Vol. 6

Ch. 12

When You Fight With a Wolf You May Get Bitten

Odasaku was convinced this was a terrible loophole. He looked at Alu, bewildered, but she patted his arm, fervently. "Alu, I don't think that's….." Odasaku tried to gruffly articulate.

Dazai thought it was both the dumbest and yet oddly most clever loophole to get Alu out of Fyodor's grasp she'd just thought of. But this could also work in his favor because if he wanted to try something, he realized now that Fyodor and Nikolai would risk more by stopping him than gaining something as a result of his own actions.

This girl was finding some very clever unpredictable ways to predict the actual future outcomes—was this another one of her hidden abilities? Dazai didn't sense her using an ability and he was still certain she wasn't able to call on the fox, but he was still very tickled at her hyper antics. Actually, after the way they had parted, he was relieved honestly to see she was able to act like her normal self.

"Okay, if you insist, although I don't like pain," Dazai cheerfully said and he stood up from the table, smirking in Fyodor's direction. "I've wanted to smack that little fuzzy moldy marshmallow off his head for a while now~"

"There is no need to resort to that," Fyodor said, disgruntled, gazing at Alu, his ire stirred for the first time that evening as he realized that he too, had unwittingly somehow been the one trapped in her palm, rather than the other way around. No, to be more precise, they were both locked into an arm wrestling match, but neither was giving.

Alu caught him gazing at her and just smiled darkly, putting a finger to her lips like she was shushing him though Fyodor knew better. She was merely exuding her small clever plot over him. Fyodor oddly felt like he both wanted to kill her just then but also slowly torture her to look as despairing as before— at the same time—crash within himself. But Fyodor was a man who took advantage of every opportunity, and right now, he merely smiled back, already copulating another plan in his mind.

As Dazai moved to get up, he noted the brief visual exchange between Fyodor and Shinobu and then he felt it pressed against his side. It was well hidden by the angle of the table, silent and sudden, but Dazai felt its tip prod him nonetheless, covered by the skirt of the tablecloth so as to not catch the eye immediately. "Someone is a little excited," he bashfully tittered, placing his own hand on top of what was pressing into his side.

Shinobu merely smiled back. "Your mouth is terrible but you're appealing to the eyes," he replied, unperturbed by Dazai's flirting tactic.

"What are you doing?" Odasaku's eyes flashed, as he tensed. His ability didn't activate but he wasn't stupid. Fyodor and his father were pulling something on Dazai. It was already gross enough to have his dad flirting with his best friend as it was.

"You're only half correct, Alu," Fyodor hummed, as he stood up now from the table. Alu tensed with Odasaku, watching as Fyodor strode casually over to where Dazai sat, immobilized by the concealed weapon Shinobu had pressed into his side, ready to strike at Fyodor's command. "I did agree to not harm him in any way once you joined me, however, Oda and I have a partnership that is separate from our own little exchange… the ball was never in your court so you should do well to sit there and look pretty," he beamed at Alu, like he had thwarted her.

Alu did feel some panic begging to creep in. She didn't have a good plan and her deal was sort of going sideways—for her at least.

Nikolai smirked, as well, appearing behind Odasaku and Odasaku flinched, because, although he had seen Nikolai restraining him beforehand, he already knew that he was supposed to stay out of this. "Just sit tight, okay~?" Nikolai said cheerfully to Odasaku, handcuffing Odasaku's wrists behind his back of the chair.

Odasaku couldn't reach for his guns now even if he wanted to.

Alu tried to think of what to do now. Dazai was in danger. His life was in actual danger. She tried to call upon Juubi, but he simply wasn't connecting to the signals she was trying to send out. Shit, shit, shit.

"So, I just hav'ta make Odorsky angry enough to hit me, right?" Dazai mused out loudly, tilting his head back to look at Fyodor, unphased by the sudden turn of events. He just smirked at him and Fyodor, despite wanting to hit him right then, just leered down at him, glaring back levelly.

