p class="MsoNormal"He had actually joined a detective agency. An emArmed /emDetective agency at that! Atsushi couldn't help thinking that he was in way over his head with all this. To top it all off, here he was here Ranpo on an actual murder investigation. He hoped to god that all the praises the agency members seemed to be showering the said detective was genuine and he did know what he was doing because Atsushi sure as hell didn't!/p
p class="MsoNormal""If you're as good as you claim to be, then shouldn't we all be out of a job?" The chief exclaimed incredulously. Ranpo seemed to have a knack of getting on people's nerves with his smug attitude./p
p class="MsoNormal""My point exactly." Was Ranpo's smug reply./p
p class="MsoNormal""Why you little - "The chief ready to blow when was thankfully interrupted by an officer hurrying over to them./p
p class="MsoNormal""Another body! They've found another body in the river!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What? Another body?" Atsushi exclaimed as he followed the officers to the river berth where the net seemed to have fished out another body from the river. His mind was racing with possibilities as he hurried to catch up./p
p class="MsoNormal""What the – Dazai?!" He said as he watched in shock as he found his colleague dangling in the net, upside down./p
p class="MsoNormal""You know this guy?" The chief asked./p
p class="MsoNormal"Atsushi sighed as he went over to the said detective. "Don't tell me you tried to drown yourself again, Osamu."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't be silly" Dazai tutted dramatically. "Committing suicide alone, that's so passé these days. I have made a decision! If I'm going to end everything. I'll do it with a beautiful woman! emA double suicide ~ What a sweet ring it has ~! /emIt feels so empty to think of bidding farewell to this world all by my lonesome. That's my new plan. I'm on the lookout for a passionate and suicidal woman to die with "/em/p
p class="MsoNormal""But how did you get caught in the net?" Atsushi asked with a sigh./p
p class="MsoNormal""I was just drifting along." Dazai said with a gleam in his eyes. "Enjoying the glorious river."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I see." Atsushi said, exasperated by his colleague's behavior; thanking the lords that Kunikida wasn't here to witness this./p
p class="MsoNormal""But enough about me." Dazai said as he looked up, suddenly seeming to realize something. "What brings you here, my friend?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm here on a job."/p
p class="MsoNormal""A job? What kind of job?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Atsushi blames himself for not seeing this coming when he explained their case to his eccentric colleague which is why he found himself apologizing to the chief as the said colleague wept and whaled at their victim's feet. Apparently, the thought of having lost the chance to commit double suicide with the woman was too hard to bear for him./p
p class="MsoNormal"Even with his flare for drama , Dazai did prove useful in convincing the chief to give Ranpo a try and Atsushi was thankful for that as he was pretty sure if the eccentric detective hadn't shown up when he did, they would have both gotten kicked out of the case (and Ranpo would probably have gotten punched emat least/emspan style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanonce)/p
p class="MsoNormal"Atsushi was shocked to see Ranpo solve the case in under a minute, just as he promised. He had no idea how Ranpo had managed to know the things that he did and for what its worth, the detective's ability did seem to be a thousand times better than his./p
p class="MsoNormal"So of course, he was shocked beyond belief when Dazai informed him that Ranpo was in fact not gifted at all but the deductions that he made were from pure wit alone. Atsushi had to admit that Ranpo really was the world's best detective. Although he did wish he didn't have such a huge ego about it (rightful or not)./p
p class="MsoNormal"As they made their way into the metro making sure they didn't loose Ranpo along the way (at least he did - Dazai didn't seem to care wither way as he walked ahead singing a song about double suicide)./p
p class="MsoNormal"Once they had settled into their seats and began the hour-long journey back, Atsushi finally let himself relax. Maybe he might get through the day without Kunikida having to murder him for his incompetence after all. Just as he was about to drift off into sleep, he jumped in surprise as Dazai's phone went off. As the detective checked the caller id, Atsushi couldn't help but be surprised at the expression on his face./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hello Jane." Dazai said as he answered. "I was starting to think you forgot about me – You are? We came out for a case actually – We should be back there in an hour – See you then."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Once he hung up, he leaned back and closed his eyes, looking almost content. Atsushi was surprised to see the man like this and couldn't really explain why the next question popped out of his mouth. It was something to do with the detective's expression/p
