Kyandi: We're back!
Dimir: This is going to be an interesting chapter.
Kyandi: You bet! Also, I just love how you "punish" Dazai.
Dimir: Hey, if it works, it works. Why mess with a non-violent way of punishing a man like Osamu?
Kyandi: Good point. With that, let's jump right into this. You ready?
Dimir: As ready as I'm ever going to be.
Kyandi: Good! Everyone, enjoy and review!
Dimir: Kyandi-sama does not own Bungou Stray Dogs!
Chapter 11 Double Black and Lightning Strikes
All over the city, hell broke loose.
Dimir, who could act like a human taser, was sent out, along with Dazai, in order to somewhat help quell the destruction, as well as to help Dazai in locating Atsushi. Dazai was sure the boy would find a way to escape any moment. Dimir, though, was far more concerned with helping the people of Yokohama. She knew Atsushi could take care of himself.
So she went separate ways from Dazai, wearing a sleeveless hoodie, the hood drawn up over her face.
Across the city, Chuuya was busy with his own men, trying to do something about the hell hole their city had become.
"Guard the traffic network with your life! Shoot anyone who dares make a run at us!" Chuuya called. "If this keeps up, there'll be nothing left of where we conduct our business! This is an order from the boss: Guard it with your life!"
Chuuya grit his teeth as something nearby exploded. At this rate, Yokohama was going to burn to the ground. When the smoke cleared, Chuuya was confronted with a group of controlled people swarming him. Preparing himself to have to hurt these otherwise innocent people, Chuuya was taken by surprise when there was a flash of electricity, like that of a lightning bolt, that suddenly flashed between him and the people charging him before slipping between each of the people and returning to stand in front of him.
It was only once the flashing light was gone that he found each of those people laying on the ground and a hooded figure standing in front of him.
"Honestly, you don't have to shoot them if your people have access to tasers."
Chuuya blinked in surprise as the figure turned and lift the hood enough for him to get a look at the face beneath.
"Dimir?!" he exclaimed.
"Hey, Chuuya." Dimir greeted with a smile.
"What are you doing here?!" Chuuya demanded.
"Um...helping? You don't need to kill them just because they're being controlled." Dimir told him.
"Why would you help me after..."
Chuuya trailed off, unwilling to remind her that he had been the one to rat out where her friends had been hiding to the Guild. Dimir blinked at him in confusion for a moment before she figured out what he meant.
"Oh, that? Chuuya, haven't you ever heard of forgive and forget? Honestly. I might have ended up with a concussion for my troubles, but it's nothing to want to kill you over." Dimir told him. "Besides, I've already told you once...Life is life. It makes no difference to me if that life is Armed Detective Agency, Military Police, politician, civilian, or Port Mafia. All life is precious and shouldn't been given up so simply. If I can save a life then I couldn't care less who or what the person is. Let the gods be the judge, not me."
Chuuya stared at Dimir as she turned, scanning the messy scene before them. His men were being over run by those being controlled. It was all they could do not to have to kill everyone on sight. Dimir hummed to herself for a moment before she reached up to adjust the hood on her head.
"Alright, Chuuya, do me a favor and have your men hold their positions very still. I'll help you clear all these people out of the way without having to kill them." she told Chuuya.
"What are you going to do?" Chuuya asked.
"Well, I'm a human taser, aren't I?" Dimir asked, giving him a wink.
Chuuya jolted in surprise, but he was slowly realizing that it was best to do as she said if she was asking him to do it. After all, he didn't want to lose anymore of his men.
"Everyone, freeze! Don't move an inch!" he yelled, all his men coming to a stop.
In a flash, Dimir went to work. She moved too fast for him to keep up with, but every single person that came anywhere near them, was zapped, falling unconscious where they had stood. To Chuuya's surprise, Dimir kept this up, helping his men field the incoming threats without having to kill a single person. She really didn't seem to have a problem with saving a Port Mafia member who, later, probably would turn on her and try to kill her.
Thankfully, by the time Dimir started to grow tired, all those being control, finally came to a stop, the curse of Q's ability finally being lifted. Of course, they were still left with a city half destroyed. Dimir finally came to a stop, her eyes scanning the people as they came back to their senses. Chuuya came up behind her, looking out on the scene too.
"Atsushi must have gotten the doll to Osamu." Dimir remarked before turning her eyes to Chuuya. "You didn't lose anymore men, did you?"
"Not after you showed up." he told her.
"I'm glad I could help. Any life spared is a good thing." Dimir remarked, her eyes shifting, though, to the bodies of those who had already been killed before she could show up. Chuuya watched in surprise as remorse and genuine sadness over took Dimir's expression. "I only regret that I could not have helped save more. I must go find Osamu and Atsushi. You be careful with yourself, Chuuya."
Before Chuuya could say anything to her in return, she was gone as she had come, in a flash of light. He stared off the way she had vanished. He really had to wonder about the girl, and, at the moment, there was only one thought he wondered.
Would he ever have a meeting with her in which she didn't leave him speechless?
-0-0-0-0-
"Arghhhhhhhhhh. So unmotivated."
Dimir turned in her chair to look over at Dazai who was currently flopped across a couch. The man looked like he was bored out of his mind. It was still too early in the morning for him to already be so bored. And Kunikida said about as much.
"Stop squawking like a broken trumpet so early in the morning, Dazai." Kunikida told him.
"But right now I don't even have the energy to talk to people, Kuni-whatever." Dazai replied.
"Imma throw you out, you piece of non-flammable trash, bastard." Kunikida retorted.
"Now, now, Mr. Doppo, there's no need for that." Dimir called back to him as she turned back around and went back to the work set before her. "Besides...humans are flammable."
"Ahh...even eating is so much trouble. If only breathing can fill a stomach." Dazai said, reaching for a bag of food laying beside the couch, pulling out a banana which he then proceeded to try to eat without peeling.
"If peeling a banana is too much for you, just starve to death." Kunikida snapped at him. "This city was saved from destruction thanks to you, Dimir, and Atsushi."
"I actually didn't do anything but keep mafia members from shooting innocent people." Dimir called over her shoulder, but Kunikida ignored her.
"Why are you like this after just a day?" Kunikida demand of Dazai.
"'Cause...the director has assigned me the next mission. I wanna sleep till the end of the world, like a log." Dazai replied.
