Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

By some miracle or an unfortunate twist of fate, the Book's location is finally found and in minutes, any and all alliances crumble like a castle of cards, only to be built up again in order to, first and foremost, prevent Fyodor Dostoevsky from obtaining it for himself and fucking up their world beyond redemption or fixing. The Armed Detective Agency, the Port Mafia and the Guild barely manage to maintain their almost scorched bridges, keep up their alliance and meet Dostoevsky's forces head on in the battle. Dazai Osamu leads the battle as a strategist and a combatant, staying close to Nakahara Chuuya's side as Soukoku leads the charge against the organizations the Rats of the House of the Dead and the Decay of Angels had managed to accumulate.

The battlefield is a breeding ground of destruction, bloodshed and death, no one holding back and only Yosano Akiko's presence ensuring that the fatalities on the alliance's side are practically zero. Protecting Dazai is basically everyone's priority, for he cannot be healed by Thou Shalt Not Die, so Shin Soukoku and Tanizaki Junichiro have joined forces with Chuuya to keep the genius safe, even though Junichiro was staying back with Yosano to keep her invisible from the enemy, too.

Killing Dazai seems to be Dostoevsky's priority, right after getting to the Book faster than his enemies could, especially Dazai. The time for games was over and Dostoevsky knew that if Dazai got his hands on the Book, the Book may possibly get destroyed as No Longer Human robbed it of everything that made it so unique. That's why he was playing dirty, this little game of live chess they're playing on the battlefield, though Dostoevsky's queen had nothing on Dazai's, the gravity manipulator mowing down anything and everything that got in their way or made to try to harm Dazai.

Dazai himself was making leaps and bounds over the destruction everyone else caused, not looking back or to the side for even a second, completely relying on his partner and his proteges to keep him safe. An opponent or two would occasionally break through their formation, but Dazai easily dealt with them, not hesitating to shoot or stab to kill. Now was not the time for the detective who saved people and helped orphans, but rather the Demon Prodigy with his ruthlessness and mercilessness. The effective way he dealt with anyone that got in his way made sure he almost never broke stride, even as he constantly reloaded his guns or slashed throats of those stupid enough to challenge him.

The rest of the Agency, the Port Mafia and the Guild were busy. Ranpo acted as bait to get people trapped in Poe's Books, Kyouka and Kouyou fought back to back, Demon Snow and Golden Demon slashing through Abilities, people and weapons, Kenji and Kajii were in charge of the armored vehicles charging towards the alliance. Lucy worked best alone as she trapped hordes of enemies inside Anne's Room and even Lovecraft and Steinbeck had been hired by Fitzgerald again for the fight. The man himself was fighting side by side with Hirotsu, while Gin, Tachihara and Higuchi made a good team off to the side. Kunikida was basically his own one man show, too, protecting Tanizaki and Yosano or providing flash grenades where was necessary as the tides of the battle shifted.

The only ones who could compare to the destruction caused by Soukoku were Zenki Soukoku, Mori - and Elise - and Fukuzawa moving as one to cut down their enemies. Shin Soukoku weren't that far behind, either, moving in sync to cover any openings Chuuya had to leave in order to deal with a bigger threat, running after Dazai with the use of their Abilities and yet somehow barely keeping up with his long, determined strides.

Bullets, grenades, Abilities, blades, mini-earthquakes, nothing truly slowed Dazai down, and yet Dostoevsky still reached the Book first. It was impossible to miss, seeing as he lifted the Book from its protective barrier and the light embracing the Book's white, hardback covers lit up that portion of the battlefield. He already had a pen out when Dazai was even within shooting range and he opened the Book before Dazai could finish reloading his gun.

Everyone braced for the worst-

Only for a flash of light to practically blind everyone.

Well, except Fyodor.

He got blinded by a pair of fingers poking his eyes, making him cry out and drop the Book to the ground as the light spread and something sprang from the Book.

The live battlefield suddenly froze and everyone turned their attention to the new individual who casually leaned down to pick up the dropped Book, dusting it off and treating it no different than any other normal book one would casually find laying around their home or a library.

The individual was fairly tall and fairly recognizable. It was a male with brown hair that both looked messy and neat, like organized chaos, one might even say. And it looked fluffy, based on how it danced in the breeze created by the man's appearance. He appeared young, but he held himself with poise, certainty, confidence, power and a bit of arrogance. He was dressed in all black save for a flash of red that might be a scarf, all of it highlighting how pale he was and the white cloth wrapped around his wrists visible under the sleeves of his jacket, around his neck and even his face and head.

