Whaaaa?!... An update already?! WTF!

Lol!

It just so happens that I've been bit by a writing bug! I swear i was going to have this out last week but then my dog Really bit my dominant hand so I couldn't type for a week. But it's better now and I'm back.

Light chapter this time. After the last couple of intense ones, I thought we needed to take a breath. But this is the the first of a plot I've been planning from the start.

"Why do you have to go out again, big brother? You were out all night, I couldn't sleep a wink without you there beside me; worrying if you were ok!"

Junichiro thought he was going to pass out from how tight Naomi's arms squeezed him, oxygen was becoming a fond memory he would love to relive. Granted, this was nothing compared to her assault on him when he returned to their home at first light after patrolling all night with Albatross.

The things she did with her teeth… he would have marks for a month! He still wasn't sure how he was able to walk to work afterwards. "N-Naomi, it… it's his majesty's orders. The entire Agency is on red alert right now, you know I hate leaving you but until this perpetrator is caught, the city won't be safe."

Naomi puffed her cheeks to emphasize her displeasure before she started shouting. "How do you expect me to care about the city if it means I lose you?! I nearly lost you to one psycho with a gun already, now you're off chasing another one who chops people into bits! What if you find him and Light Snow doesn't work like last time?"

To Junichiro, his little sister hung the sun, moon, and stars, he loved her more than any heart should have room for. That's why he did everything to always keep them together no matter what life had thrown at them. His only reason for living was to make her happy every second of every day… regardless of what that entailed. So knowing he was the cause of her distress, did nothing to alleviate his despondency or exhaustion.

"Naomi, It wasn't that Light Snow didn't work before, it was that I was careless and didn't see that pregnant woman until she stumbled. I hadn't extended the illusion that far off range so when I saw the gunman take aim, I just acted. I wasn't thinking, I just couldn't let her or her baby die." He tried reassuring her with a sincere smile. "But I promise I know better now, I'm never going to do anything that keeps me from coming back to you ever again."

His unfeigned words never ceased to make her heart swoon… or her core wet. Her big brother's heroic act and dedication only amplified her already bounteous love for him. Selfish as it was to want him home safe in her arms always, she would have the image of him lifeless and bleeding in her mind's eye forever.

All those long hours she spent thinking he was going to die nearly destroyed her! Were it not for Princess Akiko– Dr. Yosano's gift and skill… And here he was, risking putting her through all of that again and the only person who could save him is away on a mission!

Nothing he said would put her mind at ease and if he wasn't going to do anything about it, then she would. "Fine! I'll just go straight to the King's and demand they remove you from patrol duty!"

"Huh?"

But Naomi was already halfway to the elevators by the time Junichiro processed what she said. His expression resembled a deer in headlights as he ran after her. "Wait Naomi! You can't just barge into the head office anytime you want!"

"Watch me!"

Junichiro came close to having a heart attack when she hit the Up button. "H--ang on… think about security! There's no way an army of armed soldiers will let you by without permission. Y--you have to be Dazai, or miss Akiko, or… or Kunikida, or Ranpo!!!"

Naomi looked more annoyed than worried. Her brother wasn't going to sway her, she'd fight her way through and kick down the door if she had to. She intended to give King Mori a lethal piece of her mind.

The bell chimed before the doors opened and the siblings were only moderately surprised to see Hirotsu inside but it was obvious he hadn't expected to see them waiting in front of the main elevator. While the others stopped a couple floors below the head office, this was the only one that went all the way to the top.

"If it isn't the young Tanizaki's…"

Junichiro panicked. "M--m–m--m--mister Hirotsu, sir! Eh… w--we weren't doing anything! Naomi hit the wrong button by accident is all! W--we'll be on our way now." He took his sister by the shoulders, trying to push her forward, she shrugged him off and got right in the elder man's face, which only made him panic more.

"Listen Hirotsu, go tell your boss to pull my brother off the night petrol or I will! He just recovered from the Azure King fiasco and now he's being thrown right back into the front lines, I won't stand for it!"

