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Dazai smirked at Akutagawa, making him clench his teeth at the same time that cold sweat went down his neck.
"So, Akutagawa-kun, would you please tell me about my dog's next missions?" Dazai licked his lips. "I heard one of them it's going to be... ah, interesting."
Ryuunosuke would like to ask the earth to eat him alive, pretty please.
"I, I don't think I'm allowed to give you that type of information, Dazai-san." He coughed, backing against the wall of the dark alley.
He should have known that this was going to happen. Why else would Dazai-san want to speak to him, if not because he wanted information about Chuuya-san?
It was no secret to the mafia that they had had a... thing (for the lack of a better word), and, honestly, Dazai-san was pretty obvious about his still strong attraction towards the redhead.
Akutagawa cringed. Dazai-san was up for a nasty surprise if he thought Chuuya still wanted him.
"Ah! Don't worry Akutagawa-kun, I don't plan to ruin Chuuya's mission or anything, I just want to... talk to him," Dazai explained what Akutagawa already knew, he wasn't dumb, thank you very much.
He breathed in, calming himself down. He had to be firm and not give in.
Chuuya-san would absolutely destroy him in their next training session if he found out Akutagawa told Dazai, of all people, about his mission (and, considering his current mentor was Port Mafia's best martial artist, that wouldn't end well for him).
"Why don't you just ask to speak to him when he's free? Maybe buy him some berry cheesecake crêpes? He's been in love with those things since Kyoka-chan made him taste them," Akutagawa suggested, pleading to any god out there to help him convince Dazai to be normal for once.
Dazai faked considering his idea, only to chirp a happy. "No! I don't think I will do that."
"Why... not?" He asked slowly, his mind entering the 'Oh Shit Mode', like Chuuya-san loved to call it.
"You see, I hate pain, and if I try to speak to the slug during a normal day he would surely kick me to the moon and back~!" Akutagawa couldn't argue with that statement, but Chuuya plus violence was a two-for-one deal most of the time.
"So...?" He prompted Dazai to keep talking, as he still didn't know what that had to do with his mentors missions.
"He can't do that while in an undercover mission! Therefore, when I heard Gin-chan talk about the Chibi having one in the future I had to ask you about it." Dazai brought his face closer to Akutagawa's, looking like the devil himself. "Tell me when and where this mission takes place, Akutagawa-kun."
He spilled all the information like it was burning tea in his tongue. He would take Chuuya beating his ass over whatever Dazai would do to him if he didn't talk anyway.
At least his current mentor treated Akutagawa like a human being and healed his wounds when he went too hard on his training.
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Dazai got out of the limo and adjusted his black tie, making sure every detail about him was just perfect. He was wearing a dark garnet suit (Chuuya's favorite) with a black shirt and dress shoes of the same color.
Nothing too complicated, but it didn't matter, Dazai's looks were already stunning, and he knew that. After all, his personality was the aspect that threw everyone off (everyone but his oh so sweet Chuuya, that is).
Then, the beautiful rich lady that he managed to charm, in order to be able to join the exclusive and luxurious ball that Chuuya would attend tonight (a facade to talk about not so legal business), followed suit.
He gave her his arm, like the gentleman he was trained to act as, and she took it, pleased.
His plan was ditching her the moment Chuuya saw him. He didn't want the petite mafia thinking he was interested in someone else, the Chibi was it for him, after all.
Actually, he could leave her even before that, he just needed to get inside the mansion, reach the ballroom, and then he could disappear until the best moment to talk to Chuuya presented itself.
Dazai gifted the woman an angelic smile anyway, making her blush and bit her lip. She was clearly thinking about... ah, fun things, she wanted to do with him.
Sadly, Dazai would never do that with anyone but Chuuya... once the redhead forgave him for leaving him.
Ugh, he had so much work to do, Chuuya gave his loyalty easily, but forgiveness? Not so much. He normally forgives the people who hurt him, yes, but he also ignores them as if giving the cold shoulder was an Olympic sport, and he was a gold medalist.
"Shall we, my lady?" He asked, not saying her name, as he hadn't bothered to learn it.
