The Secret Stories of The Agency (A Bungo Stray Dogs Tale)

Chapter One: A Distress Call for The Agency

Nights in Yokohama aren't often very peaceful. How can it be when it is a port city. Smugglers make port here to pander their elicit wares, and the local gangs fight for the dominance of single city blocks with sweat, blood, and flesh, only for the territory lines to remain stagnant. A ruthless mafia holds sway of the night and a brutal military police of the day, but others must hold the in-betweens of dawn and twilight. This is where the city's blessing and curse come in. A frighteningly large amount of "Gifted." These men and women straddle the lines between earthly and unnatural. All hold incredible abilities that can bring heaven or hell to earth. Real-life superhumans if you wish to put it simply. Among those who are gifted, the most powerful belong to those of the Armed Detective Agency. They keep the balance of the city while remaining in shadow and mystery, holding off evil against all odds despite the cost. The absolute greatest Yokohama has to offer to protect those who call that city their home. The finest. The most pure. The most honorable.

"DAZAI! HELLP!" Atsushi Nakajima, member of the Armed Detective Agency, and about to die. "What's wrong, kiddo? Can't you handle a little armed robbery by yourself? Tsk Tsk." Osamu Dazai, member of the Armed Detective Agency, and completely unsympathetic to Atsushi's trouble. Atsushi ripped his earpiece from his ear and screamed into it, "NOT NOW, DAZAI! I NEED BACK- MA'AM LOOK OUT!" Atsushi jumped on top of young woman, narrowly saving her from having her head removed from the hurled store sign of "Yummy Burger n' Soda." "Couple of things there. One, I don't believe that's proper grammar. Two, you must learn not to rely on others when things start to get difficult. Hopefully, one day, I won't be there to help you through things. "And yet," Atsushi grumbled, "You always get me or Juni'chiro to do your paperwork for you!" "Well of course. I can't possibly do it myself and, more importantly, I'm your senior, so you have to do whatever I say." "Forget it. Just bring my backup, Dazai. This isn't a normal robbery. Now I need to concentrate. "Don't toss it, Kuniki..." But Atsushi tossed his earpiece to the side fading out Dazai's voice. As he looked up, another sign came barreling toward him. All Atsushi could see before the sign impacted was an animated man happily advertising that toiletries were half off at Kimi's Convenience Store." His vision went black from pain. He couldn't feel his lower body distinctly anymore. All he felt was a stabbing, hot pain, like someone had put superheated knifes into his flesh. Suddenly, across his vision, a golden butterfly flew across. The next thing he knew, all the pain went away. He eyes slowly regained their sight, and he could see a smiling face of a young, blonde man who had the sign, which had been crushing Atsushi's legs, held above his head with only one hand. "Hey there, Atsushi! Rough night? Man, this city stuff is so durable." Kenji Miyazawa, member of the Armed Detective Agency, and completely oblivious to how the real world works. Standing behind Kenji was a tall woman, professionally dressed, rubbing the temple of her head as if she had a headache. "Doctor Yosano!" Atsushi exclaimed as he jumped up, "Thank you so much for saving me." Dr. Yosano Akiko, member of the Armed Detective Agency, and currently fighting a hangover. Yosano groaned, "Whatever. Kenji, please go pulverize whatever did this so I can go home and rest. "Roger, ma'am," Kenji saluted and dropped the sign safely to the side, turning to face the one responsible. It was humanoid. Nearly nine feet tall and pale. It wore a white linen cloth around its waist like some sort of kilt. Its whole body was muscular. It was bald and had black, beady eyes like an insect. Its teeth were massive, like the jaws of sharks they show at aquariums. All completely exposed and unnaturally large. It had long nails on its fingers and toes. Tied to its kilt was a sack cloth bag with various stolen goods from jewelry stores it had broken into. It made no noise and was steadily walking toward the group. "Wow," Kenji chuckled, "Now that's scary looking. City people sure are astounding." Yosano grabbed his shoulder, "Listen Kenji. Whatever that thing is, I doubt it's human, so don't hold back." You got it ma'am" Kenji sprinted toward the monster, who in turn started barreling towards him. Their fists both collided, but Kenji's swing was true, knocking the creature back several yards. The monster smashed into the side of another store but slowly began to rise from the rubble and stand up, in spite of the fact that its entire fist had been blown off. The stub where its hand had been began to bubble with a pinkish-looking sludge, which started to retake the shape of its hand. "It looks like this one won't go done easy. Guess you gotta pummel it till its nothing, Kenji," Yosano smirked. Kenji jumped on top of the creature and began to punch it ferociously, for thirty minutes straight. It was one of the few times Atsushi had ever seen Kenji's smile waver. Such was the ferocity of the attack. Finally, when no trace of regrowth coming from the mess that was once the monster, Kenji slowly got up and started to trudge back. "Let's go to the agency, everyone. I'm tired." Yosano put her arm around him, " I know, but where is the bag of stolen good that thing had?" They all looked up and saw a small man start to run with something in his arms. "You both stay here," Yosano grinned maniacally, " The doctor must have a word with her patient." She threw one of her scalpels with perfect precision right into the man's leg, who went down hard. The sack flew off on the sidewalk. Yosano ran up to the man and grabbed his collar as she started to yell at him. "What was that thing?! Who gave to you?!" The man was in his late twenties, with black hair, and was trembling terribly. "Pl...pl... please don't hurt me! I'm a...I'm just supposed to collect the bag. Please don't h..." The man was cut off when a piece of sludge, the size of a small eel, zoomed up his body and down his throat. The man began to choke violently. Yosano used her special ability, Thou Shalt Not Die , when he was near death, but it didn't work. The man continued to suffocate. Eventually, his lifeless body slumped into Yosano's arms. When she turned to where the bag had been only moments before, she saw that it was missing. She threw the corpse of the man on top of her shoulder and began to walk back towards Atsushi and Kenji.