"Checkmate!" Ranpo cheered. Kaori sighed and lifted her hands up in defeat.
"You win again Ranpo-san.." she sighed.
"Hehe." Kaori then started setting up the game again for them to play. It was a normal evening at the Armed Detective Agency. Everyone was doing work while Kaori and Ranpo were playing chess.
Ranpo had come back from a case about an hour ago and decided to play against Kaori in chess. Since they've started Ranpo had won every single game.
"Kaori I'm sure you'll beat me soon," Ranpo grinned, "that last game you were pretty close."
Kaori nodded, "I'll be sure to beat you this time!"
"Oho, well bring it on!"
But at that very moment, the door to the Agency opened. A woman walked in with a smile on her face. Kaori watched her as she walked towards Atsushi's desk.
"Hello Atsushi-kun!" She smiled.
"Hm? Oh! Hello there Remy-san!"
Ranpo glanced at Kaori, she didn't seem to care the woman was there at the moment anymore.
"Hi Kaori-chan!" Remy smiled. Her long black hair going down her back, she wore a bright pink dress, and had glasses that covered her hazel eyes.
"Hi..."
"Have you seen your dad anywhere? I was looking for him."
Kaori clenched her fist, "No...I haven't."
But at that moment, Dazai entered the room. He stretched his arms before yawning loudly. "Helloo." He said.
"A-ah! Dazai-san.."
"Hey! Dazai-san!" Remy waved at him, Dazai glanced at her and instantly smiled.
"Oh, hello Remy-chan!"
Kaori watched as Remy walked towards her father...
At the two of them smiling....
It's almost been a year since her father met Remy. They met on accidnet one time and they suddenly became friends. She even tried coming to Kaori's birthday, but couldn't cause she had to stay late at work. But she ended up giving her a small gift the next day..
A Gorilla plushy...
But Kaori hated Gorillas....then again she never told Remy that...
But she always didn't really like Remy. Always hanging out with her father like she knew him so well..
"Oh yes! Kaori-chan," she walked over to her now, "I was wondering if you wanted to come with me and your father to a party?"
Kaori felt her eye twitch, "You...and my father....party?"
Remy titled her head in confusion before saying, "Yeah! We were gonna go to a banquet with a few of my friends, if you wanted-,"
"No thanks. I enjoy eating at home." Kaori replied, moving her piece on the chess board.
"O-Oh...but I'm sure you'll have-,"
"Ranpo-san it's your turn."
Kaori tried her best to ignore Remy and put her attention on the chess game instead. Ranpo noticed and sighed, moving his piece.
"Darling, Remy was talking to you." Dazai said. Kaori bit her lip before turning back to Remy.
"Sorry....I was rude."
"No no It's okay-,"
"But I still don't want to go....sorry."
There was an awkward silence, Remy stood up and nodded. Dazai sighed as Atsushi walked between Remy and Kaori.
"Say Kaori-chan, wanna go eat at the cafe with me?"
Kaori's expression brightened instantly, "Okay! Ranpo-san did you wanna come too?" She asked. But Ranpo shook his head.
"Nah, you go have fun. I'll wait for you to come back."
Kaori nodded and grabbed Atsushi's hand as they made their way out of the office. She ignored Remy' s expression....
Ignored her father's sad face...
As Atsushi closed the door behind them he sighed. Kneeling down to look at Kaori.
"Are you gonna yell at me?"
"...No...I can't ever get mad at you." He smiled, patting Kaori's head.
"I'm sorry Atsushi..."
"It's fine Kaori, I understand why you're acting this way....but...don't you wanna give her a chance? I don't think Dazai-san would ever fall in love with anyone but your mother."
"......." Kaori glanced down at the floor. So Atsushi could tell...that she was worried about that.
"Kaori?"
"Okay...I'll try be nicer..." she mumbled.
Atsushi nodded and hugged her. But he knew that she was still worried about it....worried her father will leave her and the memories of her mother..
"Lets go, I know you wanna eat the cafes famous truffle cake right now." Atsushi smiled, as he took Kaori's hand again.
"Mhm!"
▪▪▪
"Kaori are you sure you'll be okay?" Dazai asked, as he finished getting dressed. Kaori nodded as she flipped the page of her book.
"I'm fine."
Dazai stared at his daughter for a moment, "Is there something you want to tell me?"
Kaori clenched her book a little more tightly. Trying not to look at her father. If anything, she wanted to ask him to stay..
Stay and play board games with her....
Play games on her new game system...
