Part of Your World {A Bungo Stray Dogs fanfic}

Goldy Locks

The past few days have been surprisingly great! Nekori has been hiding out at my place ever since she got attacked by the mafia, and we've become the most unlikely of friends. She's not the most positive or outgoing person in the world, but somehow we get along very well. Creed still hasn't given up on becoming friends with Lucky. Actually, I think he's starting to make some progress. The two animals have even started sleeping at the foot of my bed together every night. It's the absolute cutest thing to see them snuggled so close to each other. With both of their raven black fur, it's hard to tell where one pet ends and the other begins. I guess they've had a lot of bonding time since I've been leaving Creed at home during the day. It makes me feel safer knowing that he is there to guard Nekori while I'm at work.

Speaking of work, have I mentioned I have the best job ever??? I don't know why I never thought to work at a zoo before, but it is practically meant to be. I get to spend all day taking care of all kinds of animals. My boss, Cynthia, decided that I was best suited to take care of the more dangerous animals. I rotate between the lions, tigers, bears, and reptiles. Ya know, the animals that most people would be afraid to venture into the enclosure with. But I don't mind. They're all pretty nice once you get to know them. Plus, it gives me a chance to practice using my new ability. I learned the hard way that taking on the form of a full-grown bear is WAY harder than turning into Creed. Just the other night, I was practicing my shapeshifting in Asaka's cage when I discovered what my limit was. I was only in my bear form for like ten minutes when my eyes started to get really heavy. I was struggling to keep them open, and the world around me was starting to spin when I hit the ground with a loud thud. The next thing I knew, I woke up the next morning still lying on the ground in the bear pen. And let me tell you, waking up to find you are surrounded by a pack of sleeping bears is terrifying. Since then, I've had a lot of practice shifting between forms. It still takes an immense amount of energy out of me, but I'm slowly getting stronger.  With a newfound confidence in my ability, I think I'm ready to show Dazai. So, I've decided to invite him over tonight. It's been a while since we've done anything just the two of us. Everyone has been really burnt out since the battle with the Guild.

--------------------------Time Skip-----------------------------------

The electric tone of the phone vibrates in my ear as I call Dazai. He picks up after only a few rings.

"Hey Kags, what's up?" He answers.

"Meet me in front of Yokohama Zoo at 11pm sharp," I reply with no further explanation and hang up. Once I've ended the call, I can't help but chuckle deviously at myself. Dazai is always giving me mysterious invitations with no explanation or room for disagreement, so it's only fair I give him a taste of his own medicine. A proud smile spreads widely across my face as I bask in my accomplishment. Now I have a lot to set up for tonight...

Once the clock finally strikes 11 o'clock, I've got everything ready and I'm waiting at the front gate of Yokohama Zoo. Dazai strolls up right on time, with his hands stuffed into his pockets and his expression as nonchalant as ever. "Trying to give me a taste of my own medicine aren't you?" He asks with a smirk when he sees me waiting at the gate.

"Whaaattt? I have no idea what you're talking about..." I say, without looking him in the eyes. How did he know?? Can he read my mind or something? Noticing my bluff, Dazai chuckles and slips a hand under my chin, gently turning my gaze back to him.

"So what have you got in store for me then?" he continues. 

I can't help but break out in a smile as I answer, "Come inside and you'll see!" I'm so excited to show him everything I have planned. I dramatically whip out my employee key and jingle it in front of his face. "Guess who got a new jobbb," I say in a sing-songy voice. I unlock the big iron gate and we slip inside. With the layout of the zoo ingrained in my memory by now, I lead Dazai easily around all of the enclosures even in the darkness. 

"Wait right here," I say, once we've finally reached the bridge that crosses over the bear enclosure. I sprint silently over to the control box a few meters away. With the press of a button, strings of fairy lights begin to shine bright all around us. The twinkling lights reveal the romantic little spot I have set up. In the center of the bridge, there's a picnic blanket laid out and loaded with food. 

"Tadaaa," I say as I run back to where Dazai waits for me.

"Wow!" he says, "You did all this, for me?" Dazai's eyes shine brighter than the stars as he turns round and round, taking it all in.

"Yep!" I say proudly. "Are you surprised?" I ask, my smile wide and my eyes hopeful.

"I sure am," Dazai answers with a warm smile. We spend the night digging into all the food I packed, and sipping on a bottle of red wine. The moon and stars shine bright above us, providing the perfect view. We take this opportunity to catch up on everything we haven't gotten a chance to talk about. Well okay, technically I do most of the talking. Dazai really just listens and laughs at me every so often. He especially enjoyed hearing about my adventures in job hunting... He's definitely never going to let me live that one down, that's for sure. Once the picnic basket starts to run low and the bottle of wine is just about empty, it's time for me to show Dazai the real reason I brought him here. Much to his dismay, I lead Dazai down into the bears' pit.

"Bīsutoteimā hitotsu ni naru! Asaka!" I say, calling upon my ability. Amidst the irridescent swirling lights of my ability, my human self slowly transforms before Dazai's eyes. With only a  few moments notice, there is a full grown bear standing in front of Dazai. I stand before him as a 6ft tall, 300lb mother grizzly bear, yet he has no fear. Dazai stares straight into my big grayish-blue eyes and smiles. He watches happily as I run around the pen playing with Asaka. My bear friend and I roll over and over in the long grass, caught in a good-natured tussle. Her beautiful little cubs even come out to play for a while, gifting Dazai with a sight even more wholesome than I had hoped for. Dazai can't help but join in the fun, running around with a bunch of bears like the crazy person he is. 

After a little while, I return to human form, and Dazai walks me back to my apartment building. The night went more perfectly than I could have hoped. Or at least, it was going perfectly...until I stepped through my front door. As I peer around the solid wood frame, I get brutally shoved off cloud nine. My apartment is an absolute wreck. My furniture is torn and fallen over. Gigantic claw marks now cut deep into the length of my mattress. My bookshelf is knocked over, books and severed pages strewn across the floor. The curtains have been ripped from their rods. It looks like a tornado hit it. But none of that matters because I can only think of one thing.

They found Nekori...