p class="MsoNormal""Are you really going to sulk the entire day?" Jane asked her redheaded friend. She had found him in his apartment, clearly mad at her for leaving earlier/p
p class="MsoNormal""You left while we were on a job!" He said, outraged./p
p class="MsoNormal""We weren't on a job." She rolled her eyes. "And besides, there was really no point in going through the info. What we really need isn't in it."/p
p class="MsoNormal""No! We're not doing this anymore!" Chuuya cried before getting up and pacing in front of her. His apartment was a little more lived in than hers was, seeing as he actually had a will to live in it; it classier than homey and reflected his expensive tastes clearly. It overlooked the sea and in the evening light it looked serine and she might even have found it peaceful if it weren't for the red head fuming in front of her. "It has always been like this with you. You and that bandage wasting machine always plotted together with your secret gestures and looks and I was left behind. I let it go back then but not anymore, Jane. We're a team – just the two of us and I need to know what you're thinking. "/p
p class="MsoNormal"She was taken aback by her friend's words. She had not realized she was doing what she clearly was. It came easily to her, with her and Dazai almost always being on the same page and she didn't realize just how much it had been troubling her short-tempered friend./p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay." She said, regarding her surprised friend with a fond smile. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I'm sorry Chuuya and of course we're a team now. We always have been."/p
p class="MsoNormal""So, you'll tell me everything now?" He asked dubiously./p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course, Chuu" She grinned. "I'm an open book from this moment."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Right." He said sarcastically with a roll of his eyes before taking the seat next. "You can start by explaining what you meant earlier."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Its just a hunch." She sighed. "I have a feeling we might be walking into more than what we're expecting."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Hmmm…" He considered her words as he looked at his friend before nodding and getting up. "We'd better be on our guard then, huh?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""We're taking the train, right?" She asked hopefully, following behind the executive as he made his way out./p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course, not" He scoffed. "My bikes a lot faster."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That's exactly my problem with it." She groaned./p
p class="MsoNormal""What are you worried about anyway?" He grinned. "Its virtually impossible to fall off when I'm with you. I am the gravity."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"***/p
p class="MsoNormal"The ride was just as unpleasant as Jane had expected it to be. Her hair was a mess and she was freezing cold. Her partner, on the other hand, didn't seem phased at all by any of it which only added to her agitation./p
p class="MsoNormal""This is where the intel says their base is" Chuuya said as they stood in front of the warehouse./p
p class="MsoNormal""What say? Do we go in guns blazing?" She asked with a grin, already knowing what her partners reply would be./p
p class="MsoNormal"Chuuya's eyes shone as he grinned at her, his body emitting the signature red glow before he sent the door of the warehouse flying off its hinges without laying a hand on it./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hello, Hello!" Jane called as they walked in. "I do hope you forgive us for not knocking. Its just force of habit."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Who are you?" A man who was clearly in command demanded as his subordinates aimed their machine guns at the duo. "Speak now or die!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""How tedious…" Jane sighed as she heard the first shot being fired and soon enough, it was raining bullets. But none of it mattered because not even a single one of the bullets could get anywhere near them, not when her ability was activated. "Wreath of snow!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"A white aura surrounded the duo as the bullets froze in space around them as a white haze enveloped them./p
p class="MsoNormal""They're ability users!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Now do we do it the easy way, or the hard way?" Chuuya said as he stalked over to the men./p
p class="MsoNormal""What do you want?!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Simple. Tell us who you work for." Jane shrugged./p
p class="MsoNormal""That would be boring now, wouldn't it?" A voice said from above and they all looked up to say a blond man looking to be in his early twenty's seemingly drop down from the ceiling. He was dressed casually and would pass off as a regular college kid/p
p class="MsoNormal""My, my, my" He said with a grin as he took the two in. "I was sure the mafia would get involved at some point but to think they would send an executive after us! Seems we have climbed up in the world."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You seem to know a lot about us." Jane mused. "It only seems fair that you share something about yourself."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Ha!" He let out a laugh. "Does that always work for you love? Do you just ask your opponents for intel and they just give it to you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sometimes." Jane grinned even as Chuuya glared at the new addition. "My charms do work on some people."/p
