Work Text:
╰┈➤One hour before Dazai’s Defection
Chuuya was buzzing with excitement as he got off the plane, stepping back into the ground of Yokohama.
In his pocket was a velvet box in a shade of red that almost looked like blood, housing a set of matching rings. Two simple silver bands, each with two jewels. One held a black diamond and a sapphire, the other held a black diamond and a ruby.
It was a purchase he made while drunk after a particularly bad day on his month long mission in the foreign country. He had woken up the next day with the ring box on his bedside table and a piece of paper with messily scrawled handwriting.
Chuuya could only assume that it was a script of what his drunk self wanted to say to Dazai in lieu of proposal he had burned the paper almost immediately after reading it. Some of the things written were way too inappropriate for a proposal.
After mulling it over for the entire morning, he had decided to follow through with the drink purchase he had made. How bad could it go? After all, Chuuya had been dating Dazai since they were 15.
Chuuya was giddy as he was driven back to the Port Mafia headquarters. As he walked through the port Mafia halls. As he gave his report to Mori. He only stopped to tell Ane-san about his plan to propose. The woman had not looked joyous but she seemed content enough that it would grant Chuuya happiness.
Chuuya was so happy that he decided to walk back to his penthouse instead of taking a car. He needed to calm his nerves a bit. So it didn’t give it away too soon. So he could calm down.
If only he had taken the car.
Chuuya had only just unlocked the door to his home, expecting a oversized mackerel to pounce on him as soon as he walked through the door, when he heard a ping from his work phone.
He’d just gotten back, there’s no way he could be another job, right?
Oh how he wished it was a job.
Dazai Osamu has now been deemed a traitor of the Port Mafia. If any member of the Port Mafia finds him, they are to bring him in immediately. Any member found with him that does not take such action will be deemed a traitor along with him.
Chuuya swears he felt his heart drop out of his chest.
He runs to the garage as fast as he possibly can. Surely this is a sick joke right? Dazai wanted to mess with him and had roped Mori into it.
Right?
He reaches the garage to seen his car in flames. Bits of the metal had embedded into the walls around it. A tire was burning as it rolled away from the wreckage.
”Fuck—“ Chuuya uses gravity to stop the fire by decreasing the oxygen around it and hops onto his motorcycle. This was just another prank. Haha Dazai. Very funny.
He breaks every traffic law and gets to headquarters in 10 minutes flat.
Its the longest 10 minutes in his life.
The headquarters is in shambles. Workers running around like headless chickens. They all freeze at the sight of Chuuya. Clearing the path for him to walk straight to the elevators that will take him to the Boss’s office.
Hah…Dazai was really going all in for this one. Roping the entire Mafia in on it? What, was this an article on that stupid magazine Dazai ran about Chuuya? Dazai stopped making that magazine ages ago and he knows it.
Chuuya swung the door to Mori’s office wide open. Mori didn’t look surprised to see him. So obviously this is a prank.
”Boss…have you seen the slimy bastard? He’s sent some shitty email to fuck with me—“
”Chuuya-kun.” Chuuya broke out in a cold sweat. Mori sighed, as if this was a small inconvenience. “Dazai-kun has defected. He’s now a traitor to the port Mafia. This is not a prank.”
Chuuya stared at Mori. When did the rings start weighing ten tonnes?
”Hah…real funny, boss? Where’s Dazai’s friend? What’s his name? The grunt? Uh…Odasaku! Yeah Odasaku…where’s he? He’ll set him straight boss. I’ll go find him right now”
”Sakunosuke Oda is dead.”
…
Huh?
”Dead?”
”Dead. He had gone to engage with an enemy and died in a shootout with the leader of that group who had the same ability as him. Fret not, the leader died as well.”
Chuuya couldn’t believe it.
There’s no way a grunt like Odasaku could’ve possibly been involved with the leader like this. Mori had to have pulled some strings. He had to.
His eyes drifted to the ability user permit on the wall behind Mori’s desk. One he distinctively remembered was not there before.
”Oh. Hah…hahahahah…I’ll go fish the bastard out myself then. Thanks, Boss”
Chuuya mustered as much of a bow as he could before running out the room.
He ran as fast as he could. There was only one person in the entire mafia that wouldn’t be swayed by Dazai’s antics.
”Ane-San!” He burst into the room, looking at Kouyou desperately for something, anything to inform him that this was some unpleasantly time joke Dazai had concocted as a welcome home gift.
Kouyou smiled bitterly, gesturing to the two teacups in front of her.
”I’m sorry, lad”
Chuuya collapsed at the door, falling to his knees as he clutched the door handle.
”But…but…the…”
Kouyou hurried over to him, pulling him into a warm hug.
It felt wrong.
Dazai was meant to be the first person he hugged when I came back.
He should’ve been celebrating with Dazai by now. Putting a ring on the slimy bastard’s finger. Popping open a good bottle of wine or whisky and planning who to invite to their wedding.
Fuck. He was meant to be celebrating. Not panicking.
Distantly, he felt tears slide down his face into Kouyou’s kimono. He tried lifting his head back to avoid ruining it, but Kouyou held his head there and patted his head back.
”It’s ok, lad. You’re ok.”
Chuuya hugged Kouyou back, sobbing his eyes out.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈
Chuuya doesn’t know when he stumbled back into his penthouse.
It was so…quiet.
His coat wasn’t there. Dazai’s coat wasn’t on the coatrack.
His shoes weren’t by the door.
His toothbrush wasn’t in the bathroom.
His stupid fucking suicide book wasn’t on the bookshelf.
Chuuya let out a shout of frustration as he pulled the rings out of his pocket and threw them on the floor. Letting the box thump on the hardwood floor.
He ran to pick it back up less than 5 seconds later.
Grabbing a bottle of wine from the cabinet, he uncorked it and started to pour the contents into the glass. He drank straight from the bottle after deciding the glass didn’t hold enough alcohol to satisfy what he needed.
The nice buzz filled his head almost immediately. It filled his brain with a nice static emptiness that being sober could never bring. Especially with Arahabaki occupying his head all the time.
He opened the box and pulled out the ring meant for Dazai. The band was small than Chuuya’s since Dazai had stupidly nice long fingers. Pianist hands. They weren’t meant for the violence of the Mafias. They were pale, smooth. Unblemished by blisters unlike Chuuya’s palms that were covered in them. Dazai’s hands were smaller than Chuuya’s.
Are smaller than Chuuya’s! Why’s Chuuya thinking of him in past tense? It’s not like the bastard’s dead. Is he?
The thought sent the ginger into a cold sweat as he abruptly stood up. No. Dazai can’t be dead. Right?
”Shit- Dazai-“ Chuuya fumbled for his keys and stomped into his shoes, bending the backs, as he ran out the door. Dazai can’t be dead. He absolutely can’t.
He can’t remember much. He faintly remembers running and Yokohama in the dead of night, searching all of the asshole’s hiding places. His container, Bar Lupin, the roof of that building where they wiped out the organisation that night, Rimbaud’s grave, the arcade, Dazai’s favourite river…the roof of the Port Mafia…
Chuuya couldn’t find him anywhere.
This is fucking stupid.
Why was Chuuya searching for the mackerel like a dog? He’s no one’s dog. Especially not that fucker’s dog.
Fine! If the bastard wanted to disappear. If he wanted to be fucking dead. Who’s Chuuya to stop him? Let him be fucking dead. See if he cares! He absolutely didn’t! He prefers the quiet he left behind anyways!
Chuuya had always been good at finding Dazai during their numerous games of hide and seek. What, did the bastard go easy on him before? Why can’t he find him this time?
Chuuya stepped back into his penthouse. As cold and empty as he left it. He slumped back onto the counter, swirling the glass of Petrus he had originally poured for himself.
