Chapter Text
0-5yo
None of them are quite sure how it happened, but one moment they were all going about their normal, everyday activities, and the next, they were knocked out, only to wake up in an empty void with only a white floor visible underneath them. And by 'them', I mean practically the entire Gifted part of the Armed Detective Agency plus Ranpo but, of course, sans Dazai, while on the other side we had the Port Mafia Boss, his two redhead Executives, the Black Lizard commander and leaders plus Akutagawa and Higuchi. Of course, both sides turned hostile when they saw each other, only to discover none of their Abilities worked and they had no weapons on them. Not even lock-picking tools Mori usually still carried on him in case he ever needed to break into or out of something.
"Alright, what did you Agency fuckers fuck up this time?" Chuuya was the first to ask and the detectives were all greatly offended by the accusation.
"Actually, we're all at fault, somewhat," Ranpo, having understood part of what happened, explained before a fistfight might begin. "It seems we've all somehow pissed off an Ability user, or we were otherwise involved to make us targets for their Ability. What it does and how we got snared in it, though, is currently beyond me, as I'm pretty sure only Yosano and I were still in the office. Even Fukuzawa-shachou was out at a meeting."
Chuuya grunted. "I was on a plane for Hong Kong."
"So it's definitely not a spatial type of trap," Mori concluded. "My best guess is that whoever trapped us sprang the trap on all of us individually, probably through direct contact or proximity."
"I was on a plane to Hong Kong, Boss," repeated Chuuya. "One of our own private jets and only with the pilots and a stewardess that I've been around a thousand times."
"Then we must have a mark of some sort on us," Kunikida said, remembering the numeric Ability user with a frown and how he'd said that his targets could be on the other side of the world and he'd still be able to fling them around and kill them. At his suggestion, everyone started looking over their bodies to find a mark and there was, indeed, one, a little stylized whirlpool design, mostly hidden by their clothes and thankfully in no intimate places. It seems they were there for a while and were only now activated.
Whoever had gone out of their way to capture them had really been patiently waiting to catch them all under their influence before they made a move.
"So, now what?" Atsushi asked hesitantly, looking around the void. "Are we supposed to fight our way out? Fight each other?"
"None of our Abilities work here, jinko," reminded Akutagawa in a manner that implied he thought the younger man to be incredibly dumb. "And all of our weapons and tools are missing, too."
"At this point we'll just have to hope Dazai notices our disappearance and figures out what happened," Yosano said with a sigh. "But given he's disappeared from the office to go do whatever it is he does when he's not annoying us or trying to commit suicide in silly ways, it might take him a while."
"Dazai-san was meant to meet with me," Hirotsu interjected, drawing everyone's attention. "He'll notice sooner rather than later."
"In the meantime, we, what? Wait?" Tachihara asked with disdain at the very idea, but it was as though that was the key, because suddenly the void was filled with a whirlwind of colors that made everyone but Chuuya - who was used to flying and being flung through the air - dizzy, before it all settled down once again.
Only they were no longer in a void.
Rather, they were in what looked like a cramped room made of stone blocks, with no windows, little to no furniture and only one exit, a door that seemed to be leading out into a very long, narrow and dark hallway built in the same manner as the room. The room was lit up with a couple of candles and something glowing a bright, white light, illuminating a small bookshelf, an even smaller desk with a creaky old chair that looked second away from rotting out of existence, some sort of pedestal with a glass lid resting on it and a small cot pushed up against one of the dusty walls.
"What the hell?" Tachihara breathed, glancing around the room, looking for a threat with Gin against his back, a formation the two were very familiar and comfortable with, especially with Hirotsu near, too. Higuchi fell into a deferential but protective stance near Akutagawa, who was more focused on matching Atsushi, who was also on high alert and had Kyouka standing protectively in front of him. Kouyou took a stance between her former charge and her Boss, while said Boss automatically fell into formation with Fukuzawa, both of them protecting each other's back on practically instinct while also looking out for their subordinates. Chuuya stood alone, still the biggest threat in the room even without weapons and Abilities, while the Armed Detective Agency did their best to guard each other's weak spots while also protecting Ranpo and Naomi, the two least likely to hold their own in a fight.
"Where are we?" Naomi asked, looking around the room, too, over her brother's shoulder, for once not taking the opportunity to grope him just because they were in close proximity to each other.
"Natsume-sensei?" Fukuzawa exclaimed, startled, and everyone turned to look in his direction, which is where the intense, white glow was coming from.
The source of it seemed to be a blank book a man in his late thirties or early forties was writing in. He had a hat resting on the desk beside him, revealing his three-colored hair. He was fairly tall and dressed like a classic English gentleman, yet the shape of his features screamed Asian. A fancy walking stick rested against the desk.
What was most notable was that, for each word written into the book, seemingly, matching characters made of white light burst to life in strings around him.