"We shall," she answered, with a brilliant smile.
He barely avoided flinching away.
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The ballroom was huge and golden (although Dazai was sure it was all fake gold, but no one seemed to notice), full of light and sparkling objects and people.
Even surrounded by all that shine, Chuuya managed to glow the most. Like a tiny sun that made people gravitate towards him, not even needing Tainted Sorrow's help.
Dazai hadn't been lying when he explained Akutagawa-kun why he wanted to invite himself to Chuuya's mission.
But he did choose to keep the other reason to himself... He wanted to see Chuuya in a dress.
His slug looked drop-dead gorgeous with any outfit, from his formal suits, to his bad-boy leather jackets and ripped skinny jeans (oh, he looked amazing in those). However, he was especially bewitching in delicate kimonos or dresses. Probably because seeing him in them was such a rare sight, since Chuuya insisted that they got in the way during fights.
Chuuya usually dressed up as a woman in undercover missions, as men tended to underestimate women, dismiss them as weak, and let themselves be left alone in a room with them when they were breathtaking enough (something that was its own brand of stupid, really). That helped when someone wanted to take out their target swiftly and efficiently, in and out.
Moreover, Chuuya didn't need to do much to fool people into thinking that he was just a lady with a particularly small chest, as, usually, all the attention went to his blue eyes, red hair, small waist, and prominent thighs (well, "prominent" for his overall tiny size), that were the product of all the excersice he did regularly.
That's why, when he entered the ball, fashionably late might Dazai add, every head turned to him. Chuuya didn't even blink at that, he was used to the attention and he knew really well how to play with it.
His pumpkin hair was styled in a beautiful French braid, with a few curls left loose to frame his pretty face. And oh~, his makeup made his doe eyes stand up, and that red lip gloss made Dazai's jaw clench, he wanted to kiss Chuuya's breath away.
The petite mafia wore an elegant, V cut, jet black and blood red ombre ball gown (flowy but not puffy, just like Kouyou taught them), that hugged his waist tightly, and hid the pair of killer stilettos that Chuuya always selected for this type of missions (so high and so sharp, the redhead would have no problem slicing someone's throat with them).
He also had long black velvet gloves in both hands, and a choker around his neck with 23 pear-cut rubies surrounded by diamond hearts, with sparkling matching earrings.
Dazai had to control himself. He had to wait a few seconds, let Chuuya dance around, let him search for his target and get ready (he would surely get murdered if he ruined the redhead's missions).
The woman next to him gave him an angry glare when she realized he was watching Chuuya like a hawk.
Dazai didn't even care.
What did bother him, though, was Chuuya's companion. Kajii Motojiro, if Dazai wasn't mistaken.
The man had a dark red coat, along with a blue waistcoat (with brown buttons!) and black jacket over a standard white shirt. His black pants were shorter than they should be, and his brown shoes were clearly old.
He also wore red socks with a diamond pattern, a plaid bow tie, a dumb blue bowler hat, and an honest to god monocle.
He looked ridiculous (Dazai didn't want to know how Mori let that monstrosity happen). However, the worst part was that Chuuya was watching Kajii like he hung the moon and the stars for him every night every single night. And the mad scientist was doing the same!
They also had a pair of matching engagement rings. What the hell?!
Dazai did not seethe, because this just had to be an act. There was no way that Chuuya had replaced him, especially with a crazy guy who wasn't even handsome.
Yeah, that was plain impossible, it wouldn't even make sense. The chibi was just doing his job, acting like Kajii's wife. Nothing else.
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Hours later, people were dizzy or outright drunk, and no one had realized that one man (Akira Watanabe aka Chuuya's target) had disappeared.
Kajii was nowhere in sight (probably taking Akira to some extraction point where the Port Mafia would take him and drag him to the dungeons for interrogation), therefore, men and women were crowding around Chuuya, trying to impress "her" with their money and assets.
Chuuya was backing more and more against the garden door, struggling to escape the little crowd without making a scene.
Dazai had remained hidden from Chuuya's view all night. However, he knew this was his moment to make a move.
