It burned. Hotter than Fiendfire and colder than the Dementor's breath all at once. Liquid fire raced through the nerves of Harry's torso to his brain in burning volleys of malicious flame. It hurt horribly. But it was not the worse pain Harry had ever experienced. This Akutagawa fellow was powerful and good at inflicting pain. But he was not Voldemort.

And that made all the difference.

Harry gasped as he struggled to stay on his knees. In front of him, Junichirou continued to look horrified while Naomi looked a few seconds away from a panic attack. Behind him, Akutagawa's measured steps clipped steadfastly closer. A pale hand gripped Harry's hair and pulled the wizard's head back harshly. Harry gagged as the movement pushed his ruined chest forward. Blood dribbled from his mouth in crimson spurts. Harry pulled in another painful breath and turned his eerily cat-like eyes to the gray pair above him. Though he continued to gasp painfully, there was no mistaking the challenge still residing in Harry's eyes.

"Are you not afraid? You should be." Akutagawa gripped Harry's hair tighter and painfully lifted him a little further off the ground.

"Fear death." Akutagawa turned his attention to the Tanizaki couple. "Fear slaughter. Those who desire death have an equal desire to die. Therefore... I suggest you tell me where the Were-Tiger really is. After all, we both know that your sister has no ability... and your own is perfectly useless in combat." Akutagawa then gestured at Harry's shuddering form. The wizard was fighting for every breath. Blood trickled from his mouth and gushed from the hole in his stomach. "Unless of course, you fancy this future?" Akutagawa chuckled darkly and shook Harry's form roughly. Harry spit out another glob of blood and looked to Junichirou's reply.

"I-I," Junichirou stuttered. The red head glanced between his sister and Harry, obviously overwhelmed. After a moment, his gaze settled on Harry and hardened. Determination filled his stance, though he still trembled slightly.

"I'm sorry but that information is c-confidential." Junichirou said. Through the pain, Harry felt a spark of surprise. Even though Junichirou hadn't known Harry that long and had probably assumed the worst based on what he'd heard, the young ability user was still sticking up for Harry.

"Your choice." Though softly delivered, there was no mistaking the change Akutagawa's words caused. The tension filled air became charged with unmistakable blood lust as dark shadow and blood colored lightning sparked at Akutagawa's feet. The mafia member dropped Harry casually to the side as he began to step forward. Harry gagged up another fistful of blood when his body collided with the ground. For a moment, the wizard's eyes only perceived random splotches of light and darkness as his nerves shrieked in agony.

When Harry could see again, Akutagawa was halfway down the alley. Beside him, a darkened beast of wispy shadow and violent energy followed impatiently. Harry had to blink for a moment at the sight of it. Primarily, the creature was merely a floating, demonic head with a long trail of energy leading back to its master. Crimson lightning danced dangerously along its form. Though it couldn't hold a candle to what Harry had seen in the Wizarding World, it was certainly the strangest thing he had seen in this world.

"This is your last chance to tell me where the Were-Tiger is. Rashoumon has no more patience for your defiance." Akutagawa threatened. At the end of the alley, the Tanizaki couple huddled close to each other. Naomi clung to Junichirou's back and gazed with wide eyed fear at the dangerous beast approaching them. Junichirou wasn't much better. Though he tried to place his body between Rashoumon and Naomi, his knees were knocking together, and it was obvious the young detective was distinctly terrified.

Yet, Junichirou still would not give in. Though he appeared too terrified to speak, the red head shook his head vehemently and firmed his trembling stance as much as he could.

"Very well." Harry struggled to draw in a deep breath.

Rashoumon rushed forward.

"Expecto Patronum!" Harry shouted as loudly as his feeble body could manage. Thankfully, it was enough. Silver strands of power bloomed from thin air. Threads of love and memory wove together seamlessly. Will, hope, and determination coalesced into a single, magnificent form. It was power incarnate.

Silver and pewter antlers stood proudly atop a regal head while sure-footed hooves glided gracefully foreword. A coat of priceless mithril gleamed even in the darkened alley. Prongs stood in all of his ethereal beauty and awe-inspiring power.