Read stories together...
Sing songs till they fell asleep..
Like they always would...
"....No...have fun.."
Dazai nodded and was about to make his way to the door...
"Augh!" Kaori turned around to see her dad clenching his chest, his face showing he was in pain.
"Daddy!" She dropped her book and ran to him, touching his face gently as she tried to figure out what was wrong.
"Daddy! What's wrong!? Please tell me-," but to her shock, Dazai grabbed her and pulled her close to him. Her head on his shoulder while his was on her shoulder.
"Huh..."
"Sorry...you just...seemed to be ignoring me...so I lied a little.." Dazai moved back to look down at his daughter.
"Oh..."
"Are you mad at me?"
Kaori blinked before looking down, "No..."
"Are you sad?"
"No..."
"....Is it because of Remy-chan?" Kaori flinched, as she tried hard not to look at her father. But her silence already gave him the answer.
Sighing Dazai grabbed his phone, dialing a number before placing it by his ear. Kaori watched as her father waited and waited until the person on the other side answered the phone.
"Hello? Remy-chan...Um actually I might be late tonight....no no it's fine I don't need help with anything....mhm....yes, you guys can order without me....alright...bye bye!" Dazai then hung up the phone and glanced down at his daughter.
"Why...did you-,"
"I knew you would miss me while I'm gone, but to think I'd have to resort to that~" Dazai grinned, as he playfully patted his daughters head.
"H-Huh!? I wasn't gonna miss you!" She grumbled.
"Then...should I go already after all?" Dazai smirked. Kaori glared at her father, she then stood up and turned on their T.V, setting up the game system.
"You have to beat me at Mario Kart in order to leave!" Kaori said, as she handed her father a remote. Dazai grinned and took the remote from his daughter.
"You better be prepared to loose!"
"No you!"
The two of them laughed as they began to play. Their games have lasted the entire night, even when Dazai had won his first game he had forgotten that he had a party to go to in the first place...
Because being wih his daughter was more then enough fun for him, then any party..
Their games went on throughout the night, even as it hit midnight. The two of them fell asleep on their living room floor. Smiles on their faces as they dreamed of happy things...
Together...
▪▪▪
"Are you sure I can have all this?" Kaori asked, as the worker placed another cake in the box in front of her.
"Of course! I know that you and your father love our cakes!"
"I see....thank you Tei-san!" Kaori smiled, as Tei closed the box gently and placed it in a bag. Kaori stood up and took the bag, making her way towards the door.
She stopped and turned around, "Thank you again Tei-san!" She said, waving goodbye as she closed the cafe door. She then made her way up the stairs to the Agency.
She couldn't help but remember of all the fun things her and her father did. How her dad won and would do a weird dance...how they would sing their own songs to the beat of the music from the game...how adorable her father's laugh was..
"I'm sure daddy will be happy with these!" She grinned, as she opened the door-
But she stopped...
Her mind blank...
Her eyes wide...
Dropping the bag of cakes...
She couldn't breath.....and it felt like her heart was being squeezed..
In front of her...
Was Remy....kissing her father...
"What...."
Dazai pushed Remy away as she looked up at him with teary eyes. Ranpo, Atsushi, and Kunikida who were there to see it just stood there in shock.
"REMY WH-,"
"I ALREADY TOLD YOU! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE SUCH AN IDIOT!"
"WH-,"
"I SAID THAT I LOVED YOU! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH OSAMU!"
Kaori heard a crack....a loud echoing crack...
Love....him?
Her legs gave up and she fell on the ground, the sound loud enough as to where it made everyone in the room look at her. Atsushi was the fiest to react to seeing her.
"K-Kaori!" He cried, as he ran towards her. He helped her up and checked to see if she was alright.
But Kaori didn't seem to hear his words....
She knew his lips were moving...but there was no sound...
The only thing that was on her mind...was what she just saw...
"So....you love mommy right? No one can ever replace her?"
"Of course not, your mother...is one of a kind."
Kaori felt tears...tears falling down her cheeks and on the floor. One word echoing over and over again as she looked at her father's shocked expression..
Liar...
Liar...
Liar...
"LIAR!" She cried, as she backed away from Atsushi. She stood up and tried wiping her tears away...scratching and wiping to make them dissappear..
But they didn't..
"Kaori-,"
"NO!" She covered her ears as Atsushi called her name.
Dazai then made his way towards her....walking slolwy as he held out his hand. He then placed it on his daughters shaking head.
