Kyandi: Greetings, Kyandiacs! We have returned.
Dimir: And we have a new chapter for you.
Kyandi: I'm going to start trying to get on a somewhat regular posting schedule.
Dimir: She's going to start trying to post a chapter every Sunday.
Kyandi: Mind, that means one random chapter, not specifically a chapter for this story. It'll be a chapter for whatever story I have the muse for at the time.
Dimir: The point is, is you like some of her other works, then that means you'll have something to read once a week.
Kyandi: For now, I have a chapter for this story ready.
Dimir: She finally reached one chapter she's been wanting to write for a while, so expect another chapter for this story soon.
Kyandi: I can't help it. That aside, let's get to it because I'm sure they want to read now.
Dimir: Right.
Kyandi: Everyone, enjoy and review.
Dimir: Kyandi-sama does not own Bungou Stray Dogs.
Chapter 8 Bait
With impending war on the horizon, the Armed Detective Agency begun putting precautions in order. The first thing was to send all of their office workers, those without abilities, out of the prefecture. Soon, that left only the ability users in the Agency left in the office. At the moment, Kunikida found himself sitting at the office when his phone rang. Answering it, he found Fukuzawa on the other end.
"Progress report." Fukuzawa demanded.
"As per your order, the office workers have already been moved out of the prefecture." Kunikida replied.
"And Dimir?" Fukuzawa asked.
Kunikida's eyes raised, looking across the office to the office couch. Since her healing by Yosano, Dimir had been bundled up and left on the couch to sleep. Almost a full twenty-four hours later and she was still asleep, bundled up under one of Dazai's spare coats.
"She is still sleeping. I believe the use of more than one ability might have taken its toll on her." Kunikida told Fukuzawa.
"I see."
"What's our next step?" Kunikida asked.
"All agents set out from the office and assemble at the old Bankou Hall. Bring Dimir along and she can rest there." Fukuzawa ordered.
"Bankou Hall? The base you used before the Agency was founded? The one that you mentioned before?" Kunikida asked, surprised.
"Very few know about that lecture hall. Our base has to be well hidden, or we'll be easily wiped out by our enemies. Especially since one of our own is still unconscious and unable to defend herself." Fukuzawa remarked.
Kunikida wasn't completely surprised to find that Fukuzawa had already resolved himself to fight. Kunikida's eyes drifted back over to the sleeping Dimir. Part of him was hoping she would wake up soon, but another part of him hoped she could sleep through this mess and awaken with no more danger from the Guild or immediate danger from the mafia.
It was then that Fukuzawa said something about guests and hung up the phone. Kunikida pulled the phone from his ear and looked at it.
"Director? Director!"
There was no answer, leaving Kunikida to heave a sigh. Atsushi, who was walking by, carrying some boxes, paused.
"What is it?" he asked.
"The director's call...is he under attack?" Kunikida asked himself more than Atsushi.
"Eh?! Then we have to go rescue him quickly!" Atsushi said.
Kunikida spun his chair until he could look at Atsushi. His expression was not that of one overly concerned with any situation that Fukuzawa could find himself in. As Atsushi set the boxes down, Kunikida got to his feet.
"Try grabbing my wrist." Kunikida told Atsushi.
"Huh?"
Atsushi turned a confused look on Kunikida as the older man held out his arm for him.
"You'll get it soon enough." Kunikida assured him.
Still not quite understanding what Kunikida was getting at, Atsushi did as told and reached for Kunikida's wrist. Before Atsushi's fingers could even make contact with Kunikida, the man easily grabbed him and flipped him over as if he weighted no more than a rag doll. Atsushi still managed to land on his feet, but he was sure it was more from Kunikida's precise control than any skill of his own.
"This is the first technique my martial arts master taught me. A true expert can send an opponent flying no matter how they come charging in." Kunikida told Atsushi. "So far, I haven't won against my master a single time. So no matter how many useless assassins they've sent, there's no way that person would lose."
