Rue sat staring at the man all bloodied up, laying on her knees. "Why...? Why? Why?! WHY?!!" She screamed in desperation, the sound coming out of her mouth almost painful to simply hear. 

That man was none other than Dazai. He smiled, looking at peace for once. "Goodbye... Rue-chan. I'll see you in hell." He slowly closed his eyes. 

This sight made Rue's heart drop, and her eyes filled with tears. She felt a scream coming up her throat, and she let it out. "OSAMUUUUU!! DON'T-- DON'T GO--!!! STAY HERE WITH ME, YOU CAN'T GO!!! I FAILED, I FAILED!!! FORGIVE ME!!!!" She cried out, looking up. Her heart felt almost as if it was broken into a thousand pieces, like someone smashed her and she ached all over. "No... no... I loved you." Tears fell onto his face as she looked down at him.

Dazai died smiling, the heat in his body started to disappear. He'd shot himself in the heart, falling over to the floor of Eliza's home. Where in the world did he even get the gun? 

The moment played over and over in Rue's mind, she couldn't get it to stop. She couldn't move, no matter how hard she tried. Nobody was in the house, nobody came to help. Everybody was gone, she was alone. Dazai... was all that was left. "You-- I cannot say goodbye. You're not actually dead, right? Wake up. Please wake up?" She pleaded to his corpse. 

Of course, Dazai didn't reply. He was most definitely dead.

Rue gripped onto Dazai's brown hair, grief and despair overtaking her entire body.

Then, his body began to move. He looked straight at her. But-- she could feel there was no Dazai, it was only his body. His body was alive but he was dead...? But he'd been shot!!

-

Rue woke up in a puddle of sweat, instantly looking to Dazai to see if he was okay. It looked like he was still sleeping. "Osamu..." She called his name, gently turning him on his back to see if he was breathing.

As expected, he was. 

She put her head on his chest, just to be comforted by the sound of his heart beating. She cried against him, closing her eyes. 

Eventually, Dazai woke up. "Good morning." He said, a big smile on his face once he saw Rue. He still looked half asleep, and his hair was all messed up.

Rue had stopped crying by then, and picked her head up. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?" 

"Dunno." He replied casually, getting out of bed like a zombie. He put his shoes on. "Can I use your--"

Rue didn't let him finish, eager to give him whatever he needed. "Whatever you like, you may use it." 

"Ah, thanks Rue-chan." He walked off, going to find the bathroom. 

While Dazai was gone, she took that horrible book out of Dazai's coat, and hid it away in her vanity desk. She planned on throwing it out. The woman made her way to the bathroom where Dazai was, picking up her hairbrush.

Dazai brushed his teeth with Rue's toothbrush, his hair still a mess.

Once she finished brushing her shoulder length hair, she stood on her toes and brushed Dazai's hair. 

This was a nice moment between them for once, something genuinely sweet. Just like Kenji thinks, there is good in everyone. 

Eliza came in, hearing the noise. "Good morning Rue! Not you, Dazai." She said, walking by. 

"Be kind, Eliza." Rue said, running her fingers through Dazai's hair even though she was already done. "Hand me the toothbrush?" 

Dazai did so, now walking away to get his coat. "Are you coming with me today too, Rue-chan?" 

Because of the nightmare she had, she felt a strong need to watch over him all day. "Yes." She brushed her teeth, then going to the bedroom to change into the red dress she bought yesterday afternoon. "How is this...?" 

Dazai smiled. "Wonderful. Now, let's go." He started to walk towards the door. 

"Wait a moment, I need to tell my sister and Eliza goodbye." Rue hastily went to find Suzu, and kissed her on the cheek. "I'm going to be out all day with Osamu. When I come home we can visit Father to tell him. Alright?" 

"Splendid! I'm glad you're going to tell him. I love you." Suzu waved bye.

Rue waved back. "I love you too. Eliza! I love you!!" She exclaimed loud enough for the rat queen to hear downstairs.

"I love you too!" She yelled back. You could hear her smile. 

Rue turned back to Dazai, grinning at him. The morning was going well so far, no mention of suicide. "Alright, Osamu. Let's go." 

The two of them left the house, hand in hand as they did. Dazai drove them to the ADA, like a maniac. 

"Drive normally, drive normally!!" Rue screamed, crying her eyes out. She was extra scared, because of that nightmare she had of Dazai succeeding in suicide. 

"Tch." Dazai didn't see anything wrong with his driving. 

Instead of letting Dazai slack off at work, Rue ordered him to do what he was told. She monitored him closely, making sure he was on his best behavior. 

When Dazai brought Rue home, he stayed there for a little while. He was just like that, lurking in the background, popping out of nowhere. "Rue-chan, where's my book? I haven't been able to find it all day." He asked her, cheerfully. 

She had been sitting on his lap at the table after they all ate dinner. "I threw it out." She admitted, feeling a bit nervous. 

Dazai's expression darkened. That book was special to him, it was his favorite book. "Why?" He asked, his voice taking on a new tone. It felt... intimidating in a way. He didn't really mean it. 

Eliza and Suzu stared at them, very confused. Well, Eliza was more irritated by Dazai than confused. She didn't like how he was just taking and taking. 

"Because... I don't think it helps." Rue explained, trying not to let her slight fear show. Dazai was erratic, you never knew what he might do next. 

Dazai didn't say anything, before he stood Rue up and went to the trash can to get the book. He reached in, finding it at the top of all the garbage. 

"Eh--?" Rue was a bit grossed out, and mildly concerned. Why did he love the book so much?

Dazai dusted it off, placing it back into his coat.

Rue felt a little bit bad... "Sorry I did that, I didn't know you liked it so much." Somehow, she felt like she shouldn't have been giving that apology. She tried her best to fight back tears, only wanting the best for Dazai. 

"It's alright. Well, I'm going. Byebye!" Dazai said, leaving the house. 

Rue watched him leave, not wanting him to go. "Be safe..." 

Dazai didn't hear her, and continued to walk away. 

Suzu cleared her throat, forcing a smile on her face to make Rue feel less anxious. "Well, let's go visit Father, shall we?" She rose from her seat. 

"Yes." Rue agreed, beginning to feel an impending doom.