The being of light clashed with the dark creature in an almost symbolic meeting of opposing forces. With a harsh shove, the silver stag forced Rashoumon from its course. Rashoumon veered away from the cowering humans and struck the side of the alley with a heavy bang. Dust clouds rose, and Harry found himself unable to see anything. Yet, he wasn't worried. He knew exactly what Prongs had been crafted from and for. The beast of priceless memories would not fail against something contrived from merely pain and suffering.

However, Harry's own predicament, was a bit more pressing. Blood was still seeping quickly from his wounded abdomen and he was having increasing difficulty with simply breathing. He needed to finish this and get some medical attention, or at least seize enough time to heal himself.

The dust settled to reveal Prongs standing guard in front he Naomi and Junichirou. Rashoumon circled around his own master in dizzying shows of rage and murderous intent.

"You still aren't afraid, are you?" This time, light gray eyes rested solely on Harry's prone form. Harry gave a defiant and painful grin in return.

"Why… should I… be?" Harry gasped out. His shaking arms pushed him painfully upright. Harry leaned against the wall tiredly. On a whim, he flipped a bird at the Port Mafia member before grinning at the suddenly murderous gaze directed his way.

"Because life can always be made as painful as possible before death." Akutagawa narrowed his eyes at Harry's blatant display of nonchalance. Then, he was moving. It seemed to happen in a mere moment. Prongs surged forward in defense of its master while Rashoumon advanced with madness and fury. The two opposing forces seemed fit to collide in an insurmountable amount of force. And then…

"Maa… I think that's enough." Dazai announced slyly as he landed between the two supernatural entities. He raised his hands and touched both Prongs and Rashoumon gently. Bright lines of script swirled through the air beautifully and Harry found himself blinking. To him, the runic scripts reminded him slightly of the magical runes used back in the Wizarding World. Was there a connection between the two?

Wind roared as both creatures dispersed in thin air. Rashoumon, back to his master and Prongs… went where ever spirit guardians hung out when not called into physical form. Harry somewhat hysterically wondered if they all played poker and talked about their human charges. He felt like he wouldn't be too surprised if that was the case.

…

He should really get the blood loss taken care of. It was beginning to affect his thought processes.

"You're one of those detectives!" Higuchi gasped. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm the type that can't stop thinking about what a beautiful lady might be up to. Besides, I've got a little Kohai to look after now. He's supposed to be on the straight and narrow path, you know." Dazai turned towards Harry. The man frowned at the state Harry was in; though if it was due to actual care or simply to insure the Agency didn't get in trouble for him, Harry wasn't sure. "So, to insure everything went as planned," Dazai turned back to Higuchi. "I decided to listen in." The detective grinned as he held up a piece of muggle technology. It looked somewhat like a radio.

"Impossible!" Higuchi gasped. She felt around in her clothes and finally fished out a smaller, matching muggle device. The poor woman looked to be in shock as she stared at the device. Combined with her wounded leg, she very well could be, Harry mused to himself.

Harry blinked when Dazai's face appeared before him. The man had walked over to Harry's side at some point; Harry wasn't lucid enough to tell.

"He got you good, didn't he?" Dazai asked. Harry wasn't sure if the man was speaking to himself or to Harry. Either way, he didn't really feel up to giving a reply. Each breath held small a battle and Harry was still losing massive amounts of blood. Combined with summoning Prongs via wandless magic, Harry felt lightheaded and somewhat ill.

"Maa… I guess I'll just have to carry you." Dazai murmured as he reached down and hoisted Harry up. The detective placed his should under Harry and wrapped both arms around the wizard in order to support him.

The movement left Harry gagging out unhealthy amounts of blood. His vision dissolved into bright lights and flashes of color. Harry's hearing fuzzed out into blurbs of random static as the pain the wizard was experiencing flashed furiously across his brain. When Harry could next make sense of the world, the situation had become rather tense.

Higuchi had levered herself up against the wall at some point and was pointing a pistol at Dazai. For a moment, Harry readied his magic for a swift protego. However, it didn't come to that.

"Don't, Higuchi." Akutagawa ordered as he turned to look at the blond woman. "You can't win."