With that said, Kunikida gathered up what he needed to, gathering a still sleeping Dimir before loading her up in the car. When he arrived at the secret base, he found the others already there. Laying Dimir carefully on a bench, he left her there to sleep while the others got to discussing their next step. Before long, Fukuzawa arrived, as well.
"Listen up, everyone." he called out as he walked towards the front of the hall where Junichirou had two monitors set up to watch the security cameras. "Back then, just two or three days ago, war was still avoidable. But now, that bridge has burned down. On one hand, we have the mafia, trying to take us down. On the other hand, we have the guild, planning to take over us. We must safeguard the Detective Agency under this two-front attack. Dazai, elaborate."
"Gotcha." Dazai agreed.
Everyone else took seats in the desks while Dazai took his spot at the desk at the front of the hall. From there, he explained their plans from there on out.
"The Guild possesses formidable capital, while the mafia has the advantage in the size of their troops. No matter which side we engage in open conflict, we'll only end up getting beaten to a pulp. So-"
"We'll have to make offensive and defensive teams."
Everyone turned when a sudden voice cut Dazai off. Groaning lowly to herself, Dimir sat up, rubbing at one side of her face. Yosano was at her side quickly to check on her.
"How do you feel?" Yosano asked.
"Fine. Thank you for healing me, Akiko. I'm just really..." Dimir cut off as her stomach gave a growl so loud, that it was audible to the others. "Hungry. Using two abilities back to back like that usually makes me sleep for long periods of time afterward and then I have to refuel my tanks by consuming large amounts of food. It's why I never used more than Lolita while I was living on the streets. Or, at least, I tried not to. I'll need to eat before I can fight again. And a change of clothes."
Dimir looked down at her outfit, finding it torn and dirty after trying to flee from Guild members and sleeping in the same clothes for a day. Seeing the state of her new clothes but a frown on Dimir's face. Yosano got Dimir to her feet, telling her that they had grabbed a bag of her stuff from her apartment for her. The two vanished into a side room for Dimir to change and Dazai continued with his explanation, just raising his voice so the two women could hear him from the other room.
"Dimir's right. We're gonna arrange our offense and defense into different personnel, and hold our own against them with guerrilla tactics from now." Dazai explained. "It goes without saying that the defense team's objective is to stay here and protect Doctor Yosano."
Yosano appeared from the side room, a smile on her face while several of her co-workers were making faces. No one really liked facing one of Yosano's treatments and just about only two people had gotten through her treatment with no outward signs of trauma and that was Kenji and Dimir. Though, of course, Dimir had only just awaken.
"With the doctor's healing ability on our side, we can go all out without ever having to worry about our lives." Dazai said. "As for how good that'd feel...that's another matter."
"I'm pretty sure that all of those who have been healed, don't need you to add that last part, Osamu."
Dimir appeared from her temporary changing room, adjusting the collar of her sleeveless, button-down, orange shirt. She had paired it with a grey-and-black plaid skirt, thigh-high stockings of the same color as her shirt, black boots, and black bow which she was struggling to tie into place around her neck.
"Akiko, do you mind?" Dimir asked, pointing to the bow. Yosano walked over to her. Dimir lift her chin while Yosano took the bow into hand and started tying it. "Regardless of how it feels though, I'm grateful for Akiko's ability."
"That makes one of us." Atsushi said lowly.
Once Yosano finished with the bow, Dimir took a seat, Junichirou sitting some food in front of her. It wasn't much and they would definitely have to round up some more from outside the base so that she wasn't dipping into their supplies, but it would go a long way to take the edge off of her hunger. While she ate, Dazai divided them into teams and Yosano sat behind her and fiddled with her hair, braiding the hair along both sides of her head, leaving her bangs as they were, before pinning the braids in place at the back of her head.
"The defense team will be made up of the Director, Doctor Yosano, Kenji, and Ranpo. Next, our offense will be divided into two teams. With Tanizaki's camouflage ability and my ability nullifier as the respective keys, we'll take out our enemies from the side." Dazai said splitting their offense into two teams of two with Junichirou teaming with Kunikida and Dazai teaming with Atsushi. "Dimir, with her well rounded set of abilities, will be acting a go-between between all of the groups. She'll cover where she's needed and will act as message carrier, of sorts, since she's the fastest of us all, on foot and by car."
