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"Did you see them today?" said the man walking down the hallway.
"See what?" said his friend as he rubbed his head.
They had just returned from an exhausting job and all they wanted was to take a hot shower and return to their home.
"How they were on the mission."
His partner stopped walking and took a deep breath. He was tired of listening to gossip about their bosses.
"I am going to say this once and hear me out carefully." he replied. "They are always like this."
"That's what I'm saying, smart-ass." The first man gently hit the back of his head. "You just proved my point."
He let a sigh out. Nakahara-San and Dazai-San might be a bit eccentric as a duo, but it doesn't mean that they have something going on between them. Okay, they could be pinning each other during the jobs and act like a married couple where it seems like they should have been divorced two decades ago and Chuuya has put immense trust in Dazai's ability and Dazai has taken so many extreme measures to ensure Chuuya's safety.
For example, that night, Dazai had let Chuuya search a whole damn building for some files; not telling him that he had already retrieved them. Chuuya was furious and he definitely didn't attempt to push Dazai off the stairs multiple times. Only twice, but he claimed that the second one was an accident, so it didn't really count. And moments later, they were making jokes about the face the guard had when they saw Chuuya walking casually on the ceiling.
Now that he was thinking about it, he might have heard Dazai say something like : "But Chuuya looks so good when hanging upside down, why won't he hang with me?"and it could be a - failed - attempt to ask him out (or to suggest committing a suicide).
"Okay." he finally said. "You do have a point."
"See?" the other man said. "I know how to spot a couple when I see them."
"I don't think they are a couple, though."
"Trust me, they will be soon." the man pinched the bridge of his nose trying to think. "I bet you 10,000 Yen that Dazai will be the first one to confess."
"Dazai?" the other man said, surprised. "Dazai The Demon Prodigy Osamu?"
"Yes." he answered, full of confidence.
"No way-" before they had the chance to finish his sentence, they heard loud noises coming from the end of the hallway.
They approached cautiously the door the voices came from. It was Mori's office and the two men recognized immediately the yelling voices of the Port Mafia's scariest duo. After all, everyone was familiar with them.
"YOU COULD HAVE SNIFFED OUT THOSE PAPERS LIKE THE GOOD DOG YOU ARE." they could hear Dazai yelling - loud and clear.
"IF YOU CALL ME YOUR DOG ONE MORE FUCKING TIME, I WILL THROW YOU OFF OF THE FUCKING ROOF" Chuuya screamed back at him.
"IT'S NOT MY FAULT YOU ARE ONE."
"For fuck's sake." Chuuya barked, not so loudly like before, so the two men had to get closer to the door in order to hear them. "It's been two years since that, when will you cut it off?"
"But Chuuya is so short that I thought he was still fifteen." Dazai shot at him with a sing-song voice.
The two men's eyes widened and they took a step back, as they were familiar with the fact that Nakahara wasn't known for patient and calm nature.
"SUCK MY DICK YOU FUCKING WASTE OF BANDAGES-" Chuuya yelled- "AND YOU WILL SEE WHO IS SHORT."
"OH, IF YOU INSIST I MIGHT AS WELL DO-"
A loud noise was heard and they both went silent. It was either Mori who was tired of their fighting or Chuuya who was tired of Dazai. Either way, they couldn't be heard anymore and the two men stepped to the side.
"Okay-" said the man again. "That was suspicious."
"I told you." said his friend and put on a victorious smile.
"But still, it doesn't prove anything."
"It doesn't prove what?" a third man joined the conversation.
The two men flinched when they heard his voice, thinking it could be one of the higher ups. Luckily, no, it was the second in command of their task force, whenever Chuuya or Dazai weren't around.
"We were-" said the man who was talking last. Obviously he didn't want to explain about how he was betting on their bosses' love life.
"Before you get out of your way to lie to me, let me tell you that I heard you clearly." said the newcomer, interrupting him. "15,000 Yen on Dazai."
The other men looked at him speechless. Had he just placed a bet?
"Most of the low-rankings in the Black Lizards placed their money on Chuuya, though," he added.
"There are people placing bets?" he asked, confused.
"Among the lower-ranks, yes." the task force leader confirmed. "It's a fun way to pass the time and have something to look forward to."
"Oh, that sounds fun." the other man decided to engage in the conversation. "You should bet something too."
The man seemed to be sceptical about it for a moment.
"Well, I don't-"
The door suddenly opened and a frustrated Chuuya appeared. He had his arms crossed over his chest and a high-hat expression all over his face, refusing to look at Dazai. Dazai was actually following him, with a cocky smile all over his face, showing that he was the winner of whatever conflict had taken place.
They walked past the three men who had changed into a saluting position. They wished that Dazai and Chuuya wouldn't question their presence and fortunately their prayers were heard.
Dazai and Chuuya completely ignored their existence.
"Movie at my place?" Chuuya asked, without breaking his perfect snobbish face.
"Say less." Dazai agreed happily.
Once they disappeared out of their vision field and made sure that no one was around to hear him, he finally said it. "15,000 Yen on Chuuya."
...
"You knew and you didn't tell me?" Tachihara said surprised.
Gin shrugged her shoulders as a reply. She had been listening to Tachihara about how he found out their subordinates and the rest of the low-ranking members were trying to predict what would happen between the two young executives. As it turned out, though, she was already informed about the situation and simply didn't care enough about it.
Tachihara made a sound like a "tch" and grabbed his coffee. He seemed to be sceptical about something and then decided to say something more.
"They asked me if I wanted to join them too." he took a sip of his coffee. "But I don't know who could possibly confess first."
The woman next to him rolled her eyes.
"No, seriously!" he exclaimed. "Both of them have good chances of not confessing, because, firstly, they are stubborn and secondly they are completely oblivious when it comes to whatever is happening around them."
Gin was a bit interested in listening where her partner would conclude. Just a little bit. He sounded like those crime analysts - the ones she sees all the time in movies - and it was entertaining. However, she would never admit it out loud, so she just waited for him to continue his venting.
"I know what you think," he said. "If I believe that they might not confess at all, why am I thinking so much about it?"
Gin nodded. Did she care enough to think about it? Absolutely not, but she didn't want to spoil Tachihara's dream.
"Let me show you." he said and looked at Gin. "May I borrow one of your knives?"
Without waiting for her response, Tachihara tried to take one of the knives that Gin had left on the table in front of them. Gin, however, was faster than him. She pushed away his hand, as she grabbed one of her blades and pointed it at Tachihara's neck. The man gulped nervously and put his hands in the air.
"Okay, I'm not taking any of your blades, but-" he said quickly and carefully pushed the blade away from him- "the tension between them is so fucking dense. Like... you could cut it down with you knife or something and I'm telling you - there is no fucking way they don't snap at some point."
Gin sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Undoubtedly, Dazai and Chuuya had great chemistry while they were on the battlefield. Their complementary abilities made them unstoppable and only Chuuya could keep up with Dazai's plotting and scheming.
She might have also walked in Dazai and Chuuya being... well kind of suspicious.
She was searching for them in order to give them some report of the last mission. She found them chilling in the lunge of the Port Mafia's building. They were sitting on the couch together - not facing the door Gin was coming from - and were laughing with some silly joke Dazai had made. Gin took a moment in order to think about whether she wanted to interrupt them or not, when Dazai put on a serious expression.
"Do you hear this, Chuuya?" he said somewhat concerned.
Gin instinctively hid behind the wall,out of the door. There was no way possible Dazai had figured out her presence - she had learned from the best one out there how to move without making a sound. No, Dazai was referring to some things else.
"There is nothing." She heard Chuuya.
"No, no, no..." Dazai said again. "Just listen."
Gin decided to take a sneak peak. She saw Dazai leaning toward Chuuya and Chuuya seemed as confused as she was. Then, he suddenly placed his head on Chuuya's chest.
"How could Chuuya not hear his own heartbeat?" Dazai finally said. "It's pounding like crazy."
Chuuya's cheeks turned into a pinkish shade. "Damn, now it's beating faster than before." Dazai commented. "Are you having a heart attack?"
"Get off of me." Chuuya demanded.
"But Chuuya is so comfy." Dazai said and Gin noticed him shaking his head, trying to actually get comfortable. "I don't think I'll move."
"Bastard." Chuuya said, but didn't show any intention of pushing him away.
