(A/N: Thank you so much for the review, SumiJepson. And to everyone who followed and favorited as well. I'm glad you all are enjoying this story. :))

The scent of tatami mats...Seems like forever since I've smelled them...

Groggily blinking awake, Atsushi gazed around at the unknown room she had found herself in with confusion.

"Where am I? What happened last night?" Atsushi pondered.

Closing her eyes once again to try and remember, the image of that odd man she had met, Dazai, popped into her head. He had mentioned something about a transformation, and then had told her to look at her right hand...Unleashing a small shriek as she shot upwards, Atsushi gazed down at that specific hand; a long sigh of relief leaving her when she saw there was no large white paw to be found.

Once her heart rate had calmed down, Atsushi peered around at the small apartment. She was pretty out of it after her 'little' transformation, but she recalled Dazai had brought her here, telling her to get some rest and that he'd see her in the morning. Collapsing on the futon and passing out right away, she hadn't taken a good look at her surroundings. The dorm only seemed to contain the basic necessities, not that she minded the building being sparse. She couldn't remember the last time she had been able to sleep with a roof over her head and actually not feel tense to the point where she believed she needed to always be on alert.

Letting out another shriek when a sudden ringing went off, the jumpy girl looked around for the surprising noise where she eventually noticed a phone resting upon a set of neatly folded clothes that had been placed close to her futon. There was also a beige satchel, but she ignored it for the time and quickly grabbed the cell.

"O-okay! I'm answering! W-wait...what button am I supposed to press?!" Atsushi panicked, having never used one of these devices before. "It's this one, right? Um, h-hello?"

"Good morning~!"

"Oh, Dazai-san,"

"Today's another fine day. How's the new dorm?"

"Great, thank you. Compared to sleeping outdoors, it's heavenly." Atsushi confessed, not able to help but smile as her eyes looked around the room once again.

"That's good to hear. The change of clothes at your pillow is a gift from everyone at the agency,"

"Thank you so much for everything!"

"By the way, Atsushi-chan, I apologize for asking this out of the blue...but there's been an emergency,"

"An emergency?"

"Yes, there can be no delay. Please come to the specified location immediately. It's a crisis! Only you can help."

Biting at her lip, not really certain how she could assist the way Dazai insisted she could, Atsushi answered a tad nervously, "O-okay. I understand."

Placing the phone to the side so she could grab up the clothes she had been given to change into, Atsushi was taken back from just how nice the material of the shirt felt. She had been so used to wearing rags her whole life, she hadn't realized fabric could be so comfortable and soft. This had to be one of the best gifts, (not that she had actually received presents), Atsushi had ever gotten.

Pushing the sleeves of the white button up blouse near her elbows, Atsushi made sure the black suspender dress was straight and had been fastened securely. She was also grateful for the black shorts she had been given to wear underneath the dress that just about reached her knees. The young girl even found the black ribbon, she attached to her ruffled collar, to be a cute addition. Finishing off by putting on a set of black fingerless gloves and then tying a long black belt around her waist, Atsushi couldn't help but do a little spin before picking up her new phone.

"Are you ready, Atsushi-chan?"

"Yes!"

"First, when you leave the room, make sure you close the door. Then, look behind you!"

"Behind me?" Atsushi inquired, feeling a little perplexed.

When noticing Dazai stuck in a barrel of all things, she wondered if he had told her to shut the door knowing she'd end up backing into it in shock? Hurrying down the stairs, she couldn't help but twitch seeing the man with his legs stuck straight up in the air similar to the first time she had come across him in the river.

"Wh-what am I even looking at...?"

"What do you think?"

"That maybe I'm still asleep, and this is all a dream...?"

"Wrong!" Dazai chirped out.

Atsushi found it bizarre how Dazai could be so cheerful when he was in what looked like a painful, not to mention embarrassing, position? A sudden thought made her eyes widen, and the gray-haired girl looked around cautiously.

"Is it an enemy attack? Did you get caught in a trap?"