p class="MsoNormal""What can I say, sweetheart…" His stare turned devious. "I just have a stone-cold heart."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay, enough small talks!" Chuuya said as he flew past her and into the guy, a flash of red./p
p class="MsoNormal""What the hell…" Jane said, eyes wide as they realized the guy was nowhere to be seen. One look around made them realize that he was now on top of a cargo behind them, a brunet seemed to be with him. Jane narrowed her eyes as she realized he must have a teleportation ability./p
p class="MsoNormal""It's only fair that my friend joins, you have two of you! Now the fights fair!" He called out with a grin./p
p class="MsoNormal""What the hell?!" Chuuya cursed, voicing her frustration. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAs bad as having to fight the teleportation ability was, what worried Jane more was the fact that they still didn't know if the blond had any ability and her gut told her he definitely did./p
p class="MsoNormal""Let's see if you can dodge this!" Chuuya roared as he lifted the heaviest cargos and sent them flying into them. Jane quietly stood back, projecting a shield in front of them so that none of the debris would reach them./p
p class="MsoNormal""You mean like this?" Jean flinched as she heard the voice from not even a step behind her. Before she had time to do anything, the blond grabbed her and with a single touch, she felt herself paralyze. Her whole body seemed to freeze, and it felt like she was slipping into hypothermia. She heard Chuuya rushing over to her side, but the blond was quick to put a stop to it. "Uh, uh, uh. Not a step closer. Your little friend is slipping into hypothermia as we speak, but if you come any closer, I'll freeze her heart instantly. And believe me, my ability would work faster that you can get to her."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Chuuya grinded to halt at his words, seething as he considered his options. "What do you want?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh, so you do care about her. emPhew/em!" He sighed dramatically. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I had heard the mafia was full of heartless goons, but this simplifies matters immensely!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Let her go!" Chuuya growled "Or I'm going to rip you to shreds!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""We already went through this. You can't get to be before I kill her." He sighed in exasperation. "Not very bright, are you? I'm afraid our fun has to end for the moment. It has been fun meeting you Chuuya Nakahara!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"With that parting words, Jane felt her whole-body float as she realized she was being teleported. She vaguely heard her name being called out at a distance before darkness took over her senses./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"***/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Dazai had left Kunikida at the hospital as the blond spoke to the police about the death of both Sasaki and Rokuzo. He knew that Kunikida was broken up inside about the death of the boy he had come to care about, but at the moment, he didn't have it in him to stay with him./p
p class="MsoNormal"He had been harder than he should have with Kunikida, he knew that. His frustration was mounting every hour from when Jane had left. There was something wrong, he could feel it. He knew that she would probably not pick up if he called her if she was working on a mission, so he didn't bother doing so. Instead, he decided to happen upon them as they worked on the mission. Sure, it would probably send his ex-partner in a frenzy, but it would be worth./p
p class="MsoNormal"That's how he found himself walking to the station when he was suddenly stopped when his sleeve was suddenly caught by a girl dressed in red kimono and he came to halt./p
p class="MsoNormal""Uh…" He said as he looked the girl in surprise. "Can I help you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Found you." She said in a quiet voice, not quite meeting his eyes. She flipped her phone open as it suddenly started ringing and, in a moment, they were surrounded by blinding light./p
p class="MsoNormal"Dazai watched in shock as the light transformed into a coherent form behind the girl, towering over her. He realized she had activated her ability and the intent to strike was clear/p
p class="MsoNormal""This doesn't look good." He gasped./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"***/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Jane groaned as she slowly started waking up. Pain was quick to hit her senses. She felt like she must have gotten hit by a truck./p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh, hello love." She was greeted by her captors grinning face. "We thought we lost you for a moment there. To be fair, you should be dead by now. I had done what should be irreversible damage to your nerves but look at you now – almost as good as new. I didn't know you had healing ability too!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""You did know quite a lot though." She commented coughing as the words felt like shards of glass as they let her throat./p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course, we do." He commented with a smirk. "We have been expecting you. When I say you, not quite you but someone from the mafia. We have done extensive research, you know. But it's a treat that you came already! We were sure we'd have to make a lot more noise before someone of your lever was sent to us!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Happy to satisfy." She said wryly. "So, what exactly is your game plan now? "/p
