"Well, I could use a snack," Ranpo said as he jumped up from his sit. "You coming Akiko." She hummed in response, getting up from her seat.

"So, we are betting on this or what."

"Let's do it." said Yosano, turning back to the mafioso. "After snacks."

"I'm going to the bathroom." Tanizaki said to his sister.

"Need any help." His sister suggested, which made the older Tanizaki blush, running away from his sister.

"No, This is serious, we are not betting on the lives of people we know." said Kunikida. Following after a bouncing Dazai accompanied by Atsushi.

Most of the group followed Ranpo to grab a snack, each getting something to quench their hunger or thirst. Dazai found himself standing next to Chuuya as both of them were going to grab a bottle of their drink of choice. They both looked at one another in disgust; Quickly, they reached what they wanted and proceed to walk away from each other.

Everyone, seemingly satisfied with their choice started to make their way back; however, Kunikida stopped Chuuya, Yosano, and Dazai.

"You are not getting drunk on my watch," said Kunikida.

"Who are you! You might be his mother but you ain't mine got it." said Chuuya looking up at the blond.

"What he said." The brunet agreed, taking a swig of the continents in his hands. The blond reached for the bottle which resulted in them fighting.

"Mom, please. I need this. My apprentices are going to beat the shit out of one another. I need something to take the edge off."

"Don't use them as an excuse Dazai."

Yosano and Chuuya slowly crept away from the fighting duo, reaching the theater. They both smiled triumphantly, with the only cost being the bandage weirdo.

Dazai found himself pouting on the floor like a child as Kunikida locked away the alcohol cabinets. His partner could really be a spoiled sport. He stuck his tongue out at the man who dismissed him with a shake of the head. Dazai looked back down at the floor; suddenly, his vision was blocked by a bag of gummies. He looked up to see his younger apprentice.

"Kunkida's right, you should be sober."

"Atsushi–," He looked up with stars in his eyes, and Atsushi felt on guard. The taller one stood up beaming. "Atsushi."

"Yes?"

"Won't you be a dear and wait here with me until everyone has left."

His eyes narrow, "Okay."

So, they sat on the floor and watched both company members get ready for the next episode. Haruno made some tea for the president, who just sat at the counter watching her in her element. His eye would at times drift to Ranpo who looked somewhat uncomfortable with how many snacks the great detective was grabbing. And at some point, he got a bag and started to fill it. The president was clearly uncomfortable but made no attempt to stop the twenty-six-year-old from clearing the shelf. Higuchi kept trying to get Akutagawa to take something but he refused and eventually stormed out, dragging his sister with him. Higuchi runs behind him with a bunch of random snacks. They continued as most got their snacks or drinks and made their way back to the theater. The president with a cup of his favorite tea in hand stopped by the two.

"Will you not be joining us in the theater?"

"No, not just yet, sir. Dazai wanted to ask me something."

"Hmm… See that it doesn't take too long." The president looked at both of them.

"Of course, sir."

With a nod, he left, and now only two remain. Dazai and Atsushi, the younger, looked over to the brunet not sure want he wanted from him. Finally, Dazai broke the silence.

"Atsushi, watch the door."

"Umm… Okay, but why."

"I'm going to pick the lock. I need my alcohol."

The weretiger looked at him dumbfounded. "I'm not helping with this." and started to walk away from his mentor.

"You want to know if you won don't you?" His mentor side-eyed him. The youth turned back to him. He was growing annoyed.

"Why do you want me to fight him?"

The man straightened his face losing all it's youth and wonder, it became dead. "It's training."

"I could die."

"You won't." With a level of certainty that left no room for argument. He turn to the lock and began to play with it. He continued, "Akuatagawa will be someone you will need if you want to protect yourself, the agency…" He gazed back at the younger. "Me."

"You play dirty."

"If you don't like it. Then learn to play dirty too."

The youth looked away.

"I hate him."

"I know."

"Would you have trained me the same way if I was in the mafia?" More to himself than to Dazai.

"No, your ability is harder to train than his, mostly I would have to be more intensive."

The youth went to the door with no more words exchanged he heard dazai pick the lock until it popped allowing him entrance to all the alcohol he could ever want. He looked around at the continents but finally decided on a bottle of sake. Then he turned back to his apprentice and bounce all the way to him putting his arm around the boy's shoulder. Atsushi had an adorable pout on his face as he thought about what Dazai said. He thought back on their arrival here in this place. He stared out into the courtyard where the tree stood. Besides, it was that cat. Seriously, what was up with that cat? His mind landed on a word that he spoke to the air. "Rat."

Dazai didn't acknowledge it and instead shock his bottle of sake and said. "Want some?"

"I'm underage."

"Soooo… I was sixteen when I had my first taste of alcohol and I turned out fine."

"You must want me to be a delinquent."

"Well, it would be fun to find out, how much I can corrupt you." An evil gleam in his eyes as he looked from the corner of his eye at the younger.

"Let's go back to the theater." Atsushi said Dazai was still hanging onto him. He started to move, and then the weretiger paused slighting, turning his head to his mentor. "Dazai, when did you become an executive?"

"So many questions today, kitten." Atsushi was pushing it.

"Because you are only twenty-two so couldn't have had the role for long and you must've been underage when you had it."

"Hate to break to you but it was the truest form of nepotism."

"That's not what Akutagawa said."

He sighed. "Oh, and you listen to Akutagawa now."

"You do know that whether you tell me or not. I will find out."

He said nothing, seemingly to think about it. If anyone else was this close to the man known as the demon prodigy they would shack under his gaze but Atsushi didn't. Because Atsushi knew Dazai plus the man was draped over him like a wet towel. He just didn't inspire fear in him, and Atsushi thought he never really would. But still, he knew Dazai was annoyed, not really at him but with how much of his life was being shared not like it was a lot anyway. As if he could read his thoughts, Dazai grew more annoyed, removing himself from the younger.

"I joined when I was fifteen. I was sixteen when I became an executive and I was eighteen when I left. I joined the agency at twenty. Don't make that look."

"What look?"

"Like it hurts."

Atsushi looked away from the taller one.

"It does hurt, that's just… it's just." The younger looked at the tree and the cat that was staring holes into him. Those eyes seemed to be asking him something and he felt like he knew what the cat wanted from him. He broke his stare with the cat to meet Dazai's maroon eyes. "Is that the case for most members of the mafia?"

"Depends… I recruit Akutagawa when he was fourteen." A deep frown made its way onto his face adding to the already knitted eyebrows. Dazai wanted something from him. He couldn't see Akutagawa in that light next to Kyouko because that would mean putting Dazai in the dark. He felt some weave between his legs. The younger looked down and a soft purr came from the creature as it continued.

"Mii-chan?" Atsushi went to pick up the cat and to his surprise it let him. Dazai next to him seemed surprised by the cat's action. And now that Atsushi thought about it he wondered why the cat was even here and why no one questioned the cat's existence. Once again he and the cat locked eyes.

Dazai watched as the two seemed to have a conversation all of their own. Slowly, Atsushi's human eyes turned to cat-like ones; it looked like he was slipping. He let go of the cat and the cat start to gracefully walk away. Atsushi followed after the beauty and thus Dazai with them. The brunet said nothing for fear of waking Atsushi from whatever trance sensei put him under. 'Was it a singular?' Soon they came to a wall that the cat walked through then Atsushi. He guessed it was his turn and with caution, he followed. Once passed he found himself in a dark wooden hall with candle lights. The two continued till they reached a door slightly more modern than the rest of the hall. Atsushi opened the door for the cat who kindly walked through.

Dazai was completely lost for words but still followed behind the two and found himself in a library of sorts. Atsushi and the cat remain staring at one another. At this point I needed some human speech.

"Can you guys just talk normally?"

"Huh," Atsushi turned to his mentor, eyes now his normal purple sunset. He looked around, "How did we get here?"

Sensei is on the floor grooming himself.

"Sensei." was all Dazai said until a bright light engulfed the cat.

Atsushi immediately went on guard to protect Dazai. While the other just stood there unshocked or fazed. In the place of the cat was a man, a well-dressed man with a cane. The younger looked dumbfounded while the older seemed ticked.

"Nice to see you again Sensei, have you been well?"

"Well, I was well. Until I was dragged into all this drama." He leaned a little more on his cane.

"I see, my apologies for a moment. I thought you were behind this."

"No need, I'm not mad with you, Osamu. It's a fair assumption for something of this magnitude."

Atsushi looked between the two. 'Did Dazai know that the cat was a man?'

"I see."

"I like your new mentee."

"Most do, he has kind eyes and a cute smile. Wins over everyone won't lie I'm a little jealous."

"By the way, what did you do to him?" Slightly, breaking his facade.

"Nothing really just wanted to talk somewhere private and told him to follow me."

"Oh, Atsushi," Dazai finally brought the younger one into the conversation. "this is Natsume Soseki but most call him Sensei."

"Pleasure making your acquaintance." He stretches out his hand to the younger of the group. Atsushi nervously took the hand offered and shook it.