”Bastard…you win ok? You win this round of hide and seek. Just come out…I lost, ok? Is that what you wanna hear?”
Silence. Absolutely shitty silence.
Chuuya scoffed as he raised his glass slightly.
”Maybe you finally fufilled your fucking death wish then. Fine. I’ll drink to you then, shitty mackerel. Congrats on finally killing yourself. Couldn’t even say goodbye could ya? Asshole…”
Chuuya felt more tears fall down his face. Fuck. He hasn’t cried this much in ages. Guess some things never change huh?
He only remembers blinking out of consciousness on the counter, falling into a dreamless sleep again, alone for the first time in years.
(After he fell asleep, a figure in black appeared next to him. Like a wraith. He laid a blanket over Chuuya and left a soft kiss in his head, smiling bitterly.
”I’m sorry, Chuuya…I hope you can forgive me”
And he was gone again)
╰┈➤One week after Dazai’s Defection.
He’s going crazy. He has to be.
Since the bastard’s left, he’s been absolutely piled in the paperwork Dazai left behind. Obviously, Chuuya’s used to doing a ton of the lazy bastard’s paperwork. He barely ever lifted a finger to help anyways! Who needs him? Paperwork was way more fun with Dazai around to keep him company.
The paperwork is making him more irritated. That’s why he’s not upset. And that’s what he’s been telling his idiotic co-workers that have been looking at him like he’s newly widowed. Isn’t he basically? It’s getting on his last fucking nerve. He’s sick of the people coming up to him telling him he’ll ’get through this’
Get through what? The paperwork he has to handle because the love of his fucking life fucked off somewhere and died? He’ll fucking get through this just fine, thank you! Shitheads thinking he’s some fragile ass flower. He’ll have them all know! He’s the strongest martial artist in the port Mafia and he is most certainly not weak. He’s absolutely fine. Fucking peachy.
So what if he’s been going to Kouyou office more often in the past week? Ane-san makes fucking good tea.
It’s not because he needed the reassuring she gives him to get through the day. The reassurance that Dazai is doing just fine.
They never talk about the matter of his mortality. Chuuya nearly broke down the first and last time they did.
He’s starting to resent Mori. The old bastard hasn’t sent him out on a proper fucking mission since he got back. It’s not the only reason he’s resenting him more. The boss has to know he needs the distraction.
He nearly crushes the head of the subordinate currently in front of him, giving their condolences for Chuuya’s supposed loss.
He’s had enough.
”If I hear another fucking word of his defection, I’m gonna send you all to Daza— I mean- I’m sending you all to the Boss to go through his special training. Clear?”
All his subordinates nodded before scrambling off to do their jobs. Fuck. Chuuya nearly said it wrong.
He does feel a little guilty. He usually treats his subordinates more nicely than this. But he was just truly, genuinely sick of the pitying looks he’s been getting the past week. He can’t fucking stand it.
Chuuya digs his fingers into a handful of his ginger hair and tugs lightly to try and stave off his headache. Clearly it’s not fucking working.
Then again he doesn’t think it’s ever worked when he did it himself. It only worked when shitty Dazai did it. Obviously Dazai had left out a crucial instruction. Why else would it only work when he did it?
Chibi has a headache again? That’s what your get for being a silly workaholic dog ~ Come here, I’ll be a good doggy owner and fix it for you~!
Fuck. Chuuya needs another drink.
He shakes that urge off. He needs to finish all this shitty paperwork first. He ignores how his signature has slowly been getting sloppier and lazier. Doesn’t matter. As long as it looks close enough, right?
He barely notices when a hand lands on his shoulder, a red hue immediately surrounding him, ready to fight.
He pushes it down when he sees Mori’s face looking at him with an amused expression.
“Boss…”
”Good evening, Chuuya-kun…would you step into my office for a moment? There’s a matter I’d like to discuss with you.”
Chuuya fought down the bile that rose up his throat, standing up wordlessly to follow Chuuya.
The office door clicked shut behind them as Mori seated himself behind his mahogany desk.
In front of that damned silver slip of paper.
”Chuuya-kun, I understand you threatened your subordinates with uh…special training from me?”
Seriously? He had to come in here for something as stupid as this?
Chuuya’s face scrunched up unwillingly.
”Apologies…Boss.” That title felt strange on his tongue right now “But I was getting annoyed with the sheer amount of them coming up to me with…condolences. I’ve told them many times to stop distracting me with the matter but they wouldn’t listen. So I gave them incentive to stop.”
A silence hung through the air as Mori seemed to survey him. Reading his mind. His soul.
Chuuya shuddered lightly. Is this what Dazai experience when Mori called him to his office privately?
Mori smiled politely, hands folding together. “Of course Chuuya-kun. Using a little fear to get your subordinates into line doesn’t hurt anyone”
His stomach churned. He might have thrown up if he hadn’t forgone lunch. He usually despised using such tactics, preferring to command his subordinates with trust.
Elise coloured happily in the corner. If Chuuya wasn’t mistaken, it was a brown haired boy covered in black, hanging from a noose.
He looked away very quickly.
“That said, I have noticed you’ve seen quite…unsettled since Dazai’s departure. Perhaps you need a little time off, to get your mind off it?”
No.
Fuck no.
Anything else. Anything but leaving Chuuya with nothing to do and no company but silence and alcohol.
“Boss that’s really not necessary—“
”No, Chuuya-kun, I insist truly. Take the next two weeks off. You’ll still be paid, don’t worry.” Mori’s smile was cold. The old bastard knew. He knew this wasn’t want Chuuya wanted.
”Boss seriously—“
”Goodbye Chuuya, enjoy your break.”
It was so…final. Chuuya couldn’t argue. He had to leave.
Kouyou was outside, tight lipped. Like she knew and tried to stop it but couldn’t.
She handed Chuuya a bag filled with food boxes and random ingredients.
”I’ll visit as much as I can.”
Fuck.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈
The door was not shown much kindness as Chuuya practically slammed it open.
His blood was boiling. Seething.
Mori. He knows
He knows damn well isolation is the last fucking thing he needs right now. Was it probably good for some? Yes. Not Chuuya. Never Chuuya. Because being alone meant silence. Being alone meant the only other voice Chuuya could hear was him. It. Arahabaki.
His hands shook as he placed the boxes of food into his fridge, not wanting to let Kouyou’s care go to waste so quickly.
He could feel his blood pressure spiking.
Tick. Tick.
BANG
His foot split the wooden coffee table clean in half, his breath coming out in heaving gasps.
”Fucking hell—!”
His vision was red. He could feel his ability flicker on and off.
On. Off. On. Off.
Boom.
There was a hole in the wall.
Chuuya cursed, making his way to his bedroom. Maybe if he searched hard enough, he would find some melatonin gummies Dazai left behind and force himself to sleep.
He pulls his bedroom door straight off the hinges.
It’s flung into the guest bedroom with a crash.
He practically falls to his hands and knees, digging through drawers and cabinets. Looking for any trace of the gummies. Of Dazai.
His breath hitches as he sees the ring box.
It’s mocking him.
Chuuya’s hands tremble as he opens it. Scared that one wrong move, and he would crush the rings in his palms.
They’re still right there. The matching rings.
A beat of hesitation, he pulls the glove on his left hand off. Letting his bare skin smooth over the rings. They’re stupidly perfect despite the fact that they were a drunken purchase.
Chuuya places the ring with the ruby on his ring finger. The one that was meant for him. The one he was meant to have been wearing for a week now.
His eyes land on the other one.
He stares at it for a moment.
He places it on his pinky finger.
It fits.
The rings look nice side by side. On fingers inside of in a box.
Although he’d originally imagined them on the fingers of two different hands.
The ginger doesn’t know when his breathing calms. He just knows that it did. His gaze sweeps from the box to the rings on his fingers. Contemplating.
The box stays empty.
