Vol. 6
CH.11
A Daydream Is But Blinding Bliss When Staring Down The Face of Reality
The other men gazed at her outburst, all intrigued or quiet for their own reserved reasons. But Alu kept her hard gaze on the older man in front of her. She had noted how Odasaku hadn't stopped trembling the whole time she had sat down. Odasaku was someone who had dealt with a lot. But the negativity coming off him, even with Juubi inactive, still managed to tell something clearly to Alu. This was something unspoken. This was something she recognized well. That strained composure. The silent pain that he pushed down though it showed regardless of how he couldn't even look at this man properly. "…We both know that's not true. So let's try this again, Shinobu, who are you, really?" She smiled at him with the cold sweetness of winter's frigid kiss.
Alu took the man's outstretched gloved hand to shake it.
The man gazed at her. "Has he talked about me then?" He asked, unphased by Alu's protectiveness of his son— but curious nonetheless to figure out the nature of their relationship.
"He doesn't have to say anything," Alu beamed at the older man, gripping his hand tightly. The older Oda noted that she was fairly strong. Her fingers were small and delicate but the grip was fierce, like an infant clinging to one's thumb. He thought that was rather cute and he just smiled, now gripping Alu's hand back, as they were about to have a clear battle of wills. Alu just stared at him, unblinking, gaze wild and fierce, voice emanating controlled discontent. "Because I know it better than anyone, —the pain of a child who doesn't know the love of their own parent because they were nothing more than a means to an end."
Odasaku was stunned speechless. And increasingly worried. Angering this man would not be a smart move, but Odasaku found he couldn't voice this. He couldn't say anything. He just watched, silent and helpless, as his two friends were once again, putting their lives on the line to protect him. Saying things that he didn't even know how to rationalize on his behalf. Odasaku couldn't help but feel touched ; still insanely worried about Alu but touched nonetheless.
Dazai as well, gazed at Alu, but something about her words felt like it struck a chord with him too. What was this person's past like? Dazai found he was only more and more determined to figure this out. He didn't typically pry into Odsaku's because there was no point in dwelling on the past —until now— when it came to him but this girl was proving only to be more and more fascinating.
Alu continued to grip the older Oda's hand before she just smiled, slipping her hand daintily out of his grasp, and began to cut up her food, completely ignoring the older Oda now as he leaned back in his seat, eyeing her, thoughtfully.
Odasaku tensed, not sure what was going to happen. Dazai kept an eye on this man's movements in case he tried anything funny. Fyodor merely leaned back, allowing the show to unfold, with Nikolai hovering for backup.
Azuki had already left, allowing the men to have their private meeting with Alu.
Alu took a bite of the steak. It was still hot. "Mm!" She turned to Odasaku's plate and stabbed his steak without warning, beginning to cut it, too. "Lemme try yours!" she cheerfully said to Odasaku who did not object not only because he didn't have an appetite, but also because he had no idea what she was up to.
"Uh," Odasaku eloquently replied.
"Dazai, lemme try some of yours!" Alu bossily held out her fork towards Dazai's own plate. Dazai blinked, bemused, and intrigued. He still had plenty to interrogate her on but knew now was not the time. No, he'd get his chance, for now he was just going to enjoy this view and the show. Besides, his priority was to also assist in protecting Odasaku.
He wondered if Alu's antics were to actually do something else, and figured her guise was honestly to check for if Fyodor poisoned the food or not. It made sense because this was what he would do if she wasn't already doing it. He pushed his plate towards her. Alu cut up some meat but before she could eat it, Dazai, smirking, took her wrist and ate the piece off her fork, himself. He knew Fyodor was dressing Alu up like a trophy, but he would be damned if he let Fyodor have all the fun. "Nom!~" he said, cutely, mimicking a shoujo manga styled boy romantic interest for the shits and giggles.