"The pleasure is all mine, sir."

"See what I tell you, wins over everyone." He looked around the room with the colorful books on display. There was a small sitting area and the furthest wall was all glass with a desk and chair. "Sensei, if you don't mind me asking what is this place."

"Well, it appears to be a library of sorts," Sensei said, now moving around the room. He reached one of the shelves and pulled out a book. The book had Bungou Stray Dogs Wan written on it. "I found myself enjoying these books."

"There's a book version."

"So, there is." His finger's dancing on his cane's handle.

"Oh, but there is more. There are several different books. Fifteen, Stormbringer, Beast, Official Anthology, Gaiden, Dead Apple, Fifty-Five minutes, and a few more, though my favorite has to be Wan."

"All of these books are our stories."

"Well, yes and no." Natsume sat down the book and moved further down. The youngsters watching him with their eyes as he reached for a red book. As he pulled it out there was a figure of sort shaped like a human, and the words No Longer Human on it. Natsume then went to the book next to it, he pulled out a book that had a tiger on it standing on a mountaintop. Sensei put the tiger book down and opened Dazai's book; he flipped through a few pages till he found the page he was looking for.

"As long as I can make them laugh, it doesn't matter how, I'll be alright. If I succeed in that, the human beings probably won't mind it too much if I remain outside their lives. The one thing I must avoid is becoming offensive in their eyes: I shall be nothing, the wind, the sky."

Dazai felt raw and seen in a way that made him want to vomit, however didn't say anything as Sensei picked up the other book and began to flip through. More curious with his apprentice's book would say about the weretiger.

"We are all of us, trainers of wild beasts, it is said, and the beasts in question are our own inner selves. In my case, the beast inside was my self-important sense of shame. That was my tiger, and it damaged me…"

Atsushi felt as if someone had put words to a feeling he had always felt like something had ripped it right from his soul. The words kept spinning in his head.

He looked up from the book to see two faces who both seemed displeased and confused. "I imagine you would like to avoid anyone else reading these books." He grabbed the other, now having them both in hand, and reached them towards the two. They leaped for the books, gripping them as if their lives depended on it.

"It's not just you in here. Everyone's ability and thus personalities are also here in book form. I am sure you can see how many pages there are." Looked more directly at Dazai's book. "It is an interesting place, isn't."

"Yes, it is." Dazai said more as a whisper.

"We shouldn't tell them about this place just untill…" Atsushi said, shifting his feet.

They all seemed to look at one another and seem to agree.

"Atsushi, I was thinking a similar thoughts but it's more than that this room has stories that don't match current events. For instance, the Azure messenger case to be blunt, it happened two years before when Dazai original joined the agency."

"Meaning…" Dazai eyed the man.

"Yes, the events in the book Bungou Stray Dogs is a separate reality to our own."

"I see."

"But it could help us." Atsushi joined in.

"It could or it could break us. It's something we can discuss later tonight."

"We have been gone a while." Atsushi thought outloud.

"Dazai, why don't you calm everyone's nerves."

"Yes, sir."

Atsushi began to walk with Dazai but was stopped by the older man. "One moment of your time."

"Oh, okay." Atsushi looked at Dazai who only nodded at the younger before the door closed behind him.

"I am sure, you will want to read some of these stories but I must ask you one thing."

"Anything sir."

"Do not read Bungou Stray Dogs: Beast."

"Can I ask why?"

"No, I think the least you know the better." He said while patting him on the back. "Also please don't share the room or me with anyone else outside of Dazai."

"I understand, sir." Atsushi thought about what Sensei said, his eyes going to the book series that had several volumes. The man smiled as his body shifted to his cat form. Atsushi looked at the book in his hands. The book shift to something else to another one named Light, Wind, and Dreams. He was curious about what was inside of this new book. He opened the book to a random page.

In days gone by I never repented of my acts. I was sorry always only for what I didn't do. Professions I did not choose; adventures which I dared not have (in spite of the chances I had to have them, to be sure); various experiences with which I did not meet.

Now in cat form, Sensei pawed at Atsushi's leg. Atsushi only guess that Sensei wanted to be picked up. They both exited the room, and the hall being spotted by no one. Atsushi quickly ran to his room and stuffed the book under his bed.

Finally, he was descending the stairs of the theater with Sensei in his arms.

"Oh, that's where Mii-chan went."

"Sorry, I didn't want to steal him just kind of…"

"Oh, no its fine you can keep him for as long as you want. Honestly, Mii-chan doesn't warm up to people quickly."

A shout came out of his mentor who was getting strangled by Kunikida who what he could imagine was breaking into the alcohol continent. "It's cause they're both felines."

Some let out chuckles from the audience. Atsushi ignored them as he sat down with Sensei in hand. He petted the cat in his arms who only purred in response. 'This is weird.' The projector roars to life as the episode started.


The episode begins with a voice, Kunikida, to be exact, as he races to save Atsushi from the clutches of the sea.

"Speed: 20 knots. Heading out to the open sea." He said as those same words showed up on the screen.

"Ever to follow the protocol, huh." said Tanizaki.

"Well, if not him then who?" said Yosano.

Most of the agency got a laugh out of it.

Then, Atsushi is shown, laying in a pool of his own dried blood. He's clearly unconscious. The weretiger looked dead.

"Damn, you look like shit." said Tachihara.

"Thanks, man I planned to get stabbed and kidnapped that day so I'm glad you noticed. I learned it from my mentor."

The speedboat that Kunikida's on races behind them, as Kunikida keeps his eyes on the cargo ship ahead. "Don't you die on me, kid," he spits as the boat tears through the murky bay.

"Bruhh… I think he is already dead." said Tachihara.

"Yeah. Akutagawa impaled him with his coat spear thing."

His race is interrupted by the opening.

"Noo!" Tachihara yelled in joint with Ranpo yelling, "Skip this shit."

The screen fast forward to a jacket flying through the dead air of the basement as Chuuya charges forward, his right fist already curled for a punch. He swings at Dazai's jaw, missing by mere centimeters as Dazai swings his head to dodge, repeating the action as Chuuya forces him backward.

After a couple of swings from Chuuya, Dazai grabs his weaker wrist, trapping him in place. Dazai's other hand curls around to punch Chuuya in the stomach, which really only makes Chuuya grunt.

"At this moment, he knew he fuck up." Tachihara.

"Yeah, what exactly was your plan? Chuuya is the best fighter in the port mafia."

Chuuya sank into his seat.

"You shouldn't have gone to see Dazai. A part of me thinks you wanted to help him escape." Mori spoke, seeming like he was growing frustrated with the circumstances. Everyone who didn't know was shocked by Mori's statement.

"It was my mistake." leaning further into his chair.

"A mistake you have learned from I hope."

It was ever that his punch was ineffective because Chuuya's face twisted into a grin, "You Call That A Punch!?"

"Well, shit."

Some in the Mafia smile at the display of strength. This was the difference between them. Criminals were creators of mayhem while those, on the side of light, could only destroy the darkness they created.

His right fist hits Dazai in the exact spot Chuuya was hit before, only this time, Dazai is thrown backward, his body flapping like a rag dog from the sheer force of Chuuya's punch. Dazai hits the wall with a crunch and a pained groan, crumpling to the floor.

Dazai was not pleased with how his body hummed in pain. The pain covered his body like death. He bit down on the inside of his cheek.

Chuuya growls at him; hands stuffed deep in his pockets. His leg was still hanging in the air. "That wasn't even a massage–."

"And Chuuya would know he gets them bi-weekly."

"Yup…"

"No one would say the man doesn't enjoy a good rub down."

Dazai's face twisted at the thought of someone disgusting hands touching his flesh. While Atsushi wondered what that was like paying someone to touch your person, at first, the thought was kind of weird, but then he thought about when Dazai petted him.

"Your material arts skills are below average for the Port Mafia. It doesn't even matter that I can't use my ability against you."

"Question: but why dou?"

"Why have I never trained in martial arts? Well, I would hate to break it to you but I just never enjoyed weights and all. I'm more of a sprinter."

"Please, you're just lazing around," said Chuuya.

"Well, compared to you, of course I seem lazy. It's just cruel that they keep putting me with partners that are way too strong."

Atsushi pondered for a moment; Dazai needed a good partner that could keep up with how his mind worked, however, just by seeing the interactions between Dazai and Chuuya. Atsushi could tell they had a history. The way their eyes linger on one another. He didn't think that Chuuya or Dazai hated each other.

"Now, get up," Chuuya's words are bitter, and his eyes are hidden by the brim of his hat, "The party's only just getting started…"

"And you didn't invite any of us," said Ranpo.

"Well, you were invited but no one came to save me."

Dazai does look at him, covered in wall dust. His mouth forms a small smile, "You always were the best at hand-to-hand combat."

His bones crack as he stands up to face Chuuya, who's standing on one leg and grinning at him.

"Thought my arm would get destroyed there," Dazai seems more amused than anything as he stretches a bit. Chuuya frowns at him, the annoyance clear in his eyes. ' He blocked my hit at the last second. He must have predicted it.'