p class="MsoNormal""Was that your girlfriend?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What?" Dazai's eyes flew open in surprise as he let out a laugh. "What makes you say that?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Atsushi felt himself go crimson as he blushed. He couldn't believe he actually asked him that. He didn't even really have a reason to! "I don't know I just…"/p
p class="MsoNormal""No" He said with a small smile. "She's a very good friend though. You haven't met her yet, but she works for agency as a consultant from time to time. She's there now, actually."/p
p class="MsoNormal""A consultant? For what?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""This and that." Dazai shrugged. "She's also gifted, and her ability comes in quite handy when we are in a bind."/p
p class="MsoNormal""And she's more of a detective than most of our agency members are too." Ranpo commented with a snort. "She's no match for me of course!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh?" Atsushi said awkwardly, sweat dropping at the detective's proclamation./p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't let her hear that – It'll go straight to her head." Dazai said with a grin./p
p class="MsoNormal"As they made it to the agency, Atsushi was strangely excited at the prospect of meeting this consultant. If Ranpo though she wasn't an idiot (or rather less of a detective than the rest of them) she must be really something. As they entered the reception area, he immediately noticed her. She was sitting next to Haruno and Naomi as Naomi seemed to talk animatedly. Atsushi immediately noticed how beautiful she looked with her long auburn hair that fell in waves around her face and piercing blue eyes. She couldn't have been much older than himself, so he was shocked to consider that she was a consultant at such a young age./p
p class="MsoNormal""She's beautiful…" He found himself saying in awe./p
p class="MsoNormal""She is, isn't she." Dazai chucked in amusement before walking over to the said girl./p
p class="MsoNormal""emJane~!" /emDazai sang as he ran over to her and gathered the surprised girl into his arms. "How I've missed you!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Hey!" Naomi protested, grabbing onto the girl by her arm as she tried to pull her from the detective. "You're not steeling her away again Dazai! We're going shopping!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""But emJane~" /emHe whined as he managed to cling onto her despite Naomi's best efforts. "I need you for my new great idea!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Ow!" The poor girl cried as she was pulled in both directions. "Let go of me both of you. Kunikida, help!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Dazai, you idiot!" Kunikida shouted at the detective before sending him flying with a kick./p
p class="MsoNormal""Thanks, Kunikida" She said with a grateful smile before going over to her friend and helping him up. "So, this idea that you were talking about… What's it exactly."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh, Jane it's perfect!" He exclaimed "I don't know why I hadn't thought of it before. I'm going to commit double suicide with a beautiful woman. A emdouble suicide!/em And as Atsushi just pointed out, you are beautiful. It's just meant to be! So, what do you say?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What – I didn't - " Atsushi stammered, completely crimson as he blushed from embarrassment from his colleague's comment./p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh hey, you're Atsushi." The girl said, just now seeming to notice him as she turned to smile at him. She Seemed to have ignored Dazai's comment, much to his relief "Naomi has just been telling me all about you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Hi, you must be Jane. I heard a lot about you too." He said, rubbing the back of his neck, not quite able to meet her eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal""You didn't answer me, Jane." Dazai interjected impatiently./p
p class="MsoNormal""What? The double suicide?" She asked with a roll of her eyes. "Of course not, Dazai. This really shouldn't be coming as a surprise to you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh, but it does!" He whales, sinking to his knees. "How your rejection stings, fair maiden~"/p
p class="MsoNormal"She rolled her eyes at him before waking over to Ranpo and Atsushi./p
p class="MsoNormal""So, Atsushi, You solved a case with Ranpo today, huh?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What do you mean, with me?" Ranpo asked offended. "They watched as I solved the case."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That's actually true." Atsushi quickly as he laughed bashfully. "He really was amazing."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I bet he was." Jane laughed. "How's life at the agency treating you so far?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""It's been great." Atsushi replied sincerely. "I'm grateful for Dazai for taking me in. If it weren't for him, I'd probably have starved to death by now. Or taken by the Port Mafia, which might actually be worse."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That actually would be worse." She agreed with a grimace before continuing in surprise. "Dazai was the one to take you in?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes." He told her. "He was the one to realize that I had the weretiger ability actually. He was able to nullify it before I could hurt anyone."/p