Chuuya sighed as he makes his way to the kitchen again, wincing as he sees the destroyed coffee table and the hole in the wall.
He can deal with that later.
He looks through the food he has in the fridge and starts to cook, making curry instead of eating the boxed meals Kouyou had given him.
He didn’t want his hands to be idle.
He chops the onions, the potatoes, the carrots and the chicken.
The curry cubes are thrown in.
The rice is boiled.
Two plates are dished and served.
…
He stares down at the two plates of curry.
It’s really strange, going from making food for two constantly to making food for one.
One of the portions was even smaller. The plate suited for Dazai’s appetite.
He thanks fate when the doorbell rings and he remembers Kouyou’s promise to come visit.
She opens the door, surveying the damage to the penthouse. A broken coffee table, a hole in the wall…the missing door to the bedroom.
Her eyes land on the two plates of curry, one portion clearly smaller.
Thankfully, she doesn’t ask.
She just sits down at the table as Chuuya adds a bit more to the smaller plate.
The dinner wasn’t too silent. Kouyou talked about her day in the Mafia. About a particularly rowdy client at her brothel that she had to deal with. About an overzealous business partner that kept talking down to her, seemingly because of her gender. About How Chuuya’s subordinates had been placed in the care of Hirotsu for the time being.
Neither of them addressed the phantom that hung over them.
Chuuya simply nodded into his food, smiling at the company.
That night, long after Kouyou leaves, he lays in bed staring at the glittering rings on his hand.
Dazai’s pillow still smelled like Dazai.
He hugs it tight to his chest.
It was quite strange really. The fact that Dazai had a distinct smell despite the fact he didn’t use any cologne. Some coconut smell? Surprisingly not a hint of whisky or sake, despite the fact he drinks both like water.
”Chuuyaa-! I wasn’t wearing your hoodie! It’s soo tiny it would suffocate me anyways-!” Dazai whined, arms crossed together as if he was defending himself in court against a particularly ridiculous claim.
Chuuya had thrown the hoodie at him, nose scrunching.
”Cut the shit, Dazai! I can smell your stupid fishy scent all over it! You’re not fooling me, bastard!”
Dazai shrieked as Chuuya had tackled him to the floor, face a fit of giggles.
”Is Chuuya some sort of police dog or something? I don’t even where cologne but you can still smell me!”
Chuuya rolled his eyes, jabbing Dazai in the side just to hear his flustered squawk.
”Fuck you! I’m not a dog! You just fucking reek of coconuts! You’re a shitty liar, saying you don’t use cologne”
Chuuya really wished he used cologne. If he did, at least Chuuya could have hunted the bottle down and sprayed it wherever the fuck he wanted.
He had tried to find a cologne that replicated Dazai. Or even a shitty perfume that he got looks for. People apparently thought he was shopping for his girlfriend.
What fucking girlfriend.
Nothing was remotely like Dazai. Nothing.
Chuuya groaned, burying his face in the stupid pillow.
“Shitty mackeral.”
(Mori sighed, looking over Yokohama in his office.
He had hoped Chuuya would break down, let corruption take over.
The care that Dazai held for him was insurmountable. He would’ve dashed out of wherever he was hiding to save Chuuya.
Oh well. He had plenty of time)
╰┈➤3 months after Dazai’s defection
Chuuya tapped his fingers against the marble counter, eyes sweeping around the room again.
Still no sign of the arms dealer that was stealing from the Port Mafia wares.
Chuuya sighed to himself, pinching the bridge of his nose with two fingers.
This was taking too long.
Logically, he knew this was the normal time it took on a stakeout mission like this. People usually don’t have a mackeral that can put on a wig and a pretty dress and then coax any and every answer he needed out of people. They didn’t have a prodigy with a mind moving so quick that he could scan the room and identify a target immediately.
People normally didn’t have Dazai.
Chuuya swirls the champagne glass in his hand, watching people mingle and talk. Boasting about an amazing deal. A pretty fuck. A ceiling overcome.
A flash of brunette hair.
Chuuya’s head whipped around, eyes tracing the flow of brunette hair around the corner, watching as the dark blue dress fluttered out of sight.
Calm down, Chuuya. It’s not him.
It’s not him.
It’s not him—
He curses as he ducks into the corner he saw the figure disappear into. He really shouldn’t be following her. For all he knows, he just missed the arms dealer going off with their client.
Plus. Even if it was Dazai, what would he do? Drag him back to the Mafia?
As if.
He goes up the stairs quietly, using gravity to lessen the sound of his footsteps.
Voices. He hears voices.
He sees the brunette woman, arguing with a man in a black suit.
Theres a box of weapons next to him.
The arms dealer.
Hushed voices penetrate the air, arguing, clearly.
”Prices have gone up, pretty missy. This loot’s from the Port Mafia. You know the hell I went through to get this box of stuff?”
”I don’t care if it’s from the Port Mafia, it’s the same guns as always! It’s not my fault you were stupid enough to steal from them!”
Chuuya lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.
It wasn’t Dazai.
That voice was definitely not Dazai’s.
Just a random woman.
Well. He has no reason to hide away then.
“So you’re that dumbass that raided our warehouse.”
He watches the two figures freeze as he steps out, letting a red glow surround him.
“I can’t tell if you’re a genius for managing to successfully steal our shit or a dumbass for doing it in the first place.”
The man panicked, pulling one of the handguns and shooting at him.
Idiot.
Chuuya catches the bullets easily, letting the man shoot until he runs out of ammunition.
The woman falls backwards, shaking her head. Clearly trying to play the pitiful card so Chuuya might spare her.
Chuuya lets three bullets tear through the man’s body before he turns her gaze to the woman.
She’s inching towards to box of weapons.
”Stop moving.”
She freezes in her tracks, eyes widening to look more scared.
Chuuya might’ve fell for it if he was some bastard that only thought about his dick.
Chuuya had no interest in a pretty face though. Well— he did. But only one person’s face was pretty enough to interest him anyway.
Chuuya cocked his head at her, feigning slight interest. Letting her get her hopes up.
whoosh.
He takes an strange pleasure watching the bullets fly into her, watching blood seep out of her onto the floor.
“Sorry Miss, I don’t have enough interest in you to fall for your pretty tricks.”
He really doesn’t know what he was thinking earlier. Upon closer inspection, she looked nothing like Dazai. At all. The height was clearly shorter and her skin wasn’t the porcelain pale of Dazai’s.
Fuck. He really needs a drink if he was tricked so easily.
Chuuya picks up his phone and dials a number, putting it to his ear.
”I’m done. You can pick me up now.”
”Understood, Chuuya-san”
click.
He throws one last look to the lifeless woman on the floor.
She was splayed in a way that Chuuya couldn’t properly see her face, just her brown hair covering it.
He lingers a bit longer.
He almost imagines if it was Dazai.
With slight difficulty and a stir in his stomach, he wrenches his head away and makes his way out the building to the sleek black car waiting for him outside.
Hirotsu is standing in front of it, holding the door open.
He raises a brow before offering Chuuya a cigarette.
”Rough job?”
Chuuya takes the cigarette gratefully, lighting it with his own lighter. It was a stupid looking one.
Chuuya tore open the wrapping, looking at the whisky-bottle novelty lighter with exasperation.
He looked at Dazai inquisitively.
”Seriously, Mackerel? I don’t even like this shitty drink. You’re the one who drinks the stuff like water.”
Dazai looked proud of himself. The asshole.
”Fufufu~ I learnt a method of conditioning dogs where you make them see something regularly until they get unhappy when they don’t see it. I’ll make you use this lighter until you get used to it then swap it for actual whisky!”
Chuuya had smacked him with a pillow for that.
”That’s the biggest piece of bullshit I’ve ever come out of your mouth.”
Chuuya put the cigarette to his lips and let the smoke fill his lungs before exhaling.