"Logs are flammable trash." Kunikida retorted. "Now that you mention it, the Director had a very long conversation with Atsushi yesterday."
"That was probably over Atsushi's idea and Osamu's current mission." Dimir remarked.
"Correct." Kunikida and Dimir turned as Fukuzawa entered the room, Dimir greeting him with a "good morning" to which he gave her a nod in return. "Dazai. How is the negotiation for a secret meeting with the mafia boss going?"
"Well, it's in progress." Dazai replied.
"Do you think he will come?" Fukuzawa asked.
"He should. Since this is the perfect chance to kill you, Director." Dazai replied.
"That is still preferable to seeing my members bleeding or dead." Fukuzawa said before peering out of the side of his eyes at Dimir. "Dimir."
"I was just about to leave, sir. I will gather Miss Kouyou first." Dimir said, getting to her feet.
Kunikida watched as Fukuzawa turned and left the room after giving Dimir a nod. Curious, Kunikida turned to look at Dazai.
"Hey, Dazai, fill me in. A secret meeting...with the mafia boss?" Kunikida asked.
"Yeah. Atsushi's proposal has developed into an incredible plan. Even with the Guild as our largest threat-"
"Hang on, hang on, hang on! In any case...first of all, why would you be the one arranging for this secret meeting?" Kunikida demanded.
"I've said it before, haven't I, Mr. Doppo." Dimir said, drawing his attention to her. "Osamu was once apart of the mafia. I did guess that right in the whole Guess-What-Dazai-Use-To-Do game, didn't I?"
"Yep, you did!" Dazai replied cheerfully. "Everyone knows that now but you, Kunikida."
Kunikida, with this new piece of information, seemed to freeze on the spot. Dazai and Dimir stood before him, Dimir waving a hand in front of his face, but Kunikida didn't react.
"Kunikida?"
Dazai poked Kunikida, the man collapsing to the ground, too stunned to react. Dimir blinked down at him before looking at Dazai.
"Well, it's official...you finally broke him, Osamu." Dimir said, Dazai laughing lightly. "Now...clean him up off the floor while I'm gone."
With that, Dimir turned on her heel and left the room, leaving Dazai to take care of the mess he caused.
Sometimes, Dazai had to wonder how it ended up with him taking orders from her.
A mystery he probably would never solve.
-0-0-0-0-
Across town, Mori, the Port Mafia boss, was standing in the lobby of one of the mafia buildings, staring down at the bodies of his men being laid out across the floor. Chuuya stood at his side, reaching up to pluck his hat off his head in respect for the men who had lost their lives in the last attack from the Guild.
"How many casualties?" Mori asked.
"We've lost eighteen direct members. If we're also counting people working for our sub-organizations, about a hundred." Chuuya replied. "It irks me to say this, but if Dazai hadn't nullified the doll's curse, the number of casualties would've been ten times the current figure. Even more so in regards to both members and locals if Dimir had not come to our aid."
"As the boss, I really can't raise my head in front of my predecessor." Mori remarked.
The sound of the automated doors behind him opening, had Mori and Chuuya turning. In through the doors, came Kouyou with a hooded figure beside her. Chuuya had a pretty good idea on who it was before she ever lowered her hood.
"Oh, Kouyou! Who is this?" Mori asked approaching the two.
"It's been a while, Doctor. I see long tales are as ever prominent for members of the mafia as they ever have been." the person reached up, pulling back the hood to reveal that it was Dimir.
"Ah! Young Dimir. You see, though, I wasn't lying. I did use to be a doctor." Mori told her, grinning down at her.
"And I use to be a street urchin, but I no longer claim myself as one, sir." Dimir replied.
"You know the boss?" Chuuya asked.
"Hello to you too, Chuuya. And yes, I had the pleasure of meeting him a while back, though he failed to accurately tell me who he was." Dimir replied, ever polite despite standing among enemies.
"What are you doing here, anyway?" Chuuya demanded.
"I was evicted by Dazai from the Detective Agency. He said keeping a useless hostage would serve nothing but increasing expenditure." Kouyou said.
"Actually, I believe it was Mr. Doppo who said that last part. Osamu was merely repeating it." Dimir remarked.
"Yes, well, the lass was just seeing to it that I returned safely." Kouyou said, looking down at Dimir.
"That, and I was tasked to play envoy." Dimir said, pulling an envelope out of her pocket to hold it out to Mori.
"I believe it's an invitation to the Agency Director's tea party." Kouyou remarked.
Smiling, Mori accepted the envelope from her.
"I see. So it has come to this." he remarked, looking down at the envelope for a moment before looking up at Dimir. "I am surprised to see he would send you. Does he not fear we will detain you?'
Dimir blinked in surprise for a moment before a truly cheerful and amused laugh left her. Quickly covering her mouth as she smile, her eyes narrowed in merriment.
"No offense, sir, but I do believe we both already know the answer to that. After all...you have already seen me effortlessly escape from one of your strongest and fastest members. Not to mention that I have escaped attempts from both your members and the Guild, on multiple occasions. By this point, I'm honestly not concerned. After all," Dimir raised a hand to her shoulder, a small, dark figure wearing a grey scarf, stepping out from its hiding place under her hair. "I have gotten to the point where I never go anywhere without, at least, one ability being activated."
Dimir idly stroked the head of the figure, her lips curling into a smile. Mori's eyes latched onto the little figure, a smile spreading across his face too.
"Oh, so you admit that you have more than one ability." he said.
"I believe you already know the answer to that question too. After all...you saw two of them, yourself." Dimir replied.
"And, exactly, how many do you possess?" Mori asked.
To his amusement, Dimir simply raised one finger, holding it in front of her mouth as she gave him a wink. It was her way of saying that, that part, was a secret she wasn't willing to share. Chuuya was surprised to see just how comfortable Dimir was. Even if she did have an ability activated, she still should have been wary, standing there.
"Interesting. Why don't you come work for me?" Mori offered.
"You are the second person, in the matter of just a few weeks, to offer me that. Sorry to say, I am a detective of the Detective Agency and I am quite happy where I am. I don't believe I would be of much use to you for I would spend my entire time doing nothing but being miserable." Dimir told him honestly. It was then that Dimir's eyes snagged on the bodies being laid out and the smile vanished from her face. "My condolences. I wish I had been faster to help."