Alu sighed, taking her fork back when he was done. Dazai was inwardly a little disappointed that she wasn't as flustered as before when he'd handcuffed her to himself, but then again, Alu was unpredictable in her reactions—-that's what made this so much more fun! "Here Odasaku, since he had a bite, it's only fair I give you one too!" Alu brightly held out a piece of meat on her fork for Odasaku to try.
Odasaku oddly felt comforted by the antics of his two friends. Even though he was in the presence of a terrible cruel inhumane person who truly lived and cared only about themself, he was comforted knowing that these two, made him feel like the world wasn't completely black and white like that, sometimes. "I can get my own—!" He started but Alu waved the fork in front of his face.
"I promise I don't have cooties! I can't say the same for Dazai but we already know he's diseased!" Alu gave Odasaku big eyes. "Here, I wouldn't have you use a fork that his mouth has been on since we don't know where he's been!" She put the fork Dazai wasn't using into a piece of Odasaku's steak, and left the one Dazai had used on Dazai's plate. Odasaku could tell she was teasing, but he didn't know who she was teasing—him or Dazai.
Odasaku normally felt like this tiny presence when up against his father. But, with Alu smiling at him, encouraging him to focus on her, he realized that she was trying to alleviate his stress. She was making herself a distraction on purpose. Dazai was pouting as well, and Odasaku felt something— other than distress— bubble inside him for the first time and he let out the smallest teeniest puff of laughter, seeing how affronted Dazai looked at Alu's description of him, and Alu pushed the meat towards him. Odasaku took a bite, feeling his face form a small tiniest hint of a smile, his appetite actually not terrible thanks to the presence of these two.
"Good boy, good boy!" Alu teasingly praised Odasaku as she pet Odasaku's head, like he was a dog.
"You didn't pet me!" Dazai complained loudly, whining.
"You have cooties," Alu teased, huffing and sticking out her tongue at Dazai.
"You must have a deep and meaningful relationship with my son, young lady," Shinobu stated, observant. "It would be a shame if you didn't produce anything from it."
Ah yes, just like that, Odasaku wanted to perish from the shame of sharing a gene pool with this monster pervert.
Alu linked her arm into Odasaku's arm like a blushing schoolgirl. "Oh gosh~ you're making me blush~but seriously, let's get one thing clear. If I chose to sleep with Odasaku it's only cuz he's smokin' hot~ and not cuz of your little shitty agenda to control him, okay?~"
Odasaku blushed, confused by whatever it was that Alu was insinuating. Wait, was he missing something? She didn't deny the possibility but she stated it would be on their terms, not his father's. That alone brought Odasaku slightly away from the ledge of embarrassment he wanted to jump off right then and there. Odasaku could feel his face burn. Why was his heart suddenly racing? His arm was still comically pressed against Alu's chest as she snuggled his arm, sticking out her tongue at the old man. Odasaku sweated a little because Alu's chest was unbearably soft and yes, he was still a man too sometimes. But he was a man with a moral compass and that needle refused to point south.
Dazai knew Alu was trolling. But then again, this was Alu. He actually found it hard to tell if she was actually being serious or not, but she wasn't someone to be insincere either. Did Alu actually like Odasaku? That thought hadn't crossed Dazai's mind before, but it did now. If that was the case, then why had she kissed Dazai? Dazai normally didn't care to kiss and tell, but he was oddly frustrated that he didn't actually know what was going on in her head.
Fyodor and Nikolai were silent just watching things continue to unfold.
Alu let go of Odasaku, turning back to her own food.
"This is wonderful," the older Oda spoke up, gazing at Odasaku with Alu, as a small sinister smile broke out on his otherwise placid expression. "Sakunosuke, you've found yourself quite a catch with this one…"
Odasaku felt his momentary flustered moment plummet like a rock into the ocean of uneasiness, on edge again as Alu took another bite of her own steak, focused. Odasaku was wary again. He never wanted Alu on this person's radar. The way he was sizing up Alu was sickening. Odasaku felt all of his stress build up again, threatening to overflow.
"Isn't it?" Alu bristly agreed, surprising Odasaku and Dazai.