"I got in myself," Dazai replied casually, causing the girl to stumble backwards again. "Well, you see...I heard that there's a way to commit suicide by getting stuck in an oil drum, so I decided to give it a shot. But now that I have, I'm just suffering without being able to actually die. Not to mention, now that I've wedged myself this deep, I can't get out on my own. I think I might die."

"I-I see," Atsushi mumbled, not that she actually did. Her face had even lost color as she observed a smiling Dazai sink further into the oil drum. "But it's a way to commit suicide, so you should be able to kill yourself if you stay that way, I think?"

Not that I can understand why this guy wants to commit suicide in the first place...

Dazai's expression turned to one of annoyance. "I like suicide, but I don't like suffering or pain! Why would I! Also, I only learned this after the fact, but it wasn't a suicide method...it was a torture method!"

"Yes, yes..." Atsushi sighed out. Feeling almost tempted to kick the barrel and send Dazai rolling, she instead grabbed at the front of the man's shirt and grunted as she started to tug him out.

"Hmm, maybe you're not strong enough to pull me out, Atsushi-chan?" Dazai mused with a tilt of his head. The young woman's face had even turned red as she struggled. "Perhaps I should have called Kunikida-kun? However, I'm sure I would be dead before he got here."

"I-I think I've almost got you. You're just a lot heavier than you-eep!" With one final tug Atsushi had managed to free Dazai. She had just pulled with a bit too much force and the tall male had ended up toppling on top of her when they both fell to the ground.

I-I should have just kicked the barrel Atsushi lamented, heat rushing to her face. Today had started out so well, too. She had woken up in a nice warm bed in an adorable little room, only to now find herself on the verge of a panic attack from the feeling of Dazai's breath tickling her neck. She had never had a guy this close to her before! And why was he just laying there?!

"U-um, Dazai-san?"

"Not bad, Atsushi-chan!" Dazai said cheerfully, his head shooting up as he beamed down at the seemingly frozen female. Standing up and dusting off his clothes as if nothing had happened, Atsushi albeit shakily, took the hand the male offered to her as he easily pulled the still flustered girl up onto her feet.

Stretching out his limbs, Dazai moved to sit on the oil drum he had previously been inside where Atsushi herself had perched upon. He had to admit he found it rather amusing when she scooted away from him a little, making sure they weren't too close, while give him side eyed glances. Had that little fumble of theirs ruffled her that much?

"I owe you one, Atsushi-chan. Without you, I would've snapped in two at the waist," Dazai voiced happily, leaning backwards on the barrel where his back gave a nice pop.

"I know you mentioned Kunikida-san not getting here fast enough, but you could have still asked your other coworkers for help?" Atsushi mentioned while twiddling her thumbs.

"I called them, sure. I told them I was on death's door. But then everyone was like, 'Congratulations'. How's that make you feel?" Dazai mumbled.

Atsushi could only weakly laugh at the sulking male, not sure she could sympathize for him. She hadn't known him long, but if he was trying to end his life on a daily basis like this, Atsushi wasn't surprised his associates weren't rushing to his side.

"Jeez. Anyone gifted with supernatural powers has something wrong with them inside..." Dazai complained, throwing his head back with an indignant expression.

Atsushi looked down at her lap when recalling her own 'gift'. "Dazai-san. Everyone at the Armed Detective Agency...the private investigators that is...They're gifted, right?"

"Right. They're an armed force taking on antagonists the police don't stand a chance against." Dazai explained.

"I don't stand a chance at joining the agency, then,"

"You're gifted just fine,"

Atsushi shook her head at this. "It's true that I have the supernatural ability to turn into a tiger, but I have absolutely no control over it. I just transform unaware. I can't will myself to transform into a tiger. So, I don't think I'll be of any use, even if I join," Standing up, Atsushi turned to Dazai and bowed. "I really appreciate the offer, though. I'm sorry."

"What's your plan, then?" Dazai asked softly.

"I think I'll look for a job I can actually handle," Atsushi replied with a small smile, "though I don't think it will be easy to find."

"I have an idea for a potential job," Dazai said, smiling when Atsushi looked surprised. "I can help you get it, if you'd like?"

Atsushi's eyes brightened and she couldn't help but say with a slight squeal, "Really?! Thank you so much!"