p class="MsoNormal""So, you're Dazai's apprentice then?" She said with a laugh, shaking her head. "It all makes sense now."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm sorry..." Atsushi asked, confused. "What makes sense."/p
p class="MsoNormal""It doesn't matter." She said, giving him a reassuring smile before sharing a meaningful look with Dazai. "You'll do great here, Atsushi. You'll get to help a lot of people."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I hope so." He said with a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hey guys, the president and Kunikida have left for the day." Naomi said. "That means we can leave. Let's go, Jane!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm afraid I can't today, Naomi." She said, smiling apologetically at the girl. "I have some things to do. I'll come back tomorrow though."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Naomi seemed disappointed but seemed to accept the girls offer. Dazai whales some more as she said goodbye but stopped when he got a whack on the head./p
p class="MsoNormal""Ow! You're getting more violent, Jane." He complained, rubbing his head./p
p class="MsoNormal""I should also be getting going." Atsushi said./p
p class="MsoNormal""You're taking the train, too right? Maybe we can go together?" Jane asked him. "It'll give us a chance to get acquainted."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sure." Atsushi agreed and they made their way out waving back to their friends./p
p class="MsoNormal""She's up to something, isn't she?" Ranpo mused as he watched their retreating form./p
p class="MsoNormal"Dazai hummed in response, deep in thought as he watched his friend leave/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"As they walked to the station, Atsushi found it oddly easy to talk to the girl. He found himself telling her his life before the agency, the horrors of the orphanage as she listened with sympathy. She was also an orphan - span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanshe informed him and had had a very unpleasant childhood (though she had diverted when he asked questions – and he had chosen to respect her space). She smiled as she listened to him explain the case they worked on patiently, asking questions and owing and awing at all the right places. Atsushi wondered if that was what it would have felt like to have a sister. Her patience calmed him, and he felt at ease with her. As they took their seat in the conversation took a bit of a somber note as she brought up a topic he would have rather not been thinking about./p
p class="MsoNormal""I heard you had a run in with Akutagawa." She said, looking at him seriously./p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah. I have a bounty over my head, it seems."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Hmm… I heard." She said, nodding in response. "He's not going to stop, you know."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I know. Its quite terrifying actually." Atsushi felt relieved to actually say it out loud. "I have no idea how I'm going to fight him if it comes to it."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You won't be alone." She reassured him with a smile. "The agency stands up for its own. You must have seen that by now. The president won't let anything happen to you. And when the time comes, I'm sure you'd be ready."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I hope so." He said, his voice as low as his confidence. "Sometimes, I feel like what they said at the agency was true. Maybe I really am worthless. What if I'm just wasting everyone's time?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're not." She said, confidently. "You want to fight for people Atsushi. I can see that and so did the president if he let you join the agency. It's a rare thing for people to have the conviction to actually put others before yourself. Naomi told me about your entrance test. Trust me, you're not a lost cause."/p
p class="MsoNormal""If you're sure." He said, smiling back at the girl, his heart warming at her words./p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course, I am! You're getting a great opportunity here, Atsushi. You can help a lot of people by working for the agency." Jane said with a grin. "Who know, one day maybe you could help someone the way Dazai helped you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Maybe." He smiled back. He suddenly realized that they had been talking for so long that he had almost reached his stop. "My stops about to come up."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I have some more to go, I'm afraid."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Really?" He asked surprised. He himself almost lived at the edge of the city. What lay ahead was the ports, famous for Port Mafia activities. He didn't like the idea of Jane going there alone, especially as it starts to darken and decided to voice his concern. "Isn't it close to port mafia territory? Should you really be going there alone?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""A girl's got to have some excitement in her life." She said with a laugh. "Don't worry Atsushi, I'm more than capable of taking care of myself. Oh look, I think it's your stop."/p