Dimir gave a sheepish smile as she scratched at one cheek. She had no problem with the role she was given to play. It worked well with her since, given her three abilities, she was a little more flexible than most of the others. She was pretty sure, though, that they would send her out to the battlefield, per se, as a last resort.
"The main objective of this operation is to ensure the seclusion of this base, since if our enemies mobilize all their ability users and storm this place, the defense team won't stand a chance against them." Dazai said, grinning.
"You don't have to grin about that, Osamu." Dimir told him, pausing in her eating to throw a wadded up wrapper at him.
Dazai caught it easily and gave her a smile. Since he was done with his explanation, he stepped aside, letting Fukuzawa take his place at the head of the room.
"Out of the three organizations, only one can survive. If we don't fight, we die! This is a war of abilities among three organizations! Dimir," Dimir looked up as Fukuzawa turned his attention to her. "Since it no longer matters much, if you find yourself in a difficult position, use whatever abilities you have to. Understood?"
"Yes, sir." Dimir replied.
With that, everyone went their separate ways to finish discussing plans. Dimir decided that then was the perfect time to discuss something with Fukuzawa that she probably should have a long time ago. So she pulled him aside, locking them into a side room where the others couldn't hear them.
"Dimir, what is it?" Fukuzawa asked.
He could tell by the expression on her face that this, whatever it was, was serious. Dimir turned to face him, gripping her hands together in front of her.
"I should have told you this from the beginning, but...due to my abilities, I have two true forms, ultimate, final moves, if you will, that are not only dangerous to my enemies, but to myself as well. I've only ever use them once, each." Dimir told him. "And one of them caused this."
Fukuzawa stiffened slightly as Dimir reached up and swept back her bangs, revealing the scar on the right side of her forehead.
"My hair was completely black originally, but I assume the trauma caused the hair in that general area to go white." Dimir remarked, brushing her bangs back into place.
"Why are you telling me this?" Fukuzawa asked.
"Because, you need to understand. The first of the two, is the ultimate form of Lolita. It's called Despair. I can't really explain it much, but it's triggered by a phrase and is so destructive, the only time I've used it...I took out an entire city block. Granted, it was a block that was still under construction and, therefore, empty of people, but still. The other is called Eternal Abyss. It is the ultimate combination of all three of my abilities. It takes a lot of power and energy and it almost killed me the one time I used it. I am pretty sure...I would not survive a second attempt. I won't say the whole phrase, but if you ever hear the phrases "Let life be an unfretted howl." or "rust and stardust", come from my mouth, then you'll know I'm about to activate one of them and you need to get everyone out of the area." Dimir told him.
"If they are as destructive as you say, then why would you ever use them?" Fukuzawa demanded.
"I would only ever use the moves for one reason and one reason only." Dimir admitted.
"And that is?"
"If someone I love is in danger and there is nothing else I can do to save them." Fukuzawa fixed his eyes on Dimir's face, her face set in a serious, totally honest face. "I will always do anything to save those I care for. Even if it's dangerous to me."
Looking into her gold speckled, blue eyes, Fukuzawa was positive that she would, too. Dimir was loyal to a fault, held a deep, deep love for those she cared for, and looking into her serious eyes, he knew one thing for sure.
Dimir would, as she said, do anything for her friends.
Even if it killed her.
-0-0-0-0-
With everyone given their assignments, Dimir found herself, after filling her seemingly bottomless pit of a stomach, passing time in the lecture hall with the defense team after having to answer the question, "How do you stay so small when you can eat so much?!".
Needless to say, Dimir didn't answer that question.
At the current moment, though, Fukuzawa was instructing Dimir in martial arts so that, maybe, she wouldn't have to rely so heavily upon her abilities to get away from an enemy.
"Like this?" Dimir asked, holding the fighting position he had just shown her.
"Slide your right foot further back." Fukuzawa instructed.
"Right."
Dimir focused on trying to get it right, the others watching her now and then.