"Doesn't mean anything if your mind can't keep up with your body," said Higuchi.

"Listen here, Atsushi, this is why you must train your mind and body," said Kunikida.

"Yes, sir."

Dazai seems to have noticed Chuuya's aggravation, "We've known each other for a long time. I'm very familiar with your moves, pacing, and behavior. That's what made me a great partner! Right?" A grin slides onto his face as he cocks his head at Chuuya.

"That is so sweet."

"It makes me a threat, I am a threat."

"We believe you." said Yosano, patting Dazai's shoulder.

Chuuya only charges for him again, jumping for Dazai's face.

He's fast..

"No shit. One of the best fighters in this city." said Hirusto for Gin.

"Seriuously, I thought you were super genies why the fuck you fight him." said Tachihara.

"It's our reunion fight." The brunette said as if that could be the only valid response.

"Oh-kay."

Chuuya fist hammers Dazai down to the floor, down to his knees. Chuuya wastes no time at all, going for another swing, towards Dazai's stomach.

"Watch closely now!" He taunts, "This is how you punch!"

His swing collides with Dazai's stomach and shoves him upwards and against the wall again.

"Fuck…" Dazai let out as the feeling of Chuuya's attack came full-force. For Chuuya, a smirk grew on his face; even if knew that Dazai gets away again, he could still enjoy his pain. He deserved it, leaving like that for four Fucking Years, their partnership thrown out the window.

Dazai grunts with pain and even drools a bit from the sheer force. He doesn't get time to recover, though since Chuuya grabs his neck and slams him backward, "Did you really think you could predict all of my moves?"

Dazai was really feeling Chuuya's grip on his throat and he could tell that his coworkers were getting worried by his limited moment after his silent curse.

A knife glints in the dark as Chuuya tears it out of his belt. It comes towards Dazai's neck with a sharp noise, only to stop inches away.

"That's my executive." said Hirostu for Gin.

"Yeah, he is about to kill my mentor." Atsushi's thoughts on Chuuya didn't change all that much despite what he was doing to Dazai.

Chuuya narrows his eyes at Dazai, "Before I kill you… Why did you let yourself get caught? What the hell were you waiting here for."

Dazai stares at him, his eyes dead once again.

Dazai actually wanted to die. He didn't want anyone hearing this. He can accept Chuuya but everyone else. Especially his kitten knowing this… God, he wanted Chuuya to choke him harder until he passed out from lack of airflow.

"Ah," Chuuya says with practiced ease, "Not talking, eh? Alright, I'll just enjoy torturing you a bit more." The knife drives a bit closer to Dazai's neck.

"Okay, maybe we should've looked for Dazai." Said Kunikida.

"You don't think…" Dazai finally says however he really didn't want them to go out searching for him. He didn't need nor want them to know all this insanity. Plus their involvement would have ruined things and he wouldn't get his answer. He needed to know if it was him that was behind this causing mayhem in his city.

"The main reason..." Dazai chokes out as Chuuya glowered at him, holding a knife centimeters from his neck,

Everyone in the theater leaned forward to hear Dazai's answer.

"Was for Atsushi."

Chuuya's eyes darken a bit, "Atsushi?"

Atushi turned to Dazai with wide eyes and a heart pounding his chest. No one has ever done something so sweet for him in all of eighteen years of being. He could feel the start of saltwater pouring out of his eyes. Dazai was facing away from Atsushi. He could feel his cheeks burning, he didn't need him to know that.

Dazai could feel their warm stares at his show of affection for his mentee. Before he could yell at them for their feelings on his actions. Atsushi crushed him in a hug. The cat jumped out of his arms before he got in contact with Dazai. His warm tear wetted Dazai's clothes. The detective didn't know how to respond. His arms remained at his side, and his eyes were wide in shock. And, of course, the hand that was crushing his windpipe, but he didn't mind that not with the warmth coming from the other. Then he started to wonder when the brat had wormed his way into his heart like this. The kid was like an infection that he couldn't kick. Once he thought he had recovered from the pain, and ache returned. Slowly, he moved his arm to wrap around the weretiger's small body.

"The weretiger you're all obsessed with. I wanted to know who was responsible for the seven billion price tag on his head," Dazai clarifies as Chuuya continues to hold him against the wall.

"You're tall huh." said Tachihara, as if it had just occurred to him.

"Yeah, and Chu Chu is a short fucker." through the pain he was experiencing in his heart and against his throat. Chuuya wanted to strangle him all over again.

Chuuya hums a bit, "You put your own life on the line just for that? I'd like to say that's a nice feel-good story there, but look where you ended up." He's shocked but trying to hide it. His voice wavers, but the knife doesn't.

"He's got a point," said Yosano.

"Atsushi, you should probably let go of the Dazai," said Kunikida.

Atsushi only shook his head, adding more wetness to Dazai's clothes.

"Should we take a picture?"

"That's a great idea, Naomi." said Tanizaki. Only to get a steel-cold gaze from Dazai.

"Nevermind."

Though a mumble to everyone else Dazai heard what Atsushi said through fabric and tears. "I don't want you to die especially not for me."

His only response was to move his hand to the top of his head combing the messy locks.

"Seems like a genius like you, the youngest executive in mafia history can screw up." Chuuya teases, "I guess Lady Luck just isn't on your side today. It just so happens I caught you on the very day I returned from putting out fires in the West"

"Umm…What!"

"Kunikida you got to chill at this point you shouldn't be all that surprised." said Tanizaki.

"But…"

"You shouldn't be so surprised," said Ranpo.

"Yeah, Dazai is quite young, you know. If he was a normal person he would have just finished his undergraduate to enter the workforce."

A lot in the theater nodded in agreement.

He laughs as if this amuses him, "Lady Luck must be on my side!"

Dazai also laughs, which stops Chuuya in his boasting, "What's so funny?"

"Yeah, don't laugh at Chuuya because he can barely reach your throat!" Exclaimed Tachihara. His only response from the former duo was a low growl coming from the older.

"Dazai said that he went to find out about the bounty thus meaning that he knew that Chuuya and Akutagawa would be people he would run into again."

"So, that means..." questioned Haruno.

"He planned it." said Kouyou.

"You should probably know this. Tomorrow, the five execs are meeting."

"There was a meeting today?"

"Unfortunately, little brat."

Finally Atsushi let go of Dazai, rubbing his eyes with sleeves. His smile broke his face and his eyes seemed to look at him as if he was the world. "Thank you."

Atsushi went on to look at the screen above them.

"It's what I am here for…" He smiled back, but then said. "But I can't make any promises on anything else."

To which Atsushi frowned at his words.

Chuuya's eyes widen and he freezes, so shocked that he drops the knife from Dazai's neck, "Impossible. They only meet to make decisions about the future of the organization. Critical ones. And that only happens every few years. If that was happening tomorrow, I would know about it!"

"Well, you were away on business."

"He still should've known."

"This meeting is in regards to a letter I sent them the other day," Dazai clarifies, a cold smile on his face. It's the same smile he used with Akutagawa, he was someone unknown to the agency.

A chill ran down Yosano's spine; she couldn't help but think about Mori when she looked at him. Doctor Moir that was where her mind went. She couldn't look anymore.

"I imagine it's a proper letter demanding back pay." said Tanizaki.

"Hey, that's a good idea."

"Allow me to make a prediction," Dazai smiles at Chuuya, no warmth in his eyes, "You are not going to kill me after all. Not only that, you're going to give me information before leaving this room. About who's paying the weretiger's bounty."

"You know what's weird. I don't think I have ever heard Dazai call Atsushi weretiger so much."

"Yeah, actually he has always called Atsushi Atsushi well until we got stuck here."

Chuuya stares at him, feelings hidden under the surface. Dazai grins and continues, "Plus when you leave, you'll dance and prance like a little rich girl!"

"Ummm….."

"Trust me you guys are going to love this."

"Well, I don't man. Kind of feel bad for Chuuya."

"Like I was worried he was going to kill you now I just feel…"

"Yeah it's kind of…"

Kunikida could only shake his head. He knew the feeling all too well. The feeling of being a puppet on string lifted up by dazai's bandage fingers.

Chuuya's face morphs from mild annoyance to outright confusion. Dazai only stares blankly back at him, "My predictions always come true. But you already know that."

"You think you can wiggle out of this?" Chuuya has some sort of realization, his hair bounces a bit, "Your letter... What did it say?" He's back to interrogating mode apparently.

"This is sick."

"You need a back rub buddy, it always helps with the anger."

"I don't need anything but a bottle." Chuuya said, raising his bottle of Gravity.

"What are you, a baby? I mean sure you look like one but…."

"Fuckin' Bandage Womanizer."

Dazai keeps his gaze steady, "Would you like me to recite it for you?"

Dazai narrates the letter completely calmly as the words pop up on the screen, "Should Dazai fall, all of your secrets will finally be revealed and brought to light."

"You've gotta be bluffing!" Chuuya spits at him, his bewilderment on full display.

"You'll get him next time buddy," said Tachihara.