A single reddish brown eye looked up from the gently glowing Book and took in the scene he'd arrived to. "Ora ora~ What's this? Such a warm welcome, for little ol' me? I'm flattered~!"

"What is the meaning of this!?" Dostoevsky demanded in his rich, Russian accent, eyes red and teary from the assault they've been dealt as he glared at this seemingly different version of none other than Dazai Osamu. It could be no other, as the second he'd touched the Book, the recognizable bright, bluish white, almost glacial light of No Longer Human had sprang from his hand and the Book's own light had dimmed.

That cruel visible eye darted over to the King of Rats and this other Dazai smirked. "Oh, and who do we have here?"

Fyodor looked taken aback. "You don't know me?"

The original Dazai whistled innocently when the Russian turned an incredulous stare at him.

The new Dazai, however, snapped his fingers, recognition lighting up his eye. "Oh, now I recognize you! Gosh, it's been such a long time! The last time I saw you was when Chuuya and I decimated Shibusawa during the Dragon Head conflict. You were being a creep around the corner while I was taking care of a post-Corruption Chuuya so I kind of had to kill you since you've seen him so vulnerable. Ah, good times."

Dostoevsky wasn't the only one who gawked at this other Dazai at this. In fact, only their Dazai was completely unsurprised by this information.

"Seems I made the right decision," the other brunet said, looking around their surroundings. "This place is a mess. And this is coming from me. I've been wrangling the Yokohama underworld into my full control for years and I've never seen this much needless destruction. And I'm saying that after the whole Verlaine incident from years ago."

"You expect me to believe you killed me? You, who's a wolf in sheep's clothing, pretending to be a good, law-abiding citizen-" Dostoevsky didn't even get to finish whatever he was going to say as he was pistol-whipped until he fell on his hands and knees from the sudden attack.

The other Dazai stood over him, his single visible eye glinting as red as freshly spilled blood.

Every Port Mafia member who'd been at least four years in the organization took a wary step back, recognizing the Demon Prodigy in all of his glory with a single glance.

Dazai just watched everything with a blank, impassive face when Chuuya turned to see his reaction.

"I'd be grateful if you would never compare me to such a pathetic animal ever again. It's almost as bad as a dog. Even worse, you've compared me to both a mut and a sheep in one sentence. Now, that really makes me mad," came the smooth, elegant, soft voice of this other Dazai, gun glinting ominously in the low lighting. "But none of that can compare to the burning rage running wild within me."

"Rage?" Someone whispered hysterically, because this other Dazai wore no discernible expression on his face.

Those who knew him, though, could tell. Even if this was not their Dazai, even if he was wearing bandages on the side of his face their Dazai had never worn them on, he had the same mannerisms, the same tells. They could tell, easily.

This Dazai was pissed.

"You are after the Book, are you not?" The impostor asked airily before he used a leg to push Dostoevsky forward until his face smashed into the old rails of a train that no longer traversed these tunnels.

The Book had ended up being hidden in a veritable maze of train tracks and tunnels that have been deemed unusable after the Great War since they'd actually been used by the military and many of them either held government secrets or were still equipped with last resort explosives should the tunnels ever be found by the enemy. The Book itself had been at the heart of crossroads for all the tracks, hovering over them in a barrier seemingly created by its own power. It had prevented any leaks of its energy reaching the many sensors set up all over Yokohama that the government used to monitor Abilities and Ability users. The only reason any of them had gotten even a clue as to its vicinity, let alone actual location was because Atsushi's tiger form acted up in the middle of a full, Blood Moon. The white tiger had rushed out into the nearest park and carved out a map with its claws in the pavement.

The Eyes of God immediately notified the Guild.

The Port Mafia had spies in both the Guild and watching the Agency.

Dostoevsky had spies watching the Guild, the Mafia and the Agency.

There had been no time for plans or strategies - according to all leaders, which Dazai had tried to heavily disagree on, especially as there had been enough time to break alliances and then build them back up to a somewhat functioning level; all Dazai's work, mind you - just actions and so all the organizations had flooded the tunnels until they collided and this mini-war broke out.

