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The situation didn’t seem very promising for them.
Dazai and Chuuya had secluded themselves in one area of the warehouse facility they were supposed to destroy. Except instead of them doing the attacking, the enemies struck them, seemingly predicting their arrival. It was Double Black’s first mission together, so they had backup one call away. But the enemies had jammed any way of communication, so Dazai and Chuuya were on their own. There didn’t seem to be any ability user among them, but the sheer amount of men was enough to cause concern for the mafia operatives.
At the moment, they’d found a temporary hiding place behind one of the many large crates in the warehouse. The dark color of their clothes, aided with the lack of lighting in the area, provided them enough cover to remain out of sight. But it wouldn’t be long before they were found out, and then they would be doomed.
Chuuya peeked around the corner of the crate, squinting to make out where the enemies were. His brows were furrowed in concern when he turned to Dazai. “What do we do now? Any news from outside?”
Dazai sighed heavily as he stowed his phone in his pocket. “No. The jammer is still on really strong.” He worried his bottom lip between his teeth. “Quite frankly, things don’t look good.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” Chuuya snapped. “So what do we do?”
Dazai buried his hands in his hair. They were still inexperienced in field work. Chuuya was really strong in hand-to-hand combat and his ability was really great, but there were only so many men Chuuya could take on without using his ability and the redhead was still learning how to use For the Tainted Sorrow. Maybe in the future, he would be able to stop bullets dead in their tracks and soar in the air with the aid of gravity, but at that point in time, Chuuya could only use his ability to throw people to the ground and it required physical touch.
As for Dazai… Well, his ability was useless against people with no Ability and he was as good as a punching bag in a real fight, so he didn’t have much to offer other than his wits.
“Think of something!” Chuuya hissed urgently. There were distant footsteps and shouts coming their way. Dazai let out a frustrated sound. Surely there was a way out? Think of something. Dazai dug in his memories for a possible way out. Mori’s explanation of the enemies was that they were people with no wits who would sink their claws into anything they find. They’d been causing trouble in Mafia turf, so they had to be taken care of. They liked violence more than they liked riches, so Dazai couldn’t negotiate his way out.
Could they sneak their way out? The area was heavily guarded. There were many people standing guard outside too. And they’d very stupidly cornered themselves in this place. Dazai mentally slapped himself for his poor choice of hiding place.
Then could they muscle their way out? Dazai couldn’t, Chuuya couldn’t either because they were both still inexperienced. This wasn’t a fictional world where in times of need, the protagonists would be able to call forth some sort of otherworldly power to save themselves.
Otherworldly power?
“Chuuya,” Dazai said slowly, “I have an idea. But you’re not going to like it.”
“We don’t have much choice, do we? Spill,” Chuuya impatiently replied.
Dazai looked at Chuuya levelly to make sure his partner didn’t think that he was joking. “Corruption.”
Chuuya’s eyes widened. Was that horror in their depths? For a moment, it seemed like Chuuya was going to punch Dazai, but he settled with grabbing the lapels of Dazai’s coat. “Are you insane?” he hissed, keeping his voice down so as not to attract unwanted attention.
“It’s the only way!” Dazai argued.
Chuuya growled. “Have you forgotten what happened last time? Was that not enough to tell you that it should never be unleashed?”
Of course I remember, Dazai wanted to yell. How could I forget that night?
The panic of the men that had come to fetch Dazai. Dazai’s confusion at the sudden summons from Mori so late in the night. The shock at seeing the destruction that greeted him at the port and the lone figure in the midst of it. The worry on Kouyou’s face. Mori’s shouted commands to ‘stand back, do not engage, wait until Dazai arrives’ to keep the men safe.
Mori telling him to stop Chuuya, he was the only one who could do it, Chuuya might die if this went on. Dazai staring at the figure laughing maniacally and decimating the area, trying to come to terms with the fact that yes, it was Chuuya, and yes, he was destroying the port, and yes, he was going to die, if the blood dripping down his face was any indication.