Mori followed her eyes to where she was looking. He let out a humorless chuckle, confused and surprised by the genuine sympathy in her tone.
"Helping your enemies? I would think you would be happy that there are now less of us." Mori remarked.
"Life is life, sir. Irregardless of who or what they were in life, their lives were just a precious as anyone else's. I would not wish death on even the cruelest of my enemies." Dimir replied sternly, making Mori turn a surprised look on Dimir. "If I have to take a life, I do so grudgingly. If there is even a 0.01% chance of resolving something peacefully, then I will. They were people with families, lives, dreams, and goals, just like any member of my own organization. No one has the right to take that from another person."
"You are an odd one." Mori told her.
"You think? Funny, Osamu has said the same thing." Dimir replied. "My point being, though, is that you would gain nothing from having me on your side because I would never comply with any kind of orders that could end with the death of another. Anyway, I know you would never try to force me."
"And what makes you think that?" Mori asked.
"Osamu has shared many things with me, many...secrets that I'm sure you would not wish for me to repeat. It would be for both our mutual benefits that you never try to force my hand. I really do not relish the idea of resorting to blackmail if I absolutely don't have to. I would rather show respect to those older than I." Dimir told him, smiling brightly.
Mori paused for a moment, staring at the girl. Was she implying that Dazai had shared all of his mafia's secrets with her. If it meant keeping Dimir safely on the Agency's side, Mori didn't really put it past him to do such a thing. And, judging from what he had seen of the girl so far and the look in her eyes as she smiled up at him, he had a feeling that this young lady knew exactly what to do with the information.
"I'm sure I can tempt you to change your mind without resorting to such a thing." Mori told her.
"You believe so? Well, then, if you really wish to have another chance to convince me, you'll accept my director's invitation." Dimir told him, half turning away from them. "Until then, farewell."
Dimir gave Chuuya a smile and gave Kouyou a nod before she turned on her heel and headed for the door. As she walked, she reached up, pulling her hood back up. She walked through the door and vanished out onto the street beyond.
"She's an odd lass, but an honest one." Kouyou said. "Mafia life would not suit her, though she claims to have been born in the shadows."
"She's interesting, indeed, but, for now, I'll leave her as she is." Mori remarked.
Chuuya glanced up at his boss before turning his eyes back to the doors of the building. As more and more people found out about her abilities, Dimir was just opening herself up for more targets to be painted on her back.
He only hoped she didn't get in over her head.
-0-0-0-0-
The day of the proposed meeting between the Detective Agency and the Port Mafia, Dazai found himself waiting for the arrival of Mori. When the man finally showed up, it was with several of his own men from his Black Lizard squad. Dazai hopped down from his perch when Mori approached.
"Welcome, Boss!" Dazai greeted.
"It's been four years. Are you still wearing the coat I bought you?" Mori asked.
"Totally...burnt it long ago." Dazai replied.
"Boss of the mafia, Mori Ougai."
Mori looked up as Fukuzawa, Kunikida behind him, made his appearance, approaching him.
"Director of the Armed Detective Agency, Fukuzawa Yukichi." Mori replied.
The two met in the center of the clearing where they stood, facing off while their subordinates tensed up.
"Finally, the day has come." Fukuzawa remarked.
"The Detective Agency and Port Mafia...if the government higher-ups catch word that the heads of the two largest ability organizations in Yokohama are having a secret meeting, they will definitely be foaming at the mouth." Mori said, obviously amused by the thought.
"I shall get straight to the point. A certain newcomer at our agency has proposed that we enter an alliance with the Port Mafia and another newcomer has backed the idea." Fukuzawa said, Mori humming in intrigue. "I am opposed to it. Siding with an illegal organization goes against our policy. However, coming from someone whom has been subjected to the mafia's repeated violent treatments and even abduction and someone who I know never acts on such things without sound, logical reason, the proposal is unusually poignant. Thus, as the leader of the Agency, I must take it into serious consideration."
"Neither of us is destined to have it easy, eh?" Mori asked.
"My final decision is that even if an alliance cannot be struck, I would still like to call for a detente." Fukuzawa told him.
"What an intriguing proposal." Mori remarked.
"Reasons being, first and foremost-"
"Have you read T. Schelling?" Mori suddenly asked, cutting off Fukuzawa.
"Pardon?" Fukuzawa asked.
"What about J. Nash and H. Kissinger?" Mori asked.
"They are all academics that studied war strategies." Dazai said. "Someone's been stuffing all that into my head."
"I have read Sun Tzu." Fukuzawa replied.
"Wars between countries and wars between illegal organizations like the mafia, are not so different. Even if we violate an agreement, there is no one to sanction us." Mori started explaining. "What if the mafia suddenly breaks the detente? What if the Detective Agency betrays us? The party that abides by the detente will surely suffer heavy losses. And if a party actually benefits from breaking the pact, the detente agreement is null right from the start. The agreement will only stand if both parties are in perfect accordance, but..."
"That's impossible." Dazai finished for him.
"Exactly. We from the mafia take our honor and grudges very seriously. And many of us here have suffered at the hands of you folks from the Detective Agency." Mori said.
"My subordinates have also been targeted by you lot multiple times, if I recall?" Fukuzawa retorted.
"But nobody died. Much to the disgrace of the mafia." Mori shot back.
"...hmm. How about this? We settle all our scores, right here, right now." Fukuzawa replied.
Gin and Tsuchihara rushed forward, trying to defend their boss from any attack. Fukuzawa, however, was faster, cutting down Gin's own blade and Tsuchihara's gun. Mori, though, moved just as fast, drawing a scalpel and holding it to Fukuzawa's throat, though Fukuzawa's blade ended up pointed at Mori's throat too.
"I thought you have sworn off wielding your katana, Fukuzawa, long swordsman "Silver Wolf"?" Mori remarked.
"Using a mes to kill. Your lack of medical ethics has not changed one bit, Doctor Mori." Fukuzawa shot back. "Do you still have a fetish for young girls?"
"Well, aren't you still muttering to cats these days?" Mori asked.
To Mori's surprise, the image before him begun to fade away, revealing it had been the effect of Junichirou's Light Snow and that Fukuzawa stood several feet from him, sword still sheathed.
"An ability that can produce solid projections?" Mori asked.