"If you're left-handed, why are you learning martial arts with your right as the dominate?" Yosano asked suddenly.
"I write left-handed, and I do most other small things like eat, left-handed, but, when it comes to fighting, I've always had a stronger right than a left. Besides," Dimir said, performing the move she had just been taught. "My mother always use to say that the world wasn't made for left-handed people."
Dimir turned to Fukuzawa, seeking his opinion of her performance thus far.
"Good. Keeping practicing that and you will be able to disarm someone without the use of your abilities." he told her, before turning back to the game set up in front of him, a book open in his hand.
It was then that the seemingly endless waiting got to Ranpo and the man draped himself across the desk with a noise of annoyance. Dimir turned to look at him then.
"I have nothing to do. I wanna go out!" Ranpo complained.
"The mafia will snap your neck if you go out now." Yosano told him, idly flipping through her magazine.
"Why not practice with me, Ranpo? Your ability isn't combat oriented, so it would only be beneficial to you." Dimir offered.
"No thanks!" Ranpo replied, sourly.
"Nothing out of the ordinary on the security cameras?" Fukuzawa asked.
"So far, it's all boring." Yosano said, glancing at the monitors.
"This lecture hall has no regular entrances. The only way to storm this place would be through the unused underground railway tunnel. So, if our enemies try to get in, they will be spotted by the security cameras there." Fukuzawa said.
"Yes, but that also means that we only have one out, ourselves." Dimir remarked, perching herself on the edge of the desk next to Yosano.
"Perhaps, but we also have traps set along the railway. They can hardly attempt an invasion in this terrain without a force of considerable size." Yosano assured her.
"I don't know about that." Dimir muttered, the girl obviously considering it thoughtfully.
"War is so boring! I've exhausted my reserve of sweets in less than a day." Ranpo complained before an idea hit him. Turning to the laptop sitting on the desk, he turned it to face him. "Let's play mahjong on this, Yosano!"
"Oh? On what stakes?" Yosano asked, letting out an evil chuckle.
"Remind me to never play any kind of game with you, Akiko." Dimir said sheepishly. It was then that Dimir caught the serious expression that had fallen on Ranpo's face. "Ranpo? What is it?"
Dimir hopped off the desk and walked around it to peer over Ranpo's shoulder at the screen. She took froze whens he saw the screen.
"Is something wrong?" Yosano asked, getting to her feet.
"Director. We'd better summon the defense teams back to base." Ranpo called.
"Osamu especially." Dimir added.
"Is the enemy here?" Fukuzawa asked, getting to his feet. "How many?
"That's the thing...just one." Dimir said, as Ranpo turned the screen to show Fukuzawa the security image of Chuuya in the railway tunnel.
On the footage, Chuuya quickly located the camera, grinning at it before the camera cut off. Whatever he had done, it had taken out their camera.
"Cameras number two and five are down!" Yosano reported.
"Activate the automatic gun emplacements!" Fukuzawa order.
Dimir, her eyes wide in concern, dove for the monitor, nearly knocking Ranpo out of his chair. She watched the screen intently as the guns fired. Part of her, after getting to know Chuuya a little, hoped he would be alright, but the other half knew that he was an enemy and he was there to kill her and her friends. Even knowing that, when it revealed that the guns had been useless against Chuuya, she heaved a silent sigh of relief.
"Receiving an envoy with these little puppets? You're so undermanned I could cry. It's pitiful, detectives. Come out, whoever's alive in there!" Chuuya called out to the cameras.
Dimir was at a loss for what to do. She was torn between two warring sides of herself. Part of her was screaming at her to forget everything, that he was her enemy and she would have to fight him, while the other was trying to find something, some way to talk Chuuya out of hurting her friends. One part was sure she could talk some sense into Chuuya, while the other part was calling her a fool for thinking such a thing of a mafioso.
It made her head hurt.
"Director."
Ranpo turned to Fukuzawa while Dimir remained glued to the monitor.
"Are we all agreed?" Fukuzawa asked.
