Bungo Stray Dogs - Volume 5 - Chapter 3

CHAPTER III 

3—1 

“What if our skills never come back…?” muttered Atsushi with a sigh. He was still in the passenger seat while Kyouka was driving. Not much time had gone by since they left Kunikida at the Armed Detective Agency. The car raced through the dense fog as it passed through Chinatown. The tires screeched with each speedy turn. 

“Are you sure it’s okay to drive so fast in this fog?” asked Atsushi, slightly nervous. 

“I know Yokohama like the back of my hand,” Kyouka calmly replied. “That has nothing to do with my skills as an assassin or with my ability. I plan on getting as far away as I can before Demon Snow catches up.” 

I know she’s trying to tell me that she’s still perfectly smart and capable even without her ability, but I made her talk about something she doesn’t want to. Kyouka hates the assassin she used to be. 

Atsushi painfully lowered his gaze, feeling guilty about what he asked. When he looked down, though, he couldn’t think of anything positive. He was simply reminded of the present situation and what has become of his skill, so he let out an inward sigh. 

“…When I first learned that my skill turned me into a tiger and made me lose control, I wished I’d never had such a power…,” he muttered in a self-deprecating manner. “But I never imagined that tiger would come for me.” 

He idly gazed at Kyouka until she looked straight ahead, her eyes indicating she was ready for whatever happened. Unlike Atsushi, she wasn’t bothered. 

“Demon Snow killed my parents. I’ve never considered her an ally,” Kyouka replied firmly. “If she’s going to attack me, then I’m simply going to dispose of her.” 

Out of nowhere, they heard a thud on the car’s roof, and Atsushi began to tremble. 

“She’s here.” When Kyouka quietly looked up, a sword immediately pierced through the roof. 

“Whoa—?!” Atsushi managed to dodge the blade before it sank into his seat. It was a familiar sword—it clearly belonged to Demon Snow. The skill must have jumped onto the car’s roof. Kyouka aggressively turned the steering wheel in an attempt to throw Demon Snow off, but the skill’s sword punctured the roof once more. It was after Kyouka now. Kyouka dodged the blade as it impaled the driver’s seat. Thankfully, although only for a brief moment, Demon Snow needed some time to pull out her sword, which Kyouka promptly took advantage of. She grabbed Atsushi by the collar and jumped out of the car. Atsushi yelped as he was tossed out onto the street, and his body slammed against the pavement. Now driverless, the car spun out of control and crashed into an electric pole before immediately exploding. The whipping winds conjured a dust cloud. 

Atsushi curled into a ball to protect himself from the impact and blast wave. Kyouka, however, nimbly landed before swiftly pulling out her dagger. She fixed her gaze up ahead where Demon Snow dispersed the cloud of dust only using its sword. The explosion didn’t seem to have left so much as a scratch on the disembodied skill. Demon Snow raced toward Kyouka, but Kyouka deflected the attack with her dagger. They went back and forth, attacking and defending each other’s strikes. 

Atsushi took out the gun that Kunikida gave him and pointed it at the skill with a trembling hand, but…he misfired. There was a click as if something had gotten stuck. 

“Oh, the safety…,” muttered Atsushi as he fiddled with the gun in a panic. The safety was off; that was why the gun hadn’t fired. Atsushi was at a loss. He wasn’t used to handling a gun. I have to hurry, he thought, when all of a sudden… 

“Go!” yelled Kyouka at Atsushi as she was locking blades with Demon Snow. “Now!” 

“…!!” 

But when Atsushi looked up, it appeared Kyouka was being pushed back. It was only a matter of time before she would get hurt. 

I have to do something! 

“Ahhhhhh!” Atsushi let out a powerful cry and charged forward. All he could think about was saving Kyouka. 

I have to… I have to do something, or…! 

But right as Atsushi raised his gun once more… 

A black shadow shot across his field of vision and rammed into Demon Snow. 

What the…?! Atsushi was bewildered. 

The shadow collapsed onto the ground. Since Demon Snow was knocked back, Kyouka had a moment to get out of the way and regain her footing. The black shadow had saved her. But was that intentional? 