The sound of crackling electricity, drew Mori's attention back to in front of him where the fake Fukuzawa had stood. There, her fingers just a few inches shy of his throat and a smile on her face, was Dimir. She had probably been hidden within the illusion. Electricity crackled around her fingers, making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
"I beg of you, Mr. Mori, sir, not to force my hand by attacking my director." Dimir told him.
"And here I thought you said you don't like killing." Mori replied.
"Oh, I don't, and I won't. That being said, a zap to the throat at this range could seriously ruin your day. And it's just a short distance to your brain. I might not kill you, sir, but I can most definitely ruin the rest of your life. Please don't make me do so. My mother would roll over in her grave if I was to be so disrespectful to my elders." Dimir told him, smiling before she spun on one foot and hurried to Dazai's side, her hands clasped behind her back.
When she reached Dazai, she hopped up, claiming a perch beside him on the wall he was sitting on. Tucking one ankle behind the other, Dimir folded her hands in her lap, content to sit back and watch until she was needed.
"Well, this has been a lovely meeting. Let's leave the rest till the next time, on the battlefield." Mori said, turning away from Fukuzawa.
"Tonight, the Detective Agency will mobilize to retrieve Q." Fukuzawa called after him.
"So?" Mori asked.
"Just for tonight, stay out of our way. For our mutual benefit." Fukuzawa answered.
"Why should we?" Mori asked.
"Because this is the one thing we have in common. We love this city. As the inhabitants and protectors of this city, we must never let foreign ability users destroy it." Fukuzawa explained.
Mori turned back to face Fukuzawa.
"The Guild is powerful. The Detective Agency doesn't stand a chance against it." With this Mori turned and started walking away. "Til the next time, Dazai. The invitation to resuming your duties as an executive member in the mafia still stands."
"As if. Weren't you the one who forced me out of the mafia to begin with?" Dazai replied.
"I thought you left of your own accord?" Mori asked.
"Or could it be that you're afraid, Mori? That one day I would slit your throat and take over as the boss? Like what you did to your predecessor." Dazai remarked lowly. "Everyone seems suspicious to those who have an ax to grind. I, for one, am also against collaborating with you."
"Now, now, Osamu. There's no need to be sneakily nasty." Dimir lightly scolded.
"Aw, you're no fun, Dimir." Dazai replied, flopping back so that he was laying in her lap.
Dimir smiled lightly, and begun to stroke his hair idly, much like a mother would to her child. Mori was surprised to find just how comfortable Dazai was with Dimir. He had always been a rather laid back person, but Mori had never known Dazai to so easily give into another's orders unless they were coming from his boss.
It only made Dimir all the more interesting to Mori.
"My offer to you, too, young lady, still stands." Mori told Dimir.
"As sweet as it is for you to offer me such a thing, sir, as you can see," Dimir said, sweeping her hand to take in her and Dazai's current position. "I am perfectly happy where I am."
Dazai gave Mori a smirk as Dimir continued to stroke his hair. Mori wasn't certain as to what the relationship between the two was like, but he knew that look on Dazai's face. He knew the younger male was well aware of what a rare and special gem he had in Dimir and he had no doubt in his mind that Dazai would use that against the mafia if he really had to.
Perhaps it was time to rethink a few things.
-0-0-0-0-
"So this is where Q is being locked up?"
It was late, the sky darkened as the night drifted on and Dazai found himself in the middle of the woods, looking at a small cabin. He stood there for a moment, considering how to go about this, when the whole area was suddenly flooded with light. Shielding his eyes, Dazai turned, coming face to face with Steinbeck, Lovecraft, and a good few dozen men.
"Good evening. Our tactician is very good at predicting the enemies' moves." Steinbeck greeted.
"A trap, huh." Dazai remarked, smiling lightly as the men pointed guns at him.
He wasn't too concerned, though. While he had a good feeling that Mori would, in fact, send someone, who actually showed up, only made Dazai heave a sigh. As boulders too big for a normal human to pick up, came raining down on them and the person responsible stepped onto the scene, the men turned on him, firing their guns. Not that it worked. The bullets were stopped by his ability, falling harmlessly to the ground.
"Let me make this clear first," The smoke parting, showing Dazai, Chuuya's displeased face. "Once these trash are taken care of, it'll be your turn, you hear me?"
"Ughhh. So it really came down to this. No wonder why I've been feeling so out of it since this morning." Dazai remarked.
"Impossible! This kind of ambush isn't covered in the strategic forecast." Steinbeck said, activating his ability.
"Hey. Sorry, but that's a no-no."
Dazai appeared beside Steinbeck, nullifying his ability. To add insult to injury, Chuuya came flying in, landing a solid kick to the side of Steinbeck's head with enough force it sent him flying several hundreds of yards into the trees.
"Urgh, this stinks to high heaven." Chuuya remarked, landing on his feet.
"I'm also hating every second of this." Dazai agreed.
The two tensed, turning, when two men with guns popped up behind them. Before either could react, someone slapped a hand on each of the gunmen's shoulders and when they turned to see who it was, electricity was let loose, zapping the men and sending them crumpling to the ground. Standing behind them, all of her hair save for her bangs, pulled into a ponytail and wearing a pair of short, orange shorts and a cropped off tank top of the same color over black tights and a skin-tight, black, short-sleeved shirt, paired with black boots and gloves, was Dimir.
"Dimir?!"
Dimir covered a laugh when the two males both exclaimed her name at the same time, both of them staring at her with open mouth shock. Giving them a big smile, she waved.
"Hello, boys." she greeted.
"What are you doing here?!" Chuuya demanded.
"Actually...Mr. Mori contacted me." If she had thought their shocked looks couldn't get any funnier, she was wrong. "He asked if I would be so kind as to do him a favor and come to make sure the two of you didn't kill each other. He said it would be a shame. The Director agreed, so here I am."
When all she did was smile at them so cutely, both groaned, slapping a hand to their faces. They knew exactly what this was. Mori, as well as Fukuzawa, had noticed how easily Dimir could tame even the fiercest of tempers and, knowing how Dazai and Chuuya got along, had sent the girl as their babysitter. And it was hard to be mad with the girl when she smiled so brightly at them.
"Something wrong?" Dimir asked, looking from one of them to the other.
"Nothing. Let's just get this over with." Chuuya said, Dazai agreeing.
"This is the worst day I've had in years." Dazai said as they approached the door to the cabin.
"Why must I work with this guy." Chuuya grumbled.