”Not really. Just really fucking long.”
Without Dazai. That part went unsaid.
They lingered there for a little longer until they heard sirens of the police. Then they got into the car as Hirotsu drove them back to headquarters.
(Dazai sighed, ripping the long wig off his head.
Ugh. This was truly the last time he was ever getting involved in Mafia work.
He quickly changed out of the shimmering blue dress and escaped the bathroom. Evading the police as he made his way back to the safe house.)
╰┈➤8 months after Dazai’s Defection
This was an ambush. Definitely.
Since when the fuck did so many people know about his birthday?
They’ve always known. Always. Dazai made sure it was as obnoxious as possible in his shitty newspaper.
He hasn’t gotten so many stupid wishes since…since. Well. He’d rather not think about it. It’s been 8 months after all.
Every few minutes, a new person came up to him and wished him a happy birthday.
He was grateful, he really was.
He was also grateful when he managed to hide into Kouyou’s office to her two warm cups of tea.
”I do not remember ever getting so many birthday wishes before. Seriously, what the fuck.”
Kouyou rolled her eyes. “Language, Lad.” As she gestured for Chuuya to take a seat across from her.
She hesitated for a moment before adding.
”You had a little..deterrent…before. One that made sure people stayed away and dragged you off before too many people crowded around you.”
Chuuya choked on his tea, sputtering as he regained his senses.
Right.
That’s true, wasn’t it?
They sat there for a while. Silence hung over them as they thought about what Kouyou just stated.
Kouyou coughed demurely, breaking the silence.
”I have a gift for you lad.”
Chuuya’s eyes snapped up, a bit embarrassed.
”You didn’t have to…”
”I tell you this every year during Christmas and your birthday. I want to give you a gift.”
Chuuya swallowed as he nodded slowly, watching Kouyou pull a small, neatly wrapped box out of her.
”Your wrapping is always so neat” Chuuya snorted as he ran his hand over the dark red wrapping paper. He thinks there’s a faint glimmer to it, if he looks close enough.
Kouyou didn’t look too bothered as she sipped her tea.
”Yours would be too if you didn’t rush through it every time.”
Chuuya let out a huff at that, unwrapping the box before opening it.
It was a silver chain. Not too thin, but not too thick either. And seemed quite sturdy.
there was a little metal tag next to the clasp
C + O
Chuuya’s breath hitched as his eyes darted to Kouyou’s.
Kouyou didn’t meet Chuuya’s eyes, only focusing on her slice of cake. Dark Chocolate, because it was Chuuya’s favourite.
”Those rings of yours are going to break if you keep wearing them into battle.” She said calmly, although Chuuya saw the slight twitch in her hand and she set down her plate. “They will last much longer if you wear them on a chain instead. At least they won’t be scuffed when you’re punching our enemies”
Chuuya’s gaze softened as his eyes ran back over the chain he took off his left glove to reveal the two rings.
Well. He supposed they were a little, tiny bit scuffed.
Chuuya takes out the chain and loops it through the two rings. He curses when he’s unable to clasp it shut himself.
Kouyou lets out a laugh as she stands up, moving to help Chuuya with the clasp. “It won’t tarnish in water. It’s a platinum chain. So you don’t need to take it off.”
Chuuya looks down at the rings now against his chest.
”…Thank you Ane-san.”
”Anytime, lad. Happy 19th birthday”
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈
Chuuya tries not to look disturbed when Mori steps into his office.
The man looks scheming.
He has to hold down a shudder now.
”Chuuya-kun. Happy 19th birthday”
Chuuya bows his head slightly.
”Thank you Boss…”
Elise bounces up to his desk, holding a pink box with an obnoxiously big red bow on it.
”Chuuya! Chuuya! Look what I got you! Happy birthday!”
Chuuya smiles, although it’s a bit forced.
He might be going crazy, but Elise was acting a bit more like Dazai lately. It was getting harder to interact with her.
”Thank you, Elise. You really didn’t have to.”
Elise looked proud of herself as she handed the box to Chuuya.
”It’s fine! I used Rintarou’s money anyways! Didn’t cost me a cent!”
”Elise-chan…you could seem a little less happy about wasting my money.
”Bastard! Stop looking so happy wasting my money! What the fuck are you gonna do with all this shit anyways?!”
”Chuuya~ you need to be more generous! I’m teaching you to not be stingy!”
Chuuya swallowed as he watched Elise.
He swears Mori is trying to drive him crazy.
”Well anyways~” Elise declares, kicking Mori’s shin, “Chuuya! You can have the day off! Go have fun! Like you always do on your birthday!”
Chuuya tries not to look unhappy. They both know damn well why he always took the day off on his birthday.
”Thank you Elise. Boss. I’ll take my leave then.”
He walked out his office as fast as he could, trying to ignore the fact they were staring intently at the back of his head.
The door clicked open as Chuuya walked inside. Setting the pink box on the table with a sigh.
He didn’t really feel like opening it yet. Thinking about Elise gave him the chills.
He sheds his formal wear, changing into a simple blue hoodie and a pair of black jeans. He leaves the hat as well.
Originally, he was going to go to the supermarket to replenish some of to groceries in his house. He was running a bit low on some thing. Plus? A nice bottle of wine for his birthday wouldn’t hurt.
Somehow, he ends up at the arcade instead.
Chuuya wanders around, looking at the games he hasn’t seen in nearly a year. What is he even doing here? He doesn’t have company. It’s a bit sad for him to be here alone.
He walks past the claw machine game.
pauses.
walks back.
in the middle of the stupidly bright machine, there is a giant red crab plushie. Sitting right in the middle. Covered by a few other plushies.
No.
its stupid.
He doesn’t even like crabs that much.
A 5000 yen bill is slipped into the coin exchange.
What the hell was he even going to do with it?
100 yen coins clatter into the small paper cup under the slot.
Seriously this was not worth it—
A stupid jingle starts as he’s hunched over the controls of the machine, a faint red glow starting to surround him.
A hand is clamped around his wrist as his eyes meet an amber one.
He raises a brow.
The amber eye look smug
”What are you smirking at, asshole?”
”Making sure you don’t cheat! You have to be respectful and play by the rules, Chibi~”
”I’m not a fucking cheater…” he mutters to himself, letting the red glow fade around him as he focuses on getting the stupid crab.
He doesn’t need his ability for this. His aim is fucking phenomenal. He literally shoots bullets without a gun.
The claw picks up a shitty white rabbit instead.
Chuuya watches with disdain as it tumbles out the machine.
Well. He got a plushie. He should be satisfied, right? A plushie. That’s what he wanted.
He jams another coin into the tiny slot, listening to the jingle start up again.
He double checks this time. Making sure the claw is hovering over the crab.
It is.
He presses the button, watching the claw grab hold on the crab.
Good. He can get out of here.
…
He watches the claw drop the crab.
…
Clearly. He should leave. The game is obviously rigged against him. Stopping him from getting the plushie.
He inserts another coin.
He’s there for another hour. Repeatedly trying and failing to pick up the stupid red crab.
On the 20th try, he realises he probably could’ve bought one of these plushies online for the same price, and he’s really just wasting his time and money here.
He inserts another coin anyways.
On the 30th try, his head is starting to hurt from the stupid jingle.
Another coin goes into the slot.
He finally gets it on the 43rd try. It was stupidly exciting. Chuuya was so absorbed in it, that he had nearly placed another coin in for no reason.
Chuuya picks up the plushie in his arms.
It is surprisingly good quality despite the fact that this was a hole in the wall arcade.
Chuuya scowled at it.
”I wasted 4300 yen on you bastard.”
He takes it home with him.
Theres a basket in front of his door, with a signed note from Hirotsu and the black lizard.
Happy Birthday Chuuya.
Chuuya brings it inside along with the two plushies, setting them them all on the table, along with the pink box.
