Ch. 12

Read Between the Lines

Odasaku was now completely speechless. He was at a loss for words before. He thought Dazai was stirring the pot. But this person just went and dumped its contents all over Dazai with that jab.

Dazai himself had a momentary fleeting expression of indescribable amazement. "Interesting… I am tempted to cut out your tongue but that would end the fun too soon," Dazai huffed. "Odasaku~ what do you propose? How should we punish her for hurting my feelings?"

Odasaku inwardly didn't know if it was a good idea to keep riling up this person. Dazai was behaving recklessly, like he wanted something more entertaining to result from him poking the beehive. "Dazai…I think you've poked enough, let's just ask her the questions you have," he said almost softly. He wasn't an outspoken person really but he did not think it wise to let Dazai continue on the destructive path Dazai was on.

Dazai pouted but the look Odasaku was giving him made the comment bubble and pop before it could leave Dazai's lips proper. "Eh…alright," Dazai said with a dismissive hand wave. What people thought normally didn't matter to Dazai but, Odasaku was indeed, someone honest and straightforward in his own way. However, Odasaku at least understood reality, unlike this girl. "What's your name?"

Alu blinked. "What? Want my phone number now?" Alu snarked.

Dazai blinked. Then he chuckled. "You do say some funny things~ ah, and actually, that's not a bad idea!" He stroked his chin.

"I don't have a phone," Alu sighed, as she just felt her limbs going sore from the grip Odasaku had on her. "Can I at least sit down? This hurts…"

Odasaku didn't sense she was going to pull anything and Dazai gestured for him to release her. Odasaku did so, and Alu just sat cross legged now before the two men. She huffed. "Look, I'll cliffnotes my day for you, so just be quiet and listen."

She was directing the command at Dazai mostly. Dazai smiled, but he had the oddest feeling of wanting to shoot her and listen to her at the same time. This person…perhaps her ability had to do with her voice? Dazai's eyes flickered.

A dark idea blossomed.

Alu continued to speak while Dazai had his little 'dark soul' moment—lol.

"I basically showed up today—at random, mind you, and met this crazy robot named 'Adam'. I technically had no plans but he mentioned Chuuya. I don't actually know that much about him, but I was concerned that an assassin was after him. So I got involved. The end," Alu said swiftly. "Any questions?" She asked brightly, beaming at Dazai.

Dazai pursed his lips. Well, this was annoying. She wasn't lying. He didn't get the feeling she was lying about any of this. She definitely omitted something though. He grinned darkly. He at least had a good reason to still classify her as untrustworthy.

Not that he was going to ever trust her.

"You didn't say why you got involved with his business," Dazai said lightly. "If you really did learn Chuuya's history through the assassin and the European Exposition Metal Dump, then regardless of your intentions towards Chuuya— you know we can't simply let you walk away knowing what you know, understand?"

Odasaku was quiet.

And concerned. Not because he didn't know Port Mafia protocol. But what was Dazai up to?

What was Dazai insinuating?

"My intentions? I just wanted to help." Alu deadpanned.

"I should remind you, if you're looking for a deeper relationship you're wasting your breath on Chuuya, I'm serious. He's hopeless," Dazai sighed, shrugging. Then he blinked and he smirked at Alu. "…you could just be my woman instead! I'll take good care of you~"

Alu just gave Dazai a tired 'are you kidding' me look.

Odasaku couldn't honestly tell what was going on in either of their heads. But one thing was clear. This had nothing to do with the possibility of Chuuya defecting from the Port Mafia, at all. That girl cared about Chuuya. And Dazai was just jealous. It was exactly how she said.

"Hell no. Go get bent," she deadpanned to Dazai, point blank.

Dazai pouted. Alu couldn't tell but he looked momentarily legit grouchy, like he'd been rejected after a heart fluttering proposal, "Tch."

Alu stuck out her tongue at Dazai. "blegh!"

Odasaku sighed inwardly. These two….

That girl had more balls than anyone he'd ever met to stand up to Dazai. He was inwardly a little amused. Dazai was not easily knocked out of his swagger but this girl was sticking her tongue out at him as he inwardly tantrummed, it felt like, mentally, and Odasaku's little cowlicks began to flip at the funny thought.

