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Post by quinnlocke on Apr 25, 2020 0:01:31 GMT
Randou was dead, a top tier executive and apparent traitor if the rumors that had gotten back to Dazai could be believed. Considering their source, he had faith in their credibility.
Randou always did have an odd fascination with old files on the military facilities that had fallen in the last years of the war. Dazai often wondered if it was Randou's way of searching for his past. It was obvious to anyone he was foreign, even with a Japanese name, his features were incredibly European, and his accent as well.
The culprit? Nakahara Chuuya, fallen King and wanted criminal. His escapades as the leader of the Sheep were legendary, as was his fall when they sold him out to form an alliance with the GSS. Many thought the king dead until several high level members of the GSS and a few older members of the Sheep were found dead in the wreckage of their own buildings. As though an earthquake had centered on that single spot to destroy it.
Dazai watched as his men hauled the redhead into the room. He was shocked to see how much of a fight he kept putting up, even with the collar around his neck keeping his ability from surfacing. He gnashed his teeth and screamed, headbutting Tachihara and breaking his nose. Dazai pulled a remote from his pocket and pressed the button, a bored expresson crossed his face as the shocks finally put the rabid dog down on his knees.
"Out!" he yelled to his subordinates.
When the door finally closed he sighed.
"Nakahara Chuuya," he drawled, "tell me why you killed one of my best ranked executives, and why," he tossed the files Chuuya had on him when he was caught. "You were so eager to kill even more of my men to have this."
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Post by Behax on Apr 25, 2020 10:49:49 GMT
It was hardly Chuuya’s best moment, being caught by the Port Mafia. Feeling like they had only even managed to get the drop on him because of how much the fight with Randou had taken out of him to begin with. For such a weak looking man, his ability had been a royal pain in the ass. Still the attempt to capture and collar him, had cost the Mafia even more than their executive.
Then there was the literal collar they had gotten him with. That had been a nasty shock. It wasn’t easy to describe the feeling of his ability being ripped away from him. It was the only constant he’d had in his life (at least as far as he could remember,) that hum of power, and the coiling anger at the back of his mind. A feeling not entirely his, and now it was gone. His mind was silent in a way he found uncomfortable.
The poor bloke who had actually managed to get the collar on him, had lived to regret it however, albeit not for very long. The betrayal of the Sheep had taught Chuuya the folly of relying too much on his ability alone, and since then had become a capable fighter in his own right. Anyone who thought he was defenceless without his ability was in for a nasty shock….and a Broken neck.
It had taken a number of other agents to bring Chuuya under control enough to get his arms restrained behind his back. Which just left his legs….Arguably the deadliest part of him. However with what Chuuya suspected as a twisted ankle, and fractured wrist, and bruised if not cracked ribs from his fight with Randou, he’d run out of steam to keep up the fighting.
He’d gotten some of that wind back by the time he was being dragged into the office of the Boss of the Port Mafia. A broken nose wasn’t the only injury Tachihara was leaving with, he also had a heavily bruised shin courtesy of Chuuya back kicking him.
The shock from the collar took what little wind Chuuya had regained out of him. Bringing him to his knees panting.
“It was nothing…..P-personal against you….” Chuuya wished he could retort that Randou had hardly been worth the prestige of being one of the Mafia’s best executives, but it would be a lie, and he wouldn’t dishonour the man like that. He’d put up a hard fight, much harder than Chuuya had been expecting.
He eyed the files, and considered how much he could get away with not saying. He’d heard rumours about Dazai Osamu, though this was the first time he was really laying eyes on him.
“I was looking for information. Your men would still be alive if they had just let me be on my way.” Randou was a different matter however.
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Post by quinnlocke on Apr 25, 2020 11:55:05 GMT
He wasn't afraid of him. Dazai could see the defiance bright in Nakahara's eyes and it was almost thrilling. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had looked at him without fear or disgust for that matter.
He played with the edge of one folder, lifting it to peek at the contents inside. Completely for show of course, he'd already gone through most of it.
A brief skim, not enough to tell him everything, but enough to give him the answers to the questions he asked.
The best way to test a man's loyalty is to ask him things you already know. So far, Nakahara was proving himself to be an honest man, and a brave one to boot. Not even Akutagawa had fought off that many men when he'd been caught.
"Just information? You could have easily stolen these without murdering my executive. Considering the fight you put up against a dozen of my men, I'm surprised at the amount of damage Randou was able to cause."
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Post by Behax on Apr 25, 2020 13:56:38 GMT
Chuuya considered what Dazai had just said, not just about the fact that he didn’t need to kill Randou (he did,) but that the amount of damage Randou had caused was surprising. It made Chuuya wonder what the man might have been hiding from the Port Mafia.