"But, Akutagawa-senpai…" The woman murmured in quiet disbelief. Harry found himself blinking in shock as well. He knew that Akutagawa likely relied on his supernatural gift in battle, and a match-up against Dazai likely wasn't the best… but to forfeit before they had exchanged a single blow? Why? Certainly, Junichirou could back Dazai up in a fight, but even then, it was still two against two. And Agency members didn't seem to fancy guns; or at least they hadn't from what Harry had seen.

"Dazai-san, we'll retreat for this round." Akutagawa continued to concede before making a parting statement. "But the Were-Tiger will be the Port Mafia's someday."

"Why?" Dazai asked calmly.

"Simple enough. The black market has put a bounty on him. The buyers are willing to pay seven billion yen." Harry found himself taken aback. Though new to this world, he had gained a rudimentary understanding of their currency system. Seven billion yen was nothing to scoff at. Anyone with that much money need not worry for a very, very long time. Dazai seemed to shared Harry's shock.

"That's very generous." The detective voiced his surprise.

"We'll pay your agency a visit later. The Port Mafia will claim the seven billion."

"Is that a declaration of war on the Armed Detective Agency?" Despite Akutagawa's ominous words, Dazai appeared unfazed. Rather, he seemed quite amused by the Port Mafia member's intention. "Try it… if you dare." Dazai taunted with a grin. For a moment, Akutagawa appeared to take Dazai's words seriously. Then Higuchi butted in.

"You are an insignificant, small scale operation. We are this city's darkness made incarnate." Higuchi growled in impotent rage. "We have connections to this city's politics and economy at every level. An agency with a dozen or so operatives will become ashes along with your entire office in less than three days' time. No one has opposed us and lived!" She barked like an indignant dog.

"I know all of that." Dazai murmured carelessly.

"Indeed. You know better than anyone being and ex-Port Mafia member, Dazai-san." Akutagawa stated. Harry found himself freezing in shock. Dazai? Part of the mafia? In what realm? The man could only hold his current job due to his insane luck and instincts. His attitude and manners along would ordinarily get him murdered by angry fathers without adding in illegal business. Yes, Harry had thought the man shady, but he had seemed too individual and rage-inducing to belong to any sort of serious organized crime. Who in the world could stand him besides the Agency that needed his ability and wits?

Behind the pair, Junichirou let out a high-pitched squawk. Naomi didn't make any noise Harry could hear, but Harry was sure that she was also in shock at Akutagawa's accusation.

Yet Dazai didn't flinch. He merely shifted his weight a little and gave shrug.

"Maa… I though you were leaving, Akutagawa."

"I am. Higuchi, let's go."

"Hai, Akutagawa-Senpai." Within a few minutes, the two Port Mafia members had left the alley.

HEY! ATTENTION! IMPORTANT STUFF IN HERE FOR ONCE!

My internet has been out. I'm sorry but I'm using my grandmother's hotspot to post this and I don't want to hear any complaints on account of being late. It is actually NOT my fault this time. Surprisingly.

If you want to go hassle somebody go hassle Century Link on account of crappy internet for Southern Alabama. Seriously, just because they are the only provider down here does not give them the right to say one internet line per building and then cut off the second one that we've been paying for all along. Also, the top half of the building is a freaking office and NO they aren't going to share with the family that lives downstairs. GRRRR... do you guys know how frustrating it is to get home for spring break and realize you can't do ANY anime binging, fanfiction writing, or like... any internet interaction due to Century Link pulling serious CRAP! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...

Also, I got my wisdom teeth pulled. And let me tell you... this house... has never felt so boring. And that's probably another reason I'm short on temper. Being without internet at home means I have to get off the pain meds way early so that I can go drive to starbucks and use their internet to write my six page argumentative essay draft due for Eng 102. And yes, its freaking painful.

SO GRRRR... please, if you love me, go bother Century Link concerning their crappy service on my behalf. And... I probably don't make much sense in here due to being pain but whatever. I'm sorry the update is short, I tried to make up for it in quality but in my defense I just had freaking surgery and have had no solid food and am thus absolutely famished.

Please go hassle, annoy, bother, and generally make hell for Century Link,

~Blitza