Chuuya
I detest feeling this way but Ane-san was right. Something was bothering me. The worst part of it all was that, I know she knows, and also knows I don't want to admit it.
But I only refuseto admit anything because I've changed now. Something like that shouldn't be bothering me. It should be a mild irritation at most. But regrettably, it had slipped into the recesses of my mind, made its home at the back of my head, and is consuming all my thoughts when I'm least alert.
I feel like Mori knows too, and is deliberately mocking me by sending me on so many life-threatening missions. I bet he's having a laugh. The bastard.
3 people? Really? I had to slog through mud and rain today, collecting all sorts of payments to assassinate 3 people. Why the heck is the Mafia Head accepting so many assassination jobs these days?
Then again, maybe I'm just paranoid. Maybe he doesn't know and is just innocently sending me to carry out important missions due to my talents.
I almost snorted with laughter. Who am I kidding? Since when is Mori-san innocent.
However, I can't figure out his recent obsession with this new, up-start weapons-manufacturing company. Apparently he is interested in their technology and has been investing in their research and development. As such, the rest of the Port Mafia now has to work twice as hard to pay for that research and development. Thus, probably why all the raids and assassination jobs. It's the quickest and easiest way to make money after all … and mock me at the same time.
I glanced at my sodden shoes and cloak, sighing heavily. It's already past 4 in the morning but I still have to do the laundry before I can hit the pillow.
I continued walking down the street, innocent and unsuspecting. Then, a flare of light attacked me as I turned the corner.
I frowned at what seemed to be a strip club with their blinding, pulsating lights from the distance.
Since when did that open up here?
Confused, I approached the place, shielding my eyes. To my utmost horror, I realised that the strip club was just the stupid Late Night Café with ridiculously powerful LED fairy lights strung out in front.
And most insultingly, there was still no sign whatsoever to indicate that this was actually a café!
I burst through the door impulsively, almost breaking the door and bell both, causing several stares from the patrons inside. (Why are people still coming here?!)
The owner of the café – the elderly lady, had just finished serving a slice of cake to a customer. She looked back in astonishment. Then, recognising it was me, her face relaxed.
"Oh! Our perpetually angry customer! I haven't seen you in a while!"
"Perpetually angry?!" I spluttered, then realised I was proving her right by doing so. "What – what in heavens name …" I attempted to correct my tone.
She waved me over to the same seat by the window. How come nobody else seems to sit there? "Please have a seat."
"Lady," I hissed, intentionally not taking the seat and following her to the counter instead. "Why are there flashing lights outside this place now?"
The old lady beamed. "You noticed!"
"Of course I noticed!" I said with exasperation. "I noticed it miles away!" This was an exaggeration but that's what it felt like.
"That means it's working!" She laughed. "I've experienced a small increase in customers since that man gave me this suggestion."
I stared at her, not understanding. My jaw dropped unflatteringly but I didn't care. "Hah?"
"A regular customer gave me the suggestion to put more lights outside to attract people!"
"You have regulars?" This information was even more astounding.
To add to the insult, she looked at me pointedly with amusement. "Yes."
I felt defeated. My mouth was open and probably gaping like a goldfish but I couldn't say a word. This place was attracting customers alright, but in the way one would be curious about a new, sleazy nightclub … only to find that it was in fact, a dingy café run by an old lady.
"Tea?" The elderly woman tilted her head to the side, smiling serenely.
I slinked back to the seat she had directed me to and sat down. Whatever, I could use something calming anyway. Of course, I don't actually like coming here. God, no. I just … haven't visited in a few days and I might as well get something to drink while I'm here.
I put my hat down and bit on my lip, frowning at the menu. The lights outside were distracting me. Finally, I threw my head back in frustration.
"Whoever suggested those dastardly lights have zero taste and zero class!"
Everyone in the room glanced at me nervously and I shot them all a glare, daring them to say something.
Then, the old lady put a cup of steaming tea on my table.
"What is this?" I glared at her too. I haven't ordered a thing.
Despite my glare, she still smiled. "It's chamomile. You look like you could use some."
I glowered at the cup for a moment, then finally took a sip. It was good chamomile, with a hint of mango too.
Grudgingly, I had to give it to this woman. The stuff sold here is good.
"Long day?" She said, passing by my table after making a round to clean the others with a cloth.
I hesitated, and then nodded.
"More paperwork?"
I vaguely remember telling her about my job, skimming over the finer details of course. "Yeah. But it could have been a lot worse."
"Ah, right. Your new … colleague?"
Did I tell her about my subordinate? "Yes …" I replied, unsure of what to say. "She's technically under my management and … umm, she's really efficient and smart."
My mind flashed back to the events of today. The girl had single-handedly operated the running of the 3 assassinations today. Acting as a stakeout, she calmly communicated the targets' location, action and time with amazing precision. She even went as far as to point out red flags or potential obstacles, directing me and my actions.
