He was standing in the bar, watching Chuuya and the Flags play pool. It was the last round and they were all talking excitedly. Real Dazai didn't pay them any mind.

»That was awesome!«

»What I just saw was something from a professional match!«

»It was an artistic move.«

»Too bad, Chuuya. With this, your reign is over.«

»A new king is born.«

»Who just poked me?«

At that, Dazai did look at the group of friends. Oh. It started now, huh? Six persons were standing in the bar and playing a friendly game of pool. Now seven people stood in the bar. Adam. Fuck. Dazai looked at the faces of the Flags and looked at Albatross with a pained smile on his lips.

"Thank you for everything, buddy. I'm so sorry I couldn't stop this," Dazai mumbled quietly in the direction of his friend, fighting against his tears. He watched them fight against the strange man that interrupted their pool game. This meant it was Chuuya's first anniversary of being in the mafia. That meant that the Flags showed Chuuya a picture of his childhood, disobeying Mori's orders to make him a present. That would've been a memory he would've enjoyed. Seeing Chuuya helplessly receive such a huge gift that proved the loving friendship between the members of the Flags was a sight he sadly never got to see. He probably looked all adorably confused and then immediately hid his emotions behind a grumpy attitude. Absolutely endearing. But Dazai just got to watch the fight with Adam, till they realized that he wasn't just a European detective, but a truly good robot guy.

_____

Real Chuuya didn't want to relive this. He didn't want to feel the pain again. But here he was, following young Dazai through the city's small streets. Dazai was seemingly aimless, slowly walking in one direction, just to turn around again. Then the earth trembled, trees shook and a sudden strong wind washed through the street like a huge wave, making Dazai grab his coat in a strong grip as he tried to obtain a steady stance. It didn't fail, but it also didn't work. The strong explosive-like wind dragged him a few meters until it was over. Dazai opened his eyes. Chuuya! And with that thought, he was running towards the weird gravitational field that made the buildings collapse, totally unfazed by the melted cars and street lamps he passed. He was reaching his destination, slowing down as he carefully stepped closer to the edge of the big crater. In the middle of the crater of destruction was Chuuya. Collapsed, definitely in pain, but not capable of even screaming. Dazai was already moving towards him, not affected by the still-existing gravitational pull.

»How unsightly, Chuuya.« Dazai commented dryly as he reached out to touch and lift Chuuya's arm. The weird gravitational push disappeared with the blue hue of 'No Longer Human'. The bandage wearer casually manhandled Chuuya's wrung-out body to carry him on his back before slowly making his way out of the crater. He seemed calm, but his mind was running wild, crying out in worry that he'd never voice.

»You...« The exhausted and badly wounded redhead managed to say. It wasn't more than a quiet mumble.

»Can't you at least have a pure, clean death?« Dazai asked but it fell flat, voice nothing more than a rough whisper. Young Chuuya moved a little until he was able to look over the shoulder in front of him, only to realize who was carrying him of all people.

»Dazai...« He mumbled frustrated before his vision faded to black. Real Chuuya was just walking next to Dazai, who seemed to have a little bit of a problem carrying him while he was unconscious. He slowed down from time to time but he never stopped until he reached his destination. The bar where Chuuya and the other Flags used to play pool. He dropped the redhead, not having enough strength to put him down slowly. He pulled out his phone while walking away and the real Chuuya caught a glimpse of the chat.

Me

Leave the bar immediately

Albatross!

Leave.

The.

Bar.

Albatross

Don't worry about us

Go save Chuuya

We can handle this

Then Dazai started to type:

Me

No, you couldn't

Error: The message couldn't be delivered

I'm sorry

Error: The message couldn't be delivered

Real Chuuya faced the bar again. He moved on autopilot and even though he didn't want to see it, he opened the door while young Chuuya did the same thing.

The friends young Chuuya happily played pool with just a few hours earlier, were all dead. Blood was splattered on the ground and Chuuya couldn't keep his eyes off the corpses of his closest friends.

»Chuuya...«

The younger redhead immediately rushed towards Albatross's weakly shaking voice.

»Hey! Are you ok?!« He asked, even though he knew that it was too late. Blood dripped out of the older boy's mouth. »Hang on, I'm gonna help you!« No one could help Albatross. His bones were visible. His legs shattered to pieces.

»My bad, Chuuya... I was done in. I can't see anything... and I can't feel my legs...« He said, struggling to string the words together. »But I saved Doc. I grabbed his collar... And pulled him out of the way... Everyone is dead... I'm going to die... But Doc... You've got to treat him...« Albatross held Doc's collar in a tight grip. The saved member of the Flags looked like he was sleeping, not wounded in the slightest. If you just looked at his upper body, because his lower body was gone.

»Yeah.« Chuuya forced out after a stretched silence, holding back a scream behind his tightly pressed lips. »Leave Doc to me. It's because of you that he's saved. That's the Albatross I know. You should be proud.« He somehow managed to make his voice sound even, not sounding too restrained, as he lied to his dying friend. And the real Chuuya did something he couldn't do back then: He cried like a kid, his body trembling with every wet sob that left his mouth and arms clenched around his own shaky frame, mimicking a tight embrace.

»Thank god.« The blond boy said, relieved, tension leaving his face. »Chuuya... I have a motorcycle in my garage... For work. For you... You can use it... whenever you'd...«

Now all of his friends were dead and the real Chuuya just sank to his knees, crying pathetically, screaming all the pain out, because he never could do that. He needed to stay strong back then, needed to stay calm, and keep his head above the water.

He didn't even realize that the memory slowly faded.

_____

»However, Chuuya-sama, putting aside the trap for Verlaine, I heard that there was an ability user who was perfectly suited for the mafia. Is this true?« The robot asked Chuuya. They were currently waiting in a room in the police department. So they already fought with Verlaine and Chuuyas power was activated leaving destruction. Chuuya also knew that Verlaine assassinated all of his friends from the Flags. They were following Verlaine's hints about who his next victim is, which led them to Shirase. That stupid sheep idiot ran away from them and then they all got captured by the police. As of now, Chuuya's expression morphed into one of disgust.

»It's true.« The redhead admitted, clearly not happy about the fact that Adam brought him up. »But I can't get in touch with him. It'd be better if that fucker just went and died somewhere.«

»Oh...« Was Adam's confused reaction, because the robot was sure it would be rather bad if one of their allies died somewhere. Dazai, however, would be blessed to die somewhere. This ability sucked. »Can we trust this person?«

»Trust? Hell no.« The redhead scoffed. »He's the scummiest of scum, twisted inside and out. He's sick enough to sell a drowning man water and smart enough to get him to buy it. But without his ability, we can't beat Verlaine.« Oh, Chuuya is such a charmer, but at least the other saw his twisted intelligence. That's something, isn't it? Dazai just wanted to get out of here. Chuuya didn't feel the same towards him and would never do so. This ability was just proving what Dazai already knew.

»How do you know?«

»Verlaine's partner, the gifted spy Rimbaud, he—Dazai and I beat him.« Yeah. That was one hell of a fight. Chuuya is amazing, he's the ultimate powerhouse even without having to activate Arahabaki. »That damn Dazai... How the hell does that bastard only pull things off at times like that...?« Dazai sighs at Chuuya's frustration. He is doing something. His younger self needed to buy them time.

_____

Chuuya found himself in Dazai's container once again. The younger boy just sat in his chair and looked at the door. He didn't even flinch when his cell phone started to ring. Chuuya frowned, looking at the desk next to Dazai where the phone was desperately trying to get his attention through ringing and vibrations. But the brown-haired boy just looked at the door, ignoring the noise the phone made. Chuuya sighed and walked towards the noise, just to see the stupid nickname the mackerel gave him flash one last time before Chuuyas younger self gave up trying and the call ended. The redhead hated how easily the other could ignore him. It stung. Especially considering that he needed him and his stupid genius at that moment. It took him everything to even call the bastard and he just ignored him. Well, at least he'd proven to Adam that he really couldn't contact the nuisance. What did Chuuya even expect? Of course, Dazai wouldn't pick up, that's just- This is the worst possible timing for calling, slug. Oh? So he did know it was him? Why didn't the jackass just answer, then?

The door started to open. That was strange. Most people didn't know where Dazai lived, and the few that did, knew better than to disturb him. Dazai's eyes got darker, swallowing the light as if they were a black hole. He was calmly watching at the door and the person that stepped inside his container.

»You live in a terrible place, Dazai-kun.« The person greeted and holy shit: It's Verlaine. How did he know where to find Dazai? Chuuya stepped between Dazai and the intruder, forgetting for a second that neither of them could see him and that he didn't need to protect Dazai because he was stuck in his memories, the brown-haired idiot wouldn't die. Still, it's hard to suppress this reflex, even after all those years. He would always put himself between Dazai and danger. »Honestly, what are you so afraid of that makes you live in such an awful place? Property tax?« Dazai's gaze didn't shift, he looked at the intruder devoid of any emotion.

»I'm scared of you, Verlaine-san.« Dazai stated, but he didn't really sound the part of being scared. He sounded totally indifferent, like usual. Not a hint of feelings in his voice. Verlaine just stepped further into the container, eyes scanning his surroundings carefree and with a hint of amusement, making Chuuya angry. What was so amusing about Dazai's fucked up living conditions?!

»What a liar.« His voice was light as he stopped in front of Dazai, who just sat motionless in his chair, eyes fixed on the assassin king that just entered his home. »You're not afraid of anything. If I could see your eyes, I'd be able to tell. Even while trying to kill you a couple of days ago, you seemed to feel almost nothing.« What. He tried to kill Dazai? When? Why didn't the bastard say anything?

»I have a rather uncommon opinion when it comes to my death.« Chuuya rolled his eyes at that as the corners of Dazai's eyes lit up in a way that could seem like a smile. Soon the light was sucked into the dark abyss of the black holes that his eyes pretended to be. Verlaine didn't comment on Dazai's statement, he just moved to grab something from his desk and Chuuya wondered how he didn't see the papers when he looked at Dazai's cellphone. The assassin king waved the documents around a bit, lazily skipping through them without even reading anything.

»Two days ago, I told you I wouldn't kill you so you can give this to me. It's a necessity for my job.« Right. Dazai gave Verlaine documents about the secrets of the Port Mafia. Only because of these papers the detective had to die through Verlaine's hands. »But what's your reason? What reward do you get out of this? Don't sit here and tell me you saying, 'Please don't kill me' was a joke.« The redhead snorted amused. Dazai was messing with Verlaine because he would never beg for his life.

»It's simple.« The corners of Dazai's lips slightly lifted into a faint smile, but his voice was too dark to make it look sincere. »I want to see the Port Mafia burn.« I need time. The face of the older male morphed into something serious as he watched Dazai.

»Didn't the Port Mafia pick you up and raise you?« He asked, confusion slipping into his voice.

»That's right.«

»Then why?«

Dazai didn't say anything. It seemed like he didn't hear the question that was directed at him. His eyes looked around, searching for something they could never find because he knew it wasn't there. We need more time. Was he stalling? Chuuya couldn't tell if only a few seconds or minutes passed until Dazai smiled. But it wasn't happy, no. Damn. That's the saddest smile he has ever seen on Dazais's face. It seemed to hold all the grief of the world which filled the room with a silent scream as Dazai finally answered the question.

»Because I've grown bored with it.«

Bored? Chuuya's heart stung. Is that the reason why he left? Did he just grow bored of Chuuya? That shouldn't really hurt that much, but- I'm bored of you trying to take Chuuya away. Huh? He doesn't belong with you. He isn't what you claim he is. Chuuya isn't a stupid string of numbers, he is as human as can be. Why can't anyone see that? Chuuya just stared at Dazai, who just fixed Verlaine with his gaze, still, that haunting smile on his face that didn't reach his eyes. The younger boy never questioned his humanity and Chuuya couldn't put into words how much that meant to him.

_____

Real Dazai was standing in a lab. Chuuya was restrained, the cables injected into his back are probably still pumping the poison through his body. So, he was already being tortured. Dazai's stomach turned upside down as he saw the gone look in Chuuya's eyes, pupils blown too wide, eyes rolling from side to side, unable to focus on anything. He should've come sooner. The bandage wearer felt the urge to pull the stupid tubes out of Chuuya's body, but he suppressed it. It would do nothing anyway as he was still stuck in the memories of the redhead. It was weird. The memories of the little mafioso made ridiculously huge jumps in time. He knew that Chuuya must have chased Shirase, only for them all to be caught by the police. Then Adam helped Shirase to get out of his cell, while Chuuya stayed with the detective who captured them. Verlaine showed up, Chuuya fought against him, and the detective was killed. Shirase wasn't one of Verlaine's targets, no. It was always the detective and then it was N. The researcher who was leading the secret mission to create Arahabaki. He contacted Chuuya by hacking into Adams's system to use the robot as a communication tool. They were invited to the facility and then N explained a few things, separating Chuuya from the others, just to show him his origin to poison him. But this -Dazai looked at the small body that was currently being tortured- is not his origin. He's human. He shouldn't be here. If anyone deserved to be tortured it was Dazai, for all the shit he had done. For every life he took, for every friend he failed to save, for everything he put Chuuya through. His eyes scanned the teen that was trying to move his muscles but couldn't. His body is numb from the drug, his mind is probably far from this place creating illusions of delirium.