Gin had seen enough and realized that she didn't want to interrupt them (or actually it would be a mistake to interrupt them). The reports could wait, while retiring so young didn't seem too bad. Either way, she was set for life.
Maybe Tachihara did have a point.
"Most members of our task force think that Chuuya will confess first." Tachihara explained. "But I'm not so sure about it."
Gin shrugged her shoulders again, as a sign that she didn't really know. They heard footsteps in the hallway out of the lounge and immediately went quiet.
"Oi, Gramps!" Tachihara said, as the old man entered the room. "Come sit with us."
The old man got closer to them. "If you were paid for being slothful, you would be a millionaire."
"And if you were a millionaire, you wouldn't be stuck with us."
Fair...
Hirotsu lit the cigarette he was holding and inhaled the smoke. He slowly let it out and looked at the young man.
"What were you talking about?"
"Nothing important." Tachihara said and took a sip of his coffee again. It was obvious that something was troubling him and Gin swore that she could see smoke coming out of his fried brain. "Hirotsu-San, may I ask you something?"
"Is it about our next job?" Hitotsu asked him back.
"No." Tachihara said.
"Then no."
Tachihara pouted and Gin giggled. Finally, he decided to ignore the old man's answer and proceed with whatever was on his mind. "You were kind of responsible for Dazai and Chuuya, weren't you?
"If you are going to ignore me anyways, why bother to ask first?"
"Please, answer me." Tachihara begged him. "You basically raised them, right?"
"You could say so, yes." Hirotsu replied and pushed his glasses back, fixing them in their place. "Why are you asking?".
"I was wondering-" Tachihara said hesitantly-"What do you think about their relationship?"
Hirotsu let all the smoke out of his lungs, taking a moment for himself. He remained completely calm, as if he had expected this question. Gin was actually curious about what the man would say - it was getting fun.
"This is about the bet, isn't it?"
Tachihara choked on his coffee (it would be impolite to spit it out). He coughed uncontrollably and Gin had to slap him in the back three or four times - trying her best not to laugh - in order for him to take a deep breath. He looked at the old man, eyes wide open and completely slack-jawed.
"You knew about the bet?" he said and his voice cracked.
"I mean..." Hirotsu said calmly. "Everyone in the Port Mafia kinda knows about it."
"Apparently, not everyone!" Tachihara said annoyed. "Why the fuck am I the last one to find out about?"
Hirotsu did not answer and Gin looked away playing with a strand of her hair.
"Seriously now?" he complained again. "Anyways, on who did you bet?"
"Are you seriously asking me if I placed money on one of my students and their private life?" Hirotsu said in disbelief. "That sounds extremely unprofessional."
"No, I am not." Tachihara replied. "I'm pretty sure I asked which of your students you placed your money on."
"..."
"So?"
"On Dazai, obviously." Hirotsu said. "That boy is so emotionally repressed and Chuuya managed to turn his world upside down. It's only natural he eventually snaps."
"That's what I'm saying!" Tachihara said excitedly. "I think I'm going to bet on him as well. I don't think that Chuuya would ever say it to Dazai's face unless Dazai had made it completely clear that he liked him back."
"You are right." Hirotsu agreed.
"75,000 Yen on him."
Gin couldn't believe her ears. Dazai couldn't comprehend human feelings, let alone behavior. Would he admit being in love? Yes, he would definitely shoot his shot multiple times per day, but would he admit it out loud especially in front of Chuuya? No fucking way.
She pulled a pack of bills out of the inner pocket of her coat and threw it on the table in front of them. Tachihara took in on his hand and ran his finger through the paper money.
"This is about 100,000 Yen." Tachihara realized.
"On Chuuya." Gin said so damn sure that she would win the bet.
...
Akutagawa hadn't been in the Mafia for a lot of time but the things he had seen during his training had been quite intriguing. Thus, Dazai was his mentor - even though he was a little something more than cruel, the gossips about him were entertaining.
Did Chuuya breaking the record by becoming the youngest executive of the Port Mafia surprise him? No, not really, because as far as he was aware Chuuya was an exceptional candidate for that position.
But, Dazai re-breaking that record a month shortly after and getting the title of the youngest Port Mafia executive? Yes, for some reason it did surprise him.
And it also made him rethink (and low-key regret) every single decision he had made that led him to where he was.
Because he would rather not listen to Chuuya and Dazai's screaming matches at three in the morning and this very specific event triggered plenty of them.
(Dazai wasn't even supposed to be at Chuuya's apartement at that time of the night, what the fuck they were thinking?)
Akutagawa sighed and knocked on the huge door in front of him. He waited for a moment and entered as soon as he heard the word "Enter!". He opened the door and got into Mori's office.
Surprisingly, Mori was nowhere near his desk and soon the boy realized that he actually wasn't in the room at all. Instead Elise was sitting on the boss's huge chair, surrounded by colorful pencils and pieces of paper. That little girl was not so talented as they made her to be. At the end of day, she was literally Mori's ability, why the fuck was she getting better treatment than anyone else in the Mafia?
The boss' daughter my ass, Akutagawa thought.
He respectfully bowed to Elise - for some reason that little girl was treated the same way the boss was - and took a sit right in front of her.
"Where is Mori-san?"
"I don't know." said the girl, admiring her painting. "Left about one hour ago."
Akutagawa just nodded. He didn't bother asking why Elise stayed back, even though she is his ability. All it takes is to throw a tantrum and Mori dances on her palm. Of course, he can manifest her, if he is in danger but still, she is his fucking ability; she should be with him at all times and not roam around at the Mafia's headquarters.
"Look at this Aku! " Elise said and turned around the drawing she was holding. "Isn't it beautiful?"
The boy examined the sketch of two stick figures - one orange and the other one dark blue. The first one was wearing a hat and had tears drawn all over the place and the second one was holding something like a trophy.
Oh...
"I think you should keep it away from Chuuya-san." he replied kindly. "But you did wonders with Dazai-Dan's figure."
"Now that you mentioned them-" Elise said as if he wasn't the one who showed him a drawing of them- "What do you think of Dazai and Chuuya being both executives now?"
"It is exceptional." he said honestly. "I think they are going to do great things for the Port Mafia."
"I thought so..." Elise said, as if she was approving her own thinking. "And what do you think about their partnership?"
Akutagawa's eyes narrowed, wondering what was the point of the question. "For the past years, they have been one of the most effective teams of the whole organization."
Of course, the number one team was the Black Lizards (objectively only - they did not destroy everything that came across them as Dazai and Chuuya did).
"Rintaru is not here, you know." Elise pointed out. "You don't have to talk like a politician."
Akutagawa rolled his eyes, but couldn't reply, since Elise kept asking him questions.
"But is everything between them, as fine as it should be?" she insisted.
"I don't see why it wouldn't be."
"People say that Dazai-kun is in love with Chuuya-kun!" Elise said, not bothering to flick her head from the page she was drawing. "I say that it's gross."
"I say that you should mind your own business."
"It's not my fault people keep talking about it." Elise said as innocently as she could.
"Why are girls like this?" Akutagawa said, more to himself rather than Elise, since she reminded him of his sister, who had been into some gossip lately. "Why don't you talk about this with someone closer to your mindset? Someone like Tachihara?"
"Oh, I did and he said that I should place my money on Dazai."
Akutagawa felt his eye twitch. For a moment, the thought of getting up, leaving the country and never looking back crossed his mind but discarded it immediately since Elise would definitely snitch on him before he managed to get out of the building.
"What are you not telling me, Elise?" he finally asked.
Elise dropped her crayons and crossed her hands in front of her chest. She had a sardonic smile all over her face and, as someone who had served two bosses, Akutagawa recognized the malicious energy a proper boss should have. Even though she wasn't programmed to act like Mori, she certainly gave off his vibe and their connection was ridiculously obvious.
"He is mistaken." she finally announced. "Chuuya will be the one to confess first."
Akutagawa looked at her - knowing very damn that he raised his bet on Chuuya a day ago (of course, he respected his mentor and feared him more than anything, but also Gin could be quite convincing and he didn't like upsetting his sister). "And what can I do about this?"
"I'm very well aware of the fact that I'm an ability and therefore I am not my own person." she said as seriously as possible. "However, I want to participate."