"You guys have no proof that I lost."

"I'm glad we didn't bet on this I would have lost." said Gin through Hirustu.

Many agreed and Chuuya could growl in frustration.

Dazai only keeps going, "So yeah, you've got me. A former executive turned traitor. But you have a problem. If you kill me, a list of all the organizations' transgression will be released. The public prosecutor? He'd be obliged to execute all the Port Mafia leaders. That's more than enough of a threat to trigger a meeting." Dazai finishes with a flare.

"Okay, quick question, why is Dazai still alive," said Tanizaki.

"You want me dead, Tanizaki? I'm hurt."

"No, that's not what I meant at all. I was just sayin' that, that…"

"Stop talking, boy." said Kouyou.

"We still need him," said Mori.

"And you think he would help us. He clearly dislikes you the most." said Tachihara.

"No, he loathes the boss." Higuchi corrected.

"It's not about want, it's about need."

Chuuya sweats a bit, but his eyes burn with passion, "You think you can push the Port Mafia around with a bunch of words? The only execution will be yours!"

Higuchi is slowly learning to keep her mouth shut. This was a cruel joke. "Damnit, who the fuck is this guy!"

"Possibly," agrees Dazai, back to his old self a bit, "But in the end, that will be the Council's decision. If you kill me without their permission, your action would be considered unsanctioned and therefore, a betrayal. You'll be discharged or executed!"

Chuuya is clearly disturbed but keeps pushing, "Even if I decided to go ahead and kill you anyway. I had a feeling you'd actually enjoy that. Wouldn't you?"

Dazai's smile gets softer and he hums a bit in confirmation, "I think it's time you made up your mind."

"Sick fuck." said Chuuya.

"Good thing we went after Atsushi." said Kunikida.

Atsushi could only nod. Dazai was using his one-time card on him. He was about to burst into tears all over again. A hand to calm the younger's tear.

Chuuya huffs with frustration as he clenches his knife.

"Well, then," Dazai says with the tone of someone who has won, "What do you say?"

Chuuya's eyes lock onto Dazai as Dazai continues mocking him, "I'M WAIIITTTINNNGGG CHUUUYYYAAA!"

The knife he's holding swings towards Dazai and…

Everyone held their breath at the swing.

Chuuya backed away from Dazai, the knife stabbed into…

The wall right next to Dazai's neck. Dazai looks over at the knife as a trail of blood goes down his neck, "Really? Not doing it? I was so hoping I'd be the reason you were thrown out! I'm a little disappointed.."

Chuuya freezes as Dazai's words wash over him, "Don't tell me…"

Dazai's words echo again, The main reason was for Atsushi…

Chuuya whips around to yell at Dazai, "Was your second reason to force me between a rock and a hard place!?"

"Yeah, he is definitely Dazai's partner…" said Yosano.

"Yup, that's our Dazai getting off on messing with his partners," said Ranpo.

"Wouldn't be surprised if his partners and apprentices team to beat the living shit out of him one of these days." said Yosano.

"He would probably enjoy that." Tanizaki sighed.

"I am not a masochist."

"Whatever you got to tell yourself." Naomi chuckled.

Dazai grins at him mysteriously, remembering Chuuya's words now.

Why are you here, Chuuya?

To pay you back.

"So," Chuuya frowns at Dazai, who is pulling the knife out of the wall nonchalantly, "This whole time you had set me up to have the last laugh."

Dazai almost laughs, "With a reunion this long in the making, I had to do something special!"

"Awe, that's so sweet of you Dazai." said Kenji.

"Well, I am one to celebrate the important things." Dazai said cheekly.

Chuuya turns around and grabs his coat in a swift motion, his anger clear in the popped vein symbol on his head, "Someday. I swear I'll see you killed!"

"We believe in you, Chuuya."

"We stand with Chuuya."

"Justice for Chuuya."

Some members of the audience shouted.

Chuuya wanted to hide away from the lot.

Dazai shrugs, "By the way," He points at Chuuya with the knife, "You realize you're the one who broke my chains and freed me, riiiiigghhhhttt?!"

"I want to punch in his stupid face," said Chuuya.

"Leave poor Chuuya and Kunikida alone," said Gin through Hirustu.

Chuuya's angry vein gets slightly bigger as his face turns even more pissed off. Dazai's voice gets more and more high and teasing, "If I were to run away right now, I'm certain you'd be suspected of aiding my escape!"

Chuuya whips around to scream at him, "WHY YOU…"

"This is bad like your exec getting the run around by a suicidal manic." said Tanizaki to Tachihara.

"Well, technically we work under Akutagawa…" Tachihara whispered to the crowd.

"Fucking, Traitor." Chuuya responded by cradling his bottle of wine. "And you are still on the wrong side!"

Dazai giggles like a schoolgirl, "If you do as I say, I could make it seem like someone from the Agency came and rescued me instead."

"Though none of them came, at least Chuuya would come for me if I went missing but you lot." he said with a dramatic flair.

"You didn't want us to go after you because of this." said Ranpo, not interested in Dazai's play.

"Why should I believe a thing you say?" questions Chuuya, his hands wanting to punch him again.

"It's okay, Chuuya. How about I cook you something nice after this hmm." said Kunikida.

"And we can bitch about Dazai."

"Sure."

"And wine."

"Yeah."

"Can I join? I love a good bottle of wine." said Yosano, raising her bottle.

"Sure."

Dazai rolls his eyes, "I never lie in these kinds of negotiations. I think you know that." He tosses the knife to Chuuya, who catches it by instinct and doesn't even look at it.

"Oh shit, that was sick. I want to do that. Can you teach me Chuuya, Can you!?" Kenji jumps in his seat.

"It's not that hard."

"Still..."

"Sure."

"Bastard!" remarks Chuuya to himself, straightening up a bit, "What do you want anyway?"

"I mentioned it earlier," Dazai tells him. Chuuya sighs in response, "If it's about the weretiger, Akutagawa's leading that operation. Should have records on the comm storage area on the second floor."

Dazai's whole persona lightens up and a chibi form of himself pops over his own head, "How interesting! I had a pretty good hunch that was the case?"

"If you knew then why? Why?!" Tachihara looked at the crazed man.

"Because I can!" He laughed like the crazy suicidal manic he was.

Chuuya's own little chibi form joined him, angry and loud, "WHAT?"

"The real problem is y'all left everything open for that weirdo to just come and go." said Yosano.

"Never seem all that pressing plus we would have to change the foundation of our organization to avoid him getting in," Kouyou explained.

"To be honest, most of the organization thinks he's dead. He is more like a ghost story than the old tales to the new workers. Helps to keep them motivated." said Hirustu.

Chuuya, then walks away with a tired wave, heading back to the outside world, "Ah, you're such an ass. Just finish what you came for and get out of here."

"I duly appreciate it!" Dazai tells Chuuya's retreating back, "One last thing…"

He closes his eyes as Chuuya keeps leaving him in the dust, "My dream is to commit suicide with a beautiful woman, so dying by your hands never really interested me. I'm sorry."

"You need help," said Ranpo.

"This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me." said Atsushi, his tears starting back up again.

"I mean, I didn't just do it for you. I am also fucking with Chuuya."

"You threaten an executive for me."

"I feel like you're missing the point."

"I think that's the point." Atsushi was about to loss it again. "You threaten the whole of the mafia for a bounty."

"Wait… Hold on."

"Okkayy," Chuuya sounds, to be frank, as disturbed as any normal person would be when hearing that, "I'll let you know if I find a beautiful woman willing to kill herself."

Dazai's eyes sparkle and he gasps, loudly and dramatically. Pink clouds float around him and his hands clasp together. His voice rises with a fondness for Chuuya's words, "CHUUYA! You are such a wonderful human being!"

"That is sweet of you," said Kenji.

"Go to hell," Chuuya's smart reply, "I was being sarcastic."

He turns around to look at Dazai, still shaking with excitement over the prospect of dying, "Listen to me carefully... This Isn't The End! Next Time You Won't Be So Lucky!"

Dazai replies and calls out to his ex-partner, "No. You're doing it wrong! Aren't you forgetting something?"

"WHAT?" Chuuya shouts back, thoroughly pissed.

Dazai twitches up and down, his tone completely mocking, "Cooommmee on! You know you're forgetting something, CHUUUUYYAAA!"

Chuuya turns around again, his whole body shaking with fury. He then crosses his legs and places his knees together, spinning around to face Dazai again with a weird floweriness to his movement. He points at Dazai with a very dainty-looking hand and says in an extremely high-pitched voice, "Next time, you won't be so lucky!"

Everyone was shocked. Unknown able to speak a word as the stared up at the screen.

Dazai and Chuuya are both frozen in silence. Chuuya awkwardly repeats, "You won't be so lucky?"

Some looked away from the sight. Even Atsushi who was still crying from Dazai's actions. He looked over at the redhead who avoided any and all contact.

Dazai looked on at his ex-partner, leaving Chuuya to shout angrily at him from the stairs, "The Least you could do is laugh!"