"Sir, I don't think he's here to harm us." Fukuzawa turned to Dimir as she turned to look at him. "If he was, he has the power to have already brought the roof down on our heads. I've seen him fight Osamu, he's strong. That he hasn't...I don't think he's here to kill us."
"Are you sure?" Fukuzawa asked.
"Yes, sir. I know it's not smart, considering we're enemies, but...I've gotten to know him a little. He's never harmed me regardless of all the times he's had the perfect chance to. He's been kind to me, even gave me a really expensive box of my favorite chocolates. I know what he's capable of, sir, but he's not doing so." she told him.
Fukuzawa stared at Dimir. He hadn't known that she had been in such close contact with a mafia member. Then again, according to Dazai's report, it had been Chuuya he had told about Dimir's abilities. Fukuzawa imagined that had lead Chuuya to having an interest in Dimir, which was probably why he hadn't done anything to harm her...yet.
That aside, Dimir was a pretty good judge of character and she wasn't one to foolishly do anything or to make hasty judgments. The girl had even done research on the Agency before joining it. He would have to trust her judgment. Especially when Ranpo agreed with her that he didn't think Chuuya was there to kill them, either.
Dimir, though, had a bad feeling about what brought Chuuya to them in the first place. She couldn't think of anything that could have brought him to their base that wasn't something bad.
She just hoped she was wrong.
-0-0-0-0-
Chuuya continued down the tunnel when there was no response from the Agency. It wasn't long, though, before he came across the forces sent out to face him. Standing between him and wherever down the tunnel the others were hiding, was Yosano, a machete braced on one shoulder, and Kenji.
Part of Chuuya, a small part he would argue, was just glad it wasn't Dimir.
"Only two have come? I'm being belittled." Chuuya remarked.
"All clients should schedule an appointment before visiting the Detective Agency. If you're unhappy with the reception here, feel free to go to another one." Yosano told him.
"You think a mafia still needs to make an appointment when he's here to tear down your base?" Chuuya demanded.
"Yep!" Kenji said, throwing one hand in the air. "I don't think you have to!"
"Kenji's right. Tear it down if you want." Yosano told him. "However, you're not really here for that, are you?"
"Ha. What makes you think so?" Chuuya asked.
"We are detectives. If we can't deduce the purpose behind a client's visit at a glance, what sort of detectives would that make us?" Yosano replied. "That, and...a colleague of mine insist that they know you well enough to guess that you didn't come here to slaughter us."
Chuuya could only guess Dazai when he heard that. Dazai was the only one among the Detective Agency that had spent a large amount of time with him. For now, he chose to ignore that comment.
"Where's your director?" Chuuya asked.
Yosano pointed over her shoulder at a camera near the roof. Chuuya walked over to the camera and held up a photo for the camera to pick up.
"A present from our boss." Chuuya told him.
"These are members of the Guild?" came Fukuzawa's voice over an a mic.
"We've lured them with bait. The time and place of their appearance are all stated here." Chuuya said, turning over the photo to point to some writing on the back. "Do whatever you like with them. They're all yours."
"Why?" Fukuzawa asked, instantly suspicious.
"It's a rare chance, isn't it? You can wipe out these two blasted guys from the Guild in one go!" Chuuya told him.
"I see! That's quite an offer. But we purpose something better." Yosano said, a pleasant smile on her face that quickly turned demented. "Let's chop you up piece by piece and have you spill what you're really up to!"
"Awesome plan. Go on, chop chop." Chuuya taunted.
"Kenji!" Yosano called.
"Gotcha!" Kenji replied.
The boy reached down and instantly grabbed a hold of the train track rail and pulled, yanking the metal rail up off the ground, bolts flying free. Chuuya was surprised at first, but then an excited smirk curled his lips.
"I just knew I wasn't cut out to be a messenger. Now this is what I call a decent job." Chuuya remarked.
"Please watch out!" Kenji called politely even as he swung the rail at Chuuya.