Akutagawa could see where this was going and he didn't really like it but decided to tag along, since he didn't have another choice. "And what do you want me to do?"
"Petty please, put on some money for me."
"Do it yourself." the boy answered.
"They won't let me" she pouted and sounded like an actual little girl. "They say that 'I'm not real' and that I 'should go and try on some dresses' and other bullshit like that."
"Language-" he said- "and Elise..."
"Yes?"
"You are not real."
She rolled her eyes. "My point is that I want to play and I need your help."
"Why don't you ask for it from Mori-San?"
"Well for two reasons." She showed Akutagawa two of her fingers. "He doesn't want Dazai and Chuuya to get too close to each other."
Akutagawa remained calm. He has suspected that the boss wasn't fond of the idea that the two boys got attached to each other and thus he did everything he could in order to keep them apart. Most times, however, it was impossible.
"And the second reason?" he asked, suspicious of Elise.
"Even if he did want them together, he would manipulate the situations in order to make whoever I wanted confess first." she dramatically fell on the desk and Akutagawa thought that it was extravagant and unnecessary but, at the same time entertaining. "I want to win everyone fair and square and not use my boss' privilege."
"Young miss, you do know that people's lives are not toys to play with, right?"
Elise rolled her eyes. "Everyone is doing it, so I don't see why I shouldn't. You did it too."
Akutagawa raised his eyebrow and rubbed gently his short beard. "What do I win?"
Elise's eyes narrowed. Apparently, the whole situation was pretty important to her and had taken it quite seriously. "One weekend off."
"I admit, it is enticing..." he said not ruining his perfect relaxed face. "Anything else?"
Elise was slowly turning red. She might have Mori's influence on her side, but Akutagawa had been training with Dazai for too long.
And he knew exactly what he wanted.
He leaned on the front, his elbows on the desk and his head resting on his hands.
"I want to use Ace's office for a week."
"No-" Elise's face dropped immediately.
"Yes."
"Why his?" she complained. "He is mean and looks like a rat."
"You know very well that he has the most quiet and surprisingly the cleanest office in the whole Mafia." Akutagawa said. "One week in there, one weekend off and I'll do what you want."
Elise bit her lip. "Is it negotiable?"
"Absolutely not." Akutagawa said and shook his head.
Elise sighed defeated. "Fine."
She opened the drawer and pulled out a pack of bills. She threw it on the table and the boy got them in his hands and counted.
"It's 100,000 Yen." he finally said. "On Chuuya?"
"On Chuuya." she confirmed.
Akutagawa stood up and gave his hand to the young girl. "It was nice doing business with you."
Elise rolled her eyes as she shook his hand.
...
"Come on Chuuya..." Dazai said. "Just once, I swear."
Chuuya kicked the gun out of the hand of his enemy and immediately landed a punch on his face, making him lose his balance and fall on the floor.
"It is stupid, mackerel." he said and crouched in order to avoid someone who was coming him from behind.
"But it will be so fun." Dazai complained. "Just imagine how cool we will look and-" his phrase was cut in half, as a bullet almost got him.
"If you are going to do absolutely nothing, take some cover, fucker." Chuuya said, landing a kick to the man who tried to shoot Dazai. "I will be the one to kill you."
Dazai took out his gun, pointed at the man charging at him and pulled the trigger unbothered. "Now that I'm helping, can we do the thing?"
"For fuck's sake..." Chuuya yelled at him as he redirected the floating bullets around him. "No!"
There was a little pause from Dazai. Then he looked at Chuuya with the biggest puppy eyes anyone had ever seen before. "Not even for my birthday?"
"You are an adult now, and you want to do such a childish thing?" Chuuya snapped at him and dodged to the side before landing a kick.
Dazai punched the man that Chuuya had sent to his side and knocked him out. "Yes, I do actually."
"I don't care."
Dazai murmured something and Chuuya screamed again something inaudible.
Gin, who had just unarmed a man, pointed at them with her thumb and looked at Tachihara confused. Her partner stopped firing, since the sound of his automatic gun was too loud and looked at the two boys fighting.
"Oh, I think that Dazai wants to recreate a scene from a movie." he fired again, forcing the men heading towards them to hide behind the wall, giving them time to reload and catch their breath.
Gin frowned. They were right into their enemy's base and more importantly in the middle of a fight. Only them could think about something so pointless at this moment and only them wouldn't get killed while doing so.
" Relax..." Tachihara said and fired at the men behind the wall, who were trying to find an opening. Two more went down. "They are going to be fine."
Gin took a quick look at them, covering the area from their left, and saw them working together perfectly in sync. Dazai was shooting enemies, hiding behind Chuuya's back and Chuuya was recochetting the bullets off of him. They were still arguing about something but the noise of the fight was too loud for them to be heard.
The men that had surrendered them had decreased drastically. A little less than ten had been left and honestly, they could've ended the fight a lot sooner, if they weren't using the fuse as a distraction.
Gin turned her head around immediately just in time. A man was coming towards her from her right and tried to stab her with his knife. With quick moves, she carefully took the blade from him and shifted her weight in order to make him fall on the ground. It was surprising how he had managed to avoid all of Tachihara's bullets and got so close to them.
As soon as she made sure that he wouldn't cause any problems later on, she realized that everything was too... quite. She searched for Tachihara, only to see him staring terrified right behind her. For a hot moment the terrible thought of someone getting injured crossed her mind. She turned around to see why everyone and everything had stopped at once and she definitely wasn't expecting that.
She could see the side view of Chuuya having his back turned to their enemies and his body pulled closer to Dazai's.
He was facing Dazai and Dazai was facing the six remaining men.
And she couldn't really believe it at first (not a single person in that room could either), but it was right before their eyes.
Chuuya's lips...
Pressed against...
Dazai's.
It was Chuuya and Dazai kissing each other.
It was Chuuya and Dazai kissing each other, in the middle of a shooting.
It was surprising... to say the least.
And irrelevant of course.
And it confused their enemies as well, as they were kind of speechless, eyes frozen on them. One of the armed men, however, seemed to get over the first shock and tried to aim Chuuya.
Immediately and without breaking the kiss Dazai raised his gun and the loud noise of the bullet being fired filled the room. Seconds later, in which everyone was holding their breaths, the sound of a falling body was heard.
He eventually broke their kiss and blew away the smoke coming from the gun.
Everything and everyone in the room stayed still for a couple more times - a silent agreement that the fight was over. Daza was the first one to talk, breaking the - rather awkward - silence among the two opposing sides.
"See!" Dazai exclaimed, concerningly happy for someone who had just murdered someone. "I told you it would be badass."
"It was cringe." Chuuya said as he pulled himself away with a disgusted face. He used the back of his palm in order to clean his mouth. "Never again."
"You liked it."
"I did not."
"Liar."
"Fucker."
"Umm, guys?" Tachihara said, interrupting their bickering. "Hirotsu got the files, so I think we should be going."
"Is that so?" Dazai asked. "I was starting to have fun, but whatever."
Gin made sure that all of her knives were in place and followed Tachihara out of that room.
"Bye guys!" they heard Dazai's voice, talking to the men who were still frozen by whatever the fuck had occurred before
"Get the fuck out, bastard." They also heard Chuuya's voice in response.
"Oi Tachihara..." Gin said quietly.
"Yes?" Tachihara was confused by this sudden conversation and walked a little faster knowing what was about to come.
"I raise you." she said and ran as fast as she could behind Tachihara. "150,000 Yen on Chuuya."
And that was the last thing she said before the ceiling in the room they were mere moments ago, collapsed.
...
It was a little hot considering the fact that it was summer, even though it was a little later than midnight. Oda and Ango were heading back to their places after a fun night drinking with Dazai, as usual. It was nice and calm - the ideal way to end a tiring day.
And yet, something set Ango off - in a positive, but still weird way. He couldn't really piece it together, until he realized that it was because Oda had remained painfully quiet ever since they left the bar. He took a look at him and noticed that despite the sceptical expression on his face, he had a faded smile plastered on his lips.
"What is on your mind?" he finally asked.
Oda shook his head, as if he was bringing himself back to reality. "Oh, nothing important." he said. "I was just thinking about the story Dazai told us."
"Do you think he exaggerated?" Ango asked him. "I know it doesn't sound very believable, but the others who were in the same mission reported the incident, so i think-"
"No, it's not that." he interrupted him. "Kissing Chuuya-kun in the middle of a mission is something he would easily do, if that meant messing both with the enemy and annoying the boss."