p class="MsoNormal"He reluctantly let her persuade him into getting off once the train pulled into his stop. But as he watched the doors close, he couldn't help the worry that stayed with him. He really hopped she meant it when she said she could take care of herself. He made a mental note to ask Dazai to make sure she got home safe./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"***/p
p class="MsoNormal"Jane had never liked the dungeons at the port mafia. In her opinion, it was excessive, and she shuddered to think of the tortures that happened here. It was a part of the organization that she had turned a blind eye to as much as she could./p
p class="MsoNormal"She came to a stop in front of a cell that housed the little girl that the port mafia had taken in. She had stopped speaking to anyone some time ago. In the beginning, at least Jane could get through to her, but not anymore. Her will to live seemed to have crumbled away and Jane could empathize. She herself had gotten to that point countless times in the past and would have probably not been able to recover if it weren't for her friends./p
p class="MsoNormal"She knew that how much ever she would want to, she couldn't free her, at least not directly. She had a plan though and for it to work she would have to talk to the port mafia's dog himself. As she made her way over to find him, she didn't have to go far though as she ran into him as he made his way over to his new pawn./p
p class="MsoNormal""Jane." He gave a small node. As much as he detested the girl's relationship with the mafia's traitor, he couldn't help but regard her with grudging respect. He knew that she no longer directly worked for the port mafia and would only assist when needed as a 'consultant'; but he knew that whatever she wanted; the boss would give because she was that much of valuable member./p
p class="MsoNormal""Ryu! How have you been." She asked cheerfully./p
p class="MsoNormal""Please don't call me that." He had to grind his teeth to stop himself from growling at the nickname that she refused to stop calling him by./p
p class="MsoNormal"She laughed at his obvious discomfort before taking on a more serious note. "Have you decided on your next plan of action to capture the weretiger?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm not sure yet." He said, taken by surprise at her interest. She usually worked on cases of much higher profile./p
p class="MsoNormal""I think you should use the girl." Her voice was emotionless. "She's not going to last much longer anyway. Might as well put her to some use. Just a suggestion, do with it what you will."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'll keep it in mind." He nodded./p
p class="MsoNormal""Great. See you then Ryu!" She said as she stalked off with a wave, grinning as she heard a light grown in response/p
p class="MsoNormal"Now that all the pieces were in its place, she could only hope that Atsushi would act the way she hoped he would. The girl's life would depend on it./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""If you're as good as you claim to be, then shouldn't we all be out of a job?" The chief exclaimed incredulously. Ranpo seemed to have a knack of getting on people's nerves with his smug attitude./p
p class="MsoNormal""My point exactly." Was Ranpo's smug reply./p
p class="MsoNormal""Why you little - "The chief ready to blow when was thankfully interrupted by an officer hurrying over to them./p
p class="MsoNormal""Another body! They've found another body in the river!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What? Another body?" Atsushi exclaimed as he followed the officers to the river berth where the net seemed to have fished out another body from the river. His mind was racing with possibilities as he hurried to catch up./p
p class="MsoNormal""What the – Dazai?!" He said as he watched in shock as he found his colleague dangling in the net, upside down./p
p class="MsoNormal""You know this guy?" The chief asked./p
p class="MsoNormal"Atsushi sighed as he went over to the said detective. "Don't tell me you tried to drown yourself again, Osamu."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't be silly" Dazai tutted dramatically. "Committing suicide alone, that's so passé these days. I have made a decision! If I'm going to end everything. I'll do it with a beautiful woman! emA double suicide ~ What a sweet ring it has ~! /emIt feels so empty to think of bidding farewell to this world all by my lonesome. That's my new plan. I'm on the lookout for a passionate and suicidal woman to die with "/em/p
p class="MsoNormal""But how did you get caught in the net?" Atsushi asked with a sigh./p
p class="MsoNormal""I was just drifting along." Dazai said with a gleam in his eyes. "Enjoying the glorious river."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I see." Atsushi said, exasperated by his colleague's behavior; thanking the lords that Kunikida wasn't here to witness this./p
p class="MsoNormal""But enough about me." Dazai said as he looked up, suddenly seeming to realize something. "What brings you here, my friend?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm here on a job."/p
p class="MsoNormal""A job? What kind of job?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Atsushi blames himself for not seeing this coming when he explained their case to his eccentric colleague which is why he found himself apologizing to the chief as the said colleague wept and whaled at their victim's feet. Apparently, the thought of having lost the chance to commit double suicide with the woman was too hard to bear for him./p