A curse slips past his lips as he remembers that he never bought the groceries he needed to buy.
After a moment of contemplating, he ordered takeout on his phone. Eating a little unhealthy wouldn’t kill him.
Twenty minutes later, he sat back down on the table, takeout box on one side and presents on the other.
Chuuya started with the basket first.
One of the things in the basket was a blue throw blanket. It wasn’t specially wrapped or anything. Just tied up with a simple white ribbon with a little tag stating it was from Gin. It looked like one she had quilted herself.
He’ll leave it on the couch.
The next item was a…messily wrapped box (not that Chuuya could judge) with two nice looking wine glasses inside. This was from Akutagawa.
He would have to send his thanks to the Akutagawa siblings when their birthdays roll around.
Finally, probably from Hirotsu, a nice bottle of Merlot that was aged quite a bit.
Chuuya smiled. That old man really knows what he likes.
He uncorked the wine, pouring it into one of his new glasses and swirls it. Taking a sip as he stares at the offending pink box.
Part of him contemplates just tossing it straight into the bin. Not caring what was inside.
That would be rude, and Elise would probably get upset when she ask Chuuya if he liked his gift, when Chuuya can’t answer properly.
He tears open the gaudy pink wrapping, opening the box wrapped inside.
Oh.
There were two things in the box. One of them was a candle. The other seemed to be a perfume.
Chuuya is also immediately hit with the scent of coconuts.
The excutive lifts the candle up incredulously, reading the label on it over and over again.
Coconut and Mango.
Now that he thought about it, he remembered seeing this in Dazai’s shipping container. He also had one in his office.
How did he not piece it together sooner? He could imagine Dazai laughing at how long it took him to figure it out.
He takes another smell to make sure he’s got it right.
It was right.
He pulls the perfume out, turning it over in his hand.
Its one of those custom, personalised perfumes.
There was a sticky note stuck to the bottom of the box.
”I remember seeing you looking around coconut scented items when we went shopping together! Here’s a little help from me <3”
A little doodle of what looked like Elise was in the corner.
Chuuya huffed a laugh, pulling the perfume out of its own box and spraying it on his wrist.
It was the fucking mackerel all right.
He only thought for a second before he sprayed he shit all over the crab plushie. He only felt a little sorry for covering it in mackerel smell before he remembered it was an inanimate object and therefore could not have an opinion on it.
Happy fucking birthday to him indeed.
╰┈➤One year after Dazai’s Defection
Chuuya fumbles for his keys, one hand clasps to his side where a knife has managed to stab him.
He blames those incompetent rookies he was training. He hasn’t needed to protect another person in a while, so sue him if he was too busy to notice the idiot that stabbed him.
Doesn’t matter. The fool met his demise by gravity a beat later anyways.
Chuuya grunted, haphazardly kicking off his shoes as he sat at his doorway for a minute just to breathe. He knows the knife missed his organs, so he’ll probably be fine. He just needed a quick breather so he doesn’t pummel those incompetent rookies the next time he sees them.
Stumbling to his feet, he drags himself to the bathroom to search for his first aid kit. he always had one, because Dazai hated going to Mori to get treated. He might have corrupted Chuuya with that.
Chuuya fishes out the supplies and a roll of bandages, brow furrowing slightly as he looks at the two rolls left in his cabinet. He swore he had more than that.
He’ll ponder about it later.
He grips the knife, letting out a hiss as he pulls it out and holds a cloth over the wound.
This is giving him a painful sense of Déjà vu.
He shakes his head, popping open the bottle of antiseptic and pouring it over the cloth he was holding over the wound.
”Shit—!” He curses as he’s hit with a stinging hot pain. He forgot how much the antiseptic hurt. Chuuya hesitates for a second before flipping the cloth around, pressing the cleaner, more soaked in alcohol side to his wound. He lets out a pained groan and flings his head back, trying not to bite on his tongue.
Right. Usually Dazai made him bite on something when he did this.
Chuuya dug out another cloth for later, once he’s sure the wound has stopped bleeding, he removes the cloth with trembling hands and spreads the numbing ointment around the wound.
It doesn’t do much, but anything for his peace of mind.
He clamps his teeth down on the cloth as he sterilises the needle he’s about the use. He’s messy about it, spilling a third of the bottle just trying to disinfect the tiny needle.
He takes a deep breath, steeling his nerves and steadying his hand before he starts stitching his wound close. It’s messy. Sloppy work at best. Definitely going to leave a nasty scar.
He can hear Dazai criticising him in his ear, lecturing him about stitches and how to make them neat and tidy.
”You have to make them uniform! Don’t just stick the needle in wherever! If they’re too far apart, the wound’s basically still open!”
Chuuya groaned, he hadn’t been happy that his shoulder had been turned into a medical lesson.
”I get it, I get it! Hurry the fuck up! I’m gonna fucking die if I hear you yap anymore.”
Dazai pouted, pressing the antiseptic cloth harshly into the half stitched wound, making Chuuya cry out in pain.
”Asshole! You’re just putting me in pain for no reason!”
”I’m making sure you don’t get an infected wound!”
Chuuya sighed, looking at his messy stitches.
They were certainly…an equal distance from eachother. Some stitches were longer than others, but it was fine right? As long as it does the job.
Chuuya wraps some bandages around his torso, before his head slumps backwards against the wall
Closing his eyes for a bit won’t hurt right? He just needs to rest his eyes for a little bit.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈
He looks around. Blood everywhere.
Theres so much fucking blood—
Theres a dirt path in the grass, Chuuya thinks he sees a little house in the distance.
Footsteps crunch around him. Why are there footsteps? He’s the only one alive. The only one inhuman enough to survive.
He follows the path, the red sky bleeding into his surroundings. The trees, the grass. There’s blood on his hands. Where are his gloves? His gloves are gone. Gone gone gone gonegone—
Venturing further, he has to pause when he sees members of The Sheep laying on the floor in front of him. Their little bodies were mangled in every which way. Gunshot wounds between their heads. They were all staring right at him.
”How could you?”
Chuuya winced, stepping over their mangled bodies. He’s sorry- sorry sorry sorry.
He throws up when he sees the flags. Heaving on the ground, staring at their bodies.
Tross stands up, blood spilling out his exposed ribcage as he points an accusing finger at him.
”I told you to save Doc, didn’t I? Why’s he still dead? I trusted you to save him. You were supposed to save him-!”
Chuuya shook his head, crawling backwards. “I-I couldn’t do anything-! He was- he was fucking cut in half when I got there- he was already dead when I got to you—!”
”LIAR!” Albatross screeched, gripping Chuuya’s shoulders,”you’re a monster, Chuuya. A monster. If it weren’t for you we would still be alive—“
bang.
Chuuya scrambled to his feet as a bullet pieced Albatross in the head. He looked forward to see a shadowy black figure in the distance, holding a gun. The figure is quiet. Eyes wide and blank and scary but so so beautiful.
”Dazai…?”
The figure turns his back on Chuuya, running down the path.
“Dazai-? Dazai come back-!”
Chuuya chases after him, pausing in front of his friends body before stepping over them, screaming Dazai’s name as he tries to run quicker. His legs feel so heavy. Like lead.
He watches as Dazai goes inside the house. Slamming the door shut on him. Chuuya stares at the lawn of dead bodies in front of the house. Mori. His subordinates. Tachihara. The Akutagawas. Higuchi. Hirotsu. Kouyou.
His breathing is heavy. He hears laughter ringing in the distance.
There’s too many bodies. He screams as he hears the crunch of bones stepping over him.
Swirling red patterns are embedded into the sky.
Chuuya frantically pulls the door handle, pounding on the door when he realises it locked.
”Dazai-! You bastard open the door-! Dazai-!”
He kicks the door down and hears a crunch.
