Shadow Reaper - Soukoku - What if Dazai stayed in the Port Mafia?...

Suicide?!

 "Really?!...No... I can't..." The boy looks down scuffing the ground with one foot.                                  

 "Oh?~ And why is that?~" His seemingly friendly facade has shifted into a slightly predatory resemblance. As though he's just looking for someone to toy with. He asks his question in an almost sing-song manner coaxing the boy to satisfy his curiosity.                                                                  

"...T-there's a tiger...It's after me. Everywhere I go, i-it follows; it always finds me." The boy seems genuinely afraid of the tiger that he claims to be hunting him. He looks around a little before his eyes flicker back to the living mummy of a man, who, ignoring the bandages, could be described as smooth talking and a little charming with his (what would be fluffy if he wasn't soaked) dark mahogany hair and slightly too-pale complexion.                                                                                                

The man just raises an eyebrow. "Really? That is  interesting...We've actually been looking for a tiger. It was seen around here only two days ago..."

The boy now seems scared speechless shaking and the adrenaline can practically be seen running  through his veins. 

"If you'll excuse me I have to go now..." He starts to scurry away as though he were a frightened mouse.                      

"Hold it!" The man puts an arm across his chest to stop him from leaving. Then an evil sort of smirk plays on his lips, the corners lifting a little. "Would you be willing to help us find it then?" His gaze rests on the cowering boy who seems like a pathetic mess. His eyes seem to laugh with evil delight and cruel mocking at his fear as though it were a source of amusement for him.        

"I'm not being bait!" His tone rises slightly as he starts to panic, sweat beginning to accumulate on his forehead. The man calmly rolls his eyes as though he's heard it all before and continues in a lethargic sort of way. 

"There's a reward you know?" He removes his hand now, sure that the boy won't run off.   

" I c-can't be tempted with money!..." His amber eyes flicker down then back up. "But just out of curiosity...?"        

The man sighs. "600 yen."                                                                                                                                                  

"600 yen?!...I'll help you...but only this once!" He folds his arm clearly annoyed at himself. The man chuckles ever so slightly mirthful before continuing. "Excellent!" He claps his hands together. "Follow me then." He starts to walk off assuming the boy would follow.

The boy follows tagging along behind. "Where are we going?" 

The man answers without turning around. His hands resting in his pockets. "15th district warehouse." He continues to walk ahead with a sense of purpose.

"Isn't that the old, creepy and abandoned place right near the Port Mafia's territory?" He shudders, too many horrible thought creeping in from the edges of his mind.

"Well yes. but it's fine." His tone is light and he shrugs as he spoke.                                                              

"That sounds really dodgy." His pace speeds up a little.