Junichiro braced himself for the worst; ready to drop to his knees and plead with their superior not to suspend them– or worse– however, Hirotsu just sighed and reached for his cigarettes.

"You should go home and get some sleep, Junichiro, you're not on duty tonight, but be back for your shift tomorrow."

The siblings blinked, not expecting that. It was Naomi to break out of the stupor first, guns ablazing… metaphorically. "Forget it!!! He's not going back out there– Ugh! Why am I talking to you? I'm going up there and giving your boss a thorough thrashing until he–"

"Miss Tanizaki!" Hirotsu stopped her, keeping his composure but his tone indicated he was nearing his limit. "I understand your concern and sympathize, however I'll not abide threats to my King!" It was no secret the younger Tanizaki served the Twilight but all under The Agency banner were required to recognize both King's authority. Governing two separate sectors however they saw fit; they were still collective monarchs. "Remember, Junichiro is an exemplary member of our forces,"

"I am?" Junichiro asked, baffled.

"He's needed now more than ever, all able bodies are! With our commander and chief medical officer away, his majesty is not taking the men's lives lightly. Carefully orchestrated units are being distributed in shifts, which is why I've ordered Junichiro home for today. Until our Prince and Princess return, this is how it must be."

But Naomi didn't agree. "Wait just a damn minute, this isn't fair!"

Now he wasn't so concerned about maintaining his composure. "Fair you say? What's not fair is our city under threat and my own subordinates being butchered like lambs!" He would never forgive himself for sending those sweet, brilliant, ambitious young girls to the slaughter like that, it was a simple surveillance assignment, he never thought they'd be in real danger. If that slimy little worm, Ace was responsible in any way… "Have you forgotten them already?"

It was as if someone splashed her with cold water. The fact that those girls died was the very reason she didn't want her big brother out patrolling, but that didn't mean she didn't want justice for them; her tantrum must've come off as the opposite. It made her too ashamed to continue looking Hirotsu in the eye.

Junichiro came to cart her off but not before bowing an apology to their superior on both of their behalfs. Hirotsu took a deep breath to gather himself again. "As punishment for your insubordination, Miss Tanizaki, you will stay an extra two hours for work today, unpaid." She nodded, done raising a fuss. He turned to the elder sibling. "Go home and get some rest. That's an order."

He watched them walk away, defeated. He suspected Junichiro would see Naomi to her duties then reluctantly go home. They couldn't stand to be apart so it was possible their parting would include something erotic.

He didn't care, he just needed some fresh air to enjoy poisoning his lungs.

He hated all of this waiting and worrying. Hated all of this guilt and anger. Hated feeling like there wasn't anything he could do.

Or was there?...

It was all hands on deck for The Agency after all, and since their majesties refused to cancel the fast approaching charity ball, they would need all the elite manpower and resources they could get. Discarding his cigarette on the steps, Hirotsu pulled out his cellphone and hit the speed dial, it rang twice before a gruff voice answered.

"Yeah?"

"You're needed back, Iceman."

"Right."

As much as he hated pain, Dazai had always been one of the few individuals who could take a beating from his little sister. Troublesome as it was, growing up, he was the only person besides Ranpo who knew how to be there for her in whatever way she needed.

Her guard when she had nightmares, staying up all night by her side so that she felt safe. Her rock when she had panic attacks, guiding her out of her traumatic state. Her accomplice when she had to get back at her shity boyfriends who were only interested in the Princely status she could provide… And of course, her punching bag when she needed to vent.

Normally he did his best to avoid that last one… The only times he allowed himself to be in such terminal dilemmas? Simple, when he knew he deserved it.

Currently laying in a bruised heap with the deadly doctor's heel pressed against his throat, he knew he deserved it, but damn if it didn't hurt!

"You conniving son of a bitch!!!"

The heel ground into his Adam's apple, nobody could accuse Akiko of compassion when she needed to let off steam. "You goddamned deceitful prick! I wish we were back home so I could use my jumper cables on you!!!" She removed her foot, allowing him to sit up so she could pammel him again. "The thought of seeing you lit up like a Christmas tree is very satisfying right now."

