Chapter Text
Atsushi remembers the day that he learned about Shin Soukoku.
He remembers Dazai texting him out of the blue, asking to meet him in half an hour at Osanbashi Pier, and remembers feeling confused but obeying anyway, making his way out to the harbour in the warm summer night.
He remembers finding the pier empty when he arrives early, at first disappointed that Dazai hadn’t arrived yet, then finding comfort in the peaceful quiet.
He remembers standing at the pier looking out across the water to the Yokohama skyline, at the Minato Mirai with the Ferris Wheel and the Landmark Tower and the Red Brick Warehouses; and then Dazai’s voice calling his name.
“Atsushi-kun.”
He looks up in the direction of the voice to see Dazai walking towards him, and then a shorter, familiar figure following him, clad in all black of the ravenous beast that cloaks him.
Panic takes over Atsushi’s nerves for a second and he stands up abruptly, on the defensive.
“Now, now, Atsushi-kun,” Dazai says with a small smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “There’s no need to be alarmed. Akutagawa-kun is here upon my invitation, as you are. Besides, we’re no longer enemies!”
Atsushi looks at Akutagawa doubtfully, who clearly does not share Dazai’s sentiment, and whom instead says roughly, “What do you want with me, Dazai-san?”
Dazai takes a step back so that he’s facing both of them - Atsushi on one side, Akutagawa on the other, and when the smile disappears from his face, Atsushi realises that this is serious. “I want the two of you to become the new Double Black,” he says. “A new force. A new partnership.”
Akutagawa blurts out, “What?” while Atsushi says nothing. He’s not sure what to make of the situation, but his hands feel clammy and he knows that’s not a good sign.
“Chuuya and I are not enough for what’s to come.” Dazai looks solemn. “You both saw what happened on the Moby Dick. That’s what we’re dealing with - someone who can operate behind the scenes and manipulate everything down to the smallest detail to get what they want. Someone very smart, and very dangerous.”
Atsushi swallows. “More than you?”
The corner of Dazai’s mouth quirks up, as if amused by the compliment. “Yes, Atsushi-kun. Even more than me.”
He looks at Akutagawa, then at Atsushi. “There are things I have not yet told you which the two of you aren’t ready to know yet. In time, I will tell you. But for now, what’s important is that we must all be prepared. This enemy of ours will not wait for us to be ready.”
“Who else knows about this…initiative of yours?” Akutagawa growls, a challenge in his tone. Dazai looks at him levelly. “Hirotsu-san, and Chuuya. I intend to let the President know tomorrow. Otherwise - no one else.”
“Why us?” Atsushi asks, unable to stop his voice from shaking. He feels as though Dazai’s dropped a bombshell on him. It’s not the prospect of having to partner up with Akutagawa that scares him; it’s the fact that his partnering up with Akutagawa is the only way to defeat whatever threat that Dazai sees. Not even the original Double Black, with Dazai’s cunning and Chuuya’s strength, is enough? “Dazai-san, I’m sorry about putting it this way but…Akutagawa and I aren’t…the best of friends.”
“Neither are Chuuya and I,” Dazai replies lightly. “Trust me on this. Both of you have strengths that make up for each other’s weaknesses. You need each other more than you realise.”
Atsushi risks a glance at Akutagawa, and to his surprise Akutagawa is looking at him too; but when their gazes meet they immediately look away, unsure of what to say.
“I thought…” Akutagawa inhales sharply. “I thought I have improved, Dazai-san. I thought I have already proven my strength. Surely an alliance with the weretiger is unnecessary.”
Even though it’s a summer night, even though the moon is full and shining brightly down upon them, Atsushi cannot help but feel a chill run down his spine as Dazai looks at Akutagawa with no warmth or light in his eyes, the same gaze that Atsushi fears, that he saw only once when Dazai said he would rip Q’s heart out.
“You have become strong, yes - but you will soon reach the limits of your ability,” Dazai explains. “Your ability works best at long- or mid-range, and despite how destructive it is, it is better suited for a supportive role - as you should have realised during your final strike against the Guild leader, correct?”
Akutagawa’s eyes widen, and he lowers his head, like a child that has been reprimanded by their parent.
Atsushi stays quiet. Dazai could even predict that Akutagawa would use Rashomon to augment his attack at the very end of their battle against Fitzgerald.
“And Atsushi-kun.” Atsushi’s head jerks up at the sound of his own name. “You can better control your tigerfying ability now, but it still requires you to get in close range to land hits. Therefore Akutagawa-kun will be able to cover your defenses when you strike, as well as amplify the strength of your attacks.”
Dazai looks up at the full moon, and Atsushi sees the light come back to his eyes, like he’s a different person again. “Well, training begins tomorrow. I want you both up and ready by 8am. Atsushi-kun, I’ll come to your apartment to fetch you, and Akutagawa-kun, Chuuya will be taking you.”
“Why the separate pick-up? Why the secrecy?” Akutagawa demands.
Dazai shrugs. “You never know who’s watching. Or where.” He waves a hand to dismiss himself and begins walking away, calling out, “By the way, starting tomorrow the two of you will be living together! So talk things over, okay?”
“What?!”
Atsushi isn’t sure how much time passes after Dazai leaves. He doesn’t move, and neither does Akutagawa. The moon rises ever higher into the sky and Atsushi sees the grey light on the floorboards of the pier, on the edges of Akutagawa’s coat, turning the tips of his hair silver, and he’s almost distracted by the strangeness of seeing his rival looking so vulnerable that he almost misses Akutagawa’s statement.
“This won’t work.”
“Eh?”
Akutagawa looks away. “All of this. Shin Soukoku, or whatever Dazai-san has cooked up. His plans are almost always flawless, but not this time. It won’t work.”
Now Atsushi feels annoyed, and a little offended. “Why not?”
“Because we—” Akutagawa breaks off, and tries again, “Because I dislike you.”
Wow. He actually said it. And yet Atsushi can tell there’s no real hate behind it.
Before they fought Fitzgerald on the Moby Dick, they reached a level of understanding with each other, of their motivations and their burdens.
They may not like each other but…they don’t hate each other.
Not anymore.
“Well, I’m still going to do what Dazai-san says.” Atsushi says with determination. “I’m still going to train and fight and try to get along with you.”
Akutagawa scoffs, but there’s uncertainty in his grey eyes. “Why? Why try so hard?”
Atsushi pauses, unsure of what to say, but then he realises his answer is right there, next to him, bathed in light under the full moon, with its Ferris Wheel and Landmark Tower and Red Brick Warehouses. “Because I love Yokohama. I love this city, and I want to protect it. It’s my - no, it’s our city.” He looks at Akutagawa directly, holding his gaze. “We protected it together, and we’ll fight to protect it again.”
We have to.