The president walked them to the dining hall. He would nip this in the bud right now before it left cracks that could not be healed. The other two followed after him less than enthusiastically as they took seats across from one another. The president pulled a chair up to the table, sitting between the two as a moderator.
He reflected on Dazai's time at the agency. He had an idea of his previous occupation and what it entailed, but Ranpo never seemed weary of the brunette. In fact, he knew he was fond of all of their employees despite how he presented his care. He grimaces at the thought. So for the sake of the peace that he and Ranpo had made, he would try to resolve this gloomy cloud that had taken over Kunikida's thoughts on Dazai.
"So, which of you would like to start?" The president questioned. They both eyed one another. It was unsurprising at all that neither had anything to say to the other. Despite how Dazai acted on a daily basis with Kunikida, he was just as headstrong as the other man when he wanted to be. So they all sit in the quiet light of the dining hall's fake candle lighting in contemplative silence.
"I guess I will start. I was aware of who Dazai was when I employed him. That's why I told you to act if you saw anything to be questioned but time and time again Dazai has proven his loyalty to the agency and to the safety of Yokohama. I understand your frustration but it doesn't matter now."
"It's not frustration." Kunikida let out.
"Could've fooled me." Dazai grew more and more annoyed with this being shoved in his face.
The president sighed again. "You two work great together. You complement one another like a black cat with green eyes."
"Just because we work well together doesn't change how this whole thing has been. And worst of all, you're right cause you're always right, right!"
"I just…"
"It's broken trust, Dazai. I spent two years trying to get a handle on you. Despite who you are, I worked with you and some days. I think that this is the teamwork I want from my partner with a simple glaze and I know what you're asking. Then we woke up here…"
"This is why…"
"I'm not done. I have been trying to process what you told me."
"I didn't tell you that to hurt you. I just don't want to see you fall. Cause, you hold onto things that should just be let go. "
"Is that how you see it cause I don't. My ideals are not so immovable."
As Atsushi sat in the theater, his head just kept on pounding away and showing him everything that happened when he took Kyouka around the city. However, there was this gap of time that was missing. They were enjoying the sight from all the way up the Ferris Wheels, and then… His headache lunged forward. His mind fixated on the word, 'then'. The next memory was darkness. The way the cold clung to his skin through the blood seeping out of his body. That place reminded him of the orphanage, the cell that was his home for years and years. His chest was hot. A line that went through his chest that twisted and caused his blood to turn. He couldn't take it anymore.
"Kyouka, can you remember what happened before we got here?"
The younger looked back at him with dough eyes. In her usual voice, she said, "You don't remember."
The weretiger shook his head, as much as he tried, there was a gap in his memory. The Ferris wheel than darkness as he bleed out. He didn't want to put it into words.
"I don't know… but he–" She turned her head to the mad dog. "He ran you through with Rashmon."
All he could say was, "Oh." So, that was what he was missing, his death.
Back to the president and his subordinates who both were acting like children as the stared each other down. Fukuzawa rubbed his forehead with thumb and pointer finger. At this point, it was clear that Kunikida needed to see it from Dazai's perspective and that Dazai needed to learn how to express his concern better on all fronts.
"Okay, boys, why don't we pick this up later." Both of them jumped up and made their way back to the theater. As Fukuzawa got up he saw Haruno's cat looking at him and for some reason it looked disappointed at how it ended. He sighed another hundred year sigh and made his way back as well with the cat trailing behind him.
Reaching his seat in sat down with the cat passing him to get to its owner. From his seat he could see both of his workers sitting at their seats. The two both angled away from one another as the projector roared to life.
The Title Card reads, "What are you looking at?"
"What, no voiceover, you're getting lazy screen bro!" said Tachihara.
"Umm… does it really matter." Questioned Higuchi.
"Yes, I enjoyed that." he moped.
"Wait, who's talking then?" said Haruni.
The scene opens with a royal blue eye. The eye seemed to have no emotions. A phone rings.
"What can you see?" asks the card. The phone rings again.
Kyouka responded by nudging in Akutagawa's direction.
"Oh… Akutagawa, huh?" said Tachihara
"Hmm.." She hummed her confirmation
"Guess, he got you working hard. Hey, Kyouka." said Higuchi.
"Yeah, It was a busy week but it will be over soon." She said ominously to the audience. Atsushi looked down sadly; it finally came back to him. Right now, he should be in a dark place, bleeding to death because of that mad dog. Akutagawa had run him through with Rashmon and taken Kyouka and himself with him. This anger never really went away whenever he looked or thought about the mad dog. But worse off there was still someone else to blame in this game. 'Stop!' He refused to go down this road.
Cuts to a distance shot. The person is receiving the call in a crowded area, and many people are going about their night. The phone rings one more time.
A girl, small and dead-looking, watches the people, ignoring the phone. Two passersby stop in front of her.
"You had her standing out in the cold." Asked Atsushi, anger lacing her words.
"It is her job. We all have to pay our way." said Higuchi for her boss who gave her a slight glare. The tiger sneered at the bodyguard. She looked away from the detective. Atsushi looked down at his lap. In a quieter voice stated while shaking his head, "She's a child."
Dazai eyed his young apprentice. He saw the wrong in the action of the Mafia when children were involved but there really wasn't any safe place for those gifted with abilities someone would always try to exploit them.
"I saw her here yesterday too." He said in a mocking tone.
"You had her standing there for two days." He all but hissed out.
"Hey, Weretiger, you're repeating yourself."
"She is fourteen years old. What's wrong with you people?" He looked around the room trying make sense of it. Kyouko looked at the person who saved her. It made her happy that someone would feel angry for her.
"Atsushi, you should calm down, you are only going to get more angry by the end of this." The good doctor calmly told the younger one. The weretiger took a breath as he refocused on screen.
They continue to mock her until she actually does move after spotting someone in the crowd; her phone rings. Her hand grasps onto the sleeve of a brown coat.
The shot reveals Dazai staring down at her with a confused expression as he points to himself, "Can I help you?"
"Dazai, do not tell me you let a five year old kidnap you."
"Well, it's a good thing she is fourteen, now isn't it."
Kunikida could only sigh, and many others from the agency followed suit.
"Found you," the girl whispers, her voice quiet and dull. She finally flips open her phone, to Dazai's absolute confusion. Her ability activates, its shadow falling over a startled-looking Dazai's face.
"Ah, this doesn't look good." said, quite worried for his well-being.
"He got kidnapped by the port mafia." said Tanizaki, as he took on a frown.
"Maybe we should gone looking for him," said Naomi. Ranpo chuckled at the statement.
"No, that's just playing a shit game of Where's Waldo except with a shitty mummy ripoff." Chuuya threw out.
Music flowed through the speakers as the screen showed water reflecting the lights of the city as sound waves. A closer showing of Yokohama City, shrouded in the green light, was shown. The camera zoomed further to show port mafia headquarters glowing with evil red lighting.
The camera moves up to show a man falling from the building and rapidly swifts to the man's face, revealing Dazai's looking at peace with his choice.
"Umm… Kyouka, why didn't you tell us you had kidnapped Dazai?" Said Naomi.
"You never ask."
"Wow, I see how much you guys care about me. Next time I get kidnapped by a fourteen year old I know who I'm not going to call when I inevitably escape." Dazai said, side-eyeing his co-workers.
"Well, maybe if your schedule was normal, he would've gone looking for you." Kunikida said with more bite than normal.
"Don't you people have a genius detective? Couldn't he have guessed that Dazai was endanger." Said Higuchi.
"Not how my ability works. Also, it's Dazai." Ranpo replied.
Many accepted his answer, but Dazai seemed annoyed with the detective's answer.
The sky then lightens up as the time jumps forward, the ADA building gleaming in the sun; Kunikida's voice can be heard, "You can't track down Dazai?"
"Why is it that weretiger's job to look for him." said Hirustu reading for Gin.
"He decided to have him as a mentor–" Said Ranpo through his snack.
"Forced." Tanizaki corrected.
"I've heard it both ways. The point is you are responsible for mummy Waldo."
"I'm younger?!" Atsushi let out with a pout.
"Yet, somehow you seem more mature than bandages."
Atsushi could only sigh.
"List~en, if I wanted a box of candy I would ask you and you would say yes like a good boy. If I asked Dazai I would have to blackmail him."