Dazai looked at her impassively. "Are you done?" His throat hadn't hurt this bad since he took Kunikida to that high end tea house for lunch and stuck him with the bill.

"Not even close!" Akiko ran to punch him but Dazai grabbed her fist.

"Well I am." In one swift move, he yanked her arm behind her and forced her against the wall, careful to avoid her defensive attacks.

"Let go of me you asshole!" She struggled but he just brought her other arm behind too then pressed into her back.

"No! I understand why you're mad at me and I've let you unload, now you're going to listen to what I have to say!" No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't break out of his hold. Curse him for knowing all of her tactics, and even more for how hard he shoved against the wall! Making her hairpin grind against her skull.

"Did it ever occur that maybe I'm just as furious about the old boss as you are? I know what he took from you but don't think for a moment that I don't hate him just as much as you do!... And the fact that someone had the gall to pull him out of hell… Well that absolutely thrills me."

She gasped, sensing her brother's malice cloak her like a winter's chill you couldn't shake, no matter how many fires you started.

"Yes, we have to find the one responsible and apprehend them for both Yokohama's sake and our murdered subordinates, but tell me, Sis… have you ever known me capable of mercy?"

The insinuation was like a heated blade cutting through Akiko's frenzy. Of course! Dazai didn't want to catch the perpetrator alive because of Agency protocol, he wanted him alive to be placed into his custody alone!

A fate far worse than death… Her brother's reputation as the Dark Prince wasn't an exaggeration.

He released her when he was sure she wouldn't attack him again. "Now, do you want to tell me what it is you're really mad about?"

No she didn't! She had always preferred combat to words when expressing her emotions, it was The Agency's way… her way. She didn't want to talk about how she felt about the old boss nearly killing her again, or Hirotsu's poor subordinates she hadn't been there to help. Not about how a little girl would've died without her gift, or how unbelievably grateful she was to Chuuya for preventing her from being the one to hurt said little girl…

She didn't want to think about how mad she was at herself for being that selfish when it was painfully obvious the deed was just as terrible for him! She would like to forget the way those marble blue eyes sent chills throughout her body when she thanked him the previous night, and this morning when he first entered the dining hall.

Something in the way he looked at her was like he was relieved to see her well, but the way his eyes bore into her was too much, she had to force herself to look away and play it off as if he hadn't affected her so…

But to answer Dazai's question, "I'm mad at myself, alright? For everything!"

He nodded, understanding. She folded her arms and went to the other side of the room. He didn't need an explanation and she didn't want to give one, he knew her well enough to know her frustrations about everything happening in The Agency and Yokohama, about revealing their past.

He didn't need to know about her anger over making those blue eyes look at her with such pity! Like she was weak and fragile and might break any moment.

"Damn it, Dazai, promise me you'll get them."

"You know I will. I always keep my promises, especially to my baby sister."

She sulked. "I'm not a baby, and you're only a year older than me!"

As if those pesky details mattered to Dazai? Now that she wasn't on the warpath he could focus on the ones that did. "Akiko, I want your honest assessment… Odasaku, what do you make of him?"

She looked suspicious at first but it was clear he was being sincere. "He knows more than he's saying but I don't think he's trying to deceive us, it's more like… he's trying to divert our attention."

He agreed, that had been evident from the start.

"He obviously cares about others, but I get the sense he's not keen about letting them in. But not because he doesn't trust them… And he's strong. Strong in the way one becomes when they've sold their soul, like dad and uncle; like you. Yet amazingly there's still a light in his eyes." She half chuckled, "He's kind of like Chuuya in that sense."

"Don't compare Odasaku to Chuuya." Dazai skuffed. "It might tamper with my decision."

She piqued. "Your decision? What are you–"

"--That was pretty much my opinion too. But we're not leaving just yet. I want to know more and I'm convinced he can help our investigation."