A good portion of them started to laugh their asses off and for a good while they did and finally they got themselves under control and continued the show.

Now, Atsushi begins to wake up, the door to the tank he's in opening. It covers the scene in light and the light clearly burns his eyes, since he begins to twitch uncomfortably. His eyes open to see who has opened the door for him.

"Oh, shit Atsushi. Kind of forgot about him." said Tachihara.

"Guess, it's time," said Higuchi.

"WAAAAIIIITTTTTT, are we betting on this or not. Come on guys daddy needs a new pistol." Tachihara said, rubbing his hands together.

A few gave him strange looks but finally, someone spoke up.

"Can geniuses play?" said Ranpo.

"Yeah, are we allowed?" Dazai agreed.

"Sure…"

"Hold on, you lot better write on a closed piece so no one cheats."

Tachihara groans. Then says, "Are we doing this?"

"Yeah!" And many other replies were heard. The two genius played ball, put their names on a piece of paper, showed it to each, then closed it and gave it to Tachihara. They both smiled at one another. They were about to get so much money. Everyone was quite happy with their choices. Even two in the fight took a bet. Atsushi was unsure about his win but he had to have faith that he could, he bet on himself. Akutagawa didn't even think about it. He was better than the so-called detective. It was his win.

"You better kick that little weretiger butt."

"I thought you were mad with me, sis."

"I am but I am more pissed with the furry ball than you."

"Atsushi, I put my money on you. You better win this…" said Tanizaki.

"I have no control over that."

"Listen, I want to buy my sister something pretty and fancy. You'll make that happen for me won't you, buddy."

"...Sure."

"Good Kitten."

Finally, the bets are placed and the money is put in the center away and in clear sight of everyone.

"Okay, start us up–"

"Wait, I need snacks!" Ranpo jumps up and runs out the threater before anyone could blink he was back bouncing with excitement for the fight.

"Okay, Play Play PLAY!"

It's Kyouka. She seems relatively calm for someone who was kidnapped. It reassures Atsushi, who begins to rise to his feet, though weak.

"Hey," He stammers to her, "Did you…. Come here to rescue me?"

"The real smart Atsushi." said Tachihara.

"Yup," said Higuchi.

"I was dead."

Then Rashomon roars to life, wrapping around Atsushi's foot and dragging him out through the doors of the tank. Atsushi screams in terror as Kyouka watches him fly through the air–,

Atsushi braces for impact but nothing happens. He pats his body a few times before looking at Dazai in shock. Dazai seemed slightly in shock himself but piece it together quite quickly but before he can speak Atsushi onscreen yells out.

Akutagawa stamps down on Atsushi's already injured shoulder. Atsushi hisses with pain and the scene shows Akutagawa's blank face as he stares impassively down at his target.

"I had struck to kill," he muses aloud, "However, it seems your healing powers are partially in effect."

Everyone expected a cry of pain coming from the weretiger but there was nothing. No groan. No plea. Not even a whimper. So, either Atsushi becomes stone or…

"Atsushi, why aren't you riving on the floor begging to any god to finish the job."

"I never begged."

"Point remains."

Atsushi patted his body down for a few seconds but he was fine. Actually, he felt great.

"I don't know."

"I think it's because we are in the future," said Ranpo.

"That wasn't what the message said though." Kyouka mumbled more to herself than to the crowd.

"Pain was the price for this viewing. If Atsushi isn't in pain, what is the payment now?" Hirustu asked.

"You're certain we are in the future, right?" said Naomi.

"Yup."

"The last thing I remember was being dragged onto the boat." Atsushi looked at Dazai and he couldn't help but wonder if what they had said made the screen bro mad.

Many grew worried that the price had changed with no indication from "screen bro".

Atsushi snarls through his teeth at him, Where am I? At sea?

"This ship is usually used for smuggling weapons," Akutagawa's tone is still as flat as ever. He grinds his foot deeper into Atsushi's wounds, "But today it's been reserved just for you–."

"Atsushi is worth seven billion. He desires the best."

The anxiety didn't go away

"You should savor this voyage before we hand you over. It will likely be your last."

"Well, we ain't got no proof of that," said Yosano.

Atsushi grasped Akutagawa's ankle, trying to force it off of him. It's to no avail. Akutagawa only pushes his foot harder down as Atsushi struggles to move. The scene shows Akutagawa from the perspective of Atsushi, a demonic figure with red glowing eyes. Everything about this Akutagawa is sharp and angry.

"Oh, back in Atsushi's head I see. It is always nice to see the world from your perspective."

I can't win in a fight against him, Atsushi thinks, I need to find an opening and run. His eyes shine with desperation

"The weak must die," Akutagawa snarls down at him, his dead eyes widening a fraction, "There's no room for them to exist in this world."

I don't understand. Why does this guy hate me so much? Atsushi's internal voice is bewildered at the actions of the other.

Everyone collectively turned to Dazai.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. It's my fault."

There's a sharp snap of a gun being cocked and Kyouka is there, her hands trembling but still, the gun remains trained on Akutagawa. Akutagawa laughs, low and deadly, before turning to face her. He lets Atsushi drop to the floor behind him.

"Seems being in the outside world has changed you. What a shame,"he remarks.

Kyouka narrows her eyes and points the gun at him again, "Let go of him now!"

Kyouka looked at herself on-screen. A smile crossed her face. Just maybe she could save Atsushi. Maybe if she did that she could save herself.

A sharp slice and it's over, Rashomon swipes through the gun, tearing it in half.

Kyouka is jerked upwards by Akutagawa, his hand around her neck. She dangles in midair and gasps for breath. Akutagawa only blinks at her suffering.

She felt her neck but there was no pain. Still it hurt the only one who had thought to see her as human. He could die because of her.

"Have you ever been in the Pit of Despair?" He asks her, eyes blazing, "It's a quagmire. Desolate. Full of anguish. At times… someone may peer down at you from high above."

"Okay, this has gotten dark."

"Man, I told you it would be like this."

"But they'll never notice you," Akutagawa's narration has taken a bitter tone, the bitter tone of someone who strived for something unreachable, "Every moment… your body aches from self-loathing. That is what is waiting for you out there, Kyouka."

As he says this a flashback occurs, of the tall black Port Mafia building, high in a purple sky. And far down below it, are the Yokohama slums. Dirty and unforgiving. The camera pulls deeper and deeper into the slums until a young child is shown. The boy is covered in dirt and wearing no less than rags. The child gazes up at the building and it's clear from the ragged white tips of his hair that this young boy is Akutagawa.

"So, you are from there." said Kunikida.

"That is of no importance nor is it your business."

Akutagawa tightens his grip, "Demon Snow is slaughter-made flesh. Do you really think you can lead a normal life out there?"

He looks at Atsushi's crumpled body, "Weretiger. Teach her how it feels. Never helping anyone. Never being trusted. Living your life in fear, trembling like a worm."

Atsushi shakes in horror, relieving the abusive words and hits from the headmaster of the orphanage as Akutagawa mocks him. His eyes fill with tears.

"God, you know how to pick them, huh. Must make it easy." barked out by Kouyou.

"You have two choices, Kyouka," Akutagawa says, attention back on her, "Continue killing for the Port Mafia or perish by my hand. "

His voice snarls as his hands tighten around her neck, "Because a human without purpose… has no right to breathe."

The president took a slip of his tea. Akutagawa's mindset disturbed him and he wondered if he had made someone else if it would change. Because one thing he couldn't ignore was that Dazai didn't have this mindset, such a strong sense that only the strong survived. He even wondered how that mindset applied to the mentor of the two. What were the rules of this strength?

Kyouka's hands try to wrench him off of her neck but to no avail. Her eyes glimmer in desperation. "You may be right about that." She tells him, choking out each word "but that's okay…"

Her eyes soften as she recalls the crepes Atsushi had gotten her. "Those crepes were delicious!" She claims, startling Atsushi into moving.

'He would be safe, please don't come back for me. It would be enough.' Kyouko thought as she watched Atsushi leave. Atsushi turned to Kyouko and hugged her tight. No words were exchanged but there was no need.

Kouyou watched the two displays. It brought a righteous anger to her. The light was just too bright.

Atsushi begins to rise to his feet, only to hear the loud noise of a boat motor as Kunikida makes it to the edge of the cargo ship.

"Where are you, kid?" His voice is loud enough to carry to where Akutagawa, Atsushi, and Kyouka are, "Are you here?"

"Our Savior!" Yelled Naomi with Haruno cheering along with her.

"Hey, did any of you put money on Kunikida or a draw," said Tachihara.

"Shit!" said Yosano.

"Damnit, I ain't losing my money like this. Let us change." yelled Tanizaki.

"No way. Y'all made your beds lay in them." smiled Ranpo.

"You got any clue who your fucking with." said Chuuya standing from his seat and many others started to yelling at the broker.

"I ain't changing the bets." Tachihara yelled back.

"Kunikida!" Atsushi's tone is only relief, but Akutagawa has also noticed Kunikida's arrival, "So, they found us already?"

