//as akutagawa//

"Every time it's like this, you always think about killing whoever's right in front of you. It's no wonder Dazai threw you away and left!" We had always been honest with each other. I think that was the one part of our entire relationship that I had always appreciated. But in that moment, something inside me snapped, and I wasn't sure whether I had lost all respect for him after attacking something he had known I had been so greatly insecure about, or impressed that he had the balls to hit me where it hurts. But from then on, I saw him in a whole new light. And it came back to bite me in the ass. Dazai made sure of that. He always does. He's one for watching things crash and burn and then complaining he didn't get a chance to be a part of it.

I sat in my room and just stared at my wall. After what he said to me that day, I never really recovered. He was right, as much as I hated it. Why did he have to be honest with me? I was happy living that lie. I heard Gin knock on the door before entering. She gave me a sad smile. I sighed, but tried not to be harsh on her. It wasn't her fault I was weak. All she wanted to do was protect me. "What do you want, Gin?"

"I was wondering what you wanted to eat for dinner. It's getting kinda late." She smiled at me, and once again I felt like I had failed her. She shouldn't be here. She didn't deserve this. I'm supposed to protect her.

"I'll cook food. What do you want?" I asked, not particularly hungry but knowing I had to eat. I've been working on an empty stomach for days now, and I'm starting to get sloppy.

"Oh, no. Don't worry, I'll cook, Ryu! You just stay here and rest." She tried to get me to sit back down, and I was immediately suspicious. She would always slack off at home if given the chance to. What's wrong with her? I wonder if she's ill.

"Nonsense. I'm more than capable of cooking some food. Stop worrying so much." I pushed past her, and she shrunk behind the door. What could possibly be worrying enough to warrant that kind of reaction? And that's when I noticed the two unwanted guests sitting at my dining table. I understand why she was so worried. It will be a bloodbath. He was warned of this the last time he broke into my apartment. "I will kill you, Dazai."

"Oh, really?" He grinned at me, his eyes glinting with a sadistic joy. I have never loathed and adored a man so much in my life. "I would love to see you try, Akutagawa~"

Instead of aiming for him, I aimed for the weretiger sitting next to him. I might as well get rid of the weaker one first. "Die, weretiger."

"Now, now, Ryu. That's not how we do things around here. I'm your target, not Atsushi." He put his hand in front of the weretiger, disabling my ability, and if I wasn't already on thin ice with Mori then I would commit an act of arson and not look back. Although, I haven't heard him call me that in years, and it stirred something inside of me. Whether that be positive or negative can be up for debate.

"Ryu? That's such a cute nickname." The weretiger smiled, and the temptation to get Gin to kill him was high. Dazai would stop me, but has no reason to stop my sister. I glanced at her and she waved me off. Rats.

"Isn't it the best? I gave it to him when he was just a wee boy, no older than Kyouka." Dazai smiled, a reminiscent look in his eyes. I will not be hosting a walk down memory lane.

"What do you want, Dazai?" I asked, deciding to get straight to the point. I don't have time for their shenanigans.

"I'm glad you asked, Akutagawa." He gave me a cunning smile, and I felt shivers go down my spine. "We need you for a job. Mori has already accepted. What do you say, old buddy?"

"Over my dead body." I replied, and this seemed to take him by surprise. The weretiger's words rang around my head, and I wasn't sure whether that was the right choice to make, but I had to see it through, nevertheless. "Now get out. You're not welcome here, and you never were."

"Akutagawa." He was a lot more serious now, his eyes had darkened, and I shared a look with the weretiger. Dazai had never been one for seriousness. "We need you."

"I don't care." I replied, getting ready to attack again. I was not in the mood to deal with him anymore than I already had. "Go pester Chuuya about it."

"As much as I hate to admit it, I can't complete this mission without you and that damn ability of yours. Please, Akutagawa, I'm begging you." The weretiger said, which caught me by surprise. He was the most honest person I knew. Unlike Dazai, he could be trusted.

I sighed, too tired and hungry to argue. They can do as they please. I'll just give a half-hearted effort. "Fine. What do I have to do?"

"Great! I'm so glad you accepted." Dazai stood up, a smile once again on his face. I don't trust it. I never have. "The Guild and the Rats in the House of the Dead have teamed up, and they're after Gin, presumably for her skills as an assassin. We need your help protecting her, not only as a skilled gifted, but as her brother."

I looked over at Gin, who held terror in her eyes. Why didn't she tell me? She knows I would have protected her, no matter what the cost. I will kill all those who threaten to touch her, friend and foe alike. Especially those who get in my way. They will know my wrath.

"Why's the weretiger here?" I asked, glancing at him. How is he gonna do anything other than hold us back? His words once again rang around in my head, those all I've been able to think about these past few days. Now's the time to be thinking about them. Everyone who dares go against us deserves death in the most painful way.

"It'll be a learning experience. You two can be a team. Isn't that neat? Now, don't give me those looks, if me and Chuuya can do it, so can you two." He said, giving us a closed-eye smile, and I couldn't help but stare at him. Has he become brain-dead already? He hasn't even turned thirty yet. It's so sad.

"You and Chuuya once fought on the same side. We did not, you insolent fool." I scowled at him, but that smile of his did not falter, which terrified me.

"Yes, hence why you have to work double as hard for half as much. Don't you aspire for what we have?" He knew he had us cornered, or at the very least, me. They had something many of us could only dream of. Outside alliances they could despise with every fibre of their being, but could still trust just as easily.

"You always know what to say, don't you, Dazai? You have my full support." I will not let them lay a hand on my sister, and if that means I can get not only some form of acceptance from Dazai, but get close to what they had then the reward is too high to pass up. Even if it is with the weretiger of all people.

"I was hoping I would."