One did not need to be a genius to realize it: this was the Book. The one Fitzgerald was ready to burn Yokohama to the ground for. The Book capable of making anything written in it reality. They were finally seeing it!
"I should have guessed Natsume-sensei had it this whole time," Mori said derisively.
"But why is the Ability showing us this?" Kouyou asked, eyes narrowed on the man. "I doubt we've actually been teleported, otherwise he would have surely noticed us by now."
To test her theory, Higuchi bravely approached the writing man and tapped him on the shoulder. Or, well, she attempted to, only to have her hand go right through him. Her eyes widened and Higuchi stepped back.
"It's just as I thought," Ranpo said contemplatively. "We're stuck in an illusionary world similar to Tanizaki's Light Snow Ability. We can only watch, not interact."
"But what are we watching?" Yosano asks and Fukuzawa was the one to answer, with an agreeing nod from Mori.
"This has to be the past. Natsume-sensei looks very young here, even younger than when he first reached out to Mori-sensei and me."
"So, more than eleven years, right?" The female doctor asked and Fukuzawa nodded.
"If I had to take a guess," Hirotsu spoke up with a thoughtful hum. "I'd say this was ... at least twenty years ago, during the old Boss' reign, before he fell to his own madness."
"Twenty years ago?!" Half of those in attendance exclaimed and the oldest one there nodded.
"Yes, judging from the lack of facial hair and the hairstyle he currently has, all slicked back. It would seem that he'd just inherited guarding the Book from sensei, too."
"Hirotsu-san, you know Natsume-sensei?" Mori asked with narrowed eyes and Hirotsu nodded with a sigh.
"Yes. I believe this might show us more, so I don't need to explain? If it doesn't, I'll explain anyways, but know that Soseki-san and I have all but cut contact after I joined the Port Mafia, before your time, Boss. I haven't seen Soseki-san since the Mafia estate up in Aomori burned down under mysterious circumstances."
"I'll hold you to your word, Hirotsu-san. I guess that, for now, we can only sit back and watch."
"I still see no significance to this," admitted Higuchi as they watched Natsume write and write and write until he finally stopped. With a deep breath, he put down his fountain pen, let the words dry a bit and then closed the Book. With a sudden, bright flash and a boom not unlike thunder following lightning, something almost visibly shifted. Not in the room, but seemingly in the world in general.
"What did he change in the fabric of reality of our world, I wonder," Akutagawa mused, narrow eyes watching as the man put the now gently glowing Book back under the glass lid on the pedestal, locking it and then turning to leave. Instead of getting an answer to his inquiry, the world shifted again and someone complained about possibly puking from the vertigo they got from all the colors. When the world settled again, it was to Natsume casually strolling down the halls of what looked like the headquarters of the Special Division for Unusual Abilities when his phone started ringing.
"Wha?" More than one person wondered as he paused, shuffling some papers into only one hand so he could easily answer the device.
"Hello, Gen'emon-bozo, to what do I owe the pleasure, my young friend?"
Half of the Port Mafia's eyes went as wide as dinner plates. Fukuzawa and Ranpo also stiffened, recognizing the name. "Gen'emon? As in, Tsushima Gen'emon?" Fukuzawa asked and Hirotsu nodded.
"The previously youngest Port Mafia Executive to be promoted, at only eighteen?" Kouyou asked to confirm it and Hitorsu nodded again.
"So that's the guy whose record shitty Dazai broke?" Chuuya asked and Hirotsu sighed with yet another nod.
"Yes, to answer all your questions before you may ask them. Yes, Soseki-san knew Gen'emon-sama. I never personally met the man, but Soseki-san was apparently very close to him. Yes, Gen'emon-sama was the previously youngest Executive. He was considered a born mafioso, despite coming from nothing. He was promoted for being the most efficient subordinate of his generation. He was often hailed as a ghost in black. He did not have a single failed mission on his resume when he retired early to start a family with another high ranking mafioso. Well, Tsushima Tane-dono was hardly a mafioso, other than through birthright. It was literally in her blood. She was, after all, the old Boss' favorite daughter. She wasn't much interested in the Port Mafia's business and instead pleaded with her father to let her live a normal life with her lover, or so the rumors say. I wasn't around for that; I never met her, either. She and Gen'emon-sama died fifteen years ago, I believe."
"I would have never thought Natsume-sensei knew such people," Fukuzawa commented, not sure how to react. Hell, even Mori was stumped, if he was being honest. He had thought he was the first person of a questionable morality Natsume approached, but it seems that he was wrong.
"Natsume-senpai!" A male voice said through the speaker, drawing everyone's attention back to the scene playing out in front of them. "You wouldn't believe what I'm about to tell you!"
