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The current world was far beyond housing just powerless humans.
Of course, mere humans weren't fully powerless. They had their wisdom and their knowledge to get by; and that was more than fine. In fact, majority of the population was made up by such humans. But that wasn't where the human species stopped.
Not anymore, at least. Other than humans without any form of supernatural powers, there now existed humans with varying supernatural powers. These powers came in two types as well. Some of them, the smaller minority, were unique powers. It was likely that only one person in the entire world had a power like that. There also wasn't much information available about such powers.
On the other hand, the other form of powers was the concept of communal powers. Some powers were used by a large group of people; they were well known, and there was plenty of information about just powers. It was somewhat like the concept of elves in folklore. Elves were a different species with the same powers, however slightly unique due to the person's individuality.
Communal powers worked the same way. Two of these communities happened to be Spirit Artists, and Advisers. Their powers were quite interesting. Lots of researchers had spent years in their attempts at gathering information about these two, very specific powers.
Spirit artists were humans that possessed the power to make magical paintings. Maybe 'magical' wasn't the correct term. These paintings had magic imbued in them; or rather, certain known or unknown spirits. Spirit paintings held high marketplace value; usually purchased by wealthy merchants or businessmen. Apart from their beauty, some also believed them to function similarly to the old shrine fortunes.
The interesting thing about spirit artists wasn't just their panting capability. No, besides that, spirit artists lacked the ability to detect magic. In other words, while they could create magical paintings, they were unable to detect the magic they imbued in their works. They also were unable to detect any form of magic at all, which put them at grave danger when faced by other magical species.
As for Advisers, these magical species happened to be able to detect every and all forms of magic. Including spirit painting magic, of course. On the contrary, they were unable to produce magic of their own. This, of course, also put them in grave danger when faced my magic-producing species.
Hence, it's clear why the age-old custom came to be. Spirit artists and advisers always cohabited in pairs. They depended on each other for their safety, and their livelihood. An artist-adviser pact bond was considered sacred; once formed, the consequences of breaking the bond was dire. It could even cost the two parties their very lives.
For a spirit artist, choosing their adviser was the most important decision they'd ever have to make in their lives. To prevent rash decisions by youngsters, the law stated that an artist-adviser bond be formed only when both parties were a minimum of sixteen years old. Hence, most artists and advisers found their partner the year they turned sixteen. That's when they went out to the real world by themselves, and doing so without a partner?
A fatal move, undoubtedly.
Dazai Osamu was an eighteen year old spirit artist. He wasn't any spirit artist, however. His works were considered the best of the best, selling in the marketplaces for millions of Japanese yen. The Demon Prodigy, was what he was called by his business rivals and customers alike. It had something to do with the spirits housed by his paintings. They all had negative aura, according to the people who bought his paintings.
Dazai wouldn't know, of course. He has never felt spirits, or the magic he imbues in his paintings. They say that a spirit artist's magic reflects their inner feelings and other such things. Well, Dazai was at least self aware enough to know that his inner feelings were as dark as it could get. No wonder his paintings had such negative aura.
But, oh well. Nothing he can do about it. It's not like he can control what energy he paints his pictures with. Those just flow from his core; unknown to his brain and senses. And that's exactly why he needed an adviser.
As stubborn as he was, rebellious against the morals that governed the modern word, he too had the good sense to acknowledge the importance of an artist's relationship with his adviser. He thus had one, as well.
Nakahara Chuuya was known amongst his peers as the Demon Prodigy's adviser. His right hand man. It was common knowledge that the shitty artist was a frail weakling; hence everybody seemed to think that he was still alive only because Chuuya was bound to protect him.
Chuuya got tricked by the Demon Prodigy to form a pact with him, they all said.
How stupid. They couldn't be more wrong if they tried. Their relationship wasn't like that. Different to most artist-adviser pairs, these two were equal partners. They depended on each other equally. Chuuya may not be able to cast magic, but his physique and fighting skills made up for it quite well. He could stand his own against any magician; hence, he was also capable of protecting the lazy bastard he was partners with. But their relationship didn't just work one way, damn it!