Kyouka takes Akutagawa's momentary distraction as an opportunity, she immediately begins fighting his hold with everything she had. Akutagawa begins fighting to keep his grip on her as he begins to lose control of the situation.

"Atsushi!" Kyouka shouts at him, "Run while you still can! This ship isn't going to its destination!"

But Atsushi remains frozen on the floor, only gasping audibly at her words.

Akutagawa is unimpressed, keeping his hand on her neck, "Just where is it going then?"

With a flick, Kyouka pulls out a detonator. Her glare is cold and angry, staring up at her tormentor, "The Pit of Despair." She clicks the detonator in a second.

"Well, okay then." said Hirustu for Gin.

Kouyou smiled despite all her girl was her girl through and through. 'Soon you will be home.' Kouyou turn to the mad dog. "When this is over you can be sure if Atsushi doesn't get any in, I will."

"Yes, big sis." Akutagawa replied.

Near Kunikida, a loud explosion rocks the side of the ship and throws Atsushi backward. He tumbles over himself for a second, before getting to his feet, "Kyouka!"

"RUN," Her voice is hoarse and desperate as Akutagawa realizes he has lost control of Atsushi, "Weretiger!"

Another explosion rocks the boat, this time directly under where the two of them are. Atsushi is forced backward once again. In the center of the flames stands Akutagawa. He's forcing Kyouka into the floor, his hand still on her neck.

Naomi was disgusted by the display. 'She was a child.' The secretary shot holes at the back of Akutagawa's head.

His eyebrows are raised and he's looking at the smoke that trails above them. "You set the explosives off in the armory. You're trying to die aren't you?" His tone betrays his begrudging respect for her.

Kyouka sniffles quietly, tears forming in her eyes. Akutagawa's respect melts into unjustly anger, "Is that man really what you're willing to sacrifice your life for? IS HE?"

"If this is my future then it is worth it if he lives."

"Kyouko, don't say that."

"It's true."

Dazai sighed. He figured it would end up like this always too high-strung. His failure would be certain now.

Atsushi pulls himself on his hands and knees to the edge of the ship, looking down at Kunikida.

'Go back for her.' Atsushi yelled at himself in his head. His hand clenched tight in a fist.

"Kid!" calls Kunikida up at him, "Listen! I can't get any closer so you're going to have to jump!"

'Please Go Back For Her.'

I'm gonna have… Atsushi repeats the words to himself as though trying to believe them… I'm safe now.

'Go Back!'

"That ship will sink at any minute!" Kunikida screams up at him, "You need to hurry!"

Atsushi can only look back at the fiery mess that he had left behind.

Atsushi's eyes were glued to the screen. The weretiger whispered to himself, "I was sorry always only for what I didn't do."

"You fool!" Kunikida is clearly impatient. His words startle Atsushi back into reality, "Don't cause more trouble than you already have! No one is getting paid a cent for this rescue!"

"Good focus Kunikida I'm sure if someone was going to jump off a building you would say something about your schedule." said Yosano, slightly angry with his focus. "You want a kid to get in the boat, that isn't how you do it."

Kunikida looked down at his journal.

Atsushi slowly rises to his feet and whispers, "What about her?"

"You have to let the girl go," Kunikida says. It's not clear whether he actually heard Atsushi or not, "We can't save everyone no matter how hard we try! I know that far better than most! That's just the world we live in!" His eye glaze with the pain of lost people and people he couldn't save

"Dazai broke Kunikida." Tanizaki yelled from his seat.

"I did not."

Atsushi only replies with, "There's nothing we can do..."

His hands shaking, Kunikida keeps going, "That's right. We're not heroes. I've wished so many times that we were." He recalls back to Rokuzou and Sasaki's deaths.

"But That's Not Reality," Kunikida's voice is pained. As the words leave his mouth, another explosion rattles the deck, leaving Atsushi standing as a lone silhouette.

"ATSUSHI!" Kunikida shouts up at him.

"Kyouka," Atsushi almost doesn't even hear him, "She said the crepes she had with me were delicious."

Haruno felt tears start to form. It was such a simple reason.

His voice takes on the hurt and raw anger of someone who connects with another, "She was told that humans who don't serve a purpose have no right to live. But I don't think that's true….. Because Neither Dazai Nor The Agency Ever GAVE UP ON ME!" Tears fell from his face. His sunset eyes glow in the fiery passion of the explosion behind him.

"I'm gonna save her!" He tells Kunikida and charges away into the flames as Kunikida shouts at him, before realizing that it's futile.

And those in the agency and Tachihara clapped at the display of emotion even Chuuya was getting misty eyed.

Then Tachihara ruined it. "I won't lose my money!"

Chuuya and the rest of the mafia turned to him. Higuchi spoke for them. "Are you some kind of dumbass? You put your money on Atsushi?!"

"He's the protag."

"Fuck you, man!"

He grits his teeth and shouts back, "ATSUSHI! RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN!"

Atsushi charges into the flames to find Kyouka, who is pinned to the floor by Akutagawa and Rashomon.

"Kyouka, is this truly the path you've chosen?" He asks, almost sorrowfully. His eyes flicker as he takes in her unconscious form, "In appreciation for your services, I'll lay you to rest…. Forever"

"Again you really are a kind and virtuous person." said the weretiger.

"Go to Hell!"

"It's not your place to do that." Her grip on her umbrella grew tight.

The spikes of Rashomon surge towards the floor where Kyouka is laying. But something swipes in at the last moment and Atsushi's shoes crunch onto the ground.

Akutagawa turns around to see Atsushi holding Kyouka tightly.

His dead eyes take in Atsushi, who glowers at him, "I'm here... Akutagawa."

The title card with the words "Rashomon and the Tiger" flashes by as he speaks.

"Oh shit!" said Tanizaki.

"Such a cool title name." Ranpo mid-munch.

"Fuck him up, Atsushi." said Naomi.

"Finish that weretiger." said Higuchi.

Atsushi sets Kyouka down against a pillar, his arms fully tuned into the tiger's. Her head slumps to the side, her flower hair accessories pressing on her shoulder.

"Curious," Akutagawa remarks as Atsushi begins to walk towards him, "I had a feeling things would eventually end like this between us."

Underneath their feet, gas begins to build up, making a hissing noise.

"You're not gonna get that bounty," Atsushi tells him, hiding his anger rather well.

"Don't worry," Akutagawa says back, "My intentions to hand you over alive have expired."

"This is awesome." said Yosano, drinking her wine from the bottle. Eyes glue to the scene.

The gas hisses, louder this time.

Dazai found himself sighing again. 'Human Nature.'

Atsushi's gaze, full of the anger and hate that has been building up since the first time they meet, meets Akutagawa's own blank, dead, and just as fury-filled stare.

"I can't forgive you for this."

"Way better than the Chuuya's and Dazai's fight." said Tanizaki.

"The sentiment is mutual."

"Of course, those two are friends." said Tachihara.

"We ain't friends." "We're not friends."

But they were right, this fight was something no one could look away from.

The gas hisses even louder, building the growing tensen.

The music builds and builds and builds, switching between Atsushi's righteous anger and Akutagawa's menacing fury until it is impossible to tell the difference.

Boom.

"And We're Off!" said Tachihara in an announcer's voice.

An explosion goes off as the two launch themselves at each other, aiming to kill. Their silhouettes are even more pronounced flames roaring around them.

Atsushi goes in for the first strike…

Every exchange of blows left the audience in awe of the violence the two were capable of, particularly Atsushi. They had never seen him like that. Some even thought he was aiming to kill.

Yosano thought that Atsushi was trying to protect–to survive. 'Would it be enough.' She looked to Dazai and Ranpo neither seemed all too worried about the altercation.

The smoke around him clears and Atsushi is there, using it as a distraction. He again fails to account for Devoured Space, his fist collides with the shield.

This is the same ability that stopped those bullets, Atsushi thinks as he shoves his hand against the shield, My attacks won't get through as long as it's active.

"Pathetic," Akutagawa grunts and pushes back at Atsushi. Atsushi flies backwards through the air, not expecting it. Akutagawa takes the opportunity to again get Atsushi away from him. Rashomon winds its way around Atsushi's arms and yanks him up into the sky.

Dazai took a drink of his sake.

"Is that the best you can do?" asks Akutagawa, eyes trained on Atsushi.

A strand of Rashomon emerges from his coat and sharpens itself into a blade.

"I don't like torture," Akutagawa spits the next words with venom, "However, you have nothing to blame but your own weakness. You've deluded yourself into thinking you were worthy, just because you were accepted by those fools at the agency. That in itself was merely a matter of happenstance."

"Okay, rude. Like, I'm a doctor." the good doctor yelled.

"I was a teacher." said Kunikida

"I'm fourteen," said Kenji.

"The point is we got brains," said Tanizaki.

"Barely in use." Akutagawa replied back.

Atsushi only snarls back at him, "You're quite the blabbermouth today, aren't you?"

"I don't recall introducing myself as a mute."

"Oh, I'm sooo stealing that one." Tachihara smirked.

"Well, Gin is a mute so it is a reasonable conclusion." said Higuchi.