"Oh? Why don't you tell me anyway and I'll decide whether I believe it or not, hmm?" The three-color-haired man teased, fondness clear in his tone.
"Tane's pregnant! We're going to have a baby!" Gen'emon cheered and Natsume lit up before their eyes like a Christmas tree.
"Really? Are you certain? Do you need me to find you the best doctors in the country to monitor the pregnancy? I know and Ability user-"
"Yes, we're sure, Natsume-senpai," came the overjoyed but also amused reply. "Tane is two months along and the doctors say this one has a high rate of actually making it! I can't believe this miracle! Just when we were about to give up, too ... I don't know what either of us has done in this or any other past life for karma to bless us this much, but I will make certain that I repay whatever higher power gave us this."
"That's wonderful, Gen'emon-bozo. I'm really happy for you. Congratulations! May your child arrive healthy and energetic!" Natsume said sincerely, so sincerely that, with the little given context they received from this conversation alone, it moved the hearts of all watching. The conversation continued for a good twenty minutes, with Natsume offering all sorts of aid and help, asking questions about the mother and when the baby would be due before he had to end the call since he was, apparently, already ten minutes late for a meeting. Kunikida grumbled about the tardiness, but it was halfhearted, heart still moved by the exchange.
As his colleagues droned on and on about one thing or another during the meeting, Natsume was too busy looking up baby things he could buy for his young friend. He sighed happily and with heavy relief. "I'm just glad that it worked."
"What was that, Natsume-san?"
"Nothing, just thinking to myself. Carry on."
The scene ended there and the world was a whirl of colors one more, but the watching organizations had much more pressing matters to focus on than the vertigo.
Kyouka was the one who made the obvious conclusion that they've all come to. "He used the Book to enable his friend to have a child after several difficulties and possible miscarriages."
"Did you know anything about this?" Mori asked the Black Lizard commander, who could only shake his head. Mori hummed. "Natsume-sensei is a far too cautious and careful individual. To think he would resort to using an artifact we all know so little about ... It doesn't seem logical."
"Not everything is based on logic, Ougai-dono," the female Executive said with a sigh.
"I see no reason why we're watching all of this, though," Kenji commented.
"Maybe to learn more about the Book?"
"That's both the smartest and dumbest suggestion you've ever had, jinko."
"Oh, shut up!"
"It's starting again," Gin spoke, the sound of her voice startling everyone to full attention just as the colors settled into what looked like a private hospital room. Natsume was nowhere in sight this time, instead they were watching two people coo over a bundle of blankets hiding, no doubt, a baby.
The woman on the bed had curly chocolate brown hair to her shoulders, pale skin and a delicate face. They couldn't see much of her body, since she was under a blanket on the bed, but she looked soft and delicate all over. She was undoubtedly beautiful, with eyes the color of bright honey bathed in sunlight, looking more yellow than amber, framed by long, thick eyelashes, a straight, petite nose and full, pink lips. She was expertly holding a baby in her arms while the man who was with her hovered over the both of them, protective and possessive in his affection.
For the man, it was easy to see he was rather tall, probably around Kunikida's height, and he had short but lush hair as dark as a raven's wing. His skin was also pale, though perhaps half a shade darker than the woman's, he had broad shoulders that were well defined by the dark navy suit he wore, all long limbs and lean muscles. He was also incredibly handsome. He had high cheekbones, a sharp jaw, clear skin and rather striking eyes that looked almost red in certain lighting. More maroon, though, but it fit him perfectly. His smile was gentle and strangely nostalgic, like they've seen it somewhere before.
"He's beautiful. You did so good, Tane."
"Oh," the resident gravity manipulator mused. "He's Gen'emon." Blue eyes couldn't seem to leave the Tsushima couple, something within him reacting to the two. They seemed ... oddly familiar. Now, Chuuya knew for a fact that he's never met either of these people - it sounds like they perished before he even left the lab - but there was just something about them that tickled his mind in the most annoying way.
"What do you want to name him?" Tane asked in a beautiful, soothing, silky voice, making everyone wonder if she'd ever considered becoming a singer.
"Didn't we already agree on Shuuji?"
Kouyou balked. "The missing heir?"
Hirotsu nodded.
"Well, yes, but do you still want that?" The mother asked and Gen'emon looked down at his son, apparently. He smiled and nodded his head.
"Tsushima Shuuji does have a very nice ring to it, does it not?"
Tane giggled, bringing her child closer and nuzzling him. "Ah, I really couldn't care less. I'm just glad he's here and healthy, in my arms." Her eyes started overflowing with tears but a beautiful smile remained on her lips. "Don't you worry, baby. Kaa-chan and Tou-chan will love you forever and never let anything happen to you." When she opened her eyes, there was a certain gleam in them that had the Agency flinching away in shock while some members of the Mafia had to do a double take, thinking that, for a moment, they were seeing something else entirely.
