Chapter Text
Another day, another delve.
Dazai pouted as he trudged through the pathways, his mood sour. “I still don’t get why the Acting Director assigned you to be in the same party as me,” he grumbled. “Why couldn’t I have delved with just Akutagawa - sensei alone?!”
Beside him, Shiga was equally displeased. “If I had a choice, I certainly wouldn’t want to be in the same party as a brat like you."
The two were currently wandering through a book together and trying to find their way back. A tricky battle with Taints had ended up separating them from the rest of their party, forcing the two rivals to stick together for the sake of familiarity. Still, neither of them were in the mood to be pleasant.
“Ahh… Why did that blasted Taint have to throw us so far away?” Dazai bemoaned.
“Ryu and Kikuchi have probably finished clearing up the last of the Taints already, that’s why there are no enemies around,” Shiga observed, ignoring Dazai’s griping.
“Ahh… Akutagawa - sensei, I miss you. I want to be hugged by you again…” Dazai uttered mournfully. Akutagawa and Dazai had recently gotten together into a relationship much to the relief of their friends (who were tired of watching both parties pine needlessly) and exasperation of everyone else (as the two lovebirds were now even more blatant in their adoration of one another after they got together).
Shiga just rolled his eyes. “You guys just barely separated half an hour again and you’re already missing him?” he asked.
“I can say the same about you and Mushanokoji!” Dazai retorted hotly. “Who’s the one who gets moody whenever Mushanokoji gets assigned to delves that don’t include you?”
Shiga went bright red as he scrambled for a reply.
Dazai - kun.
Huh? Dazai got distracted when he heard the call, but he dismissed it as the trick of the wind.
“Oi, he’s my friend, so it’s natural for me to be concerned about him!” Shiga countered.
Dazai - kun, Dazai - kun…
That didn’t sound like the wind. It sounded like someone was calling his name.
Dazai didn't reply, instead pausing in his tracks as he turned his head in an attempt to catch where the voice was coming from.
Dazai - kun, come find me…
That voice… it sounded like Akutagawa - sensei…
“Dazai, what the hell are you doing?” It was Shiga's voice that distracted him away this time.
Dazai blinked and focused back on his surroundings to find Shiga glaring at him.
“Will you focus and stop daydreaming?” Shiga demanded exasperatedly. “I don’t like the thought of being partnered with you too, but until we catch up with Ryu and Kikuchi, just stay alert!”
Dazai - kun…
“Don’t you hear that?” Dazai asked with a frown. His gaze wandered towards the side paths as he tried to look for the source of the voice.
“Hear what?” Shiga’s confusion was blatant on his face as he followed Dazai’s gaze. “Brat, if this is a joke, it isn’t a nice one.”
Dazai - kun, can you hear me? Come find me, alone.
“Akutagawa - sensei’s calling,” Dazai replied absent-mindedly. He walked away from Shiga as he followed the call.
“Ryu? Oi, Dazai, are you sure? I didn’t hear anything.”
Dazai no longer paid any attention to Shiga, not when he could hear Akutagawa’s voice calling to him in that gentle tone.
Come to me, my dear, but make sure you’re alone.
“Dazai, don’t just leave by yourself!” He could vaguely hear Shiga’s furious yelling behind him, but Dazai was still entranced by Akutagawa’s voice. He had to move fast before Shiga caught up to him though, so he ran.
Still ignoring Shiga, he followed the voice and he went around a corner. Someone reached out then, grabbing him by the shoulder. Dazai whirled around at the touch in alarm.
“Dazai - kun.”
It was Akutagawa who stood before him, smiling gently at Dazai.
“Akutagawa - sensei…?” Dazai greeted the other with a curious tilt of his head. “How did you end up here?”
Akutagawa's smile turned fond as he raised his other hand to caress Dazai’s cheek while the hand on Dazai’s shoulder went down to the small of his back. “So many questions. One would think you’re not happy to see me here.”
Dazai blushed. “N - no I’m happy! I just didn’t expect you to be here, Sensei. Weren’t you with Kikuchi - san?”
Akutagawa moved his hand to pat Dazai on the head. “You’re so easy to please, aren’t you? No need to answer that, just sleep.” At that unexpected command, Dazai felt a heavy sense of lethargy sweep over him. He swayed in place before falling forward into Akutagawa’s arms, struggling to keep his eyes open as he did.
“Akutagawa… sensei…” Dazai mumbled. Something didn’t feel right.
A chuckle was all Dazai heard before he gave in to the urge to sleep, eyes falling shut.
Akutagawa moved his grip to cradle the limp figure of Dazai as he pressed a kiss to Dazai’s forehead. “Now that I have you… I will never let you leave me again.”
“Dazai! DAZAI WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!” A voice bellowed close by. It was Shiga.
Akutagawa’s arms tightened around Dazai. “It seems Shiga - san is still close by. We best move.” The white of his eye darkened to pitch black as he took a step backward and disappeared into the darkness.
A few moments later, Shiga reached where Akutagawa had last been, hands on his knees as he fought to catch his breath. “Seriously, just where the hell did that kid go?!” He grumbled. “Forget it, I can’t waste time looking for him. I’m going to find Ryu.” Muttering curses under his breath, Shiga turned and made his way back to the main path.