He put a hand over his mouth. A small tiny sound came out.

"Pft."

Dazai looked at him, concerned. "Odasaku?"

Odasaku couldn't always read people. But she wasn't hiding anything. She was unapologetically just brutally honest. Did Odasaku still believe that actions spoke louder than words? Certainly, but he was starting to think…this girl could be that one little exception. Because while actions have consequences, words determine something else entirely.

"Sorry, I was just thinking. Dazai…she doesn't appear to be lying…"

Dazai blinked at him and sighed, a mushroom cloud. "Hm. Well, I'm going to make a call to Boss. You just guard her, alright?"

Odasaku nodded as Dazai brought out his phone.

Alu shifted on her legs, resting her hands in her lap, just watching. She was mostly observing for now. She glanced at Chuuya's limp form once again. She did feel kinda bad for him. Dazai was a terrible personality at this age. It was a wonder Chuuya didn't end up on the end of his gun sooner. But, Alu knew, deep down, that Dazai was just someone who like her, needed to tie themselves to something.

It could be anything.

It was like being a kite.

Wanting the freedom to be up in the air, devoid of gravity or reality, free of pain and suffering, but still needing a hand to hold on so it wouldn't fly away. That feeling. That fleeting feeling of being anchored.

"I have some scandalous news," Dazai said cheerfully into his phone.

'What news?' Mori asked on the other line—though it was clear he wasn't sure what to expect when it came to Dazai—lmao.

"Chuuya's girlfriend showed up in his closet earlier!" Dazai cheerfully said.

"I'm not his girlfriend!" Alu hollered, hoping that Mori wouldn't get the damn wrong idea. Jeez, Dazai, you're an ass.

There was a pause.

'I see you both are…getting along I hope?' Was Mori's carefully constructed response.

"She tried to hit me, but we already talked it out," Dazai brightly said.

"I only tried to hit you because you were being a piece of shit to Chuuya!" Alu retorted.

"So mean! What do you even see in Chuuya anyways? He's got such a short temper~" Dazai sighed dramatically. "You could do so much better in terms of your taste in men!"

Mori meanwhile was not a praying man. But he prayed that Dazai would not do something to mess up the successful retrieval of this target. Rarely did Dazai disobey orders and usually when he did Mori let it slide because it was a minor infraction in the big scheme of things. But this time, Mori knew inwardly without a doubt that the safety of his organization depended on Dazai not being a pain in the ass…

"You— who asks someone out after threatening to cut out their tongue anyways? You're terrible at asking someone out, you know that?" Alu griped at Dazai.

Mori wondered if it was time to start to pray.

'Now, now, Dazai,' Mori said with a sigh, 'Please. Refrain from anything unnecessary. That's an order."

Dazai paused. He knew that tone. Mori rarely actually used it with Dazai, but Dazai knew none-the-less. He wasn't afraid of Mori. Mori knew well enough as Dazai's former doctor that Dazai didn't care about death threats or even kicking the bucket one day, being someone who encouraged suicide techniques in his spare time. But, Mori was not a man to back down either.

In this, they were mutually agreeable in the tone of well-concealed hostility.

"Tch." His face looked sour for the first time.

Alu wanted to snap shot it and hang it on the wall. That was the face of a boy being lectured by his disapproving father right there. Alu giggled. "You tell him, Mori!" She said loudly with a giggle.

There was a pause.

On both ends.

Alu blinked. Eh? Oh shit, she realized. Too informal.

Mori was still convinced this girl knew more about the Port Mafia than she was letting on. If that was the case… then letting her roam free was not an option. 'Do what you have to in order to detain her—alive,' Mori hung up. That last part was for Dazai. Specifically Dazai. Because regardless of the worth of someone to Mori, Dazai could care less.

Dazai gazed at Alu, pocketing his phone. "Don't resist."

Alu knew what that meant. "I understand," she held her hands up. "You need to clap the irons on?"