p class="MsoNormal""Actually, we just spoke to a friend of ours. He was very happy with the turn of events. Said he'd make it worth our while if we delivered you to him."/p
p class="MsoNormal""And who is you friend?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""You'll find out soon enough." He said with a grin./p
p class="MsoNormal"Her strength wasn't back to normal yet, but she knew if she tried hard enough that she would be able to hold on till he got there so that's what she did. In a flash she was off the floor in the air, using her ability to float high above as she shot a beam at the teleporter. He dodged it, like she knew it would and so the beam hit the target she had been aiming for in the first place, the furnace./p
p class="MsoNormal"emBANG!/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"The explosion was loud enough that if he was nowhere close enough, Chuuya would be able to hear and would come for her./p
p class="MsoNormal""My, my! You are emreally /emunpredictable!" The blond man cried as he shot a beam of ice at her that she was barely able to dodge. She wouldn't be able to keep this up for long./p
p class="MsoNormal"emBANG!/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"The wall to her right exploded in a haze of run to reveal Chuuya, his eyes glowing red as he sent the guy flying. They traded attacks as both of them seemed evenly matched, with them being able to dodge his attack and him being able to block theirs./p
p class="MsoNormal""Chuuya!" She called to get his attention and as their eyes met, he understood exactly what her plan was. He responded with a nod and they both took off./p
p class="MsoNormal""Be ready to be crushed by gravity!" He roared before setting off the biggest attack he could without having to go to corruption mode and Jane quickly projected a shield around them so they would be spared as the whole vicinity irrupted into flames. She quickly floated them out of the explosion and set them down before collapsing into her friend letting the exhaustion take over her./p
p class="MsoNormal""Well, that was eventful." She panted out as he wrapped her into a hug./p
p class="MsoNormal""Are you okay?" The worry was clear in his voice./p
p class="MsoNormal""Fine. Just exhausted."/p
p class="MsoNormal"He looked her over and finally seemed satisfied with her answer before he allowed himself to relax. "Do you realize something?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""That was the first time we fought as a team without that waste of bandages."/p
p class="MsoNormal""So it is." She was surprised to realize that was true. Ever since Dazai had left, there was no situation that had really required both of their efforts./p
p class="MsoNormal""We still make a team without that asshole, right?" He sneered/p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course, we do." span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe said, letting out a carefree laugh/p
p class="MsoNormal""In fact, I think we're better for it!" He insisted with a grin/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sure, Chuuya" She rolled her eyes at the man, letting him have the small victory./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"***/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center" /p
p class="MsoNormal"As they got back to their base, she was shocked to realize that they were actually gone for two days. She must have been out for much longer than she thought. As she switched on her dead phone, she found several missed called from Naomi and one from Kunikida. The one from Kunikida worried her, he was not one for social calls. She tried calling him back, but call was not going though so she decided to call Naomi. As soon as she picked up, she started talking so fast that she wasn't making any sense./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hold on." She said, trying to calm the girl. "I can't understand anything, Naomi."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I said Dazai is missing. And the mafia has Atsushi!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Dazai is missing?" She asked, her eyes narrowed." Since when?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""We don't know for sure actually." She said, "We thought he had wandered off like he usually does but we haven't heard from him for quite some time now. And Atsushi was kidnapped by Akutagawa and Ranpo had just deduced where he's being taken. They're on a ship and Kunikida is trying to get to him."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Send me the location." Jane told the girl. "I'll look into it and call you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Dazai is missing." She told Chuuya as he looked at her, puzzled./p
p class="MsoNormal""Actually, he's not" He informed her "Akutagawa has him in the dungeons – I just heard"/p
p class="MsoNormal"She sighed in relief and as soon as the relied faded, irritation soon took its place. This whole thing is Dazai's fault – He had taunted Akutagawa knowing he would break at some point. She had no doubt that he saw this showdown between the two happening, but she wasn't sure what he considered to be collateral damage would be acceptable to her./p