How long can I endure this?

Chuuyas thoughts reached him again. Which was weird, since he hadn't been able to hear them for a while now. Dazai sighed as he listened to the thoughts that were telling Chuuya he could endure this pain forever and that he could do it for all of eternity. Because Chuuya is Chuuya and thinks he can endure it, thinks he has to endure it. The brunet sighed. Chibi is always so self-destructive.

But why would I? Chuuya's drugged mind questioned and finally, the stubbornness seemed to come to an end.

Isn't that what I'm always saying, Chuuya? What the fuck? That was Dazai's voice. Or at least it sounded like him, resampled his voice. Was Chuuya imagining him? You being born was some kind of mistake. Just like me. What's the point in enduring this pain to cling onto a fake life? Real Dazai frowned as he heard his fake voice say all this bullshit. Chuuya wasn't a mistake. How could something so mesmerizing be a mistake? How could the redhead think that about himself and make a Dazai impostor say it? The bandage wearer is supposed to be the one tired of living. Not Chuuya. Never Chuuya.

»Shut it.« His voice sounded so strained, so weak. Still, Dazai was a little relieved that even if he didn't sound like the strong-minded redhead he, at least, was fighting as usual. Him fighting against a fake Dazai voice hurt because real Dazai would never deprive Chuuya of his humanity like the imagined voice seemed to do. »Fuck off, Dazai.«

Is that clichéd reply the best you could do? And now the detective could see a shadowy version of his younger self forming next to Chuuya. There's proof for you to believe my words, you know. Deep down inside, you and I are the same.

»Shut up, shut up, shut up! I'm me! I'm nothing like the piece of shit you are!« Yes. Chuuya isn't like him at all. The feisty redhead is so painfully human that it is a miracle everyone doubts it all. Really. Were all others blind? How could anyone think that his emotions are the cause of an artificial line of numbers? A mere code. Dazai will never comprehend the stupidity of anyone who looks Chuuya in the eyes and doesn't see the humanity in the two stormy blueoceans of the angry angel, who can't even keep his mouth shut in this dire situation. He is still arguing. Sure, it's with a fake Dazai which -again- hurts a lot but he is still fighting.

Well, you would say that to him. A new voice appeared and Dazai looked at the imagined person that leaned against the wall in front of the tortured boy. His arms were crossed over his chest and a calm expression was on his face, the same pose the boy would have while watching over one of his parties. The redhead froze, eyes trying to focus and if the former Flag member would really be standing in this room, Chuuya's eyes wouldn't be able to truly see him but it was in his head, therefore, he could focus on his figure. But it's impossible for you to keep lying to yourself. Didn't we say that when you first joined us?

»Pianoman...«

I've told you the reason why we let you join us. We thought you would rebel against the mafia. You looked like you wanted to destroy any and everything, burning it all with the flames of retaliation. Even now, you still look like that.

More figures appeared and soon Chuuya was surrounded by shadowy images of his dead friends. They all smiled at him while talking.

We may have died because of the origin of your birth, but we don't blame you. They said without a hint of regret or pain. We're mafioso. We were prepared for it. A fact. Nothing more and nothing less.

»You idiots! What kind of reason is that?! I...!«

The smiles of his friends disappeared as the next voice spoke directly into the mafioso's ear.

Then die. Ugh, Shirase. Chuuya quickly turned his head to see the boy with silver hair standing too close for comfort. Apologize with your death, both for your mafia friends and for us in the Sheep... All the members of the sheep appeared in front of him. Shadowy figures of boys and girls stared right into his soul. Children staring at him in a way they shouldn't even know; cold hatred.

You were always saying, Chuuya, that those who were given the upper hand in life had a responsibility to fulfill. Was that a lie? The children spoke in uniform, creating a haunting choir of voices. Weren't you gonna protect us? We protected you when you were starving to death, didn't we?

Stop it. Chuuya thought but the voices didn't stop. The young boy tried to but couldn't cover his ears because they were still restrained. Even if he could've been able to do so it wouldn't be any use, since the voices were in his head anyway.

Hmph, what a king you were. Look at what you did to us. The choir of horroresque children spoke. Chuuya, you—

»Shut up!« The voices died down. »Then you guys should've tried to become king instead! I would've used all this power for you!« The redhead yelled, his voice was hoarse, but still carried his despair. »Strength my ass! If I didn't have this power, today I would still be together with...!« An electroshock shook his little body as the monsters watching through the safety glass continued the torture.

A picture appeared in front of Chuuya's eyes and Dazai could see it too: The sheep still existed and the redhead wasn't the center of attention, no king, he was just another normal kid among them. Talking to one of the others in a friendly way. Dazai's heart, the thing he could control enough to be able to send morse code, just clenched in on itself, missing a beat, at the realization that Chuuya, more than anything, just wanted to be someone along the lines. Someone who belonged, who had a place, who fitted in.

»I...« Chuuya didn't seem to know what he wanted to say.

"You always made me feel like I belonged somewhere," the bandage wearer mumbled, barely above a whisper but the tortured boy would've heard it if Dazai weren't just a sad ghost in his memories. He wanted to say it anyway. Needed to say it. Chuuya hung his head and stayed silent. Naturally. He didn't hear anyone say anything because Dazai wasn't even here in the first place but he was in a hurry to get there. Not that it mattered. He couldn't stop the torture on the smaller boy's body and mind, couldn't prevent him from bleeding. Fuck, he couldn't even say that he cared. Never directly at least but he hoped Chuuya caught his intention and saw through his dumb defense mechanism of being an impulsive liar because feelings were scary. Scarier than a painful death, so he learned that it's easy to pretend. It's way easier to say that you hate someone, even if you don't. How could anyone ever hate someone like Chuuya? That was impossible, Dazai thought and wondered if the redhead knew about this. Knew about the fact it was impossible to hate him, knew about the fact that Dazai would never be able to hate him even if he claimed it daily. It's easy to be a liar and it's way harder to tell the truth, that's why lying is so addictive. His first instinct is always to lie, no matter what the problem is: Don't let them know what you think and don't let them know that you care. But in all honesty? He was just scared, wasn't he? Suddenly, he remembered a conversation he once held with Albatross.

"Why did you lie back then?" The boy had asked. Dazai did what he did best and just replied that he didn't know what he was talking about. Albatross just smiled. It was the same smile he had when he was telling Dazai that it's okay to be insecure. "You know," he started. "I think you only lie so much because you never tasted how sweet the truth can be." Dazai wanted to ask what he meant but by doing so he would admit that he knew exactly what the older one was talking about a few moments ago. So he stayed silent, expecting this conversation to end. "Promise me," Albatross broke the silence between them, surprising Dazai. "That, if the right moment comes, you'll tell the truth without being asked to do so."

"How do I know when the right moment is?", the younger one asked, too astounded to realize that he just blew his cover. Albatross closed his eyes for a second, seemingly lost in a memory.

"You just do", he said after a while and before Dazai could protest because that answer was stupid he continued: "Because at that moment you don't want to lie. You don't even think about it. All you can think about is the truth, so you just say it."

"I don't think I can promise that," the bandage wearer responded and Albatross just chuckled.

"On second thought you don't even have to promise it, I know you won't lie when the right time comes."

Dazai put his focus back on the bleeding Chuuya in front of him. The memory began to fade, he didn't get to see how Chuuya reacted to the fact that the real Verlaine was standing in front of him, instead of an illusion. It all faded into the white eternity.

"What if I already missed that moment?" Dazai's voice sounded through the nothingness. He didn't know how long ago the memory actually faded away. Could be a few seconds, minutes, or even hours. "What do I do then?" He questioned while staring into the white abyss. Maybe Nietzsche is right, the detective thought to himself, the abyss really did stare back at him.

_____

Chuuya stood in the secret base N invited them to, following Dazai's figure through the hall. He moved towards the loud shooting noises and screams. Adam was standing there, trying to break into the door young Chuuya disappeared through. Dazai saved Adam with a well-aimed shot out of his modified taser gun.

»How boring,« he said as if nothing happened. »Even with electricity, killing people is just killing people. I'm so bored of it.« He commented while slowly stepping closer to the detective robot.

»You're... From the Port Mafia.« The robot observed and Dazai smiled.

»Nice to meet you, Investigator-san. Where's Chuuya?« He asked while throwing the teaser gun away, completely unbothered.

»Chuuya-sama is,« Adam started, but seemingly wasn't sure how to finish.

»Has he already been captured? Or maybe it's around the time you've rescued him.« The bandage wearer wanted to know. »That's not any fun. That means I missed Chuuya being tortured and bawling his eyes out.« Please tell me you already saved him, even if it's—

»Tortured? Chuuya-sama?« Adam asked, confused. Fuck. Chuuya is still being tortured. Chuuya looked at Adam and could almost see how his little gears turned in his head and overloaded with questions as to why Dazai was here.

»'Why has he come here', you ask? I'll tell you.« Dazai seemed to also see the way Adams's brain overheated and helped him out by answering his unasked questions. »I'm here because this is part of the plan. 'What plan', you ask? I'll tell you. Everything. From beginning to end, the events of this Verlaine incident have been in the palm of my hand. 'What do you mean', you ask?« Chuuya sighed. God, the younger loves showing off his genius. The redhead was used to this but Adam seemed to struggle for a millisecond before he prioritized analyzing all the information the other one was giving him. »I'll tell you,« Dazai stated. Because we don't have time, I make it as fast as possible. Only because Chuuya needs us though. And the real Chuuya smiled at that. »Everything, literally everything—from Verlaine's targets to Detective-san, to Researcher-san—has been based on the information I gave him. In other words, the protocol for his assassination plan has also been the protocol for my plan. Now you want to ask, 'Why would you do such a thing?'« To buy them time. It was a shitty move but Chuuya knew that it was the only chance they had. It sucked. Adam must have anticipated that Dazai could betray them because Chuuya could see a minimal change in his expression. The robot was ready to fight Dazai if the boy's explanation as to why he did all that didn't please him. »It was to earn time before he reached his biggest assassination target. His final target is the Port Mafia's boss, Mori Ougai. Mori-san was originally going to be the first one killed, but I manipulated the information so he was last on the list. Thanks to the time I earned, the preparations for his inverse assassination are almost done. But before that, we need to make the final touches.«

"Geez, you really like the sound of your voice," Chuuya commented on Dazai's long explanation even though no-one could hear him. Dazai smiled and reached out his hand to the robot detective. Adam accepts it.

»At this rate, Chuuya will kill N and if that happens, he will no longer be a human being.« Dazai said with a serious look on his face. Seeing that expression on his face would've been so weird for his younger self. »But I want to see Chuuya suffer as a human being.« I need to save him, the brunet thought and Chuuya grinned at that. Dazai is such a little liar it's almost cute how desperately he wants everyone to think that he hates his partner in crime. »So, let's go stop him.«

_____

Red lights flashed as the security alarm responded to the chaos that happened in the facility with loud sirens and instructions for the staff. Adam was locking up Shirase in a storage room. The silver-haired boy would only get in their way. The robot at least wanted to keep him safe. As safe as one can be in a place that is as horrible as this secret lab.

»I changed the lock here to need a time fluctuating type encryption key. This should keep Shirase-san safe for a while.« Adam reported to Dazai.

»Good work. Next is Chuuya.« The bandage wearer just began to walk away, as if he didn't care for Shirase at all. Which was probably the case. Stupid sheep boy, Chuuya heard the angry thoughts of the younger boy. Couldn't care less about him but... Chibi probably won't talk to me if the boy dies so I better keep him safe. Yeah, if Chuuya would've found out that Dazai did nothing to protect his idiotic former friend he wouldn't have spoken to the other for a long time, after kicking him of course.

»Please wait, Dazai-san.« Adam called out and Dazai turned his head around but didn't slow down. »When talking about Chuuya-sama earlier, you said, 'as a human being'. Do you know whether or not Chuuya-sama is human?« The robot asked as he hurried after the boy.

»I don't know,« Dazai confessed, narrowing his eyes a bit, clearly thinking deeply about something. »Both N and Verlaine said that Chuuya wasn't a human. I didn't think that was the case, so I read this notebook, 'Rimbaud's notes'—you could say the entire incident started because of this.« What the fuck. How did Dazai get the notebook? It was an item only executives could use and Dazai certainly wasn't one. At least at the moment. So how the hell did he manage to get a hold of the notes? The young boy reached into his pocket, to hold the notebook in front of Adams's face.

»How did you manage to get it?« Adam wanted to know and Chuuya sure hoped the answer wouldn't be as cryptic as always.

