Bound by Obsession

Part 20

The room was tense, filled with a thick silence as the members of the Port Mafia and the Armed Detective Agency sat across from one another, a rare collaboration, but one brought together by an urgent need—Dazai Osamu was missing. The ADA members exchanged uneasy glances, while the Port Mafia executives sat in stony silence. Neither side trusted the other completely, but their shared concern for Dazai brought them to this table.

Mori Ougai leaned back in his chair, his gaze shifting between the ADA members and his own. He hadn't spoken much yet, allowing the tension to simmer. Atsushi, who sat beside Kunikida, clenched his fists under the table. His mind raced, trying to piece together where Dazai could have gone, what had happened to him. Beside him, Kunikida's face was tight with frustration, his glasses gleaming as he adjusted them.

"We don't have any leads," Kunikida finally said, his voice heavy with frustration. "It's been two days, and no one knows where Dazai is. No communication, no clues left behind. We're running out of time."

Chuuya, seated across from Kunikida, scowled, leaning forward with his elbows on the table. "Tch. Of course, he didn't leave any clues. That's Dazai for you—always disappearing when it's least convenient."

A sense of bitterness crept into his voice, and the ADA members noticed it. Chuuya was usually the most vocal when it came to Dazai, but today there was an edge of concern in his frustration. No one could quite tell if it was due to worry or anger.

"Dazai knows how to hide," Ranpo chimed in, his hat tipped lazily over his face. "But this is different, isn't it? He hasn't just disappeared. He's been taken."

Yosano crossed her arms, frowning. "Taken by who, though? Fyodor?"

The mention of Fyodor's name sent a ripple of unease through the room. Even the Port Mafia members exchanged wary glances. Fyodor was a dangerous player, and his involvement would complicate things even further. If he had Dazai, the situation could become far more dire than any of them wanted to admit.

"I don't like this," Kunikida said, his voice tight. "We should've seen this coming."

Beside him, Atsushi tensed, unable to shake the feeling that something more sinister was at play. "We need to act fast," he added quietly. "If Fyodor really has Dazai, we can't afford to waste any more time."

Mori finally broke his silence, his voice cold and calculating. "Dazai is important to both of our organizations, though in different ways. If Fyodor has taken him, it's not without a reason. But we need to understand why before we make any rash decisions."

He glanced toward Chuuya, who was glaring at the table. Everyone knew that out of all the people in the room, Chuuya was the most personally affected by Dazai's disappearance, though he would never admit it. Soukoku was a partnership bound by more than just missions—it was years of history, hatred, and, whether Chuuya wanted to admit it or not, a deep connection.

"He's planning something," Chuuya said, his voice low. "Fyodor wouldn't take Dazai unless he had a bigger goal in mind. We can't wait around. I'll go after him myself if I have to."

Kunikida's eyes narrowed at Chuuya's words. "You're not going alone. This isn't just a Port Mafia issue—Dazai's part of the ADA too. We're working together on this."

Chuuya scoffed. "Like hell I need your help to find him."

"We're not going to waste time fighting over who gets to play the hero," Mori cut in smoothly, though his gaze lingered on Chuuya, as if daring him to push further. "The fact is, Fyodor's plans involve both the ADA and the Port Mafia. We have to think strategically."

"And what do you propose?" Kunikida asked, skepticism lacing his voice. He wasn't particularly fond of Mori's manipulative nature, and any plan Mori came up with would no doubt benefit the Port Mafia in some way.

Mori smiled darkly. "Soukoku. We send in Chuuya."

The room fell silent as everyone processed Mori's words. Chuuya's scowl deepened, but he didn't object. It wasn't the first time the Port Mafia had used Soukoku to deal with dangerous situations, and it wouldn't be the last. But this time was different—this time, the target was Dazai.

"He's probably the only one who can match Dazai in a fight, should things turn hostile," Mori continued, his gaze shifting from Kunikida to Ranpo and then to Chuuya. "And given their... history, Chuuya may be able to get closer to him than anyone else."

Chuuya gritted his teeth but didn't argue. He knew Mori was right. If anyone could deal with Dazai, it was him. But it wasn't just about fighting or retrieving Dazai—it was about facing Fyodor too, and Chuuya knew that would complicate things even further.

Kunikida, though clearly irritated by the suggestion, nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But we're sending ADA members along as well. Dazai may be able to manipulate Chuuya, but he won't be able to outsmart all of us."

A tense silence followed as the room absorbed the plan. There was no easy way to handle this situation, and every move would be risky. The stakes were higher than they had ever been before. Dazai's life, as well as the balance of power between their organizations, was at risk.

Atsushi looked over at Chuuya, noting the hardened expression on his face. No matter how much Chuuya acted like he hated Dazai, there was no denying the bond they shared. It wasn't just about rescuing a colleague or even a friend—it was about something deeper, something Atsushi didn't quite understand but could feel lingering beneath the surface.

Finally, Mori stood up, smoothing his jacket as he looked around the room. "Prepare yourselves. We're moving soon."

As the meeting adjourned, the members of both the ADA and the Port Mafia exchanged uneasy glances. They were all thinking the same thing—no one knew where Dazai was or what state they would find him in. But one thing was certain: this wasn't just about rescuing Dazai anymore. Fyodor's involvement had changed everything, and the true battle was only just beginning.

Chuuya, lingering for a moment, clenched his fists. "Dazai," he muttered under his breath. Don't you dare get yourself killed before I find you.