Saskia closed the door to her apartment and pulled out her phone to see there was a missed call from the Captain. And a voice mail. Just great. She'd call him back. But in a few moments. She walked inside the apartment, slugging around, feeling exhausted. A part of her exhausting had been her own fault. Saskia wondered to the window of her apartment. She never cared for the view but tonight she pulled the curtains closed. The lights were never turned on. She'd probably do the same after today's passionate arguing, but exhaustion had been catching up with her more and more. Mental, physical, emotional, you name it. Every part of her — visible or perceived — was exhausted beyond endurance.

It wasn't much. There wasn't much she could do. But there was an option of trusting Dazai with his plan. Without if or buts or exchanging favours. Saskia sighed. As if she was left with a choice here. No point of marinating in those feelings.

"I need to warn the Captain about taking Tanizaki for a few days," she mumbled to herself. It was going to be an eventful couple of days.

It should have made her feel better – the presence of another human being. The presence of someone she knew, of someone who was just like her and was involved in the same mess. But it didn't. Familiarity Tanizaki unwittingly offered did nothing to soothe her mind. He was just as silent and sulked as she was. There wasn't much they could talk about without bringing up ADA and the recent mess. Not to mention Junichiro witnessed the beginning of the argument she had with Dazai; a topic neither wanted to bring up. Needless to say, it was a silent and tense ride to work.

"We should behave normally," Saskia said before either of them got out of the car. "Ueda is already worried about me, and Matsukata can be downright intrusive. If your skill can put permanent smiles on our faces that would be great."

"I-It can't."

"I was trying to be funny, nevermind. Let's go, kid."

They got out of the car. Saskia felt the heavy burden of the world upon her shoulders. This wasn't quite right. She should be the one taking care of him. Perhaps her skill isn't combative but letting herself be protected by a teenager wasn't feeling right either. And at the very least she could try and make life a little easier for him by being a better and bigger person. She waited for Junichiro to catch up with her so she could ruffle his hair.

"Thanks, kid," she said fondly. Tanizaki bashfully smiled, too shy to bask in praise in affection, looking more confused by it than anything.

"Yo!" Ueda's voice called out for them from behind. Both stopped, noting there were no other people around to shout at, and turned around. Ueda was following behind with a tray of coffee cups. "Yo, Blok!" Ueda called out again. "Morning, Tanizaki," he said when he came closer. "Having a new partner already?"

Saskia scowled. "How do you get to know so soon?"

"It's the privilege of being Captain's drinking buddy." Her frown deepened. Matsukata had broken off their partnership. Well, it wasn't as simple as that. He just stated he was comfortable in doing his job on his now. The problem was that she had heard it from the Captain and not Matsukata himself. He could have told her beforehand. He could have, he had a chance to but didn't. And it left an ashburn mark on Saskia's sense of pride.

"Thanks," she said as she took a cup of coffee from Ueda's tray. She took a sip from it before he could even open his mouth in protest.

"It wasn't for you, ya know," he scolded playfully.

"It's a privilege of not being Captain's drinking buddy," Blok shrugged.

"I was actually planning on talking to you about that," Ueda spoke cautiously.

"I am not drinking with you."

"Well, you should," Hiroto countered. "Homicide burns out people."

"Cool," Blok snickered. This was getting ridiculous. A piece of advice no one asked for. It may be coming from a place of concern and care, but it didn't negate the issue of having to listen to those words. What's more, she must have looked like she needed advice.

"Alright, I'll leave to your devices," Ueda said awkwardly. Saskia and Tanizaki respectfully nodded in acknowledgment. She pulled the youngling closer to her side when they walked inside the station. Matsuakta was up early and about, typing away at his computer. As much as Saskia wanted to soothe her wounded ego, she decided to let it go. They were no longer partners.

When it rains, it pours. And when the sky starts to fall down, the floor of heaven comes crashing down. The exhausting she had felt the night before never was negated. Her nights were restless. Saskia did her best to keep her eyes open and face expression concern, but it was far from easy.

"I understand," she said, mustering all her politeness and respect for human condition. "But it hasn't been twenty-four hours yet. He is a legal adult. I'm sure your son is… simply being an irresponsible adult."