»You're more than welcome to try to find out, but no matter what I'll only tell you lies. I'm a liar, after all.« Dazai grinned like a madman. Great. The jackass didn't even think about it, so the redhead didn't have a single clue as to why he had the notebook. Chuuya would kick the real Dazai as soon as he got out of here. He wanted fucking answers. »We don't really have time to hold a tea party and chat.« His smile faded. »First comes finding Chuuya.« It's strange to witness Dazai so focused. The younger one was usually so easily distracted.

»How will we do that?«

»Finding Chuuya is always easy.« He smiled and the look in his eyes was somewhat dreamy and a little bit proud. »If you head towards whatever is making the loudest noise, he'll be there.« Chuuya rolled his eyes but didn't suppress the small smile. He couldn't argue because the bandage waster was right in his assumption.

_____

»Why don't you understand? There is nothing you should do! You live the way you want to live and break the things you want to break!« Verlaine spoke frantically while trying to pull out the stake that Chuuya threw at his chest. Real Dazai guessed that N was trying to set up a trap to use the electric stake to capture Chuuya. The researcher must have realized that Verlaine saved Chuuya and wanted to seek revenge. They were currently standing in some sort of panic room or hallway leading to said room. It was hard to tell since the building wasn't in the best condition anymore. »There's only one thing we should have done, and that was to never be born!«

"Chuuya is not like me!" Dazai raised his voice angrily even if they couldn't hear him. How dare Verlaine say that to Chuuya!? Chuuya wasn't a mistake, no. The redhead was a blessing!

»Shut up.« The future executive said. Dazai immediately focused on him. He looked terrible: bleeding wounds all over his body, his posture not as proud as usual. But his eyes shimmered brightly in the determination he so adored: stormy ocean eyes that will drown you by any given chance. The detective smiled, as long as Chuuya got that look in his eyes everything was going to be okay. »That might be true for you, but don't try and push that onto me. I don't think that way.« How can Verlaine and all the others doubt that Chuuya is human when his eyes show it so clearly? The humane shine in his eyes can only be gathered through all his encounters and the farewells he had to accept. So much life in such a tiny body. »Plus, you're dead wrong about one thing.«

"Yeah, tell him, Chibi!" Dazai cheered.

»'It was a mistake to be born'? I could never think the same way that shitty Dazai does!« Exactly! Chuuya is so full of life that Dazai can't even comprehend it. Verlaine finally got that stale out of his chest and tossed it to the ground.

»Chuuuyaaaaaa!!«

»Verlaaaaaaaine!!«

Dazai just watched the young Chuuya in awe as his fist collided with Verlaine's which caused a black explosion. Chibi is always so strong. He really hoped the memory wouldn't fade in the middle of the fight.

_____

»You won't get anything by taking him home and torturing him, Verlaine-san,« Dazai said and the real Chuuya looked at Verlaine who faced the bandage wearer with a surprised expression. The brunette was talking about N, who was at Verlaine's mercy right now. This must take place when Chuuyas younger self is fighting the skeleton and surprisingly being saved by Shirase, who somehow got out of his little safe space. Right after Chuuya fought against Verlaine and was kicked through a lot of walls. So Adam and Dazai truly did follow the loudest noise and found Verlaine, who stood in front of N, ready to torture him any second, till they interrupted him.

»Dazai-kun,« the assassin mumbled, confused.

»Hey,« Dazai greeted him as if they just met each other by chance in a supermarket. »What a coincidence, meeting in a place like this.«

»You coming here must mean...« Verlaine paused, his confused expression morphing into a slight frown. »I see. So I've been betrayed?«

»It's hard for people to hear that they've been betrayed,« he stated. »I've been on this side from the very beginning.«

»'This side'?« Verlaine scoffed. »Do people like you even know what 'this side' or 'that side' means?« Yeah, it means I'm always on Chuuya's side. The executive really couldn't get enough of the thoughts the younger boy had about him. It's so addictive to hear him think. But it's also letting a bitter feeling swell inside of him. Dazai wasn't on his side anymore. He will never be on the same side again and Chuuya hated that he missed him, that he'd wish the bandaged waster would still be with him. It's such a stupid and selfish thought, but he couldn't help it, even if he knew that the agency was far better for him then the mafia. He couldn't stop the feeling, the pang of jealously that he couldn't make him stay. That he wasn't enough. It was stupid and dumb, but he just missed the idiot. Missed their competive rounds of any game they could get their hands on, missed the way Dazai could talk hours about any topic, missed the way he pointed at the night sky to explain every constellation in sight. Missed the way his eyes lit up, how excited he got over the smallest or weirdest things. Missed their sleepovers and movie marathons. Hell, he even missed the stupid bets he almost always lost. He missed the stupid annoying mackerel.

»Fufu,« he chuckled slightly. »I knew it'd be fun talking to you.« He said with a smile and the two stared each other down with smiles that no one but them could truly decipher. »Ah, Verlaine-san,« Dazai suddenly sighed as he seemed to realize something. »I'd duck if I were you,« he suggested and casually lowered his head. The assassin stared at him a little dumbfounded. But he didn't get the chance to say anything because debris flew past them all and one piece would've hit Dazai if he hadn't lowered his head. Verlaine, who didn't accept Dazai's friendly warning, brought his arm up out of reflex to block the debris.

»What the hell are you doing, Dazai?!« The furious redhead wanted to know as he broke through the wall. »Don't come into my sight without my permission!«

»Hey, Chuuya. How was your torture session?« The younger boy laughed a little. If you can shout at me everything's alright, isn't it? Real Chuuya smiled at that. »I had a plan to come in and save you, but decided against it 'cause it was boring.« And the executive knew it was a lie: The younger one simply didn't have time to come in to save him.

»You bastard!«

Verlaine -real Chuuya totally forgot him for a second there- watched them with a blank expression, then he nodded as if he understood something just from watching them bicker. »I see. So it's you guys,« he interrupted their little insulting game before it could turn into a full-blown argument. Young Chuuya and Dazai simultaneously faced their opponent again. They stood side by side and the real Chuuya thought that they looked oddly calm, which made sense in away because as soon as they are together everything turns out okay . Chuuya's going to fight and Dazai is coming up with a plan. The redhead trusted his partner that he would find a solution and the brunette trusted his partner to protect him so he wouldn't die painfully. Real Chuuya wondered if they still gave off that aura of deadly perfection as soon as they stood side by side against an opponent. He kinda hoped they did.

»I heard you two killed Rimbaud all by yourselves.«

»You want revenge, Verlaine-san?« Dazai asked, tilting his head to the side and holy shit that shouldn't look this adorable in a situation like that.

»Nope,« Verlaine said and popped the 'p' as he stared in the distance. »He was dead to me long before you guys killed him—nine years ago, the minute I shot him in the back.«

»Do you know why I came here like this, Verlaine-san?« The bandaged boy asked while taking a step in his direction. He had a scarily calculating look on his face. »Because I've succeeded in earning us time,« he answered his own question. »You will die for the crime of making an enemy of the Port Mafia.« The assassin seemed unbothered by the death threat Dazai just made.

»We'll see,« he said while smiling in a way you would smile at a kid who told you that the moon is made of cheese. »I've been threatened with that many times before, but I always get off in the end.« Verlaine let his hand slide against N's neck to take a step back.

»Your ability is powerful, but I have a general understanding of it,« Dazai's voice was almost a whisper. »All we have to do is crush you to death with something more powerful.« Verlaine looked at him and then he just laughed. A happy expression on his face as if Dazai's words just made his day.

»You understand my ability?« He asked while lifting his arm that didn't hold N in a tight grip. His expression was stoic, with no trace of the happiness visible on his face mere seconds ago. The ground shook and the light seemed to disappear like it had been sucked up by a vacuum cleaner as a shockwave passed through the building. Blacklight flooded the room, making everything disappear into darkness. It didn't last long, just a few seconds. Chuuya remembered this and as he looked over at his younger self he laughed. God, he couldn't stop laughing and he wished he had a camera. The younger versions were still standing next to each other, looking at the ceiling, which didn't exist anymore, with wide open mouths. Blankly staring and looking so adorable and stupid that Chuuya still couldn't stop laughing. Every time he looked at them it just started again.

»Hey, shitty Dazai,« young Chuuya nudged the other's shoulder with his own, still looking at the former ceiling. »You said you had a general understanding of his ability?«

»Yeah,« Dazai answered, his gaze fixed on the tunnel that replaced the ceiling. At the end of the hole through all the different floors they could see the cloudless sky. A cold breeze gently blew their hair around as they still stood in the same place as if they were glued to the ground.

»But...do you really understand?« Chuuya asked after a while and the younger boy just stayed silent. Verlaine and N were gone and the only trace left of them was the big hole in the ceiling.

_____

"And what now?" Adam asked and Chuuya just shrugged, finally moving his gaze away from the former ceiling.

"Got a plan, you walking bag of bandages?" Chuuya faced Dazai who blinked and then grinned. The redhead immediately asking him just absolutely lightened his mood. Chuuya needs him, he trusts him to come up with something.

"Of course I do Chibi," he chirped happily. "But we have to move to a different location first!" And then he walked away as if there wasn't a big hole in the ceiling created by their opponent a few minutes ago. Real Dazai just sighed as he followed his younger self, as did Chuuya and Adam.

"How about you explain why you're here, you bastard!" Urgh. Now his younger version would explain to Chuuya what he did and the older teen would want revenge. The former executive felt sick as he remembered the cruel revenge the hat rack would come up with, silently hoping that the ability would spare him the memory.

He had no such luck. As they arrived at the location, Chibi immediately started his revenge plan. He did deserve it. He failed to spare Chuuya the torture so it was only fair that the redhead let out some steam on him.

_____

The young Dazai was hanging upside down from a street lamp, legs tied together.

»So, the only way to defeat the assassin king Verlaine is to have Chuuya jump out of a plane and get close to him from above,« he casually explained as if he wasn't hanging upside-down. His expression was one of complete boredom.

»That so?« Chuuya asked, looking at the younger one with a hostile expression.

»Um... How exactly did it come to this...?« Adam was confused and real Chuuya laughed. God, he remembered his strange way of revenge and now he could witness how weird it was from an outsider's perspective. But the bandage wearer let himself be manhandled into this position without a complaint. They were currently standing at the mini airport that was located in the mountains. The younger version of himself was holding a cord which was wrapped around Dazai's waist a few times.

»This is actually to save time, Mr. Machine Investigator,« Dazai spoke with a small smile on his lips.

»To save... time?« Adam seemed even more confused.

»Yup, because the once-in-a-lifetime ambush operation is about to begin,« Dazai explained, which didn't help the robot at all because he looked between the two teens with an irritated expression.

»The words of humans are so confusing. I don't have any interpretable situations similar to this in my database,« Adam mumbled.

»I told you not to worry about it. Even this human is confused,« Shirase said. The former sheep member saw them when Dazai led them to this place and decided to tag along because they were 'supposed to protect him' and Dazai's thoughts were just peachy. The bandage wearer mostly ignored him and occasionally rolled his eyes when the silver-haired boy decided to talk. He was cursing him out in his thoughts but decided to not say anything so that Chuuya won't be mad. Which was adorable. The boy watched the other teens and he looked just absolutely done with 'whatever the hell this is'. It was so funny to the real Chuuya because, for his younger self and Dazai, this was just normal behavior. The young redhead pulled on the string without a word. He pulled and pulled and the tied-up Dazai began to turn slowly.

»We'll use a body double of Mori-san to lure Verlaine out. From there, we'll engage in a battle of arms, hitting him with everything we've got. If we successfully corner him, he'll open up the gate as his trump card. Then, Chuuya will approach him by plane,« he explained unbothered. His mind was kinda ambiguous because, on one hand, he felt like he deserved it, but on the other, he didn't want to throw up. As the cord was pulled as far as it could be, the redhead let go.

»Verlaine will—« Dazai began to spin around. »—probably try to—« And he spun. »—attack us—« he spun faster and faster. »—but that's all—« And he spun. »—part of the plan. If we—« And he spun. »—can neutralize the enemy's—« And he spun, finally slowing down a bit. »—attacks and get—« And he spun. »—to a point where—« He was spinning slower now. »—we can touch him—« Finally the movement stopped . »—then it's our win. Blrgh,« he threw up and Adam watched helplessly as the feared mafioso vomited.

»I just don't get what's going on,« the robot investigator said as Chuuya walked around Dazai to wrap the cord around his torso again.

»I'm getting revenge on him at the same time as he's explaining our strategy,« he elaborated even though he thought that the situation didn't need an explanation because the reason should be obvious.

»Ahh,« the robot commented as if Chuuya's words didn't help at all.