p class="MsoNormal""I have to go." She said to her friend before stalking out of the building./p
p class="MsoNormal""Wait!" He called out, surprise evident in his voice. "Aren't you going to spring Dazai out?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm sure he has his own plans to get out – I have more pressing matters at hand." She answered without turning back as she kept walking./p
p class="MsoNormal"Once she reached the port, she considered her options. She could take a boat but had a feeling that she might be too late. The faster option will have to do. So, she fought though her exhaustion as she used her ability once more to fly over the seas in the general direction that Naomi had sent her. And soon enough she found the ship – It was hard to miss once the explosion was set off and she immediately saw Kyouka and Atsushi jump onto the boat. Akutagawa was nowhere to be seen./p
p class="MsoNormal"She flew above the ship as she looked for the man, scanning the surrounding and saw him plunge into the ocean. She dove in after him, just barely being able to get her him out./p
p class="MsoNormal""Jane - ?" He asked in a hoarse voice as they floated out. He was in a really bad shape and promptly lost consciousness as she flew them back to the base. She was exhausted by the time he was taken into the infirmary, but she couldn't bring herself to relax quite yet./p
p class="MsoNormal"She made her way over to where she knew Dazai would be at. If her calculations were right, he had to have gotten out of his confinement by now. She walked in just as he was unplugging the pen drive from the server./p
p class="MsoNormal""I see Chuuya found you." She commented as she took in his bruises./p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah." He agreed looking over to her with a smile. "He was delighted to see me. "/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm sure he was." She scoffed./p
p class="MsoNormal""You look awful." He commented, looking over her with a grimace./p
p class="MsoNormal"She nodded in agreement before going over and leaning into him, letting the exhaustion finally take over her./p
p class="MsoNormal""I save Akutagawa's life just now." She said as she let him hold her, feeing at home in his arms/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh?" He seemed surprised. "I didn't know you cared about him."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Neither did I" She said with a sigh./p
p class="MsoNormal""You know, I was glad when I saw Chuuya today – That was a first. I knew that if was in such a chipper mood, you'd be safe."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Ha!" She scoffed before she completely relaxed in his arms, letting herself drift off "I'm just really tired…. So tired."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""You left while we were on a job!" He said, outraged./p
p class="MsoNormal""We weren't on a job." She rolled her eyes. "And besides, there was really no point in going through the info. What we really need isn't in it."/p
p class="MsoNormal""No! We're not doing this anymore!" Chuuya cried before getting up and pacing in front of her. His apartment was a little more lived in than hers was, seeing as he actually had a will to live in it; it classier than homey and reflected his expensive tastes clearly. It overlooked the sea and in the evening light it looked serine and she might even have found it peaceful if it weren't for the red head fuming in front of her. "It has always been like this with you. You and that bandage wasting machine always plotted together with your secret gestures and looks and I was left behind. I let it go back then but not anymore, Jane. We're a team – just the two of us and I need to know what you're thinking. "/p
p class="MsoNormal"She was taken aback by her friend's words. She had not realized she was doing what she clearly was. It came easily to her, with her and Dazai almost always being on the same page and she didn't realize just how much it had been troubling her short-tempered friend./p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay." She said, regarding her surprised friend with a fond smile. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I'm sorry Chuuya and of course we're a team now. We always have been."/p
p class="MsoNormal""So, you'll tell me everything now?" He asked dubiously./p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course, Chuu" She grinned. "I'm an open book from this moment."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Right." He said sarcastically with a roll of his eyes before taking the seat next. "You can start by explaining what you meant earlier."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Its just a hunch." She sighed. "I have a feeling we might be walking into more than what we're expecting."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Hmmm…" He considered her words as he looked at his friend before nodding and getting up. "We'd better be on our guard then, huh?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""We're taking the train, right?" She asked hopefully, following behind the executive as he made his way out./p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course, not" He scoffed. "My bikes a lot faster."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That's exactly my problem with it." She groaned./p