This was amazing because that was one of the rare few times my nagging thoughts hadn't bothered me. All 3 assassinations had been carried out to perfection.
Come to think of it, we worked really well together even though she had just joined us a week ago. Our moments of cohesion were a strange feeling to me. Was it because it was so rare to find someone you naturally work well with? Or maybe I just really missed working as a pair.
I stopped myself quickly. Wait, what? I felt my heartbeat accelerate. Shit. Not right now.
"Uhh …" I noticed the strange look the lady was giving me. "Yeah, today … today was tiring but great - cause, like, she was a very huge support to the team and all."
The elderly woman's confusion was replaced by amusement again. "I see. And do we have a name to attach to her talents?"
I was slightly taken aback, but was grateful for the distraction to my disturbing thoughts. "O – Okamoto-kun?" I wasn't going to disclose her full name. This was an odd question to ask anyway.
"Looks like you both get along well."
"We do?" I inquired without thinking. I quickly took another sip of tea, almost burning myself.
I can't deny that I've been in a rather weird state of mind lately. Something about what the lady said suddenly stirred up a great ache in my heart. I feel like I'm missing something. Recently, I've been feeling like that since … that night, since both nights … when I used Corruption, and fought against that monster and that fog with …
I bit my lip, hard. The physical pain temporarily froze the conjured memories. My racing thoughts took over. I can't be, I can't be possibly … missing some kind of partnership, am I? I swore I would never depend so heavily on another since, since …
Anger prickled at the back of my eyes and I balled my hands into trembling fists at the table. I will never forgive or forget what he's done. As much as I hate to admit it, I was a complete mess after his traitorous actions.
I hurriedly gulped the remaining tea, this time, I did manage to burn myself but my throbbing head hardly registered the pain.
Whatever the case, whatever that is bothering me, I need it to go. I won't let it affect me or my life anymore. A torturous month of spacing out since that last reunion had been more than enough. Now, I feel like I can move on and start anew. Maybe Okamoto-kun and I will become the newest pair to fear in all of Yokohama.
I started to snicker at myself. Newest pair? Who am I kidding? I'm never relying on anyone ever again.
Dazai
"This is getting ridiculous, Dazai! How long does it take for someone to acquire this little information?!"
I nursed my wounds from Kunikida's thrashing and winced. "There were many complications!"
"Such as?" The angry blond towered over me, having just destroyed half the contents on his desk by hurling them at me.
I rubbed my head, struggling to get to my feet. "Well, for one, the lady at the café is sca – ry."
"Is she now?" He looked unconvinced.
I feigned some distress. "Oh yes! She makes me so ill at ease with her heavy words, I can never get anything out of her!"
Kunikida remained unsympathetic. "Or maybe that's an excuse you just spun to hide your incompetency."
"How mean, Kunikida-kun!"
He chucked a paperweight at me and I dodged, narrowly missing it. It hit the wall behind me and fell with a soft thud to the ground. Looking back, there was a dent in the wall.
"That almost killed –"
"Three days! THREE DAYS DAZAI! Yes I expected you to fail the first day, and even the second but the third? You just decided not to go, giving me some lame excuse about being sick and stayed home –"
I sighed, my head lolling to one side. Another lecture … But a sideway glance to my left saw Ranpo and Yosano at their desks, shooting me dirty looks. The kids, Tanizaki, Naomi and Kenji-kun were similarly looking slightly annoyed.
"Okay, stop!" I held up my hands in surrender finally, my ears having been bled out. "Look, if it bothers you so much, I'll personally take on this mission myself."
Kunikida-kun seemed a little taken aback. "Really? The entire case? Not just the acquisition of information?"
I rolled my eyes. "Ye – esss. The whole damn package. Now will you quit yelling?"
Wordlessly, Kunikida pushed up his spectacles and turned to sit back at his desk. He started typing on his laptop. "Just find this person by the end of the month."
"Assuming she isn't dead."
"It doesn't matter what happened to her. Just locate where she is and what state she's in."
I crossed my arms and went over to sit on Kunikida-kun's desk which was significantly more empty now than it had been before. I feel unusually annoyed about this whole case. It was odd enough for the police of another state to push this to us – a missing woman with barely any family connections. Besides, they have already declared her dead, so why bother continuing investigations?
But I guess, after reasoning it out, I do know why. This girl was suspected of being involved with a criminal organisation in Kawasaki. The police had found some evidence of her being in some form of contact with them in her apartment. With her mother in Yokohama, and the organisation also being known for their ability users in the past, the Kawasaki police had decided it was best to hand the case over to the government's pride and joy – The Armed Detective Agency. After all, being associated with a criminal organisation immediately makes you a person of interest. The government cannot simply write off someone like that as "dead" and leave it as it is.