On that, they agreed but Akiko knew there was something her brother was scheming. Best to wait until he was ready to divulge.

"You know who would love to meet him, don't you?"

She couldn't help but laugh, knowing exactly who. "Uncle Fukuzawa. He idolizes the legendary warrior, Oda Sakunosuke." Then another thought crossed her mind. "Dazai, if Oda is his descendant, could he be–?"

"He's not! I already checked."

How disappointing… She thought. No way would she say it out loud, instead she asked, "What do you think of this whole place; Gide and the rest of Mimic?"

"As far as this compound goes, I couldn't care less–" She rolled her eyes. "but the other… At least we don't have to think too hard about where the Grau Geist rounds came from, most of those men are European special forces straight out of the Great War."

"I know. For the life of me I can't figure out what a bunch of European war veterans are doing, hiding out here. Could they be on the run?"

'It's possible, but no one on the run is ever loyal, much less as devoted as what those men are to Odasaku. I think the most likely explanation is that they were forced to run… How am I doing so far, Gide?"

Akiko's surprised gaze followed Dazai's to the door where the red eyed man revealed himself.

"Forgive me, It wasn't my intention to eavesdrop."

"That's what everybody caught eavesdropping says." Akiko scoffed.

Gide attempted to play coy. "Apologies, I was concerned about your highness. After all, everytime a beautiful woman cries, a Frenchman dies a little inside."

The Princess was far from tolerant. "Hence why Frenchmen are too damn sensitive for my taste. I'm pissed right now, Gide and in no mood for bullshit! Answer my brother's question!" Only one person gets to call her 'Beautiful.'

He took a deep breath before sighing, grabbing a toppled chair. "I suppose there's no harm in telling you, I suspect his highness would figure it out on his own eventually." Dazai just smirked. "You're correct, my men and I were originally a guerrilla operative force who specialized in extraction. During the war, we were sent on dozens of missions to rescue hostages and safeguard intelligence operatives… We were good soldiers, proud, loyal to our country… unfortunately, our country wasn't loyal to us."

"Let me guess," Dazai said, "your unit was too good and someone needed a scapegoat?" War was nothing without betrayal here and there.

Gide only nodded. "When the war was nearing its end, orders came in to rescue some civil hostages being held in a hostile border town in the south. We had no trouble infiltrating, killing everyone we came across until we found where they were holding the hostages…"

Akiko's expression turned solemn. "But there were no hostages, were there?"

"I blame myself really, I should've paused the whole operation when I noticed the lack of combative trademarks… I… I can never forgive myself for what we did…"

Seeing the older man's turmoil was enough for the Prince to piece together the rest of the story. Mori often told him about some of the underhanded, genocidal means certain parties used to extend the war thanks to his and Fukuzawa's greatest adversary having such an insane love of the battlefield. "The town was never hostile to begin with. You were lured into a trap under the guise of slaughtering innocents and afterwards you were the ones deemed hostile."

The siblings saw Gide's demeanor shift, balling is fist as if struggling to restrain himself. "Their government had signed a peace treaty with ours only days prior! My men and I were used as decoys to reignite the war! Our attack was declared a war crime and we were labeled traitors and terrorists.

"In one night we were completely disgraced, we lost everything. Our homes, families… our honor; even our own names were taken from us. Robbed by the very nation we'd sworn to protect."

There wasn't anything that could be said to ease Gide's anguish, wounds that deep could never fully heal, the pain was always present, one just learned to function around it.

"So how did you come to be here?" Akiko asked.

Gide winced before closing his eyes. "We had no choice but to flee, hunted and shamed, my six hundred brothers in arms were reduced to forty within weeks, I failed my men in every way a commander possibly could… There was nothing left for us but death so I promised my remaining brother's a warrior's end in glory."

Both Dazai and Akiko shared a look, hesitant.