When all the rail hit was the concrete wall, Kenji blinked in surprise, wondering where Chuuya could have gotten off to. Chuuya, hands jammed into his pockets, landed lightly on the rail. With a grin, he charged down the length of the rail, Kenji dropping the other end and throwing up his arms to protect his face from Chuuya's kick. The kick still packed enough power to send Kenji flying across the tunnel to crash into the opposite wall.
Yosano took the chance to attack him from behind, but Chuuya dodged the swinging blade, launching himself into the air. With the help of his ability, he landed on the ceiling, remaining there as if he was standing on the ground. Yosano and Kenji stared up at him.
"That ability...you're the gravity manipulator, Nakahara Chuuya, aren't you?" Yosano asked.
"Tsk...that loudmouth Dazai's been running his mouth, huh." Chuuya remarked.
Chuuya dusted off his clothes while Yosano yelled at him to get back down and Kenji stared up at him with wide, awestruck eyes. Once his clothes were dusted off, Chuuya grabbed his hat, to keep it on his head, and let himself fall to the ground below.
"Since Dazai's been looking out for me so carefully, I mustn't let his eagerness go to waste." Chuuya called.
Yosano threw herself out of the way as he crashed to the ground with the force of an object that weighted, at least, ten times the amount of himself. He prepared to attack Yosano again when another voice had him stopping.
"Stop! That's enough, so, please, Chuuya, stop."
Chuuya turned towards the voice, finding Dimir knelling next to Yosano to check on her. When she was sure that Yosano was alright, Dimir stood and turned to face Chuuya. Chuuya had completely frozen in place, not moving and when his eyes met hers, Dimir gave him a soft smile.
"Dimir." Chuuya greeted, cautious as to why Fukuzawa would send her out to meet him.
Then it clicked. When Yosano had said that one of her colleague had vouched for him, she must have meant Dimir, not Dazai. Dimir really did seem like too sweet of a person to speak bad about another person. Too sweet for her own good.
"Hello, Chuuya." Dimir greeted.
"What are you doing out here? Dazai send you?" Chuuya demanded.
"No. I came of my own accord." Dimir replied.
"Why? I know your tricks. You're no match against me." Chuuya warned her.
"I didn't come here to fight you, Chuuya, because, despite your harsh words, I know...you won't hurt me." Dimir said softly, still smiling sweetly.
"What makes you think that?" he demanded.
"I just know."
Chuuya's eyebrow twitched, causing Yosano to call out to Dimir as the girl took a few steps towards him. Chuuya was annoyed. Not at Dimir, but at the fact that part of him really didn't want to hurt her. Dimir was a sweet and innocent person, one who was nothing but polite and kind to all, regardless of their life choices. He really didn't want to hurt her and that was what annoyed him. As a member of the mafia, he shouldn't care.
Gritting his teeth as his annoyance built, Chuuya launched himself forward, as if he was about to attack Dimir. Dimir's smile never wavered and she never so much as flinched, even when he sent a kick flying her way. Realizing that the girl wasn't going to move, Chuuya grit his teeth and, much to her colleagues' surprise, pulled his kick to a stop just a foot shy of Dimir. Dimir's smile, if possible, softened all the more. It only annoyed him more for it to be proven right that he didn't want to hurt her.
And he had no idea why!
He was just grateful that, instead of rubbing it in his face, as he was sure Dazai would have done, Dimir simply moved on.
"Please, Chuuya... listen to what my director has to say." Dimir asked sweetly. Chuuya grit his teeth, appearing as if he was going to argue. Dimir lowered her chin, looking up at him through her eyelashes in an adorably pleading look. "Please?"
Chuuya's eyebrows twitched, a low growl leaving him before yanked his leg back, putting his foot back on the ground. Turning away from her so she couldn't see his face, he clicked his tongue and crossed his arms.
"Fine, whatever!" he snapped.
Had it been a cheesy anime, then flowers would have appeared around Dimir as she smiled at him. On the other end of the security feed, Fukuzawa was glad he had not stopped Dimir when she had gone to help her friends. If Chuuya wouldn't hurt her, then that meant that he didn't have to worry about, at least, one mafia member hurting her.