"Darling...darling I-,"
"STAY AWAY!" She then...out of pure rage and confusion...slapped her father's hand away. When she realized what she did she froze again, slowly looking up at her father..
Her father's pained...and shocked expression...
How could she....do that to him?
"Darling!"
Kaori clenched her fist before running away, opening the door as she ran down the stairs..
"KAORI!" Dazai cried, as he ran after her. But Kaori ignored him, running faster and faster...tears pouring faster down her cheek...
She ran across the road and was about to go into the crowd-
"DARLING!"
She glanced back....Dazai trying to find her amongst the crowd...
But she kept running....farther and farther...
Until she was now lost...in the sea of people...
▪▪▪
Dazai walked back into the office, rushing past Atsushi towards his desk. He then grabbed a phone and started dialing a number...any number..
"DAZAI!" He ignored Remy as she tried to catch his attention.
"R-Remy-,"
"SHUT UP ATSUSHI! THIS IS NONE OF YOUR CONCERN!" Atsushi backed away from her, glaring as she pulled Dazai by the collar.
"YOU TOLD ME-TOLD ME YOU WERE-,"
"That I was what..." Dazai glanced at her, as if she was mere trash on the road, "In love with you?" He scoffed. "I only told you we could be better friends...nothing more." He replied.
Remy clenched her jaw as she pulled Dazai closer, "WHAT IN THE HELL?! I TRUSTED YOU-I EVEN LOVED YOU! I THOUGHT THIS WHOLE TIME YOU LOVED ME BACK!"
Dazai slammed the phone down as he looked at her now. "Why the hell...should I love you?" He asked.
"EXCUSE ME!? WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS PAST YEAR WAS FOR!?"
"You're an idiot.."
Remy punched Dazai across the face. Making Dazai turn his head all the way to the right.
"REMY-SAN!"
"I SAID THIS IS NONE OF YOUR CONCERN ATSUSHI!"
"WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN EVEN DO THAT TO DAZAI-SAN!? WHAT EVEN MADE YOU THINK HE LOVED YOU!?" Atsushi cried, his tone annoyed and furious.
Kunikida and Ranpo glared at Remy, showing that they agreed with what Atsushi had to say.
"As much as I hate him....this is rather cruel of you Remy-san." Kunikida said.
"Comes to show...I knew you weren't good from the start." Ranpo spat. Remy glared at them before looking at Dazai.
"I'M THE IDIOT!? I WOULD THINK KAORI'S MOTHER IS AN IDIOT!"
Dazai stiffened....
"HOW DARE YOU-,"
"SHUT UP ATSUSHI-AM I WRONG!?" She cried, "HER MOTHER ABANDONED HER-LEFT HER TO BE WITHOUT A MOM! HOW THE HELL IS SHE NOT A-,"
"You know...." Dazai sighed, as he grabbed Remy's hand and squeezed it rather tight. Making Remy yelp in pain as he continued.
"One, I honestly wanna kill you..for what you just said..." as he looked back up at Remy, she felt as if she was looking at...
A devil...
Even Atsushi, Kunikida, and Ranpo seemed a little afraid to approach Dazai.
"If anything...she sacrificed her life so that our daughter could live..so we could live a happy life.." he pulled Remy close as he whispered in her ear, "If I had a choice, I wouldn't hesitate to switch her with you....and you'd be the one that had to burn to death instead of her..."
Remy shivered as Dazai backed away, releasing his grip on her.
"Get the hell out of my sight...I have no reason to love you...for I love and always will only love...Kaori's mother."
Remy scoffed as she walked towards the door, slamming it shut.
That was the last time she ever walked into the agency..
Dazai then glanced at the three men before him, his expression now a worried and desperate one. He knelt down on his knees as he said.
"I-,"
"Don't..." he looked up at Kunikida, who sighed. "Don't say anything. We need to find Kaori, that's what's important." He said.
Dazai stared at him in shock for a moment before smiling for a split second...
Glad to have such amazing people in his life. Atsushi, Kunikida, and Ranpo all tried to find clues to help Ranpo possibly use his skill to find Kaori.
But Dazai stood up, his expression became serious as he picked up the phone again. Dialing the number he originally wanted to call. It would be better to do as much as he could..
To bring his daughter back home safely...
"Hello? Hi...no...I actually need help finding someone..."
No matter what...
He was gonna bring Kaori back...
▪▪▪
Poe sighed as he glanced around the buildings and crowds of people around him.
Glancing at the text (Y/N) sent him an hour ago..