"There's Soseki-san," Hirotsu murmured, making everyone follow his line of sight where they saw a calico cat watching everything happen from outside the window, feline eyes glinting with an intelligence no normal animal could possibly possess.
"That all but confirms out theory," Ranpo grunted.
"Is it me or do the Tsushimas look familiar?" Atsushi mused and Chuuya gave an agreeing grunt, glad he wasn't the only one that felt that way.
"Now that you mention it," Gin started but trailed off as the world shifted again. Tachihara groaned, already sick of the shifting colors.
"Here we go again," Naomi chirped, actually enjoying things so far, even if she was confused.
This time, the world stopped in what appeared to be a rich, private library. Each long wall was lined with mahogany shelves full of books or other trinkets that gave the room some personality. The books varied in genres and even languages and there was even a small junior section that seemed fairly untouched compared to other sections, where you could see books missing from their places on the shelves. The room was clearly kept in great condition, not a speck of dust on any surface. The floor was covered in a beige, fluffy rug almost all around, except under the windows and the wall where a huge door led outside into a stylish hallway with a dark wood, polished floor. Throughout the room, there were comfy places to just settle down and read, including something of a work desk with a very comfortable looking office chair, a couch with matching armchairs and a low table and even a couple of beanbags in corners. There was even something of a pillow spread near the desk, which, combined with the carpet, looked like a rather cozy place to spread out and read. One wall of the library was covered with floor to ceiling windows with only one pillar seemingly separating the room in two, that little bit of wall covered in what looked like family photos arranged erratically, unlike the precision of the rest of the room.
None of them could really pay much attention to such a small detail when, in the two armchairs, facing each other, sat a slightly older Gen'emon and a child that couldn't possibly be older than five, a chess board in between them on the low table, hot cocoa in matching, silly mugs next to them, along with claimed chess pieces. They were clearly deep into the game, only a few chess pieces on either side remaining, and both wore matching thinking expressions, that is to say, surprisingly blank and focused, not giving anything away. Gen'emon was dressed much more causally now than the last time they saw him, in some slacks and a casual sweater that still looked a bit too elegant to be something anyone from the Agency could really afford, and he even had a pair of reading glasses over his nose.
Yosano gave a whistle. "Well, damn, if he didn't just turn me bi."
"Bestie, control yourself."
"You tell me that when you're not comparing him to Poe-kun, Ranpo."
"You're a lesbian?" Kouyou asked with far too much interest.
Chuuya couldn't even pay attention to his sister figure flirting with a prospective romantic interest, eyes glued to the boy sitting across from Gen'emon. He would recognize that curly brown hair anywhere, would know that empty look in those reddish brown eyes even if he didn't see them for a thousand years, would be unable to forget the confidence with which those fingers moved the Queen across the board.
"Checkmate," the little boy declared and Gen'emon laughed, delighted and too affectionate not to melt the audience as he stood up to scoop what must be his son into his arms.
"Look at you, my little genius! I just taught you how to play last month and this is already the third time in a row that you've beaten me!"
"Go, Shuuji-chan!" Cheered a female voice and they all turned to watch as Tane skipped into the room, joining in on cuddling the boy - Shuuji. Chuuya crumbled to the ground when he noticed the toddler flush a little in the cheeks at all that affection as his parents nuzzled their cheeks against his in between them, while the rest just cooed at the cute family scene.
Well, everyone besides Ranpo and Mori.
Ranpo, who just realized what Chuuya had, stood frozen and gaping at the child, not sure whether he was going crazy or not.
Mori, who had recognized the winning strategy as one a certain other person he was very familiar with tended to use against many chess opponents when he didn't feel like drawing out a game, turned to stare with disbelieving, doubtful eyes at the brunet child as well.
"Is it just me, or does Shuuji look familiar?" Kyouka mused, her own blue eyes narrowed in on Shuuji, taking in his features, trying to put the pieces together.
"Chuuya-san, are you okay?" Tachihara asked, having noticed his fellow redhead mafioso seemingly choking on all the cuteness overload.
"Mackerel," was all Chuuya managed to say, but only Tachihara heard him over all the girls - sans Kyouka, who was still busy with her new mystery, and Kouyou, who was doing it internally because she's too dignified to resort to something so silly - and Kenji cooing at the scene. Tachihara did not understand what a fish had to do with anything, but he had to turn his attention to an elderly gentleman entering the library as well not long after Tane and regretfully clearing his throat while the parents were praising their child for how smart he was.
"Tane-sama, your father has called. He is in the Aomori prefecture and will be coming to Kanagi after he finishes some business. He has stated a wish to dine with the family tonight."