To Atsushi, it merely looked like something had launched the black shadow in this direction, and it just happened to slam into Demon Snow. 

I still can’t let my guard down. 

Atsushi aimed the barrel of his gun at the black shadow and held his breath. The shadow—a short individual wrapped in a black overcoat—stirred. 

Don’t tell me that’s… 

Atsushi’s eyes opened wide. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Here? Now? Like this? He couldn’t believe it was him. It was hard to believe this was reality. 

The lump of black fabric turned his piercing gaze to Atsushi. 

“You… Akutagawa!” Atsushi said his name almost in a daze. 

The Devil of Darkness… The Hunting Dog… Port Mafia’s Hellhound… 

…Akutagawa. 

He was Atsushi’s enemy, someone who regarded him with even more hostility. 

“…You two? Hmph.” Akutagawa, covered in dirt, resentfully clicked his tongue and glared at them. 

It doesn’t matter why he’s here. I just need to be the first to strike. 

Atsushi removed the safety this time and pointed his gun at Akutagawa. But the Hellhound appeared unbothered as he got back to his feet. 

“A flimsy weapon, but…” Akutagawa looked in the direction he came. “A peashooter like that isn’t going to work against that.” 

“‘That’?” 

Atsushi dubiously followed Akutagawa’s gaze to where he saw a shadowy figure, entirely wrapped in what appeared to be black bandages, walking through the fog. The bandages faintly wriggled as if they were alive. Just like the one on Demon Snow’s forehead, a glimmering red crystal on its stomach peeked out from between two bandages. Atsushi instinctively knew what “that” was the moment he saw it. It was Akutagawa’s skill—Rashomon. 

Even Akutagawa’s being attacked by his separated skill! That must’ve been what knocked him into Demon Snow. 

Atsushi suddenly heard a roar from behind. It was a beast with beautiful white fur and a limber body—the tiger. As expected, there was a red crystal on its forehead as well, gleaming with hostility. 

The approaching tiger was Atsushi’s skill, Beast Beneath the Moonlight. 

…So the strange creature that attacked us really was the tiger. 

Atsushi painfully regarded the beast. 

Demon Snow. Rashomon. The tiger. 

A cold sweat dripped down Atsushi’s body as he found himself surrounded by three skills that were exceptionally powerful. 

This isn’t good… 

Atsushi gripped his gun. Rashomon’s movement was unnatural despite its humanoid form. As it leaped into the air, the black fabric stretched into a blade. Akutagawa braced himself. 

However… 

Rashomon didn’t attack Akutagawa, but the tiger. 

The tiger bared its fangs and threw itself at Rashomon as well. Rashomon’s black fabric and the tiger’s claws clashed. They engaged in a fierce battle as if they had just come across their sworn enemy. It appeared that they didn’t get along even as disembodied skills. 

“Interesting.” Akutagawa’s lips curled with great amusement. “Want to see which is stronger?” 

“This is no time for jokes!” Atsushi couldn’t stop himself from shouting. 

There was no way an ordinary human could take on Rashomon and the tiger, given their speed, strength, and power. Demon Snow was still there as well. They were backed into a corner. To make matters worse, Demon Snow began to dash right for them while Rashomon and the tiger were fighting. 

What should we do? 

While Atsushi hesitated, Kyouka intercepted Demon Snow’s sword. Locking blades, she calmly said to Akutagawa, “There should be a secret passage nearby that only the top-ranking members of the Port Mafia can use.” 

“Hmph…” Akutagawa knit his brow reluctantly, then barked at Atsushi, “This way. Come, Man-Tiger.” 

The Mafia’s secret passage? Atsushi was hesitant. Akutagawa, however, swiftly turned around and began to walk away. 

Does he want me to follow him? But Kyouka’s still fighting. 

“Hey!” Atsushi yelled at Akutagawa. 

Kyouka seemed to have realized that Atsushi was trying to stop him, so she sternly demanded, “Go!” Atsushi and Kyouka locked eyes. “I’ll be there soon, I promise!” 