Ango asked me to stay back and help him, Yukito, and Mizuki with stuff. Sorry but could you go check out that bakery for clues without me >-<
"I swear (Y/N)..." he sighed, as he placed his phone back into his pocket and continued on.
He and (Y/N) were supposed to go to a bakery near the end of town to try and get some clues on the next person they were trying to find...
But she got a last minute call for help..
"She could've at least left Carl with me..." he cried quietly.
But as he made his way towards the park, in the smack dab middle of the city he felt something-or someone- bump into him. He glanced down and saw a little girl on the ground.
"O-Oh! Are you-,"
But as he looked down and got a better look at the girl, he realized he knew exactly who the girl was.
"Kaori?"
Kaori flinched as she heard her name. Glancing up with her eyes red from crying, and her leg had a cut on it that was oozing out little bits of blood.
"W-what happened!?" Poe cried, as he knelt down and gently patted Kaori's wound with his jacket.
Kaori sniffed as she whimpered, "I'm....terrible.."
"Terrible?"
She wiped her nose, "I-I-I slapped my dad...and yelled at Atsushi-kun-and hurt Remy-chan's feelings!" She cried.
Poe had no idea what she was talking about, but knew that whatever happened...it made Kaori very upset and sad. He pulled her over to him and hugged her, not knowing what else to do..
Now that he thought about it, Kaori would do this for him too whenever Ranpo solved one of his books..
Which was all the time..
"Don't worry Poe-san! You'll get Ranpo one day, I just know it!"
Poe smiled as Kaori glanced up at him, the sadness that surrounded her disappeared for a moment..
"Kaori...what's the matter?" Poe asked. "I know...I'm not really someone you would turn to when your down and all...but if my words or actions can help you, I'll be willing to." He said.
Kaori was silent for a moment. She had never seen Poe do something like this for anyone...
Taking a breather she said, "Poe-san...do you think...my daddy still loves my mommy? Do you think...he would leave me and his memories of mom...for someone else....do you think my mom...really loved me?"
Poe didn't expect this kind of question....
But somehow, knew of an answer to it..
"Kaori...I say this truthfully and honestly..."
"Of course I wanna see them....but I'm sure...they'll be fine without me.."
"Your mother and father love you very much, more then anything in the world." He stood up and helped Kaori up before continuing, "I'm sure that your father could never fall in love with anyone else but her...and that he would never replace or leave you for anyone." He smiled.
Kaori felt as if a huge burden got lifted off her shoulders...
All the anger she felt towards her father disappeared....all the hate she felt for Remy had also disappeared from exsitance..
All she wanted now...
Was to be in her father's arms again..
She whimpered as she hugged Poe back tightly. She knew...that his words were the truth...
Cause she knew that what Poe said...was truly from his heart..
"You ready to go home?" Poe asked, as Kaori wiped her final set of tears away.
"Yes....please.."
As they walked back to the Agency, Poe couldn't help but keep glancing at Kaori. Now that he knew she was (Y/N)'s daughter...he realized just how similar the two were..
"Say...Kaori, can I ask you something?"
"Mhm! Of course you can!"
"Do you....never mind." Poe turned away, leaving Kaori in confusion. But she chose to ignore what happened and continued walking. Kaori ended up talking about what had happened, from the beginning to the end, and why she ran away.
"I see...that Remy person really loves Dazai-san huh?" He said.
"Well....a lot of women would come after my dad. Asking him out to places and stuff...but he'd always make up excuses and go on his way...but this time..." she sighed. "I'm sure...I was being overdramatic...like a fool."
"Oh don't be like that."
"But it's true!"
"True to you. You're still young Kaori, I can understand if things like this affect-,"
"I hate that..." she mumbled, "I hate people using that excuse...'Too Young'...is it wrong for me to be who I am even though I'm young?"
Poe thought for a moment, "You know...your mother was like that too."
Kaori glanced up at him, "Like...what?"
"Too good at a young age, people having told her that she couldn't do things cause she was young...that she wouldn't understand.." he laughed softly as the memories of those times started to replay in his mind.
"Too young!? No I ain't! If anything I'm more mature then any of the adults at school!"
"If a old person can do it then so can I!"
"So what if I'm young!? It just means I'm better then you think I am!"
"You knew...my mother?"
Poe nodded, "Mhm, we were childhood friends."
"Cool!" She smiled.
"She was only...hm...five years old and was already doing ninth grade work and worked as a teacher who taught some basic math to other children."
"R-Really!?"