p class="MsoNormal"Even with his flare for drama , Dazai did prove useful in convincing the chief to give Ranpo a try and Atsushi was thankful for that as he was pretty sure if the eccentric detective hadn't shown up when he did, they would have both gotten kicked out of the case (and Ranpo would probably have gotten punched emat least/emspan style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanonce)/p
p class="MsoNormal"Atsushi was shocked to see Ranpo solve the case in under a minute, just as he promised. He had no idea how Ranpo had managed to know the things that he did and for what its worth, the detective's ability did seem to be a thousand times better than his./p
p class="MsoNormal"So of course, he was shocked beyond belief when Dazai informed him that Ranpo was in fact not gifted at all but the deductions that he made were from pure wit alone. Atsushi had to admit that Ranpo really was the world's best detective. Although he did wish he didn't have such a huge ego about it (rightful or not)./p
p class="MsoNormal"As they made their way into the metro making sure they didn't loose Ranpo along the way (at least he did - Dazai didn't seem to care wither way as he walked ahead singing a song about double suicide)./p
p class="MsoNormal"Once they had settled into their seats and began the hour-long journey back, Atsushi finally let himself relax. Maybe he might get through the day without Kunikida having to murder him for his incompetence after all. Just as he was about to drift off into sleep, he jumped in surprise as Dazai's phone went off. As the detective checked the caller id, Atsushi couldn't help but be surprised at the expression on his face./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hello Jane." Dazai said as he answered. "I was starting to think you forgot about me – You are? We came out for a case actually – We should be back there in an hour – See you then."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Once he hung up, he leaned back and closed his eyes, looking almost content. Atsushi was surprised to see the man like this and couldn't really explain why the next question popped out of his mouth. It was something to do with the detective's expression/p
p class="MsoNormal""Was that your girlfriend?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What?" Dazai's eyes flew open in surprise as he let out a laugh. "What makes you say that?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Atsushi felt himself go crimson as he blushed. He couldn't believe he actually asked him that. He didn't even really have a reason to! "I don't know I just…"/p
p class="MsoNormal""No" He said with a small smile. "She's a very good friend though. You haven't met her yet, but she works for agency as a consultant from time to time. She's there now, actually."/p
p class="MsoNormal""A consultant? For what?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""This and that." Dazai shrugged. "She's also gifted, and her ability comes in quite handy when we are in a bind."/p
p class="MsoNormal""And she's more of a detective than most of our agency members are too." Ranpo commented with a snort. "She's no match for me of course!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh?" Atsushi said awkwardly, sweat dropping at the detective's proclamation./p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't let her hear that – It'll go straight to her head." Dazai said with a grin./p
p class="MsoNormal"As they made it to the agency, Atsushi was strangely excited at the prospect of meeting this consultant. If Ranpo though she wasn't an idiot (or rather less of a detective than the rest of them) she must be really something. As they entered the reception area, he immediately noticed her. She was sitting next to Haruno and Naomi as Naomi seemed to talk animatedly. Atsushi immediately noticed how beautiful she looked with her long auburn hair that fell in waves around her face and piercing blue eyes. She couldn't have been much older than himself, so he was shocked to consider that she was a consultant at such a young age./p
p class="MsoNormal""She's beautiful…" He found himself saying in awe./p
p class="MsoNormal""She is, isn't she." Dazai chucked in amusement before walking over to the said girl./p
p class="MsoNormal""emJane~!" /emDazai sang as he ran over to her and gathered the surprised girl into his arms. "How I've missed you!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Hey!" Naomi protested, grabbing onto the girl by her arm as she tried to pull her from the detective. "You're not steeling her away again Dazai! We're going shopping!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""But emJane~" /emHe whined as he managed to cling onto her despite Naomi's best efforts. "I need you for my new great idea!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Ow!" The poor girl cried as she was pulled in both directions. "Let go of me both of you. Kunikida, help!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Dazai, you idiot!" Kunikida shouted at the detective before sending him flying with a kick./p