Tane's and Gen'emon's faces immediately turned serious, Tane's eyes turning the slightest bit cold, something they were seeing from her for the first time. Actually, this was their first opportunity to really take her in. She was fairly tall for a woman, slim and pale, still as beautiful as the last time they saw her. However, there were dark circles under her eyes that didn't seem to be from a lack of sleep. In fact, she looked a bit sickly, if one were to know what to look for. She had a very thin waist and long legs, dressed in a winter dress, high leg warmers and wool booties to walk around the house in. Her hair was longer this time, visible even when it was tied in a braid, but some loose strands still framed her delicate face, covered with minimal make-up.
"Did he state his purpose for such a sudden visitation, Matsuki-san?" The lady of the house - probably a manor, considering they had their own private library - asked tersely and the man - a servant, perhaps? - sighed, making a face to suggest he did not like it any more than the parents will.
"He supposedly wishes to officially meet Shuuji-kun."
Tane's face turned even more coldly suspicious while Gen'emon tried to reassure her that it was just a visit, though he didn't sound overly sure of it, either. Shuuji just watched them with a curious expression but said nothing Finally, Tane gave in with a sigh. "Very well. Then let us prepare for Otou-san's visit, shall we? Is he the only one who will be attending?"
"I think he mentioned your older brother being with him."
"Urh, I do not have the energy to deal with Onii-sama!"
The two organizations watched as the household prepared for visitors, stunned to see just how big it was and how many people worked there. At least thirty servants of all kinds worked at the manor and they rushed about exasperatedly at the unexpected visitors, as displeased by it as their employers. Tane continued complaining even as she fixed Gen'emon's tie or helped pick out what little Shuuji should wear. Said boy looked far too disinterested to be finally meeting some of his relatives. In fact, he once even voiced his desire to just go back to the library to read if his father was too busy for another game of chess.
Gen'emon sighed and tussled his son's hair. "Ah, Shuuji-chan, what I wouldn't do to just be able to relax with you all day so we can play as many games as you want. But your Ojii-san is a very important and busy person, yet he made the time to come visit us so he can finally properly meet you. We need to respect that, you know?"
Shuuji nodded, but he didn't seem convinced.
"Why does he look so cute in his little outfit but he acts so ... weird?" Higuchi commented, stuck between cooing at the adorable boy and feeling uneasy around him.
"Is it just me, or does Tane-sama act in a very peculiar manner?" Kouyou half asked to Hirotsu, who nodded with a contemplative look.
"What was the old Port Mafia Boss like?" Atsushi asked Kunikida instead of getting involved with the Mafia's discussion. Kunikida, however, had no answers to give.
Kouyou overheard and was more than glad to bash the old Boss. "He was a monster pretending at humanity," she said, not noticing how Chuuya winced at her wording, no matter how much he would agree. "Even before insanity took him, he was powerhungry and merciless, uncaring of what he had to do in order to get what he wants. He ruled with an iron fist and anyone who dared to stand against him would end up biting the curb before the sun set. He had several mistresses and plenty of children from them, though he was not above eliminating them if any of them so much as thought of dethroning him. Once madness took him, though, he truly became a nightmare that almost made Yokohama burn. He started useless conflicts and spent far too much resources on things that were pointless or impossible. Some even put the blame for the start of the Dragon Head conflict at his feet for the atmosphere he created, despite him being two years dead at that point. He was truly a vicious, heartless old man who only spread pain and misery."
"I'm afraid that's the most accurate description of the old Boss," Hirotsu said in agreement. "However, I must add that there is a reason why he went mad."
"You mean Tsushima Tane's death? He mumbled about it a lot once he couldn't get out of bed anymore," Mori hummed. "Some other things are finally making sense, too. He did seem to have perked up in the last couple of weeks before he succumbed to his disease-"
"You do know we were there when Dazai said you slit his throat, right?" Fukuzawa couldn't help but interject but Mori, for once, completely ignored him and continued talking as though he hadn't said anything.
"-and then he became more frantic to destroy any and all those who oppose the Port Mafia. I have a theory now as to why that was and I think that what we are seeing will finally explain it all."
The rest of the sped up time that the manor was preparing for the old Boss' arrival was spent in silent contemplation before time started moving normally again with the barking of a dog. Shuuji, who had been brought down to the foyer by his mother, made a face.
"Urgh, why is it so loud and annoying?"
Tane chuckled, squatting down in front of the littler brunet to adjust his collar and brush his bangs behind one ear,smiling at how handsome her little boy looked. "That's just how dogs are, Shuuji-chan~ Besides, you really should try being a bit more open to Chibi, you know? He really likes you."
"He's annoying and loud and barks at me whenever I go outside, not to mention he always tries to drag me everywhere by biting my clothes! He ruined my favorite shirt last month!"
"Wow, that's the most lively we've seen him so far," Naomi commented. "But why would he dislike dogs? Dogs are so cute!"