So now Dostoevsky's face landed on the rails of the tracks, his teeth taking the brunt. The painful sounding crack informed everyone he'll need a very good dentist. It also informed the Port Mafia and Ranpo just what was actually going to happen, so they were the only ones not surprised when the impostor Dazai used that same leg to stomp on Dostoevsky's neck and head until his jaw cracked and he grunted in pain, the only sound he'd let out to show his agony. It would be almost impressive if the other Dazai wasn't bored by it.

"Did you know that when you write in the Book, anything that's been written before is wiped out? You could have every page written on and filled out except one and if you were to start writing something new there, it would wipe the whole Book clean. And, you see, I can't let that happen. My world is far from perfect, but it's still mine. He still lives there, you see. I did not let myself become a beast just for you to ruin all that hard work."

The last part was said in sync with their Dazai, making Chuuya whip from one Dazai to the other in shock and apprehension while the other Dazai just flipped Dostoevsky onto his back so he was looking up at the demon staring him down.

"What's more, you've ruined my only perfect chance to commit suicide," the other Dazai continued. "My Chuuya and Atsushi-kun will now watch me like a hawk and the events you've interrupted could destabilize my world. So, you see, I am really angry right now."

The first shot rang out like an explosion, making the Guild and the Agency flinch.

The Port Mafia just watched in wicked fascination.

Dostoevsky whimpered as his spleen was destroyed by the bullet. Red painted his white clothes and his ushanka had fallen off his head. He was paler than ever already.

The other Dazai took aim again, gun pointed towards his liver. "Not only that, but even if I can still die now, you've made me break my promise to my partner. Gravity was supposed to be the only thing that is allowed to take my life. I'm not sure whether that's possible anymore."

The second shot made Dostoevsky cry out and the others turn as pale as the King of Rats, all bar the mafioso, though they were watching grimly now, too.

Chuuya, though, was seething at the implications.

Akutagawa and Atsushi looked horrified and moved closer to Dazai, as if to make sure he was still there.

Said man continued watching dispassionately the monster he could have become, could still become.

Mori actually moved closer to Fukuzawa as if seeking protection from his once partner and bodyguard.

This dark clad version of Dazai took aim a final time, right at Dostoevsky's heart. "Did you really think we were equals, Fedya? Because I can assure you that we are most certainly not. However wicked or cruel you could become, I could always do better. Why else do you fear me but not vice versa? You really fuzzed up," he said with a chilling chuckle. "And this is what I do to my opponents who piss me off and are unfortunate enough to fuzz up." The final gunshot rang and echoed throughout the tunnels like a graviton bomb in the middle of Corruption, The bullet hit true. "Goodbye, demon Fyodor."

"DOS-KUN!" Came an anguished cry as the white clown - Nikolai Gogol - rushed to the now dead man's side. Dazai ignored him and instead turned towards this world's Dazai. He greeted him with a smile as he walked up to where he and Chuuya were standing with Shin Soukoku just a few steps behind them.

He blinked at Atsushi for a second, taking him in, before snorting. "Gosh, who gave you that atrocious haircut, Atsushi-kun?" The weretiger gawked at the other version of his mentor while said man's one-eyed gaze settled on Akutagawa next, who looked like he had stars in his eyes but was also living his greatest nightmare at the same time.

"Two Dazai-sans ... "

"Well, you certainly look more presentable, stable and powerful than the Akutagawa-kun back in my world."

You could literally hear Akutagawa's mind screech to a halt. He looked ready to faint as he stared dazedly into the space between the two Dazais, especially when their Dazai sighed and patted his head to try and bring him back down to earth. Unfortunately, he was a bit too successful, because Akutagawa literally faceplanted.

"Oops," both Dazais intoned, looking down at him.

"Dazai-san acknowledged me ... Dazai-san acknowledged me ... Dazai-san acknowledged me ... "

"I think we broke him," the darker Dazai commented idly before turning to the last person near his other self. He blinked, took in Chuuya's appearance and aggressive stance, and snorted. "Wow, and I thought the hat was tacky."

"HAH!? What did you just say, you bastard!?"

"My Chuuya back home has a much better wardrobe, befitting of his position."

"And what position might that be?" Chuuya asked, just barely restraining himself from strangling this other version of his partner. He felt extremely uneasy letting the two Dazais interact but he wasn't going to let this impostor anywhere around his Dazai alone if he could help it. "I'm guessing you stayed in the Mafia, then?" This alternate Dazai definitely looked more sophisticated than his partner did, in far better quality clothes that probably cost in the upper thousands of yen, dressed in all mafia black, but there was no telling with Dazai for sure, never, no matter the version.