"Cities are always filled with rats, that's why I call my group 'Rats in the House of the Dead', because they will follow wherever the destruction of civilization lies," Fyodor said, moving back to the head of the table, and leaning on his hands, planting them on the table, he smirked darkly at them.

"Meow," Dazai said loudly, interjecting.

Fyodor continued to talk, ignoring Dazai's outburst. "That's why, I felt intrigued by you, Alu, since you are also like me in the sense that you seem to follow chaos and destruction," he said, gazing at Alu. It was good to see her trying so hard to not look as panicked as she felt inwardly.

"Meow!" Dazai said again.

"I look—" Fyodor began.

"-Meow!" Dazai interrupted.

"—forward to—"

"Meow~" Dazai yowled.

I'm going to seriously kill him, Fyodor thought inwardly.

SLAP.

Dazai's eyes widened. It had happened so quickly he hadn't even registered it before it connected with the right side of his face. Feeling his lower lip sting, he glanced at the one who had slapped him just then. The inside of his mouth tasted like blood again. He had not been punched lightly.

Shinobu's expression was bemused. "It's a shame I'll have to kill you. I would have much preferred to take my time breaking you instead," Shinobu tutted, resting the hand that had slapped Dazai just then, on Dazai's injured cheek. Dazai inwardly shuddered, instinct telling him to recoil. Despite this, he mustered a theatrical smile, eyes dark and crazy. He was swarmed with a sudden pool of his own past that began to bubble and surface in the back of his mind— but just then, Odasaku yelled.

"Don't hurt him! You already have me! Please! Just let …let him go…" Odasaku's voice broke.

Dazai wanted to help Odasaku. He wanted to get both Odasaku and Alu out of there but he found he was in a position where he had no cards in his own hand to play. Dazai rarely felt cornered, someone stubborn and cold and calculating— who always made a way out for himself by nature but right in that moment, Dazai felt powerless as Alu. Despite his wits, and his strength, he too, had his own intellectual limit. If it was Ranpo, what would Ranpo have done? If it was Alu pulling one of her antics, what would she do? No, Dazai had to stop comparing himself. He didn't belong to work in a place like the ADA where they all stood shining brightly illuminated against the shadows that crept to consume everything.

Dazai knew if he tried to stand in the light they cast, he would be the only one who would burn. They were strong because they had each other. Dazai was someone who chose to rely on himself and those he used to meet his goals.

It had always only been Odasaku who made him want to see the world, just a little differently. No, that wasn't true. He recalled vaguely the blonde idealist and what he probably would have shouted at him once more.

"Idiot! You have your own strength! Don't act like you're not a part of this anymore! You're a part of us now whether you like it or not!" Kunikida's annoyed baritone swept into Dazai's mind, and he could just see that blonde man with square rimmed glasses, standing before him, wagging a finger at him disapprovingly.

That's right, he was swept up by those people, maybe, just a little, and it didn't feel bad to get his feet a little wet now in their waves that crashed in the shore of his mind. Alu may have changed the course that day when she saved Odasaku, but Dazai had to make his own choices on where to go from there. He had his own strength too. His eyes flickered. "My ability would be an asset to you," he found himself bargaining with the older Oda, a last ditch attempt to somehow land himself between Fyodor and this man who clearly had some sway—whatever that was.

"Oh? What is your ability?" The older Oda asked, curious.

Dazai felt his bangs shadow his face. Odasaku may choose the orphans over Dazai one day, but he couldn't sit here and just let his friend continue to be put through so much pain in this current moment. He couldn't control the future, despite his best attempts to push down the knowledge he'd already gained. But, Dazai cared deeply for Odasaku, despite everything.

When he had first met him, it had been out of curiosity, but over time, Odasaku became Dazai's purpose for sticking around this terrible planet just a little longer. Alu was in danger as well. If he hadn't been such a predictable fool then maybe she would be safe at least. Dazai was not one to waste time on self-reflection, but he knew things were bad. It would have been better if he had listened to her in the end, he realized belatedly. He really prided himself in thinking maturely for his age but right then, he felt like a common brat.