The faint feeling of amazement when the destruction was stopped with just a brush of Dazai’s fingers against Chuuya’s wrist. The strange feeling in Dazai’s chest when Chuuya collapsed on him, when he took note of how light Chuuya was. The other strange feeling in his chest when Chuuya was carried away to be treated.
Dazai remembered it all. He remembered it all too clearly, and no matter how much he and Chuuya clashed, he didn’t wish for such horror to happen upon the redhead. But Dazai was truly at his wit’s end and this was the only way out he could see.
“Chuuya,” Dazai began, “I know that last time had scared you really badly. I know that it wrecked your body, I know that you really didn’t want to use Corruption ever again, but this is the only way.”
“The only way!” Chuuya threw his hands up. “You’re not concerned because you’re not the one putting your life in danger. Would you willingly harm yourself? Of course not!”
“I won’t let you die, Chuuya. I’ll bring you back to base well and alive, I promise. I’ll stop Corruption before it kills you. Trust me, okay?”
The footsteps were coming closer. Chuuya narrowed his eyes on Dazai. “You’re Dazai Osamu, the shittiest jerk alive. Why should I trust you?”
“Because we’re partners!” Dazai exclaimed. He didn’t care anymore if the enemies could hear him, they were doomed anyway if Chuuya refused to cooperate. “Even if it’s only temporary, we’re partners for the evening. I won’t sacrifice my partner for my own good. Now will you trust me and save both our lives, or will you continue to be a pain in the ass and compromise our wellbeing?”
The footsteps, which had originally been going around aimlessly, now marched purposefully toward their hiding place. Chuuya stared some more. A moment later, he turned away with a click of his tongue. “You’d better remember your words, shithead,” was thrown over his shoulder as he made to leave their hiding place.
Dazai watched as Chuuya’s gloves slipped off and landed on the ground. And then whispered words passed through Chuuya’s lips, barely audible among the rumble of footsteps.
“O, Grantors of Dark Disgrace
You need not wake me again.”
As the enemies entered their sight, time seemed to slow, as if preparing to spring into motion in the following instant. Dark patterns spread across Chuuya’s skin and he bent down into a crouch, ready to strike.
And then everything sped up, like a record that was being fast forwarded.
The ground caved and the air vibrated as Chuuya kicked off into the air. Bullets followed him up there, but none of them reached their target as Chuuya glided through the air weightlessly, the force of gravity at his fingertips. Dazai watched, transfixed, as Chuuya effortlessly took down the enemies.
Last time, Dazai had been told to immediately put a stop to Chuuya’s rampage. Now that he was witnessing it from the beginning, he could appreciate how fluidly Chuuya moved, almost like he was dancing. He could admire the way Chuuya could quickly and efficiently destroy everything he’d set his sights on.
More men poured into the room. They didn’t last long against Chuuya. Shortly after, everyone was down except for the mafia members. Dazai waited a moment longer to make sure that there was nobody left outside. And then he picked up the gloves and the hat Chuuya had dropped, approached the rampaging redhead, took note of the scarlet fluid dripping down Chuuya’s face, and wrapped his fingers around a slender wrist. And then, just for the heck of it, Dazai said, “You’ve defeated the enemies. Rest, Chuuya.”
The air stilled and rushed away from them. Chuuya stopped laughing. The patterns on his skin slowly retracted and reason returned to his eyes. He inhaled, coughed, and staggered. Dazai reached out to help Chuuya keep his balance.
For a while, none of them spoke as Chuuya gathered his bearings. And then Chuuya looked up with a strange look on his face. “You saved me,” he stated.
The corners of Dazai’s lips twitched upward. “I told you I would.”
Chuuya continued looking at Dazai with that strange look. “I didn’t think you would.”
“Didn’t I tell you?” Dazai pulled one of Chuuya’s arms around his own shoulders, ignoring the shorter man’s indignant protests, and started guiding his partner outside. “We’re partners, even if it’s just for today.”
That evening, Dazai saved Chuuya’s life for the first time. It certainly wouldn’t be the last, because they were about to become the most feared duo in the underworld. They just didn’t know it yet.