Ango let out a laugh. "It is very much like him."
"Yeah..." Oda said quietly and took a few more steps forward, before continuing - as soon as Ango quieted down. "I think he cares a lot about him, doesn't he?"
"From the way he talks about him, yes, I would say so."
"I think that there is something more going on between them-" Oda said- "but, Dazai is too oblivious to realize that and even if he did, he wouldn't be able to express it properly."
"You and half the mafia." Ango sighed.
Oda was confused. "What do you mean?"
"Didn't you want to tell me about the bet?"
The other man remained silent, trying to comprehend what he had just heard.
It was Ango's turn to be confused. "Don't you know about the bet?"
"I, honestly, have no idea what you are talking about." he replied.
Ango took a deep breath. "There has been a bet going on among the mafia members for the past five months. It started as a joke among the low-ranks, but soon it spread out and now even the higher ups are participating."
"And what does this have to do with Dazai and Chuuya?"
"It is about who will confess to the other one first."
Oda's lips formed a soundless 'oh'. "Why didn't I know about this?"
"Don't ask me." Ango said. "I'm surprised you hadn't heard anything about it."
"I don't spend much time in the headquarters," he explained.
"Makes sense." Ango said. "I'm the one responsible for taking and writing down who placed their money on who."
"Really?" Oda sounded interested.
Ango stopped and looked left and right before crossing the road. "Three days ago, we passed 10 million Yen."
Oda's eyes widened, hearing the number. "That's a lot for such a thing."
Ango nodded. "It's because of the higher ups. They are competing against each other. Oh, and there is a bickering between Tachihara and Gin. They are so sure for their choice, that they have placed 500,000 Yen each."
"That's..." Oda said and though about what he would do if he had that much money. "That's a lot, actually."
Ango didn't bother with that. "We are in the mafia. They will easily make up for it and if they win-" he pushed back his glasses- "they'll make a good profit."
"I guess you are right." Oda said. "Does Dazai know?"
"I don't know." he shrugged his shoulders. "I assume that he has suspected something, if he doesn't already know."
"So he hasn't told you anything." Oda concluded.
"No he hasn't." he confirmed that. "I suppose you aren't going to bet anything, right?"
Oda laughed at the idea of doing so and at the idea of Dazai finding out about it. He would fake being mad at them and he would claim that he would never do anything with a slug like Chuuya. "I won't." he paused. "But-"
Ango rolled his eyes. "Here we go." he murmured in disbelief.
"If I had to guess-" Oda continued, completely ignoring Ango's disappointment- "I'd say that Chuuya is more likely to admit it to Dazai."
"Dazai, however-" Ango added- "would definitely fall for him first."
"Oh, yeah." Oda immediately nodded. "I'm glad we are on the same page."
"I think he already has."
Oda didn't answer. He looked at the sky and let his mind flood with thoughts.
No one could ignore the way Dazai talked about Chuuya, even though he claimed that he was annoyed at him. He called him names and organized pranks against him, found evenmore creative ways to annoy him and mess with him and he swore that no one would lay a hand on him. Odasaku hadn't taken part in the Varlein incident but he knew what had happened.
Ever since, he knew that Chuuya was someone special to Dazai.
He just hoped that Dazai would realize that before it was too late.
Before he messed it up for good.
Little did he know that a few weeks later, Dazai would flee the Port Mafia, leaving his redhead behind.
...
Kouyou let out a sigh of relief when the last executive left the room, leaving her alone with Mori. That meeting had been exhausting and she wished that they had to announce some financial losses or even the death of some of their men. This once, they had to announce the betrayal of one of their most precious executives.
Dazai had left the mafia and he had also left a mess behind him, waiting for Mori and the rest of them to clean it up.
The paperwork was all over the place, the unfinished plans were all over the place, the teams that worked under Dazai were all over the place, Chuuya was all over the place. Little things that were piling up and Kouyou couldn't help but wonder : how the fuck did Dazai manage to keep up with all this.
"I need a drink." she said at Mori.
"Wouldn't you prefer some freshly made tea?" Mori asked.
"A vodka." she said. "And make it double."
Mori served her a drink and sat on the chair next to her. The room was finally quiet and it would do good to his headache. It had been an exhausting week and the one yet to come would be even worse, until everything had settled down.
"Do you have any leads on where he might be?" Kouyou asked after she took a sip of her drink.
"That is the problem." Mori snorted. "I know exactly where he is."
Kouyou looked at him surprised. "What?"
"He is staying Underground." Mori explained. "Until every trace of Dazai Osamu's existence is erased, he will keep it on the low."
"So there is no way to track him down?" she asked.
"Unless he makes a mistake, no there isn't."
"He won't make."
Kouyou sighed and took one more sip of her drink, trying to hide her smile. That son of a bitch had done the impossible - he had succeeded in leaving the Port Mafia and getting a second chance in life. Dazai has accomplished what she had failed to do all these years ago and even though she felt a little jealous, since she had failed all those years ago, she was also proud of him for that.
"How is Chuuya-kun?" Mori asked.
It was an expected question. Chuuya had been his partner for three years - how could he ever let him stay in place like that? And yet, he had. Now, Chuuya had lost the other half of Double Black and it was natural to make everyone worry about him.
Why wouldn't it?
Ever since they were fifteen years old it had been that way - it had been Dazai and Chuuya. The executives, the subordinates, the club owners, the people out of the mafia that weren't enemies knew them as Dazai and Chuuya. And even though they were imperfect, even though they hurt each other, they also took care of one another's wounds. Perfectly imperfect for each other.
That's why she was worried when all Chuuya said was a simple "Finally".
Finally?
No fucking way.
And yet, he claimed to be happy, he opened an expensive bottle of wine and he even shared it with Kaji, despite him being unable to savor its rich taste. He spent every night for a week partying until he dropped unconscious from exhaustion or due to the alcohol. He called it a celebration - a niche reason to go all out and have fun because why not; one nuisance down.
"He insists he is fine." Kouyou said. "I don't think he is."
Mori stayed quiet for a moment before he added all seriousness. "We can't afford to lose Chuuya right now. Keep an eye on him."
Kouyou took one more sip of her drink. It tasted like sour cherries.
"Are you suggesting that Chuuya might follow Dazai and betray the organization?"
"All I'm saying is that the boys had a special bond." Mori explained. "It would be a pity if Chuuya made some impulsive and irresponsible decisions, based on his overwhelming emotions."
Kouyou couldn't help but laugh. "If someone is going to make some impulsive and irresponsible decisions, that would be Dazai."
"Are we talking about the same Dazai?" Mori chuckled.
The woman rubbed the rim of her glass. "The same Dazai who ran away from the mafia because of his friend's death."
Mori's eyes darkened. "We knew what was coming, Ozaki-San."
"Tell me Mori-San." Kouyou said. "Who is taking Dazai's position as an executive?"
Before Mori could answer, Kouyou added. "Wait, you said that you'd leave it open in case Dazai returned."
"Correct." Mori replied as Kouyou took a sip of her drink.
"Let me tell you what I think." Kouyou said. "You believe that Dazai will come back to the mafia, because his bond with Chuuya means more than he could have ever imagined. He will surrender to his feelings and he will come back to the mafia."
"You don't get it, do you?" Mori said "Chuuya will be the one who will talk Dazai into coming back. He would never do it by himself."
Kouyou shrugged her shoulders. "Then I guess you don't know Chuuya that well."
"No, you are the one who knows nothing about Dazai." Mori insisted. "He would never admit his feelings to Chuuya, especially not after what happened."
"And you think Chuuya will?"
"He is more likely to." Mori said.
Kouyou didn't know if it was a combination of exhaustion and drinking but she felt the temperature getting hotter as the conversation heat up.
"I know my apprentice." she claimed. "He isn't the type to confess to someone who just ruined any chance of something good happening between them, no matter how much he likes him."
"What I know is that I raised Dazai-kun." Mori replied coldly. "He would never do something as stupid as letting some random crush ruin his plans."
"A random crush?" Kouyou chuckled. "I bet you that it is more than that and I also bet you that it's eating him alive."
"Are you actually so confident in your student that you're dragging mine down with your claims?"