"Rather than just telling, why don't I show you?" Dazai moved quickly, grabbing a hold of the table cloth, and he twisted his body just then, grabbing the man by his throat, and kicking back his own chair. Alarmed, the man twisted to shoot but Dazai pressed the gun, the older man's finger still on the trigger, behind the old man's head, at the back of his neck. Using the chair and table, Dazai slammed the older man's head against the table, as the older man struggled, despite Dazai's own strength.

The plates clattered and Dazai gazed, eyes empty and cold at Fyodor, as Fyodor stood, gazing at him levelly.

Nikolai looked to Fyodor for direction but Fyodor was completely transfixed, expression in shock and wonder, at Dazai's ability. Now was not the time to feel unhappy but Nikolai felt a little unsettled. Tch, he disliked Dazai already.

"Foolish brat," Shinobu wheezed, and he smiled despite the pinned position he found himself in. "Go on then, shoot me if you dare," he sneered.

"Your wish is my command," Dazai beamed at him, but Alu spoke up just then.

"Dazai. Don't! If you do this, you'll only be driving yourself back to the place you were before you met me. " She looked at him seriously. "There are other ways to go about this without resorting to senseless killing."

Dazai paused, the manic look of bloodlust still in his eyes, frustrated that she was going to give him a morality speech just then. She sounded a little like the fedora wearing Mafia Executive, much to his chagrin. Killing would make things so much damn easier. If there was a problem, erasing it sounded way more productive.

"The little canary still sings," Nikolai mused loudly, gazing at them.

"Ah, she speaks sense," Shinobu hummed. "After all, if you do anything to me, you'll be the only one biting the dust, boy," he leered.

"I always did like the thought of kicking it one day," Dazai smirked back. "Of course, I hate to disappoint your interesting offer, considering I plan to die with a beautiful woman by my side," he brightly beamed at the older man who was not used to meeting someone so suicidally gleeful as Dazai looked in that moment.

Odsaku hated powerlessness. He hated it so much. His friend was defending himself against three ability users, and he couldn't even protect him because doing so would put the boy at risk. Dammit, wasn't Dazai's life just as important? Odasaku grit his teeth, hating himself. He wondered why Alu wasn't using Juubi right now. There had to be a good reason. But what right did he have to ask her to take the reins? It wasn't her job to constantly protect him or Dazai. He had to do something himself, but he didn't even know what he could do. To go against this man would only mean trouble—and to go against Fyodor would only ensure the boy would die.

"Even if I die, it pleases me to know my son has found himself such a special woman," the older Oda continued.

"Can we please drop that," Alu griped with irritation. "Seriously, you don't even know me and you're just sizing me up with your son like we are a juicy smoothie meant to blend together or something," she complained.

Dazai found that visual analogy a bit funny. Visually, it looked like a berry smoothie with one of Odasaku's cowlicks in it. Oddly fitting and yet still disturbing.

"I worked hard to raise my son," Shinobu continued, gazing at his son, proud, "that's why it pleases me to see how he is still alive, —despite leaving me all those years ago,— ready to continue what I have," he spoke like he was stroking his own ego.

"You didn't raise him, you only used him as a pawn in your dangerous self-serving game," Alu cut in, coldly. "What Odasaku chooses to do with his life doesn't concern you anymore. Whatever he decides, don't think you can take credit for all the effort Odasaku has put into following his own path!"

"Alu! Dazai! Just stop! Both of you!" Odasaku yelled, for the first time, his voice finally raising, loud enough that it reverberated inside of Alu's chest cavity. He knew they both meant well, but antagonizing his father was not the answer. Antagonizing Fyodor, would get them all nowhere. Odasaku looked at Dazai. "Let him go…and just get out of here with Alu," Odasaku said, voice shaky. "Screw the deal or whatever! Just get out, the both of you!"

"Huh? We're not going to leave you!" Alu protested, reaching for Odasaku's arm.

"Dammit Alu! This is a fight you can't win if you're not willing to use your fox!" Odasaku yelled.

Alu looked slapped, for the first time.

Odasaku realized what he'd said, too late.