»It's my right to get revenge,« he said, suddenly getting defensive. »He gave N's information to Verlaine to earn us some time knowing I would be tortured. Not to mention, as a result of that information, Detective-san was killed. There's no way I'd let him go without payback,« the redhead glared at the tied-up Dazai. »I could think of 190 ways of exacting my revenge, and out of all of them, this one is the 2nd kindest. If I do any more than this, he won't be fit enough to act as the commander in our upcoming operation. It's taking everything I have to compromise.« And the real Chuuya watched Dazai's blank face. Maybe he should've chosen the kindest revenge plan he had at the time. This wasn't— he shouldn't have— real Chuuya let out a sigh. It didn't matter anymore. This was in the past now.

»Sigh,« Adam imitated the noise he heard humans make. »Even after hearing that, I still don't understand a thing.«

»Don't worry, Adam-chan! I, too, have no idea what's going on.« Shirase soothed the robot while placing a hand on his shoulder.

»Adam-chan...?«

»Let me continue explaining.« Dazai interrupted their little talk. »When the gate fully opens, Verlaine surrenders his consciousness to the monster of singularity. It's just like he's asleep while in this state. He'll also automatically fight back against anything that seems hostile. Keyword: automatically. He won't react to non-hostile contact since he doesn't have the ability to judge it. So, we'll continue feigning attacks with a decoy unit while Chuuya approaches him unarmed.« He made a little pause for dramatic effect as his lips stretched into a smile that foreshadowed the destruction his plan would bring. »Slowly, elegantly, we'll make him swallow the poison with love—like giving candy to a baby.«

_____

The memory faded and he was standing in the white abyss again. And for the first time, he kinda appreciated the nothingness after witnessing Chuuya's revenge session, he needed a moment to calm down his stomach.

_____

»Hey, Verlaine-san.« Dazai greeted the older male. Real Chuuya knew it was a part of Dazai's plan but damn: the train derailed and Verlaine believed that Mori was in the train. But Dazai had set up this trap using Hirotsu as Mori's doppelganger and it worked. It was Dazai's plan so of course it did. Still, seeing it play out was always strange to Chuuya, especially since the younger one just faced off against Verlaine again. Sure, he had a plan, but he remembered being not happy about this part of the plan. Not that he ever voiced his concerns. The bandaged teen was currently sitting on the edge of the derailed train, seemingly without a care in the world.

»Dazai-kun,« Verlaine said while picking up his head. »I've heard of the phrase, 'Intelligence isn't dependent upon your age', but... My goodness, you're terrifying.« Yup, he definitely was. Dazai wasn't called 'demon prodigy' for nothing, after all.

»You did this to yourself,« Dazai commented dryly, like a mother who admonished her child. Chuuya rolled his eyes with an amused grin. God, the bastard felt probably badass for saying that. »This time around, you moved too much in accordance with your personal feelings. I knew you'd do this much.« He paused a second, eyes focusing on Verlaine's. Did he make the small artic break for dramatic effect? Always so sure of himself as soon as one of his plans unfolds in front of him. He looked at Dazai, but in his eye wasn't the usual arrogant amusement he always had when he just check-mated his opponent. Strange. His gaze was... Serious? The executive could count on one hand how often Dazai had looked serious whilst having the upper hand. So this had to be something huge. »Why are you so fixated on Chuuya?« Huh?

»Is it really so strange that an older brother fusses over his younger brother?« The older male said.

"Tze, 'fuss'," the redhead scoffed. "You straight-up murdered my friends, asshole." What wouldn't he give to be able to punch 'his brother' now with full force?

»It's really strange, actually,« Dazai answered and Chuuya could hear his thoughts running wild with anger: He isn't your brother and How dareyou make Chuuya suffer and He isn'tlike you and the redhead just smiled. »First of all, what makes you seriously believe that Chuuya's your younger brother?« His voice was so emotionless that no-one would ever suspect that Verlaine's assumption bothered him. Geez, Dazai always knew how to piss people off. It was fun when the real Chuuya wasn't the victim of the bandage waster's plans and taunts.

»What?« Verlaine asked after a small pause. His eyebrows drew together in irritated anger as he looked at Dazai, who just sat calmly on the train wreck. Yeah, it probably sucked to be a grown-up and get owned like this by a teenager, but damn Verlaine deserved this.

»You saw it too, right? Chuuya's original they experimented on. He became a skeleton and died,« Dazai stated while swinging his legs that dangle from the train wreck. Ah, that's the reason why the bastard kept asking him about the short time before Chuuya crashed through the wall, ready to fight the assassin again. »They practically looked the same. Their abilities were awfully similar. They have plenty of other commonalities, too. What if instead, that skeleton was the man-made gifted lifeform and the living Chuuya, whose only redeeming factor is his vitality, was the original? Can you read through the limited documents on his past as someone not personally involved?« Wait. This would mean that... The Flags and the detective died because...Verlaine got him mixed up with a fucking clone? His friends had to die because the 'assassin king' messed up?!

Uncontrollable wrath. Red markings crawling on his skin, growing in size to consume his body.

That's what should have happened. Corruption. Chuuya felt furious and sad. He could feel his eyes begin to sting, but the emotional damage was immediately forgotten. He. Didn't. Feel. Arahabaki. What the fuck? He always felt the flames of the destructive god that wanted to burn him alive in all his wrath. Could always hear his voice begging to devour his enemies. Now that he started to think about it: he didn't feel the inevitable presence of the god at all since he was stuck in Dazai's memories.

»That can't be,« Verlaine stared at him, his tone a mixture of confusion and suppressed rage. »I'm not so stupid as to mistake the target for my undercover missions. There's no mistaking that he's the same artificial lifeform I took from the research facility nine years ago. « Chuuya had other problems than Verlaine's stupidity. God dammit. If he couldn't feel Arahabaki that could mean two things: One, his real body and the god are fast asleep. Chuuya's consciousness is in Dazai's memories and the god can't follow him to this weird place, because Dazai's ability is keeping the higher being under control. Two, his body was raging as Arahabaki's vessel to bring death and chaos and since Dazai is probably not able to stop corruption Chuuya is dead.

Please let it be one. Shit. What was he supposed to do if two was happening right now? Panic began to spread through his body. He couldn't do anything to prevent the possible chaos his body could spread! And didn't the other persons hit with this ability go berserk? He had to wake up. He needed to get a grip and get out of the ability and—

»If you look into it, you'll know right away,« the brunette said with a hint of a smile. It was ridiculous, but the words calmed the executive. Maybe Chuuya was just used to Dazai's voice talking him down. Even if he wasn't speaking to him. How could he? Chuuya wasn't really here. But if the real Dazai were, what would he say or do? The redhead took a deep breath to collect himself while closing his eyes. Dazai would probably make a stupid joke about dying together or some shit like that. Most likely he would whine that he had to die with Chuuya instead of a beautiful woman. The executive smirked, opening his eyes again. If he recalled it correctly the jackass actually thought that he was beautiful and mesmerizing. So a real double suicide jackpot and— He was already too long in the other's memories, that's why he had such bullshit thoughts as 'double suicide jackpot'. It did help to ease his mind though. Maybe that was part of the reason why Dazai even said that in inappropriate moments. And after the jokingly expressed death wish the younger one -depending on the topic- would give helpful or bullshit advice. In this situation, Chuuya knew that Dazai would at least try to be helpful. The bandaged idiot was always serious when it came to Arahabaki. So the detective would probably ask if he felt strong emotions like rage whilst being stuck in the ability, before this moment. Mhm, did he? He hadn't felt real rage. Dazai's memories were surprisingly pleasant, so this was the first real rage he felt. And other emotions? would probably be the follow-up question of the former demon prodigy. Chuuya did feel sad, really fucking sad and he kinda had a breakdown, which -if this would be a real conversation with Dazai- was hard to admit. But Chuuya would've told Dazai because the other may make fun of everyone and everything but there is one topic he doesn't joke about: Arahabaki. So he would never judge or laugh, would never use it as blackmail. Was it a bad enough breakdown to trigger corruption? He could basically hear the twenty-two-year-old asking the question. And the answer would be a clear yes, 'cause he really lost it when he witnessed Albatross's death again. Then you won't have to worry. If option two happened back then you would be dead already, so it must be option one. Enjoy your time without your god. It was really strange how an imagined conversation with the bandage waster could ease him. Chuuya smiled and concentrated on the actual memory again. »Luckily, this time around, the folks over at the research facility can demonstrate how to rewrite the string of equations inside Chuuya. If I captured a researcher using the mafia's power, I'd gladly tell you what the equation said. Then we'd really know what Chuuya is,« Dazai told Verlaine cheerfully. »Fortunately for you, we have a lot of time.«

»You're talking as if you're convinced Chuuya's a human being,« the assassin concluded out of Dazai's behavior.

»I am convinced.« Not a trace of doubt in his voice, just as if he was stating a fact. Humans need air to survive, every person is going to die one day, and Chuuya is human. Real Chuuya just felt his heart clench and his chest felt all warm and tingling. Dazai was the only person that didn't question his humanity. The bandage wearer sighed and then started to laugh a little. »An artificial string of equations couldn't create that humanity I despise so much,« he said. But his mind said something different: An artificial string could never create someone I'd adore as much as Chuuya. The executive smiled a bit and successfully willed away his tears. God, this ability was doing something weird to his eyes. Otherwise, he wouldn't be brought to tears this often, by something so small. He normally didn't cry this easily. Maybe it was the lack of Arahabaki's presence? The assassin sighed and stepped towards Dazai. His movements were slow and somewhat tired like he had to talk to an incredibly annoying person. And in this case, he could understand the older male. Talking to Dazai could lead to the following side effects: headache, tiredness, (tears apparently), and a ruined mood. Chuuya snickered a little at his joke, quietly reciting the risk and side-effect notice every medication commercial had.

»I would be more than happy to explain why this is all a misunderstanding, but... You have another job.« Verlaine said, slowly closing the distance between him and the brunette. »Your job is to tell me where Mori Ougai is, not his body double. It's a backbreaking job. Literally.«

»In other words, you don't feel like giving in?«

»Of course not.«

»Is that so...« Dazai stared into the air, seemingly lost in his thoughts. Then he faced Verlaine, a look of regret on his face. »Then it's your loss.« At that, a bullet hit Verlaine on the head. His body bent backward, and he lost his balance and fell down a leafy slope. He rolled a few times before he stopped, fixing Dazai with a harsh look.

»A sniper?« He asked, confusion in his voice. »Th—« He couldn't finish talking, because he was hit with another bullet. He almost fell again, but this time he could hold his balance through his hand that was steadying himself on the ground.

»Your ability only works when you touch the target.« The brunette explained, legs still dangling on the edge of the train wreck. »Meaning, a bullet is sure to hit you. Only, you'd stop it right away, right? Which is why if we hit you with a bullet from a high-caliber sniper several times faster than a normal bullet, you'd still be struck the minute you stop it with your gravity. And—« The young male lifted his hand lazily and immediately bullets flew toward Verlaine. From all directions, snipers fired at him and he tried to take cover but it was to no use. There was nowhere to hide. The bullets pierced through his clothes, brushing his skin. It wasn't enough to draw blood, but it was a lot. All he could do was to make himself seem smaller, covering his head with his arms.

»You chose the wrong enemy, Verlaine-san.« The brunette said with a slight smile. »My countermeasures for your gravitational ability are foolproof.« Yeah, the countermeasures were scary, considering that Chuuya basically had the same gravitational ability. Seemed like the younger male had a plan to get rid of him. »After all, whetherasleep or awake, I'm constantly thinking up ways to annoy Chuuya.« Okay. Maybe it wasn't as drastic as Chuuya made it out to be a second ago. The bastard just seemed a bit obsessed with him, which didn't bother the redhead, oh no, on the contrary: He was glad that the other thought about him. God, they were fucked-up, weren't they? The executive smiled. He wouldn't have it any other way.

_____

»It pisses me off just talking about it,« Chuuya spat. The redhead and Adam sat in a small plane, just like Dazai planned. And the real Dazai was just sort of flying next to them in the air. It's almost taunting, really, being this high up and not being able to fall to your death sucks. At least if you ask Dazai. »In the end, everything's going exactly as Dazai set it up to be.« And the bandaged detective couldn't help but smugly grin a little, because yes, his plans did work out. And if he weren't just haunting the executive's memories, the redhead would scream bloody murder at him for wearing that 'shit-eating grin!', right before attempting to punch him. And Dazai would admire the way those blue eyes spark with emotion. »But I can't back out now. I have a debt to repay, and I'm the only one who can handle his ability with minor injuries.« It was almost laughable how Dazai was known for his suicidal tendencies, but no-one accused Chuuya of them, because the redhead was far more self-destructive in a self-sacrificing way, which was definitely worse. Sure, this had been Dazai's plan, but Chuuya shouldn't feel that devoted to it in all honesty. Verlaine was in a state quite similar to Chuuya's corrupted form. He was shooting spheres of gravity and Chuuya's mission was to get as close to him as possible.