Dazai and Odasaku both looked at her, taken aback by her sudden eagerness to get captured. She was honest to a point of actually being …confusing in her behavior. People lie. People deceive. Her honesty only went so far. No doubt she was doing 'shock value' acting right now, as far as Dazai was concerned. Dazai smirked at her, darkly.

He knew this behavior well.

He used it every day.

Dazai's eyes narrowed. That also meant he knew what she was going to do next. Because, it was what he would do.

Like lightning, he had Odasaku restrain her. Alu grimaced as Dazai stood before her again. "…So, what will it be? Will you accept Mori's invitation?"

The question was posed to ensure there were no other options.

Alu quieted. She had been analyzing the situation for a while now. She knew Dazai was a manipulator and would strike a deal with her using Chuuya's life. At least assholes are predictable sometimes, she thought wryly to herself.

She mentally thought about what her next course of action would be.

Odasaku's ability activated.

B-THMP!

Alu pulled her arm loose of Odasaku's grasp and then turned to him. But it was to grip him by his shirt and—to kiss him?!

Bewildered, Odasaku raised an arm to his face as Alu broke free of his grasp, momentarily.

Alu knew she had to think on the fly. Odasaku's ability was a rapid fire one after all that could literally go into the future a few seconds before she even made her next move. Sure enough, she found Odasaku reacting with a speed that honestly rivaled Chuuya and Dazai as he quickly moved and damn he was heavy.

Alu breathed hard, as Odasaku gripped her by her wrists behind her back, and forced her back into a kneeling position.

Dazai blinked.

He sighed.

"Did you really think you were going to beat him?" He chided, tilting his head at Alu who was panting, winded honestly from countering all of Odasaku's previous moves to detain her.

Alu didn't want to use her real strength on Odasaku of all people. She knew he was just following orders. She noticed in the strikes they exchanged—well mostly her just trying to get away— he had not been terribly harsh.

"Now, now," Dazai tittered. "We're going to have to ask that you come quietly."

He reached out as though to pat her but Alu glared.

Dazai blinked. She really didn't want him to touch her. Dazai's eyes glinted. She must be gearing up to use her ability, was all he surmised. Actually, he didn't know the reason why she hadn't used her ability now. He would take her back to Mori, sure, sure, but he was just as curious about what her ability was as the next person!

It wasn't fair that only Chuuya got to share that! Although, Chuuya didn't know her ability either so there was that.

Dazai smiled and patted her head like she was a dog. Well, this wasn't a 'wild' dog but maybe he would be nice and take the time to try to train this stray to work for his own benefit under the guise that he's procuring her for Ogai Mori and the Port Mafia. He would be nice though and lend her to them sometimes. What a generous person he could be.

"Hmm, Odasaku!" He beamed.

But Odasaku made a funny noise before Dazai could continue his comment. He opened his eyes, suddenly feeling his ability activate. Blue light traveled from Dazai's palm and over Alu. Almost immediately, Alu was let go from Odasaku who let out his own noise of bewilderment, almost in shock as he pulled back from her.

As Dazai made a small sound of surprise, his eyes fell upon a light colored bra…

Alu slammed both men immediately with spiritual pressure, even though his hand had hilariously still been on Alu's head moments before. "You two… have no tact!" She yelled, face red as a tomato.

Both Odasaku and Dazai found themselves hilariously thrown out of the bedroom and the door slammed shut and locked… Chuuya just lying in the hall with them. Lol.

Dazai's eyes were wide.

He just sort of stared open mouthed at Odasaku, comical. Like a school boy. Odasaku's own face was in his hand, and it was red as a beet. "Uh…what just happened…" Dazai was stupefied.

Alu meanwhile went into Chuuya's closet to grab some of his clothes, consequences be damned. "And don't come in here until I'm changed! You got that! Or you're both perverts!" She hollered.

Odasaku just lowered his hand, and he looked hilariously embarrassed. "…Dazai, you touched her and her clothes…they disappeared."

Dazai stared at his friend, speechless.

Odasaku could tell that this was a rare instance where Dazai's 'love for women' act wasn't actually in play. Even Dazai could exercise proper discretion from time to time.