Chuuya met Dazai two months after he turned sixteen, which coincidentally happened to be a week after the artist had turned sixteen as well. They met in the forest, during one of Chuuya's wandering journeys. He'd left home as soon as he'd turned sixteen. He's been training to be self-sufficient and having the ability to protect himself ever since he was a kid, but it was still a good idea to be a wanderer if he didn't have an artist with himself.
On there first meeting, Chuuya had been resting under a tree when suddenly, a lanky guy toppled out of an overhead tree branch and literally fell into his lap.
The first thing Chuuya had said to his future artist was, "So the sky rains stinky mackerels now?"
Dazai had whined, "Ehhh, to have my suicide attempt ruined by a Slug!"
After that, Chuuya had yelled at him lots in attempts to knock the importance of his life into his head. The artist had just ignored all his wisdom and then proceeded to call him a chibi because he'd just noticed how short the redhead was. Then one thing led to another, and Chuuya ended up living at the shitty mackerel's nearby cottage, looking after him.
They had known about the other's magic specie from their very first meeting, but it wasn't after three weeks of living together that they silently decided on forming their pact bond. They had finished dinner when Dazai had held out his hand, palm facing downwards. It was a sign clear enough. Chuuya held out his hand right below the other's, palm facing upwards, facing the artist's palm.
It hadn't take too long till Dazai had allowed his spirit energy to flow downwards and into Chuuya's palm. Once the energy transfer had been done, all they had to do was clasp their hands together to tighten their spirit bond. hey had gone about their day after that, opting out to discuss unnecessary details.
That was simply the story of how Chuuya ended up forming an artist bond with the shittiest artist of them all. Nothing less, nothing more. There was no blackmailing or threatening involved, as everyone seemed to think, for some weird reason. Chuuya just had the misfortune of being stuck with such an annoying guy for the rest of his life.
That was over two years ago. They have been living together in Dazai's cute little forest cottage ever since.
Presently, Dazai was frowning at his latest painting when his adviser walked into his studio, "Oi Dazai. You free to talk?"
Dazai spared his painting a last glance before flopping down on his couch, "For my dog, sure! I'm stuck on the background themes for this stupid painting anyway."
Chuuya smacked him in the stomach as he sat down next to him, his feet tucked under the other's legs, "For the fifteenth time today, I'm not your fucking dog, oi!"
The artist reached out to ruffle his partner's hair, "There, there. Don't bark so much, Chuuya~ Anyway, what did you want to talk about?"
Chuuya had just been about to yell at him again, but he backtracked as soon as he was reminded about what he'd been wanting to talk about. He looked at Dazai with careful eyes, "Right, that. Say, have you ever had an adviser before?"
Dazai blinked, "...Huh? Has Chuuya finally lost his last brain cell? I've been your artist ever since I turned sixteen. How would I ever have one before that?"
The adviser waved his hands, "I mean, I know that, idiot! I just meant if you had an unofficial adviser or something before that."
An amused smile graced the other's face, "You know that an adviser can't see any magic cast on an artist unless they are spirit partners?"
Chuuya glared at him, "Dumbass, I don't mean a literal adviser. Like, I don't know, did you know an adviser very well in the past or something?"
For a few seconds, there was just silence in the cool studio. The curtain flickered against the window when the artist spoke up next, his voice tinted with remembrance, "Oh that. Right. I did, actually. Back before I left my home and city, I used to know this one adviser girl who lived near me. She was a couple years younger, but I knew her well enough."
Chuuya fiddled with a paintbrush lying nearby, "Is that so?"
Dazai was too deep into his memories to notice the his partner's tone. He continued, "Yeah! Her name was Lkari-chan. She was quite nice. She often made cookies. Oh and! She had a playroom, right? There was the nicest bookshelf in her playroom. I spent most of my summer breaks reading all the books she had.
"If Chuuya is a physically strong adviser, she was a really smart one. She'd be either reading books or humming to songs whenever I saw her. Which was pretty often, now that I think about. I wonder what happened to her actually. I haven't seen her ever since I left home over two years ago."
His adviser deadpanned, "Is that so."
Dazai nodded in excitement, "Yeah! I hope she's doing okay. If I remember correctly, she has probably turned sixteen recently. Haaa, I hope she's found a good artist for herself. She's not physically strong at all. I wonder if she'll be okay on her own."