I say "past" when referring to said organisation because they had supposedly been snuffed out by our very own Port Mafia after running into conflict with them. I chided them silently. Their fault for trying to extend their puny influence into Yokohama.
"Oi, Dazai," Kunikida's voice suddenly broke my chain of thought. "I just received an email. You may want to take a look at this."
I read the email sent to the ADA by the Chief of the Kawasaki police. Apparently, they had continued investigating that criminal organisation to aid us in our case. I gave a snort of laughter, earning me a disapproving look from Kunikida-kun. The Kawasaki police were probably trying to wash their hands off their guilt and shame for giving up this case.
I continued reading, initially only mildly interested in what the email was addressing. However, my interest was piqued when the Chief later outlined a recent discovery and escape of a government official that was also a spy for an unknown organisation. He had gotten away by using his ability, killing the police officers after him. Since then, he had gone underground. Upon further investigations of his files and belongings, they had found that this spy had been involved with them since their conception, about 5 years ago.
After reading this, I felt a smile curl at the side of my lips.
"Don't jump to conclusions, Dazai. We still don't know the name of this organisation."
I hopped down from the table and approached the door. "Even so –"
"Even so be cautious! Don't act rashly, Dazai. And don't smear the name of the Armed Detective Agency!"
"Yes, Mum," I sang, opening the door. I could hear snickers from the rest of the Agency members behind me, as well as Kunikida-kun's angry protesting.
Then, Atsushi and Kyouka who had arrived back from a mission came to the opened door, looking very drenched (it was pouring outside) and confused.
"What's going on? Where are you going?" The white-haired boy asked, draping a towel over Kyouka.
I grinned widely. "I'm going to take a little field trip!"
Chuuya
Sometimes I think I should keep a journal. Maybe writing down how I feel … confessing my thoughts on paper, it'll help me feel better.
Or it could make them worse.
Today, I just had one. It wasn't a particularly bad one, definitely not the worse, but it was from such a long time ago, I found it rather surprising.
Four years ago, to be precise.
I wiped the perspiration off my brow and sat up, pulling my knees together. I like to think about my dreams … well, nightmares for a while before attempting sleep again. It's how I calm myself and re-organise my thoughts.
I established a steady rhythm of breath as I went through the events that had been playing out in my head seconds ago. It was a mission I had gone on with that … that shitty ex-partner of mine. Its aim: revenge.
Boss had instructed us to acquire the money a certain politician had taken from us after suing the Port Mafia in court. He told us to use "any means" possible.
My dream itself was only focused on the memory of standing in the library of the politician's mansion with my partner. It was 9pm and according to the information gathered, the man of the hour shouldn't be at home 'till 10.
We kidnapped his wife who had been reading there, issued a ransom note and was about to leave when their housemaid unknowingly strode into the library with a duster. She looked barely 15-years of age.
I dropped the unconscious wife I had been carrying and immediately moved to pin the girl down before she could run.
I heard my partner's footsteps, heavy on the carpet as he approached me, carrying the politician's wife.
"Kill her," he instructed.
"Why?" I had replied. "Let's take her too."
"And do what? No one cares for this girl. She's an orphan who has been hired to do chores in a wealthy house. There's no name or value to her."
Still, I hesitated, looking at the girl lying face down on the ground under my weight. She was trembling slightly, just like the blade on her neck.
"Kill her," came the instruction again. Cold and void of emotion.
Closing my eyes, I waited a second to apologise silently. Then, I calmly slit her throat and stood up to clean my blade.
"Oh thank god," my partner sighed, pushing the wife towards me. "That took forever! I thought my arms were going to give out!"
Just then, I felt something grabbing my leg. I whirled around, letting out a gasp as the corpse of the girl clasped another hand around my leg, pulling herself up shakily. Her neck was a deep scarlet, staining the floor and her clothes.
"You think an apology will justify your actions?" The girl started laughing, her whole body shaking.
"Chuuya, what -"
I never got to hear the end of my partner's sentence as her left arm stretched itself a good few metres forward to pierce through his chest. I ran to him though there wasn't much I could do.
"Da – ah!" I her right arm also extended forward, hands now gripping my neck. The girl lifted me from the floor. I started to choke.
"You're next."
The last thing I heard was her maniacal laughter before my eyes flew open and I found myself lying spread eagled in bed.
I need a drink, I thought to myself, pulling apart from my knees and heading to the kitchen for some alcohol to knock me out. It was only 1pm. I still had a few hours of daytime left before I had to report to work later anyway.
A/N: I hope that everyone's enjoying the fic so far? I understand the slow burn/build is not for everyone, but I really hope you can understand it! Oh, by the way, this fic can be found on A03 as well! Do hit me up on there if you like! And please pray for Chuuya baby :(