When the two reached for the doorknob at the same time, they stopped, glaring at each other.
"Don't walk next to me." Chuuya snapped.
"Aren't you the one sticking to my side, Chuuya?" Dazai replied.
"Alright, boys, that's enough male ego bashing." Dimir pipped in, breaking the two up.
"Listen up. If it wasn't for the mission and Dimir, I'd have blown you up in one second. If you get it, stay at least two meters away from me." Chuuya told Dazai.
"Oh, yeah? Suit yourself." Dazai said, walking away.
"But-:
"Come on, Dimir. Let's give him his space." Dazai told her, pulling her back while Chuuya opened to the door to the cabin.
Inside, Chuuya found a trap door in the floor. While he opened it, Dazai, his one good arm wrapped around Dimir's shoulders as he laid his chin on her head, peered around the door.
"Dazai, ever heard of "Petrus"?" Chuuya asked.
"I have. It's a brand of wine so expensive that very few people in the world can afford it. It's certainly something I'll never get to try." Dimir remarked.
"Right. The night you disappeared from the organization, Dazai, I opened a bottle of Petrus 1889 to celebrate. That's how much I hate you, bastard." Chuuya said.
"Then good for you." Dazai said while Dimir muttered, "Lucky" under her breath. "Now that you mention it, I also celebrated that day by rigging your car with a bomb."
"So that was you?!" Chuuya snapped turning to look at Dazai.
"Osamu, you didn't." Dimir said, looking up at him. When all she got in reply was a smile, she knew he had, indeed, rigged Chuuya's car with a bomb. To Chuuya's surprise, Dimir elbowed Dazai in the gut, making him release her. "That's not nice, Osamu. It doesn't matter how much you dislike someone."
"Finally someone get's i-"
"There's never a reason to blow up a perfectly good car!"
Chuuya stared at Dimir with a deadpan look on his face when she cut him off and finished with something about cars. And here he thought she was going to stand up for him. Instead, she stood before Dazai, hands on her hips and one cheek puffed out in annoyance as she frowned at Dazai.
"It's not like it was a car anything like your's." Dazai told her.
"I don't care. You could have hurt someone...you could have hurt Chuuya! That's not okay, Osamu." Dimir told him, shaking a finger at him.
Okay, so maybe she was standing up for him.
In her own way.
Once she was sure she had gotten her point across, Dimir turned, and, leaving the two to follow her, started down the ladder to the hall below. Chuuya went next, Dazai bringing up the rear. When they reached the bottom, Dimir was already looking around.
"Ughh, this is getting on my nerves." Chuuya remarked.
"Is it me?" Dimir asked.
"No. Dazai's face and attitude and clothes all get on my nerves." Chuuya told her.
"I also hate everything about you, Chuuya. Except your fashion sense in shoes." Dazai said, going on ahead of Chuuya and Dimir.
Chuuya, surprised by this, lifted his right foot to look down at his shoe.
"Oh? Really?" he asked.
"Yeah, of course. Not. Your shoes are the worst." Dazai replied.
"You jerk!"
Dazai ducked as Chuuya swung a kick at him that, thankfully, missed. Dazai turned to him, smirking.
"It's no use. I know the timing of your attacks and your breathing pattern like the back of my hand." Dazai told him.
"That's it. I'm seriously gonna crush your skull." Chuuya declared.
"Enough!" Chuuya was taken by surprise when Dimir suddenly dived forward, wrapping her arms around one of his to hug it to her chest. Chuuya, his face going a little red, looked down at her as she hung off his arm, looking up at him with a pleading look. "We're suppose to be here on a mission, so, please, stop. Can't the two of you act your age and go five minutes without trying to harm each other? And that goes for you too, Osamu. Leave Chuuya alone."
While she probably meant for her expression to be stern and menacing, Dazai found it far too cute to be either, but he didn't say that to her face. He merely put his hands up in the air in surrender while she continued to cling to Chuuya's arm. Dimir nodded and turned her attention to Chuuya.
"Please, Chuuya? I promised my director that I'd bring Osamu home in one piece." Dimir pleaded.
"Wait! Are you implying that you think he'd win?!" Dazai demanded, pointing at Chuuya.
"In a straight up fight, no blackmail or other mind tricks allowed? Yes." Dimir replied honestly. Chuuya grinned widely while Dazai hung his head. Dimir was basically saying that Dazai was all brains, no action. "Anyway, in case you two didn't notice, we've found him."
Dimir pointed past Dazai. They had come to the end of the hall and were now in a room that was empty save for a boy being restrained by thick vines, and a chair that held the curse doll.
"That is the sleeping beauty waiting for rescue." Dazai said as Dimir released Chuuya's arm.
"Sleeping beauty, huh..." Chuuya repeated as Dazai started towards the boy.
"We have to cut off the roots. Lend me your knife, Chuuya." Dazai called.
Chuuya reached into his coat, looking for the knife he kept there.
"Huh? Okay...hmm? It should be right-"
"Ah. I've already swiped it just in case." Dazai said, cutting off Chuuya.
"You bastard..." Chuuya growled.
"Osamu." Dimir called in warning.
"I know, I know." Dazai told her, turning to the boy with the knife in hand. "Well then, let's get to work."
Dimir stiffened when Dazai, instead of cutting the boy loose, held the blade to the child's throat.
"Not gonna stop me?" Dazai asked, looking back at Chuuya.
"The boss has ordered me to bring him back alive. But judging from this distance, you'll kill him before I reach you. Besides, when I look at this brat, the sight of the body bags holding my subordinates who died from his curse starts dancing in front of my eyes. Do it." Chuuya told him, making Dimir's head whip around so she could stare at him.
"Really? Then I'll help myself." Dazai said, turning back towards the boy.
In a flash of electricity though, Dazai found Dimir suddenly standing between him and Q, gripping the wrist of the hand holding the knife so tight, Dazai was surprised by her sheer strength. He couldn't see her face with the way her head was tilted, her bangs hiding her eyes.
"Dimir..."
"No. You aren't killing him." Dimir said lowly, cutting off Dazai.