"I completely agree with him," Kyouka deadpanned, making almost everyone sweatdrop.
Akutagawa just nodded, making a face at the mere thought of a dog.
Chuuya, though, was glaring at the five year old like he had personally offended him. "Bastard."
"Now, now, Chuuya-san, we all know you like dogs, but don't hold it against a little kid," Tachihara teased, only to flinch back in surprise when Chuuya glared at him, too. "Geeze, okay, do whatever you want!"
"Like your Kaa-chan said, he's only trying to protect you," Gen'emon teased as he joined them. Then, all three Tsushimas became serious as a knock came to the door and Gen'emon walked over to let the guests in. "Welcome, Boss."
The head of the Tsushima family and the once Boss of the Port Mafia looked decidedly different now than when Chuuya had had the displeasure of seeing his reanimated corpse. He still had long, graying hair, but there was still some shades of amber mixed with gray, and he still had a beard, though it was much more precisely trimmed. He was still tall and skinny, but he didn't look frail and his yellowish eyes didn't seem crazed. Instead, there was an incredibly, surprisingly fond look on his face as he drew Gen'emon into a hug, berating him for being so formal with his father in law. When he was done with Gen'emon, he sauntered into the house with cheerily opened arms to draw Tane into a big hug, which she happily returned and even melted against, clearly happy to see her father despite her suspicions regarding his visit. Meanwhile, Gen'emon greeted the second guest, a man who much more resembled the old Boss than Tane, for all that they had the same eye color and curly hair, this man's almost black in shade.
He not so subtly sneered at Gen'emon. "How unbecoming of a Port Mafia Executive to dress so casually when meeting with the Boss."
Gen'emon did not raise to the bait. "Welcome, Onii-sama. We are glad to have you here."
Yosano and Ranpo cackled as Tane's older brother fumed and Gen'emon just smiled, not mentioning that he was a former Executive and that he had retired with the Boss' own blessing so he could make Tane happy living a normal, almost civilian life.
"Okay, I have to admit, I like his style," Tachihara said with a sharp grin.
Meanwhile, the old Boss had finally set his sights on little Shuuji and Tane moved to introduce them. "Shuuji-chan, this is my father, your grandfather. Why don't you say hello?"
"Hello," Shuuji did as instructed, giving a belayed bow, as though disinterested, and the old Boss' lips twitched up into a smile at how fearlessly the boy met his gaze. "And that over there is my stupid older brother, but you can ignore him." Shuuji did look over to said male, ran his gaze up and down, before nodding and doing as Tane said. Tane and the old Boss both burst out laughing as Tane's brother spluttered and Gen'emon just smiled.
"I'm not surprised he was a little shit even when he was a kid," Chuuya said with a snort, and this time people properly heard him, turning to look at him with arched eyebrows.
"You know this boy, Chuuya-san?" Akutagawa asked and Chuuya grinned, reaching up to roughly ruffle the man's hair, causing Akutagawa to glare.
"Oh, you're gonna freak out when you figure it out."
"So it's definitely-"
"Yup," Chuuya confirmed before Mori could finish his question. "I'd recognize him anywhere, anyhow, anywhen, Boss. It's definitely him."
"Well, that implies some very interesting things," the former doctor said in a tone that put Fukuzawa on edge, especially when Ranpo openly glared at him. Chuuya also eyed him warily but didn't say anything yet as the Tsushimas all migrated to the dinning room. Kenji, Atsushi, Kyouka, Higuchi and Tachihara all drolled as the food was laid out and even Ranpo had to take his focus away from glaring Mori to death in order to bemoan not getting to eat any of the sweets that came after a three courses to finish the meal.
"Is the kid not hungry?" Tanizaki asked, noticing how little the brunet had eaten. Shuuji was instead studying the way his uncle was glaring at his father and grandfather as the old Boss complained about Mafia business as of late. Tane, in turn, was alternatively glaring at her brother and her father or was cooingly trying to encourage Shuuji to eat more but didn't persist when it became clear he really couldn't.
"I think I'd eat until I burst, hungry or not," Atsushi said dreamily and Kyouka nodded, craving strawberry crepes.
"It's just not the same without you, Gen'emon," the old Boss was saying over heated sake and Gen'emon just hummed, not really replying but showing that he was listening. "I adore you for loving Tane and making her your first priority and little Shuuji-kun is no doubt adorable, but I still wish you had stayed. You were, without a doubt, my best Executive and the main driving force behind all of our success. Now I have four people trying to do what you used to do and still fucking it up-"
"Boss, if you'd please? Tane doesn't want Shuuji-chan to learn crude language."
The Boss laughed at that, fond and amused. "Ah, Tane! She was always the black sheep in our family, you know? I guess that's why she was always my little girl! She brought so much light in my life and now she gave me the most adorable grandson ever! And with the son I never had!"
