dream.
The man had laughed at him. Odasaku was attacked by some henchmen but he took them out, and it was apparent this man could no longer control Odasaku like he had used to. This man had an ability that made it hard to attack head on, but Odasaku had managed to somehow land a hit on the man's face with his knife. From that point on, Odasaku had made it clear that if this man tried to find him and take him back that he would fight back. Shortly after, while he was wandering the streets of Yokohama with no direction, it had been an odd blonde haired girl that had found him.
Yes, it had been Elise-Chan.
"You're a ratty sorry excuse for a boy, aren't you?" she had said, when she saw him covered in blood and looking manic.
At the time he didn't trust her and assumed she worked for this man. He tried to strike her, and that was when he met Mori Ogai. "My, my, try not to ruin her dress!" Mori whimpered and that was when Odasaku learned Elise was an ability.
"Go away!" He snarled at the two strangers. He had a wild look in his eye, and he was going to —eat a baguette?
In front of him, was a baguette, being held out by the man called Mori, who was just gazing at him, unflinchingly. "Do you have anywhere to go?" Mori hummed.
"I'm going to die anyways, what do you care?" Odasaku snarled. His dream of being a writer would have to wait until his next life, it would appear.
Mori had no reason to care about him. But Mori just held out his hand, pushing the baguette into Odasaku's own trembling hand, replacing it with food and taking the gun from the boy, which he just put on the floor, near Odasaku's feet. "I'm a doctor," Mori stated simply. "It's my job to ensure that no life goes to waste," he turned on his heel. "Come, Elise-Chan~ you're probably tired after the day we had," he brightly stated.
Odasaku looked at the bread in his hand given to him by a complete stranger. He took a bite. His eyes watered. It was still fresh and warm.
Long story short, Odasaku had joined the Port Mafia because of Mori Ogai. He owed that man a lot for taking him under his wing. He didn't try to force Odasaku to kill and he was the oddest boss that he had ever had but he wasn't the worst one either.
Standing here now though, with Fyodor smiling at him, Odasaku really hated the position he put himself recklessly in. His injured hand had been already bandaged, but Odasaku could feel the wound opening up from how tightly he was clenching his fist. After the tense encounter, the monster of a man had left, stating that Odasaku was to do whatever it was Fyodor expected of him. Kōsuke's safety depended on it as well. "I hope you've had a few days to calm down and understand your position?" Fyodor beamed at Odasaku.
Odasaku grit his teeth. "What do you want." He was going to be asked to kill again. This was the past all over again. Try as hard as he might, he had been a fool for thinking he could escape it, after all.
"To have dinner!" Fyodor brightly said.
Odasaku felt a duck quack in the back of his mind. He stared at Fyodor. Fyodor's smile was unsettling Odasaku in so many ways. He was similar to Dazai in some ways. Actually, he looked a bit like Dazai in a bad wig, honestly. "You're not my type, you're like Dazai in a bad wig," Odasaku found himself stating. He grimaced, not wanting to actually run his mouth but he was stressed and angry as it was and not in the mood for games.
"How rude," Fyodor huffed, blinking with a frown. He brought out his hat and put it on his head. "Is this better?"
Odasaku thought he looked like a moldy snowman in his entire get up but he just shrugged. "Yeah, sure," Odasaku deadpanned.
"Good, make yourself comfortable," Fyodor hummed. "You'll be working with us from now on, since you don't actually have an allegiance to anyone," he grinned darkly, "And the Division of Unusual Powers is a joke as you know, it's not the sort of place that would normally take you, an ex-assassin —freelance—for hire," he continued.
Odasaku wanted to say he did have an allegiance. He had made a choice….but in order to stop Ango from screwing things up with Alu, he had left those people. In a sense, he felt like he didn't deserve to be a part of their association. Fyodor was right, no matter how hard Odasaku tried to stand in the light, he was meant to fall back into the shadows. Mori had allowed Odasaku to leave the Port Mafia though Odasaku wondered if that was because of Dazai more than anything.
Odasaku felt his chest clench. Ah. So that was it. These 'rats' were going to use him after all. Kōsuke's safety was all that mattered, Odasaku tried to remind himself. He just had to hang in there for the boy's sake. That man was not interested in Kōsuke at least. As long as Odasaku complied, maybe that would mean something beneficial for the boy to remain safe until Alu and the others could figure something out. Odasaku had no doubt the girl knew about his predicament, and he hated himself for being so pathetic that he once again, was only proving he was weak. "I'm not hungry," he warily declined Fyodor's offer, though polite, "I will work with you as I understand I have no other choice," he looked away, expression twisted and not even concealing his depression.
Fyodor thought this man was oddly honest—like an open book of feelings. He wanted to push it further. "Ah, we won't be dining alone!" He brightly waltzed to the door, opening it again.
Odasaku shivered. So that man would be there after all.
"—we'll be joined by a special guest of honor~ Alu, herself! To celebrate her joining my side in exchange for your freedom!" Fyodor finished saying brightly, before he shut the door, and it clicked with a locking sound while Odasaku stood there, suddenly very confused. Odasaku felt something else though. For the first time since coming here, while Fyodor no doubt had hoped to stir Odasaku's depression more, he had inadvertently ended up stirring something else.
Odasaku was hopeful.