No no no nononononono—
He lifts the door to see Dazai’s bloody body flat underneath.
Bile rises in his throat again as he ejects it onto the only bed in the one room house.
”Dazai- Dazai please- you can’t die- you can’t be dead- Dazai-? DAZAI—!”
He launched up with a heave, hand clutching his chest.
The heart in his body was beating so fast. Did he have a nightmare? He can’t remember. Maybe it’s for the better.
He calms his breathing as he takes in his surroundings. Huh…he must have fallen asleep in the bathroom.
He looks down at himself (he’s still shirtless, explains the chill in his body), at the bandages wrapped around his torso. He hadn’t burst his seems from his rude awakening…good.
Chuuya puts away the first aid supplies back into the cabinet before hoisting himself up with his hand on the sink counter.
The clock tells him it’s 2:17 am.
He drags a hand down his face as he undresses the rest of the way, stepping into the shower and carefully rinsing the blood and grime off him, cautious not to wet his injuries.
Not in the mood tonight, he forgoes his skincare and just splashes his face with cold water and lazily brushes his teeth before he retreats to his bedroom. He slaps on a T-shirt he digs out from his closet and a pair of boxers before face planting into the bed, dragging the crab plushie close (even though he says he hasn’t named it, internally, he’s been calling it Samu)
Chuuya messes around with the legs on the crab, scowling a bit as he inhales the coconut and mango scent he drowned the thing in.
He feels a bit unsettled, not really keen on going back to sleep.
Dazai sighed, turning to face Chuuya.
”Your fidgeting is annoying”
Chuuya’s face flushed red, scowling at him.
”My fucking bad. You wouldn’t have to hear it if you mad sure Boss ordered two rooms instead of one.”
It was a small room with two single beds. Unfortunately, Chuuya was having a bit of trouble sleeping.
After a few more minutes, Dazai seemed fed up with him as he suddenly got up and approached his bed.
”The fuck— I’m sorry ok I’ll try to be quieter—“
Chuuya froze as Dazai crawled into his bed and into his arms, burrowing so close to Chuuya’s chest that he was sure the mackerel could feel his rapid heartbeat.
”If I’m right here you can’t keep tossing and turning around.”
Chuuya’s hands had hovered awkwardly over Dazai, unsure where to put them until they landed in his hair. He played with the surprisingly soft brunette locks until he heard gentle snoring.
He had glanced down, looking at his partner’s peaceful face for the first time. He remembers how his heartbeat had picked up, and remembers how he noticed how beautiful Dazai was for the first time.
Chuuya messed with the claws and pincers until he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
╰┈➤One year and 6 months after Dazai’s Defection
Chuuya was drinking again in his house.
His mind was so blissfully blank.
The singular light in his kitchen kept flickering on and off. He really needed to fix that soon. It’s giving him a migraine.
Actually, he had just called Kouyou about that. He faintly remembered her soft voice suggesting he called an electrician before she hung up.
He laughs a bit as he imagines an electrician walking into his house and seeing a dead body or something. Why’s he even imagining it? He never had dead bodies in his house anyways.
Hmmm…maybe a pretty face then? A pretty face to keep him company?
Nah…a pretty face wouldn’t be Dazai. Isn’t his pretty pretty Osamu.
Chuuya can’t really remember his face anymore. Isn’t that kind of funny? He has photos of him, but when he tries to picture his face without a photo, his mind turns up blank.
Shitty Dazai. Always leaving him. Even in his mind.
Wait! This is a fixable problem isn’t it? He’ll just call Dazai and tell him to come back!
He’s a genius. A better genius than Dazai, he decides, as he mashes a string of numbers he knows off by heart into his phone and listens to it ring and ring and ring—
oh. The ringing stopped. That was quicker than usual.
“Os…Osamuuuuu” he whines into the phone, sounding kinda pathetic to his ears.
The other end is silent. Not a response.
He takes that as an invitation to keep going.
”Osam…Samu…you need to…hic…need to come back here right now…”
a small hitch come from the other side and a light crackle.
”Oh? Why should I, Chibi?”
Dazai! He responded for once!
Chuuya was delighted. His wine addled brain telling him this meant he had to keep talking. To keep Dazai entertained. To keep him here.
“Because…so I can remember your…your stupid pretty faceeee…get her right now…!”
there’s a giggle on the other end. Is Dazai mocking him?
”Pretty? You think my face is pretty?”
Chuuya hums, taking another large swig of his wine bottle.
”The prettiest…no one has a prettier face…”
Dazai laughs, Chuuya thinks he hears a rustle of bedsheets. Was Dazai sleeping before he called?
“How drunk are you, Chuuya? You usually would never admit such things to me.”
Chuuya scoffs, waving his hand at thin air.
”Dowsnt matterrr doesn’t it? You’re dead anyways so who’s gonna use it against me?”
Theres silence on the other end. For a moment, Chuuya’s heart saddens because he thinks Dazai has disappeared again.
”You think I’m dead?”
”Mhmm…why else would I not be able to find youu…? I’ve looked everywhere mackerel! You’re like- no where. Like a ghost. Am I magical? I’ve managed to contact the dead”
”Well…what if I weren’t dead and I showed up in front of you again? What would you do?”
Chuuya ponders it for a moment, flipping himself so he was laying on his back instead of his stomach.
”Hm…I would…probably punch you…then I’d shake you to make sure you were real…and if you were real I’d kiss you and ask you to marry me.”
”Marry—?!”
Chuuya likes how he caught Dazai off guard. He didn’t do that often.
”Mhm! I’ve been…been wearing both these rings for too long. Need to share one of them with ya…” His words were starting to slur more. Maybe he should stop drinking so he’d actually remember this.
Nah.
Its quiet for another moment before Dazai actually responds
”Chuuya has rings?”
”Yeahhhhh! They were real- real cute ones aswell…they were matching you know? A-and when I came back to Yokohama that time- I-I was gonna run through the door and let you jump me and kiss your stupid face and ask you to be my pretty bride.”
There’s a thumping sound and a soft curse falls from Dazai’s lips. Chuuya always liked when Dazai cursed. They were so rare, after all.
”…I’m sorry, Chuuya”
Chuuya’s heart stutters.
It’s so…sad?
Dazai sounds so sad…
He doesn’t like that. He can’t have that.
He needs to make him not sad again.
”It’s ok- it’s ok really! Don’t be sad, Samu! You know- I finally figured out why you smell like- hic- like coconuts! Elise gave me the candles you always used. I think you would laugh at me cause of how long it took me to find out…”
Theres a soft click of the door as it unlocks, and Kouyou’s figure emerges from the door way while Chuuya is mid rant.
”Lad? Who are you talking to? She says it gently, like he doesn’t want to hurt Chuuya.
”Aneeee-sannnnn! Guess what? Samuuu finalllyyyy picked up.” He laughs as he holds the phone screen up the Kouyou, missing the way her brow furrows before she places a smile on her lips.
”Ahh…yes I see that. How about you go to sleep, Chuuya? I’ll tell Dazai to talk to you again tomorrow, ok?”
Chuuya grumbles slightly as Kouyou plucks the phone out of his grip, only protesting lightly before he stumbles into his room.
Kouyou sighs at the Chuuya’s blank phone screen, placing it on the charging port before she cleans up the evidence of Chuuya’s drinking.
He wakes up the next morning with a ringing headache. He’s definitely hungover.
He groans as he pushes himself up from his bed, noticing the aspirin and the glass of water sitting on his counter.
Kouyou’s Dazai’s work. Probable.
Swallowing the aspirin and rubbing his temples to try and relieve his headache, he stumbles his way into the main area.
Its pristine in a way that only Kouyou could’ve done.
If you asked Chuuya, he never would’ve believed that he had drank himself silly here the night before.
His eyes land on the pink sticky note on the kitchen counter.