"They are no claims but facts." Kouyou corrected him. "And yes, I am sure about Chuuya's pride. If someone is going to crawl out of their little hideout so they would admit how they are feeling, that would be Dazai."
"And I'm telling you, it'd be Chuuya." Mori insisted. "So why don't we place a bet?"
Kouyou snorted. "Not you as well."
After Dazai left, the people that weren't involved directly with him, had started to place more and more bets on his relationship with Chuuya. They never talked about it in front of the other executives and never in front of Chuuya's subordinates but they enjoyed the drama that unfolded, even though it was a completely serious situation. It was invalidating both Dazai and Chuuya's feelings as they were adults in a troubling position, with different motives and coping mechanisms.
Now, it didn't feel like a competition about who would confess first but a bet on who was the weakest link, the one who would turn his back on his aspirations in the name of a forbidden feeling among the walls of the Port Mafia.
Kouyou knew that Chuuya wasn't weak.
She had been the one to teach him all he knew that and she was assured that she had raised him better than that. So, if Mori had different ideas in his mind, she had to put him back to his senses.
The vodka was pleasantly burning her neck.
And she was so sure about the kid that she raised like her little brother.
"If I agree with placing a bet against you, you won't interfere into Chuuya's life and you won't manipulate him into doing what you want." Kouyou demanded.
"You have my word." Mori said and smiled - that disgusting smile he had before he sealed a deal that would bring advantage to him and only him.
"Okay, I'm in." Kouyou gave in.
"How about..." Mori said and thought about the money he'd place. "One million yen."
"Don't be so cheap!" Kouyou laughed. "Two and a half million."
...
"No."
"Tell me."
"I'm not telling you anything."
"But-"
"I said no."
"Why?"
"It's more entertaining this way."
"Even if I gave you sweets?"
Ranpo clenched his jaw.
"Don't you dare bring my love for candies into this."
"Are you sure?" Yosano said in a sing-song voice. "Because I heard the baker down the road brought some nice muffins covered in white chocolate and sprinkles-"
"Why are you so cruel?" Ranpo whined.
"For the money Ranpo." she exclaimed. "Imagine what he could with all that money."
"We don't have any money." Ranpo interrupted her.
"But we will if you'd just tell me who to bet on." Yosano cried out. "Do it for the cupcakes with molten chocolate that take you one bite closer to heaven that I would buy you."
"Stop trying to bribe me with food!" Ranpo said. "Watching all of you struggle to figure them out and getting mad when they are this close-" he showed her with his thumb and pointer what he was talking about- "to confessing."
"But imagine if we won the bet." Yosano said.
"You're not even mafia!" Ranpo exclaimed.
"Well, yes, but I think there will be any problem with us participating." Yosano said. "Come on, Ranpo..."
"No!"
"You're the only one who might be able to solve it."
"I am able to solve it." Ranpo shoved his finger into her face. "I don't want to."
Yosano frowned.
After her fight with the mafia executive, she got more interested in the relationship between him and her co-worker. It had been strange how Dazai was the first person he mentioned when they realized who he was. Yosano didn't manage to listen to exactly what Chuuya had murmured but she had clearly heard Dazai's name.
It was enough to raise suspicion, so she asked the only one who would answer her questions and Ranpo finally confirmed that Dazai was in the mafia and Chuuya was his former partner. Didn't really come off as a surprise. It actually explained why she felt those chill spreading down her spine every time Dazai was around.
He reminded her of that man who stole her childhood away.
Yosano had always thought that Dazai was relatively similar to Mori - from that sadistic grin of his to his manners and thought process. Sometimes he was terrified of what Dazai could have become if he had stayed next to Mori (she even thought what she would have become if Fukuzawa and Ranpo didn't save her).
She was glad that Dazai ended up with them but she wondered : why did a man like Dazai, who seemed to be able to thrive in a place like the Port Mafia, left? He was partners with Chuuya, he was an executive, he was training Akutagawa, he was respected. What had happened to him?
Yosano knew the power that man had over people, how he spread fear in people's hearts and how he used that to get what he wanted. Mori always got what he wanted. And yet, as far as she could guess, Dazai wasn't the type of man who would submit to someone like him.
How did Mori manage to break him?
She could always ask Ranpo - that man was into everything that was happening around them so he probably knew what had occurred. Still, it didn't feel right to ask such a question since it was about Dazai and his privacy. She should respect that.
And maybe it would be better that way since she could rest assured that it wouldn't be a pretty answer.
Ranpo had kept blabbering about Dazai and Chuuya's relationship when he accidentally mentioned something about a bet. He had mentioned it as a gossip among the mafia members but that had actually intrigued her and once she found out that the stakes were around 35 million yen. It was a lot.
And she wanted to win.
Yet, she couldn't wrap her head around who could potentially be the first one to confess. She didn't know them that well to make such a decision and get it right and Ranpo refused to help her.
"Just tell me if I'm getting close, okay?" Yosano said. "So, Chuuya is in the mafia and Dazai left the mafia so that means that Chuuya is probably angry at Dazai."
"Hmm."
"But Dazai is general is more distant and doesn't confront his feelings so that complicates the situation."
"Hmm."
"Still, Chuuya could use that to bring him back to the mafia."
"Hmm."
"Yet, similarly, Dazai could use that to convince Chuuya to join the side of light."
"Hmmm."
"You're not any help at all, you know that, don't you?"
"Surprisingly, I get that a lot."
"Help me!" Yosano whined.
"No!"
"What's going on?" Kenji's voice interrupted them.
"Adults talk." Yosano replied. "Even though Ranpo is acting like a child."
"You're acting like a child." Ranpo replied.
"I heard Chuuya-san's name." Kenji replied. "Isn't he super cool?"
"Not that cool if I can defeat him so easily." Ranpo dismissed Kenji's comment.
"It was amazing how he straight up kicked me into the wall." Kenji ignored him. "I'd love to fight him once more."
"Why would you-" Yosano said disturbed but quickly decided not to.
"I mean, from what I've heard Chuuya-San was incredible when he fought that dragon." Atsushi, who happened to pass by and listen to the conversation, added.
"The damages though..." the doctor scoffed.
"Akutagawa claims that it was always like that." the boy said. "Dazai-san and he had the highest damage count."
"And kill count." Ranpo said.
"Ranpo!" Yosano said.
"What?" Ranpo complained. "They're mafia, what did you expect?"
"Still, from the report I read, the way jumped into the fight, not knowing if Dazai was alive or dead was truly admirable." Atsushi said. "It really makes you think how much they trust each other."
"Dazai didn't write a report." Yosano pointed out, confused.
"Akutagawa sent in Chuuya-san's so I could copy it and submit it as Dazai's." Atsushi shrugged his shoulders. "Dazai said that he was too tired to do it on his own. Something was missing from his report though since what happened after he defeated the dragon."
"Maybe it was too NSFW to write it down." Ranpo commented.
"There are kids listening." Yosano said and slapped him at the back of his head.
"He probably lost his memory." Kenji pointed out. "It happens to me after I overwork myself."
"I see." Yosano giggled. "Oi, Ranpo, did you ever solve any of their crimes?"
"Ehhh." Ranpo shrugged his shoulders. "Chuuya and Dazai's division wasn't really into the crimes I investigated. I was investigating unsolved murders and they were committing assaults, fraud, manslaughter, plus they were mafia on mafia crimes so their victims didn't need me as a consultant. Still, they were boring so I don't think that I'd be interested in solving them."
Atsushi, Kenji and Yosano nodded as they were listening carefully to what the great detective had to say. It was exciting to hear about how the mafia worked and Atsushi thought that it might help him understand Dazai just a little better.
"Dazai can work well with almost everyone, even though he is so eccentric." Atsushi said.
Ranpo rolled his eyes. "It's part of his charisma, but, kid, you shouldn't underestimate his partnership with Nakahara."
"So, were they more than friends?" Kenji asked. "Like Kunikida-San and Katai-San?"
Yosano shrugged her shoulders. "That's what I've been trying to figure out all day."
"But I thought that Dazai-San wasn't into men." Atsushi said, confused.
Yosano exchanged a look with Ranpo and then with Kenji before the three of them burst out laughing.
"Atsushi-kun is the funniest person in the Agency." Kenji said.
"Yeah, it was a good one." Yosano said and wiped a tear from her eye.