"Dimir-"
"I said no! I am well aware of what came from his ability, but just as we had no say in the abilities we were born with, neither did he. He's a child, for crying out loud! Regardless of whether or not he's killed someone...we aren't gods!" Chuuya froze as Dimir snapped this, the girl looking up at Dazai with a fierce look, her eyebrows furrowing together. Dazai knew just by looking into her eyes that she would never let him harm the boy. Chuuya, though, was frozen by the look in her eyes as she said the word "gods". It was almost...pained. "We have no right to decide who lives and who dies! You will not kill him, Osamu, do you hear me? You'd have to go through me first."
For a moment, Dazai was speechless, shocked by just how fiercely Dimir was defending a boy she had never met before. By this point, he knew Dimir well enough to know that she wouldn't budge on this and she would probably zap the mother-loving-God out of him if he tried. Recovering from his shock, he gave her a smile.
"Dimir...I'm not going to kill him."
"Wh...what?" Dimir asked, surprised.
"Now naive. Your goody two-shoes act also puts me off." Chuuya remarked.
"While Q is alive in the mafia's hands, my ability is indispensable as a safety catch, right? In that case, the mafia can't afford to kill me. It's a logical decision." Dazai said, giving Dimir a grin.
Dimir stared at him, blinking in utter shock. While she knew this was normally how Dazai was, she had never thought he would go so far as to toy with a child's life. It had her hanging her head in disbelief that she had actually fallen for his trick.
"So?" Chuuya asked.
"It's up to the mafia whether to kill him or not. Unlike the mafia, we didn't suffer any great losses. The victim at the Detective Agency was...we only had to put up with Kunikida's torrent of embarrassing yaps." Dazai told him.
"So an agent also got cursed? What happened afterward?" Chuuya asked.
"I recorded the whole thing, of course." Dazai said simply before turning to Dimir, who still had not budged from her spot. "So, now that you know, you can release m-"
Dazai was cut off when suddenly, before he could activate his own ability to defend himself, he was zapped. When he crumbled to the ground, twitching from the zap he had just received, Dimir released his arm. Looking down at him with displeasure, Dimir braced her fists on her hips.
"That wasn't funny, Osamu! As punishment, I refuse to be your pillow for a whole month." Dimir told him.
It sounded ridiculous to Chuuya, but, to his surprise, it was taken seriously by Dazai, who jolted back to himself.
"What? Come on, Dimir, it was just a joke. There's not need to be cruel." Dazai begged her.
"No." Dimir crossed her arms as she looked down at him. "What you just did was cruel. You can live one month without using me as a pillow."
What the hell is their relationship?!
Chuuya thought this as he watched Dazai beg Dimir to change her mind, only for Dimir to turn her back on him, her arms crossed. In the end, Dazai cut Q loose, Dimir helping Chuuya to load the boy up on his back while Dazai grabbed the doll. With that, the three started back up to the cabin, Chuuya leading the way with Dimir right behind him and Dazai bringing up the rear.
"Hey, Shitty Dazai," Chuuya called, looking back at Dazai. "Give me that doll."
"No can do. I'll be keeping it for now, just to be on the safe side." Dazai replied.
"Ughh, dammit. You never listen to me, do you, extra-stuff-that-comes-with-the-bandages!" Chuuya retorted.
"What did you say? I don't wanna hear that from a hat rack like you." Dazai shot back.
"Tacky bastard!"
"Petite Mafia."
"Social misfit!"
Dimir heaved a sigh as the two threw insults back and forth. She was starting to think that nothing would make the two give up their dislike of each other.
"That kind of flimsy insult bounces right off me, you know." Dazai told Chuuya.
"Imma send your address to every woman you've left crying." Chuuya threatened.
"Hump. That's...actually, could you not do that?"
This made Dimir turn to look back at Dazai, raising an eyebrow as her hands went to her hips once more.
"Osamu...what did you do to those poor women?" Dimir demanded.
From the way a sweat broke out on Dazai's forehead as he turned his face away from her, Dimir had a feeling it was something she didn't want to know.
"You know what...make that two months."
"Dimir!"
Chuuya grinned as Dazai whined about Dimir bumping his punishment up from one month to two. Still grinning to himself, Chuuya lead the way to the door. Pushing it open, he stepped outside, Dimir right behind him. It was from a few steps behind him that Dimir saw the tentacle that suddenly wrapped around Chuuya's neck, yanking him up off his feet. As Chuuya lost his grip on Q, Dimir dived forward to catch the boy before he could hit the ground.
"Chuuya!" she cried out before her eyes locked in on Lovecraft as he approached.
Seeing him and how his head was all twisted around, Dimir slapped a free hand to her mouth. How could he still be alive when it looked like someone had put his head on upside down.
"For some reason, my shoulders have been feeling stiff. Since a while ago...have I worked my body too hard?" Lovecraft asked, before yanking Chuuya up into the air and flicking him into the side of the cabin.
"Chuuya!"
Dimir turned to the hole in the side of the building, only to find Dazai now standing on top of Chuuya. Dimir gathered Q in her arms and rushed over to the two.
"Hmm, as expected of an ability user of the Guild. Such incredible strength." Dazai remarked.
"Feet off!" Chuya snapped.
"Osamu, get off him! You're only going to make his injuries worse!" Dimir told him.
Dazai backed down, stepping off Chuuya while Dimir crouched to check on him. Assuring her that he was fine, Chuuya got back to his feet. Setting Q down and out of the way, Dimir joined them, the three watching, and Dimir wincing, was Lovecraft snapped his head back into place.
"Here it comes. What should we do?" Chuuya asked.
"Heh. It's nothing to sweat over. I can nullify this kind of attack with just my pinkie-"
Dimir jolted when the next attack smacked Dazai across the face. Chuuya turned out of shock to check on him.
"Chuuya, look out!" Dimir called in warning, already moving out of the way, herself.
Chuuya jumped out of the way, the two of them dodging Lovecraft's the tentacles curled back around, aiming for Dimir, Chuuya jumped in the way, punching them away from her.
"Thank you, Chuuya." Dimir told him.
"No problem. Come on." Chuuya told her. The two took the chance to go check on Dazai. "Hey, Dazai! That's sick. Did you get hit on the head?"
When Dazai looked up, Dimir gasped. There was blood splattered across Dazai's face. She rushed to his side, hand hovering inches from his face as she peered up at him.
"Oh, Osamu...you didn't bite your tongue, did you?" she asked, concerned.
Chuuya, on the other hand, was shocked to see that Dazai was actually pretty hurt.