For Dazai, he let the revelation sink in.

Her clothes had been her ability?

But she'd still managed to throw out both young men with an invisible force that had nothing to do with having an ability at all—- if it had been, Dazai would have canceled it out upon contact.

Dazai had not seen either one of those scenarios coming.

But they both came simultaneously at the same time.

—-

Alu was given privacy to change. They gave her that decency at least. Dazai knew if she did try to leave, that Odasaku would give him a heads up and they'd have a head start to prevent her from doing so but it honestly sounded like she really did just want space to put on some clothes.

Of course, they were Chuuya's clothes which made it even funnier and more entertaining to allow. Still, despite the momentary humor, Dazai was even more curious to investigate the girl's abilities. He'd never seen nor heard of someone who held multiple abilities in their body at once. But, considering Chuuya was also the result of experimentation, Dazai had to wonder if this girl perhaps was also a 'science project' and perhaps that is why she was drawn to Chuuya and so adamant about insisting that no one can decide his worth for him.

Odasaku caught the dark smirk on Dazai's face.

"Dazai?" He asked, having settled Chuuya onto the couch, where Chuuya remained unconscious.

"Chuuya is pretty handy when it comes to attracting girls—of all things, don't you think?" Dazai brightly said, beaming at Odasaku.

Odasaku didn't really know what to say to that.

Dazai hopped up from the barstool he was sitting at. "I'm going to go ask if she's done changing!~"

Alu meanwhile looked at herself and her clothes. She was currently wearing some of Chuuya's and surprisingly they fit despite her being slightly taller. The kid was skinny but hilariously enough at least at this age, they were similar. She could tell the clothes were expensive.

"Are you done checking yourself out," a familiar female voice called from behind Alu.

Alu turned to look over her shoulder with wide eyes. It was Azuki. Azuki sat criss-cross on Chuuya's bed, chin in her hand, just looking at Alu.

Alu's eyes darted to the door but Azuki waved a hand. "Relax. They can't hear us. I've put us into a 'time pocket' so to speak where nothing moves forwards~"

Alu seriously wondered what the hell this woman was. Her eye twitched. On second thought, she didn't think she cared to know. This woman seriously reminded her of Dazai. Speaking of which, Alu didn't expect the woman to give her a straight answer on the 'Osamu' comment but she tried anyways.

"How are you related to Dazai?" Alu asked curtly.

The woman blinked. "Oh? We're distant relatives," She waved a hand breezily.

Distant relatives? Alu felt relief shoot through her. "I see…does he know about you?"

Azuki giggled. "I would think not, considering he tried to flirt with me," she shrugged.

Alu sighed a mushroom cloud. Yep, that sounded like Dazai. But, at least that nagging problem was resolved. Alu could actually fully focus now on the matter at hand.

"Are you here to tell me something has happened in the other timeline?" Alu asked, frowning. She knew there was a reason Azuki plopped her here but she hadn't figured it out yet. Somehow, she knew it had to do with Chuuya. And Alu didn't mind learning more about Chuuya. Though, him losing the flags…Alu thought they were nuts but they were Chuuya's nuts. They were his first real friends… and they were just cleanly killed off.

Alu had a bad feeling. It felt like the timing was too perfect actually. The arrival of Verlaine just after the robot taking off with Chuuya. It didn't feel like coincidence. Verlaine clearly must have gotten some intel.

But from where?

One person popped into Alu's mind but she grimaced. There's no way that even he would go that low. Right? Chuuya must matter on some level. In order to fight Paul Verlaine, was it a decision made to protect the Port Mafia in the end?

It was hard to say what was going on in that kid's brain, Alu grimaced.

And yet, Alu felt an odd parallel between that boy's detachment to the world and Paul Verlaine.

Alu's eyes flickered. That man was a mental case, yes, but he had felt so sad too. He took life because he wanted revenge. The meaning of life—the fragility of being human was something denied him. How could he live a normal life? Hard to, when you're a messed up science project created by the greed of humans, Alu surmised offhandedly. But, despite his murderous disposition. Alu sensed he really only wanted one thing.