The woman sure didn't look pleased with the answer. Yet there wasn't anything Blok could do for her outside of comfort. That is what she had been failing at, not being a professional. She failed to provide human compassion. She was coming to her limits when it came to human condition. It was getting awfully tiring. She had too much on her plate and yet she decided to bite more than she could chew too.

"I'll give you a deal," Saskia said with patience running thin. "If tomorrow morning he still hasn't come home, we'll open a missing person case." That was enough to pacify the woman. Somewhat. They both stood up and bowed to each other as a display of respect. Saskia had no respect for the woman, however. The moment the distressed mother was out of sight, she dropped back onto her chair with a groan of annoyance. Enervation. Suddenly, Dazai's word regarding taking all the vacation time she could made perfect sense. As if the bastard could see into the future.

Saskia looked for Tanizaki but he wasn't near her workplace. No big deal, but an interesting development. Anyhow, it was past noon. A good time as any time to get some coffee and a peace of mind.

"Detective Blok will be going for coffee." Saskia didn't shout but made her voice carry through the small homicide department. Ueda raised his head and stopped typing. "Our coffee is awful, don't even start, Ueda."

"Then get me some, too," Hiroto threw her way.

"I'm sorry, but my memory tells me someone called our local coffee good."

"I'll come with," Tanizaki offered himself up. Blok turned around, startled by Junichiro's appearance. Her surprise very quickly matched the young man's expression of concern.

"Sit tight, kid," she said automatically, placing a hand on his shoulder. There were too many negative emotions boiling inside her. She wanted and needed a few moments alone. Making him watch another outburst wasn't in her to-do list.

"No," he whispered. "Something's wrong." They feigned to have a friendly chat amidst themselves as Junichiro broke the news. Kunikida had called and asked about his partner. No one in the agency had seen or heard of Dazai since yesterday. Dazai had been missing, which wouldn't be concerning if he wasn't attacked less than 72 hours ago.

"It's just coffee, a couple of blocks down." Her words had no effect whatsoever. "Give me Kunikida's number."

The idea of Dazai missing didn't frighten her. It was, after all, Dazai Osamu. So, when Saskia left the precinct, there wasn't a thought in her mind that something was off. She started to walk down the block, unaccompanied, taking out her phone. A few taps, and the location of Dazai's phone started to download.

The idea of Dazai missing didn't frighten Saskia. She wasn't surprised to see that his phone was located in that whole-in-the-wall pub. She wasn't scared for him; it merely piqued her interest as to why Dazai would return to a place where he was attacked. More so, it was barely past noon. Dazai is quite the unspeakable man, but that was too much even for him. Imagining Dazai passed out drunk was amusing but unfitting. He didn't seem like a drunk. Sighing, Blok took the earplugs and called the number Tanizaki gave her.

"Kunikida," came from the other end of the line.

"Saskia," the woman said curtly. "I know Dazai's location."

"Where is that bandage-wasting machine?!"

She named the address. And she never thought of the complications that would follow that.

"May I ask, how do you know that?" Kunikida asked. His tone reserved, weighted. Saskia should have expected this question coming but didn't. She relented from coming inside the busying coffee shop while on the line.

"I'm tracing his phone, have been for some time," was her nonchalant response. The silence on the other end wasn't long, but it told her everything she needed to know. Kunikida was a man of ideals. "Judging me?"

"I would," he said honestly, "but not when it comes to Dazai. I'll check the location and let you know."

"I'll be at work by that time. Text me."

"Roger."

When she returned, the feeling of something heavy on her chest struck her harder than she anticipated. The idea of Dazai missing didn't frighten her as much as it made her worry about what to come. Why would Dazai go to the pub alone after he was attacked there? Blok knew better than most that criminals did come back to the crime scene. Yet Dazai wouldn't be so cocky and stupid as to try and catch the deviant alone. But he would go there if he had something to gain.

"What got you sulking this time?" asked Matsukata, sounding too chirpy. The sudden question pulled her out of her thoughts. Her eyes met his smile. She didn't like it.

"People," the woman answered honestly, returning to her previous task. Even from the corner of her eyes, there was no mistaking the reaction Matsukata's appearance had on Junichiro. He was also taken by surprise.

"For what it's worth," Satoru spoke again, much less chirpy this time, "I'm sorry." It was coming from the heart.