Chuckling, Dazai shoved his hands into his pockets and motioned with his head for the starry-eyed female to follow him. "We're going to meet the guarantor who'll introduce you to this job. I'm sure he'll like you."

"What's the job?"

"No point spoiling the fun. Well, there may be a test of sorts,"

Atsushi gulped at this. She had never been good at that sort of thing. "Wh-what sort of test?"

"Hmm...I'm curious. Atsushi-chan, can you write?"

"Y-yes. I do know how to read and write."

Dazai beamed at this. "Then you'll be fine!" Watching as Atsushi placed a hand on her chest and let out a breath of air, the dark brown-haired male said a bit more gently, "You'll be just fine, I'm sure. I guarantee it."

"Thank you!"

"Ah hah hah hah hah! You'd better thank me! Just leave it to me, and everything will be fine!" With a rather cheeky expression, Dazai cupped his chin. "After all, I am Dazai...The one and only whom the agency trusts, and the populace adores!"

"THERE YOU ARE, DAZAI!" Stomping over to them, with a look of absolute rage, Kunikida continued to snarl out, "You bandage-squandering machine!"

Letting out a scream as if he had been physically wounded, Dazai covered his face and stammered, "N-nice nickname there, Kunikida-kun,"

Scoffing, Kunikida rested his hands on his hips. "Who's the one and only one the agency trusts, huh? You're the one and only one who we get complaints, curses, and grievances about!"

"Huh?" Atsushi said meekly, looking back and forth between Kunikida and Dazai. She wondered if the two of them often caused a scene like this around town. Nobody even seemed fazed by them at all.

"Huh? Since when did I ever get a complaint?" Dazai huffed out.

Pulling out his green notebook, Kunikida cleared his throat before announcing, "Call in August: One of your employees has been caught in an offshore fishing net. Can you come retrieve him? Call in September: Some weirdo's got himself buried on my farm. Could he be one of yours? Call in the same month: Pay your tab, okay! All six month's worth!"

"That's impossible..." Dazai said aghast, even gripping at his hair in what appeared to be anguish. "Who knew you were so good at imitating other people, Kunikida-kun!"

"You bastard! Stop ridiculing me!" Kunikida shouted, grabbing Dazai by his throat and squeezing as he violently jerked him back and forth.

Atsushi slumped where she stood and muttered to herself, "I wonder if having him help me find a job is really a good idea...?"

"Oh, right! I wasted a whole minute dealing with this idiot. Let's hurry to the agency!"

"Why?"

"We have an emergency! A bomber's taken a hostage and holed himself up in our office." Kunikida answered in what Atsushi found to be a much too calm tone.

"A bomber?" Atsushi whispered. She wasn't sure why, but she was made to follow the two men toward a quite large red brick building. For some reason, it looked more normal than a supernatural agency she thought would. But more than that..."Um?"

"What? The agency is on the fourth floor."

"That's not what I wanted to ask..."

"Let's take the stairs, just in case,"

"Excuse me..."

"Quiet!"

"Oh sorry..."

Feeling a hand placed on her back as she was pushed lightly forward, Atsushi looked back at Dazai. She noted he seemed completely serious for a change.

"Let's go, Atsushi-chan."

"Why...?"

Not getting an answer, Atsushi was directed into the agency where she crouched down behind some plants along with Dazai and Kunikida. Peeking over the shrubbery, it was surprising to see the bomber looked around her age. He must have been stronger than his slim build gave off to take an agency like this by surprise.

"I can't...I can't take it anymore...It's all your fault...The Armed Detective Agency's fault. Where's the president," he ranted, gripping onto the remote he held in his hand even more tightly. "Bring the president!" Lifting up a young woman who he had bound and gagged, he threatened, "I'll blow everyone to kingdom come!"

"A personal grudge. That's inconvenient," Dazai murmured.

"Yeah,"

"Why am I here?"

"The bomber seems pretty furious at the agency," Kunikida continued; Dazai and him seeming to both be completely ignoring the sweating Atsushi.

"I don't think I'll be of any use. May I go now?"