Atsushi felt his head burning from blushing so hard. "I mean, he, himself, told me so and he always talks about how he wants to kill himself with a woman so I thought-"
"Shut up before you make it worse for yourself." Ranpo advised him.
"Don't be so harsh on the kid." Yosano said. "You're partially right - Dazai isn't interested in men in such a way and he is also not interested in woman in that way because he is asexual."
Atsushi nodded in understanding.
"But he is also biromantic." Kenji added. "Which means he is interested in both. Probably in even more."
"How did you miss it?" Ranpo asked. "You don't need to be a master detective to realize that."
Atsushi awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "I was too busy saving Yokohama to notice."
Yosano laughed and Ranpo rolled his eyes.
"So, Nakahara and Dazai-San?" Atsushi said. "I assume that they'd be an interesting couple."
"Why don't you tell me Atsushi-kun." Yosano's eyes sparkled. "Who do you think would confess first?"
"Between those two?" Atsushi asked and seemed to think about it for a moment. "I think Dazai-San. He would probably mention it casually during a fight or something and then he would make Chuuya-San that he is borderline crazy for hearing something remotely close to that."
"Interesting." Yosano murmured. "Thank you so much for your help."
"Help?" Atsushi asked.
"Come on Ranpo, we've got some money to win-" Yosano said and stood up. "I mean some criminals to catch."
"Huh?" Ranpo asked buffled but followed her regardless.
Once they were out of the Agency's building, Yosano took a roll of bills out of the inner pocket of her shirt and handed it to the man next to her.
"150,000 Yen on Chuuya."
"Why are you carrying so much money on you?" Ranpo asked. "And why on Chuuya? Atsushi said that Dazai would be the one to confess first."
"Exactly."
Because Yosano was very well aware of the fact that Atsushi could never read the room.
...
Kunikida sat on the chair at the head of the table and looked at the men around him. It was strange seeing all these people around him - some of the familiar faces that once stood against him were now sitting next to him and had one common goal with him.
Mark Twain was sitting on his left. He was exactly like how he remembered him - in his white (unbottoned) shirt and his black jeans. Kunikida found that appearance unprofessional to say at least but it was probably because he couldn't understand the foreign trends.
He wasn't the only one who was from The Guild. Louisa May Alcott was accompanying him and she seemed to be extremely uncomfortable around all these people. If she could, she would disappear from the face of the Earth before anyone of the criminals sitting on the seat in front of her had the chance to talk. Higuchi could be surprisingly intimidating whenever she was involved in serious missions and this meeting was pretty important.
She wasn't the only member of the Port Maria who was attending the meeting. There was that guy, Kaji, that Kunikida didn't know that well since he hadn't fought against him many times. His appearance looked a little silly and, judging by what he had heard from Yosano, he was a pain in the ass, but he knew better than underestimating him. He was a mafioso after all and he was there to take care of that matter alongside Higuchi.
The two mafioso and the two members of the organization the former Guild, were not the only former(ish) enemies of the ADA. Sigma was on the seat opposing Kunikida's. He had the look of a professional, a man who had come for business and business only and he didn't resemble at all the nervous guy that Dazai had described to him. At that moment and place, Sigma looked like the casino owner Atsushi had mentioned to him.
Sigma was the only one that wasn't accompanied by someone else and it didn't made sense since Fyodor and Nikolai were in no position to attend such a meeting (or generally any meeting). Naomi was there with Kunikida since she was responsible enough to keep track of every transaction that had happened in the Agency and every transaction that would occur right after. Even though Naomi didn't have an ability or any impressive combat experience, there was no reason to worry - it wasn't a trap and there was no danger.
"Is everyone present?" Kunikida asked and everyone nodded in agreement. "Good. Let's start."
"I think we all know why we've been gathered here." Naomi said in her most professional voice. "And let me repeat the rules so we can all be sure that we are on the same page."
"We do this every time." Kaji complained and Higuchi discretely kicked him under the table.
"As I were saying-" Naomi said and cleared her throat- "this is a secret meeting. It is forbidden to mention the location and our tellings to anyone out of this room. Any transaction that occurs in here will be written down. No raises, or any other decisions are allowed on the name of people who are not present right now. Anyone who is caught violating the rules will be banned from participating. Is that clear?"
"Aren't we taking too many precautions?" Mark Twain asked. "I mean, it's just a silly bet."
"41 million Yen are on the line." Higuchi said. "I think it's important we make sure that everything works out perfectly for everyone."
"Also it's important to avoid Dazai’s annoyance." Sigma added. "It isn't polite to place money on his personal life."
"It is indeed unethical." Kunikida agreed.
He hadn't been fond of doing such a thing behind his partners back. It felt as if he was mocking him in a way, with all the secrets and stupid measures that they had to take to ensure that Dazai and Chuuya would remain in the dark and not find out about their little game.
Still, he had his suspicions about what Chuuya truly meant to him the first (and only) time that Dazai had actually gotten drunk and while Kunikida was trying to drag him back home, he had accidentally said something along the lines of 'Did Chuuya come to take me home?'. Dazai seemed to sober up immediately after he blurted it out and it was obvious in his eyes that he regretted doing so, so Kunikida decided to let it slip by, but he wondered who that Chuuya was. Once Dazai's former occupation was revealed, everything cleared up. Only a blind man wouldn't be able to understand that Chuuya was someone more than important to Dazai and he knew it because Dazai looked at Chuuya the same way Katai looked at him.
It was beautiful.
And it could mean that Kunikida could take his revenge by messing with a Dazai a little, since the later one was the one who always annoyed him and tricked him, and maybe be able to make a small profit. It wasn't half bad.
"But kids isn't always fair." he added.
"Chuuya will be more terrifying, if he ever finds out." Higuchi said and chills spread over her spine at the thought of what Chuuya was capable of doing.
"That's why no one is going to find out." Louisa spoke for the first time in that night. "Shoulf we go first with The Guild's accounts?"
Naomi took a pen and a piece of paper and nodded, signaling her to proceed.
"I, Louisa May Alcott, place 120,000 Yen on Dazai Osamu." she started talking. "Mark Twain places 150,000 Yen on Chuuya Nakahara. Margaret Mitchell, 100,000 Yen on Nakahara Chuuya, John Stainbeck raised to 250,000 Yen on Dazai Osamu, Allan Edgard Poe raised to 175,000 on Nakahara Chuuya and F. Scott Fitzgerald raiseds to 300,000 Yen on Dazai Osamu and places 300,000 on Nakahara Chuuya."
"Isn't it unfair to place money on both?" Sigma asked confused.
Mark Twain shrugged his shoulders. "It isn't mentioned in the rules."
"But you should pick which one of his bets should be placed." Higuchi said.
"We can't make decisions on accord of people who are not present." Louisa pointed out.
"Let it be." Naomi said. "However, make sure that you'll inform Mr. Fitzgerald that the rules will be updated."
Louisa nodded.
Mark Twain placed a briefcase on top of the table and opened it, revealing the previously mentioned money. He then closed it again and let it on the table.
John Stainbeck had been the one to introduce The Guild to the idea of joining the other organizations to this event. He had witnessed the incredible combination of Dazai and Chuuya's abilities and he admitted that it had been Terrifying. How Chuuya had managed to destroy Lovecraft by unleashing a beast even stronger than Lovecraft himself had been horrifying.
However, it wasn't half as horrifying as Dazai's reaction to that sight. Only a madman could look at that harbinger of destruction and be completely mesmerized by it. Dazai looked at Chuuya fly in the sky only to land back on the ground with more blood on his face and on his hands and was lusting for more. Even though corruption was ugly and dangerous, Dazai was entirely captured by the beauty he found in that mess.
Only love is capable of making someone crazy enough to be captured by that side of an inhumane freak.
"Moving on to the next one." Kunikida said. "Sigma?"
Sigma took a deep breath.
"I place 225,000 Yen on Dazai Osamu." he said. "Fyodor Dostoevsky raises to 350,000 on Dazai Osamu and Nikolai Gogol places 250,000 Yen on Nakahara Chuuya."
He copied Mark Twain's moves and placed his briefcase on the table. It was little smaller since it obviously contained less money but it still was the respectable amount of 825,000 Yen.