"Ranpo, I think that says more about Dazai than about matured. On an unrelated note, have you been blackmailing Dazai, again?" said the President.
"I would never abuse my abilities to get free candy from my cute little junior. Isn't that right, Dazai?" Looked at the younger with a creepy smile.
"Yes, sir. What would he blackmail me with anyway. I am a good boi."
It's a question that was apparently directed at Atsushi, who blinks, "He's not returning any of my calls. I can't find him at home either."
"Well, at least someone cares about my disappearance. I'm telling you, Atsushi, you are such a good detective." The brunette arm's wrapped around the younger as he rubbed himself against the young adult.
"Well, I guess it would have been more helpful to report it to the actual police." Atsushi said, squished against the older detective. To that, the whole agency started yelling at the weretiger. In the frustration he broke out of the man's hold which was surprisingly difficult.
"He was kidnapped by the port mafia!" The tiger yelled back at the up-roar which made them all calm down.
He's talking to a blank wall at this point since Kunikida, Kenji, and Ranpo don't seem worried in the slightest.
"Probably floating down a river again."
"Maybe he got thrown in jail."
"My guess is he's off with a woman."
Chuuya snotted at the comments made. "He used to do that shit all the time and leave me with the dirty work."
"Wow, just wow. I hope you all are proud of yourself."
"Hey, maybe if you didn't find it fitting to disappear for days at a time maybe we would be more inclined to worry, Dazai." Stated Kunikida.
Atsushi appears thoroughly annoyed, "But, what if he's been attacked by the Port Mafia?"
Dazai pulled him close again and loudly proclaimed, "Atsushi, you're the only one who cares. Oh, I made the right choice with you, kid."
Atsushi found himself blushing up a storm from the praise and the contact, it was warm and for a moment he focused on the man's heartbeat. It calmed him in a way that was unique to Dazai.
"Aren't you worried?"
Kunikida clicks something on his computer, "That guy's ability to avoid death is borderline nightmarish."
"Even after all those suicide attempts," chuckles Ranpo with a pop of his lips, "He's still very lively. I doubt the mafia could get him."
The mafia in question grimaces.
"And yet that's what happens… I mean, yesterday, Chuuya tried to put a knife in me 'cause I told him that his hat was shit."
"Dazai, we talked about this." Atsushi sighed, no sitting in his chair properly.
"Yeah, but it is so much fun."
"It's bad for your health."
"First off," Chuuya cut in, his voice growing more annoyed. "That wasn't the reason why I pulled my knife. Second, I will kill."
"Dying by your hands brings me no joy."
"Mummy Weirdo."
"Yea," mutters Atsushi, a nervous tinge to his voice, "But still."
"I can look into it," says a new voice as Tanizaki enters the room.
"Tanizaki, your back," said Tachihara excited at his new bestie's return.
"Thanks, it was hard work." He swallowed.
The whole of the agency grimaces at the thought of her treatment.
Atsushi seemed relieved to see him, "Junichiro, are you feeling better?"
"I need to say this, dude you are a cat, who stands like that." Said Tanizaki.
"Hey!"
"Deny it, I dare you."
"I never noticed." The weretiger pouted.
Tanizaki only smiles, "I am, thankfully!"
Atsushi nods in acknowledgment as it shows a flashback on the event of episode three, "I didn't know what to do when the Port Mafia attacked. I'm glad you're ok!"
"You know, I'm glad to be reminded of this." Deadpanly Ranpo.
"Yeah, I love to be reminded," said Yosano in a similar voice.
"Sorry, if I worried you," Tanizaki rubs his head as he heads over to Kunikida's desk.
"We're glad to see you back on your feet," Kunikida supplies.
With a sheepish grin still on his face, Tanizaki nods, "It's all thanks to Doctor Yosano!"
Kunikida looks towards the floor, "Of course." His tone takes on a darker edge, "How many times?"
"How many times? What does that even mean." said Hirustu for Gin. Surprisingly he was getting better at speaking for them.
Tanizaki freezes in horror, flashing back to a dark room with a singular spotlight and one crazy doctor stripping.
"Ummm… what the fuck?!" said Naomi.
"Is that even a treatment?" stated Hirustu.
"What kind of doctor is she?" Tachihara stared in shock.
"The kind you don't fuck with my guy." said Tanizaki.
"F-f-four times," he stammers, falling into a squat.
"That's a lot!" Kenji says cheerfully, cuddling his plant.
"Umm… weretiger what are you doing?" A velvety voice proclaimed.
"Et vous, Chuuya. Et Vous."
"Listen kid, you're the one standing like that."
"It's comfortable. Less stress on the back."
"What are you, an old man?" Said the mad dog.
"Well, at least I don't cough every ten seconds."
"I don't," interrupted by a cough. He decided not to finish the thought. Atsushi grinned with satisfaction.
Tanizaki stays on the floor, but he keeps speaking, "Atsushi, promise me that for as long as you're at the agency, that you never get injured, ok?"
"Well, he's been traumatized." said Chuuya.
"You know, I don't think Atsushi will ever see the inside of the doctor's suite." Said Haruno.
"Yeah, with that crazy healing ability." Said Kouyou, more annoyed by it even anything else. Her only thoughts were how she was going to get Kyouko away from these people. The good doctor was no better let out a disgruntled hiss at the fact the kid would never see her suite.
"Ok?" agrees Atsushi, a light confusion in his voice.
Ranpo stuffs candy in his mouth, "Moment you think you might get hurt, run. It'll help you hone your ability to sense when danger is near. For example," he lifts a small clock, "ten seconds from now."
"Oh you, Ranpo."
"Your shopping trips can be quite long, Akiko." They both shared a loving grin.
"And you threaten people when you don't get the discount you want." Kunikida stated, pushing his glasses up.
Many hummed in agreement.
He's interrupted by Yosano entering the office with a yawn. Atsushi turns to greet her, "Dr. Yosano, Good morning."
"Hey, Atsushi," she says tiredly, "Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine?" Atsushi says, confused.
"Darn."
"This is giving me, flashback to the first episode." Said Tachihara.
"She even making the same face. You two sure you're not related." said Hirustu for Gin.
Yosano and Dazai looked disgusted at the thought. "We have nothing in common." they said in unison. They both clicked their tongues at the fact they said it in unison.
"Moral of the story, Atsushi. Run, this agency seems to be filled with weirdos." Tachihara's eyes glowed from the light of the projector as he came to the realization. "Actually, I have an idea to come join us."
"Join the port mafia?!"
"Yeah…"
"No, thanks, any organization that houses Akutagawa is an organization I don't want to be a part of."
Akutagawa was about to express his annoyance, when a dark and mysterious voice questioned.
"Is that your only pet peeve?"
Atsushi turned to the voice. The smirk of a man plotting something was what he met.
"He will not be joining the Port Mafia."
"I think we should let him make that choice, Osamu."
Dazai made eye-contact with the tiger. Atsushi shrunk in on himself; it was the same look he had given to Akutagawa in that alley. Deadeye stare that seemed to look right through him. Atsushi couldn't speak and Dazai had already spoken his peace.
Atsushi's face falls into more confusion, 'Darn?'
Yosano glances back and forth across the office, "You know, I need someone to go shopping with me today, looks like you're the only one around."
Even more confused than before, Atsushi glances behind him, only to find no one else in the office with him.
'They knew this was going to happen,' snarls Ataushi's inner voice.
"Atsushi, the main character we don't deserve." said Tachihara trying to lighting the mood.
"Truth. Show your claws, Kittens. don't let them get away with this." said the good doctor jumping in on the attempt.
A low hiss came from his seat.
There's an abrupt cut to a small shopping center, just as Atsushi begins to speak again, "Dr. Yosano? You still aren't done?"
"Don't drop anything," she chides instead of answering. Atsushi only grunts in response, struggling to carry the massive weight of boxes he's been given. As he works a bit harder, the young girl from earlier walks past him, her eyes shadowed by her dark hair.
"That's Dazai's kidnapper get her, weretiger." Tachihara exclaimed.
"She's sitting right there,"
"Yeah, but this before you became all buddy buddy with the enemy."
"You're the enemy."