He swiftly walked across the ballroom, reaching Chuuya's side and rescuing him by gracefully moving him to the garden with a hand in his lower back and the other keeping away the rich people trying to take Chuuya to their beds.
He guided the shorter through the garden, passing pots filled with all types of colorful flowers, and a huge sea lion-themed fountain. Finally, Dazai stopped so they could hide behind a tall bush of blood red roses.
The sky over their heads was dark blue, with no stars to be seen. Dazai grumbled inside his head, damn light pollution, it was ruining his very romantic and magical setting.
Chuuya let out a breath the moment they were away from everyone, before turning around with a cute smile on his lips. "Thank you so much! I couldn't even breath in there."
Ah, Chuuya's 'I'm pretending to be a women' voice was nice, but Dazai would rather listen to his usual rough, deep tone.
"Why, it's no problem, Chibi." Dazai smirked, lowering his eyes, so he could see Chuuya's face. He was so tiny~ and Dazai could see all his freckles now that they were close.
Chuuya's smile fell the moment he realized just who he was talking to. "What THE FUCK are you doing here Mackerel!?"
Dazai laughed giddily. "Aw Chuu, I missed you too." He grabbed Chuuya by the waist to drag the shorter to him, leaving no space between them.
Dazai wrinkled his nose a little. Chuuya always smelled like lemon nowadays, he probably decided to change his cologne some day in the past four years... obviously, because the other option in Dazai's head didn't make any sense.
(After all, why would Chuuya spend more time than strictly necessary with someone like Kajii?)
"I came here to talk to you~," he purred out, wiggling his eyebrows.
Chuuya made a face at his comment, but didn't delete him out of existence with a punch. Just like he had predicted.
"About what? 'Jiro will be here at any minute and I still owe him a dance, so I don't have all the damn night."
Dazai tightened his grip as a shadow crossed his face for a second. He then gave Chuuya his most handsome smile. The one that used to make the redhead blush as red as his hair, while doing a little pout with his mouth.
His petite mafia only raised an eyebrow and rolled his eyes at him.
Dazai internally frowned.
"Don't worry, Chuu, you won't have to humor him, you can dance with me instead." Then, he gave him a sweet glance.
Music started playing in the background, and Dazai decided to move a little to dance, slowly and softly.
"... What?" Chuuya blinked.
Dazai kept talking, ignoring Chuuya's reaction, since the redhead wouldn't have expected his words no matter how he had said them.
"I wanted to apologize for abandoning you, I just knew I wouldn't have been able to look at you to the face and tell you that I was betraying the mafia, you would have looked so sad," Dazai attempted to explain, but panicked at Chuuya's unimpressed stare.
"Besides, they are your family, you are too loyal for your own good, and they need you... but I needed to leave that place, join the side that saves people." He added, knowing Chuuya would understand where he was coming from.
Now, that succesfully got him a sympathetic grimace from said redhead, just as Dazai had expected. If anyone could understand his motives, that was his Chibi.
Chuuya knew the mafia had been a way worse environment for Dazai than for him. He had always had his Ane-san, who was stern with his learning and training, while also caring a lot about him. Dazai had had Mori Ougai of all people, one didn't have to be a genius to get why that couldn't be good.
(See, Chuuya was loyal to his Boss, he was, but he was not blind and could see his flaws... which were many.)
"I still think you should have said goodbye, or even leave a letter or something," Chuuya grumled, clearly, he was particularly mad about that detail. "But I get it, I get why you left, I'm not stupid."
Getting a tiny bit excited at his comment, Dazai lost his train of thought thinking about their future, now that they could be together again.
They were going to have a reddish havanese dog (they were tiny, and a lot lazier than other dogs, so Dazai would be able to survive it, and Chuuya would finally have a pet), and live in a house where they would grow old together. Maybe they could adopt a kid in the future? Chuuya was awesome with children, and he was getting better at the whole mentor thing.
"So, now that I'm finally out of the mafia's thumb, now that I'm better than before, less self-centered and insensitive... maybe we could try again? Give me another chance, Chuuya."
Chuuya froze, and the second his brain processed his former partner's words, all his sympathy blipped out of his head. He was not often called hot-headed and short fuse for nothing.