"We do attract a lot of ill will," Dazai added. "Besides, that's a high explosive. If the bomber acts on his threat and detonates it, the whole floors as good as gone. We may be able to mitigate the force of the explosion somewhat if we can find something to cover the bomb but given the circumstances...I can't believe he took a woman hostage, the coward."

"Who is that girl?" Atsushi asked. The long raven-haired female looked completely terrified as tears trailed down her cheeks. Not that Atsushi could blame her. She wouldn't know what to do if she was in a similar situation herself.

"She's Naomi-chan. A part time office assistant,"

Atsushi's heart sank. This poor girl was caught up in a situation that had nothing to do with her. "A part timer?! Then she's a completely innocent bystander..."

"What should we do?"

"Why don't we let him see the president?"

"He'll try to kill the president! We can't let him walk into a situation like that!" Kunikida sighed and pushed up his glasses. "I'm glad he's out on a business trip."

"Then there's only one method..."

Noticing Dazai and Kunikida's arms raising up, it seemed like they were about to use their abilities, something Atsushi couldn't help but feel a little excited to witness. To Atsushi's utter astonishment, the two men had started to play rock-paper-scissors. And her respect for these two further fell when Dazai was childishly telling a lowly growling Kunikida to get moving.

"Hey. Calm down, boy," Kunikida uttered, startling the orange haired male from his sudden appearance.

"Stay away! I only want to see the president! If you do anything funny, I'll blow this up!" Narrowing his eyes when the blond-haired male held up his hands to show he posed no threat, the bomber scoffed and continued, "I know who you are. You're Kunikida! I bet you're trying to make me let my guard down and use that annoying ability of yours! Well, fat chance. Get up on the desk on all fours and keep both hands where I can see them!"

"Huh?"

"I-if you don't do what I say, I'm taking you all down with me!"

Dazai narrowed his eyes when Kunikida did as the kid commanded. "This isn't good. Because of his personal grudge against the agency, he's done his research on all the members' names and faces. If I go, it'll only provoke him. Hmm...what to do?"

I just felt a chill run down my spine Atsushi thought with a shiver, shakily peering over at Dazai. She swore there was a devilish twinkle in the man's eyes.

"At-su-shi-chan~"

"No."

"I haven't even said anything," Dazai just gave a firm expression when Atsushi claimed she knew what he was going to ask already. "Listen, Atsushi-chan. You're the only one here who's not a formal member and who the bomber won't know."

Atsushi nibbled on her lower lip and looked down. "But even if I were to go, I wouldn't be able to do anything," Having not realized Dazai was no longer beside her, Atsushi blinked when seeing he was shuffling for something in a nearby filing cabinet.

"We just need you to distract him for a short while. We'll do the rest. Let me see...Knowing you, how about you put on an off-putting act as a worthless human being?" Almost comically sliding back over to the girl, Dazai held a stack of newspapers in his hands. "Here are some props."

Still seeing Atsushi looked unsure as she tentatively took the newspapers, Dazai gave a gentle pat to her head. "Trust me. Scuffles on this scale are child's play to the Armed Detective Agency, Atsushi-chan."

Despite Dazai's confidence, Atsushi still felt hesitate. Taking in a deep breath of air, she moved out from her cover and yelled out a, "S-S-Stop!" Gulping when the teen gave her a nasty look, Atsushi slowly approached. "Wh-wh-what could you possibly accomplish? I...I bet this would make your parents sad!"

"Who the hell are you?!"

Atsushi shrieked and fell backwards, her entire body trembling. This guy was a lot scarier than he appeared! "S-sorry!"

"You're not with the agency,"

"A-a-as you can tell, I'm just a simple delivery girl who just happened to pass by!" Atsushi lied, holding up the papers Dazai had strapped to her.

"And what's a delivery girl got to do with any of this?" the bomber asked coldly.

Her legs might have felt like jello, yet Atsushi managed to pull herself back up. "No matter how much you might hate them, you shouldn't take hostages or blow-up bombs. I'm sure there's something to live for."

"Like what? What's something to live for?"

Blanching for a moment as she had just spoken without thinking, not to mention feeling Kunikida's gaze boring into her form wasn't helping her concentrate, Atsushi just squeaked out the first thing that popped into her head.