She made no attempt to hide her discontent with the older Oda, and Dazai found her to be a fascinating role to follow, himself. Also, the implications this gross old man was getting at did make Dazai low key want to kick him—and that was putting it very mildly.
"Yes, I wouldn't mind if you and my son decided to produce an heir for the Oda family together," the old man beamed at them, the thought making his eyes spark with a dark lust that shivered down Alu's spine.
"Should I count myself flattered that I've obtained your permission?" Alu glared levelly at the older man, while Odasaku suddenly felt like he was caught up in the middle of a very awkward conversation that he never fathomed having in the first place.
"Feel whatever you want, but I think if my son were to sleep with you, then the Oda blood line would only continue to become enriched," Shinobu beamed. "Of course, you could always produce a cute sibling for Sakunosuke with me instead~," he brightly interjected and Alu felt her eye twitch.
Odasaku shuddered at his father's perversion. He knew exactly why his father was insistent about it in the first place. Ever since he was young, Odasaku knew his father had been chasing the 'ideal' blood line, with only 'strong' ability users to carry on the family legacy of his father's corrupt shady business. Odasaku grit his teeth. Anyone that didn't fit that ideal would end up eliminated. Odasaku's cowlicks quivered in distress. He wanted to say something, anything, to try to get Alu out of this damn awkward situation.
"No thanks, Odasaku already has a brother," Alu huffed, pointing to Dazai, and Dazai blinked, suddenly roped back into this sole dish dumpster-fire of an arranged copulation that was going on apparently. "And as for kids, Odasaku is the proud Daddy of five beautiful children, so he's all good in the 'heir' department, thanks," she brightly sparkled at Odasaku's father.
It was like going to an Omai arranged marriage meeting but a bunch more exciting. But, Dazai was bemused by Alu's analogy that he already filled that 'sibling' role for Odasaku. It was a great excuse for her not sleeping with the old perverted asshole and was one that Dazai approved of. Although, he inwardly didn't know if he considered himself a brother to Odasaku. Not convinced still of his current standing with Odasaku, Dazai caught Alu smiling at him and his heart nearly skipped a beat. She was smiling at him, as though to reassure him that he would always be important to Odasaku, and he needed to stop being so hard on himself.
"It's so nice to put the guns away and just talk civilly, no?" Dazai brightly interjected, smiling down the table towards both the older Oda and Fyodor.
"Speaking of which, Oi, Fyo-yo, your turn to talk!" Alu said, pointing her steak fork in Fyodor's direction. "What was the point of this little gathering?" She diverted the conversation so naturally and randomly at the same time from the awkward topic the older Oda had been on that honestly, Odasaku and Dazai were both a little impressed. Odasaku was more relieved than anything. He had felt his cheeks starting to burn from embarrassment, as it were and was appreciative that neither of his friends were in the mood to tease him about it at least.
"Mm," Fyodor blinked, both inwardly actually pleased to finally have the spotlight back for a moment, and also intrigued to just continue watching the obvious entertainment break out amongst the guests at his table. "I saw it as beneficial to bring you three together," he smirked. "After all, both Dazai and Odasaku would love to know what your deal with me entails," he trailed off, gazing at Alu.
Alu huffed.
Dazai glared at Fyodor, still smiling but irritated. Odasaku was a nickname but it was one only those close to him could call him. Dazai didn't like Fyodor throwing it around so casually. There was only one way to level this playground. Dazai knew Alu's reasons had to do with trying to alleviate the burden from Odasaku. But still, honestly, those two could be really thick sometimes. "Since you insist on calling him 'Odasaku' despite not being close to him, allow me to suggest that we all start calling you 'Odorsky'~" Dazai beamed at Fyodor, both sweet and deadly. "You don't mind, right?"
Fyodor did not want to be called "Odorsky" by anyone, and he just smiled, half grimacing, at the annoying little brat in front of him.
"Oh, Odorsky? It has a good ring to it," Alu agreed, giving Dazai a thumbs up with a devious grin.