»Be careful,« the robot inspector warned. »Even with your ability, you can't neutralize him if you get hit by those spheres of gravity. If possible, you should get close to him from above without him realizing—« Adam interrupted himself with a loud shout. »Watch out!«

A sphere of gravity was coming at them with incredible speed. Even though the robot inspector steered away, the wind of the gravitational sphere pulled them in, and destroyed the plane so Adam and Chuuya used the emergency exit and were flying through the air. Adam then activated a parachute, but at this rate, they would get hit by another sphere. They needed to cut the parachute loose immediately.

»It's no good! At this rate, we'll be shot at! Adam, cut the parachute!« Chuuya commanded just as the real Dazai finished his thoughts. The former demon prodigy smiled at that. That's why Chuuya used to be his partner. He didn't show it off, but the redhead had also a very brilliant mind, especially in situations like this.

»But—,« Adam wanted to veto, but Chuuya interrupted him.

»Do it!« And Adam did. He reached for his automatic pistol and fired the bullets at the cord of the parachute. A few moments later they were once again falling freely down to the ground.

»Not bad,« the future executive laughed, while a grin spread over his face. Dazai was struck once again. Chuuya looked so alive grinning like that while seemingly falling to his death. »We'll crash into him like this! Adam, calculate the fall trajectory!«

»Understood.« Adam grabbed Chuuya and tied a cord, normally used for communication, to his shoulders, thus tying them both together for stabilization. »Commencing the gliding descent phase.« Adam created a paraglider with the press on both of his sides. The silverish-white film stretched from his arms to his hips in a triangular shape.

»These are gliding films made for chasing criminals who escape to the ground from a higher floor.« The robot explained and Dazai snorted, naturally the robot was prepared for a situation similar to this. »I'll control our trajectory. Chuuya-sama, please focus on neutralizing the enemy's attacks!«

»Of course.« They flew with high speed towards the target and even with the high wind pressure, Chuuya didn't narrow his eyes even in the slightest. He was fully fixed on the target as they fell towards it like a meteorite. »Dazai, you son of a bitch... When I get back, I am definitely hanging you upside down...!« The bandaged detective just laughed at that without realizing that the scenery started to morph into the obnoxious white abyss.

_____

The next memory started almost where the last one ended. Dazai wasn't sitting on the train wreck anymore, he was standing on it, looking at Verlaine's fighting silhouette that formed spheres to shoot at his enemies. The younger one looked displeased. He pulled a walkie-talkie out of his coat pocket.

»Hello hello, good friends of mine. I've heard the reports.« Ah. So it was this call. »So you defeated Verlaine? I'm thoroughly impressed! Even though I was in a, 'Well, even if I'm crushed flat in the sky, at least I'll be like Chuuya' kind of mood when I came up with it.« Real Chuuya rolled his eyes, but couldn't help grinning as he watched Dazai's face lit up. The teasing gleam in his eye was just adorable, even if Chuuya was at the end of his punchline.

»You know what, you bastard...« He could hear his pissed younger self through the walkie-talkie.

»But that's not why I'm contacting you,« the younger one interrupted his insult. »Have you seen N?« That stupid researcher who started all this shit that was about to happen. Right now Chuuya must have successfully poisoned Verlaine with Adam's help. The robot inspector had a needle hidden in the tip of his finger and injected the poison in a moment the older gravity manipulator didn't expect.

»Huh? N?« His younger self questioned. The anger from the insult was already forgotten and replaced with sincere confusion. »Wasn't he kidnapped by Verlaine?« Dazai nodded his head and the real Chuuya snickered a bit, it took the demon prodigy a second to realize that his partner couldn't see his nod.

»Exactly,« he verbally confirmed. »So I sent for a rescue team. We need his knowledge, especially so he could take a look inside of you, Chuuya.« The line was silent for a few seconds and he saw Dazai smile a little because he knew what this meant: Chuuya realized the endgame of the bandaged boy.

»So that's how it is. He was your objective from the very beginning?« The voice sounded through the walkie-talkie and though it was a question it didn't sound like one.

»Have you finally realized?« Real Chuuya remembered how Dazai's laugh sounded through the walkie-talkie and how unsure he was back then if it was sincere. But looking at the boy he knew it was: his eye beamed and he used his hand to hide his mouth, to soften the sounds. It was funny in a way because Dazai always felt the need to hide his real laugh, afraid that it didn't sound nice, that it would drive others away. But damn, it was beautiful. It seemed too big for his face, his hand couldn't hide anything at all and it sounded kinda airy with a slight whistle now and then because two of his teeth had a bigger space between them. It's so adorable, Chuuya could never get enough of that unique laugh. Dazai got back to the topic after his laughter died. »No matter how many times I save Mori-san's life, my loyalty just doesn't run deep enough to face off against such a frightening man,« he stated, completely unbothered by the fact that he was talking about the boss of the Port Mafia. »By implementing the formula N knows, or maybe his knowledge in general, the plan to make Chuuya my faithful maid—«

»Ahh, shove it!« was the immediate response to Dazai's taunt. But seeing the teasing grin on his face and his amused eyes was kinda worth all the stupid jokes. Does Chuuya realize I'd do anything for him? What. God, hearing this felt wrong. He wanted Dazai to say it to his 'stupid fucking gorgeous face'. »So? What's your point, asking if we've seen N?«

»The car bringing N over from the construction site disappeared. I've lost contact with N.« And now the real Chuuya could see how displeased Dazai was about this. His expression was really scary right now.

»What?« His younger self asked over the walkie-talkie.

»Something may have happened,« the younger boy stated, clearly hating the fact that he didn't know what it was.

_____

Dazai saw fractions of Chuuya's memories. It was weird, pictures and voices flashing in the white nothingness that surrounded the bandaged detective. They were in the forest, Verlaine defeated, and Chuuya carried him and the robot. Then a flare lightened up the sky in rainbow colors, small colorful fragments moving through the sky. Ah, the soundless melody that wakes the sleeping beast, Dazai remembered this. N was the one who started the supposed ending of the world. Verlaine screamed, the ground shook and the rainbow pieces flew toward the screaming assassin. Tiny metal scraps sparkled in every color imaginable. It would've been beautiful if it wasn't for the painful screams of the adult.

»What's with him?!« He could hear Chuuya but he couldn't see him. Did the metal pieces also screw with the redhead's memory? No. That couldn't be, Chuuya told him what happened, so he had a decent memory.

»...isn't...poison...him,« Adam shouted, but only a few bits reached Dazai's ears. This was strange.

»... researcher...knew...secret...forest..., « Verlaine said and Dazai knew what he was talking about: The secret behind his ability was the gentle forest. N awakened it with the flare gun and the chaos started.

»Flucations...swallowing...light...Doppler Effect!« Adam's voice was shrill and loud, like the siren of a police car. »...get out...wavelength patterns...same...nine years...«

»Nine years ago?« That was Chuuya's panic creeping into his voice. »...Verlaine... happening?!« Now Dazai could see the surroundings flicker like a candle flame in the wind, but Verlaine was creating waves of gravity, the light was sucked in and the potential energy sent blue sparks in the air.

»The world... is done for...« He reached his hand out toward the sixteen-year-old. »Run, Chuuya!« As soon as he touched him the younger one was flying through the air like he was a piece of paper flipped away. Then the memory stopped and Dazai was left standing in the white abyss once again.

_____

He was still standing beside Dazai on the train wreck, watching from afar as the beast tore the sky in half. So Guivre looked like this from the outside. Real Chuuya stared at the monster that towered over the scenery, bubbles of gravity surrounding it, making any attack pointless. His younger self was inside of that thing being stuck in a seemingly endless fast swirling darkness, seeing Verlaine's memory of breaking Chuuya out of the glass tube. And after the memory was over, Adam sacrificed himself to get Chuuya out of there, giving up his dream of protecting people by founding the first detective agency with only machines, because 'I got to protect you. That is enough for me'. So Chuuya was being saved at the cost of someone else dying again. He hated it, but at least Adam came back after the mission was done, 'cause his creator was predicting this situation.

»Haha,« he heard Dazai laugh oddly distorted as the singularity in the near distance opened its mouth and black light came out with a roar, leaving nothing but destruction behind. »Unbelievable. He just shot a black hole like it was a laser.« His eye scanned the surroundings, frantically searching but unable to see anything. Where is Chuuya? And the redhead was surprised by the desperate sound the thought had paired with the wide-opened eye. »This isn't an ability anymore. No, this type of phenomenon doesn't happen on Earth. It's a natural phenomenon that we measure in our galaxy, in the middle of the sun, or anywhere else in space. He doesn't even feel like fighting living creatures. It's impossible. There's no way we can win.« Guivre was stomping towards the city, following the human hatred it could sense from afar. And Dazai reached for his communication tool and spoke into it. »Mori-san? You should run away, he's heading your way.«

»I can see the raid going on, too.« Mori's voice sounded out of the radio, weirdly calm. »Looks like quite an amazing feat.«

»It's not amazing at all,« the younger one responded with a frown. »That's another Arahabaki, the one from nine years ago that blew up Suribachi city and created that crater just by waking up for a moment. If that power was continuously unleashed in the city, Yokohama would sink to the bottom of the sea. This is out of our control, now.« Dazai looked towards the singularity that was slowly but steadily moving toward the city.

»Dazai-kun, do you know why I decided to be boss?« The voice of the former underground doctor sounded almost cheerful.

»Mori-san.« Dazai sounded so done all of the sudden, clearly not up for whatever the boss wanted to say. »Now's not the time to be talking about such things.«

»I don't have a useful ability like you all out there do. In that sense, I'm slightly better off than you are. All I have is the intuition to estimate how many men we need and send them to the battlefield.« The bandaged boy stared stunned at the radio in his hands. Being silent for a second, clearly deciphering what Mori wanted to say.

»You want us to beat him?« He questioned like the older one lost his mind.

»You told me to run, but where could I run away from such a monster?« The boss of the Port Mafia responded. Chuuya stared back at the singularity and had to admit that the older male made an extremely good point. »Instead, I want to see you guys—you and Chuuya-kun overcome this crisis. That would surely mark the dawn of a new era.«

»Easy for you to say,« the bandage waster sounded annoyed and stared a hole through the radio. »But Chuuya's probably dead,« and after that sentence, his thoughts were running wild, because no, he can't be and he isn't supposed to die before me, and he surely is alive somewhere, right? but his voice didn't even quiver and he just talked without a break, while his thoughts were running 30 miles an hour. »He was the closest one to Verlaine when he became that monster, and he hasn't responded to my calls. Even if he guarded against it with his gravity, he'd be in the monster's stomach by now... Tell me, what am I thinking right now?« Mori didn't say anything and Dazai saw that as a sign to continue. »I'm thinking, 'Isn't this the perfect opportunity? If I'm hit by that, I'll surely disappear within an instant with nothing left behind. No pain, no suffering, and no mess after death'. This is a golden opportunity, I seldom see things capable of that.« Radio silence was his answer.

»What you say is probably correct,« Mori started after a while. »But you will fight against that monster and you'll fight desperately. I just know it.« The demon prodigy beside Chuuya just rolled his eyes.

»Unlikely, but for the sake of it, I'll ask your reasoning.«

»It's a very simple reason.« And Chuuya could hear the smile in the voice. »If you die at the hands of that monster, then that means no one can save Chuuya-kun and he dies, too. In other words, the death you so eagerly wait for will end up as a double suicide with Chuuya-kun.«

Dazai was silent. He looked at the ground, his thoughts came to an end and then he shakily breathed.

»Why did you just make that noise?« His voice sounded almost mocking.

»No reason,« was the rushed excuse. »Anyways, it's pointless trying to manipulate me. I'm cutting the line.« And the boy pushed some buttons on the radio and then it was silent. Dazai just stood there, motionless for a few seconds, then he pushed the radio against his chest and crouched down into a ball. »Anything but thaaaaaaaat!!« he shouted towards the ground with closed eyes. Chuuya can't have a double suicide with me, he deserves someone better. That was the only thought rushing through the brunette's mind and Chuuya crouched down in front of the teenager, chuckling.

"You're such a drama queen and it's annoyingly endearing," he said and the boy suddenly straightened up again, almost making Chuuya believe he just heard him, but the brunet was facing Guivre again, watching something flying out between the monster's hip and back. Chuuya! was his immediate thought and he just jumped off the train wreck sprinting towards the singularity, completely ignoring Hirotsu who was worriedly screaming that he should 'come back', it was to no avail. Real Chuuya was running too now, just to not get left behind by the crazy mackerel. Damn, sometimes the redhead forgot how fast and agile the younger boy could be if he wanted to. He moved so quickly and still managed to avoid the trees and other obstacles with such ease that it was almost ridiculous. Be alive, be alive, be alive was the repeating mantra that went through the boy's head over and over again as he maneuvered through the forest. Then he suddenly stopped running. A body— no, the remains of a body were laying in a gigantic footprint. Dazai rushed over there and slid down the small slope the foot left behind. That's not, that can't be... He inspected the dead scenery and then he let out a relieved sigh. It's N, not Chuuya, he looked around but couldn't find anything of use, so he started to run again. After a while he made a quick turn to his left, slowing down his steps. The executive was so confused as to why Dazai stopped and- oh. The bandaged boy was reaching for a hat stuck in a tree branch or at least he tried to reach it. The branch was just out of his arm range. He scoffed, clearly annoyed, and Chuuya was smirking 'cause even the stupid pole bean had moments like this. Dazai searched the forest ground and picked up a twig. It wasn't big nor long, but it should do its job. Dazai used it to successfully push the hat out of the tree.

