▪in which nothing is as it seems▪
《 they say the loveliest angels make
the cruelest demons
and my darling
you were so kind and beautiful
before the dragged you to
Hell.
your fall was no accident.
you were chosen for the
...
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A long sigh escaped the former mafioso's lips.
It was one of those nights where the thought of going back home to an empty, cold house, didn't seem too appealing. One of those nights where the past he had carefully hidden, oh so carefully setting it back inside of one of the dark corners of his mind caught up to him. One of those nights where a tantalizing question ran over and over again in his mind, no matter how hard he tried to elude it by drinking away his sorrows.
He had followed his last wish, listened to the words of his dying friend. Be on the side that saves people. Did he make the right decision? What if he was wrong? What if there truly was no hope for him? What if?
Questions swirled inside his head as he absentmindedly ran a slender finger around the half-emptied glass of liquor set in front of him. Inside his breast pocket laid an old photograph, taken four years ago in this very place on his request, for he feared that something was going to happen. As always, he was right. How he wished that, for once, he was wrong. That, for once, his predictions did not come to happen, and that it wouldn't matter, for everything would be alright.
An old photograph, taken at much simpler times, but much darker. Or was it? At least, back in the days, when he was an executive, he did not have to fake his personality, putting on a cheerful façade for... for what? To avoid scaring away the few people he took a liking to? To avoid losing friends once more?
He had friends, once. Back then. And now they were gone, both in a very different way, for one left this world and the other revealed his true nature.
And, once more, he was alone.
He could still picture Odasaku on his right, listening to him with a gentle look on his face, sipping his liquor. Any moment now, Ango would enter the bar and sit on his left, an amused yet annoyed glint in his eyes as he scolded them before ordering "the usual". Any moment now...
The sound of soft footsteps descending the stairs startled him. A customer? At this hour? He turned towards the staircase to see a young woman making her way towards the counter, the edges of her scarf swaying behind her.
His eyes widened in surprise as she took place on a barstool next to him, on his right, crossing one long leg clod in a prussian blue suit over the other in a gesture full of such fluidity it hurt. A scarf hung loosely around her neck, the deep scarlet fabric high enough to only display a small patch of pale skin. Deft fingers covered by crimson leather wrapped around the glass of liquor she had ordered in a soft, calm voice.
When he found his voice again, the only words that came to his mind were:
"Your beauty resemble those of the most delicate flower I have ever seen. Would you do me the honour of committing a double suicide with me?"
She looked at him in complete and utter disbelief, eyes widening in surprise for a split second. Then, she laughed, the soft sound filling the otherwise silent room in an airy breath, although there was something else to it he couldn't quite put his finger on.
"Oh dear," she said, taking a sip of her drink. "I am afraid this is an offer I cannot accept. After all, I only have one life, and I intend to enjoy every single moment I must spend on this world. Though, I admit it would be easier if I had a job."
He stared at her, watching as she set back her drink on the counter. There was something unnerving about her, something he couldn't quite wrap his mind around. Somehow, he knew there was more to her than what she appeared to be. More to her than the elegant woman peacefully enjoying the calm atmosphere of the room. And, somehow, there was something awfully familiar about this slender silhouette, as if he had once crossed her path in a dark hallway without noticing her and now remembered her.
Dazai took a split-second decision, one that would change the course of his life radically.
"Well, miss, we are currently looking for new members. Would you be interested in joining the Armed Detective Agency?"