"Please respect the host," Nikolai chided them.
Fyodor was low-key grateful that Nikolai wasn't a complete bone-head all the time.
"Respect is not given, it's earned," Dazai shot back at Nikolai with a sadistic grin. "Tell me one reason why I should respect either of you as anything but a form of entertainment to pass my time?" He beamed at them, the flowers sprouting cutely once more from his sparkly demeanor.
Fyodor sighed inwardly. "I do have that boy's safety in mind, so you would do well to hold your tongue," he leveled with Dazai, expression hard and smiling.
Odasaku tensed.
Kōsuke. His life was still in danger if they did anything that would anger Fyodor.
That was right, they were all gathered because of the same reason. Odasaku didn't want to think about what his father could possibly be up to on top of this precarious situation with Kōsuke, but it was apparent whatever it was, mostly just involved Odasaku consenting to return back to that terrible place with him. "Gentlemen, let's allow the lovely lady to speak," Shinobu Oda said, brightly cutting through the tension.
"It's nothing fancy," Alu waved a hand dismissively. "I basically just said in exchange for these guys leaving Odasaku, Dazai, the ADA and the orphans alone, I'll just be an honorary member of their troupe or whatever," she huffed, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. "I did include Ango in that though I'm pretty sure he hates me right now," she added suddenly gloomy.
Odasaku and Dazai exchanged a look, wondering what went on lately between those two. Specifically, how did Ango mess it up and when would he strike out— like a moron, next.
"My, is that all?" The older Oda asked, disappointed. "And here I thought it was some elaborate deal you'd struck with Dostoevsky," he sighed.
Alu looked at him, expression flat. "Nope, I'm a pretty cut and dry person," she said. Alu could tell Dazai was eyeing her though—no doubt about earlier— and she sighed again. "I made this deal earlier today actually, since I knew Dazai would do something to sabotage my original plan to meet Odasaku again!" She brightly concluded, giving a thumbs up to no one in particular.
Dazai sweated a litte. He realized she was actually still frustrated with him. Huh, so she knew he was capable of pulling something and had a back up plan already in place—she was definitely someone who thought ahead, and Dazai was only a little impressed. Of course, his mind was still biting for the answer as to why she kissed him before and he terribly wanted to interrogate her possibly in that red dress—but he knew he had to remain focused on the current situation. Whatever her reason had been, he knew in his gut that it wasn't because she had suddenly been struck with the desire to be passionate. "I am a man who lives in the moment," he cheekily agreed, holding his chin in his hand like he was thinking, grinning at Alu, unabashedly.
"Still, I do have to wonder, how free is Odasaku with this thing in the picture?" Alu mused out loud, pointing at Shinobu. "Fyodor, you said you'd set Odasaku free but I understand now it was a false deal, because you already intended to hand him over to someone else anyhow—using that as your definition of his 'freedom' did you not?" She glared at Fyodor, frowning. Unlike Dazai, she didn't mask her anger.
Fyodor paused. This girl was sharp, observant, and definitely entertaining to tussle with. He interlaced his fingers, resting his chin on his hands, and tilted his head at her. "As you're 'cut and dry' I prefer to be more open ended in my deals," Fyodor grinned darkly. "The conditions have been met—Odasaku is not going to work for me because he is forced to, and that is where I give him his 'freedom'," he gazed levelly back at Alu.
Dazai realized this girl had foolishly signed away her freedom and he was going to say something clever to remedy the situation, but Alu began to giggle. The men stared at her as she giggled behind her hand before she stood up from the table, beaming at Fyodor.
"When something is that loose, I hope you know I plan to exploit all of your holes, Fyodor," she said, smirking darkly at him and honestly, Dazai's boy bain went to other connotations offhandedly, wondering if she knew how double ended that could be taken.
Fyodor's expression reflected that the thought had also briefly crossed his mind.
Nikolai definitely looked like it was currently on his mind—l.o.l.— but he clapped his gloved hands together. "Rather than exploiting holes, let us discuss how to have a harmonious arrangement!"