That was to protect Chuuya.

"Earth to you~" Azuki popped in front of Alu's face without warning causing Alu to yelp and lose balance. Azuki easily caught Alu by her arm before Alu could fall. "Geez, you spend a lot of time up there in the clouds, don't you. Someone needs to get a rock and tie it to your ankle!"

Alu pouted. "I have a lot on my plate so unless you're here to give me a tip on how to help Kousuke and Chuuya, then I'm not interested!"

Azuki quieted. "Still going on about Kousuke? You really don't get it."

She sighed crossing her arms.

Alu felt irritated. "I'm sorry I don't know everything like certain bandaged faced morons," she griped.

Azuki ran a hand through her bangs, and then pointed at Alu, as though resolved on something. "You already went and did a bang up job putting yourself on the Port Mafia's radar by interfering with a fight that wasn't your business to interfere with," she deadpanned.

Alu bristled. "I already know that!"

Azuki continued. "Exactly, you don't understand—-wait, did you just agree with me?" The other woman paused, as though Alu grew two heads. Apparently, the thought of Alu agreeing with her was a bit unheard of.

Alu's face warmed and she just crossed her arms, looking away. "I know I went too far. Because of me, now the Port Mafia is questioning Chuuya's loyalty. I know that Chuuya puts the Port Mafia first and he's not exactly the kind of guy to be done in with sweet words—but he's someone who can judge character pretty well and he and I just clicked. However it's clear that Dazai is jealous—for reasons beyond any normal person's understanding— and his narcissism can't handle the fact that Chuuya may have someone healthy in his life to talk to. Not to mention I'm a girl so naturally certain men turn stupid when it comes to that little detail."

Alu huffed. "Despite this, I know that I did something to change the course of events between Verlaine and Chuuya. I don't know what that was, but whatever way they used to defeat him in the original timeline, I have this bad feeling like it won't work anymore because of me. But," Alu glared at Azuki, "I don't know why you're here. Did you just come to gloat and torment me on how I've screwed up?"

Azuki opened and closed her mouth, a bit like a fish. Then she put a hand over her mouth and giggled. "Oh, you can think about the consequences after all!" She said, as though she was praising Alu. "Don't stop on my account. Go on. It's rare to see such a deep level of self reflection," the woman beamed at her.

Alu wanted to hit her.

"Aw, done already?" Azuki giggled again but she held out her hand to Alu. "It's true you acted rashly and got yourself meddling in affairs not meant to be meddled with. But, I'm going to show you the reason I brought you back here. After all, I did say I would help you save Kousuke, didn't I?" She smiled amiably through her eyes that held only the glint of unspoken unverifiable emotion.

"Wait, you do mean to help me?" Alu growled. She grabbed Azuki's hand. "Then help, dammit!"

Alu gasped.

Events passed through her mind like an old fashioned calling card system one would flip through. Words, conversations, Verlaine, a Detective Chuuya knew, a boy named Shirase, and even a scientist claiming to be Chuuya's father, 'N', all rushed through her mind. Chuuya trying to protect a boy from his Sheep days, Verlaine learning how Shirase met Chuuya, N explaining the fruit of his experimentation before killing the twin Chuuya and capturing Chuuya.

Chuuya and Verlaine having a fight, Chuuya and Shirase fighting together to defeat the skeleton Chuuya. Amidst all this conflict, Verlaine cornering N only to have Dazai walk in. Chuuya entered stage 'rage' hurling debris at Dazai, naturally.

Verlaine escapes with the scientist N, leaving Chuuya and Dazai alone for now to plot how to stop him.

Chuuya comically ties up Dazai upside down and spins him like a deranged piñata. Dazai relays his plan to poison Verlaine by having Chuuya render him into a state where he registers nothing. It's a bit confusing and Alu honestly can barely keep up as it is. Despite all this happening quickly, it is slowed down as though to help her absorb a glimpse.