"No, I'm your friend. And by the end of this you will see me in the best light. I mean running through meadows with ice cream cones and holding hands." He said with a toothy grin.
"Can the ice cream be tea flavored?"
"What kind of tea?"
"Green Tea."
"Yeah!" The mafia member said with a smirk.
Many in the gallery look at the two shocked by the conversation.
As they pass each other, some sort of connection happens, flower petals blowing in the wind, and their hair flowing around. They turn to look at each other.
"Oh, yeah Atsushi is screwed." said Ranpo.
"You save her then hmm." said Kouyou.
"You're already getting hunted by the Port Mafia. Let's add a fourteen-year-old assassin to the list shall we." said Noami.
Atsushi's so transfixed by the girl that he inadvertently walks into a man that was arguing with someone on the phone.
He apologizes and asks, "Are you ok, sir?"
"Watch where you're going, you rat!" snaps the man.
"Actually, sir, he's a cat."
"Yeah!"
Many in the theater nodded in agreement.
"Why do I even bother?"
The man brushes off his coat, "Can't you see this suit is custom-made!"
"That is an ugly suit."
"Yup, that Mackerel dresses better than that."
"I can dress myself when need be." Dazai said, pushing back his hair and giving his signature grin.
"Sure." Chuuya said, Indifferently with an eye roll.
"Plus, at least I don't over dress like you, Chuuya. A choker and straps come on."
"It's called a style which you know nothing about."
"And don't get me started on that haircut, you are almost as bad as Atsushi with those asymmetrical wolfcut."
"Hey."
"Sorry, 'Sushi but it's true."
"Sushi?" a strong blush grew on his face as he played with his tie.
"Oh, that is such a cute nickname, why didn't I think of that." The good doctor questioned.
"We dub you now and forever Sushi." said Kenji.
Still, on the floor, Atsushi swallows nervously, "Uh, uh, sorry?"
Yosano strides in front of him, her skirt swaying, "I apologize on behalf of my co-worker, sir," She reaches for the man as if to comfort him, "Are you hurt?"
He slaps her hand away, "Don't touch me! I'll be lodging a complaint with your superiors. So, where do you work?" There's a sneer in his tone, "Are you a waitress? A receptionist?" An awful smile grows on his face, "or perhaps a bit more, specialized."
"Oh, he's got nerve." said Naomi.
"Yeah, he's dead," said Tanizaki.
His hand grazes her chin so that she's forced to look at him.
"Finish him, Doctor."
And the doctor couldn't deny she was enjoying this episode so far.
Yosano wraps her hand around his and squeezes hard. He screams in pain.
It gave the doctor a sick enjoyment as his face twisted in pain.
Yosano smiles at him, "I'm a doctor, pervert." Her smile grows deadly sharp,
"Yeah, creep!" Yelled Naomi.
"I can't help but notice you have two arms, that's one too many!" His face takes on an animalistic feature. "Should I remove one for you?"
"And you guys talk about the port mafia when you got a psycho doctor and a suicidal ex-mafia member in your agency." said Gin using Hirusto as their voice.
"Yeah, we like a little spicy in our agency plus you lot ain't that different." said Ranpo.
The episode title, "Teaching Them to Kill: Then To Die," glows across the background as the man's finger snaps.
"What an interesting title. I wonder…" The great detective trailed off.
As Dazai looked at the screen, he knew that somehow, someway, it would come back to him. He leaned back into his seat and closed his eyes. 'No rest for the wicked.'
After an ominous crunching noise, the scene changes to show Atsushi and Yosano awkwardly sitting next to each other on a train.
"Ummm," stammers Atsushi, "I'm really sorry about what happened earlier." He looked up at the stuff that Yosano had purchased, "Your packages really took a beating."
"Aw, Sushi. You precious little tiger you."
"Yeah man what are you apologizing for it not your fault that guy acted that way." Tanizaki.
Yosano sniffs, "There's nothing to be sorry about." Her eyes drift towards Atsushi, "By the way.."
She grabs for his leg, knocking him over on the seat. A bubble with chibi Atsushi appeared showing his inner freak out, 'Oh, no. Here it comes.'
"Run little weretiger, run." Said Haruno.
"Umm… Doctor you know that shouldn't just grab someone's leg right." said Hirustu for Gin.
"I was doing an exam."
Ranpo chuckled at that.
"You have such a beautiful leg," Her hand pets Atsushi's leg,
"Getting a little weird here." Said Tanizaki, having his own flashback on the doctor's work.
"Bruh, why complement only his leg, what about his booty," said Tachihara.
"Sushi, you have a beautiful booty." The good doctor exclaimed from behind Atsushi.
Atsushi's full-blown blush that went across his face and neck. "I get it. I didn't even know I did that."
"No, No. It's cute, weird but cute." said Naomi.
"Yeah, it reminds us that you are truly an office cat." said Kenji, beaming at the older detective.
"Tiger."
"Feline." the doctor corrected.
Atsushi sighed.
"I heard it was amputated during the incident with the Port Mafia."
She continues petting it, musing to herself, 'No signs of scars or anything, it's more like restoration than anything. His weretiger form did this instantly?'
"So, what is the consensus on Atsushi's ability?" said Tachihara.
"Well, he can turn into a cute kitten," said Kenji.
"Perfect addition to the team," said the doctor.
"No, but seriously, the kid gets his leg lopped off and it regenerates."
"Restoration instantly, it's different. One is making it better, the other is returning to the previous state."
"So is he like immoral."
"We can always test the theory," said the mad dog.
"Yeah, I'm not letting you kill me."
"Whoever said anything about letting, I already ran you through."
The collective raised an eyebrow at the statement.
"Umm… Are we–."
"Akutagawa found us on our date. And he… We're at sea."
"So you manage to complete your job," said Chuuya.
"The fact that Atsushi isn't bleeding out on the theater floor is proof enough but I can give an encore. If you are so obliged."
"Not necessary."
Atsushi remains confused, with his eyes wide, "Is there an issue?"
"No," Yosano lets go of him, "I'm disappointed that I couldn't treat your wounds. Just be on the lookout. The Port Mafia is well-known for surprise attacks, you must be extra careful at night."
He pulls an ashamed face, 'She's right, I must learn how to protect myself when I'm alone.'
As he thinks this, a voice comes over the loudspeaker, "Testing! Testing! This is your conductor speaking."
"You know, I am going to take a guess that this is not the conductor."
"Actually, isn't that–"
"Yeah, that's Kajii. I sent him with Kyouka." stated Akutagawa.
"We apologize for the inconvenience but we will now be conducting an experiment! The topic: Explosives and Sensory Response! We thank all you lovely passengers for participating!"
Both Yosano and Atsushi fall forward as it is switched to show a car full of people scattered around dead.
"Now that I think about it, where is Kajii?" said Chuuya.
"Maybe, he doesn't play a big enough role in all this," said Haruno.
"Yeah, but we still don't know what all this is. Honestly, I don't fully get why we got to recap so much." said Higuchi.
"Well, we did learn that Dazai was a port mafia member. It wasn't like he was going to volunteer that information. He hadn't in the last two years of working at the agency." said the good doctor.
"Umm… why do we have to bring that up?" said Dazai with a pout.
"Oh no you earn us bringing it up for the next century." said Ranpo.
Most of them agreed with nods and hums of agreement.
"I'm guessing that one might've killed some of you!" sang the voice, "but that's nothing compared to my next plan!" The man is finally shown in full detail.
"Atsushi!" He whined from the onslaught.
"I'm still mad about the previous apprentice. Oh and let's not forget that previous apprentice strapped a bomb onto a fourteen year old. To kill me."
"You did what?!"
"Big Sis?" Akutagawa exclaimed.
"You and me, will be having words, boy."
"We've rigged enough explosives to the cars to blow everyone sky-high!" He announces with a grin, "Can you hear me, Test Subject Atsushi!"
Back in the car, Atsushi cringes.
"Unless you surrender, all these passengers will be meeting their death!"
"Speak of the devil," sighs Yosano, getting to her feet. Atsushi looks at her, concerned, "What should we do?"
Yosano lifts a finger, "Option 1: You turn yourself in. Option 2: Jump off the train with the passengers. Option 3…" She trails off, grinning at him with a gleam in her eyes.
"Beat em up," says Atsushi, dryly and reluctantly.