p class="MsoNormal""Thanks, Kunikida" She said with a grateful smile before going over to her friend and helping him up. "So, this idea that you were talking about… What's it exactly."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh, Jane it's perfect!" He exclaimed "I don't know why I hadn't thought of it before. I'm going to commit double suicide with a beautiful woman. A emdouble suicide!/em And as Atsushi just pointed out, you are beautiful. It's just meant to be! So, what do you say?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What – I didn't - " Atsushi stammered, completely crimson as he blushed from embarrassment from his colleague's comment./p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh hey, you're Atsushi." The girl said, just now seeming to notice him as she turned to smile at him. She Seemed to have ignored Dazai's comment, much to his relief "Naomi has just been telling me all about you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Hi, you must be Jane. I heard a lot about you too." He said, rubbing the back of his neck, not quite able to meet her eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal""You didn't answer me, Jane." Dazai interjected impatiently./p
p class="MsoNormal""What? The double suicide?" She asked with a roll of her eyes. "Of course not, Dazai. This really shouldn't be coming as a surprise to you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh, but it does!" He whales, sinking to his knees. "How your rejection stings, fair maiden~"/p
p class="MsoNormal"She rolled her eyes at him before waking over to Ranpo and Atsushi./p
p class="MsoNormal""So, Atsushi, You solved a case with Ranpo today, huh?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What do you mean, with me?" Ranpo asked offended. "They watched as I solved the case."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That's actually true." Atsushi quickly as he laughed bashfully. "He really was amazing."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I bet he was." Jane laughed. "How's life at the agency treating you so far?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""It's been great." Atsushi replied sincerely. "I'm grateful for Dazai for taking me in. If it weren't for him, I'd probably have starved to death by now. Or taken by the Port Mafia, which might actually be worse."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That actually would be worse." She agreed with a grimace before continuing in surprise. "Dazai was the one to take you in?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes." He told her. "He was the one to realize that I had the weretiger ability actually. He was able to nullify it before I could hurt anyone."/p
p class="MsoNormal""So, you're Dazai's apprentice then?" She said with a laugh, shaking her head. "It all makes sense now."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm sorry..." Atsushi asked, confused. "What makes sense."/p
p class="MsoNormal""It doesn't matter." She said, giving him a reassuring smile before sharing a meaningful look with Dazai. "You'll do great here, Atsushi. You'll get to help a lot of people."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I hope so." He said with a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hey guys, the president and Kunikida have left for the day." Naomi said. "That means we can leave. Let's go, Jane!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm afraid I can't today, Naomi." She said, smiling apologetically at the girl. "I have some things to do. I'll come back tomorrow though."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Naomi seemed disappointed but seemed to accept the girls offer. Dazai whales some more as she said goodbye but stopped when he got a whack on the head./p
p class="MsoNormal""Ow! You're getting more violent, Jane." He complained, rubbing his head./p
p class="MsoNormal""I should also be getting going." Atsushi said./p
p class="MsoNormal""You're taking the train, too right? Maybe we can go together?" Jane asked him. "It'll give us a chance to get acquainted."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sure." Atsushi agreed and they made their way out waving back to their friends./p
p class="MsoNormal""She's up to something, isn't she?" Ranpo mused as he watched their retreating form./p
p class="MsoNormal"Dazai hummed in response, deep in thought as he watched his friend leave/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"As they walked to the station, Atsushi found it oddly easy to talk to the girl. He found himself telling her his life before the agency, the horrors of the orphanage as she listened with sympathy. She was also an orphan - span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanshe informed him and had had a very unpleasant childhood (though she had diverted when he asked questions – and he had chosen to respect her space). She smiled as she listened to him explain the case they worked on patiently, asking questions and owing and awing at all the right places. Atsushi wondered if that was what it would have felt like to have a sister. Her patience calmed him, and he felt at ease with her. As they took their seat in the conversation took a bit of a somber note as she brought up a topic he would have rather not been thinking about./p
