Sakunosuke sat on the barstool with his head on the bar.

"You look like you're having a fantastic day."

Sakunosuke looked up to see a familiar face.

Ango Sakaguchi.

He and Dazai had met Ango a few weeks ago and had taken him to their favorite bar. Sakunosuke was the one to find the bar, Lupin, and had introduced Dazai to the underground business.

"Not really, no. I'm definitely not smiling," Odasaku replied blandly.

Ango chuckled lightly as he sat beside Sakunosuke, already used to the redhead's straight forward attitude. "Want to talk about it?"

"No."

"Come on. It'll make you feel better," Ango tried before looking at the bartender. "I'll take a whiskey sour."

There was a laugh that came from behind them. "He's been like this for a while. He's in loooove."

Ango and Sakunosuke looked up to see Dazai walk over to his usual seat.

"The usual, please!" Dazai requested as he threw one foot up onto his opposite leg after sitting down.

"So who's the lucky guy?" Ango joked which made Dazai nearly fall off his stool. "I'm joking."

"Her name's Zoe," Dazai replied, watching as Odasaku's ears turned red. "She's really pretty, I'll admit."

"I'm assuming you asked her if she would kill herself with you?" Ango sighed as he shook his head.

"...she said no."

"I'm not in love, guys," Odasaku tried to argue, as he looked at his drink. "I just think she's a wonderful person."

Ango slapped his hand over his face. "Why don't you just tell her how you feel?"

Odasaku slumped, taking a sip of his sake. "She's in love with someone else..."

"He's dead," Dazai deadpanned.

"Doesn't mean she just stops loving him," Odasaku shot back.

"True," Ango spoke up. "But, she can also fall in love again. Just show her that you care about her. Tell her how you feel. You shouldn't let it weigh you down like this."

Dazai stared at the can of crab that the barkeep had given him.

"Maybe your right. I'm just afraid that it's too soon for her. But at the same time, if I wait, I may lose her. God, this is so complicated, and in the end, I just really want to make her happy."

"Ryu! Sayuri's back!"

Sayuri laughed lightly as she sat beside Gin in the small shack.

Ryuunosuke was just coming into the shelter, his face softening ever so slightly.

"I brought you both some dinner. Hope you like curry," Sayu spoke, motioning to the bowl on the floor. "It's my brother's favorite so I made some extra when I made dinner."

"I've never had curry," Ryuunosuke replied, looking at the bowl skeptically. He tried it and his eyes widened before he quickly started spooning more into his mouth.

Gin had ready finished her bowl and was sat beside Sayuri who pulled out a brush. She began to gently pull the brush through the girl's knotted hair.

"So, Ryu, your gift," Sayuri started as she glanced at the boy who was stuffing his face. "Can you tell me about it?"

"Why should I?" He shot out quickly.

"Ryu, be nice," Gin said with a sharp look.

"It's okay, Gin. He's right to not fully trust me. It's good to be suspicious. You never know who's your enemy and keeping the ace up your sleeve a secret is always a good idea," Sayuri replied with a small smile.

Ryuunosuke looked at her curiously. She had said that you never know who's your enemy, but that made him think. She wasn't his enemy. She had done nothing but help him and Gin, regardless of how much he hated her help.

"You know, I have a gift as well," Sayu continued, still trying to get Gin's hair brushed. "I can control the shadows around me. I can also travel through them. That's a bit more taxing on my body though. If I do it too much, I'll pass out."

"Why are you tell us this? You just said-"

"Because I would like to believe that we are not enemies. And besides, even if you were to attack me, I'm confident that even without the use of my abilities, I'd be fine," she cut him off with a smile.

Ryuunosuke sat in silence as his little sister questioned Sayuri further about her ability.

He just couldn't accept her help. He couldn't let himself become reliant on anyone other than himself, because when it came down to it, he would always have himself.

Sayuri's phone was ringing and it woke Gin up. She tried shaking Sayu awake, but it was no use.

She had begged Sayuri to sleep over with them, so the assassin agreed.

"Sayuri!" Gin tried again, simultaneously trying not to wake Ryuunosuke.

Sayuri groaned as she opened her eyes. "What is it?"