"I am starting to think she's just as bad as the boss. Seriously, what is up with all these crazy Doctors? What kind of doctor thinks let's pumble them." Tachihara wondered out loud.
"You're just jelly, our doctor is cool and yours is a weirdo." said Ranpo, all too pleased with himself.
Her grin gets even sharper, "You got it. We are the Armed Detective Agency after all." Her words get Atsushi to his feet. She continues, "Let's split up and look for the bombs. I'll take the front, you take the rear."
Atsushi sweats a bit, "What if we spot the enemy?"
Yosano barely blinks, "Terminate them."
"This! This is what I'm talking about. Who even are you?" said Tachihara.
"I'm a Doctor."
Atsushi moves quickly, "You got it!"
"Atsushi, ride or die unless it's a Dazai's troll plan," said Naomi.
"No, No. He would be an unwilling assistant." said the good doctor.
Atsushi opened his mouth and raised his hand in defense. But he didn't voice it as he looked at Dazai's smug grin that said it was all true. And he knew it was.
Her strides were purposeful; Yosano headed to the front of the train, 'A bomb threat on a train with civilian passengers in broad daylight. It seems stupid to me, even for the Port Mafia, almost suicidal.' Her smile turns wicked, 'Wonder who's behind it.'
She yanks open a door, only for a bright yellow lemon to fall at her feet. It bounces twice before exploding. Yosano's eyes widened in realization before it went off.
"Fuck Me." Yosano whispered before the heat of the explosive hit her at full force. She didn't scream. She couldn't; the good doctor could only breathe through the heat.
"Akiko!?" She heard the voice of her senior. His body casting a shadow over her. She tried to look up at him, but she couldn't. The great detective looked around to lay his eyes on Doctor Mori finally. He scowled. The man looked at the younger woman. It almost seemed like he was worried about Akiko for her. Ranpo was disgusted by this display of emotion; he knew it was genuine.
She tugs on his cloak raising up with slightly teary eyes from the pain. "I'll be fine just play the damn show."
Everyone sat back down, but the great detective moved Yosano to his seat and sat on the floor with no words exchanged.
As the dust clears, the man who hijacked the train walks over, "I'd like to bid you a warm welcome! And an unfortunately sad goodbye as well." The camera pans over Yosano, lying in a heap.
She rises to her feet.
"Well, well," she hisses through gritted teeth, "We got a real celebrity here, don't we?"
"Quips will make the pain go away," said Tachihara.
"It always worked for me." Chuuya Agreed.
"Stop trying to be cool. No one is buying." Dazai said mockingly.
"Still alive?" he teases back, "What a surprise! Women are so resilient these days!"
"First off, women have always been resilient, asshole. Read a history book sometime. Secondly, Yosano was just built differently. We at the agency are built differently. Third, what is wrong with you all this for a tiger."
"Sorry." Atsushi kept his head down. It was his fault.
"That's not what I meant, Atsushi." She sighed, regret coating her voice. "I just think it is ridiculous to cause all this pain. I mean come on you guys are wrapping innocent people into this."
"That's the point, love. We cause pain so that they give in." said Kouyou. "You might not like it but we are the Port Mafia. If your job is to keep getting up then our job is to keep knocking you done. Inevitably, one of us will fall on the sword but we are not there yet."
"Plus, we wouldn't have to do this if he didnt work at the agency which is directly Dazai's fault."
Her body shakes with the pain of her injuries, "Women have always been resilient. In my opinion, it's more surprising to find a wanted criminal like you here," her head snaps up, passion in her eyes, "Motojiro Kajii!"
Kajii grins ferally back at her.
Yosano continues, "Despite the secrecy of the Port Mafia, you're rather famous! Responsible for that bombing incident that killed 23 civilians!"
"Yeah, I guess he does do a lot of noticeable work."
"I find his work to be distasteful. I will always love a good hunter knife." said Hirustu, reading off of Gin's notes. Gin, for their part, was putting down his notebook and pulling out their knives to sharpen.
"That truly was a wonderful day!" gushes Kajii, turning his back to her, "Neural hypoxia, the sudden slowing of the pulse, lactic acid doses! DEATH IS A GLORIOUS SYMPHONY OF TRANSFORMATION! Finally silenced by the big sleep!"
His grin gets tighter as Yosano speaks, "Death is just an experiment, huh?"
"God and death are the ultimate forms of science," replies Kajii.
Mori sighed at his subordinate's statement. He wasn't quite fond of Kajii's thoughts on death and his need to experiment with the process of death. As a doctor, Mori always felt something from his work. Mori always tried to save his patient unless other incentives were at play. However, he wouldn't pretend that it was more ego than the satisfaction of saving a life.
"That's why we are so drawn to them. To know what it is that makes us tick!" He lifts another lemon up, "Now then, can you describe the color of your blood?"
"Umm… red why?" said Haruni, slightly concerned.
"Yeah, mine's red too." Agreeing Gin via Hirustu.
"That's the only color it would be." said Tanizaki.
"Well, Dazai's might be different with all the drugs he does." said Ranpo with a slight laugh.
"Should we find out." Dazai was all too pleased to cut himself open.
"NO!" many in the audience yelled.
"It was just a joke." with a slight pout.
Kejii was excited at dissecting the woman. Yosano narrows her eyes back, "Why don't you see for yourself?"
"It's nice seeing someone who's an enemy on the other side of the doctor's blades." said Ranpo.
"Yeah, and away from our body." agreed Tanizaki.
The camera flicks to Atsushi, who is also moving through the train with purpose. 'If we don't remove these bombs, all these people will die. Can I really do this, though?'
A girl in red shoves past him and runs about a few feet ahead before stopping with her back turned. Atsushi immediately tries to get her to safety, "Please go back to the central car! There's an explosive in this direction!"
The girl ignores him, and instead, she flicks open her flip phone. Atsushi blinks in confusion, "Hey umm..Are you.."
A raspy familiar voice snarls out from her phone, "Protect the bomb at all costs." With that, she turns back around to face Atsushi, her eyes blank. He recognizes her from earlier, taking a small step back.
"You make me sick." Atsushi spits out. At the time, he couldn't process that on the other end of the call was the mad dog, but now things were coming into focus.
"Oh, is that supposed to be shocking? What did you finally put it together with that slow animal brain of yours."
"Haha, so very funny. News flash, You're an animal. We're all animals! It's not an insult."
"It's an insult seeing that it pisses you off, weretiger."
"No, what pisses me off is your abuse of Kyouka. Why do you have to torment her huh? Why can't you leave her alone?" Rising from his seat and approaching the mafioso.
"I've seen you before."
"Use your ability to kill anyone who interferes," hisses Akutagawa through the phone, just as the little girl begins to glow softly, her ability activating. From behind her rises a glowing white woman with a long, elegant sword.
There was a pause, and then he sighed, "What do you think the mafia is?" He said as if he was talking to a child. "I feel like I have to keep telling you the same thing over and over again. It's survival. Do you think my training was hugs and kisses? Do you think Dazai gave me a day off cause I had a tummy ache. Well, do you?"
Atsushi looked away from Akutagawa. He tightens his fist feeling his nails dig in. He could punch him, he should punch him. He took a breath and was about to head back to his seat. But Akutagawa wasn't done because he saw the reaction he wanted. It hurt him even to consider that Dazai could be the bad guy, and Akutagawa would pick at the scab until it bled.
"You should ask him sometime. What he did during his time in the mafia. How he trained me and his units."
"Doesn't make it right."
"No, it makes you alive in dark places. And I am sure you would have done the same. Everyone does when thrown to the bottom of the pit."
And what was Atsushi going to say to that? He wanted to shut him up with a good time punch. He took a moment to collect himself. However, before he could respond. His body felt multiple cuts all over his body before being pushed to the floor. He grasps, trying to catch his breath. Under his skin, a warm dizziness overcame his body. The hot pain of the sword cuts started to fade just a little less. "Fucking Hate this theater."
Cut to Dr. Yosano, lying on the floor again. The crazy scientist cackled over her injured body. The mid-title card played with the train roaring by.
"Shit." The doctor hissed, and Ranpo gently rubbed her back. It accrued to her that as long as her image was on-screen, she would feel the pain to match the experience, but the second it went away, the pain would dull. But still, it hurt like a motherfucker.