"T-tea! Tea on rice! You can eat a lot of tea on rice! You can sleep somewhere with a roof over your head! When you go to sleep at night, you can wake up to a new day! And every day is a new day! But...If you blow up, neither you nor I will see another new day...because we'll be dead."

"I know that!"

"EH?!" Gripping at her face in distress, Atsushi wailed out, "I think you can reconsider. I mean, if you die...You're really dead! I'm sure you might wish you were dead sometimes, but there are people who keep on living, even if the going's tough. Oh, people like me! I have no family and no friends. I even got chased out of an orphanage, and I have nowhere to go, and no hope for the future..."

I even learned that I turn into a tiger Atsushi thought, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

"Yeah, that's right. It's true that like you say, I lack redeeming qualities, and everyone'd agree that I'm the scum of society. But I still manage to keep on living without gong all postal about it!"

"Not bad, Atsushi-chan. You have acting like a worthless human being down to an art form," Dazai praised with a smirk seeing the bomber actually looking a little freaked out by the girl's mental break down.

"So why don't you toss that bomb aside, and we can look for jobs together! Okay?!" Atsushi declared, causing the orange haired teen to jolt when she was abruptly in his face with a desperation in her yellow and purple eyes.

His own hazel eyes completely wide, the terrorist stuttered out, "N-no, I'm not exactly looking for one..."

"Now, Kunikida-kun!"

"I know!" Kunikida shouted, already jotting down in his notebook. "Ability: Doppo Poet...Wire gun!" Ripping out a piece of paper, a light surrounded it where the green, gray-eyed male was soon holding the very weapon he had called forth. He then quickly shot the remote out of the bombers hand.

"Get him, Kunikida-kun!"

"Like I already said, I know!" Kunikida yelled at Dazai, grabbing the eighteen-year-old by his collar and then slamming him painfully face first onto the floor. He then forced his arm behind his back to keep the male from retaliating.

"One down," Dazai mused with a bright smile. "All right. Good job, everyone."

"One down, you say," Kunikida grumbled, eyeing the device that would have set off the bomb. "Now, secure him! You're all talk and no action!"

"What choice was there? You lost at rock-paper-scissors, Kunikida-kun~" Laughing off Kunikida calling him a bastard, Dazai continued, "Well, all's well that ends well, isn't it? I've heard that if you're too neurotic, you'll get a lot of wrinkles and your aging becomes accelerated."

"Is that true?"

"Go on, take notes," Dazai urged. Turning his back when Kunikida started to mutter to himself and write down this new information he had been given, Dazai uttered out indifferently, "I'm messing with you."

I wonder how many pens Kunikida-san goes through on a daily basis Atsushi pondered with a tired gaze as she watched Kunikida kick Dazai into the door. Or maybe it's more amazing he falls for Dazai-san's tricks that easily...

Gritting his teeth as he took an unsuspecting Kunikida by surprise, the unknown bomber had stolen his remote back. "All of you...stop making fun of me! I swear, anyone gifted with supernatural abilities has something wrong with them inside...

Atsushi gasped when the crazed eyed male hit the detonator. "Thirty seconds left until detonation!" The girl gritted her teeth when Kunikida was tackled before he could rush for the bomb. She wondered if there was anything she could do? Because at this rate they'd all be...

"We may be able to mitigate the force of the explosion somewhat if we can find something to cover the bomb..."

"Something to cover the bomb..." Atsushi whispered to herself when recalling Dazai's words. She looked around for anything to use, her eyes meeting those of the terrified intern. Surprising the bound girl, along with all those in the room, Atsushi had shoved Naomi away from the bomb where Dazai quickly caught the high schooler.

"Atsushi-chan! What!" Dazai wheezed out when the girl had grabbed the bomb, using her own body to cover it. "You idiot!"

"Brat!"

"I don't understand...what I'm doing..." Atsushi whispered to herself. She tightly shut her eyes and waited on the explosion as it counted down. She could only hope her death would be instant and she wouldn't feel any pain.

For some reason, she didn't even hear an explosion sound off. Had her death been that quick that it had happened without her realizing?