"I'm fine." Dazai assured Dimir. "Those tentacles...are pretty strange. My ability nullifier is ineffective against them."
"No way. Seriously?" Chuuya asked, both him and Dimir staring at Dazai in shock.
"My ability nullifier makes no exceptions. So that leaves only one possibility...that isn't an ability." Dazai told them.
"That can't be..!"
Dimir and Chuuya turned to look at Lovecraft. If it wasn't an ability then what was it, because Dimir had never seen anything like it.
"Hey, that's a hell of a joke. If that's not an ability, what else can it be?" Chuuya demanded.
"Can't be helped. Let's use that from back then. Operation "Shame and Toad". How does that sound?" Dazai asked.
"Huh? Shouldn't we use "Rain Falls Outside the Window Frame" or "The Fake Flowers Deceit"?" Chuuya replied.
Dimir looked between the two, confusion written on her face. She had no idea what the two of them were talking about.
"Chuuya, have my battle strategies ever been wrong?" Dazai asked.
Chuuya starred at him for a long moment before clicking his tongue in annoyance. He was about to agree, despite not wanting to, when Dimir suddenly grabbed both of their arms and yanked.
"Have you two forgotten about me? I'm here too and I have no idea what you're talking about." she complained.
Both of them looked down at Dimir and then at each other. What they did next, to Dimir, showed just how much time they had spent together. Both of them laid a hand on her shoulders, giving them a pat.
"You just leave this to us." Dazai told her.
"Yeah, sit back with the kid." Chuuya added.
Dimir, her jaw dropping at just how sexist that sounded, turned to watch them walk away from her. Part of her knew it would be rude and mean to hope they messed up, but another part of her, the more humanly correct part of her, wanted to be spiteful. Instead, though, she merely frowned and waited. Maybe they would need her help, maybe not. She would find out.
From where she stood, she watched as Dazai approached Lovecraft, seemingly harmless, only acting as a decoy for Chuuya who, thanks to his shorter height, was hidden behind Dazai. When he was close enough, Dazai ducked, letting Chuuya clear him in a leap and attack Lovecraft. Dimir winced, feeling her stomach turn as Chuuya punched a fist right through Lovecraft's chest, using that to activate his ability.
Lovecraft, his body becoming too heavy for a normal person to bare, crashed into the ground.
"I have the ability to manipulate the gravity of whatever I touch. Stay there till the sun comes up." Chuuya told Lovecraft.
"Nicely done." Dazai praised sarcastically.
"Sheesh...lording over me as if I were a shepherd dog." Chuuya remarked, turning to him.
"I would've used a shepherd dog if I had one. But since I don't, I had to settle for Chuuya." Dazai replied.
"You bastard...May you die as the rottenness spreads from your core to the rest of your body!" Chuuya snapped.
"Then may you also die as your hat consumes your mind, Chuuya." Dazai replied.
"Chuuya, Osamu, look out!"
They had only Dimir's called warning before one of Lovecraft's tentacles flew past them, seemingly taking off Dazai's injured right arm before knocking him to the side. Chuuya turned to look at Lovecraft, only to be confronted by a huge monster as it rose several stories over his head. Chuuya made a dash for Dazai just as Dimir did.
"Dazai...your arm..." Chuuya voiced.
"Chuuya...before I die...there's something I want to ask you..." Dazai gasped.
"W...what are you talking about?! You can't possibly die in a place like this-"
Chuuya cut off, both he and Dimir staring at Dazai with blank looks as Dazai popped his arm out of his torn sleeve, the appendage completely untouched. Dimir was so unamused by this latest joke that when Chuuya grabbed Dazai by his collar, threatening to pummel him, she did nothing to stop him.
"If I'm to fight with injuries, of course I'd come prepared." Dazai told Chuuya.
"If you have time for magic tricks, hurry up and think about what to do with that stuff of nightmares!" Chuuya snapped, pointing towards the monstrous creature that had to be Lovecraft.
"Oh, forget it! Let's just be sitting ducks! We only have one move left!" Dazai replied.
"One move...you want to use "Tainted"?" Chuuya asked.
"Tainted? What's Tainted and why do I not like the look on Chuuya's face when he says that?" Dimir asked.
"We've been known as the "Double Black" since the night we annihilated the enemy organization along with all the surrounding buildings with "Tainted"." Dazai explained, Dimir still not really getting it. Instead of focusing on her, Dazai looked at Chuuya. "However, if I step in too late, you'll die. Your call."
"Die?" Dimir repeated.
"My call, you say? Like I really had a choice whenever you say something like th-"
"NO!"
Both males looked down at Dimir when she yelled that one word in an almost desperate sounding voice. When they looked at her, both were surprised to find a panicked expression on her face as she gave her head a shake. She latched onto Chuuya's arm, holding tightly.
"Dimir-"
"No! Why...why should we put his life on the line! It's not right and it's not fair! We can come up with something else, anything else. Anything that won't risk his life." Dimir insisted.
After how many times, that day alone, she had surprised him, Chuuya would think he would be use to it, but seeing how strongly she was against him risking himself, shocked him all the same. Especially when he noticed how much her hand gripping his sleeve, shook. He was touched, far more than he probably should have been. Laying a hand on hers, he pried her hand off his sleeve, giving her a smile when she looked up at him.
"Don't worry about me. You just make sure that this jerk doesn't back out of his part." Chuuya told her. Dimir stared at him with wide, fearful eyes as he released her hand and turned, taking off, calling back to Dazai. "I'll remember this, emo!"
"Do your best, simpleton." Dazai replied.
"Enemy of all women!" Chuuya snapped.
"Double Black(small)."
"Who the hell's (small)?!"
Dimir, her hands gripped before her, watched Chuuya as he yanked off his gloves, throwing them aside. Dazai laid a hand on her shoulder, making sure she didn't try to go to Chuuya once she saw what was about to happen.
"O, Grantors of dark disgrace...do not wake me again!"
Dimir's eyes widened when she heard the phrase Chuuya said to trigger Tainted. She had never met another ability user who, like her, had a phrase that would trigger the ultimate form of their ability. And what a horrible form his took.
Dimir watched in wide-eyed horror as a dark energy rolled off Chuuya, dark marks spreading up his arms from his finger tips. It was obvious, just looking at his face, that there was no thoughts present. It was like Chuuya had turned into a mindless machine with only destruction as it's one and only purpose. She didn't even notice Dazai leaving her side until she heard him speak to Steinbeck who had regained consciousness.