"Shred your enemies, Demon Snow." was typed as Akutagawa's voice rang through a cell phone speaker.
Kyouka is emotionless, staring at her target. Atsushi ran at the girl before reaching her Demon Snow attacked the weretiger. He was pushed back down. Demon snow-charged slashing is an X leaving a massive slash across his chest. Atsushi fell back, and his only thought, 'She's too strong.' Before Demon Snow sheathed her blade, causing blood to fly and the train doors to shatter.
'Why would a girl like that?'
Yosano looked up at the screen. She didn't know how Atsushi held this type of pain in every time he got hurt during an episode. She eyed the boy with his eyes closed. It shouldn't have surprised him, but Dazai had moved from his seat to comfort his younger apprentice. His hand threading through his hair.
"My name is Kyouka Izumi," she whispers as he lies on the floor, "I am an orphan just like you. I like bunny rabbits and boiled tofu. I do not like dogs or lightning. I've killed 35 people in 6 months with the Port Mafia."
The president was saddened by this display. This girl was being tortured by the actions that she was a part of. He looked at Mori, who seemed to be looking back at him. Mori's face contoured in an expression that screamed indifference. The swordsman found true distaste in the other. He understands the need of this man to balance the scale however the doctor will always disgust him.
On the floor, Atsushi jerks in fear as Akutagawa, from the phone, repeats his orders, "Protect the bomb and kill anyone who interferes."
Her ability activates again, ready to strike. It cuts to Kajii kicking Yosano to the floor, then he stomps down. She grunts as his clogs press down into her wounds.
Yosano cries out.
"Maybe we should take a break, hmm Akiko?" Ranpo looked at her, his eyes begging her to take a break. She turned to Atsushi again who was on the ground himself. He was just a kid, he didn't deserve to bare all the pain himself, "No, we keep going. I'm 'bout to use my ability anyway." 'I am fine.' The good doctor thought.
"I have to say I was expecting more out of an Agency Member," His tone makes it clear he was mocking the doctor, "Oh well, but before you do die, can you answer this question? What is death?"
He lifts his hand, revealing a switch knife. Yosano looks on at this new addition, her eyes widening, "Are you serious?"
"I can't do this. Are we really having this conversation right now?!" said Haruno, in frustration.
"Consider it a scholarly interest," He says with a smile, flipping the knife with a hand, "All effects that give rise to death, such as hypoxia of neurons and cell degradation, can be reversed in a lab. Yet, death itself is irreversible. Why are all humans resigned to death?"
A small light giggle erupts from Yosano's mouth. She grins up at him, "You don't know the answer? I have to say I was expecting more…"
"This isn't a hard answer. It is the end of life. The natural process of life to live is to die, to die is to live." Said Naomi. "What aren't you getting by that?!" Naomi crossing her arms, her brother trying to comfort her.
She trails off as Kajii grinds his foot deeper into her wounds,
The words blurred as the pain took over her injury growing worse and worse the long his foot remained on her stomach.
Through her teeth, she bits back. "And there's a reason for that." Then she breaks out into a grin. "You're just an enormous idiot."
The agency applauded her clap back. For a moment, she took in her co-workers'/families' appreciation of her then a stabbing pain burst through her hand.
"Fuck…" She cried, muffling her pain by biting her lip.
As her on-screen verison screamed loudly, echoing throughout the train.
Before Ranpo could try to suggest a break, she interrupted the older. "We are finishing this and if you ask again, I'm taking all your secret snacks." He paled at the threat and continued rubbing her back.
Mori looked on at the interaction, tasting a bitterness against his tongue. It didn't please him to see her in such pain but to watch the boy that took her from him being her source of happiness–of comfort. He looked away. Mori wonders if he should activate his ability.
Kajii pushes himself closer, "That's wonderful feedback. Thanks." He lets himself up and sits back, "if you're so smart, then you don't need me to tell you this."
He lets a large number of lemon bombs fall out of his sleeve and stands up, "I'll give you a recap anyway."
"Once the body dies from blood loss, the mind can survive for up to 8 hours," Kajii begins to walk away as Yosano tries to remove the knife from her hand. "I look forward to asking you later. You're dead. How's it feel? I'll be waiting!"
He leaves the car, as Yosano pulls on the knife finally yanking the knife out of her palm only for the bombs to go off causing the whole train to shake
The good doctor's eyes rolled back in her head, then collapsed in Ranpo's arms. He checked her pulse; it was normal, but she was gone then as the screen switched to Atsushi. She let out a gasp for air. She seemed completely out of it but back with him, and that was enough.
Atsushi struggled to stay upright. He felt helpless as he looked at the young girl and her ability. 'I can't win. It's impossible. Is this the end?' From the corner of his eye, he sights the other passengers watching the scene behind him.
'All these people are in danger and all because… They had the misfortune of being on the same train as me.'
Akutagawa's voice rang in his head as his words were written on the screen. 'That is your karma, Weretiger.'
"I'm telling you Akutagawa lives rent free in your head." said Tachihara.
Atsushi couldn't help but agree with this current situation; getting the mad dog out of his head was even harder. The mafioso made him furious, but if he attacked now, the careful balance that both groups maintained would be destroyed, creating a bloodbath. The weretiger let out a sigh in frustration as he laid in pain on the theater floor.
The scene changed to the alley in episode three. 'Your life is bound to cause only misfortune to those around you.'
It changes again to Atsushi in front of the faceless staff at the orphanage. "Get Out You Good For Nothing!" A masculine voice.
The white hair boy stares up in shock;
Atsushi, out of the corner of his eye, views his thoughts being showcased in front of his friends, his family, his enemies. As he watched, he wondered what the point of this was again and what it was…that was so important because right now, it felt like someone twisted a fantasy of torturing the people he cared about.
The screen froze on two adults whose faces' were cast in blue and purple shadows.
"Umm… We were watching that?!" Exclaimed Tachihara.
"Maybe, screen bro, want to give us a break." said Kenji.
"When have they ever cared about our comfort?" said Naomi.
"I don't maybe–"
Many in theater engage in the argument of their own comfort being locked in the in-between. Atsushi, still laying on the ground, wondered if he was responsible for the pause. His thoughts on not wanting this to continue.
"We are trying to get this part over with." said Kunikida, growing more annoyed with the situation by the second.
"Maybe we should look for the remote," said Haruno, getting up from her seat, her cat tailing behind her. Many agreed and decided to look as well.
Dazai, not electing to join in, lends into Atsushi's ear. "Hey, can you stand?"
"Yeah, still dizzy but yeah."
"Okay, let's get you upright." Dazai locked his arm in Atsushi's and steered him to the theater doors.
The light turned on and Kunikida standing up from looking under the chair caught Dazai dragging Atsushi out.
"Where are you two going?"
Dazai turned back to his partner, "I decided I would pach Atsushi up."
Kunikida sighed, and waved them off but before the two could make their exit. Mori rose from his seat and joined the group. Dazai eyed the Doctor.
"You're coming with us, Doctor Mori?" Atsushi questioned.
"Well, I am a Doctor." He said with a smirk that reminded him of Dazai's signature grin.
"I can do his treatment myself."
"Oh, I am aware, however I am sure even you would have difficulty finding all the supplies."
Dazai turned, dragging Atsushi with him. Mori tailing behind them. Reaching the infirmary, Dazai placed Atsushi on the bed and then turned to get Doctor Yosano. He paused when Mori stood in the doorframe. Mori, reading the question on the tip off his tongue, opened his mouth to reply. "She wouldn't want to be treated by you or me, Osamu."
Dazai sighed, "Where are the supplies?"
Mori smiled, he was all too pleased with Dazai trying not to engage. Mori walked over his cabinet to get everything they needed for the treatment while Dazai assisted Atsushi with removing his clothes.
"It would seem his wound reopened."
"I would be surprised if it hadn't. " The doctor searched the cabinets for the supplies to stitch the weretiger up. For Atsushi's part he felt uncomfortable watching the display between Mori and Dazai. It felt like a bomb was set to go off but no one knew when that would be. As Dazai unraveled the bondages on his chest it occurred to Atsushi that along with the wound he received from Akutagawa there was also the scars left from the orphanage. He had no problem with Mori or Yosano seeing them, hell even Akutagawa would be better then Dazai seeing but if he said that then Dazai would be hurt. And Atsushi didn't want that.