"Finally, you stupid hat," the boy mumbled and started to run again, a bit slower this time, but still pretty fast. It didn't take him long to reach his destination. A few meters ahead he saw Chuuya sitting on the ground. He's alive, he's alive! he thought, smiling sweetly. He slowly stopped to run, taking a small break to catch his breath. Chibi doesn't need to know I ran here, so play it cool. »What, you're still alive, Chuuya?« He said after he calmed down, walking through the trees as if nothing could phase him.

"God, you're such a hopeless dork," real Chuuya said with a smirk. Dazai threw the hat at Chuuya when he was close enough. It was Verlaine's hat.

»Dazai,« His younger self fixed the brunette with a sharp glare. »I don't feel like talking to you right now.« He just lost Adam after all and talking to Dazai was tiring even when he wasn't already feeling like shit. Ah, that was probably too cool. The real Chuuya chuckled.

»I found N's corpse,« he stated, coming straight to the point and not sounding concerned at all. »He was crushed underfoot. Now, everyone who knew whether or not you were a human have all disappeared,« he made a little artificial pause. »Are you frustrated?«

»You tell me. I...« His younger self started, but then he realized something and stared into the younger boy's brown eye. »Wait. You mean, you've found another way to tell if I'm human or not even without N?«

»Looks like I've been had,« the bandage waster laughed. »I managed to capture a few subordinates of N's at the research facility. They know how to read the formula inside of you, even if they don't know what it means.« He started to smile a bit and his younger self remembered thinking that probably wasn't a good sign. »I got a brief rundown but, well, I could've told you which it was if I analysed you over a few days.« His younger version looked at his partner with a tired expression.

»I wouldn't let a guy like you peek inside of me.« A fact, nothing more. Who in the world would let Dazai peek inside them? That just screamed 'bad idea'. Kinda funny now, because Dazai was currently in his memories, wasn't he? Seeing all the things Chuuya never told him and his brilliant mind will figure out exactly what it means.

»Whaaat? Don't be like that, you could show me!« His voice was a mix between sulky and insulted. »It would be super interesting, and I wouldn't let anyone else see what's inside!« You trust me, right? and now the smile the younger boy wore didn't seem as dark as Chuuya remembered. Seems like he misinterpreted Dazai's joyful excitement for sinister intentions. »I also asked how to tell the difference. If you were a human, then the facility would try to take your memories away. Meaning, there would be a log of memories that have been erased, like your parents and how you spent your childhood. That's how we'll be able to tell. What do you think?« God, he was so proud of his plan.

»First of all, the thought of only you seeing what goes on inside of my head is so disgusting I'd rather puke blood!« The sixteen-year-old spat out and the real Chuuya regretted his rude reaction a bit because Dazai's expression didn't change, but his hopeful thoughts vanished completely. »Second—« The ground suddenly rumbled and shook. The young Chuuya stopped talking and grasped his head. Right. He remembered the intense headache. »Gah?!« He could recall the voice creeping inside his mind, telling him 'I hate it' over and over again. It was Verlaine's voice. What's wrong? he heard the worried thought and then immediately after the brunet spoke: »What's the matter, Chuuya?«

Before Chuuya could answer, the ground started to move forward and both teens grabbed the ground to steady themselves. But as they looked around they realized that the earth wasn't moving at all, no, the trees leaned forward and small pebbles all rolled towards a certain point. In the center of said point of the remains of the beast was its black tail. It moved around like a worm and the mud around it bubbled as if it was boiling. The black limb wiggled around, slowly changing its shape. In the middle of the tail was gravitational power which, similar to the gravitational force of the earth, pulled anything towards it.

»You've gotta be kidding...«

»So that's how it is...« the future detective stated as he glared at the twitching tail. The earth underneath the black mess began to crack just as the tail shaped a reptilian face.

»Watch out!« His younger version screamed and used his ability to jump sideways to grab Dazai and pull him inside the forest. The black mass calmed down as something from within. It was as if a piece of the universe just suddenly appeared on earth. The ground shook and black lightning hit a group of buildings that were farther away. Lights flickered, then it faded.

»What the...«

The younger version didn't know what to say. They were far away from the city, so it was lucky the lightning didn't hit the middle of Yokohama, otherwise thousands of people would have been dead in a fraction of a second.

»Was that... a release of gravity?« Dazai was the first to find his voice again. A rigid expression on his face. »That's impossible. It can reach even farther than before.« In front of them, the monster started to transform, and next to the reptilian head shoulders appeared. It had two glowing red eyes that were on its face like it would be on a human. It grew thick black arms and an enormous torso. It emerged from the black mass and pulsated, while doing that it also grew in size. »Don't look at it, Chuuya.« The brunette whispered. »It reacts to human emotions, so don't give it any attention. Look somewhere else.« And Chuuya didn't realize it back then, but Dazai -again- just implied his humanity. The younger redhead slowly moved his head to the ground as the older one stared at the beast. The gigantic body of the creature blocked out the moonlight. »It can't be burned with flames.« Real Chuuya looked at the younger boy, who also looked at the ground. »It doesn't matter how big a gifted weapon's flames are. Not to mention, while it may look like a giant beast, it's not even an entity. It's merely a singularity with an infinite amount of energy stored in a condensed space. It has no organs or weak points and will continue to move until all of its energy is expended.«

»It'll keep moving until it uses up all its energy, huh,« his younger self repeated Dazai's co-conclusion. »How long will that be?«

»Maybe a week, maybe a year.« The younger boy said with a calm-looking forced smile. »Or maybe it'll keep moving until the world ends. However long it takes for its energy to run out.« The monster chose that exact moment to move. Both teenagers watched as the heavy body started to move forwards. Every movement of the trembling body was accompanied by blue lighting caused by pure energy. With every step trees toppled over and the claws of the beast dragged into the ground. It was the true form of the demonic beast Guivre.

»It could have absorbed the singularity energy found in that ball of heat.« The brunette said, his voice still just loud enough that the younger Chuuya could understand it. »There's no way the authorities in Europe would have experimented with clashing two weapons of singularity together.«

»That bastard. It's heading for the city,« his younger self grumbled as he watched the beast moving towards the buildings.

»It'll be able to see that from the city soon. It started walking in response to our gazes, which means it won't stop until there are no more people left to look at it,« the bandaged boy explained, also watching the beast moving in the direction of the city. His younger self grabbed the brunette roughly on the shoulder.

»Then why are we just standing here?! Yokohama will be destroyed and the Port Mafia will disappear!« He emphasized it by shaking the demon prodigy a little.

»Then what should we do? You want to bring that ever-growing giant over and have a fist fight?« Dazai tried to shake the other off but Chuuya's grip didn't budge. His voice had a certain edge to it as he looked into the older's eyes with a cold gaze. »It's impossible. Can't you see it? This is a singularity, something that takes on a form through the loopholes in this world, something that shouldn't exist. It's not something you can beat like a human.«

»That's not true.« The redhead said, staring into the other eyes. There is that look again, real Chuuya heard, that passionate gaze that refuses to ever give up. His younger self let go of Dazai and said the next part with so much pathos that it even struck the twenty-two-year-old. »I know there's a way to defeat it. There's gotta be.«

I'm afraid not, the brunette thought as he let himself 'fall' to the ground as if his knees suddenly lost their strength. »Hahaha, how interesting. What makes you say that?« The bandage wearer asked with interest as he moved his legs a bit to sit more comfortably on the ground.

»Verlaine. When I was inside of him, I saw his memories.« Oh, the irony that he was now in Dazai's memories was just astounding.

»His memories?« The other asked with a raised eyebrow.

»Memories of when he had taken me from the research facility,« he clarified. »He and Rimbaud had a fight over me before it turned into a full-fledged battle. It must've been right after that where he fought Arahabaki and lived to tell the tale.« Dazai looked at him and then he narrowed his eyes at him.

»I see. So it's like that, huh?«

»Yeah. There's a way to erase Arahabaki's— a singularity's existence. He showed me that memory in order to tell me what it was.«

»Shall we talk about this over a cup of coffee, then?« The brunette started to grin. Maybe there's really a way to defeat it. Hell yeah there is. Real Chuuya knew that they successfully fought that beast after all.

_____

"What are you doing?" The tiny micro-organism asked. His right eyebrow arched as he looked at Dazai's younger self who was sitting on the forest ground and stretching his arms in Chuuya's direction. The redhead spent the last five minutes explaining what he saw in Verlaine's memories. Real Dazai didn't appreciate the irony of their current situation. He wanted to get out of Chuuya's memories.

"Waiting for you to pull me up?" His younger self said, without an ounce of shame.

"What are you? Forty?" The redhead scoffed but pulled him up in one swift movement anyway. The brunette brushed off the dirt from his clothes and then started to walk away.

"Come on, fairy," he mocked and wasn't able to move out of the way of Chibi's kick in time, but just pretended as if it didn't hurt. "We have a beast to stop."

"You already have a plan?"

"Technically it's a plan, yes. Chuuya's inside on Verlaine's memories will help us turn this thing around, so no-one has to double-suicide with anyone."

"Strangely specific," the tiny teenager mumbled but let it go. "Care to explain your plan?" He asked as they both started to move through the forest.

"Glady!" His younger self spoke enthusiastically. "And we have enough time to discuss this on our way to the meeting point."

Real Dazai was just walking beside the teenagers while they talked about the plan. It was nice that the memory didn't fade away for once.

_____

The wind hit him in the face. He was standing on the old industrial gas tank. In front of him, his younger version was looking at the destruction Guivre brought, while young Dazai was leaning his arms on the rail of the gas tank. They were right next to each other, wind twirling their hair and the distant smell of fire in the air. It was calm up here. They were at the eye level of the beast. Guivre stepped on an entrance and exit ramp for a highway and it all crumbled under its gigantic foot. It didn't make a sound. It was just gone. Silently pulverized. Such a weird feeling to see the soundless destruction of the world happen right in front of your eyes and yet somehow it was oddly calming. He just couldn't describe it, but standing there with Dazai right next to him watching the beast move towards the city had something cathartic. It was surreal. It's the classic definition of 'the calm before the storm', the real Chuuya thought as he watched the teens stare at the beast with glowing red eyes.

»I'd say there's about 30 minutes until the center of Yokohama is turned to dust,« the younger one spoke up.

»It's not like we'll see it happen,« Chuuya commented while holding the hat in his hand. »Either he'll be blown to pieces or we'll be dead.« Well, a little bit of both. He's going to demolish Guivre but his own body is going to take a lot of painful hits. It took long to recover and he was astounded that Mori gave him so much time to rest after this. Ultimately, he always gave him a long time to recover after using corruption. He even got a small break from missions when he got wounded in normal fights, not that that happened a lot. It was probably because the boss needed Chuuya in good shape for using corruption. Those small mission breaks stopped after Dazai defected, which only confirmed Chuuya's hypothesis. Most of the time he didn't need recovery time anyway.

»Ugh, gross. Committing a double suicide with you would be the worst,« Dazai made a theatrically disgusted face. »Just this once, I'll take this seriously.« Real Chuuya could hear the small thought of Chibi can't die.

»Fine by me. I don't feel like dying today. I have to become an executive before you do so I can work you to the bone, after all.« God, he wished he would've gotten the chance to do that. He would've made Dazai eat and sleep like an ordinary person would, instead of his weird diet and chaotic three-hour power naps.

»Wow, so confident. You're in the gem trade? Sounds like it's going pretty well.« Now that Chuuya knew where Dazai was going with this, he could hear the slight amusement in his voice.

»There's no way you can catch up to me. Our gems flow the way they do because our smugglers, buyers, and appraisers are the best in Yokohama,« God, his younger self shouldn't sound so smug about it.

»Oh, I know,« he could hear Dazai smirk. »Before you took over, I was in charge of that.«

»What?!« The younger one turned to face Dazai with a surprised expression. »Does that mean you were the first one to design those distribution routes?!«

»He's about to reach our target distance, so let's worry about that later.« Dazai said, ignoring Chuuya's outburst and concentrating on the beast again. The sound its footsteps made was getting louder, while the beast got closer and closer. Red gaze fixing the young mafia members standing on the gas tank. His younger version stared at it and then suddenly threw his head back to shout his frustration into the night sky: »I can't believe I got Dazai's leftovers!«

Guivre moved forward. Power lines snapped like rubber bands as they got in touch with the enormous body of the beast. Smaller objects like billboards and abandoned bikes floated into the air as a result of the abnormal gravity field that Guivre created. The objects turned to dust as they got close to its body, crumbling into dust in the blink of an eye.