"Umm, Dumpster Boy is calling you. He's been calling for a while now," Gin said quietly. "Also, someone, Bookworm, Hot Mama, and Gingerbread Man."

"Shit," Sayuri grumbled as she took her phone from the young girl. She answered the phone quickly. "Osa?"

"You're alive! You had us all worried, angel."

"Yeah. It's the morning. I was doing this normal human activity called sleeping," Sayuri groused as she sat up fully, glancing at the young boy who was asleep at her side.

"Everyone's been looking for you! You never came home last night and Odasaku called me, nearly losing his mind. You didn't send a text, or call anyone. No one knew where you went! Not even Mori!"

"You told Mori?"

"Well, we wanted to know if you were sent on an assignment."

"Listen, I'll be back home in a bit. I'm fine," Sayuri assured.

"You have an hour," Dazai ordered sternly.

"Sir, yes, sir," Sayuri joked with a smile on her face as she hung up the phone.

"Was that your boyfriend?" Gin asked curiously.

Sayuri chuckled lightly. "No, he's not my boyfriend. He's my best friend."

"But he called you angel," Gin pointed out.

"He did, didn't he? He's called me that for a while," Sayuri mumbled before seeing Ryuunosuke looking at her. "Well, I've got orders. I gotta go home. You guys all set for now?"

"We're fine!" Gin remarked with a bright smile.

Sayuri grabbed her jacket from off the floor and slipped it on before leaving the shack. She popped her head back in for a moment. "By the way, I left some money for you under the pillow. My treat."

She gave a smile before leaving to go home.

Ryuunosuke quickly moved the pillow to see a small bundle of cash. His expression didn't change, though he felt a sort of warmth. Knowing that they would be able to eat was such a relieving feeling.

What did they do to deserve the kindness this girl, only a few years older than himself, had been showing them?

"And where have you been, young lady?!"

"Oh my lord, Osa. You're not my dad," Sayuri grumbled as she took off her shoes.

"But I'm your guardian," Sakunosuke spoke up. "Where were you?"

"Geez. You guys are acting like I snuck out to see a boy," Sayuri joked before seeing the look on their faces. "Oh my God, you guys think I went out with a guy..."

"Well, where else would you be?" Sakunosuke questioned with his arms crossed.

"They were worried all night," Zoe said from the kitchen.

"I was in Suribachi City with those two orphans. Gin and Ryuunosuke. I had just gone to bring them dinner, but Gin asked me to stay overnight. I just forgot to text you guys," Sayuri answered. "I wasn't out with a secret boy or anything like that. You guys should know me better than that."

Dazai just huffed and turned away, going to sit on the couch.

"Just make sure you text someone next time. You had us all worried. Especially with our line of work. Just let someone know," Sakunosuke said calmly.

"I will. I didn't mean to scare you guys," Sayu apologized. "Now, I'm gonna get changed."

She walked to her room, thinking it was a bit strange that Dazai wasn't asking to come with. She just brushed it off and got changed.

She came back out to see that Dazai wasn't there anymore.

"Where'd Osa go?" Sayuri asked curiously as she looked at Sakunosuke and Zoe.

"He was supposed to meet with Mori this morning, but he refused to go until you came home. I've never seen him so scary," Zoe remarked as she shivered a little. She remembered the look in Dazai's eyes she had never seen something so cold. So dangerous.

Sayuri sighed softly and walked towards the door. "I'm gonna go. Once he's done with Mori, I'll talk to him."

"Okay," Zoe said with a small smile. "See ya later."

"Yeah, see ya. Bye, Saku," Sayuri said before she left.

Sakunosuke was in the kitchen, not paying attention to his sister leaving.

Zoe noticed that Sakunosuke had seemed out of it for the past week, and it was starting to worry her.

"Hey, Saku," Zoe spoke up as she stood up, walking over to the redhead. "Are you alright?"

"I'm okay, Zoe," he mumbled.

"You know you can tell me anything, right? I wanna help. You've done so much for me. Let me do something for you," Zoe said gently as she put a hand on his arm.

"I like you," he blurted as he turned to look at her. "I really like you."

Zoe stiffened a bit, not having expected that response.