Chuuya muttered, "Uh huh."
It was at this point that it occurred to Dazai that maybe, just maybe, his partner was feeling a little off. He turned to face Chuuya with wide eyes, "Chuuya? What's wrong? You're bending my paintbrush there, you know..."
Chuuya dropped the paintbrush as if it had suddenly caught fire, "Oh. That. Sorry, I'll get you a new one."
The artist frowned, "That's not what I... Chuuya~!! What's wrong!"
He reached over to lift Chuuya's lips into a smile with his discreet fingers, "Smile a little, little Chibi~"
Chuuya swatted his hands away, "Nothing's wrong. Anyway, about this, uh, Lkari-san..."
For a genius, Dazai clearly wasn't so well versed in real life matters. It finally occurred to him what might be possibly wrong with his partner. He gasped, his eyes wide, "Oh! Is Chuuya jealous~"
The adviser stood up immediately, "That's not it, okay. I'm not jealous of your childhood girlfriend or whatever."
Dazai burst out laughing as he wrapped his arms around the other's waist, "Chibi, Lkari-chan is definitely not my childhood girlfriend. We were just close friends, and besides, I haven't seen her in over two years and I doubt I ever will. There's no need for you to be jealous, even though you look very cute this way."
Chuuya sniffled, his nose scrunched up, "Well, that's what you think. She's here right now."
Dazai's arms dropped from his partner's waist, "Eh? Who? Lkari-chan?"
The redhead walked over to the door and beckoned towards the living room with his head, "She's waiting out on the patio. Go and talk to her, idiot."
Dazai was on his feet within seconds, automatically making his way towards the patio outside. He heard his partner grumble something behind him as he followed too. In the next minute, Dazai had made his way to the patio. Sure enough, there at the wooden picnic table, sat an adviser he hasn't seen in over two years. Her hands wrapped around a cup of tea, she looked the same as ever. Bright and cheerful.
Lkari waved cheerfully as she stood up to give Dazai a hug, "Dazai-kun! It's been a while, oh my god. You look well!"
Behind them, Chuuya growled something under his breath, which went ignored by the other two. Dazai grinned wide as he sat down opposite to her, "I've been well, fortunately. How have you been, Lkari-chan? It really has been quite a while."
Lkari clapped her hands, "I've been well too! I left home a few weeks ago and..."
Chuuya zoned out as his partner continued his conversation with this girl he's never seen before. Hell, he didn't even know that Dazai used to be on such close terms with an adviser which wasn't him. And it was clear that Dazai had certain feelings for this girl, considering how he allowed her to hug him. Dazai never let anyone touch him except Chuuya!
Sure, he's probably known the girl since he was two years old, and she probably got to touch him first, but still! Moreover, Dazai actually smiled at her. A smile. From Dazai. Those were very rare and now this girl showed up out of nowhere to be on the receiving end of those smiles?! Shouldn't they be reserved for Chuuya!
The adviser was still cursing at the other adviser in the room in his mind, when he was snapped out of his thoughts by a particular, ominous-sounding conversation.
Dazai was looking at the girl questioningly, "So, what made you look for me after so long, Lkari-chan?"
Lkari intertwined her hands, a smile tugging at her lips, "Oh that? As I said, I turned sixteen a while ago, which means I can form a bond with an artist. I came looking for you to see if you would be willing."
From the corner, Chuuya growled audibly, much to his own distaste. He really was acting like a rabid, possessive dog. How demeaning! How ridiculous of him to behave in such a way. After all, isn't it fine if Dazai decides to break their pact and form one with his childhood friend instead? It would make perfect sense. What didn't make sense is why Chuuya felt like crying his eyes out at the idea of that! It didn't make sense at all!
Chuuya would be very glad to be rid of this stinky fish! He certainly wouldn't cry, or get through his liquor cabinet within one weekend. Not at all! He'd celebrate, damn it. He'd have the best time of his life, living without that disgusting bastard who was so useless that he couldn't even take care of himself. Chuuya definitely wouldn't be lonely at all. He wouldn't!
Meanwhile, Lkari was clearly unaware of his inner turmoil because he continued her explanation, "I came here to see if you'd be willing to form a pact with me, but you've clearly already found the adviser for you. I'm very happy for you, Dazai-kun!"
