You Deserve Better (Osamu Dazai x Reader)

Chapter 9: Attack of the Porcelain Dolls

-Two Months Later-

"Come on, you see him every day, just tell him!" Bones urged me. "What's the worst that can happen?"

"Uh, let's see," I sarcastically stated. "He could say that he doesn't see me the same, then I'd be stuck working with him, awkwardly, for the rest of my life."

"Oh, you got me there."

"What're you two talking about?" The boy, who we were just talking about, asked from behind me.

"Dazai!?" I jumped up, a bit startled. "What're you doing here?"

"Trying to find you two of course." He exhaled sharply, flicking my forehead. "Mori wants to see all three of us and neither of you were answering your phones."

I pulled out my phone from the pocket of my coat to check it. Three missed calls and nine unread messages. Oopsies.

"Sorry, I must've had my ringer off," I chuckled, nervously.

"Whatever let's go." Gripping my hand firmly, Dazai pulled me along while Bones trailed behind us.

From the corner of my eye, I caught my best friend smirking. What a situation to be in.

-In Mori's Office-

From behind his dark oak desk, Mori frowned. "Nice to finally see you two." 

"My apologies, Boss. I must've forgotten to turn my ringer back on after class."

"It's fine, at least you're here now." He stood up, walking to us three. "Another attempt on my life was made today. This time, I almost got mauled by a doll."

"You mean a dog?" Bones corrected him.

"No, a doll. A porcelain one to be specific."

"So, an ability user." Dazai chimed in.

"Precisely."

"What's so dangerous about a doll?" I questioned.

"Earlier this morning, I decided to take my dear Elise out to do some dress shopping with her," Mori explained. "As I was about to exit the car, a porcelain doll flew at me, knocking me back into my own vehicle. The doll snapped part of its arm off, using it as a knife." He pointed to the bandage on his cheek. "As you can see here, it got me."

Bones and I stifled our laughs. I honestly don't understand how Dazai's keeping a straight face right now.

"So, you want us to find and kill this ability user, right?" Dazai asked.

"Yes, and I want you three to use me as bait."

"What?!" The three of us all exchanged confused glances.

"Isn't the point of going after this guy to make sure you don't get killed?" I questioned. "Putting you in harm's way defeats the purpose."

"Actually, it's a solid plan," the bandaged boy countered. "They're after the Boss, so it will be easier to catch them when they make their next move."

-In the Shopping District-

Choosing the shopping center as a vantage point to observe Mori was ill-advised. The walkway teemed with thousands, obscuring our view of the boss. Dazai and I trailed behind Mori and Elise at a distance, while Bones concealed herself within his shadow.

"I get that Mori wanted to be out in public, but was this the best choice?" I thought out loud to my partner. "There's so many people."

"You're right," he agreed. "It's even harder, not knowing anything about this person besides the fact that they launch dolls at people."

I chuckled, continuing to watch for the gifted. "It's kinda funny to be honest."

"I know, I can't believe I missed the first attack."

We walked side by side in peaceful quietude, observing Elise scold Mori for leading her into numerous dress shops and bypassing the candy stores. This continued until our attention was captured by a young woman, seemingly in her early twenties. Adorned in a black and red Lolita dress, she clutched a porcelain doll with a chipped face. Stationed on the second-floor balcony, her intense stare fixed upon the Boss. She stands out too much to be an assassin.

Dazai raised his voice, his gaze fixed on the same individual that had captured my attention. "You see her too?" 

"Yeah, let's go."

After alerting Bones and Mori with a swift phone call, I blended into the crowd with Dazai and we made our way to the staircase. She seemed to have spotted us changing course, prompting her to start running.

***

We nearly caught up to her after pursuing her beyond the shopping district. We were roughly three buildings behind her.

"Go away!" She let out a shriek, then tore the head from her doll and hurled it towards us.

Inside of the doll head was... a bomb! With little time to react, I kicked the grenade-stuffed head back towards the assailant, then quickly took cover behind some old trash bins alongside Dazai.

*Boom* 

The grenade exploded, and we observed the flames and billowing smoke release into the air. That wasn't enough to take her down? The girl narrowly escaped the explosion, clutching her headless doll before dashing away once more.

"You alright?" Dazai asked, taking my hand and pulling me up.

"Yeah, thank you." I gave him a reassuring grin, before we continued our wild goose chase.

As much as I want to be all giddy about what just happened, I can't. This job is my number one priority.

"I told you to stop following me!" The woman sounded as if she were throwing a tantrum.

She snapped a limb from the doll and hurled it towards us. I managed to dodge it, but it circled back and embedded itself in my right thigh. Shit! Losing my balance, I tumbled down. I'm not gonna let this bitch best me! The blood that seeped from the hole in my thigh twisted itself into a rope with a spear-like tip on the end. Racing at the speed of a bullet train, it sank into her back, most likely severing her T-11 and T-12 vertebrae, before ripping through her stomach.

"Agh!" She let out a shriek and collapsed to the ground.

Dazai took control, seizing her wrist to prevent her from using her ability. It was pretty pointless though, since she was unconscious and almost dead. 

From the shadow cast by the building, Bones emerged, walked over to the doll, and picked it up.

"What the fuck exploded?" She asked, examining the doll.

"It was the head." I explained, pulling myself to sit up, while my leg stitched itself back together. "There was a grenade in it."

"Oh, maybe I should try fitting a dynamite stick in one of my plastic sharks." Bones grinned.

"How's your leg?" Dazai asked, kneeling down next to me.

"Luckily, the doll arm went through clean, but it should take at least a few more minutes for it to fully close."

"I see." The boy stood up, turning to Bones. "Do you mind carrying her? I would, but I don't want to nullify her ability."

"Aye aye, Captain."