"I think you're amazing. But I know that you're still in pain. You're in love with someone else still. But I just can't stop thinking about you. I mean, you're near perfection," Sakunosuke rambled as his muscles tightened. "You're always so nice to everyone, you're smart, and you are absolutely beautiful. Ever since you started staying here, I can't stop dreaming about you. It's like you're infecting me. I don't know how to stop it."

Zoe moved her hand from his arm and instead, laced her fingers with his. Her other hand reached up to his cheek, caressing his skin as a smile grew on her lips. "Well, I can't tell you how to stop it, because I haven't figured it out for my dreams about you."

Sakunosuke paused, searching her face. She wouldn't joke about something like this, right?

"I like you too, Saku. You're the reason I stayed. I may have lied a bit when I said that I wasn't ready to go back home. I just really wanted to stay near you," Zoe admitted.

She had only been supposed to stay with the Oda siblings for a month, but it was now four months, and she still didn't want to leave. She felt at home, and she loved spending her free time with Sakunosuke when she could.

"But I thought that you were still upset," Odasaku mumbled as he looked at their intertwined hands.

"Well, I think I'll always be upset that I lost Piano, but I can't change the past. I know that he wouldn't want me to hang on to him and be miserable my whole life. I found someone else who makes me happy. I just wasn't really sure if you returned the feeling. You're normally so straightforward with everything. I thought that if you had returned my feelings, that you would've just admitted it, right out."

"I wanted to, but I didn't want to upset you or push you away. But Ango said that I should tell you," Saku replied.

"I'll have to thank Ango then when I meet him," Zoe spoke slowly before she leaned up, pressing her lips to his cheek.

"So, um, do I take you on a date then? I've never done this before?" Sakunosuke admitted.

"You're joking, right?" Zoe laughed, thinking it was a poor attempt at a joke, but he looked at her with confusion. She stopped laughing and looked at him in surprise. "My God, you're serious. You've never had a girlfriend?"

"Um, no..." He replied slowly. "Women don't particularly find me attractive."

Zoe had a moment of thought. She had seen women checking him out when they had gone for coffee or other places. "I think you just never realized when people were flirting with you, hun."

"We're you flirting with me then?"

"I'm not really good with flirting," Zoe replied with a light laugh. "Was never my strong suit."

"Okay, so then back to the question. Do I take you on a date?" Sakunosuke asked, subconsciously nuzzling against her hand a bit. It was so warm and soft. He felt like his whole body was being embraced by her warmth.

"If you'd like to. I definitely won't say no," Zoe said gently. "I can plan the date if you want me to."

"No," he said quickly. "I'll do it. I want to do something special."

Zoe smiled, missing this special feeling. After losing Piano Man, she thought she would never feel it again, but here she was.

"I look forward to it."

Sayuri walked through the mafia headquarters and saw Dazai standing in an office, looking around.

"What are you doing in here? Isn't this one of the execs' office?" Sayuri spoke, drawing Dazai's attention.

"Yeah, but I guess it's mine now," he spoke quietly, his eyes traveling the room again.

Sayuri's eyes widened. "Wow. You, an executive? I'm proud of you."

Dazai hummed and nodded before he gave her a mischievous grin. "We should probably break it in, don't you think?"

"You are such a pervert," Sayuri shot back with a laugh.

He chuckled lightly and slung his arm around her waist. "What do you think? I think it's perfect."

"There's nothing in here," Sayuri deadpanned.

"Meh. I like it that way," Dazai replied with a shrug.

He then scooped her up which made her squeak in surprise. He carried her over to his new desk and sat her on the corner before he sat down in his chair.

"There. Now it's truly perfect," Dazai teased as he leaned back.

She laughed lightly as she sat on his desk. "You are such a weirdo."

"But you love me." Dazai grinned as he crossed his arms.

Sayu sighed softly as she leaned back on her hands. "More than you know," she mumbled under her breath.

"So, as you know, executives are allowed to have an underling. A student, basically," Dazai spoke up as he looked at her a bit more seriously.

"Yeah. I was Koyo's student before she took on Chuuya," Sayu replied.

"And I was under Mori," Dazai added. "So now that I'm an exec, I get an underling."

"Did you already pick someone?"

"I have one thought, yes. And I've already planned our meeting."