"Atsushi hasn't met Gin." said Kouyou.

"Oh, yeah."

"Say Hi to Gin, Atsushi."

Atsushi waved and Gin surprisingly waved back.

"You're right about one thing," Atsushi hisses at him, "I am weak. But there's one thing I can do."

"And what is that?"

It was weird seeing his action outside of himself. it was foreign to him to see himself as Atsushi saw him maybe as everyone else saw him.

"I can BEAT YOU!" Atsushi swings his arms and turns them back normal, rather than the tiger's that he's been sporting for the duration of this fight.

Dazai was getting quite excited by the escalation. Things were going better than he had expanded the best part is he actually got to watch instead of using his imagination. 'Now, what would make this better was a bag of popcorn.' A bag of popcorn was shoved into his lap. He turned to see Ranpo stretching over his chair about to fall off. He mouthed a thank you to the other genius. With a bag of popcorn in hand he got comfortable. Shoving a handful into his mouth.

Atsushi watched this whole thing with an expression of bewilderment by his own actions.

"He transformed back to escape!" mutters Akutagawa, shooting another strand of Rashomon at Atsushi. It misses and Atsushi lands on a nearby tank, his arms and legs back to the tiger's.

He shoves against the tank and launches himself back at Akutagawa, who summons Devoured Space again. Having learned from the last assault, Atsushi now punches the shield multiple times. His battle cry going strong.

After a bit, Akutagawa lowers the shield, dodging the last three of Atsushi's strikes.

I thought so, Atsushi's fist was raised for another impact. His thoughts fly by him in the moment before his next punch.

Atsushi was surprised. It felt like he might not lose. He wanted to win but Akutagawa was just so much stronger than him. He couldn't understand what Dazai saw in him.

"Dazai, who did you bet on?"

"Ssshhh, trying to watch the show here." He said with a finger to his mouth.

Atsushi turned back to the screen. 'You own me an answer.' He thought with a pout.

He needs time to activate his barrier. I'll just use my speed to compensate for that!

He swings but misses. Akutagawa is gone. Having predicted Atsushi's movements, Akutagawa is now using Rashomon as a way to add distance. He stands on the tendrils of his ability far above Atsushi's head.

"What!?" snarls Atsushi.

"I have no time for childish fistfights. Forgive me if I observe your efforts from a distance." Akutagawa's reply is smug. Rashomon flies down from his coat, forcing Atsushi away again, trying to keep him moving.

"Bruhhh, he is cheating." said Tanizaki with his hand raised in anger.

"It's a dogfight, not a boxing match." Chuuya shook his head.

Atsushi dodges the continuous assault of Rashomon, I have to close the distance between us if I want to win!

He's so busy thinking that he doesn't see another one of Rashomon's monsters. It attacks him, throwing him to the floor and…

Directly on top of a loose gas line.

"Oh no!" Atsushi says as the sparks hit the gas, rocketing the ship with another explosion.

"Umm…"

"This is really getting violence."

"It's been violence."

Akutagawa floats above the smoke, staring down at what he thought were the ashes of his enemy. "Not long now, before this ship will sink," he thinks out loud. He's turned from where Atsushi landed. The weretiger raised out of gray smoke. Akutagawa spins, He used the explosion to repel himself?!

Everyone was in shock that they couldn't even respond to the moment. All eyes were on the screen and no one knew where this side of Atsushi came from, well everyone but the genesis.

He doesn't react fast enough and Atsushi's fist collides with his face, sending Akutagawa tumbling to the deck of the ship below.

The screen goes black.

"Atsushi, won!" said Kenji, jumping up.

"Damn that was easy, well let's g–" Tanizaki rubbed his hands together.

"It's not over." Ranpo in a deep voice with his hand in the air signal for all to wait.

A loud choking sound is heard, along with something wet.

All the tense music is gone, left with the hollow silence of a flashback. Purple light hits the floor of an abandoned warehouse.

"Shit." Dazai let out. 'This show just won't let up.'

Blood drips onto a cold floor. A person is on their hands and knees, coughing wetly.

Atsushi heard that and knew he wasn't going to like this. Everyone else felt uncomfortable with the tone change.

"Your ability is slow to activate," says a cold voice to the person on the floor, "Your opponent's not gonna be polite and wait for you."

They cross their arms and the camera pans up to reveal the Demon Prodigy.

"Ahh." Atsushi let out.

There was something wrong, it felt wrong. The show was always pushing it with how much background it gave but this… It was different when it was Atsushi but this wasn't Atsushi memory.

"You look–."

He's in all black and decorated in more bandages than ever. One strand of them covers his right eye. The other eye, the left one, is just as cold and dead as Akutagawa's.

He looked like he belong in the dark. It all matched what was once glimance was now a full picture of what Dazai was–is a black pity that absorbed everything it came in contact with until nothing was left.

Sensei's words came back to the forefront, 'the human beings probably won't mind it too much if I remain outside their lives.'

"On your feet," Dazai's voice is full of disgust, "Answer back with your ability."

"Is this why you are so hands-off with Atsushi?" Ranpo phased like a question, it wasn't a question. Dazai turned to him and his eyes were that void again. The light from the projector did nothing to change how eerie his face was. Ranpo was pissing Dazai off. Ranpo didn't care.

The other person rises to meet Dazai, though they are clearly weakened. They also seem to have trouble breathing, their breaths are raspy and quick, and desperate.

This person is revealed to be Akutagawa Ryuunosuke, though much younger. Still, he has the same fury-filled gaze as his future self. He unleashes Rashomon with a scream that tears the still air apart.

Atsushi was processing what he was seeing. It didn't match his picture of Akutagawa. It didn't match his picture of Dazai. 'if I remain outside their lives.'

Dazai merely lifts a hand and nullifies it, closing the distance between himself and Akutagawa in a heartbeat and kicking Akutagawa in the stomach.

He wanted to leave. The weretiger turned to the theater door. As the sound of Akutagawa spewed blood from the impact of the kick.

"That won't be enough to survive in the Port Mafia," Dazai tells him with a snarl as Akutagawa struggles to get up from the blow.

It wasn't normal to hear Dazai raise his voice and to be fair he wasn't it still felt like nothing was there like someone could walk right through him a ghost–a spectator on the outside of others' life. The perfect tool for the monster that is the mafia.

And then there was Akutagawa currently struggling on the ground. It felt wrong. He couldn't block it out.

His head looks to the floor, almost ashamed of himself.

He looked small. So small and fragile. Atsushi couldn't reckon with it in his mind.

Dazai notices that Akutagawa's attention is on him, "or would you rather go back to being a stray dog in the slums?"

"Ha, he said it." Tachihara chuckled.

Everyone once again turns to him.

"I was wondering where the name of the show came from… I know."

The attention remained on him.

"Play the damn episode already."

Sinking into his chair.

Akutagawa places a hand on the box and heaves himself to his feet. He's clearly weak and not stable, he can barely stand.

"How long were you two doing this?" The good Doctor questioned.

No response from either party.

But he looks up at Dazai, hatred in his normally dead eyes and blood dripping down his mouth and face. He couldn't go back, he wouldn't.

Atsushi says it outloud this time. "Outside."

"Excellent. Let's go again." Dazai says.

Someone grabs the remote and pauses the episode. They all stared at the Dazai with bandages covering his face on the screen. The only sound was Ranpo's munching on his popcorn. Shockingly, Akuatagawa spoke up, "Got nothing to say weretiger not going to pace the floor." The mad dog made eye contact with the tiger both having a stare down. "Your cognitive dissonance astounds me."

"Is that what you call it?" Atsushi got up moving to where Akutagawa was match Akutagawa got up and now they were standing face to face in the middle.

"It's the answer for your actions. You hold him to no standard but look at it Atsushi, that's your mentor."

The group became on guard by the two in the center.

"No, that is not my mentor." His voice is calm, seeming to have no emotion in it. It was like it finally clicked to him. He had wondered why Sensei felt the need to read that to tell he understood now. He continues, "That is a ghost, a spector that makes no attempt to be human. My mentor tries to be human. To do the right thing, if his nature is this demon then every day he fights his nature all so he can do the right thing. If I tell him that his efforts are null and void then I would be at fault for his fall." Atsushi looked at Dazai as he continued, "If no one believes that you are capable than of course the fall is inevitable." With his eyes ablaze he stared into Akutagawa steel ones, "You make no attempt to be better did you need to say any of that to her to break her. So, no I hate you cause you are incapable of fighting against your nature."

Atsushi was right. Many in the audience thought those willing to see any of the positive attempts to be better even if it was for one person. One can't criticize without acknowledging the good with the bad. Some even looked down in shame at the boy's speech. But the key point was that many. Kouyou doubted because Dazai was still manipulative and every much capable of being cruel. Akutagawa didn't share the thought because that would require understanding Dazai which he had never attempted to do. Dazai's mind ran too fast for such a thing. They both remain in the middle. The projector started up again.

Akutagawa lays against the wall of the ship in the present, gasping.