“I happily would have just stolen the files, but your executive did not seem to want to let me go.” Or rather he seemed obsessed with taking Chuuya for himself.
Not enjoying being on his knees at Dazai’s feet, Chuuya took a couple of deep breaths, before pushing himself back onto his own feet. He wobbled a little bit as he struggled to balance with his arms restrained behind his back and his ability out of the equation too. He couldn’t help but click his teeth in frustration at the height difference between himself and the Mafia Boss.
“His ability was actually quite annoying,” Chuuya didn’t mind admitting. He’d still managed to come out on top and breathing after all. Even if his injuries meant he had been caught by the Port Mafia as a result. “It posed some unique problems….”
He didn’t ask, but he was starting to wonder why he was even here. Most of the Port Mafia’s enemies would not be taken directly to the boss, Chuuya knew that much. He suspected his lack of ability was Dazai’s doings, but even so, it was dangerous to allow yourself to be left alone with an enemy unprotected. Chuuya narrowed his eyes as he began to wonder just what Dazai wanted.
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Post by quinnlocke on Apr 25, 2020 15:04:01 GMT
"Randou had quite a talent for hiding just how powerful he was," Dazai hummed, not quite addressing Chuuya with his statement. He picked up a single file from the pile and handed it over.
Inside was a docket listing Chuuya as ability user A5158. The location of the lab where he'd been 'created', a few numbers that were likely references to other files, and a date. 8 years before Chuuya 'woke up' almost to the day.
"Another thing Randou was good at hiding was his intentions," Dazai addressed Chuuya as he walked round to sit at his desk. He gestured for Chuuya to take the seat across from him. Remote still in hand, not quite a threat, more as a reminder.
"You saved me the trouble of proving his disloyalty, arranging his trial, and performing his execution." Dazai sounded bored, as though the prospect of having caught an enemy was just another event of the day. "I have a proposition for you Nakahara. One that I think you will find it very hard to refuse."
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Post by Behax on Apr 25, 2020 15:20:31 GMT
Chuuya quirked a brow as Dazai stepped around him to release the restraints, keeping his arms behind his back.He didn’t trust this man’s intentions as far as he could throw him, and even without his ability, that was quite probably quite far. He doubted that Dazai trusted him either, he would be a fool too. So releasing his restraints was a gamble, even if Chuuya was still wearing the shock collar. He flexed his wrists, wincing when he moved his left. Yep, definitely something wrong there. He was clearly sceptical as he took the file from Dazai.
He glanced at the information inside. How could he not? He’d wanted answers for as long as he could remember and Randou had provided precious few. His brow drew down into a deep frown at the numbers.
A5158.
It was a serial number Chuuya wished he was less familiar with. It had been on the medical bracelet he had been found with, along with his name, and supposed date of birth. It was also stamped into the back of his neck, almost like cattle. It made him uncomfortable, and marked him has something ‘other.’ Subconsciously he rubbed at the back of his neck.
He scowled as Dazai gestured for him to take a seat, though it was more so at the reminder that the man could just shock him if he wanted. He walked over to the seat, clearly favouring one leg, but masking the pain well. He was careful about how he sat too.
He was less able to hide his surprise when Dazai said he had a proposition for him. Though it was quickly schooled into a scowl. He was clearly suspicious of Dazai’s intentions.
“Does it include you removing this infernal device from my neck?”
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Post by quinnlocke on Apr 25, 2020 15:48:43 GMT
Dazai chuckled, but his eye remained as dead as it had been when Chuuya was escorted in. Bandages covered what little bits of his body that could be seen, he wore strange gloves that covered his fingers but not his palms, and covering one eye was a black eye patch, a hint of a scar poking out from underneath it.
He pressed a button on the remote and there was a click as the collars mechanism released. He held his hand out for the device, quirking an eyebrow at Chuuya's initial hesitance. "if you want it off I want it back."
Once the collar and remote were stored away he rested his elbows on the desk, steepling his long fingers together he took a deep breath.
"I want to hire you to be my bodyguard."
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Post by Behax on Apr 25, 2020 17:08:24 GMT
Chuuya’s eyes widened in surprise when Dazai compiled so readily. Either the man was stupid, or he had a death wish, and Chuuya didn’t think Dazai was stupid. He scowled at Dazai’s comment and tossed the device onto the desk. The moment it was no longer touching him he felt that familiar anger slip back into his mind like it belonged there. He sometimes had to wonder if other people’s abilities had such a presence in the minds of their owners, or was it just him? He had been the only ability user in all of Sheep, so he never really had anyone to ask. It wasn’t something he was willing to ask an enemy.