"Mhm, then by seven she taught many villagers how to hunt and fight and graduated from our villages College. Then when she was nine, she was the one who always helped our town mayor when other council members from another town or city came."
"Woah..."
"Right? Your mom was one heck of a person....and she didn't let the 'Being too young' excuse get to her at all."
Kaori smiled as she looked up at the sky, "I wish...I could've met her.."
Poe bit the inside of his mouth...
He wanted to tell her...
You can see her...
"When we kill Fyodor...then...I'll feel safe..and okay to be with them again."
"Yeah..." was all he could say. As they finally reached the Agency, Kaori seemed a little more hesitant to move now. Poe had to literally drag her up the stairs as they now stood in front of the entrance to the Agency.
"....."
"Kaori?"
"H-Huh!?
"Go ahead, open it." Poe smiled. Kaori was silent for a moment, before taking a deep breath and opening the door-
"PLEASE-SHE'S A CUTE LITTLE GIRL WITH THE CUTEST EYES AND-YES I KNOW I'M YELLING-EXCUSE ME?!" Dazai growled, as he slammed the phone down. He then grabbed a pen and crossed off a number on the board beside him, dialing a new number in the phone.
Atsushi was looking through files and handed them to Kunikida, who then used the numbers to call people.
"Hello? Yes I'm looking for a girl..."
Ranpo on the other hand...seemed to have been waiting. When Kaori opened the door, his attention immediately went to the door. As he noticed Kaori, his eyes sparkled.
"Ri-chan!" He cried.
Atsushi and Kunikida stopped what they were doing as they had also noticed Kaori.
"Kaori-chan!"
"Kaori!"
Dazai stopped moving, he then moved the phone away from his ear and turned around. His eyes were full of tears, and his and nose were all red, and a small amount of snot was dripping out of his nose.
But as he too saw Kaori, his expression changed instantly.
"Darling!" He cried, as he dropped the phone and ran towards her. But to his shock she hid behind Poe, hiding her face from him.
"D-Dar-,"
"I don't deserve it..." she mumbled, as her tears appeared again, "I don't deserve an amazing dad like you.." she cried.
Dazai clenched his fist as he sat criss-crossed on the floor, "Please...I don't deserve to be blessed with such a beautiful, smart, and amazing daughter like you." He smiled.
Upon hearing those words Kaori started to cry out loud now, as she ran towards Dazai.
"Daddy!" She cried, as she jumped into his arms. Dazai hugged her tightly, kissing her on the forehead multiple times as he too started to cry.
"Daddy is sorry Darling-I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings! I'll never love anyone more then I love you and your mother!" He cried, as Kaori rubbed her head gently into her father's chest.
"I-I'm sorry I hit you-and yelled at you!" She cried. The two of them crying loudly in one another's arms as everyone else just smiled at them.
"Thank you, Poe-kun." Dazai said, as he and Kaori finally calmed down again. Poe shook his head frantically.
"N-No! Don't bother!" He cried. "I'm glad that Kaori was able to come home!" But at that moment, Kaori had now jumped on Poe. Hugging him tightly with her arms.
"Thank you...Poe-san! For everything!" She said. Poe sighed and patted her gently. Kaori then jumped off him and ran back to Dazai.
"Now then....not to be rude but I must take my leave." Poe said, as he bowed.
"Eh!? Already!?"
"Y-Yes...sadly."
"Well, thank you again Poe-san." Dazai said.
"Of course." Poe then waved as he made his way to the door. But he stopped, and turned back at Kaori.
"Hey....Kaori?"
"Hm?"
"Don't let that excuse stop you from what you wanna do...okay?" He said. Kaori's eyes widen for a second, before she grinned with confidence.
"You bet I won't!"
Poe nodded as he opened the door and closed it. Sighing to himself as he made his way down the stairs.
A new goal now in his mind...
"I wish....I could've met her..."
He wanted to make that a reality...to kill Fyodor and then..
Let Kaori finally see..her mother in the flesh. He smiled as he felt a new skip in his step..
Feeling more determined and ready to face whatever the future had in store..
-(END OF CHAPTER)-
(I apologize if this chapter was trash-I was actually debating if I should add it and I did so...yea lol. But sorry if it wasn't too good ;-;)
(Anywhoo thank you guys so much for reading and waiting. I think this chap really showed how much Dazai loves Kaori, which I love 😭💖)
(I hope you'll wait for the next one! Please vote if you enjoyed😗and have an amazing rest of your day/evening!! Bye bye!!)