"Is that my scarf!?" Mori called the question out from behind Fukuzawa, who also felt rather uneasy about this other Dazai. There was just something about him and there had been that something even before he executed Dostoevsky Mafia style.

The one-eyed Dazai refocused his attention to Mori, blinked, and smiled at the man. It was something between ... fond(!?) and incredibly loathsome, but there was no malice or aggression behind it. "It's been years since I've seen you dressed up like that, Mori-san. Or seen you at all, actually. And yes, it is. Fits me a bit too well, no?"

"Oi, does that mean you're the Boss now?" Chuuya asked, looking incredulous at this turn of events.

The other Dazai just nodded. "Yes, for a good while now, actually. It's for the best, really." The last part was said a bit darkly, a bit sorrowfully, making Chuuya frown. "But, well! That's neither here nor there! Here, Chuuya, take this," he said, shoving the Book into the ginger's hands. The Book started glowing again but didn't seem to do anything else other than that. "That's probably the safest hands for it to be in for the moment, until this, whatever this is, is solved," he commented, gesturing at himself and his surroundings.

"What, you've got nothing to say to that, bastard?" Chuuya asked his partner, who only shrugged and spoke for basically the first time since the other Dazai appeared.

"He's right. This is caused by a fail-safe in the Book, so the Book ought to be in hands not my own since No Longer Human nullifies its Ability and Chuuya is the only one trustworthy enough not to give in and use the Book; after all, the slug constantly has to fight of the whispers of a god. What's a measly little Book in comparison, ne?"

"Wait, how do you even know about this so-called fail-safe?" Kunikida called from where he started to approach the five of them. Alternate Dazai took one look at the uptight man and his face made a complicated expression.

This world's Dazai made a sour face at his counterpart. "It's so weird to see myself looking like that while showing emotion. Stop it."

Chuuya whacked him over the head with the Book at that. "Oi, don't encourage him to be even more emotionally constipated, you vagabond!"

Alternate Dazai gazed at them a bit wistfully.

Dazai stepped in front of Chuuya and gave him the Look™️. Unfortunately, the both of them were the Demon Prodigy, so the other Dazai was hardly fazed.

"Answer me,you bandage wasting machine!"

Before either Dazai could comment on the nickname or even before Chuuya could snort at the insult, a manic looking Gogol rose from where he'd been clinging to Dostoevsky's cold body. "You ... You killed my dear friend ... You killed Dos-kun."

Alternate Dazai arched an eyebrow at the clown. "To be fair, he tried to kill my entire universe, so I'm not sorry. Plenty of people still live in there. Odasaku has yet to finish his novel, Hirotsu-san has yet to retire, Ane-san has yet to open a clean tea shop not at all related to the Mafia, Gin-chan has yet to find her place in the world. Akutagawa has yet to let go of his hatred and anger, Atsushi-kun has yet to let go of his past and move forward and Chuuya has yet to be the great leader he could be. They just need to deal with the Guild in the near future and then they're all set since demon Fyodor has been dealt with a long time ago. So, really, I'm not the least bit sorry."

"I'll kill you," whispered Gogol. "I'll kill you. I'LL KILL YOU!" And he threw his coat to the side, activating his Ability to reach into the subspace it was host to. Something from within let out a bang and something was fired from the coat.

Chuuya acted on a long ingrained instinct, casting the Book aside without a single ounce of hesitation or even giving it a second glance as he grabbed his Dazai and hurled him out of the way. Hell, he even pushed the targeted Dazai in the different direction, closer to the Book, as he dodged the attack himself. Akutagawa, as always, had grabbed his own partner and wrenched them out of the danger zone, letting the blast pass them for the rest of their allies to scramble to dodge. Demon Snow and Golden Demon ended up slicing the attack into smithereens before it could seriously endanger someone.

"I've got you now~!" Sing-songed the crazy clown in a deranged manner and Chuuya realized too late that he had, by instinct, dodged closer towards his Dazai; it was a Soukoku thing, for them never to be too far away from each other on a battlefield they've entered together unless it was part of a specific plan. In case of an emergency need for Corruption, it was best for Dazai to be within reaching distance from start to finish. But due to this learned instinct that existed deep within his slou, let alone his bone marrow or muscles, Chuuya had left the true target wide open, still mid-flight from where Chuuya had basically catapulted him. He immediately used his ability to change direction but Gogol had already fired a second time, perfectly aimed for the alternate Dazai.

