No Longer Human

Five

       Hello! We're back again with a new chapter, to summarize what's going on with this book's update schedule, I am not abandoning it, but as for when the next update will be er, . . . . yes. Sometime in the near future... ish. My original aim was to update this once a month, but that fell through, I still will be updating this but (like Crack Theories), it will be very irregular when updates come. Thanks for sticking with me for this and enjoy,

     -T.A.L.A.

Dazai sat attempting to return the flat stare- or really death glare- he was being given by the less easily flustered white haired were-tiger.  Maybe this was hell and his attempt actually had worked- logically speaking that would make more sense really, but all the pieces were there, he'd even had suspicions. Having those vague thoughts confirmed was something else though.

The stern eyed man spoke, not once glancing away as he did so, "You can see why then Dazai-san,that I cannot simply let you go free."

It was not a question and he had no doubts that, unlike the younger were-tiger that stood quaking in the doorway behind him, the elder had no problems with the threat. He could and would back it up.

Dazai nodded once in an uncharacteristic display of seriousness that was utterly ruined by the light words accompanying it, "That goes without saying, a hidden forest of mythical creatures would be something wouldn't it?" He wouldn't reveal the location, but he had no intention to stay either. When the itch to leave started up again, he would be gone first chance he got. And he'd like to see them try and keep him there.

And that was about it. How odd really, what should have been a life shattering conversation was reduced to what was really a simple five minute explanation- half of which was points of stiff silence being punctuated by the crystal stare of steel blue eyes as the elder were-tiger attempted to, and mostly succeeded in, staring him into submission. Said elder were-tiger, Fukuzawa, who was apparently the lord of the mythical being's portion of the forest. (Dazai spared a moment to internally laugh because that made Atsushi- Atsushi- a prince.)

     And ruling the forest was a pretty big deal as it had become one of the few remaining sanctuaries- of which there were seven- that were still under mythical-control from when humans had turned on the mythical and slaughtered them as evil spirits, demons, witches, or some other claim.  Ironically a historical event which the humans didn't even remember.

       To make matters more laughable, the second of the seven sanctuaries was directly next door and a third was located directly next to that. For all their enhanced, senses, strength, speed, and whatever else they had going for them they had apparently lost pathetically. Considering Dazai safely assumed one of those fighters had been Fukuzawa himself, he wouldn't mention that though- he might have an occasional death wish, but he had no interest in pain and nothing in those crystal eyes, dark in all but color, screamed push over.

     "Come on, come on," He was dragged from his thoughts and from the shared space as Ranpo began tugging towards the cave entrance, "It took you long enough already."

      "I was only in there for ten minutes at most, you aren't usually attentive are you?"

       He was granted a look that told him exactly what the other thought of the statement- they hadn't meant inside the office, they meant figuring it out, and here Dazai had thought he'd made the earth shattering realization fairly early for a completely sane person- before they continued, "Yeah, well that's for-ev-er. Come on, now we can show you around the forest."