"Wanna know, loser from the Guild? That is the ultimate form of Chuuya's ability." Dazai told Steinbeck as the three of them watch Chuuya relentlessly attack Lovecraft, destroying everything around him. "In his Tainted state, Chuuya can manipulate surrounding gravitons and increase the density of his own body. He can crush a tank with his bare hands. The projectiles made of compressed gravitons are voids that consume all matter. However, he can't control that ability on his own. Once he activates it, he'll keep on raging till he dies."
Hearing that only increased the concern Dimir felt for Chuuya. Despite him working for the natural enemies of her own organization, Dimir liked to think that she and Chuuya were friends. It hurt her to see one of her friends hurting himself so.
"Still...what on earth are those? No matter how many Chuuya chops off, they grow back in an instant." Dazai remarked. "As his colleague, surely you know what that thing really is."
"Hump. Even if I do, I have no reason to tell you, do I?" Steinbeck replied.
It was then that Dimir noticed that blood was beginning to pour from Chuuya's mouth and nose.
"Osamu, he's bleeding!" Dimir called in concern.
"Yes, Chuuya's at his limit." Dazai said.
"Unfortunately for you, Lovecraft can't be destroyed from the outside." Steinbeck said idly.
""From the outside"? In other words, it'll work if it's an attack from within, right?" Dazai said smugly.
Dimir turned to look at him when she heard that tone in his voice. That tone usually meant something very bad for those around him. She turned just in time to see the little switch in his hand. Before she could question what it was, he hit the switch, an explosion rocking the area and blowing a hole in Lovecraft's armor of tentacles. Even without conscious thought, Chuuya went for the weakness, attacking with the biggest projectile Dimir had seen yet. The resulting blast blew Lovecraft to bits and left a crater behind, Chuuya standing in the middle of it.
Even with the enemy gone and blood now pouring from his mouth and nose, Chuuya continued to rage. Dimir looked at Dazai, but Dazai didn't seem quite ready to stop him. Worried that Chuuya really would kill himself, Dimir darted forward.
"Dimir!"
Dimir ignored Dazai calling her name and made a b-line right for Chuuya. She let out a squeal, guarding her face when Chuuya let off a blast near her, wincing when a large chunk of rock hit her right elbow. Pushing back the pain, Dimir pushed on, reaching out to grab Chuuya's arm.
"Chuuya! Stop!" she cried.
Chuuya whipped around, seizing her already injured arm in a horribly tight grip that had her crying out in pain. He raised his other hand, ready to blast her away too.
"Chuuya, please!"
Dimir looked up at him, giving him a pleading looked, reaching out to cup the side of his face with her free hand. To her surprise...he actually stopped, hesitating as if, for a moment, rational thought had returned to him. Looking down at Dimir, tears of pain in her eyes, her touch on his face, gentle, he hesitated. That was enough of an opening for Dazai to step in, grabbing Chuuya's upraised hand to nullify his ability.
Dimir watched as the dark marks that had appeared on Chuuya, faded, and rational thought returned to Chuuya's eyes.
"The enemy has already been destroyed. Rest, Chuuya." Dazai told him.
Dimir gasped in surprise when Chuuya fell limp against her, dragging her down to the ground with him. He finally released her arm, allowing her to wrap her arms around his chest in order to keep him from flopping over.
"Dammit...Shitty Dazai...Why didn't you stop me...the moment it was over...?" Chuuya demanded.
"I wanted to, but it was funny." Dazai replied.
Half draped over Dimir, Chuuya raised his head enough to glare at Dazai.
"I trusted you...and used Tainted...make sure you take me...back to base...safe..." Chuuya told him.
"Leave it to me, partner." Dazai promised him.
Dimir put a hand back, to brace herself when Chuuya slumped completely against her, out cold. Part of her was concerned about him, but there was another part, a smaller part, that was freaking out because of the fact...Chuuya's face was nestled between her breasts while the rest of him was sprawled out across her body.
It was embarrassing.
To make matters worse, Dazai was more than happy to leave Chuuya there, knowing that Dimir was having trouble trying to move him.
"Unbelievable...that Lovecraft actually got..." Steinbeck turned his eyes to Dazai. "Who the hell are you?"
"Enemies of baddies, I guess." Dazai replied before turning to Dimir. "Alright, let's head home."
"What about Chuuya?" Dimir asked.
"Just leave him."
Dazai came to a stop when a rock bounced off the back of his head. Rubbing the back of his head, Dazai turned to find Dimir frowning at him.
"I'm not leaving Chuuya here. He could be hurt, or taken captive, or worse...he could catch a cold." Dimir argued.
While, normally, Dazai would be more than happy enough to humor Dimir, he was so done with this situation and wanted nothing more to do with Chuuya that night. Dimir could see it in the look on his face. Dazai watched as Dimir's cheeks puffed up and he knew she was about to be stubborn.
"Fine, then I'll take him home myself." Dimir said.
Dazai watched, partly in amusement, as Dimir struggled her way out from under Chuuya and managed to get to her feet and heave Chuuya up onto her shoulders. She was very grateful that Chuuya wasn't any bigger than he was, or she would not have managed it.
"Tell me where he lives." Dimir demanded.
"Like I know." Dazai replied, turning and walking away.
"Osamu!" Dimir huffed when he vanished into the trees. "Fine. I guess I'm just going to have to figure this out for myself. Thank the gods I brought my own car."
Slightly annoyed and repeating "ow, ow, ow" under her breath as her arm continued to hurt her, Dimir started towards her car, dragging Chuuya on her shoulders. When this was all over, she was going to punish Dazai properly.
"Forget two months...I'll make it six."
END
Kyandi: Like I said...I love your way of punishing Dazai.
Dimir: You make me sound so incapable of a bad thought.
Kyandi: That's because, for the most part, you are incapable of bad thoughts.
Dimir: We'll see as the story goes on.
Kyandi: As the story goes on, Dazai and Chuuya have a bad influence on you.
Dimir: It's not just them.
Kyandi: You got a point. Okay, well, I have other stories to work on, so let's wrap this up.
Dimir: Sounds good to me.
Kyandi: Everyone, enjoy and review.
Dimir: We'll return as soon as possible.
Kyandi: Bye-bye