Gen'emon stared amusedly at his tipsy former employer. "Better not let your actual sons hear you say that. I think they'd be pretty mad, especially since you make them work for Executive positions like everyone else."
The old man waved him off. "Bah! Of course I'd make them work for it! I want competent people helping me run my organization, not some pansies who would kill a prospective business partner just because they expected the same decorum of respect to be returned to them! I don't need people like that! I need people like you!"
"For a man everyone described as insane and power-hungry, that is a rather rational decision," Yosano stated and Hirotsu shrugged his shoulders.
"He was still pretty sane at this point. He went mad when Tane-san died and got worse in the two years following. After that, it was all just going downhill from there. There was no turning back and no one knows what was the tipping point."
"I have a feeling we might find out," Kouyou said with narrow eyes.
"Otou-san, I'd appreciate it if you didn't bore my husband with such trivial matters," Tane chirps, basically materializing between the two men and steering the conversation away from crime related matters, instead asking about all the family in Yokohama or Tokyo. With Tane no longer there to monitor him and keep him from leaving, Shuuji casually left the dinning room, sneaking off to the library. He found the chess board hadn't been cleared from his game with his father earlier and, with a sigh, set to tidying it up when he heard footsteps approaching. He looked up and towards the door to see his uncle there, eyeing Shuuji with cold, calculating eyes.
Chuuya narrowed his eyes.
"I don't like him," Gin muttered and Akutagawa grunted in agreement.
"I'm guessing this guy isn't around anymore?" Tachihara hazard and Hitosu nodded.
"He died when this manor burned to the ground thirteen years ago."
"When Tane died, right?"
"No. Tane-sama died in Yokohama, two years before this place went up in flames."
"Well, that's confusing."
"Shh!" The Agency hissed and the ginger Black Lizard glared murder at them, silently promising they'll regret it when he gets his hands on his guns again. Still, they all quieted down and watched the two Tsushimas interact.
"So, you're Tane's little brat."
Shuuji gave him a blank look. "And you're Kaa-chan's brother."
"You shouldn't address your mother so informally. Treat her with respect!" Snapped the uncle but Shuuji just blinked.
"It's not my fault my mother loves me enough to wish a more intimate form of address from her son."
"Oh, snap!" Naomi giggled and the rest couldn't deny they didn't find the little boy's fiestiness hilarious. Their amusement, however, vanished when they saw rage settle in the uncle's expression and he marched towards the boy, hand raised-
Only to startle when a dog started barking, making him whirl his head around to look at the floor to ceiling windows, where a huge German Shepard was this close to breaking the glass as it almost ferally barked and growled at the man about to strike the boy. It didn't, not once, take its eyes off of the man, making its target clear, and the man sneered at it, but before anything else could happen, the old Boss himself walked into the library, taking the scene in.
"Is something the matter?" He asked, frowning at the barking dog, the seated child and his looming son.
"I just came the check out why the stupid dog started barking all of a sudden," the uncle smoothly lied, but the Boss wasn't convinced.
"Chibi does tend to do that," Shuuji said, surprising the uncle by speaking up seemingly in his defense. "Tou-chan says it's because he's protective of me. I guess he felt the need to protect me." At that moment, Gen'emon walked in behind the old Boss and heard hat his son had said. His eyes flashed dangerously as he marched over to the uncle and grabbed him by the elbow.
"Onii-sama, may we have a chat? It's super important, ne?" And then he proceeded to drag the man out of the room with a strength that clearly surprised and overpowered his brother in law's. Both Port Mafia and Agency members cheered at the move and the dog, Chibi, also stopped barking, instead laying down by the window and keeping its sight on the boy inside. Shuuji ignored all of this, including his grandfather, as he put the chess board back into its proper, starting order, only looking up when the old Boss sat across from him.
"Oya oya, you know how to set it all up! You must be very smart, ne, Shuuji-kun?" Shuuji just shrugged. "Say, do you know how to play?"
The little brunet nodded. "Tou-chan taught me a few weeks ago."
The Boss smiled, weirding out everyone who knew him by the time he'd gone mad, senile and horrendous with such a fond, genuine expression. "Say, would you do your Ojii-san the honors of one game? I promise not to go too hard on you."
"Oh, you old fool," Mori sneered gleefully, eyes glued on the child as he frowned at the old man.
"I'll play, but if you hold back, don't cry and blame me for winning like Yamato from down the street did."
"Cross my heart and hope to die," the old man swore with amusement and made the first move, since he was sitting on the white side. Shuuji responded almost immediately, to which the Boss sighed. "There is no need to haste. It's not a race, it's a marathon."
Shuuji looked him dead in the eye. "I'll win either way."
"Damn, where did that cutie who blushed at his parents calling him smart disappear off to?" Tachihara said with a grin, amused by the kid.