Chuuya blinked at Dazai as if he’d misheard him. “W-what?”
Of all the things he was expecting that wasn’t even on his radar.Mostly he’d expected Dazai wanted more information, or maybe even help in completely wiping out GSS, after all Chuuya had experience with them already.
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Post by quinnlocke on Apr 25, 2020 17:15:52 GMT
Dazai sighed and flipped a panel on his desk. The floor to ceiling windows turned dark, and with a press of a button a door opened leading into an infirmary.
Dazai motioned for Chuuya to follow him. "a peace offering, you've obviously taken a bit of damage. Regardless of your answer, I'll see to your injuries."
Chuuya was guided to sit on a cot while a blonde woman came forward to look over him.
"Randou was able to keep his plans hidden from me for far too long. I didn't become boss at 18 by not having eyes and ears everywhere."
He watched as the nurse tutted over Chuuya's injuries. "Prognosis Elise-chan?"
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Post by Behax on Apr 25, 2020 17:38:42 GMT
The sudden darkening of the room put Chuuya on edge, and he hesitated before standing. This could just as easily be a trap, certainly what he knew of Dazai Osamu did not lead him to believe the man was particularly generous. He was weary as he sat down, and the woman began to look him over.
“So you don’t trust those around you...thats….” He wanted to say that was absurd, but then the betrayal of The Sheep burned in the back of his mind, and he felt his anger roil. How many years had he devoted to protecting them? Acted as their sword and their shield, only to be betrayed and thrown away when they didn’t want him any more….When they no longer considered him useful. Unconsciously his hand went to his side, where a long healed scar remained as a constant reminder. A young man he would have considered his family, his best friend had sunk a knife in there and it still hurt.
“So why trust me to guard your life, when you don't even trust your own men?”
Elise’s final prognosis was that Chuuya’s right ankle was twisted, his left wrist fractured, he’d cracked 1 rib and bruised 2 others. And a number of other more minor bruises and scratches.
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Post by quinnlocke on Apr 25, 2020 18:03:45 GMT
Dazai tutted. "If you'll allow Elise-chan to begin treatment we can continue to discuss my proposal."
When Nakahara nodded he gave the okay to Elise to begin. She spoke gently, with a sweet tone that was meant to be soothing.
"Make sure to do the very best job on him," Dazai said, pulling out a chair to sit on. Gone was the Stern and formal pose of a mafia boss. He sat down lkke a 22 year old boy, tired of putting on a show.
"The very reason I am putting this trust in you is because I know you've experience with being betrayed. With putting your trust in someone only to have it thrown back at you."
Dazai looked off to the corner of the infirmary where a soft light poked through a dark curtain.
"Randou assisted me in taking over when the good doctor proved to be less than." Elise frowned and shook her head at Dazai's statement, though from what Chuuya could see of her expression, she agreed. "He was far too willing to sacrifice good men for his own gains. Not for the citys, but for himself. That was unacceptable, and I made sure he understood why his time had come to an end."
His fingers fidgeted slightly as he continued.
"Randou was my right hand, my mentor, my...friend." Dazai said that word without hiding the pain it caused him to say it. "To find out that he was plotting against me, looking to steal my throne out from under me, and all the while hiding such important information about a certain King of the Sheep"
He stared at Chuuya and all the emotion he'd allowed himself to show faded away and the boss of the port mafia straightened his spine and cleared his throat.
"I need to know the man watching my back isn't going to stab me in it when the moment comes. I think you're the man for the job. Because you're loyal. You're honest. And most importantly, we both know the truth of who you really are, Arahabahki."
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Post by Behax on Apr 25, 2020 18:54:51 GMT
Chuuya was a little hesitant, but he nodded for the nurse to continue, and watched the way Dazai shifted from hardened Mafia Boss, to a young man barely out of his teenage years. He listened to Dazai explain his reasoning and even how he had become the Boss of the Port Mafia so young, and the fact he had done so with Randou’s help.
He winced occasionally as Elise worked, the worst was when she had to bandage his ribs, he had to suck in a breath, everything ached. Randou had slammed him against the ground and well, Chuuya supposed that had only been a fraction of the kind of pain he himself had inflicted on numerous others. It wasn’t a bad thing he supposed, to understand even a fraction of the pain he himself could cause.
His expression sharpened when Dazai called him the King of the Sheep. He might have even felt the air in the room grow noticeably heavy. Chuuya hated being called that even when he was the de facto leader of the Sheep. He hated it even more now they had thrown him aside.
