Chapter Text
It was a little cold when Odasaku rowed the two of them out into the middle of the lake; but it was nothing that Dazai could not handle. Anyways, it was a beautiful night. Even in the darkness he could see the big ships around them and the beautiful city upon the island. Everything about it was better than anything he could ever imagine. Being outside of the tower, having Chuuya with him, seeing the world…being with Odasaku. Dazai’s skin warmed as he leaned over the water. Chuuya’s skin shifted colors every time he touched one of the flowers Dazai placed upon the surface of the water. The red heads gills opened and closed as he bobbed up and down in the water.
“Thank you sir.” Dazai smiled as he took another flower from Odasaku’s outstretched hand. It was a worn one from years of living by himself; stealing and running about to stay alive. Dazai’s looked feminine compared to them. “Here Chuuya.” His laugh was like tinkling glass when Chuuya changed colors again, this time turning a light purple color. His hair looked atrocious in contrast. All of that, however, quickly washed away. What is that, Dazai asked himself. In the reflection of the water he could see a single light floating away from the top of the hill; from the castle to be exact. His lean body quickly rushed over to the other side of the boat, causing it to shake and nearly throw Odasaku into the cool water.
Dazai had never seen something so beautiful in his entire life. With each passing second more and more lights floated up from every surface a person could be standing on. Each lantern looked like twinkling star upon the inky backdrop of the night sky. So these were the floating lights he saw every year on his birthday. It was better, far better, than anything he could have ever imagined. With the crystal clear water, it looked like the lights had doubled and even tripled. Maybe I could stay like this forever…here… with Odasaku. Dazai’s skin still had not cooled down even as he turned to look at said red head. When he turned, Odasaku had pulled out two lanterns of his own. His heart jumped. Rushing over he sat down upon one of the benches that was on the boat. He giggled for a moment. “I have something for you to.” Dazai turned and grabbed the bag that Odasaku had on him the first time they met. “I should have given it to you before but I was just scared,” Odasaku looked down at the brown leather bag, his face as impenetrable as ever. “The thing is, I’m not scared anymore. You know what I mean?”
The older man was quiet for a moment which scared Dazai nearly senseless. He must have done or said something wrong. But suddenly a large hand reached for the bag. Instead of grab it, he simply pushed it back down to the floor of the boat.
“I’m starting to.” Dazai blinked, a little confused as to what Odasaku meant; yet still felt that warmth in his chest. Perhaps he was not supposed to know what things meant all the time. The two of them pushed the lanterns in the air, watching as the lifted and lifted. Once again it was quiet. The only thing anyone could hear was the soft swish of Chuuya floating in the water. Then Odasaku spoke again. “All my days I have been chasing down a daydream. For so long I have been living in a blur. I have never truly being seeing things the way they are. But now you’re here,” The younger male blushed. Chuuya did in the water as well, suddenly feeling as though he was intruding on something he shouldn’t be. “Shining in the starlight.” Odasaku let out a small chuckle while motioning to the lanterns. He really is supposed to be a writing, Dazai thought to himself. Odasaku was so lyrical in the way he spoke. “With you here I suddenly know with such clarity,” His large hand reached up and brushed into Dazai’s brown locks. Odasaku fingered at the flowers the children in the square put into Dazai’s hair. “I’m where I’m meant to be.”