Kath & Dazai

 The cleaning up ended relatively quickly with Kath's help. Just as Kunikida locked away the mops and rugs, he brought out his book again. " The office is in bad shape, we need to patch those holes and renovate the place. This will be financially tiring."

" Come on, Kunikida-sensei, since when did we bother about finances?"

" Managing our finances is an important facet of this work," he said balancing his glasses. " We won't hope to solve other people's dilemmas if we can't sort our own."

" Oh! You already finished cleaning this fast?" A voice called from the office. Kunikida and Kath were then met with Rampo, Atsushi, and Dazai as they walked in.

" Rampo-san!"

" If it's not Kath. I knew you would be around soon. Any souvenirs?"

" The best I could afford for you," she reached into her bag and pulled out a colorful lidded box with 'Heavenly Flavoured Sweets' printed on it in English. With an exaggerated bow, she flourished it at him." It's the best in London. Specially bought for you."

" Ho! You know me well! Plus ten points!" He cried hauling his gift above his head like some thrilled kid.

" Ano, Rampo-san…" the boy with the grey hair, Atsushi, flicked his eyes between Rampo and Kath. " Who is she?"

" Allow me to introduce her, this is Katherine Hanazaw, a member of the agency. She was studying abroad in England."

" Is that so? Pleased to meet you, I'm Nakajima Atsushi." The boy bowed politely.

" Pleased to meet you too." She smiled sweetly at him. Something about the way he flinched and moved reminded her of her past self. Atsushi was someone who probably had similar circumstances to her and he was nervous around other people. She needed to be careful when interacting with him.

" And this-" Rampo pointed at the other person behind him and Kath's eyes went wide.

" Hi! I'm Dazai Osamu~!"

" Right, Dazai joined shortly after you left so I forgot he is a new face to you. Hm?" Kunikida raised an eyebrow at the woman who stood still by his side, almost not breathing, her face unreadable. " Hanazawa?"

" Oh, nothing... Just was wondering about his bandages."

" Don't mind them, that idiot is a suicidal maniac and a bandage-wasting machine." Kunikida rubbed his brow.

" Oh my! Please refrain from committing suicide inside the agency office, as you see, our reputation is holding by a thread," she said pointing at the mess in the office.

" Don't worry, after all, I want to have a painless cheerful suicide without burdening anyone." He smiled proudly.

" Then I'll hold you for your word."

" Anyway, seems you're the only ones left huh, everyone went home I presume?"

" Yeah, I was going around and apologizing to the neighbors and Hanazawa offered to help," explained Kunikida.

" I know how you hate to mess up your schedule, Sensei, so I wanted to help." She offered him a bright smile.

" Either way, we should head back as well. I'll take you home." Kunikida offered, grabbing her suitcase.

" Nah, it's fine, I already called a taxi, you can go ahead already, Sensei. I will be fine," she said holding up her phone.

" But…"

" I'm not a kid anymore. You don't have to worry about me. You should go and rest too. You worked hard after all." She shoved him to the door.

" Ok, fine. But if you need anything you just call me."

" I won't. Now good night." She shoved him outside the office and waved him goodbye.

" Well then, with Kunikida-kun gone, I don't have to fill my report tonight so Atsushi-kun! Let's go home too!" Rampo said dragging the boy along and wishing the duo good night.

" Alright, seems it's only you and I now." Kath's smile faded instantly as she rounded on Dazai, silvery threads wringing themselves around his neck, however, as they touched him, they disappeared.

" Tch, so it wasn't a mistake back then."

" Bullying your coworker, this is not nice." Dazai rubbed his neck with a bored expression.

" I don't need to hear that from you." She reached inside her vest, pulled out a handgun, and pointed it at Dazai's head.

" Careful there, you could hurt yourself just."

" Thanks for the concern but I can handle it now, Kunikida-sensei taught me more than just how to write and do math."

" How promising." Dazai shrugged with a smile.

" Why, are you here?" She asked, her eyes flashing dangerously at the man before her.

" Why, because this is where I work."

" Don't play dumb with me!" She took a step forward, her forefinger tightening on the trigger.

" Fine," Dazai then dropped his smile. " But I'm being honest, I work here now, I'm a member of this agency."

" Why would a Port Mafia executive defect and join the Armed Detective Agency?"

" No reason at all, just thought it would be more interesting if I switched sides mid-game." The man smirked. " You sure are different from that time we met at the back alley. You have more spur now. Still, you're as weak as you were back then." His voice was dripping with malice, the fuzzy air he was radiating moments ago became heavy and glum. His eyes went dark as he looked down at her as if considering when would be best to kill her.

Clicking her tongue, she put away her gun. " Ara? Is it all okay now?" His fuzziness came back instantly.

" Definitely not! I don't trust you! I'll never!" Annoyance and irritation were visible on her face. " But, the President and Rampo-san let you in. So I'll trust them." She walked to the door and dragged her suitcase.

" Are you sure you don't need to ask me anything else?" Looking back at him and that smile on his face made her want to punch him so badly.

" I don't need to. Thanks to you, the whole of Yokohama knows how he is faring." With that said, she left the office too.

✦ -─────────- ✦

Her apartment was as clean as she could ever remember it, she knew Kunikida was hiring someone to look after it once a month. It was quite small so it didn't take that much effort to clean it. Tossing away her rucksack and slumping face down into her bed, Kath screamed into her pillow as hard as she could. " Why of all people should it be him!"

She shot up, punching her pillow while recalling Dazai's smirk from earlier. " That damn mafioso!" Hurling the pillow at the wall, Kath laid back on the bed, her eyes admiring the blanc whiteness of the ceiling. Her hand stretched up, and her fingernails, once painted red, glowed in white as thin threads manifested from them, weaving through the air and dipping into her rucksack before pulling up a patched brown bunny stuffed animal.

Hugging it tightly, Kath closed her eyes.

" You're weak, you're a fool…"

" Still, you're as weak as you were back then."

" I know… I know…" Burying her face into the fabric of her bunny, she fell asleep...