Mori now having the supplies grabbed the other chair and rolled it closer to Atsushi which of course resulted in him being closer to Dazai. Gingerly, he handed the supplies to Dazai with a gentle smile that seemed uncomfortable on his face as if the muscle there hadn't been used in some time. The detective took no mind in this and focused on his task of prepping Atsushi for his stitches.
"I won't lie to you, this will be uncomfortable." As Dazai began to pull the skin to make the stitches, Mori's hand came to stop him.
"Is there a reason you don't want Atsushi just to activate his ability to heal himself." Not releasing the hand from his grasps. There was a pause. Atsushi did agree with the Doctor that it would be easier to deal with than someone stitching him up.
"I'm trying not to put too much stress on his body." His brown eyes, that seemed to grow darker, remained on his apprentice. "He needs sleep and food but that will take time." What was left unsaid was that none of them had time; the longer they sat in the infirmary the longer they would be locked in the in-between with each other.
"Do you really hate spending time with me so much?"
"I need to get to work." The ex-mafioso shifted his eyes to Mori. "Remove your hand." Mori pondered for a moment, in a clear challenge, still remaining in contact with Dazai. His eyes shining in the lights of the infirmary, all too pleased with the thought of Dazai shooting or stabbing him, probably both. But the boss knew he would never for the fear of who would pay for his actions. Mori's eyes turned to Atsushi. The pause seemed deafening then he released and Atsushi could breathe.
"Apologizes," Mori rolled away from the two. "I am sure you don't need my supervision anymore." The doctor seemed to smile to himself, his face downcased. "You sure have grown up." Finally, leaving the two to their own devices, closing the door behind him.
Atsushi didn't know what to make of it. He figured they had known each for a while but…
"She gave you some pills right?" Atsushi nodded, looking away from the hands working through his skin.
"Dazai, how long have you known Doctor Mori?" The hands didn't stop but he did feel a slight sting for the next stitch.
"Long time." Atsushi hummed taking in the knowledge.
"I said I would be better." Another stitch completed. "I need to tell you something."
"Okay…"
"How mad are you with me from like a scale of 1 to 10."
"Do you really need me to answer that."
"It would be nice if you did."
Atsushi tilted his head in thought. "Maybe a six." Dazai upper lip moved up a fraction.
He sighed, "As you know I worked for the mafia. I wasn't a good person, i'm still not a good person. I'm just trying to–"
"I am pissed with you. I don't hate or think you're a bad person. You saved me. You gave me a life and people I care about, you're one of those people."
"I saved him too. When he was at the bottom," He finally put the needle down. "And in return for his rescue he let me make him into a monster."
Atsushi's eyebrows knitted in shock and slight fear of the statement. He needed to accept that Dazai had done things that put him so close to that man.
"I have been called many things Atsushi but the name that always stuck was Demon Prodigy. I was given that name long before I became an executive. Now, that's all people know when the name comes up."
The weretiger blinked a few times, and then he laughed. Then an instance of pain shot through him. Dazai looked concerned at his apprentice though Atsushi wasn't sure what bothered him more the laugh or the fear he might open his stitches. It was like the rough edges of Dazai's personality finally smoothed out. Because of course Dazai was an executive it made so much sense. Why was everyone scared of him? Why did the Port Mafia not state his former position, even Chuuya thought he was sure it was more for other reasons. They seemed close, kind of like Kunikida and Dazai but more everything. "Should I be concerned that you laughed?"
"No, I just thought it made complete sense."
"But, why are you telling me this?"
The people back in the theater tried finding the remote but no luck. So they were stuck with the screen as it was. Many fell back in their seats annoyed at the turn of events. Of course, continued in his pursuit of the remote. He needed to get back to some level of normality. Mori slipped back into the theater as a beep sounded out cut through the dejected crowd, telling them to refocus on the screen.
Apologies for the pause. Screen Bro will now show you the future for a brief moment then return you to this episode.
"So, it's catching on." Tachihara said with a smirk gracing his face.
before anyone could focus on the odd writing the screen blurred then…
Two individuals are exhausted, sitting on a deck against a sunset, with clouds in the distance. One slopped over in a sitting position dressed in black, and the other laying on the ground, his black and white clothes in tethers—the camera forces on him.
The audience looked on in shock at the change. Many who were still standing found themselves seated from the change. Akutagawa looked at the screen, recognizing himself seemingly completely spent of energy. Then, he heard the weretiger.
'I'm spent, if he stands back up. I don't know what I will do.' He says to himself.
'Was this what Dazai saw that made him so certain that we need to be here together.' Chuuya question.
Both their eyes wide at the realization their opponent is still standing. The wind blowing his blond hair; glowing green lines cover him.
'I would never.' He was disgusted by what the screen was showing him. Forming a duo with him, out of all of them just took some out of him.
He appeared out of it as he quietly proclaimed. "I did it–," He reaches out his hand towards the camera, "Zelda. I'll be there soon."
"Oh, I think I know him."
"You do Big Sis."
"Yeah, and it's bad but it seems like we–they won. So, why are we here?"
Ranpo took in the conversation between the two executives as he gently rubbed Yosano back.
As he begins to fall. "And bring you the happiness you always deserved." A red zero takes his place, blicking. The man returns, falling from the ruins of their fight.
Atsushi gets up in a rush, letting out a puff of air. "He still has the control terminal."
The doctor looked on at the screen as Atsushi rushed to the other man. There was something about Atsushi but she felt bad for him. She wondered if it would have been better to leave him out of all of this pain. It only remained her more of her time in the war. Was it fair? The good doctor looked to Ranpo for an answer but even he found himself stubbed.
Running to the falling man, he is stopped right before jumping off by his rival. He is falling flat on his face.
"He can't let up for a moment, huh." Tanizaki whispered to sister who chuckled and agreed wholeheartedly. Akutagawa rolled his eyes at the comment but elected not to say anything.
"You idiot," Akutagawa stands up. "Weren't you paying attention," He raised what would seem to be the control terminal. "I took it from him during the last attack."
"Well, it certainly seems like you two work well together." Akutagawa turned to the voice that dared to raise such a statement. He was met with an old man pointing at his sibling. He tched and turned the back to the screen.
Atsushi turns around, comically exclaiming, "What!" Running over to him and taking the controller. "Why haven't you stopped it." He starts pressing on the screen until it stops descending. He falls to his knees with relief. Akutagawa puts his foot on Atsushi's face.
Akutagawa got a chuckle out of the exchange. So, did many others. As the great detective watched it was clear what Dazai wanted from his two apprentices though whether they could deliver all of what he asked he wasn't sure. A part of him wanted Dazai to lower his expectations a little.
"I would love to rip you to shreds right now, but I have used up all of my strength, so this will have to do."
"You're going to pay for this, I swear." The weretiger says against his rival's foot.
Chuuya couldn't help the smile that graced his face. 'So much like Dazai and me.'
The screen changes to a malignant tone, a man all in white attire grins as He presses his index finger onto the enter button on his keyboard.
"Well, that was a tone shift. I started to think this might be a pleasant little showing." Tachihara said, Gin nodded with him.
It zooms out to show multiple computer screens with a purple rat popping onto all of them. The boys return on screen as the ship swifts under their feet. Atsushi looks at the control to find it descending again.
"Seems like their plan was to use the giant ship to crash into Yokahime though…" The detective trailed off as he stared intently at the screen.
"Descending, but why!? I haven't done anything."
"Hand it to me." He attempts to right it, but nothing happens. A purple cartoon rat takes over the screen laughing menacingly. Akutagawa, in frustration, throws the phone behind him.
"It's not responding." The camera cuts to his face. His brow knitted in thought. "Something's going on." The screen cuts to black then goes back to the previous place and remained at the placement.
Dazai was now cleaning the tools he used, avoiding the looks from the weretiger seating in the bed.
"Dazai, why did you tell me this?"
"You're not going to like my response."
"Oh, I figured that when you got up and walked away."
The ex-executive sighed finally done with the clean up. "I told you because you are going to see that person and I don't want you to be caught off guard."
"I will though cause I will be seeing it. So why?"