Dazai smiled fondly, which went unnoticed by his partner, "Ah that. I already do have an adviser, yes. I hope you find one soon too, Kari-chan!"
Lkari laughed, clapping her hands, "Me too! Also, I haven't been called that in ages! It sure brings back memories, huh."
Dazai laughed, "Definitely. You certainly are a wonderful provisional sister. Remember when we accidentally broke your twin's toy wand?"
The girl giggled, her hand covering her face, "Oh my god, Kerese was livid. She misses you too, by the way! We really do see you as our brother, Dazai-kun."
The artist smiled, "Haaa, the two of you were family as well. Tell your twin I said hello then, will you?"
Lkari nodded, looking rather determined for the matter of a simple hello, "Will do. Say Dazai-kun, won't you tell me about your adviser?"
Dazai's eyes lit up as he reached out his hand to tug Chuuya by the wrist, pulling him closer to the table, "Obviously! This is Chuuya! He's a little chibi slug, but he's very strong and isn't he the cutest adviser you've ever seen, Lkari-chan?"
The girl tilted her head and beamed, "Oh definitely! He's very cute! Very nice to meet you, Chuuya-kun."
Chuuya's eyes widened in surprise at being involved in the conversation so suddenly. Plus, this adviser, Lkari seemed to be so nice. And apparently she and her twin happened to be like sisters to Dazai in the past? Damn it. How was Chuuya supposed to hate someone like that! He really couldn't hate her now. What a pain.
He shook the girl's offered hand, "Nice to meet you as well."
The three of them engaged in idle chatter for the next few minutes. Lkari told Chuuya lots of stories about herself, Dazai and her twin in the past, and Chuuya couldn't help but laugh at them. They were really so funny! For revenge, Dazai told his childhood friends lots of stories about Chuuya, which made the adviser hide is face in his hands.
A while of conversation later, Lkari was finally ready to go about her way again. She stood up and gathered her things before being walked to the edge of the garden by the two partners.
Right before she left, she parted ways with a wave and a smile, "It's amazing how in love you can be, Dazai-kun. Kerese will forever tease you about this. Wasn't it you who said that those who fall in love were losers? But it makes sense, I suppose. It is Chuuya-kun, after all."
Dazai gave her a secretive smile as he shook her hand for the last time, "Of course. Chuuya is my partner in every single universe, after all."
Lkari gave him an equally secretive smile before walking away, her hand still waving at them. Chuuya turned to his partner once she'd disappeared behind the nearby grove of trees, "In every single universe? Was that supposed to mean something? Lkari seemed to know about it."
Dazai slipped an arm around the other's shoulders, pulling him close and kissing the top of his head, "Don't think about it too much, Chibikko~ You'll shrivel your brain. Let's just say Lkari and I have talked about the existence of alternate universes before. Nothing too serious."
As they walked back to their cottage, Chuuya merely shrugged, "Huh. Weird people, both of you. You certainly wouldn't be a good match for spirit bonds. Both of you are genius weaklings."
Dazai laughed as he fell into step, next to his partner, "No need to be jealous, Chibi-kun. You're the only one to be bound to me by spirit energies."
Chuuya smacked him, "Don't say such disgusting things with a straight face, oi!"
Well, Chuuya could say whatever he wanted, but his happiness was rather obvious. A grin etched onto his face, and his footsteps light, Chuuya really did look really happy. He wasn't going to be replaced by his artist's childhood friend. Take that!
-
The next day, Dazai's painting was finally done. It was a large canvas drawing, showing two figures with a broken city in the background. The taller figure donned a darkly shaded coat, his hands in his pockets, tendrils of bandages unravelling from his wrists. The shorter figure wore a black suit, his gloved hand holding up his hat in place.
Behind them, the orange sunset made the broken city of Yokohama look beautiful, even in it's present condition. The painting was named Double Black, Dazai said. As for the figures in it? Those two were rather close to his heart, he said.
It was a world of detective agencies and mafias, a world with stranger abilities than their present worlds, a world with a book that altered reality and even had the power to create new realities. Even in such a world, Dazai was positive that Chuuya would still be his partner.
In this universe, and every other.