p class="MsoNormal""What are you worried about anyway?" He grinned. "Its virtually impossible to fall off when I'm with you. I am the gravity."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"***/p
p class="MsoNormal"The ride was just as unpleasant as Jane had expected it to be. Her hair was a mess and she was freezing cold. Her partner, on the other hand, didn't seem phased at all by any of it which only added to her agitation./p
p class="MsoNormal""This is where the intel says their base is" Chuuya said as they stood in front of the warehouse./p
p class="MsoNormal""What say? Do we go in guns blazing?" She asked with a grin, already knowing what her partners reply would be./p
p class="MsoNormal"Chuuya's eyes shone as he grinned at her, his body emitting the signature red glow before he sent the door of the warehouse flying off its hinges without laying a hand on it./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hello, Hello!" Jane called as they walked in. "I do hope you forgive us for not knocking. Its just force of habit."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Who are you?" A man who was clearly in command demanded as his subordinates aimed their machine guns at the duo. "Speak now or die!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""How tedious…" Jane sighed as she heard the first shot being fired and soon enough, it was raining bullets. But none of it mattered because not even a single one of the bullets could get anywhere near them, not when her ability was activated. "Wreath of snow!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"A white aura surrounded the duo as the bullets froze in space around them as a white haze enveloped them./p
p class="MsoNormal""They're ability users!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Now do we do it the easy way, or the hard way?" Chuuya said as he stalked over to the men./p
p class="MsoNormal""What do you want?!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Simple. Tell us who you work for." Jane shrugged./p
p class="MsoNormal""That would be boring now, wouldn't it?" A voice said from above and they all looked up to say a blond man looking to be in his early twenty's seemingly drop down from the ceiling. He was dressed casually and would pass off as a regular college kid/p
p class="MsoNormal""My, my, my" He said with a grin as he took the two in. "I was sure the mafia would get involved at some point but to think they would send an executive after us! Seems we have climbed up in the world."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You seem to know a lot about us." Jane mused. "It only seems fair that you share something about yourself."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Ha!" He let out a laugh. "Does that always work for you love? Do you just ask your opponents for intel and they just give it to you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sometimes." Jane grinned even as Chuuya glared at the new addition. "My charms do work on some people."/p
p class="MsoNormal""What can I say, sweetheart…" His stare turned devious. "I just have a stone-cold heart."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay, enough small talks!" Chuuya said as he flew past her and into the guy, a flash of red./p
p class="MsoNormal""What the hell…" Jane said, eyes wide as they realized the guy was nowhere to be seen. One look around made them realize that he was now on top of a cargo behind them, a brunet seemed to be with him. Jane narrowed her eyes as she realized he must have a teleportation ability./p
p class="MsoNormal""It's only fair that my friend joins, you have two of you! Now the fights fair!" He called out with a grin./p
p class="MsoNormal""What the hell?!" Chuuya cursed, voicing her frustration. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAs bad as having to fight the teleportation ability was, what worried Jane more was the fact that they still didn't know if the blond had any ability and her gut told her he definitely did./p
p class="MsoNormal""Let's see if you can dodge this!" Chuuya roared as he lifted the heaviest cargos and sent them flying into them. Jane quietly stood back, projecting a shield in front of them so that none of the debris would reach them./p
p class="MsoNormal""You mean like this?" Jean flinched as she heard the voice from not even a step behind her. Before she had time to do anything, the blond grabbed her and with a single touch, she felt herself paralyze. Her whole body seemed to freeze, and it felt like she was slipping into hypothermia. She heard Chuuya rushing over to her side, but the blond was quick to put a stop to it. "Uh, uh, uh. Not a step closer. Your little friend is slipping into hypothermia as we speak, but if you come any closer, I'll freeze her heart instantly. And believe me, my ability would work faster that you can get to her."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Chuuya grinded to halt at his words, seething as he considered his options. "What do you want?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh, so you do care about her. emPhew/em!" He sighed dramatically. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I had heard the mafia was full of heartless goons, but this simplifies matters immensely!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Let her go!" Chuuya growled "Or I'm going to rip you to shreds!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""We already went through this. You can't get to be before I kill her." He sighed in exasperation. "Not very bright, are you? I'm afraid our fun has to end for the moment. It has been fun meeting you Chuuya Nakahara!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"With that parting words, Jane felt her whole-body float as she realized she was being teleported. She vaguely heard her name being called out at a distance before darkness took over her senses./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"***/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Dazai had left Kunikida at the hospital as the blond spoke to the police about the death of both Sasaki and Rokuzo. He knew that Kunikida was broken up inside about the death of the boy he had come to care about, but at the moment, he didn't have it in him to stay with him./p