I fixed your faulty lightbulb. Do try to drink a little less. You know your alcohol tolerance isn’t high.
He can feel his face heat up with embarrassment. Quickly locating his phone to send a thank you text to Kouyou.
The call history pops up first.
He can feel his throat go dry as his eyes land on the most recent call log.
Dazai Osamu.
Nope.
No, he thinks as he swipes the screen away to open his messaging app, he does not want to imagine the drunken nonsense he left in that voicemail.
If only he had looked a bit longer. Maybe then he would’ve noticed that his call was received.
╰┈➤One year and 10 months after Dazai’s defection
Chuuya scowled at the little date on the edge of his tear off schedule.
There has to be some mistake.
Surely
He rubs his eyes, as if he could will away the unpleasant numbers on his calendar just by not looking at it for a little while.
Infuriatingly, the date remains June 19th.
Dazai’s birthday.
He would’ve been 20 today.
Chuuya’s eyes flick to the rest of his schedule.
Blank.
Mori has to be doing this on purpose. Why was his schedule completely blank? He’s a mafia executive, for fucks sake. There’s only Three Mafia executives (exempt the boss, obviously), how could he possibly have zero work??
His head thumps against his desk, startling a few of the grunts wandering nearby.
Its fine. They deal with death on the daily. They can handle a little strangeness.
He whips his head up back at the calender. As if he could catch the date off guard and it will magically change.
Still June 19th. The schedule is still empty.
”What on earth are you doing, lad?”
Kouyou strides in the room, her arms folded gracefully, unliked the utterly dumbfounded expression on her face.
Chuuya almost pouts.
He doesn’t. Nakahara Chuuya doesn’t pout.
He knew a certain bastard that does.
“My schedule is blank.” He mumbled, face still smushed against his desk.
Kouyou raises a thin brow, her painted lips quirking upwards in light amusement.
“Is that a problem? Would you not enjoy the day off?”
”Its also June 19th.”
Her delicate face falls immediately, morphing into a more sympathetic look.
“I see…well. You might as well still take the time off. Run some personal errands?”
Chuuya looks up as Kouyou circles his desk, checking the calendar to inspect it herself.
”I guess…”
Chuuya stands, bowing slightly at Kouyou before making his way out the room.
What would he even do?
Buy a cake?
…
Thats a stupid idea. Why did he even think of that? Why was that the first idea to pop into his mind?
He was not indulging it.
ever.
He wandered out into the street. His legs bringing him to a certain public graveyard.
He was surprised too, when he learned that man was buried here.
His eyes scanned the slabs of stone, looking for that man’s name until he found it, in a spot next to a tall tree in the shade.
It was quite a nice spot of a grave.
Sakunosuke Oda.
He felt a bit awkward standing there. What did he even want to say to the man?
Admittedly, Chuuya had never properly spoken to Oda before. Only brief moments when he picked up Dazai from the bar or when Dazai had disappeared and he asked if they were together.
So…yeah. Not close at all.
”Uh…Hi there…I found your grave…the other day when I was chasing a traitor through here. Really lucky, huh? You’re buried in a nice spot. Dazai and that Doc Glasses probably pulled a few stunts. Good for you.”
He swallows drying as he remembers Dazai bursting through his their door, rambling about the man. Dazai liked him a lot. He was some sort of role model for him.
Which brings him to his next point.
”I- uh- kinda pieced together how you died. Sorry about that. I don’t know what you said to the idiot, but whatever you said, I think he took it to heart. He’s been missing for nearly two years now.”
A beat of silence. Two.
Chuuya wondered if he blamed Oda for taking away Dazai.
Sometimes he did. Sometimes he wished Oda never existed, so Chuuya could still be with Dazai.
Other times, he was thankful that Oda pulled Dazai out the darkness. Grateful for the warmth he gave Dazai in a way that Chuuya never could.
Its a complicated question.
Chuuya coughs into his hand, eyes awkwardly darting away. He probably looks real stupid, just hovering over this grave with no sort of offering and in his business getup.
”Well…anyways. If I ever find Dazai, I’ll probably come here again with him. And if he’s with you up there…well I’ll see you guys and have a proper conversation with you up there one day.”
He turns his heel and leaves the graveyard. He can’t stomach thinking about that anymore.
Unconsciously, he’s made his way to a cake shop. He scowls deeply at it. He had promised to himself he would not buy a cake today.
He goes inside anyway.
He’s even more baffled when he points to the strawberry shortcake instead of a dark chocolate cake like he always likes.
Strawverry shortcake is Dazai’s favourite. Why the fuck was he buying his favourite. He knows why. Of course he fucking knows why. He did this last year as well.
He steps out the cake shop, glaring at the cake box in his hand like it’s personally offended him. How could his body betray him like this? It’s always making him to shitty things he doesn’t want to do.
As he walks home, wondering what the hell hes going to do with a cake he has no intention of eating fully. He bumps into someone.
Shit. He’s usually not so clumsy.
”Sorry I wasn’t looking where I was—“ He looks up to meet Dazai’s face. “Going…”
Two amber eyes stare back at him, flashing with recognition, then relief, then panic.
He watches in a daze as Dazai jolts back before darting away.
Chuuya snaps back before starting to chase after him.
Now Tag was a game between them that Chuuya most definitely always won.
He follows Dazai as he darts into an alleyway. Watching the brunette trap himself in a dead end.
”What, has almost two years of running made you worse at escaping or some shit? C’mon Osamu. You’re better than this.”
Dazai‘s head whips around to face him again, face flushed a pretty pink as he realised he’s trapped.
”Ah- well excuse me if I’m a little out of practice. I haven’t had a little dog chasing me for quite a while.”
A tick forms in Chuuya’s jaw.
”Why you…”
The distance is quickly closed as Chuuya strides across the alleyway and punches Dazai clean in the face.
Dazai is stumbles backwards, not making it far before Chuuya grabs him by the collar with one hand and shakes him mercilessly.
”You bastard-! Where have you been?! I’ve been worried fucking sick and here are just waltz into my life again looking…looking…”
His eyes wander over Dazai’s face. He looked…bright? Healthy? No not healthy, but healthier. His hair looked a smidge curlier and his face.
Chuuya only just registers he’s staring at both of Dazai’s eyes and not just one.
Chuuya scowls before pulling Dazai down into a kiss, it’s clumsy but soft. Filled with a longing of someone who’s been basically mourning for two years.
Dazai freezes up before he kisses back, returning the gentleness as his hands tangle into Chuuya’s hair in such a familiar way that his heart could shatter.
It was only a few seconds. 5 seconds at most. But It felt like an eternity.
Chuuya pulled away, panting as he stared up at Dazai’s face.
Dazai met his face for a moment before his eyes darted away, lips curling up shyly.
”Drunk Chuuya was clearly very honest to me.”
”Hah? What are you talking about?”
”Blehhhh, not telling until you fulfill your own prophecy first”
”What the hell are you yapping about-?!”
They bicker for a bit, falling back into their personal rhythm like it never stopped at all. As if Chuuya hadn’t woken up this morning longing for the person right in front of him.
Ugh. He feels embarrassed about how he’s been sulking the past 22 months.
Chuuya grabs hold of Dazai’s wrist with his free hand, dragging him along with a blazing determination.
”Chibi-? Chuuya- Chuuya what are you doing—?!” Dazai yelps. A flash of panic in his eyes.
Did the idiot think Chuuya was dragging him to Mori?
Fucking hell. He must be really paranoid if he thought that would happen.
”Relax, mackerel. I’m taking you home so we can celebrate your birthday.”
He sees Dazai’s shoulders relax, tension leaving his body as he stops resisting and lets Chuuya drag him along.
The walk to the penthouse was short.
Dazai fiddles with his sleeves as Chuuya unlocks the door.