"Excuse me?!" Chuuya shouted, pushing him away.
Thankfully, no one seemed to notice, they were too far away from the ballroom to be heard.
Dazai stumbled a little and winced. Chuuya hadn't pushed nearly as hard as he normally would to take down an enemy, but still, he could break someone's bones on accident while being completely chill, nevermind when he was stressed.
"Chuuya?" Dazai asked, surprised at the rage in those sky blue eyes.
"Another chance? Dazai I know you had to leave the mafia, but youd didn't have to leave me! And don't you dare bullshit me with your 'you would have looked sad' speech again! We promised to always be together, and you broke that." Chuuya growled, baring his teeth like a feral, but most importantly wounded, animal.
"You still remember how I feel about liars, right?" Chuuya narrowed his eyes, as his voice got quieter and deadlier.
Dazai gulped, putting his hands up. "Yeah, I do, but I'm so sorry, that's why I promise to make it up to you, that's why I'm trying to be a part of your life once again and be better, more honest."
Chuuya was about to answer, but then he turned around, as if he had heard something Dazai had not, and suddenly there was a dagger in his right hand. Someone else would have wondered where did he even keep those in his dress, but Dazai noticed the hidden pocket near his right thigh with practised ease.
"It's just me~!" A voice chirped happily, before Kajii sauntered towards them with a goofy smile, obviously meant only for Chuuya. That was, surprisingly, enough to make all the anger leave the slug's body, turning him into a well behaved puppy.
The man stopped to stand right next to the Chibi, a little too close for Dazai's liking.
Chuuya gave the crazy scientist a look so sweet it could have given Kajii diabetes, before leaning into his side. "Hi again, 'Jiro."
Kajii gave him a quick wink, before taking his eyes back to Dazai.
"I couldn't help but hear your conversation~ so I think I should explain something to you!" He sang, smirking. "Chuuya isn't a game that you can pause and then return to years later like nothing ever happened, hearing you say those things... It made me want to EXPLODE YOU with my amazing LEMONS!"
Kajii cackled with mad eyes, his whole body shaking in the process. Chuuya didn't seem to mind one bit.
As for Dazai... he was glaring at him. "And what would you know? You have no idea what we went through, we are Soukoku."
"You were Soukoku, past tense there," Kajii said slowly (as if he was speaking to a child), while he decided to squeeze Chuuya with his arms, who hid his face against his arm. "Besides, I know every single thing! My lemon pie told me everything."
Dazai chocked. HIS lemon pie?! Chuuya was Dazai's, he has always been, and always will be.
The man didn't seem aware of that extremely important fact, as he proceeded to turn around, taking Chuuya with him.
"Now darling, come on dance with me, the earth is spinning, we can't just stand on it!" Kajii exclaimed, making the redhead beam at him.
(His huge smile was still as dazzling as the last time Dazai saw it.)
Desperate, Dazai called out extending his hand. "Chuuya, please, you can't pick him over me! We are basically soulmates."
They stopped walking at the exact same time.
The redhead gave him a sad glance, and Dazai was reminded yet again of just how many emotions Chuuya could show to the world with no shame, in such a short time span.
"I'm sorry Osamu, I went on with my life... I think you should do the same," Chuuya adviced him. "Some things are simply not meant to be."
Chuuya was clearly trying to soften the blow, and maybe Dazai looked a little too debastated, because Chuuya seemed to regret the way he exploded at him earlier. Kajii, however, wasn't nearly as considerate.
"Hell yeah, he moved on from your ass so hard we are getting married in a few months!" Kajii celebrated, showing off his and Chuuya's rings. "These are not fake~."
He then led Chuuya to the dance floor, and Chuuya followed him with no hesitation (the same way Chuuya had once followed the other half of Soukoku), his eyes full trust, loyalty, and unconditional love.
Dazai had to watch them waltz like a Disney couple for the rest of the night.
While he had been away from Nakahara Chuuya, the earth had kept spinning, and Chuuya had walked away from Dazai Osamu, from the hurt he had caused.
Dazai hadn't noticed. Now the man of his dreams was out of his reach, forever.
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