p class="MsoNormal"He had been harder than he should have with Kunikida, he knew that. His frustration was mounting every hour from when Jane had left. There was something wrong, he could feel it. He knew that she would probably not pick up if he called her if she was working on a mission, so he didn't bother doing so. Instead, he decided to happen upon them as they worked on the mission. Sure, it would probably send his ex-partner in a frenzy, but it would be worth./p
p class="MsoNormal"That's how he found himself walking to the station when he was suddenly stopped when his sleeve was suddenly caught by a girl dressed in red kimono and he came to halt./p
p class="MsoNormal""Uh…" He said as he looked the girl in surprise. "Can I help you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Found you." She said in a quiet voice, not quite meeting his eyes. She flipped her phone open as it suddenly started ringing and, in a moment, they were surrounded by blinding light./p
p class="MsoNormal"Dazai watched in shock as the light transformed into a coherent form behind the girl, towering over her. He realized she had activated her ability and the intent to strike was clear/p
p class="MsoNormal""This doesn't look good." He gasped./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"***/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Jane groaned as she slowly started waking up. Pain was quick to hit her senses. She felt like she must have gotten hit by a truck./p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh, hello love." She was greeted by her captors grinning face. "We thought we lost you for a moment there. To be fair, you should be dead by now. I had done what should be irreversible damage to your nerves but look at you now – almost as good as new. I didn't know you had healing ability too!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""You did know quite a lot though." She commented coughing as the words felt like shards of glass as they let her throat./p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course, we do." He commented with a smirk. "We have been expecting you. When I say you, not quite you but someone from the mafia. We have done extensive research, you know. But it's a treat that you came already! We were sure we'd have to make a lot more noise before someone of your lever was sent to us!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Happy to satisfy." She said wryly. "So, what exactly is your game plan now? "/p
p class="MsoNormal""Actually, we just spoke to a friend of ours. He was very happy with the turn of events. Said he'd make it worth our while if we delivered you to him."/p
p class="MsoNormal""And who is you friend?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""You'll find out soon enough." He said with a grin./p
p class="MsoNormal"Her strength wasn't back to normal yet, but she knew if she tried hard enough that she would be able to hold on till he got there so that's what she did. In a flash she was off the floor in the air, using her ability to float high above as she shot a beam at the teleporter. He dodged it, like she knew it would and so the beam hit the target she had been aiming for in the first place, the furnace./p
p class="MsoNormal"emBANG!/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"The explosion was loud enough that if he was nowhere close enough, Chuuya would be able to hear and would come for her./p
p class="MsoNormal""My, my! You are emreally /emunpredictable!" The blond man cried as he shot a beam of ice at her that she was barely able to dodge. She wouldn't be able to keep this up for long./p
p class="MsoNormal"emBANG!/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"The wall to her right exploded in a haze of run to reveal Chuuya, his eyes glowing red as he sent the guy flying. They traded attacks as both of them seemed evenly matched, with them being able to dodge his attack and him being able to block theirs./p
p class="MsoNormal""Chuuya!" She called to get his attention and as their eyes met, he understood exactly what her plan was. He responded with a nod and they both took off./p
p class="MsoNormal""Be ready to be crushed by gravity!" He roared before setting off the biggest attack he could without having to go to corruption mode and Jane quickly projected a shield around them so they would be spared as the whole vicinity irrupted into flames. She quickly floated them out of the explosion and set them down before collapsing into her friend letting the exhaustion take over her./p
p class="MsoNormal""Well, that was eventful." She panted out as he wrapped her into a hug./p
p class="MsoNormal""Are you okay?" The worry was clear in his voice./p
p class="MsoNormal""Fine. Just exhausted."/p