He’s wearing lighter colours now, Chuuya notices. He’s wearing a light blue, striped shirt and beige slacks.
It suited him.
”Shoes off” he mumbled, remembering Dazai’s habit of just walking into the house with his shoes on. Often tracking mud and grime over the floors just to anger Chuuya.
”Chuuya~” Dazai whined It felt so familiar “you have too little faith in me!” He toed his shoes off, leaving them messily on the floor.
The shorter rolled his eyes, setting the cake on the counter. “I’ve got zero faith in you.”
”Mean!”
”You deserve it”
He opens the cake box, revealing the strawberry shortcake inside. It’s slightly smushed thanks to their little chase.
Theres a candle stuck to the side of the box. Chuuya sticks it into the cake, lighting it with the stupid whisky bottle novelty lighter.
He pushes it towards Dazai, who has seated himself where he always sat at the dinner table. Across from Chuuya.
”…Happy birthday, Mackerel.”
Dazai is looking at him. Softly. Reverently. Chuuya doesn’t know how to describe it.
Chuuya wants to punch the look off his face. Or maybe kiss it off. Both work.
The talker blows out the candle, never taking his eyes off Chuuya.
Dazai smiles, mumbling softly. “Do I get any presents?”
Chuuya lets out a laugh. Spoiled little shit.
He unclamps the chain around his neck, pulling off the ring with the sapphire on it.
Gently taking Dazai’s hand, like it could shatter any moment, he slips the ring onto his ring finger.
It fits him perfectly.
”There’s your gift. Marry me, shitty bastard.”
The bastard in question breaks out into the biggest grin ever.
”Of course. How could I say no?”
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈
They had a long talk over their cake. Many emotions involved. Some crying, some shouting. Some laughter and some quiet moments. It was definitely a talk they needed and Chuuya was glad that Dazai wasn’t just dodging the subject like he would have years back.
They’re currently soaking in their bathtub, letting warm water seep into their bones as Dazai’s back leans against Chuuya’s chest. Chuuya’s fingers washing Dazai’s hair to clean the grime out of it. Clearly Dazai had not washed it properly in a few days.
Dazai looked so plaint in his hands. Like Putty that Chuuya could mould whichever way he wanted. It made his heart melt a bit, to be honest.
Dazai leaned his head backwards, eyes landing on Chuuya. Hazy with love and adoration.
”I missed this.”
Chuuya swallowed the lump in his throat as his face burned red. Because fuck, he definitely missed this too.
”Yeah? Did you now?”
”mhm…” Dazai hummed, he paused for a second. “Missed you.”
Shit. Dazai might kill him tonight.
Chuuya smiled softly, bringing the shower head to rinse to soap from Dazai’s hair.
A relaxed Dazai always made a blunt Dazai, he supposed.
Dazai sputtered, turning around the face Chuuya with a loud whine.
”Mean! I was being nice to you.”
Chuuya snorted, putting the shower head down in favour of cupping Dazai’s pouting face.
”Aw…poor baby. Let me make it up to you.”
He peppered Dazai’s pretty face with kisses.
One on his nose.
One in between his brows.
One right on the beauty mark that sat near the outer corner of his right eye.
and a dozen more just sprinkled across his face.
This time, it was Dazai’s turn to change colour. Face flushing a beautiful pink that painted his porcelain features perfectly.
If only Chuuya could spend every hour of the rest of his life admiring it.
They step out the bath when the is no longer hot, only lukewarm, as they dry themselves off with the two towels Chuuya conveniently has on his rack.
Just convenient. He never bothered to removed the other one in the first place.
They make their way to the bedroom, giggling and exchanging soft kisses here and there. Chuuya digs through his closet to find boxers for Dazai, an oversized shirt Dazai had left behind and a pair of shorts where the elastic had snapped, fitting perfectly on Dazai’s hips.
Chuuya shamelessly eyed Dazai’s legs before he laid his head in them, resisting the urge to turn sideways and take a huge bite.
”Fuck you and your stupid long legs.” He mumbled. He didn’t seem too hateful for them though.
”Chibi says that, but he’s laying in them right now.” Dazai giggled, carding his hands through Chuuya’s damp hair.
Chuuya really wanted to hold Dazai closes burrow into his ribcage. His heart. His soul. Anywhere to make sure he was as close to Dazai as close as he could be.
Dazai leaned down slightly, whispering to Chuuya.
”Should I get Chuuya drunk so I can make him tell the truth? Including about how he had his reunion with me planned out?”
Chuuya bolted upright, face turning scarlet in embarrassment at this new information.
”Fuck off. I did not.”
”Did too! Chuuya called me four months ago! He told me how I was the prettiest face ever! And told me exactly what he would do if he saw me again! It was so accurate! Now I need to know- ack-!”
Dazai squawks as Chuuya tackles him to the bed, tickling his sides and throwing them both into fits of laughter.
”You’re lying! Say you’re lying-!”
”C-Chuuya-! I’m not— hahaha-! I’m not lying-! It’s the truth-!”
Chuuya shrieked in embarrassment, worsening his attack.
“Chuuya-! You can’t attack me— eek-! You can’t attack me c-cause you can’t accept the truth-!”
Chuuya wriggled his fingers viciously, eyes filled with mischief. “Watch me.”
Dazai shrieked at Chuuya’s increased assault, squirming helplessly as Chuuya held him down.
”S-stop stop-! Ok ok! I yield-! I lied-! Chibi!!”
The penthouse was filled with laughter. More life than in had contained in a long while.
╰┈➤Two years after Dazai’s Defection
The Ginger watched fondly as his husband scuttled around their bedroom. Digging through his closet to complete his outfit.
It was endearing.
”How did you not prepare this prior? Seriously Samu, some preparation won’t kill you.”
He pulled out the clothes he had bought for Dazai weeks ago. A dark grew vest, and a tan trench coat to go with his striped blue dress shirt and beige slacks.
Dazai hugged him, blabbering nonsensical praise and kissing his forehead before he rushed into the bathroom to get changed.
Chuuya scoffed, a light smile gracing his lips as he strolled into the kitchen to make their breakfast.
He’s just started to plate their food before Dazai strolls out.
Ugh. Stupidly fucking cute. Chuuya is going to squeeze him until he bursts one of these days.
Dazai sits at the table, staring at the paper bag in front of him.
”what’s this?”
Chuuya smiled gently as he sets the two plates of scrambled eggs and toast on the tables. Putting the dishes back in the sink.
”Your presents. To congratulate you for getting into your job. Finish your food before you open them.”
Dazai’s eyes sparkled as he ate his food. It was a portion appropriate for Dazai’s small appetite but slightly big enough to improve it little by little.
He looked into the bag to pull out two boxed. One was a thinner flat box while the other box was a bit bigger but still quite flat.
Dazai opened the thinner box first.
It was a silver chain, almost identical to the one Kouyou had given Dazai.
”For your ring.” Chuuya said, finishing the last bites of his own food. “Pretty sure it wouldn’t be easy to explain to your detective co-workers that your fiancé is a Mafia executive.”
Dazai beamed at him as he happily slipping his ring through the chain and clasped it around his neck with ease.
Okay. Show off?
The next present was a bolo tie, with leather straps and a blue jewel in the middle that was the same blue as Chuuya’s eyes.
Dazai’s breath hitched. His eyes wandered back to Chuuya’s.
Cute.
”Do you like it?”
The brunette nodded eagerly. He quickly put that accessory on too, completing his outfit.
Chuuya smiled at him as he got up and left a kiss on Dazai’s forehead.
”I’m going now. Have a good first day at work, Samu.”
Dazai smiled back. “Have a good day a work.”
This was Chuuya’s perfect little world. Every morning being able to wake up with Dazai in his arms. Being able to share meals with Dazai and little bits of affection and bickering and time.
It was all Chuuya needed.