Sigma had stood next to Dazai as he attempted to kill Fyodor and consider Chuuya simple casualties. He heard Dazai talk about how he had been coming up with ways to kill Chuuya and how their years together meant absolutely nothing to him. He heard him explain his plan without any sign of hesitation or remorse in his voice even though it meant a murder attempt on his former partner of almost four years.
And yet, he was the only one who saw the sorrow in Dazai's eyes and how his smile dropped as he said his farewell to Chuuya. His voice had been so confident and so steady but Sigma was assured that if he could, Dazai would be shaking and he wouldn't be able to breathe. How would he be able to breathe as his sadness had passed its hand around his neck and was trying to choke him. No one but Sigma would ever know that Dazai's words weren't truly reflecting his feelings towards his relationship with Chuuya.
Sigma thought that it was unfair how he had to pretend that he didn't care.
Because in the worst case scenario that Dazai's plan failed, how could he keep living, knowing that he never gave himself the chance not only to be true to himself but also to Chuuya?
Sigma liked to think that it would be his wake up call to finally stand up and put aside his hesitations and talk to his former partner before it was too late for real.
It was the ADA's turn.
"I, Kunikida Doppo, raise to 150,000 Yen on Dazai Osamu." Kunikida said. "Yosano Akiko raises to 210,000 Yen on Nakahara Chuuya, Naomi Tanizaki places 100,000 Yen on Nakahara Chuuya and Junichiro Tanizaki 75,000 Yen on Dazai Osamu."
Kunikida placed three rolls of bills on the table in front of him. Everyone knew that the Agency didn't have many assets and obviously the bets wouldn't be half as great as the rest of the participants. Even the smallest bet was quite high - almost the rent for two months. Still, a few laughs escaped from the wealthy people around them. Naomi blushed from embarrassment but Kunikida seemed to ignore them.
"Is that all for tonight?" Kunikida asked.
The people around them nodded.
"Nice." Naomi said and signed the paper before she passed it to Kunkida.
The paper traveled around the table with everyone signing it and it ended up in Higuchi's hands. Kaji gathered the money that were on the table. Since the bet started in the mafia, the cash register was there as well and that's why Higuchi and Kaji had attended the meeting.
Eventually, they called in a night and set a date for the next meeting in four months (or whenever the bet was over - whatever happened first).
...
Dazai opened the door and entered the small hall that lead to the living room.
"Nakahara Chuuya-kun-" he yelled- "I'm home."
Surprisingly enough, Dazai didn't receive an answer. The living room was empty. Admittedly it was pretty late in the night but Chuuya wasn't the kind of person who sleeps early. Dazai searched for him in the kitchen and in the balcony of the apartment, in case he was in the middle of one of his smoking sessions but, in fact, Chuuya was no where to be found.
A small grinned appeared in Dazai's face. The only place that he hadn't checked yet was the bedroom and it was the only place possible in which Chuuya could be waiting for him. Hopefully he was preparing some surpise for him. Dazai couldn't help but feel like excited - cuddling with Chuuya in a romantic atmosphere was exactly what he needed after an exhausting day at work.
And his day at work had been exhausting.
He heeded to the bedroom almost galloping from happiness. Dazai was polite enough to knock on the door before he burst it open and went into to the room.
It took forty-three seconds for his excitement to die. In the first thirty-one seconds that he was into the room, Dazai spotted a figure under a coverlet and heard a quiet snort. It took him the next eight seconds, he realized that it was Chuuya sleeping peacefully and four seconds later, he had simply accepted that there was no fun time for him.
It was something a little worse than disappointing.
Dazai pouted and turned on the light. Chuuya scoffed and hid his head under the blanket.
"Turn off the light." he said half asleep.
Dazai smiled satisfied, knowing that it was that easy to annoy the redheads since he was a light sleeper.
"Why are you sleeping?" Dazai asked.
Chuuya opened slightly his eyes and checked the time on his watch. "It's five to quarter. It's almost morning."
"It's just late in the night." Dazai rolled his eyes. "You're usually up around this time."
"Too much work." Chuuya said and moved around, trying to avoid all the light coming towards him. "Hadn't slept since Tuesday."
"It's Saturday." Dazai pointed out and unbottoned his shirt. "You should have told me."
Chuuya didn't answer immediately since he had almost fallen back to sleep. "No need to worry."
"I'll always worry." Dazai replied calmly, as if it was the most natural thing to say.
Because to him it was the most natural thing to say. How couldn't he not worry about Chuuya when he works in such a dangerous workplace and tends to overwork himself. He can take good care of the others but not of himself. Dazai could do neither of those things successfully but he tried to be there for Chuuya whenever it was necessary.
Chuuya was known to be short-tempered but whenever it came down to Dazai attempting to care for him, he was always patient.
Dazai slipped into his pyjamas. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Just turn off the light and come here already."
Dazai smiled and a few moments later he had crawled on the bed. Chuuya seemed to have already gone back to sleep. He looked so calm as his red curls were falling messily on the pillows and his chest was rhythmically going up and down. It was a pity that he was asleep because Dazai had been looking forward to gossip with him, but Dazai could wait until the morning (or noon since not even God knew when Chuuya would wake up) to talk to him. The sight of his redhead was rewarding enough.
"What is it?" he heard Chuuya mouthing under his breath.
"Nothing." Dazai said. "You should rest."
"No it's fine." Chuuya said without even opening his eyes. "I know that you aren't going to sleep anyways any time soon so tell me."
"Are you sure?" Dazai asked.
"Mmmm..." Chuuya agreed. "If I fall asleep, you'll tell me again later."
"Okay, okay." Dazai said. "Do you remember the bet?"
Chuuya didn't reply immediately; Dazai held his breath, believing that Chuuya was out again.
"We don't have any on-going bet between us currently..." Chuuya murmured evenrually. "Do we?"
"Oh, no!" Dazai chuckled. "The one we started among the mafiosos back in the day."
"The prank on the lower ranks?" Chuuya asked and Dazai confirmed that it was the one they were talking about. "What about the it?"
"It's still going on." Dazai said excitedly.
"Really?" Chuuya sounded interested - as interested a sleepy person can be.
"Yeah." Dazai said. "I had almost forgotten about it but there was this meeting in which representatives from various organizations meet up in order to place bets."
"The fuck..." Chuuya murmured. "How so?"
"I guess we really do leave a good impression on them, don't we?" Dazai said happily.
"You tried to drown me a few months ago." Chuuya said and yawned.
"Those were the fun times, weren't they my dear?"
"Mmm, maybe." Chuuya agreed. He was almost ready to fall back asleep but he knew that Dazai wasn't done with what he was saying. "How much?"
"A little less than 45 million Yen." Dazai chuckled.
"That's a plenty, isn't it?" Chuuya asked.
"It's quite a lot." Dazai agreed. "I think we could steal it."
"The money?"
"Yeah." Dazai said.
"And do what with it?"
"I guess we could use it to get married." Dazai suggested. "You know, we could afford a nice ceremony and then go on our honeymoon..."
There was silence for a moment in which Chuuya seemed to think about something.
"Oi, Dazai..."
"Yes, Chuuya?"
"We are married."
"I know." Dazai said.
It wasn't physically possible for him to forget the day he got to marry his best friend and lover and (former but forever) partner about three years ago. It was a small wedding (small being Dazai, Chuuya, a priest and a couple that happened to pass by and Dazai decided to keep them there as witnesses of that magical moment). They were twenty and young and stupid and on vacation in France. Dazai was supposed to be hidden for a few more days but he decided that it would be better to sneak out of the country and then come back a changed man. This time, he was the lawful husband of Nakahara Chuuya and he was about to make a new start by joining the Armed Detective Agency.
Even after everything that had happened, Chuuya had stayed when he wanted to leave.
"Let's break up."
That's what he told him the night before he fled the Mafia.
Chuuya refused and took him in a like a stray cat. He knew what it was like to lose the people thats care about you, to lose your friends, and he wouldn't let Dazai go through all of this alone. He gave Dazai all the time and space he needed and shortly after, they moved together in a new apartment. Chuuya really wanted to be there for him while Dazai was moving to an another organization and the brunet thought that it would be nice to have Chuuya's company.