However it was nothing compared to the reaction it got when Dazai called him, ‘Arahabaki’. The spike in Chuuya’s anger was so brief and so sharp a crack shot up the wall and along the ceiling behind him. So Dazai was another man who just wanted to use the monster.
Chuuya folded his arms as Elise finished patching him up, and explaining that he needed to keep the weight off his foot, that he would be right as rain in only a matter of days.
“So what do I get out of this arrangement, and what assurance do I have that you aren’t going to stab me in the back?”
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Post by quinnlocke on Apr 25, 2020 19:07:45 GMT
Dazai felt a shiver run down his spine when the wall cracked behind Nakahara.
... wow
He kept himself composed in spite of the excitement that one act caused him to experience.
"The first thing you need to know about me is that I never lie in negotiations."
He stood up and walked over to the long curtains in the corner of the room. He gestured for Elise to come towards him.
"What you get from this arrangement is security, status, a handsome paycheck, and in time the information about yourself you were so desperate to get your hands on."
He pulled open the curtain to reveal a water tank with a body inside. The light from above cast the pale man in blue light, making him look ethereal. He was hooked up to all manner of machinery, all of it obviously used to keep him alive.
But what would have Chuuya reeling was the needles that were inserted into his skull.
Dazai held out his hand and Elise touched it, disappearing in a flash of blue light.
"How you know that I won't betray you is this." He pressed another button that sent a shock into the man in the tank. The body shuddered and Elise reappeared. "Randou betrayed me and I let him fall to your hands. A member of the Special Abilities unit betrayed me and I took his head. Mori..." Dazai sneered looking at the man in the tank. "Betrayed not only me, but also this city."
Dazai shut the curtains and turned to look back to Nakahara. "Is that enough of proof that my distaste for betrayal is comparable to yours?"
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Post by Behax on Apr 25, 2020 22:37:30 GMT
Chuuya narrowed his eyes, not sure how much he trusted Dazai’s claim that he didn’t lie in negotiations, but he didn’t have any reason so far to doubt the man. He had after all shown a level of faith in Chuuya not attacking him at least, and by getting Elise to look him over and treat him. So Dazai at least had earned the benefit of the doubt.
He watched Dazai walk over to the curtain, listening to his proposal. Though he felt his stomach turn when he saw what Dazai was keeping hidden behind the curtain. Chuuya had strong views regarding betrayal, and the kind of retribution it deserved but Dazai…...Dazai had taken it to a whole new level and Chuuya wasn’t sure he liked what he was seeing. There was a level of barbarism there that didn’t quite sit right with him.
Still Dazai had information Chuuya wanted, information he’d risked life and limb in a fight with Randou to obtain. He wasn't going to say no now.
“Given the amount of trouble I already went through to get that information, I would be a fool at this point to say no. So I guess….We have an accord.” He held his good hand out for Dazai to shake.
When Dazai did grip his hand, Chuuya tightened his own grip. He felt his ability slip away, it made him shudder but he ignored it pulling Dazai closer.
“Just because you have an appreciation for what it's like to be betrayed doesn't mean you won't do it to others, so I will make it abundantly clear. If you do try to betray me, I will Kill you, and I don’t need my ability to do it.” He then let go of Dazai.
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Post by quinnlocke on Apr 26, 2020 2:59:09 GMT
Dazai smirked when Nakahara pulled him in. He was appalled at what he saw. *Good*
At the very least it meant there was enough hesitance to risk the same fate. Dazai didn't even revel in what he'd reduced Mori to.
He'd never tell anyone but Mori was absolutely brain dead. The beeping monitor that showed his brain activity was a farce. Designed to show him reacting to the shocks. No, Mori was nothing but an empty shell, were he removed from the machines he would die, his brain incapable of keeping him alive with the simplest commands like 'breathe'.
It was the illusion of life that kept anyone who saw the 'good doctor' in check.
Nakahara's grip was firm and not in the way that felt as though it was all for show. Even as No Longer Human coursed into him did his grip wave or falter.
Naturally Dazai had no choice but to squeeze in the final word. He yanked Nakahara back as soon as he let go, pulling him in by the collar of his jacket.
"It's the very fact that you *don't* need your ability to kill me is why I want you close Nakahara-kun. Don't threaten a suicide enthusiast with death, unless you plan to live up to it."
He released Chuuya and walked off leaving his back open and unprotected. "Your permanent residence will be adjacent to my penthouse. Until then I'll have a room made up for your convalescence. Elise says two days, the job begins in three. I'll be around tomorrow with the contract."
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