Dazai started to go for the door, his apprentice following behind him. Atsushi waited as they made their way back to the theater. Finally, he answered the question, "I'm telling you cause I don't want you to walk away from me."
"Like I could, you would probably track me down."
"No, if there was no fixing it. I would…"
"Thank you." Dazai turned around to meet the purple gold eyes of his apprentice. All he could do was smile, then he said. "Shall we?"
"Yeah, I feel better now."
The two opened the door to the theater staring at them and as Atsushi looked at their faces he realized they were looking at Dazai to which the weretiger turned to the other.
"What do you know about the mouse man?" Kunikida questioned.
"I thought it was a rat?" said Tachihara.
Dazai looked at them puzzled and then turned to Ranpo. Who seemed all too pleased with his situation but he did answer the question being asked to him.
"We were shown what you two were shown."
"So you all believe I know about this mouse man, yes."
"Yes." The collective said.
Dazai moved from the top of the stairs to the bottom followed closely behind by Atsushi. Not answer the question and sat down in his seat. Dazai knew there was no point in lying as at some point it would be unraveled soon enough. "You all will get your answer, no point in spoiling the ending for you all."
"This is real life, Dazai. Why didn't you tell us about this threat?"
He just sighed, at which point Dazai had reached his limit and refused to speak anymore on the topic. "We are not talking about this." His voice all but showing no more emotion than a monotone robot voice.
Most in the audience knew that pushing Dazai anymore would cause more frustration than anything else so they all sat down. Atsushi for his part didn't really question the fact that Dazai didn't share this information. It felt like Dazai felt responsible for dealing with the mouse man. Atsushi pindered more as he sat down in his chair beside the man.
"You serve no purpose, except to drag down others around you." snarls the Headmaster.
"Exactly, what we need after what just happened." said Tachihara.
Atsushi's eyes water with unshed tears, but he seems to have realized something at the same time.
'Just like that,' he narrates, 'I had an idea. It was a stupid one,'
"Well, as long as you know." said Hirustu for gin.
"I don't know man, the only dumb idea is Dazai's thinking those bandages match with that bolo tie," said Chuuya.
"Why does everyone hate my outfit? It is iconic."
"I like your outfit, Dazai," said Atsushi.
Dazai just patted him on the back.
"Anything is better than black."
"Hey…" said Higuchi.
"Well, that's just wrong, everyone looks good in black, it's slimming." said Tachihara.
"Well, it's not Dazai's color." Atsushi, not budging on the topic.
'but I couldn't shake it off. If I could save them,' he looks at the crowd behind him, 'If I could get everyone home, would that be enough?'
The train continues smoking as Atsushi rises to his feet, blood coating his face, 'I'll do it! I'll prove I deserve to live.'
Kyouka doesn't react, her eyes dead. "Stay away." Demon Snow lifts its sword.
Atsushi narrows his eyes, "Sorry! I can't do that!" He charges at her full-on as Demon Snow moves to intercept him. He dodges, the swipe, but comes to the realization that 'She's too fast!'
'There's no way! If only I could use my ability…'
"Where did all that confidence go?" said Tanizaki.
"You get hit with multiple slashes then talk to me." He groaned from his seat.
Then the train car where Yosano was is shown, blown to smithereens. Kajii opens the door and walks back in, with a smile on his thin lips, "Now then, let's check in on our experiment!"
"Oh!" He spots Yosano's body lying near a window, letting out a childish giggle and humming as he walks over, "Let's see…"
Tachihara looked on at the doctor's body laying there seemingly dead. He knew she wasn't but a part of him wished she was. The anger seemed to bubble within him bloom of its own accord. He needed to squish that feeling. Tachihara had a job to due and one of utmost importance. The redhead turned to see Mori. Mori sat there unmoving and clearly uncomfortable with what was being shown. A broken smile crossed the redhead's face but vanished as soon as it appeared. He never thought he would be soon close to the man but now that he was he wouldn't miss the opportunity and no one would get in his way, not the mafia, not himself. He turned back to the screen.
"None of you guys seem all that worried about the doctor even if she does recover. Her ability isn't that strong for her own injuries to be non-issues," Higuchi looked at the other side of the theater. All of them except for Atsushi wore a face of discomfort. "Right?" Grimace at the thought of how strong Yosano's ability is.
Yosano wakes up, all her injuries miraculously gone and hate in her eyes. She swings her fist into Kajii's face, shoving him to the floor.
"Awww," she coos at him, eyes hidden by her messed up hair, "That was disappointing. I hoped you'd fly a bit further."
"What the fuck kind of Doctor." Tachihara exclaimed.
"Bruh, I told you the kind you don't fuck with." Tanizaki seemed quite proud of what the doctor said. He turned to the doctor and asked. "Did you also work with the mafia cause it seems like you know the boss."
It felt like the room grew cold as the statement lingered in the air. She opened her mouth and a simple, "No." was her response. Tachihara and the rest got the message no more questions about who Mori was to her.
Kajii is reasonably shocked, "How did…"
"Did you think that little sparkler would kill me?" Yosano grabs him by the scruff of his neck and pulls him closer to her, "Now, which side did I hit you on?"
He grins enthusiastically back at her, "Maybe this one?" He points to the side of his face that was hit.
"Oh, he is fucked."
"This is going to be good."
Though Chuuya was the man, he was one to enjoy a good beat down. It helped knowing that his sup got away with only a few scars. His smirk grew.
Yosano punches him directly on the other side of his face, knocking him to the floor. Kajii struggles to recover from her blow, stammering loudly, "But how? When I left, you were nearly dead!"
Yosano easily saunters closer, "Despite how I look, I'm a doctor. I've seen more deaths than you could imagine…" Her heels snap on the metal floor and Kajii flinches.
Mori looked away from the on-screen Yosano. He felt proud and slightly broken like his heart was living on without him. Stolen. His heart was stolen by that detective.
Tachihara looked on as the doctor loudly proclaimed.
"Allow me to answer your previous question," her voice is calm and controlled, unlike her face, which stews with rage, "Death is simply the loss of life. No matter how hard we doctors try, our patients' lives can slip right through our fingers. Death is the ultimate form of science? What a load!" Her fist clenches with passion at her own words.
'So, this is the agency's doctor.' A frown heavily sat on his face. He looked over at the one in the theater still very close to the great detective. He believed she truly believed every word. Whether or not he believed it was something else. The anger he was trying to crush came flooding back like a yoyo. He needed to make a joke. He needed to be in character.
"I will kill anyone who does not value life!" Her eyes were aflame with passion.
"Hey, Doctor."
"What?!"
"Doctor's shouldn't kill."
"Tell that to Mori then talk to me."
"Boss…"
He was met with the killer glare of his boss. He immediately closed his gaping mouth. Atsushi from his seat mouth to him, "You will get them next time." Tachihara could only nod in agreement.
Kajii's jaw drops but he replies smoothly, "I remember now. You must be the Agency's physician. You're Yosano Akiko!"
Yosano smiles easily, "My ability is Thou Shalt Not Die… It's able to heal any injury…This includes my own" She shifts her ruined skirts to show her healed wounds and slowly picks up her bag.
"The conditions, however, are unpleasant," she sighs deeply, pulling out a machete from her bag,
"Now where do you get that bag?" said Ranpo.
"This is why you should go shopping with me."
"No thanks."
"Tch!" The good doctor let out looking away from her senior.
"It only works when the injury is fatal…" Her weapon rests on her shoulder and she drops her bag with a sharp clunk, "Terribly inconvenient."
"Truly, so much blood it's ruining that lovely outfit." sadly stated Kouyou.
"Someone gets it."
"I can recognize, good taste."
"What about me, big sis?"
"What about you, Dazai?"
"That hurts sister."
"Not her fault that you can't dress yourself." said Chuuya.
"In order to cure moderate injuries," Yosano presses on, her voice dull, "I need to bring my patients to the brink of death…" She finally turns around, a smile on her lips. Kajii uses his hands to push himself backward.
Her eyes widen with pleasure as Kajii trembles in fear, "My… You're hurt aren't you?" Her shadow falls against Kajii's face as he watches her approach, "Would you like me to treat you?!"
"Bruhhhh…. Not worth it. I don't know anything worse than that." said Tanizaki.
