"Come on, angel," Dazai whined as he kept a grasp on the assassin. "You don't have to go just yet."

"Mori gave me a job, Osa. I have to go," Sayuri replied, trying to wriggle out of Dazai's arms.

"Ten more minutes. Then you can go." Dazai gave her a pleading look.

Sayuri let out a sigh before allowing Dazai to keep her locked against him under the covers.

The two were still tangled up in her bed, half clothed from the previous night.

Dazai nuzzled his nose into Sayu's neck, the corners of his lips pulled upwards a bit. He pressed a kiss to the skin of her neck, allowing himself to be immersed in her scent and her calming aura.

Sayu's fingers dragged through Dazai's hair slowly, smiling as she let him indulge. She never imagined that her friendship with Dazai would become so casually sexual, but she kinda loved it. To her, this was the closest to a relationship she would ever have with Dazai.

"God, you are so addictive," Dazai murmured, drawing her from her thoughts. "Such a beautiful flower, but a deadly poison. My beautiful belladonna."

She hummed softly, pressing a kiss to his head. He lifted his head to look up at her kissing her lips that had fallen into a relaxed smile.

"As much as I would love to stay here all day and kiss you, I do have to go to work now," Sayuri murmured after a moment.

Dazai whined, burying his face in her chest. "But why? Wouldn't you rather stay here with me? We could-"

"Listen, I would love that, but my brother's room is right next door, and technically this is Zoe's room, too, now. Do you really want either one of them walking in on us?" Sayuri questioned as she shoved him off.

"Well, I wouldn't be all that worried if Zoe walked in," Dazai admitted, finally letting Sayuri get up to get ready for the job she had.

"You're a weirdo," she mumbled with a shake of her head.

Dazai watched as she went over to her closet, grabbing a black skin tight halter top, black leggings and a leather jacket. He sat up in her bed, his eyes never leaving her body as she covered up.

"Maybe you could come over to my place later," Dazai spoke slowly, his eyes still locked on her waist.

"My God, Osa. Two nights in a row?" Sayuri teased as he grinned at him.

"You had me begging last night, so are you surprised? I don't wanna hear it," Dazai shot back. "But that's not really what I meant. I just like holding you. It makes it easier to fall asleep."

Sayuri hummed and walked over to her bed, picking Dazai's shirt up off the floor. "I think I can make it."

"I don't know when I'll be home though. Odasaku and I are going drinking tonight. He said he wanted to talk to me about something," he replied as he caught his shirt that was tossed to him.

"Alright. I'll see ya later then," Sayuri said with a small smile.

She walked out the door and Dazai fell backwards onto her bed. God, that woman had him desperate for her touch.

He had never felt such a gentle force in his life. Each time her fingertips met his skin, it felt like his skin was warm. Her touch was the one thing that kept him grounded.

The one thing that made him feel like he was actually alive.

Sayuri wiped the blood off her knife as she stood over the body of the male she had just dispatched.

The past few weeks had been the same for her. She was finishing cleaning up the mess that Murakami had made.

The information he had sold had made it around, so while the hacking team got hold of where the information had ended up, Sayuri was sent out to patch the leaks.

She took out her phone and sent Mori a message to tell him that she had taken out the target. She then left the rickety house that she was in, walking through the filthy streets of Suribachi City.

"Hey! Stop that girl!"

Sayuri looked over to see a young girl sprinting towards her. She had fairly long black hair and her clothes looked like they had never been washed.

The girl was clutching a few loaves of bread close to her chest as she tried to run away.

Sayuri made a split second decision and dashed towards the girl. She wrapped her arms around the girl who screamed.

"I'm gonna help you. This way," Sayuri said quickly before letting go of the young girl.

The girl hesitated for only a moment before following Sayuri. The two ran down a different street while the angry adults chased them.

"Hold on to me," Sayuri instructed as she pulled the girl into a dark corner.

The girl obliged and went into Sayuri's protective grasp.

Shadows covered them in darkness as Sayuri hid them away from view. The young girl looked around in both awe and terror.

They were surrounded in pitch black, and yet she could see the blackness slithering around them. No, she couldn't see it, she could feel it. The cold, devoid, almost damp feeling caressed her feculent skin.