"Here is my answer, envoy of the Port Mafia. I am mindful of your proposal. If the Detective Agency is successful in defeating the elite forces of the Guild, you will have eliminated an enemy without lifting a finger yourself. Under such circumstances, it is an ingenious plan for killing two birds with one stone." Fukuzawa said.
"But it's not like you're getting the short end of the stick, either. Is it?" Chuuya asked, smiling.
"Indeed, provided that everything you have divulged hitherto is true. Do we seem like we would tear at any prey within sight? Is that what you think of us, a pack of rabid stray dogs? It is a sophisticated strategy to manipulate one's enemy by feeding them false information. But if you think such a mediocre tactic would be effective against us, then the mafia is unworthy of being our opponent." Fukuzawa replied.
To Dimir's ears, Fukuzawa didn't sound too happy, but from the look on Chuuya's face, Dimir got a feeling that there was more to this that he had yet to share with them.
"To be taunted by the leader of the enemy camp...what an honor." Chuuya mocked.
"Chuuya." Dimir warned softly, making him look at her and the displeased look on her face. "What are you hiding? That smile on your face says there's something you aren't telling us."
"Nothing." Chuuya replied.
The smile on his face said differently.
"What is the Mafia's move behind the scenes?" Fukuzawa demanded.
"There. Is. No. Move." Chuuya said, his grin growing.
While Ranpo, on the other end of the security feed, had figured it out, Dimir was working it out in her own head, her brain ticking away and her stomach sinking more and more as she put more pieces together.
"Oi, Mr. Fancy Hat. Are you the one who leaked the intel to the jolly duo of the Guild?" Ranpo asked over the mic.
"Huh? So what if I am?" Chuuya asked, reaching up to touch his hat as he did.
"The Guild must also have suspected it to be a trap, but they still decided to go along with it, because the bait is too appealing to resist." Ranpo said. Finally, it clicked in Dimir's brain what Chuuya hadn't told them and, with a gasp, her hands flew to her mouth, her eyes widening as she stared at Chuuya. "What are you luring the Guild with?"
"Dimir?" Yosano asked.
"You're using Haruno and Naomi, aren't you?!" Dimir demanded.
With Dimir's reveal of the situation, Fukuzawa was furious.
"You're using our clerks as "bait"?!" Fukuzawa demanded.
"There's still time to go to their rescue, and the Guild doesn't know that you'll mobilize. Easy peasy." Chuuya replied.
"All of this, just to force our hand..." Dimir muttered, taking a step away from Chuuya.
"That is to say, you lot found out the hiding place of our clerks and leaked it to the Guild, then you leaked that to the Detective Agency. Having us do each other in while you sweep up the spoils without breaking a sweat. That's what this is about." Yosano said.
"The Detective Agency will definitely fall for it even knowing it's a trap. That's what the boss said." Chuuya said, smiling.
"Then we will just have to pull a move the mafia wasn't expecting." Ranpo said, making Chuuya raise an eyebrow.
"He is right." Fukuzawa chimed in. "Dimir...go."
Chuuya, his eyes widening because he had never expected them to send Dimir, especially since, now, the mafia knew of her multiple abilities, turned to look at Dimir who was peering up at the camera.
"Yes, sir." Dimir said before headed on past Chuuya.
As she passed him, her eyes went to him and it was there, in her eyes, that he saw disappointment and hurt. With that, she ran past him, pulling her cellphone from a pocket in her skirt. Chuuya turned to watch her vanish down the tunnel.
He wasn't exactly sure why, but her look had managed to make him feel bad.
Just a little.
END
Kyandi: That's right, feel guilty, Chuuya!
Dimir: He's going to feel a lot in the coming chapters.
Kyandi: Very true...I'm devious.
Dimir: Yes, well...I wish that deviousness didn't include me.
Kyandi: Sorry, but it's important to development!
Dimir: So you say.
Kyandi: It's not that bad when compared to what I've done to some of my other OCs.
Dimir: Very true.
Kyandi: Anyway, with that said, everyone, enjoy and review.
Dimir: We'll be back soon as possible.
Kyandi: Bye-bye!