Her eyes were the epitome of serious, and they wouldn’t take no for an answer. She was being genuine when she said she was planning on catching up with them later. 

“…All right.” 

Although hesitant, Atsushi decided to believe in Kyouka, and he rushed after Akutagawa. 

3—2 

Akutagawa ended up entering some run-of-the-mill Chinese restaurant, the kind found throughout the city. It was a small establishment with a few tables lined up near the counter. The edges of the menu plastered on the wall had turned brown from age. There were woks and dishes chaotically stacked up in the kitchen, but otherwise, the restaurant was relatively clean. 

What’s Akutagawa doing in such an ordinary restaurant? And why’d I even have to go with him? 

Although bewildered, Atsushi followed Akutagawa into the kitchen. Then, without even a moment of hesitation, Akutagawa grabbed a knife by the sink and started hacking away at the wall. Each time he swung the knife, he almost cut Atsushi, who was standing behind him. 

What is he doing?! 

Ignoring Atsushi’s startled reaction, he hit the wall once more, but a portion of it crumbled, revealing a hidden, narrow slit. He then took the same knife and jabbed it into the opening. Clang! A mechanical sound began to creak as if two large gears were moving. Pssshhh. The wall before Akutagawa opened. 

A hidden door? Atsushi thought while staring at the knife in the wall and the uncovered passage. So this was the mafia’s hidden passage that Kyouka was talking about. It really was cleverly hidden. Atsushi would have never found it on his own. But in the midst of his surprise, he suddenly heard an ear-piercing crash at the entranceway behind him. When he turned around, Kyouka had kicked in the door and was rushing inside. 

“Kyouka!” 

Behind her was Demon Snow. Kyouka leaped over the counter and sprinted toward Atsushi and Akutagawa. Atsushi then ran to the other side of the wall with Akutagawa, and they waited for her. Demon Snow, however, immediately flew into the restaurant, swinging her sword. After Kyouka ran to the other side of the hidden door, it began to close along with the sound of tableware shattering until it completely shut…only moments before Demon Snow’s blade reached her. 

We made it… 

When Atsushi let out a sigh of relief, the room instantly started to move. 

The room on the other side of the hidden door was actually an elevator. It was as spacious as a service elevator and far drearier. The wires visible under the metal mesh floor made it clear they were slowly heading underground. The orange lighting reflected off the metal walls, and the mechanical operation noises continued to roar. 

“This is an emergency passage in case a powerful skill user attacks,” said Akutagawa. “The fog will not be able to reach us here.” 

Atsushi glanced at Akutagawa. “Just what is that fog?” 

“…The breath of the dragon.” 

“Dragon?” Atsushi furrowed his brow, caught off guard by the reply. 

What does that even mean? A dragon…? 

Before Atsushi could ask him to clarify, Akutagawa said, “Kyouka…with your assassination skills, you could easily kill me, now that neither of us has our abilities.” 

“…” 

But Kyouka didn’t reply to his taunts, and Akutagawa smirked at her expressionless face. 

“What’s wrong? I thought you wanted to cut ties with me once and for all.” 

“Kyouka doesn’t care about you anymore!” Atsushi promptly butted in, annoyed. He turned around and was met with Akutagawa’s cold gaze. He looked positively murderous. 

I knew he couldn’t be trusted. He’s still our enemy, Atsushi thought while glaring at Akutagawa. Akutagawa regarded Atsushi as if he were the most foolish creature on earth. 

“…Are you sure you want to settle things now while we don’t have our skills?” 

It was as if he was implying that they should wait until they got their skills back. 

Wait. Does he know—? 

Kyouka suddenly turned around and asked the question that came to Atsushi’s mind: 

“Do you know how to get our skills back?” 

Akutagawa nodded. “I do.” 

“What?” Atsushi gasped. All three faced one another. 

“The skill will return to its user once defeated,” Akutagawa explained indifferently before he gave a snort. “You didn’t even know that?” 

“…!” 

It was the first Atsushi heard of it. So a skill user could get their skill back by defeating it… Kunikida probably wasn’t aware of that, either. 