"Are you okay?" Sayuri asked gently.

The child nodded quickly. "Thank you," she squeaked out. "Where are we?"

"We're in the shadows," Sayuri explained as she held the girl close. If she had ceased contact with her for even a second, the shadows would release the girl back into the light.

They walked a few steps and made a few turns before suddenly the light came seeping in.

The girl shielded her eyes from the sudden change before looking around to see that they were no longer on the street they had been on originally.

"I have to go," the girl murmured, her voice have a naturally demure vein.

"I'll help you get home. I don't want you to run into those people again. Are your parents waiting for you?"

The girl shook her head as her gaze lowered. "My brother."

"Alright then. Let's get you to your brother," Sayuri replied with a warm smile. She held out her hand for the girl to take. "What's your name?"

"Gin. Gin Akutagawa," she said, taking Sayuri's hand while her other arm clutched the three loaves of bread she was carrying.

"Well, Gin, it's nice to meet you. My name is Sayuri Oda," Sayuri introduced.

Gin led Sayuri to the dilapidated shack she and her brother had put together in an alleyway.

"Ryu! I'm back!"

Sayuri ducked her head as she walked into the tiny shack. She looked to see a single large sheet on the ground in the corner. There was a lamp in the center of the shack, but other than that, there was nothing.

"Who are you?" A low voice rasped threateningly.

Sayu looked to see a boy sitting against the wall. He had shaggy black hair that faded to white at the tips while his shaggy bangs sat just at his eyes.

Those eyes. She knew them all too well.

"Ryu! She helped me! She's okay! I promise!" Gin assured quickly in a shrill voice.

God, those eyes were devoid of emotion. They saw a world that was as dead as the pharaohs of old. The same look Dazai held.

"You're sister was being pursued for stealing. I just made sure that she got back safe," Sayuri spoke as she gave a warm smile to the boy.

The boy studied her smile, each and every feature present on her face. He could see that even though her gaze was soft, her eyes held a chilling cold.

"My name is Sayuri. I want to help you both. If you'll let me that is," Sayuri continued.

"We don't need your help," the boy spat.

"Ryu, we could-"

"We've been fine on our own. We don't need her. No one is going to help us!"

"Ryu, is it? I understand that accepting help seems like it makes you weak, but only the truly strong know that strength lies in the ties you make," Sayuri spoke before she grabbed her phone. She took off her phone case and pulled out her emergency funds. It was just a ten thousand yen bill that she carried for emergencies, but to her, this qualified as an emergency. "I know it's not much, but this is all I have on me right now. I can bring some more if you guys are hard pressed for food."

Gin and Ryu's eyes widened as they looked at the money in her hand.

"You're sure?" Gin squeaked.

"Of course," Sayuri waved it off. "My job pays me pretty well."

Gin ran forward and wrapped her little arms around Sayuri's waist. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

"Why?" Ryu spoke up as he looked from the money back up to Sayuri, his gaze piercing through her.

"Because I was in a similar boat as you when I was younger. I was younger than you though. My older brother and I were living on the streets. Then my brother started taking some jobs and I followed in his footsteps. How old are you both anyways?"

"I'm twelve!" Gin answered as she carefully took the yen from Sayuri. "He's fourteen!"

Sayuri's eyes widened. 'My God, I thought she was like nine! They are both so malnourished!'

Her phone started pinged and she looked to see that Mori texted her.

"Alright. Well, I have to go, but I'll bring you some food and a blanket, okay?"

Gin nodded quickly while Ryu just stared at her with those lifeless eyes. He walked towards her.

"My name is Ryuunosuke Akutagawa," he spoke as he gave his attempt at a smile. It was a pretty pathetic attempt, and obviously forced, but it made her smile nonetheless.

"Sayuri Oda. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ryuunosuke," Sayuri replied as she held out a hand for the young boy to shake.

He stared at it for only a moment before carefully shaking her hand.

"Mori called you both in for the meeting too?" Sayuri questioned as she saw Chuuya and Dazai walking in the halls of the mafia headquarters.