It had been two hard years. There has been a lot of screaming, a lot of fighting, a lot of issues between them - some of them silly things that created unnecessary tension between them and others more serious that almost managed to break them apart. Dazai's mental health wasn't helping the situation at all. Sometimes it was too hard for Chuuya to see through his self-destructive tendances and find a way to fix what was breaking in their relationship. He was ashamed of himself for sitting on the kitchen counter considering packing his things up and not coming back.
Sometimes, however, Dazai was the one who tried to get rid of his constant need to sabotage whatever remotely good was happening to him. He knew that Chuuya wasn't perfect and what they had going on was flawed but he liked being there - sharing a bed and a heart with Chuuya. He wanted to fight for it because Chuuya had made him believe that there might have been something that wouldn't get lost the moment he obtained it.
That's why when two of most years of his life ended and he was finally a legal citizen of Japan, in their little celebration in France, Dazai found the courage to purpose.
It wasn't some big and extravagant event. No, it was rather simple and impulsive, in a shitty bar while Chuuya was getting drunk on cheap wine and Dazai on cheap beer. There was smoke from all the lit cigarettes in the small space and some sort of annoyingly loud music that resemble trashy french trap was playing in the speakers. Chugs was playing bras de fer with some muscular locals who assumed that they could easily defeat him. Dazai couldn't help but stare at the redhead who beat every single one of them with easy and most importantly, without using his ability.
Dazai wanted to wake up every day to that smile on Chuuya's face.
He knew that they didn't need a piece of paper on which they'd sign their undying love or anything like that. There was no undying love in the Mafia, but walking among the dead together. A certificate wouldn't be enough for them to promise that they'd stay together until death did them apart because not even death could ever separate them from each other. Both of them knew that and thus they had never talked about marriage.
Still, Dazai wanted to let Chuuya know how much he loved him.
"Will you marry me?"
Those four words slipped through his lips without thinking it much.
And what happened next was simple history.
"But wouldn't Chuuya like to get married to me again?" Dazai asked playfully.
"I'm not this favor to you again." Chuuya replied. "If you want to go on vacation again so you can see me in my swimsuit all day long, you can just ask."
"Oh, Chuuya got me." Dazai poutted. "And he is so cruel to me."
"Only when you are not letting me sleep." he said. "Mmm, should we come forward and call out the bet?"
Dazai shrugged his shoulders. "I want to see how far they'll go with that." he said and then quickly added something to more. "They'll also want to know how we ended up together, meaning that they'll want to know who confessed first."
"And you don't want them to know that it was you?" Chuuya asked.
"What?" Dazai said confused. "It was you."
"You literally said that you loved me the day I met you." Chuuya said and a yawn followed immediately after. "Always moving on so quickly."
"That doesn't count." Dazai complained. "It was a joke."
"Didn't sound like a joke to me."
Dazai stayed quiet for a moment before he admitted defeat. "Okay, it wasn't a joke but still, it was before we set up the bet."
"You asked me to marry you... Twice." Chuuya murmured. "That has to count."
"We had been dating for four years before that." he whined. "You told me that you liked me way too long ago."
"Did I?" Chuuya asked. "I thought you were the one to do so."
"No, it was when we were at that one club for the elite inside a casino." Dazai said. "You had been drinking pretty heavily and you blurted it out."
"Mackeler, don't fuck with me." Chuuya said. "I remember that that night, you had been smoking all day and you were out of your life mind. That's when you told me. After you listed 23 facts about penguins and something along the lines of wanting to adopt a common racoon dog."
"Yeah, I told you after you did."
"No, I told you after you did."
"No, I-"
Dazai didn't manage to finish his sentence as Chuuya turned around in order to face him and pushed his body closer to him he passed his arm around Dazai in order to spoon him and placed his head on top of his chest.
"Doesn't matter." Chuuya said. "We can sleep now and figure it out in the morning."
"Or never." Dazai added and stoked Chuuya's hair.
"Yeah..." Chuuya agreed. "Goodnight mackerel."
"Goodnight slug." he said softly.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
It didn't matter which one of them talked about their feelings first.
Because at the end of the day, they spent the night together.
"But, Chuuya-"
"Shut up."
"We will go on vacation, right?"
"Yes, Dazai, we will."
"Okay, okay." Dazai said relieved. "Good-night."
And they certainly didn't care if no one won the bet.
BONUS : AFTER THE FIGHT AGAINST LOVECRAFT
"Nahakara Chuuya, did you seriously had the locks changed?" Dazai yelled in the door in front of him.
"I don't know." Chuuya's voice was heard from the other side of the door. "Did I?"
"Chuuya..." Dazai whined, dragging the 'a'. "Open the door, please."
"Let me think about it." Chuuya said and remained silent for a moment. "No."
"What did I do?" he cried.
"You bombed my car, shitty mackerel." Chuuya replied.
"Oh, come on, it was because of the camera in the warehouse." Dazai explained. "It felt like the right moment to tell you."
"Four years..." Chuuya yelled. "For four years, you let me believe that it was my inability to properly handle a car."
"Don't be so mad."
"I haven't driven a car in years because of this-"
"I had to make my leaving convincing and dramatic."
"-and you're telling me it was your fault from the beginning?"
"So many pedestrians were saved from your awful driving skills and drivers were saved from your insults." Dazai explained. "I was doing the world a favor."
"And I'm returning the favor by not locking you in the balcony."
"As if the hallway is any better." he cried. "Chuuya!"
"What?"
"Open the-" Dazai sang- "open the door please. Chuuya, open the door!"
"You did not." Chuuya realized, mortified.
"If you don't open the door I'll reenact the whole musical." Dazai threatened him.
Dazai took a deep breath before he started shouting the lyrics in the most out of tune voice.
"YOU WERE MEANT TO BE MINE."
Chuuya flinched, surprised by how bad Dazai's voice was. He knew that he was no good singer but this was terrifyingly unexpected.
"That's not how the musical starts." Chuuya murmured.
"I AM ALL THAT YOU NEED."
It had to qualify as a torture - maybe that's how he had gotten his title as the demon prodigy and made every prisoner talk.
"YOU CARVED-"
"ONE MORE WORD OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MOUTH AND YOU'LL BE SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR FOR THE WHOLE MONTH."
Dazai closed his mouth and pouted once again. Chuuya was a Mafia executive - of course the torture method wouldn't work on him. It was fine, though, he had come prepared anyway.
"Fine, you win." he said. "I guess that I'll drink this bottle of Petrus 1989 on my own."
"A what?" Chuuya asked, reflectivity fast.
Dazai raised the bottle he had with him so Chuuya could see it from the eye hole in the door.
"Why do you have such a thing with you?" Chuuya was suspicious of him.
Dazai blushed. "It's for you."
"Wait, really?" Chuuya said confused by Dazai being so obviously affectionate. "Why?"
"Well, because..." Dazai said and blushed a little more because the reason he wanted to celebrate may not have been that great as he had made it to be. "Last night, we worked together as partners after all this time."
Chuuya didn't say anything in return but Dazai heard the keys as the redhead unlocked the door.
"Took you long enough." Dazai smiled as the door opened, revealing Chuuya in a white t-shirt and black sweatpants.
"Shut up, mackerel." Chuuya said. "I'm still mad at you but I also didn't want to ruin your surprise."
"Chuuya is so kind!" Dazai said cheerfully. "How is he feeling?"
They hadn't used corruption in years. Dazai had been worried that the effects it had on Chuuya's body would be worse than ever before. Even though they had no other choice, he didn't like how things eventually ended up.
"I'm fine." Chuuya replied and made some space for Dazai to come inside. "Why this wine?"
"It's the same bottle you opened the night I disappeared from the organization, of course!"
"You mean the one we drank together in my apartment?"
"Yes, that one." Dazai agreed. "It's fitting, isn't it?"
"Fucking bastard." he smiled. "Come on, go get changed and I'll make us something to eat."
"But I'm supposed to take care of Chuuya today." Dazai whined.
"It's fine." Chuuya said and headed to the kitchen, happy Dazai had thought of such a nice gesture even though it wasn't really his thing.
But still, no matter how much he loved the wine and how much he loved Dazai (slightly more than the wine), he still hadn't forgotten.
"You'll be the one sleeping on the couch anyways, so you better relax because it's going to be a very uncomfortable night."
"Chuuya!" Dazai cried.
All that Chuuya did was to giggle because he was assured that Dazai would be sleeping next to him by the morning.