Alu rolled her eyes. "No one asked you to butt in, you dumb clown," she griped.
"Something tells me he likes butting in, and he'd love to butt into Fyodor's….business as much as possible," Dazai hinted at the undertones of adult humor and Alu paused before she giggled again, beaming at Dazai.
"Pffft," she giggled. "That's a good one!" She began to laugh, holding her sides, and Dazai found he liked watching her like this. She was normally bogged down by serious things, like himself, like so many others, but he felt a rush of satisfaction knowing that for this brief moment, her laughter was because of him.
Nikolai was disgruntled along with Fyodor, to say the least.
Odasaku just hoped the antics wouldn't put Kōsuke into more danger than he was already in. It was hard enough realizing that Alu was now trapped with this man while Odasaku was going to have to go back with his father. How could both Dazai and Alu still be making light of the situation? Odasaku didn't understand. "Both of you, please stop."
The low growl that emanated from Odasaku wasn't intended to sound angry, but he was definitely exasperated. Dazai and Alu quieted down immediately. Alu looked at Odasaku, but his eyes were obscured by his shadowed expression and parted middle bangs. Alu sat down, with a frown, putting a hand tentatively on Odasaku's arm. "Odasaku…?" Alu asked, worried and serious.
"My, so you are the one to reign these two in, after all," Shinobu chuckled, bemused, gazing at his trembling son before him, across from him at the table. "You always were rather serious and knew how to read the tone of a room well," he complimented Odasaku.
Odasaku didn't want this man's praise. He didn't want to remember things from his past that were best left forgotten. This man had been the reason Odasaku's hands had become so damn bloody from a young age. Odasaku felt like he was suffocating. Alu's touch felt like a ghost, the raw reminder of his current predicament —heavy and concrete— right in front of him, just smiling.
Dazai knew he had to plan things carefully, and before Alu could speak, he patted Shinobu's arm, like a kid, smiling brightly at the momentarily distracted man. "Hey, hey, if you're already 'bumping uglies' with Odorsky, why not gimme a little somethin', somethin'? I'm actually quite useful! Odasaku and I are already a great team, and I'm currently on the market~"
Shinobu paused, and looked with keen interest at Dazai, seriously considering the offer.
Odasaku did not want Dazai anywhere near this man either. "Dazai! No!" He said loudly, admittedly a little incensed because he was worried about the safety of his friends now on top of the safety of Kōsuke. He was already forced to rely on Ango and the division of Unusual Powers to take care of the other orphans and even then he couldn't guarantee their safety either.
Fyodor wondered how he would clarify he was not bumping uglies with the older Oda, but his irritated expression pretty much said it all.
THUNK.
Alu pushed her plate out of the way and rested her head face down on the table, either thinking or moping—honestly none of the men could tell. "Ah!" Alu rubbed her head, and then grinned at Dazai, startling the other men. "That's it! You're the loophole!"
Dazai admittedly needed some clarification, along with the others. "I'm flattered but uh, what am I supposed to do?" He asked, tilting his head at Alu, blank expression on his face apparent.
"My deal with Fyodor involves your safety, so 'Odorsky' and 'Chuckles' the clown here can't actually hurt you without it going against the terms of our deal. If they break those terms, then their own safety is no longer guaranteed either if I decide to go super Saiyan fox mode on their asses." Alu continued to explain as it dawned on Odasaku, Dazai, and the two House of the Dead members what she was implying.
"…" Fyodor grimaced while Nikolai just hung back, waiting for Fyodor to give him an order. Fyodor knew this girl was bluffing, she had no fox power—but that didn't mean she couldn't get it back, it was just a matter of when and Fyodor had a feeling she'd try to use it as a surprise attack to presumptively strike back.
"—In other words…hey Dazai, do something to make Fyodor wanna punch you even more than he already does!" Alu brightly said, giving Dazai a thumbs up. "Give him a big ol' hug!"
The others, except Dazai, looked comically mildly bewildered at Alu's logic.