"Yeah. It must have to do with that gifted who died. I heard that a bunch of underground organizations are starting to fight over the fortune he left," Dazai replied as he began walking beside the auburn haired assassin.

"That's kinda what I was thinking but I wasn't sure," Sayuri said with a nod.

"Why do they need us though?" Chuuya wondered aloud. "Shouldn't this just be like an exec meeting or something?"

"It depends. I'm head of the vanguard squad, so I may need to be there to come up with our next move. You're in the jewel trade, so with this new large fortune, it may affect trade. Sayu is without a doubt Mori's favorite assassin, so he may give her a new target. That's only my assumption though," Dazai explained.

"I guess that makes sense," Chuuya grumbled before walking ahead of the two.

Dazai gave Sayuri a little grin and she immediately grimaced. "I'm not sitting next to you, asshole. You can sit by Chuuya."

"Aw, but why?" Dazai whined with a pout.

"You know why. Keep your hands to yourself," Sayuri mumbled.

"I give you my word. I will not touch you," Dazai promised begrudgingly. "Don't make me sit next to Chuuya."

"Hey, slow pokes! Keep up! We're gonna be late!" Chuuya called.

"Coming!" Sayuri called back.

"Mm, you can say that later to if you want," Dazai teased with a smirk.

"You're disgusting." Sayuri muttered as she sped up her walk.

The three entered the meeting room and sat at the large table with some of the other important members along with the five executives. Mori sat at the head of the table with a dead serious look in his eyes.

Sayuri sat down between Chuuya and Dazai, giving the brunette a serious look. He held his hands up slightly before resting them on the table.

A few other members joined them at the table before Mori cleared his throat.

"I'm sure you've all guess why I called you here today. Toshinori Miyada has passed away. He was a very well known and wealthy gifted. There are many other organizations that had attempted to stake a claim in the fortune he has left behind. We cannot allow that. We rule the underworld. These people are looking to uproot us."

Sayuri looked at Mori, seeing the look of disdain on his face. The meeting was boring, and she was having a hard time paying much attention.

"Movements have already been made. The leader of Takasekai had sent out a warning that he is vying for his stake in the fortune. I need everyone on the same page. All of you will have your assignments given later. I will be speaking with the executives to cut out a further course of action. Everyone else is dismissed."

Everyone but Mori and the five executives left the meeting room. Sayuri stretched her limbs as she yawned.

"Did he really need us there?" Chuuya grumbled.

"He's trying to push the image that this is a serious issue," Sayuri spoke boredly as she looked between Chuuya and Dazai.

"She's right. He's making it a big deal. Clearly he's got a stake in the fortune as well," Dazai agreed. "Anyways, I'm gonna head out. Sayu, you coming?"

"Zoe said she made dinner so I'm going home. You're both welcome to join," Sayuri offered as she started walking towards the exit of the mafia headquarters.

"Absolutely," Dazai agreed with a bright smile. "Free food!"

"I'm actually meeting with Koyo after she's done with the executive meeting. Maybe another time," Chuuya replied.

"Alright. See ya later then, Chuuya!" Sayuri waved before she and Dazai left.

The two were walking for a bit in a comfortable silence when Sayuri finally spoke up.

"I met these kids earlier when I was in Suribachi. This boy. He had this look in his eyes," Sayuri started as she looked down. "I gave him and his little sister some money so they could buy food. I told them that I would get them a blanket and some food. I felt like I was looking at Saku and myself."

"You're too nice for your own good," Dazai replied with a light chuckle.

"I've never stopped to help an organization before though. I'm not sure why I did it... I just saw that little girl running and I... well I just had this gut instinct that I need to help her," Sayuri said, her hands resting in the pockets of her leather jacket.

"Did you get their names?"

"Yeah. Gin and Ryuunosuke Akutagawa," Sayuri answered and Dazai stopped. "What? What is it?"

"Ryuunosuke Akutagawa?" He questioned as he seemed lost in thought.

"Yeah. What about him?"

"I've heard that name," Dazai replied before it hit him. He chuckled lightly. "So he has a little sister. I didn't know about that."

"What are you talking about?" Sayuri looked at him in utter confusion.

"The Silent Mad Dog."