"It's fine," Saskia replied. It was far too bitter to be acceptable, to be neutral. But before they could get into this discussion, her phone went off again. "Excuse me." That too sounded hostile. She got up from her desk and excused herself for a moment. There wasn't any need for it except to get away from Matsukata's attention. But the message on the screen didn't bear any good news. Dazai wasn't there. Kunikida only found his forgotten phone. It wasn't the idea of Dazai going AWOL that shook her to the core, it's the possibilities it brought with it. She didn't' have to check the history location to understand that the phone probably was left there since last night.

Inside the women's bathroom, she dialed Kunikida again. This was no conversation to have over text. Despite herself, despite wanting a peace of mind, she held her gaze against the reflection in the mirror.

"What do you know?" she asked the moment a distinct click was heard. Kunikida picked up.

"He was there yesterday with someone. A man. Left his phone before leaving."

"Description?"

"Nothing to go off from."

She didn't say anything. Looking deep into her own eyes, reflected in the bathroom mirror, she asked a question she feared the answer too.

"You were the one who approved Dazai's entrance exam," Saskia spoke slowly. "And you are his partner. Tell me, Kunikida, what are the chances an idiot like him would leave his phone in a pub he was previously attacked near, after meeting with someone?"

"I'll get Ranpo," the man said instead. "What are you planning on doing?"

"Whoever took him, it was the person he met up with. They can't switch skins with him, so it means they want something else."

"You mean they want you."

"My ego is inflated, I know, but wouldn't it make sense? He was attacked on the night he spent with me in the pub."

"Tanizaki is to remain by your side no matter what. I'll also get —"

"Sure," Saskia lied. "I need to go now. Text me." The conversation ended there. Forcefully she ended it. All there was to know was already known. First things first: she needed to do is to lose Junichiro from her tail. If someone was trying to get her attention, they got it now. There was no reason to endanger anyone else for her sake. If they took a liking to that pub, she would go there again. Dazai wasn't taken because of who he was but of who he was associating with. And recently he had only been associating with her. She'd kick the doors of the bathroom stalls. She'd throw something in that big mirror to make it crack. But that would fix nothing, it would help no one. Taking a few moments to collect herself again, she walked out to return to her workplace.

"… Nothing like that," she heard Junichiro talking with Matsukata. The younger man looked awkward during the conversation. He didn't want to seem rude, Blok concluded.

"It was good while it lasted," Matsukata spoke with a faint smile. "But everything has an expiration date. Even partnerships. Right, Saskia?"

The two had finally directed their attention to her. The woman shrugged nonchalantly. What Matsukata did was rude, however, she couldn't remain bitter forever. Plus, there were many other problems to take off right now. Let's strip away emotions that were doing nothing but aggravate and distract her.

"Junichiro, give us a moment, please," Saskia asked softly. By the end of today, he needed to be away from her. That was something she'd have trouble accomplishing. Tanizaki would follow the orders from the agency before her own, no doubt about that. But this little favour he granted without having to be asked twice.

"I'm sorry," Satoru said when they were left alone. He was genuine. It didn't soften the blow. But then bowed before her. "I am very grateful for your help. You were a great partner." And once again, he was honest. When he straightened his posture, he didn't smile. His expression was terribly blank. "Your power is something else, Saskia." She visibly recoiled from those words. They came out of nowhere. They struck a chord no one supposed to know how to play.

"Weird, but I'll take it," she shrugged the comment off and offered a handshake. Matsukata hesitated for a moment as if taken by surprise. It was but a moment of hesitation, but Blok noticed. And he noticed that she noticed. And then he smiled.

"For what it's worth," he said, shaking her hand, "I, Matsukata Satoru, was happy to get to know you."

The pain was so sudden. Saskia tightened her grip on his hand unconsciously. Satoru wasn't phased. That smile never changed. He didn't even blink.

.The shapeshifter stole profiles on potential gifted form the Mafia

.There was a rat in the poilce

".I looked at your file"

.Public service worker

".I didn't mean to interrupt"

.Never once replied to his own name

He let go of her hand. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry." Those were not the words that hurt her again. Those were not the things he lied about. Saskia stood paralyzed by fear and pain. Satoru was smiling all the same. What can you do here? He is Matsukata Satoru to everyone else here.