"Yes, that's what I'm wondering, too," Chuuya said, once again causing everyone to turn to him in confusion, but this time he did not elaborate at all, eyes focused on the boy as he easily dismantled any strategy the old man put forth. After some fifteen minutes of playing, the old Boss was sweating, staring perplexed at the board as more and more of his pieces were taken and any piece he took was a sacrifice piece that revealed a preset trap.
"A little clumsy, but considering he's five, he's doing marvelous, as expected," cooed Mori, making Yosano and Fukuzawa glare at him. He raised his hands defensively at their accusing stares, because, for once, he really was just admiring the game.
"I'm not the best at chess, but I think two more moves is all he needs to beat him," Ranpo said, a grin on his face. And he did, indeed, turn out to be right. It was not quite the ultimate checkmate, but it was more than a stalemate, since if the old Boss moved his King, little Shuuji could just copy the movement with his Bishop, his other pieces or the old Boss' own blocking all other routes except the reoccurring ones. "I should have bet money on this!"
"No one would bet against you, Ranpo," Yosano reminded him. "Because we all knew the outcome before it happened since you called it-"
"-since it's Dazai-kun," Mori said at the same time, causing everyone but Chuuya to whirl around and stare at him with agape mouths.
"I'm sorry, what?" Atsushi choked out and Mori just shrugged, repeating his earlier sentence. "B-but how!?"
"There's no way," Kunikida whispered, turning to stare at the child very casually sitting under the old Boss' stunned scrutiny. "Right?"
"No, it's definitely that shitty Dazai," Chuuya declared, making everyone whirl around to focus on him. "I knew since we first saw this ... memory(?) play out. I'd recognize that fishy bastard anywhere, in any form, under any name. Though all of this," he waved his hand around to encompass the manor and the situation in general. "Is certainly a surprise."
"So that's really Dazai-san?" Akutagawa asked with a faint voice, Gin beside him too stunned to speak.
"Yup."
"But why are we being shown all of this, then?" Tanizaki wondered, uncertain and confused.
"It could have something to do with the Book," pointed out Ranpo. "Since, apparently, it had a hand, so to speak, in his birth."
"And here I thought I had the strangest origin story." And while the Agency wondered what Chuuya meant by that, the old Boss finally snapped out of his stupor and roared with laughter, to which Shuuji just tipped his head to the side, confused by the reaction. That was how Tane found them and she glared at her father as she hurried to her son's side, taking note of Chibi's protective presence on the other side of the window.
"Otou-san-"
"Tane, your son is absolutely brilliant!" The old man crowed, grinning at her even as she herded Shuuji out of the room, instructing him to find Matsuki and head to his room, since it was apparently his bedtime. Shuuji did as instructed, but not before frowning one last time at the Boss as he went around the corner. The old man smiled and waved at him, but Shuuji did not wave back, instead taking the elderly servant's hand when Matsuki offered it, guiding the boy away. "He's certainly Gen'emon's son, yes? And that look in his eyes! Ah, Tane, you have made me most proud-"
"Shuuji-chan will never join your business, Otou-san," snapped Tane before he could get any further. "That is my baby, the one I risked my life to deliver to full term, and I refuse to let you ruin his life. The Tsushima legacy won't reach him further than my and my husband's company and legally earned money, do you understand, Otou-san?"
The old Boss had stopped laughing now. "Tane, that boy is your son, with Gen'emon. You can run from your heritage all you want, but blood is thicker than water; you were born into the Mafia and you were known, for years, as the demon princess and Gen'emon was born to be one of us, too. You were both so brilliant! There is no way that child is not meant to roam in the darkness. His birthright is mafia black. More than even his parents, he's born to be a mafioso."
"Not if I can help it!" Snapped the woman, pulling a gun on her own father, eyes icy yet rage burning hot. "Tsushima Shuuji will never serve you or the Port Mafia. Am I clear? Or do I need to fore it inside your thick skull with a few bullets?"
The old Boss conceded and Tane ordered him to leave her home. He did, but not before throwing over his shoulder at her. "The boy won't remain a child forever. When he gets old enough to make his own decisions, should he choose to come to me, I won't turn him away."
"I'll make sure your throat is slit before that can ever happen." The old Boss just sighed and opened the door to the manor to leave. "Oh, and do be a dear not to forget to take your shit with you. Gen'emon left it outside near the garbage bins."
"That is no way to speak of your older brother, Tane."
"I never said it was Onii-san."
"Well, we know where he got the savage little shit attitude from," Kouyou hummed and both organizations had to roar with laughter at that, especially when an exasperated old man found his son, indeed, out by the garbage, bloody and bruised It even looked like Chibi had paid him a visit and left a foul smelling 'gift'.
They had to admit, if this was really Dazai's birth family, they were hilarious.