"We wandered aimlessly, searching for anyone who could free us from our purgatory… it was all for not until we came here to the land of the rising sun, where we first encountered Sakunosuke." His demeanor picked up a bit; he was smiling halfheartedly. "At the time, he was just a teenager– barely older than my nephew– but I could tell he was anything but weak, and when I discovered our abilities were alike I knew that he was the one we had sought for so long, but… he refused our challenges."

"How disappointing." Dazai nipped.

"I'm ashamed to say I didn't give up so easily, we did some pretty underhanded things to force his hand, things I never thought myself capable of… and when we finally pushed him too far, he did exactly what we wanted, fought us all in a blaze of glory."

"He obviously didn't kill you." The Princess pointed.

He chuckled, "No he didn't, just maimed us out of commission and destroyed most of our weapons." His hand moved to a place on his chest, remembering the wound as if it were still fresh– one of his metaphorical wake-up-calls– while the siblings strived with the insinuation that a teenager single handedly defeated a determined group of rogue special forces without killing any of them.

Only their father and uncle had such pristine capabilities.

"Fighting him was like discovering a new plane of existence," Gide looked at Dazai, "as I'm sure you discovered as well?" The Prince said nothing but didn't deny it. "I begged him to kill me, to die facing a warrior like that would have been the greatest honor for any soldier. Instead he refused again because he saw that we were already ghosts… just like he was. He said that he knew of a place where ghosts could live free out of purgatory, where our skills would be of better use and no one would ever hunt us again. A place where me and my brethren could reclaim some of the honor stolen from us…"

He glanced around the room. "I know that might not sound like Suribachi City, looking around, you might think this place is anything but paradise, but believe me when I say that coming here, joining Mimic, and pledging ourselves to Sakunosuke was the best thing to ever happen to us. He freed us from our life of shame and insanity, and gave us a place to belong again…" He met Akiko's eyes. "When I told you that Oda Sakunosuke was the greatest man I've ever met, It wasn't embroidery, my lady. He gave us back our dignity and purpose– and not just us! Street rats and orphans, homeless chefs with nowhere to go… for that, every man here would follow him into hell."

Gide turned back to Dazai. "Your highness is right, we are devoutly loyal, and now you know why. Reserved as Sakunosuke is, that should tell you the kind of person he is."

Several long moments passed silently processing these revelations about the leader of Mimic. True they seemed to add more questions but at least the only one Dazai really cared about had been answered. He tucked his hands in his coat to leave in search of the very topic of discussion.

"Thanks Gide. I'll take all of this into consideration when making my decision."

Gide looked confused but the Prince was already gone before he could ask for elaboration. He turned back to the Princess, worried if his tale had altered her opinion of him… instead she smiled and held out her hand.

"I'm going to check on Sakura, walk with me?"

He returned her smile, envious of the King of the Night being blessed with such a remarkable daughter. If only I had been so fortunate. "I'd be honored, Pr– Doctor…"

She looped her arm in his as they proceeded down the hallway, allowing him the momentary fantasy that she was his child.

The sensation of smoke passing his lips was utter bliss. After the morning he'd had, Chuuya was grateful his last carton and lighter had survived the disaster, as well as grateful to the old man for showing him the way to the garden, where he could smoke in the open daylight.

He had to admit it was impressive. All around were pathways and rows of fresh vegetables and beautiful flowers, at the center was a large pit full of ash and burned wood with stomps for sitting. There were even a few toys and games scattered here and there, most likely for the kids who resided.

If the Sheep had anything remotely similar, maybe they wouldn't have had to go on dock raids so much. I might've gotten taller with better nutrition? Not that he would admit that out loud.

How they got fresh water out here was just another mystery of Mimic. Chuuya was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that Mimic was real! There wasn't a street rat in Suribachi who hadn't grown up on the tales of ghosts lurking in the shadows but he never gave it any bearing, chalking it up to stories meant to scare the little kids.

Besides, what did he have to fear from ghosts?

If anything he was annoyed knowing this place was here all along; the good it could've done for so many of his friends…

As he walked around savoring his cigarette, another astonishment hit him… this place was huge! As well as immaculately kept. The rows of flowers were so alien here, especially on an island of nothing but trash. They certainly served their purpose because the place did seem brighter just looking at them.