»You remember the plan?« Dazai asked after a while of silently watching the destruction.

»Yeah.« Their clothes fluttered in the wind as they stood side by side, facing the enormous beast head-on.

»The only thing you have to be careful of is that this isn't a sound plan. I don't know what'll happen since Guivre and Arahabaki are going to clash. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole world was blown to pieces,« Dazai said and he wasn't happy about the fact that he didn't know what could happen. It was fascinating for him, but he mostly hated that he pushed Chuuya into an unknown battle. At least that's the conclusion Chuuya pulled from Dazai's thoughts that swirled around in his brain.

»It won't blow to pieces,« his younger self just laughed as if he wasn't facing a gigantic monster he had to fight. »Verlaine survived nine years ago by doing this.«

Dazai planned to have Chuuya open up his gate to counter Guivre's power with Arahabaki's energy.

»I already know how to open your gate. The activation spell is as N said, 'Oh, grantors of dark disgrace. May ye never wake me again'. From there, the seal of instruction will reset itself. That alone won't open the gate, but the hat will help.«

The hat his younger version held in his hand was a present from Rimbaud. It was embedded with metal that would allow Chuuya to control the activation of Arahabaki's gate. The hat is the reason why Verlaine could open the gate at his own will and now it would allow Chuuya to do the same.

»It's almost time. You'll jump from here, open up your gate in front of the monster, then fight him with all your might.« Dazai explained the plan again as he took a walkie-talkie out of his coat pocket. »I'd better send the details of our strategy to my subordinates,« he held the communication tool to his mouth but didn't activate it. Instead, he turned his head to Chuuya. »Is that ok?«

»We already decided it was,« Chuuya answered while facing the younger one with a suspiciously raised eyebrow. »What's with you, asking something like that?«

Chuuya remembered this moment. It was so surreal to watch Dazai struggle to phrase something. He had a silver tongue; he always knew what to say, but in his mind his thoughts were constantly overlapping themselves, creating a mess that Chuuya couldn't even understand as the brown-haired boy tried to figure out which words he should use. It was so out of character for the demon prodigy.

»There's one problem,« Dazai spoke after a moment, still struggling with how he should voice what was on his mind. »It's got nothing to do with the success of our plan. After all, even that is just another problem to overcome,« he made a small pause. »But, you might need some time to reach a decision.«

»What the hell are you on about?« His younger self wanted to know, crossing his arms in front of his chest because Dazai's unusual behavior was starting to bump him out. »And quit acting important. Hurry up and say it.«

Maybe I can hint at it? Dazai thought and then started to talk again: »Remember earlier I said you use the activation spell to open your gate, and how that completely resets the string of formulas inside of you?« His voice was so weirdly small and soft all of the sudden. The younger Chuuya was starting to feel uneasy. »If you use it, your previously stored logs will be erased. Meaning... the formula that erased your memories of the past will also be deleted with it.« Chuuya unfolded his arms and let them fall to his sides again.

»Huh?« He was so confused at that moment. Here goes nothing, I have to say it.

»The formula for memory deletion. I said it before, didn't I? To determine whether or not you're human, we had to go through your erased memories to make sure of your past. So this means,« Dazai paused again, looking straight into Chuuyas eyes with a look he never wore when addressing Chuuya before: he was completely serious. It freaked his younger version out. Now that he was older he appreciated it. The one topic Dazai was always sincere about was Chuuya's struggle with the question if he was human or not. His younger self will soon start to talk to Dazai more about Arahabaki and the effects it has on him and his body and the younger boy will be completely focused on the topic, giving thoughtful input. God, he loved those talks with Dazai. At first, they were short-lived and only resolved around Arahabaki, but they soon talked about other topics. They talked about work-related stuff and the newest gossip in the mafia because Dazai was such a drama lover and needed 'intel' -as he called it- on everyone, but mostly they talked trash and it was fun and refreshing. Almost making him feel like a normal teenager who didn't kill for a living. Sometimes their talks would even revolve around Dazai's struggles and suicidal tendencies, but they only ever scratch the surface of that huge topic. It still meant a lot to Chuuya that Dazai opened up a little to him about it. They'll hang out more and play games and have late-night talks accompanied by whisky and wine or hot chocolate and sometimes even tea because Dazai pointed out it's 'funny spilling tea while drinking it'. The bandaged boy will start to hang out at Chuuya's place almost every day and Chuuya will do anything he can to make the younger one sleep in his warm apartment instead of sleeping in his stupid container. Around that time he started to crush hard on the other boy, always wanting to keep him close to reassure himself that his suicidal partner wasn't dead in a ditch somewhere. »By using the activation spell, we will never be able to determine whether or not you're an artificially made human with equations for a personality or a normal human being—Ever.«

Time stopped for his younger self. He clearly remembered all thoughts leaving his mind making it feel like cotton. His body went numb as the reality of his situation sunk into his stomach, creating a weird sensation. Is he all right? He heard Dazai's concerned thought and laughed a little. Yup, everything was just peachy.

»Verlaine was plagued with the curse of not knowing if he was human or not. It meant a lot to him, to be human.« The bandaged boy pulled out a pocket watch. Hirotsu once told Chuuya that he gifted it to him, after realizing how he looked at it 'with sparkles in his eyes', whenever he used it. »I can delay the start of our mission by about 2 minutes. I'll place my subordinates on standby... It'd be better if you thought alone for a little bit. You probably won't think straight if I'm here.« That was the moment his younger self realized that Dazai did have empathy. Chuuya was starting to think that Dazai had just no interest in them being closer to each other, but this moment proved him wrong. It was the reason why he never stopped caring for Dazai's well-being even if it wasn't always rewarding, 'cause the younger one could sure be a bitch about it when Chuuya stitched him up after another one of his attempts. Dazai turned to leave the top of the gas tank to give his younger self some space. And real Chuuya could hear his thoughts racing about a backup plan if his younger version wasn't up for the plan anymore. It was almost worrying how fast he could think and how easily he postponed the plan to save the world for Chuuya's sake. He arrived at the stairs and didn't even reach the fourth step as he heard the metallic sound Chuuya's shoe made as he took off into the air. The younger one turned around with a look of honest surprise on his face, which was a rarity. The brunette was taken back for a moment before a little laughing sound left his mouth. »Acting cool even in this situation, huh?« Dazai had a small smile on his lips. It was a mix between relieved and somewhat troubled. Sorry you have to do this, Chibi. »Chuuya's off to attack. All members, prepare for battle,« he spoke into his walkie-talkie.

_____

He was standing in nothingness again. But the white abyss slowly started to bleed into another color. Spots of black tripped from the roofless abyss like blood, overpainting the blending of white with an ominous black. Dazai was standing in complete darkness as soon as the last white spot was covered. It was unsettling. Soon dark red sparks started to bring him light again. They flew all around him like fireflies but they had something intimidating about them. They started to close in on him and Dazai realized that he knew this tone of red. It was 'For The Tainted Sorrow', no, it was even more than that: It had the dark tone 'Corruption' created.

Leave. You are not welcome here.

What the fuck. Someone was acknowledging his presence in Chuuya's memories. Only one being in the world could accomplish that...

"Arahabaki," Dazai felt stupid for saying that name into the nothingness, but it was the only explanation, even if it seemed impossible.

In all my might. Fear your God, mortal.

Yup. Definitely Arahabaki. Chibi used to talk about the god that lived inside him. Dazai once asked him if he could speak to the god. Chuuya had rolled his eyes and at first, Dazai thought the older one did it because he had asked a stupid question, but it was just because the god annoyed him.

"I only hear his voice whilst using Corruption and for like a day after I used it," the tiny redhead explained.

"Well, how is it talking to a literal god, Chibi?"

"Annoying as hell. He's all like: Destroy this, devour that, and fear me, mortal. It's exhausting most of the time", Chuuya said before taking a sip from his wine. Dazai loved their late-night talks. It was a habit they created as they started to grow closer. He missed it. All of it.

"So sometimes he's alright?" Dazai had concluded and Chibi nodded amusedly.

"He loves to gossip. Our trash talks are his highlights. He started to tell me how annoying the other gods used to be and that he's glad he doesn't have to talk to them anymore. He is such a drama queen, it's fun," he laughed and Dazai will definitely talk about all the gossip he can find after Chuuya wakes up from using corruption in the future. "You know, I think you two would get along since you are both annoying and are the biggest drama queens I know."

"Rude," Dazai sulked, but secretly he was happy that Chuuya indirectly called him 'fun'.

"Yeah, no that's not going to happen," he said and the red sparks around him flamed up, growing bigger. "How are you even talking to me? Don't you usually only talk to Chibi when he's using corruption?"

He is using it.

"What?!" Dazai needed to get a grip and get out of this stupid ability. Chuuya is in great danger when he's currently using corruption because the detective isn't going to be there to stop him in time. A dark chuckle sounded in the black void. The red sparks fly carefree around Dazai's figure.

It's more accurate to say he was using the power of your God.

"So this is just a memory? That doesn't make any sense." What was happening? Why could the god talk to him?

I am the God of destruction and chaos. I don't have to make sense. Now leave my vessel.

"If I could I would, trust me," the bandaged boy mumbled.

I do not trust the person who betrayed my vessel.

"I didn't betray him, I betrayed the mafia. There's a difference," Dazai stated and the sparks grew into flames, caging in on him.

Not for my vessel, so neither for me.

"This is ridiculous, I-"

It is. I would've never expected to see a devoted worshipper turning against us.

"Devoted worshipper?" He asked, even though he didn't want to hear the answer.

Don't try to fool me, mortal. You made sure he rested after using my power, you even started to gossip as soon as he woke up, knowing that he'd enjoy it when I talk about other gods.

"That's just a mere coincidence," he tried to deny.

Are your feelings for my vessel a mere coincidence, too, then?

"How do you—"

I may be the God of destruction but I'm not blind to love, mortal.

That's just great. The stupid god living inside Chuuya figured him out.

Leave now, you don't deserve to see my vessel's memories.

"I already told you I would leave if I could. You're the god here, just make the ability disappear." Dazai had enough of that stupid ability anyway. The god could just end it here.

I am constantly trying.

"Constantly try—" Dazai's eyes widened with the sudden realization of why the ability was so weird. "You're the reason why the memories make so huge jumps and I see this annoying whiteness!"

And I will continue to be that reason.

"Why?" The detective wanted to know, starting to feel annoyed by the god. The flames around him burned brighter and higher than ever before.

HOW DARE YOU ASK THAT QUESTION, MORTAL?

The voice of the god suddenly got louder and Dazai covered his ears but it didn't help at all. It was in his head.

YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HEAR WHAT HE THINKS. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED NEAR HIM. I WON'T LET YOU WEAKEN HIM AGAIN.

The god roared with all his might. His voice consumed all of Dazai's thoughts, making the voice echo in his brain.

I WILL MAKE YOU SUFFER. I WILL BRING YOU PAIN.

It was so loud. Way too loud. Make it stop. The voice kept lingering in his mind, swirling around, Dazai couldn't think. He couldn't fucking think. He closed his eyes, slowly sinking to the ground to hug his knees. Make it stop.

He didn't even realize that the black darkness disappeared and he was once again left in the abyss as the voice still echoed in his head.

_____

He was still standing on the industrial gas tank next to Dazai, who stared at his younger self using corruption.

»Oh, grantors of dark disgrace,« Dazai mumbled, his voice small but filled with awe. »Dark disgrace, huh?« He looks like an angel flying like that. Dazai was crushing so hard on him, otherwise, he would never describe Chuuya's state as something holy. Chuuya began to fight with Verlaine's beast form. »Wow,« Dazai whispered into the wind, clearly amazed by what he saw. »So this is Arahabaki...«

Verlaine's beast and Chuuya's corrupted form were both creating gravity spheres in their hands, ready to throw them at each other. I hope he does spin them, Dazai thought right as both opponents let go of their spheres.

»Did it cancel out...?«

They hit each other and after an energy bust, the gravitational spheres disappeared without a trace.

»Hahaha... He did it.« The brunette's smile was shaky. He was afraid his plan wouldn't work, hm? Normally when two black holes collided, they just created a bigger one. But Chuuya spun his sphere so the energy of it was changed, resolving the spheres to disappear. »My predictions were correct. What he saw in Verlaine's dream turned out to be true.«

It was a battle to the death between both singularities. They faced each other with loud screams and the forces kept crashing against each other, resulting in wounds all over their bodies.

»...Chuuya's wounds are deeper.« Dazai muttered, gripping the rail in front of him so hard that his knuckles turned white.

"It's going to be alright, mackerel," the real Chuuya didn't even know why he spoke up. The younger one couldn't hear him. Guivre was opening its mouth and created twenty spheres in front of it. They started to grow bigger and bigger. One sphere was larger than all of Chuuyas's spheres combined.