"Jeez...I figured she was stupid, but I didn't realize how stupid," Kunikida insulted, looking blankly down at the female.

Dazai only smiled, looking almost proud. "She has the talent to become a suicide maniac. Wouldn't you agree, Tanizaki-kun?"

"Sorry. Are you okay?" the newly dubbed Tanizaki questioned with concern.

Atsushi could only blink while she clung onto what she once believed was a deadly weapon. "Huh?"

She felt even more baffled when Naomi cooed out, "Aw, brother!", tackling the male along with what sounded like painfully headbutting him in the chin. "Are you all right? You were so wonderful as a villain! I had the time of my life being tied up and threatened! Please continue where we left off, once we get home."

Her right eye twitching since she swore Naomi had called Tanizaki her brother, but she was clinging to him and making circles on his chest like they were lovers? Shaking off the bizarre display, she asked lowly, "So the part-time person was in cahoots with everyone, too?"

"Brat, you should blame Dazai. Barring that, blame yourself for choosing the wrong person to help you find a job!"

"Then is this the job..."

"I told you there was a test involved,"

"As in, an entrance exam?" Atsushi groaned. And Dazai was being so flippant about the whole thing!

"That's right," Atsushi blinked when hearing a rather deep male voice; one of the other female interns telling the president that the exam had been completed. "Since Dazai said there was a capable young woman, I had him test your mettle."

So, that's the president of the agency Atsushi thought, staring at the tall older male in slight awe. He certainly had the presence of someone in charge from the stern look in his metallic blue eyes. Even she was feeling a bit nervous having the long silver haired male examine her.

"Well, I recommended you for hire, but since you've been designated a major threat by the ward, there was a disagreement between us whether we should take you in," Dazai explained with an easygoing smile.

"So president...what is your decision?"

"I'll let Dazai decide." was Fukuzawa's only response to Kunikida as he turned on his heels to leave the room as swiftly as he had entered.

"You can trust me,"

"W-wait a minute, Dazai-san. So the job you meant to introduce me for was..."

Smiling as he turned around to face the slightly timid female, Dazai voiced, "You apparently passed the test. Welcome to the Armed Detective Agency, Nakajima Atsushi-chan."

"Congratulations!" Naomi cheered while clinging onto her brother's arm.

"I'm glad I was able to help," Tanizaki chimed in sheepishly.

"Oh please, no! I can't possibly join a workplace as violent and reckless as this!" Atsushi complained. She was certain some of the life had already been drained out of her just from this stressful ordeal.

"Not just anyone would use their body to shield a bomb to save everyone," Dazai complimented.

Naomi nodded her head in agreement. "That's right. I was really impressed!"

Dazai's eyes softened as the girl still seemed unsure. "You'll be fine."

"I-I don't know..."

Letting out a disappointed sight, Dazai extended out his arms as if in defeat. "If you still refuse, we can't force you. But then, I can't help but worry about your future. We'll need you to vacate the company dorm...You don't really have any specialized skills, nor do you have friends or know anyone...That'd make finding a job very difficult. Besides, you are a wanted tiger."

"E-eh?!"

Atsushi jolted when Dazai got rather close to her face. "Should anyone learn of that, at best you'd get fired from your job. At worst, you'd be captured and shot dead."

"Sh-shot?!"

"Now, if you were with this agency...it'd be a different story." Dazai finished off with an almost dark smile.

"Y-you're saying I basically have no choice..." Atsushi almost whimpered out. Was this what they called black mail, she wondered?

"We look forward to working with you, Atsushi-chan," Naomi encouraged with a bright smile. She then practically choked Tanizaki as she hugged his neck. "Don't we, brother?"

"G-glad to have you, Atsushi-chan..." Tanizaki wheezed out, his face turning blue.

"Follow the rules, brat." Kunikida warned, crossing his legs in the chair where he had sat.

Dazai laughed while casually slinging his arm around the miserable looking girls shoulder. "Well, that settles things. This is going to be fun, right, Atsushi-chan~?"

"If you say so..."

For some reason, I feel like I've just ended up in even more of a mess...