The silence was deafening.

" I can't," she said shakily, gazing at Odasaku as her eyes slowly filled with tears. "I don't have…any power right now…."

Odasaku was hit with the terrible realization that if Alu could have, why would she have held Juubi back for this long? No, even if she did have power, what right did Odasaku have to command her to use it selfishly to benefit himself? "I didn't mean…" This whole time, with nothing, no power had her disposal, had she also been just as afraid? Odasaku felt a sudden jolt of guilt crash over himself. Had she concealed her own powerlessness in order to shield Odasaku and reassure him that he wasn't alone in his?

Fyodor was entertained again. Odasaku was tormenting this girl beautifully. Fyodor was tickled with how easily Odasaku could destroy his own friendships all by himself.

Nikolai thought she looked like a pretty broken bird and he was enjoying the display of a small bird being brought back down to gravity's cruel cupped palms. Admittedly, he felt sympathetic, and also empathetic to her despair. He wasn't completely heartless, after all.

"Odasaku," Dazai's voice shook with controlled actual anger as he glared at Odasaku who looked at him, "you are such an idiot."

Odasaku had to agree there.

B-DMP.

Suddenly, the man twisted, and elbowed Dazai hard in the stomach, taking advantage of the momentary tension between the two young men to give himself an opening. Dazai coughed, winded, and then—

Bang!

Bang!

The sound of gunfire rang out.

It felt like slow motion- watching a doll crumple to the floor, but that's exactly how he looked, as he toppled away from Odasaku's father. Odasaku's father straightened up, with a huff, adjusting his suit, mood incensed and cold. He kept his gun pointed at the crumpled brown-haired man at his feet. He breathed hard, but triumphant.

Dazai just stared at nothing, the light just slowly leaving his eyes, face twisted in genuine surprise like he hadn't yet processed what had happened.

No.

Odasaku's eyes welled with tears.

No!

This was exactly what Odasaku had been afraid of transpiring between his friend and the enemy. He couldn't do anything but at least in times like this he could still use his own voice. It was the only power he had left. Even if it meant putting Kosuke in danger, Odasaku couldn't just watch his friend die. Not when he could do something about it. Odasaku found his voice tearing out of himself, like a terrified animal. "Dazai! Dodge!" He roared, as his tears finally rolled freely down his face as he broke down.

Dazai's eyes flashed.

Suddenly, the man twisted, and elbowed Dazai hard in the stomach, taking advantage of the momentary tension between the two young men to give himself an opening. Dazai coughed, winded, and then—

Bang!

Bang!

The sound of gunfire rang out.

Odasaku looked on in abject horror, breath hitching, finding it hard to see anything past his tears but managing anyhow.

Alu watched as well, as Dazai barely dodged the bullets fired at himself, as he rolled to the side, grabbing a chair and throwing it instead at the older man in an attempt to catch him off guard. Suddenly, Alu cried out. "Stop! Stop fighting, the both of you!" She shouted, desperate.

Shinobu paused, gazing at her, from the corner of his eye, still keeping Dazai as his main target in his sights. "You offering up a good reason why I shouldn't kill him?" He asked, smirking darkly.

Alu's mind was numb from panic. She didn't know what she could do. She didn't know if there was anything she could do. Odasaku could only use his ability to help Dazai out for so long until Fyodor decided to prevent Odasaku from going any further. But she had to do something. She missed Juubi. Odasaku was right, she couldn't do anything without him. She was utterly powerless. No, there was something even she could do.

If only the ADA could have gotten involved like she'd originally planned. Now, she really had no idea what they could do in this situation. But, this was also her fight. She balled her hands into fists by her sides. It was a stupid solution, but, it could just be dumb enough to actually work. "I—"

"—I object," A voice cut into the conversation that belonged to someone Alu least expected to intervene at this time.

Dazai and Odasaku also looked.

Fyodor stood, his arms behind his back, but his expression was hard and smiling at the same time, as he peered at the scene unfolding before himself. Even Nikolai looked at him with some surprise. But, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that it was this man who had spoken.