»This is bad,« Dazai muttered, and as he said that the holes started to radiate. That certainly was enough power to destroy the universe. The lined-up black holes changed their position: One half was positioned in the sky, the other near the ground and Chuuya was in the middle of the half-moon-like line of black holes. He couldn't dodge this attack and Chuuya seemed to know it too. His corrupted form created a shield out of spheres, but then cannonballs started to hit him. Guivre was shooting at him without a break. Chuuya endured it and endured it some more. But the attacks were getting through. It was only a matter of time before he couldn't defend himself against them anymore. He can't do this much longer. Dazai lifted his walkie-talkie to his mouth.

»Squad 2, fire!« Dazai commands through the line. »Don't worry about firing at the same time! No matter what, whoever has the capability to fire, should!«

A huge number of mafiosi started to fire at Guivre with portable rocket launchers. The rockets were fired off from the street, the woods, the city roofs, basically from every possible direction. The launchers were the strongest weapon a single mafioso could use on his own. They had enough power to destroy tanks and aircraft. As the smoke of the attacks cleared, Guivre didn't even have a single scratch from the enormous attack.

»Don't worry, this is fine!« Dazai immediately reassured the other members. »Just keep its attention focused on the ground!« And away from Chuuya! was the thought that followed that sentence. Now Guivre started a counterattack. The spheres killed the mafioso before they could scream. Leaving no trace of them, but the surviving members just continued to fire their weapons without any remorse. They were in the mafia. This was their life, to die for the sake of their organization was an honor. The beast had no personality, it was just a massive accumulation of hatred. It attacked hostility against itself. It couldn't prioritize which opponents it should attack first. So Chuuya had a moment to collect himself, being able to move freely again without being the target of Guivre. Blood was leaking from almost every part of his body. He soon would reach his limit. It was strange for Chuuya to watch himself being this destructive and powerful. Whenever he used corruption he lent to god his body and was reduced to a mere spectator of his own body. Most of the time he wasn't even conscious. He just remembered a few fever-like moments where everything moved way too trippy. They fought against each other and then Arahabaki roared, creating a black hole in each hand, they spun and soon grew into a large halo. The air around him was vibrating, creating storms because of the energy boost radiating from the halo. Chuuya remembered feeling an all-consuming sadness at this moment and now that he looked at himself from an outsider's perspective, he could see how lonely he looked in the sky. He could hear Arahabaki's scream and it sounded like a big sob, as if the god of destruction was just the manifestation of all the sadness in the world. Chuuya vaguely remembered having a conversation with Verlaine about loneliness and hatred. Something grew out of Chuuya's back. It looked so weird, like antennas out of black matter. What was that? Was it Arahabaki's tail? Could be. It looked weird.

"First a halo and now wings," Dazai mumbled. Like a true angel. Hah. Well, technically the corrupted Chuuya kinda looked like an angel, yes, but Dazai was way too excited about this.

»OoooooooaaaaAAAAAUUUGGGH!!!« His corrupted form suddenly screamed. He lifted his hands and the holes continued to grow, causing the halo to shine as bright as a supernova. It sliced Guivre's body in half. The halo lit up the dark night sky in all of Yokohama, burning itself into the memories of everyone alive to witness it.

»So this is Arahabaki's... Chuuya's true form?« Dazai voiced, shielding his eyes from the brightness, while still trying to watch everything happen. He watched Chuuya's form. Chibi looks like a real god, an angry one. And Chuuya watched his younger self and came to the same conclusion Dazai made: He did look like a furious god.

Guivre was slowly crumbling under the halo, not shooting anything anymore, because it had been defeated. Not a sound was heard from the beast as if it found peace in its demise. It was gone without a trace and the halo over Chuuya's form was collapsing slowly. His body was slowly being lowered by the black wings. He was high up in the air and then Dazai started to move. Real Chuuya almost struggled to keep up with him. The brunette sprinted to the end of the gas tank, rushed down the ladder, and ran towards the slowly falling Chuuya. Right in time Dazai caught his body. His ability immediately nullified the red marks corruption caused as soon as they touched. He lowered him carefully to the ground, letting Chuuya's head rest on his lap.

»Good work, Chuuya,« Dazai praised as he looked down at the unconscious Chuuya. He started to gently comb through his hair with his fingers, loosening the knots the fight and the blood created. »You're lucky I forgot to bring my fountain pen or else you'd have doodles all over your face,« he laughed after a moment, but it didn't sound like a threat. God no, the real Chuuya couldn't believe how soft the voice of the other was as the brunet continued to loosen all the little knots in his hair with such care that the thought of the same soft hands drawing doodles on him seemed so surreal. He used one of his hands to pull out his walkie-talkie as the other continued, brushing through Chuuya's hair. "We need medical service for Chuuya," he spoke into the communication tool.

It didn't take long. Ane-san and Hirotsu were the first people to show up. The elegant woman didn't think about her beautiful kimono as she soon kneeled next to Chuuya, brushing a stray hair strain out of his face. It was such a gentle touch that the real Chuuya was choked up all of the sudden. To see Dazai and then Ane-san treat him with such a loving touch was just too much. He really hated that he didn't feel their touches back then.

"I'll bring him to the infirmary," Ane-san voiced after a while. Dazai nodded and bit his lip.

"May I accompany you?" It was so strange to hear Dazai be so formal towards the older woman and even the red-haired lady was taken aback for a short moment.

"You may," is all she said with a barely noticeable smile in her voice. She started to move Chuuya's body, so it wouldn't touch Dazai's anymore. As soon as she accomplished that, her golden demon materialized, carefully cradling his younger self. Dazai was back on his feet again, already following Ane-san as Hirotsu clears his throat.

"Boss wants you to report now, Dazai-dono," his voice was apologetic as he pointed back to the helicopter already waiting for them.

"Now? He surely can wait for a few—"

"I'm afraid not," Hirotsu interrupted, "it is an urgent matter."

"But I," his gaze locked itself on the wounded Chuuya that was carried by Ane-san's demon, "wanted to—" stay with Chuuya, the brunet thought but stopped talking. Why is Mori doing this? Reporting isn't that important, Chuuya is and— A gentle hand was placed on Dazai's shoulder, making him look at the person to whom it belonged. Ane-san smiled at him.

"Go, I will make sure to inform you where he rests," she said. An amused smile crossed her face as she chuckled lightly. "Try to let your emotions stay at bay, dear. You look outraged. Don't let him know that or he's going to use it against you," she whispered and she was right. Dazai looked furious over the fact he had to leave now. But it only took the blink of an eye to put on an indifferent-looking mask on his face. He sighed, nodding at the older woman and turning towards Hirotsu, who gently placed his hand on his back, guiding him into the helicopter.

_____

Real Chuuya was following Dazai through the floor with the artful glass design that led to Boss's office. The brunet pushed the handle down, took one deep breath, and opened the door. Hirotsu closed it behind the brunet so it was only the leader of the Port Mafia, his ability, and the demon prodigy.

"Told you you would desperately fight that monster," the boss greeted. He was sitting behind his desk as usual, arms on the surface of the table so he could let his chin rest on top of his folded hands. His eyes were closed and a smug smile was on his lips.

"Is that the urgent matter you wanted to discuss? That you were right?" Dazai's tone was friendly, a smile on his face. For anyone outside of this room, it might have seemed sincere, but Chuuya saw it as what it was: Suppressed anger. Mori laughed.

"Oh my, Dazai, I'm sure you know exactly why I called you here," he opened his eyes and balanced his face on one hand so the other could reach into a drawer. "Or should I help refresh your memory?" A few documents and old notebooks were harshly thrown on the table. "Care to explain why a few are missing?" The room temperature dropped. So Dazai stole Rimbaud's notebooks, huh?

"It was information I needed to defeat Guvire," Dazai answered with a steady voice, as if his mind wasn't racing with panicky thoughts.

"Oh? So you had known about Guivre for a year now?" What? A year? Dazai had the notebooks for a year?

"It was a precautionary measure, which did pay off in the end," the brunet explained, seemingly calm.

"Precautionary, you say..." Mori repeated while watching Elise draw something on the floor. "It's interesting. You weren't invested in the Port Mafia, then the Sheep king shows up and you're suddenly set on becoming an executive and taking 'precautions'. Kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it?"

"It certainly does!" Elise chirped in as she stole a pen from Mori's desk to use in her drawing.

"I only took precautions. We didn't know anything about the Sheep boy so I just tried to find a way to defeat him if he changed his mind and wanted to kill you, Mori-san," the bandaged brunet said. "I only had your best interest in mind and I would apologize if it didn't save your life today."

"It did, it did," the older male hummed. "But don't think it won't have consequences. Especially if you keep on lying about your real motive."

"Consequences for saving your life? That seems oddly inappropriate, don't you think, Boss?" Dazai laughed a little, but god, his inside was so shaky right now. His thoughts were swirling all around so fast that Chuuya couldn't grasp one. All he could make out was the essence that Dazai was so screwed.

"If that had been your only intention we wouldn't have this conversation, Dazai-kun," Mori stood up from his chair and moved towards the huge window. His hands were folded behind his back. "Look at the aftermath of the fight," he said, which was a signal for Dazai to also step to the window. On the way there he caught a small glimpse of Elise's drawing. All he saw was a red fire. As he reached the window Mori moved behind him, caging the bandage waster against the glass. The city was in debris. Holes were in the ground, and the still-standing buildings were leaning in a certain direction, like flowers facing the sunlight. It was odd to see the ruins the fight left behind. "Chuuya is strong, isn't he?" Mori suddenly said and Dazai answered with a small nod. "You agree? That's nice," Mori stated and let his hands rest on each of Dazai's shoulders. "So you'll probably agree that he doesn't need your help about figuring his past out, no?" The hands-on Dazai's shoulders gripped him a little harder. "Your only job is to become an executive and be useful to me." The grip seemed to get tighter with every word and Chuuya was so infuriated by watching this scene play out. "If you do that for me," Mori started, leaning his upper body down, inevitably applying more and more pressure, as he started to speak directly into the younger ear. "I can dig up a bit about Chuuya's past." After saying that he backed off again, letting the motionless Dazai stand in front of the window as he sat down on his big mahogany chair again.

"So you know if he's human or not?" Was Dazai's first question. He couldn't really see Mori's smile since his back was still facing the office, but he could certainly hear it in his voice.

"I may know a thing or two about the topic. It's important to take precautionary measures," he mocked the younger one and Dazai just let it slide, gaze still focused on the destruction outside.

"And you will tell him what you know?"

"If you try hard to become an executive, sure," the boss responded and Dazai turned around to meet his eyes. "Of course, I can only tell him if he becomes an executive too. It's sensible information not suited for lower ranks."

"What? Then I would—" he bit his tongue, remembering what Ane-san said, but it was already too late now. He knows I care, fuck, fuck, fuck! Yup, that the brunet cared seemed obvious now and Chuuya wondered if the boss even knew about Dazai's crush. It wouldn't surprise him if the older male did.

"Mhm, right, that's unfair, isn't it? I will help him if he becomes an executive before you do. But you would have to pay the price for my courteousness. I think you helping me test out a few new medicines would be a good consolation prize, hm?" He had a dark expression on his face and Dazai was screaming on the inside. His hands twitched and his eyelashes fluttered barely noticeably.

"Then I have to make sure it won't happen," the bandage waster said after a short silence.

"Good that we are on the same page here," the boss said with a sickeningly sweet smile. "Start to report now." And Dazai did. He told him what happened, but he left out a few details. The hat and its importance weren't mentioned nor did he quote Chuuya's activation phrase. He roughly described the plan and he didn't mention Shirase once. "Okay. You can go," the boss let him know as the younger one finished his report. Dazai immediately moved towards the door and as he reached it Mori spoke up again: "Oh and Dazai?" He turned his head around to face the older man again. "Don't ever steal executive documents again or I will burn all of Rimbaud's notebooks." Dazai's eyes widened as did Chuuya's. The brunet looked at the boss as Elise showed off her drawing: Dazai and Chuuya were on it. The latter angrily screamed at the first and in the background was a huge fire with books burning in it. A broken heart about Dazai's head.

"I understand," the brunet replied to the threat with a nod before he opened the door and left the office. Fuck. They know, was all that was on his mind right now and Chuuya wanted to scream. He always thought Mori was so nice for finally letting him know his origin as he became an executive, but it seemed that he was just used as a very valuable bargain chip.

_____

Author's note

This chapter is basically Stormbringer, but gayer, which isn't hard because, well *gestures to Stormbringer*.

Any literal speech with the characters: »...« is from the Stormbringer fan translation and is accordingly not my wording.

Soooooo, yeah now you know why Dazai doesn't get to hear Chuuya's thoughts and all that. So what do you think of that?I'm almost finished with the next chapter, so hopefully you all don't have to wait so long :D

Next chapter contains:

•Misunderstandings

•A sleep-deprived idiot

•Corruption

"Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you."

― Friedrich W. Nietzsche

That's the quote Dazai referes to.