What's more, whoever took care of them knew what they were doing. He received his answer while crouching down to admire a patch of small white flowers.

"Hey! Those are Sakura's, get away before you burn'em!!!"

Chuuya looked up to see another kid in an orange jacket; taller than Shinji and definitely more rambunctious.

"What'd ya think you're doing? Who gave you permission to be out here?"

Let's see, smart mouth and thinks he's the boss… "You must be Kosuke?" Chuuya surmised, remembering Shinji crying because of his tough-guy big brother. "I've never asked permission for anything a day in my life, kid, but it was the old man who showed me out here. Relax, I wasn't going to hurt the flowers."

The boy huffed and stomped his foot. "Gide ain't nothin! No matter what he says, I'm Oda's right hand man! Got that? And I say filthy spy's in dorky hats, got no business here so leave before I make ya!"

Oh boy, this kid wouldn't last 2 minutes on the streets. "Whatever kid." Normally Chuuya would obliterate anyone who talked back to him so brashly, but he just shrugged, ignoring Kosuke's boast to continue on admiring the garden.

Naturally, the bold boy wouldn't let it slide. "Hey! Don't cha walk away from me! I.. I'll… punch ya right in the face!" He lept after Chuuya, fist raised… found himself floating weightless in the air, almost wetting his pants!

Chuuya pulled a long drag before turning on his heels and bringing the boy closer, blowing smoke right into his terrified expression and letting him finish coughing before speaking. "Alright you brat, you wanna be a big, tough grownup? Here's your first lesson… never walk into certain death unless you're certain you won't be the one who's gonna die."

He let that hang with Kosuke for a second. "There's over a hundred different ways I could've killed you in the two minutes we've known each other and nobody's around to stop me." Not that they could if he wanted to. Chuuya could see the boy's confidence start to unravel, just like he knew it would, so he set him back on the ground, maybe a little harder than necessary?

"Damn it!" Kosuke scrambled to his feet, trying not to show his runny nose and teary eyes. The damage to his pride was overwhelming.

Chuuya didn't care, not after poor little Shinji's tears this morning. He understood why he'd been so distraught after this brief encounter with his big brother.

"Instead of playing tough, you should put your energy into being a better brother to your siblings." Kosuke piqued. "They look up to you so try setting better examples. And one other thing… Try learning the meaning of the word Please next time you want someone to do something."

Extinguishing the glowing butt under his boot, Chuuya left the rowdy boy to stew in his own humiliation, the only way a kid like that would learn anything is the hard way. Something Chuuya was all too familiar with.

He almost chuckled from how nostalgic it was.

For now he didn't want to think about his past, or Dazai and Akiko's, or Shinji crying over Sakura. He didn't want to think about a snot nosed brat, or this tangled web of mysteries and nightmares… of Arahabaki.

For the moment, Chuuya just wanted to enjoy another cigarette and admire the flowers in peace.

When Dazai finally found Oda, he wasn't expecting to find him sitting alone, mulling over a chess board, two moves away from checkmating his nonexistent opponent.

Perfect!

This would be his final deciding factor.

"How's your sister?" Oda asked, moving his Queen to checkmate.

Dazai moseyed over, taking the opposite seat. "She'll be fine, just had to get out some of her frustrations."

"I can tell. She really put you through the ringer." He said, noticing the Prince looked worse for wear.

"Ha! This is nothing, you should've seen when she caught me in bed with her dorm mate."

"Classy…"

"Well, if you had seen her, you would understand." Dazai nodded to the board, "None of your pet guerrillas capable of giving you a proper game?"

"So you've been talking to Gide, have you?" It obviously wasn't a slip of the tongue.

"He might've mentioned something…" The Prince said, knavish. "Frankly, I'm impressed, to bring a bunch of highly trained rogues to heel like that only confirms my initial opinion of you."