He may have said this simply to make fools of Atsushi and Kyouka, but Akutagawa had easily offered this bit of information. Atsushi braced himself, preparing for whatever Akutagawa was plotting. 

“…What’s your goal here?” he demanded of Akutagawa. 

“It’s probably the same as ours,” Kyouka said softly. 

“No way…” After glancing in Kyouka’s direction, Atsushi turned his gaze back toward Akutagawa. “You’re after Shibusawa?” 

“I plan on pulling out his entrails and ending his life,” answered Akutagawa. “Is there any other way to save Yokohama?” 

“We’re not going to kill him,” Atsushi replied promptly. “That’s not what the agency does.” He didn’t want to be anything like Akutagawa. 

Akutagawa scoffed. “Absurd. You’re naive, Man-Tiger… Kyouka, tell him.” 

“…What are you talking about?” Atsushi furrowed his brow as Akutagawa cynically smirked. Akutagawa then pointed at Kyouka with his chin with even greater amusement. 

“Kyouka knows what this mission entails. She used to be in the Port Mafia, after all.” 

What’s that supposed to mean? Atsushi quietly stared at Kyouka, who was glaring at Akutagawa with a dark scowl. 

“I left the darkness for the light,” she stated. “I quit the Port Mafia to join the detective agency.” She continued with a firm, determined tone, “…The agency and the Mafia don’t kill in the same way.” 

…Huh? thought Atsushi. Kill? 

Is Kyouka planning on killing Shibusawa? 

But why? Since when? That’s… 

Atsushi was unable to put his thoughts into words. 

“Kyouka?” he squeaked. 

Then, it was as if Akutagawa’s cruel voice echoed inside of Atsushi’s befuddled mind: 

“Had all this happened before Dazai joined the enemy, he probably could have used his own skill to stop the fog without having to kill anyone.” 

“Joined the enemy? Dazai…?” 

Atsushi couldn’t hide his confusion. 

He couldn’t believe it. It had to be some kind of misunderstanding. 

That just wasn’t possible. 

But Akutagawa’s expression didn’t change. 

“Indeed…” Akutagawa turned his gaze toward Atsushi. “He voluntarily joined their side.” 

“Dazai would never do such a thing!” Atsushi yelled instinctively. 

“This is the same man who once betrayed the Port Mafia,” Akutagawa replied calmly. 

It was obvious that he truly believed what he was saying. Akutagawa was convinced that Dazai had now betrayed the agency. He apparently knew something that they didn’t. Ango Sakaguchi had also mentioned that Dazai was with Tatsuhiko Shibusawa. 

He didn’t mean that Dazai was captured? Then… 

“…!” 

Atsushi was speechless. He still couldn’t believe it. 

“I will be the one to kill Dazai,” Akutagawa announced coldly. 

His eyes glowed with firm determination. They were frighteningly sharp as they pierced Atsushi. Overwhelmed, Atsushi felt as if he were being crushed by his gaze, and he unconsciously looked away. Atsushi then asked: 

“…Do you seriously think you can kill him?” 

Not a chance in hell, Atsushi thought. Akutagawa was terribly obsessed with Dazai, after all—almost abnormally so. Atsushi was convinced he wouldn’t be able to kill the man. But Akutagawa’s eyes were still burning with obsession when he hissed, “Better that he dies by my hand than by someone else’s.” 

“…!” 

A chill shot down Atsushi’s spine. That was a very Akutagawa way of thinking. If this man said he was going to do something, he would surely do it. That was enough for him to dispose of Dazai. Nonetheless, Atsushi would never allow it. 

“I won’t let you kill Dazai!” 

He had lifted his gun and pointed it at Akutagawa when the elevator finally came to a stop. The door equipped with various complicated mechanisms opened, revealing an underground passage with countless ducts on each side. Akutagawa got off the elevator without even saying a word to Atsushi. His heavy steps echoed down the dark path. With his gun still pointing at Akutagawa’s back, Atsushi told him, “We can’t go with you.” 

The door to the elevator began to close once more, but right before Akutagawa disappeared from sight, Kyouka grabbed the door and stopped it. 

“We’re going with him,” she said shortly. 

“What?!”