p class="MsoNormal"He looked her over and finally seemed satisfied with her answer before he allowed himself to relax. "Do you realize something?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""That was the first time we fought as a team without that waste of bandages."/p
p class="MsoNormal""So it is." She was surprised to realize that was true. Ever since Dazai had left, there was no situation that had really required both of their efforts./p
p class="MsoNormal""We still make a team without that asshole, right?" He sneered/p
p class="MsoNormal""Of course, we do." span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe said, letting out a carefree laugh/p
p class="MsoNormal""In fact, I think we're better for it!" He insisted with a grin/p
p class="MsoNormal""Sure, Chuuya" She rolled her eyes at the man, letting him have the small victory./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"***/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center" /p
p class="MsoNormal"As they got back to their base, she was shocked to realize that they were actually gone for two days. She must have been out for much longer than she thought. As she switched on her dead phone, she found several missed called from Naomi and one from Kunikida. The one from Kunikida worried her, he was not one for social calls. She tried calling him back, but call was not going though so she decided to call Naomi. As soon as she picked up, she started talking so fast that she wasn't making any sense./p
p class="MsoNormal""Hold on." She said, trying to calm the girl. "I can't understand anything, Naomi."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I said Dazai is missing. And the mafia has Atsushi!"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Dazai is missing?" She asked, her eyes narrowed." Since when?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""We don't know for sure actually." She said, "We thought he had wandered off like he usually does but we haven't heard from him for quite some time now. And Atsushi was kidnapped by Akutagawa and Ranpo had just deduced where he's being taken. They're on a ship and Kunikida is trying to get to him."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Send me the location." Jane told the girl. "I'll look into it and call you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Dazai is missing." She told Chuuya as he looked at her, puzzled./p
p class="MsoNormal""Actually, he's not" He informed her "Akutagawa has him in the dungeons – I just heard"/p
p class="MsoNormal"She sighed in relief and as soon as the relied faded, irritation soon took its place. This whole thing is Dazai's fault – He had taunted Akutagawa knowing he would break at some point. She had no doubt that he saw this showdown between the two happening, but she wasn't sure what he considered to be collateral damage would be acceptable to her./p
p class="MsoNormal""I have to go." She said to her friend before stalking out of the building./p
p class="MsoNormal""Wait!" He called out, surprise evident in his voice. "Aren't you going to spring Dazai out?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm sure he has his own plans to get out – I have more pressing matters at hand." She answered without turning back as she kept walking./p
p class="MsoNormal"Once she reached the port, she considered her options. She could take a boat but had a feeling that she might be too late. The faster option will have to do. So, she fought though her exhaustion as she used her ability once more to fly over the seas in the general direction that Naomi had sent her. And soon enough she found the ship – It was hard to miss once the explosion was set off and she immediately saw Kyouka and Atsushi jump onto the boat. Akutagawa was nowhere to be seen./p
p class="MsoNormal"She flew above the ship as she looked for the man, scanning the surrounding and saw him plunge into the ocean. She dove in after him, just barely being able to get her him out./p
p class="MsoNormal""Jane - ?" He asked in a hoarse voice as they floated out. He was in a really bad shape and promptly lost consciousness as she flew them back to the base. She was exhausted by the time he was taken into the infirmary, but she couldn't bring herself to relax quite yet./p
p class="MsoNormal"She made her way over to where she knew Dazai would be at. If her calculations were right, he had to have gotten out of his confinement by now. She walked in just as he was unplugging the pen drive from the server./p
p class="MsoNormal""I see Chuuya found you." She commented as she took in his bruises./p
p class="MsoNormal""Yeah." He agreed looking over to her with a smile. "He was delighted to see me. "/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm sure he was." She scoffed./p
p class="MsoNormal""You look awful." He commented, looking over her with a grimace./p
p class="MsoNormal"She nodded in agreement before going over and leaning into him, letting the exhaustion finally take over her./p
p class="MsoNormal""I save Akutagawa's life just now." She said as she let him hold her, feeing at home in his arms/p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh?" He seemed surprised. "I didn't know you cared about him."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Neither did I" She said with a sigh./p
p class="MsoNormal""You know, I was glad when I saw Chuuya today – That was a first. I knew that if was in such a chipper mood, you'd be safe."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Ha!" She scoffed before she completely relaxed in his arms, letting herself drift off "I'm just really tired…. So tired."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p