Paul Verlaine unsuccessfully managed to corner Ogai Mori on the lone train— instead it was Hirotsu which Alu had to hand it to the man, he was a more dapper version of Mori—lol. But, Dazai declares his point of view on Chuuya being human or not. Alu smiles, only a little. Apparently when he's not around Chuuya, Dazai can be decent—once in a blue moon.

Then, the fight. Verlaine is bombarded by the Mafia. Tanks, weapons like you wouldn't believe, over 200 mafia grunts and 28 ability users according to Dazai, unleashed to counter Paul. Verlaine is in pain. He isn't hurt physically so much as his emotional state continues to deteriorate.

He opens his gate.

Alu can feel it. His pain. His anguish. His loneliness. His lament that he will never truly belong to the side of humanity. Rimbaud. That name pops up in his mind constantly. Brief memories of a man who gave Kuro 12 his human name— his own name. A man named Faun who was destroyed — Verlaine's creator. Honestly, why do really smart scientists have to be such assholes sometimes? Alu thought inwardly frustrated as she found herself floating through what felt like scenes of memory but with no clear images, it was just thoughts like a dream.

Was she brought here to help Chuuya in the past somehow and in turn use that to help Kousuke?

Alu suddenly found herself standing off to the side, Chuuya and human Verlaine at odds. Then, Adam came in with a needle jab and android humor. Poison administered. Retrieval of Paul Verlaine successful.

Alu floated alongside Chuuya now, as he walked with Paul Verlaine and Adam on his back, cussing out Dazai. Also, Adam was talking about his dream again. Alu wondered how something that is merely code and programming could dream. The lines being drawn between being 'human' and being a 'machine' sure were getting less concrete, though. So this was it, then, Alu thought inwardly. It really had been dealt with. Azuki was trying to send a message, but what was it?

Dazai congratulated Chuuya on defeating Verlaine. He teases Chuuya about getting code from N once he's recaptured so he can turn Chuuya into his personal maid. Oh yeah, he definitely is not attached to Chuuya, Alu inwardly rolled her eyes.

But just then, a flare went off. It was bright and alarming. It was no doubt N who had escaped who set it off. Verlaine began to react, and Alu felt a jolt in her system. Paul Verlaine even at this point, even after being betrayed by Chuuya, someone he was desperate to protect, was still willing to put Chuuya's life ahead of his own demise. He shoved Chuuya away before he began to morph into his 'true form'.

Then, real hell broke loose. If the eight eyed flaming monster that Verlaine unleashed wasn't terrifying enough, it looked like it was wiping out everything. But then, Chuuya and Dazai were apparently on it.

Adam as well was showing impressive determination despite looking terrible, lol.

At that point, Alu seriously wondered how Chuuya and Dazai had managed to beat that thing. It became clear that Chuuya would have to use this mysterious 'Arahabaki' as far as Alu was concerned.

It looked like Chuuya was quite literally in the belly of the beast. Alu was on the outside, looking in, on the ground, surprisingly near Dazai—though Dazai couldn't see her, and completely helpless and at a loss for words. But there was a reason Azuki was showing her all this chaos and destruction. She just had to figure it out.

Meanwhile, Dazai called Mori to tell him to run away—to which Mori said something that caused Dazai to cry out in genuine anguish—gee he almost passed for human there for a sec— about not wanting to commit a double suicide with Chuuya of all people—lol. Alu had to give Mori props. She didn't like the guy but she appreciates his blunt jab at Dazai.

That's when something happened and Chuuya managed to break free of the giant beast—due most likely to Adam, somehow, and the beast was immediately blown up.[?]

In the aftermath of Verlaine's exploding demise, Dazai found Chuuya.

Dazai stood with Chuuya, giving Chuuya Rimbaud's hat back— a rare sight, Alu mused. Dazai mentioned having knowledge on how to determine how human Chuuya was. Alu detected it then. It was slight. It was a fleeting blip. It was a split second that Dazai expressed he did care about Chuuya. Of course it wasn't long lived as he proceeded to tease Chuuya about looking inside his body…

But, that's not it. That's not why she was brought here. It is starting to dawn on her. She wasn't brought here because of Chuuya like she originally thought.

She has been brought here by Azuki because of Paul Verlaine.

-