p class="MsoNormal""I heard you had a run in with Akutagawa." She said, looking at him seriously./p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah. I have a bounty over my head, it seems."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Hmm… I heard." She said, nodding in response. "He's not going to stop, you know."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I know. Its quite terrifying actually." Atsushi felt relieved to actually say it out loud. "I have no idea how I'm going to fight him if it comes to it."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You won't be alone." She reassured him with a smile. "The agency stands up for its own. You must have seen that by now. The president won't let anything happen to you. And when the time comes, I'm sure you'd be ready."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I hope so." He said, his voice as low as his confidence. "Sometimes, I feel like what they said at the agency was true. Maybe I really am worthless. What if I'm just wasting everyone's time?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're not." She said, confidently. "You want to fight for people Atsushi. I can see that and so did the president if he let you join the agency. It's a rare thing for people to have the conviction to actually put others before yourself. Naomi told me about your entrance test. Trust me, you're not a lost cause."/p
p class="MsoNormal""If you're sure." He said, smiling back at the girl, his heart warming at her words./p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course, I am! You're getting a great opportunity here, Atsushi. You can help a lot of people by working for the agency." Jane said with a grin. "Who know, one day maybe you could help someone the way Dazai helped you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Maybe." He smiled back. He suddenly realized that they had been talking for so long that he had almost reached his stop. "My stops about to come up."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I have some more to go, I'm afraid."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Really?" He asked surprised. He himself almost lived at the edge of the city. What lay ahead was the ports, famous for Port Mafia activities. He didn't like the idea of Jane going there alone, especially as it starts to darken and decided to voice his concern. "Isn't it close to port mafia territory? Should you really be going there alone?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""A girl's got to have some excitement in her life." She said with a laugh. "Don't worry Atsushi, I'm more than capable of taking care of myself. Oh look, I think it's your stop."/p
p class="MsoNormal"He reluctantly let her persuade him into getting off once the train pulled into his stop. But as he watched the doors close, he couldn't help the worry that stayed with him. He really hopped she meant it when she said she could take care of herself. He made a mental note to ask Dazai to make sure she got home safe./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"***/p
p class="MsoNormal"Jane had never liked the dungeons at the port mafia. In her opinion, it was excessive, and she shuddered to think of the tortures that happened here. It was a part of the organization that she had turned a blind eye to as much as she could./p
p class="MsoNormal"She came to a stop in front of a cell that housed the little girl that the port mafia had taken in. She had stopped speaking to anyone some time ago. In the beginning, at least Jane could get through to her, but not anymore. Her will to live seemed to have crumbled away and Jane could empathize. She herself had gotten to that point countless times in the past and would have probably not been able to recover if it weren't for her friends./p
p class="MsoNormal"She knew that how much ever she would want to, she couldn't free her, at least not directly. She had a plan though and for it to work she would have to talk to the port mafia's dog himself. As she made her way over to find him, she didn't have to go far though as she ran into him as he made his way over to his new pawn./p
p class="MsoNormal""Jane." He gave a small node. As much as he detested the girl's relationship with the mafia's traitor, he couldn't help but regard her with grudging respect. He knew that she no longer directly worked for the port mafia and would only assist when needed as a 'consultant'; but he knew that whatever she wanted; the boss would give because she was that much of valuable member./p
p class="MsoNormal""Ryu! How have you been." She asked cheerfully./p
p class="MsoNormal""Please don't call me that." He had to grind his teeth to stop himself from growling at the nickname that she refused to stop calling him by./p
p class="MsoNormal"She laughed at his obvious discomfort before taking on a more serious note. "Have you decided on your next plan of action to capture the weretiger?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm not sure yet." He said, taken by surprise at her interest. She usually worked on cases of much higher profile./p
p class="MsoNormal""I think you should use the girl." Her voice was emotionless. "She's not going to last much longer anyway. Might as well put her to some use. Just a suggestion, do with it what you will."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'll keep it in mind." He nodded./p
p class="MsoNormal""Great. See you then Ryu!" She said as she stalked off with a wave, grinning as she heard a light grown in response/p
p class="MsoNormal"Now that all the pieces were in its place, she could only hope that Atsushi would act the way she hoped he would. The girl's life would depend on it./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p