Atsushi lands on the floor of the ship with a sigh, looking at Akutagawa's seemingly unconscious body before deciding that this fight is over. He looks to Kyouka, who is still asleep behind him, "Before this ship sinks, I have to get her safely to Kunikida…"

Dazai didn't know what to say. There was this feeling in his chest that he didn't know what to do with. It must show cause Ranpo was looking at him

He turns his back on Akutagawa to head towards Kyouka. Rashomon shoots out, pierces him through the chest. Atsushi grasps, blood spewing out. A mixture of shock and surprise took his face.

Either broke eye contact with one another as the episode continued on.

Akutagawa is on his feet behind him, though he's definitely weakened he's still not out. His head is bowed to the floor and his hands dangle underneath him.

"You are not winning this because You Are Weak."

"I am. Because I am fighting for something."

"Why," Akutagawa's normally flat tone is gone, the only thing left is white-hot anger, "WHY?! WHY ARE YOU THE ONE? !"

"Your just as suicidal as him."

He pulls Rashomon out of Atsushi and spins him around. Atsushi only manages to glance at the now fully enraged Akutagawa before Akutagawa slams him into the wall next to Kyouka.

The audience's attention was split between the screen and the action that was playing out in front of them. The two were bomb ready to blow.

Rashomon pulls itself off of Atsushi and Akutagawa stumbles towards him, "You've only just learned how to use your ability. And it shows. Your technique and strategy are sloppy at BEST! So, why…?"

Akutagawa is screaming now, his gaze mad with pain, though it's not clear what kind, " WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE YOU?!"

Akutagawa never heard his voice like that. So much rage but worse he could feel it crawling at him. Dragging him down and now face to face with the boy just made him want to ripe him into shreds and lay him at Dazai's feet.

The boiling red of Akutagawa and his hate spills onto Atsushi's vision, There it is. That overwhelming feeling of hatred. Where does it come from? Atsushi's internal voice is bewildered and afraid.

In Akutagawa's head, Dazai's speech from earlier plays, You think you can pull that off, really? My new apprentice is superior to you in every way imaginable.

Akutagawa practically screams in anger, blinded by his own fury, "Unaccepptable, Unacceptable. I Won't Allow Him To Say Such Things! NOT EVER AGAIN!"

His voice sounded broken, so far gone. He hated how he sounded. He hated that anyone was purview to it. That Dazai was, that the beast in front of him was purview to this emotional display.

Atsushi barely manages to dodge Rashomon's now wild attacks, as Akutagawa lashes out at him with blind rage, "RASHOMON! HIGANZAKURA!"

A cruel smile crossed his face as he heard the words. "I will lay you at his feet."

Rashomon transforms into a ball of spikes around Atsushi, stabbing him in the back multiple times. Atsushi howls as more blood drips from his mouth. Akutagawa pulls Rashomon away in a split second, leaving Atsushi to lay on the floor, unmoving.

Atsushi heard the pain that his on-screen counterpart was going through. He attempted to look away but he refused.

"I guess, it's over." A smile breaking the mafioso's face.

Akutagawa seems to have released his rage, his face is back to its natural calm, I finally defeated him…

"I think it's over." said Yosano sadden. Many at the agency looked away from the screen. The kid deserves the win but it's rare that people get what they deserved.

"Wait," gasps Atsushi, startling Akutagawa into looking at him.

Ranpo could only hear sharp inhales.

'There's no way he should be able to move after that!'

"Tell me," Atsushi rises to his feet in front of Akutagawa, blood all over him, "There's no question that you're powerful. So then… why did you have to use Kyouka like that?"

Kouyou found herself interested in the boy's answer. It wouldn't change the beat down he would receive from her but she wanted to know. What went on inside that silly boy's head.

Akutagawa seems to take this into consideration, "I did not use her. The sole purpose of her ability, Demon Snow, is to kill. Only by holding this responsibility does Kyouka's existence have any purpose. I merely did my part in giving her life meaning."

Kunikida was watching the two boys worried they might go to blows. He turned to Dazai to ask him to stop them to be met with the younger's eyes locked on the screen, unfazed by the two in the middle.

"Are you not worried?"

No response for the former mafioso.

The two in the middle heard him but had no reaction.

Atsushi gets to his feet. "A-a-about that. Whether someone is worthy of being alive...Isn't Your DECISION !" Atsushi shouts at Akutagawa, who blinks at the passion in his voice.

Atsushi merely grabs Rashomon as it pierces his chest, unfazed by the attack,

Atsushi's eyes went wide. He felt that… He wouldn't look away not with the feeling of blood spilling out of him.

"Why did you tell her those horrible things? She didn't need to hear any of that."

He tears Rashomon out of his chest, yanking on it as hard as he can and pulling Akutagawa towards him, "People need to hear that they're worthwhile and that somebody cares they're alive!"

He jumps in the air as Akutagawa falls towards him, his fist raised for another punch and emotional tears running down his cheeks, "That's Human Decency! WHAT DON'T YOU GET ABOUT THAT?"

Not responding, Akutagawa only unleashes Rashomon again, shoving Atsushi away. Atsushi rips through it in his anger, screaming.

'He ripped it,' Akutagawa thinks quickly, as Atsushi's wounds begin to heal on their own, ' And he's regenerating!'

"Oh shit."

"Hold up."

"Is he going to win?"

Atsushi swings, but misses since Akutagawa dodges his blow quickly by flying up into the sky again, ' I have to make sure I keep him at a distance.'

He flings his arm out again, "Rashomon! Sawarabi!"

Rashomon forms spikes on the floor of the ship, surrounding Atsushi and then all stabbing him through the stomach and chest at the same time.

Atsushi let out a hiss of pain.

"Atsushi?!"

Atsushi wasn't moving not a fucking inch.

However, he fails to notice that now, Atsushi is at his height.

Atsushi grabs a spike, pulls at it, using it to look at Akutagawa with all the anger he can muster, "AKUTAGAWAAAAA!"

He jumps for Akutagawa again, but then the latter smirks. Atsushi has fallen into his trap.

Rashomon forms a mouth around Atsushi, snarling like a wild animal. Akutagawa screams its name, "Rashomon! Gokumon Agito!"

The teeth crunch down on Atsushi, who's blood flies through the air. Akutagawa watches Atsushi fall with a blank, dead stare.

'I'm going to pass out.'

"Go Die."

Until he realizes that Atsushi's tiger tail has wrapped around his middle and he's being pulled downwards too.

Atsushi punches at Akutagawa's face once again, but Akutagawa manages to activate Devoured Space. And then, it's Atsushi's fist versus Rashomon's shield ... All the music stops. The two of them struggle to keep fighting together.

Atsushi wins. He drives his fist forward and towards Akutagawa, who remembers Dazai's words… ' My new apprentice is superior to you in every way imaginable.'

Dazai took a long sip of his sake which was immediately taken by Kunikida. But everyone's so focused on what is happening to notice this action. So much that needed to be discussed only after.

Then he's punched in the face, sending him flying down to the water, spinning and out of control. He lands with a splash.

Akutagawa lets out a cry of pain. Fall to the floor unable to move. Atsushi crumbled in on himself once the mafioso hit the fall.

"I won. Asshole."

Atsushi falls from the sky, the effort of the fight finally taking its toll. His limbs are limp and he lands on the deck with a thud and doesn't move again.

But Kyouka does.

She must have woken up. Her sandals clack on the deck. She quietly picks Atsushi up as the ship rumbles beneath them and heads for Kunikida's boat at the other side of the ship. When they get there, she looks down at Kunikida just as the ship finally explodes one final time, sending her and Atsushi falling off the side of the ship. Kunikida reacts fast and scoops them up rather quickly.

He turns to see that Kyouka and Atsushi are safe and humphs, ' Big idiot.'

But he still smiles, Well done, kid.

The ship sinks in the background.

It felt like a loss. The crowd had no words. Dazai finally acted, getting up from his seat and grabbed his second. Chuuya followed his lead and floated Akutagawa towards him. Some wonder if there was no better way to accomplish that.

"Who in the world wants to spend seven billion on a tiger? I should know right about…." he drags out the last word, "Now!"

Instantly, his eyes widen and the loud noise of a clock tower booming goes off.

"Is it really them?"

"Ohhhh… That's not good." said Ranpo.

The clock tower is from a luxury cruise ship in an unknown place. It floats through the water. Inside is a massive display of wealth, fancy wines, and rich wallpaper.

A person's crossed legs are shown, the fabric undoubtedly rich and expensive. The person checks the time on a glimmering gold watch.

"They're late." says a male voice as the camera shows the sheer volume of the room he's in. A title card pops up next to him, Leader of the American Guild, a Gifted Organization, Francis Scott Fitzgerald.

"The bounty approach seems to have failed," says Francis, his tone tired, "Those mafia-type sure are a mediocre lot."

"Is Akutagawa dead?" Tachihara wondered.

The group looked at both of the younger–none were sure.

The ending song begins to play.

"I will check him out," Mori got up from his seat. "Chuuya?"

"Got it, boss."


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