Oda wasn't about to rectify a response. There wasn't any point so he brought the topic back to chess. "A few of them do play but I was just killing some time alone. There's not a lot to do around here."

Judging by the game he'd just played, Dazai doubted anyone here capable of challenging him.. until now that was.

"I picked it up while I was in China, didn't do much there besides play chess and learn Mandarin."

"What a shame…" Dazai said in Mandarin. "Let me know if you ever go back, I can get you a VIP pass to the most exclusive club in Shanghai. Believe me, the ladies there know what they're doing."

Oda smirked, "I know…" Dazai piqued "I might've done a little more than just learn how to play chess." He admitted, which only amplified the two men's respect for each other. "Do you play?"

"Only a little." Dazai lied. "My dad likes it more than I do… but if you're offering, I don't mind passing some time."

Oda began resetting the board. "I'm going for a stretch here and guessing you play Black?"

Dazai's innocent smile said it all… Always.

Once they were set, Oda politely offered for Dazai to open but he declined. A person's opening move spoke volumes about both their character and strategy. Nothing like a friendly game to mask an elaborate test.

It didn't take long for Oda to realize it either. In the ten minutes since they started, Dazai hadn't looked at the board once!

He sat completely apathetic to the game, never taking his eyes off of Oda. It was as if he wanted to see his reaction to every move he made. Watching as he contemplated his next move and wondering if he would make the predictable ones… he didn't.

Never so much as sweated when his pieces were in turmoil. The only time he broke face was when Dazai had boxed in his Queen, and he realized he had been manipulated into a hazardous– I'll be it, impressive– trap. It made him raise an accusatory eyebrow at his opponent. "You only play a little, huh?"

The Prince shrugged. It wasn't as if being a Grand Master, a record setting State Champion, or the youngest International Champion– three years in a row– was anything to brag about.

The game persisted a little faster, leading, trapping, manipulating. Eventually taking pieces was more for show then sport. Both knew exactly what the other was doing, and they wanted to see how far it could go.

It went on right up until Oda's knight took Dazai's King with a smothered mate and the Prince just smiled. "Well look at that, you got me!" He was anything but disappointed. "I guess the better man won?"

Oda wasn't buying it. He played with the piece in his hand before slamming it back on the board. "I know a suicide strategy when I see one, but that was the first time I've ever seen the King be willing sacrificed… which means you weren't taking this seriously."

"Were you?" Dazai asked with narrowed eyes.

But before Oda could retort, they were interrupted by Akiko, breathless as if she'd been running. "Oda! Sakura's awake!"

The game was forgotten, all the rugged man cared about was seeing his ward healthy again.

Upon seeing the chess board and surmising the outcome, the Princess chose not to follow after him, instead she went over to her brother and put her hands on her hips. "So what's the verdict?"

"What do you mean?" Dazai played indifferent while fiddling with one of the white knights.

"You know exactly what I mean! You only lose when you want to, which means you were evaluating him. So, is he good?"

The Prince remained pensive. "Good? No…" He tossed the piece in the air, caught it, and set it next to his black king in a show of flare. "He's spectacular!" Akiko was a little thrown back. "In truth, Sis?... I'm not sure I could've beaten him even if I had been playing to win."

Now she was completely dumbfounded. Nobody had ever been equal to her brother, much less possibly superior!

Meanwhile, Dazai appeared almost drunk with giddiness. "I'm elated! It only certifies my decision!"

His sister's awe was replaced with irritation. "What's this decision you keep mumbling about? It's driving me crazy!"

He beamed like a little kid receiving the greatest birthday present ever! "Don't you see? After all these years I've finally found the one!… Odasaku is the only man worthy of becoming my lieutenant!"

It was a rare thing to render Princess Akiko speechless.

Ok, I know Dazai wanting Oda as his second in command might not seem like a big deal, but SPOILER!... It's one of the biggest deals in The Agency! Lets just say our Prince is picky. Lol!

And what's this? Is that a Flag on the horizon? Well keep turning in to find out!

Until next time!