"I can think of a few ones, like the fish sitting next to the weretiger." Chuuya said with a smirk on his face.
"You're just jealous that I am getting so much attention."
"Oh, please."
She swings the machete with a vengeance and a gleam in her eyes. Kajii screams loudly.
"He did earn that, though," said Kouyoou.
Most of the theater agreed with the statement.
Atsushi is sown on the floor again, grunting from exertion. He's braced for the pain, but soon he notices that the blow from Demon Snow has not landed. He opens his eyes to see his arms are now the weretiger's. Demon Snow's blade can not break through Atsushi's tiger arm.
'Is this?'
"Oh, Atsushi, you got them now, finish it."
The weretiger sighed, "She's sitting right next to me."
He shoves Demon Snow backward and it goes in for another blow, jabbing with its sword. However, Atsushi dodges every cut, his reflexes enhanced now. It tries again, only for Atsushi to swing his arm and break Demon Snow's blade in half. Ignoring the ability, he grabs Kyouka's kimono with the arm instead, holding her in the air.
"Wow, just wow." said Kenji.
"Well, I guess that settled that." said Naomi.
'It's over.' He thinks, relieved, setting her down, but keeping his clawed hand at her neck. Kyouka only repeats her speech from earlier, eyes blank.
Kyouka leans into Atsushi's side to hide away from her own voice and the look on her face. She didn't want to see it.
Atsushi stands to his feet, voice dark, "Where is the bomb?"
"My latest victims included a family of three, a father, a mother, and their little boy. Their throats were slit by Demon Snow," Kyouka continues as if these words are the only thing keeping her sane and opens her dress to reveal the bomb strapped onto her.
Many in the audience grimace at the admission from the fourteen year old.
Atsushi freezes in horror, asking her, "Why would you do this? Who are you?" then as an afterthought, "Your words are so empty. It's like there's nothing inside you. No emotions at all. You're a killing machine…."
"I'm sorry…" Kyouka whispered into his side, leaning further away from the screen and closer to the warm body. She had to remind herself that in this moment he was alive and well but she was scared what happened when they all got to when they were taken.
"If you feel anything, then tell me. I don't understand what's going on… Don't tell me that you want to do this!" The weretiger desperate for a response, something that could make sense. A small light forms in Kyouka's eyes and she hesitates.
Then Yosano speaks from over the train's loudspeaker, having reached the front of the train, "This is the conductor speaking. Atsushi, are you still alive?"
"Well, we can clearly see that you are, doctor." Tachihara whispered, sounding less than happy with that result. Atsushi was surprised by the statement. It seemed out of character for the mafioso. As if it was to him that some heard his out loud thoughts. He tried to cover it up by immediately yelling out.
"I'm telling you guys these agency's people are a little too OP. We got to do something about this! This series should be called Bungo Stray Cats, seeing as you lot have nine lives" said Tachihara.
"Don't forget we also have a cat in our office." said the Good Doctor.
Atsushi could only shake his head. Pushing the thoughts about his new buddy side. Maybe it was nothing targeted, just a side point in the many points that could be made.
It beeps twice and then turns red. Kyouka's light eyes go blank again and Atsushi stares in confusion before realizing what he's just done, "No way!"
Akutagawa's dead tone comes from the phone that Kyouka is holding, "You pressed the button, Kyouka." There is no malice in his voice, only resignation, "There's no need to deactivate the bomb when you die with the rest of the passengers. It will teach the world to fear us…"
Atsushi is living that moment all over again but now a newfound truth. It disgusted him that Akutagawa could just send someone to their death like that. And of course, it always came back to his mentor. Did he learn that from Dazai? Dazai was seen as one the best member's of the port. or was this something unique to Akutagawa? All and all he was at a loss for words as he watched his on-screen counterpart freak out. His body hurt in so many different places making his head spin, it was draining on him.
Atsushi panics, grabbing Kyouka and the bomb, "We have to take it off!" He's scared, his fingers shake.
"There's no time," Kyouka says, her tone more desperate than she's ever been before. Atsushi steps back, startled. Kyouka steps around him and shoves him away from her, using his body to push herself towards the door on the opposite side of the train car. The melody only gets louder.
'I'm such an idiot,' Atsushi thinks as he watches her fall, 'It wasn't until she pushed me away that I realized her power was activated by the voice on her phone. She's not able to control her power.'
They all looked on knowing what Atsushi was feeling, the pain of missing something that was right in-front of you. However, out of everyone Kunikida knew it the best. He slowly took of his glasses to clean them despite not needing cleaning.
Kyouka stands on the edge of the door, hair in her face, whispering, "My name is Kyouka Izumi…I've killed 35 people." She lifts her gaze, eyes full of life, the emotions she had been shined through as tears rained down her face, "I don't want to kill anyone else ever again! Not ever!"
"And as long as you're with us you won't have to." said the President full of conviction.
Kyouka looked at Atsushi and a warm feeling spread through her. 'A place to call home.'
It made Kouyou sad she thought Kyouka had found some type of peace being a part of the port mafia but now looking at her girl that couldn't be the case now.
Then she jumps off the train, Atsushi charging after her and her body.
Kouyou found herself more angry than ever before for them to take one of her children away from her was unacceptable. 'That fool Akutagawa.'
His ability enhances his jump, allowing him to reach her and tear off the bomb. His arms wrap around her, and they fall into the water together, the bomb going off behind them. Yosano hears it and the splash, screaming Atsushi's name.
"Atsushi, it would seem like you can survive a pretty intense fall." Dazai seemed intrigued by the incident. Along with him was the good doctor who had a matching face. He looked back at his mentor, unsure what he was getting at, but the look on his face screamed trouble.
"I'm not jumping off it cause I want to."
"Yes, Yes…"
Atsushi pulls Kyouka to the shore, panting with the effort of the swim. She had been knocked unconscious by the fall taking in the salty water.
It was an unpleasant feeling of liquid pool in her lungs. Her body started to cough it up which only made her gag as there was no water to cough up. She held her throat. Atsushi was encircling her in a comforting motion despite the shiver that ran down her spine. She felt warm.
She finally gets up to her knees and looks at him, with wonder in her eyes. "Umm.." Then Atsushi collapses in exhaustion onto her lap.
"Man, Atsushi had a day. Glad he can get some sleep."
"Everytime, he overextends himself he knocks out afterwards."
"Sure, once he masters his ability he will be fine."
"Hey Chuuya, how long did it take you?"
The mafia member let out a sigh before answering, apart of wondered if anyone at that agency saw him as a threat. "Why are you asking me?"
"Well, you ability seems to also be taxing on your body." Naomi pondered.
"There were parts of my ability that came natural to me then there were parts that didn't." His arms crossed against his chest, his eyes seemed far away.
Kyouka stares at the person who just saved her life, water dripping off her and amazement written all over her face. She's clearly never had anyone do anything like this for her before. The ending song plays in the background as she continues to look at the sleeping Atsushi. Her cell phone in her grasp by her side, disconnected from the person on the other side.
Akutagawa clicks the button from where he sat in a dark and bloody dungeon, "No matter how fierce, a pawn is just a pawn." His dead eyes roam over his prisoner, "How about you then?"
Shackled to the wall in front of him, is the port mafia traitor.
"He's alive?" Tachihara pointed at the screen.
"You thought I was dead." The traitor in question, questioned.
"You got kidnapped by the port mafia and you happened to be a traitor to said organization we were preparing for the worse."
Many at the agency node.
"Oh, now you guys are worried about me."
"We always worry about you, Dazai." said Naomi.
"Yeah and this nightmare feast hasn't helped that." said Kunikida.
"I've been enjoying it." said Tachihara bouncing in his seat.
"And tell me how much screen time you have had." Dazai hissed out.
"Low blow bruh."
"Are you a player, or a lowly pawn to be used until it's inevitable demise?" Akutagawa asks Dazai, his voice raspy.
"Let's be real here, Dazai ain't no pawn."
"Yeah, you don't sound cool."
Akutagawa groaned at the statement. "I'm not trying to sound cool."
Dazai doesn't flinch at all, raising his head only to show off a menacing grin. Cut to black.
"I deduce that Dazai will piss us off again if that grin is anything." said Ranpo with his mouth full.
"Agreed! Well, next episode shall we." said the good doctor.