The Book started glowing when the attack came too close to it and the Dazai it had spit out.

Suddenly, Dazai and the Port Mafia both felt and heard the familiar hum of immeasurable energy and potential. Both Dazais's eyes widened before something round and swirling with black and red exploded from the pages of the Book, utterly consuming the incoming attack and any scenery near it. The tunnels gave a violent shake, parts of them threatening to crumble, resulting in Elise, Rashoumon, Demon Snow and Golden Demon to move to secure the ceiling overhead their wielders and their wielders' allies; Elise even took on an older appearance so she could spread her body out more to cover more of the surface. The resulting blast nearly knocked them all off their feet, save the two Dazais, but the pressure that followed most certainly finished the job, again sans Dazai and alternate Dazai and, of course, Chuuya, who was just flung back mid-lunge.

A familiar voice that didn't even sound human anymore started screaming and cackling as the enemy side was utterly decimated in seconds, more of those strange spheric attacks blowing up all over the place.

"Oh, shit," both Dazais said, the Dazai of this world hurrying to Chuuya and latching onto him so No Longer Human would nullify his Ability, preventing a clash of gravity that could create an utterly uncontrollable singularity but also preventing any possible harmonization between the two Abilities that could trigger Chuuya into also entering Corruption. The alternate Dazai sprinted towards the source of the calamity, barely dodging chunks of debris flying willy nilly on his way.

Chuuya just stared with wide eyes and a gaping mouth at the scene unfolding before him, unable to comprehend what he was seeing despite knowing that there was only one possible answer.

"First time seeing yourself use Corruption, huh?" Dazai asked fake-lightly, holding tight onto Chuuya as their counterparts finally made contact, alternate Dazai catching Chuuya's wrist in a mirror of how Dazai had brought Chuuya back during their fight against Lovecraft. The overwhelming gravitational force immediately normalized as the dark-blue clad figure crumbled to the ground, taking the alternate Dazai with him.

"Chuuya, what the absolute fuck?" The other Dazai demands incredulously, letting the other Chuuya - because that shock of bright orange hair could belong to no one other than Nakahara Chuuya, not to mention the whole Corruption chaos - lean against him, breathing harshly, blood oozing all over his body. "Shit. Yosano-sensei, can you please come over? I don't think you'd even need your cleaver ... Damn it, Chibi, what the hell were you thinking, using Corruption without me?"

"D-Dazai? Am I dead?" The other Chuuya asks, voice barely audible as this world's Soukoku and Yosano rushed over to the pair. The other Dazai moved to let go of him so Yosano could work but the stubborn ginger refused to let go of him. "N-no. S-stay, p-ple-please."

"Shh, I'm right here, Chuuya. I'm not going anywhere, partner. But you need to let Yosano-sensei treat you, okay? It's an order from your Boss. I'll be right here but you need to let go of me or else she can't heal you."

"You b-better not ... l-leave me ... ag ... ain."

"What the hell is this, impostor Dazai?!" Yosano demanded as she realized that he had been, indeed, right and that she wouldn't even need to cause more damage in order to heal him.

"Now's not the time, Yosano-sensei," this world's Dazai reminded her, gesturing down at the bloodied ginger. "I have a lot of explaining to do later, so might as well do it all at once. So for now, just heal the other Chibi, okay?"

Yosano listened and with a bright flash of light, the other Chuuya was practically sparkling, skin baby-smooth, the only traces of his injuries the blood soaking his clothes and the dirt clinging to his skin. His blue eyes turned sharp immediately and as he made to lunge for Dazai, he paused as he realized that there were two Dazais, plus another Chuuya in front of him. He froze, confusion painted so obviously across his face that it would be funny if it didn't turn into violent rage within seconds as he decided to ignore the colorfully dressed Dazai and instead lunged for the obvious Mafia Boss.

"YOU FUCKER! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING, HUH!?" He thundered as they collapsed on the ground, the taller male under him despite Chuuya's exhausted state and their height difference. "What were you thinking!? No, scratch that, I don't want to know 'cus I'll just be more tempted to murder you on the spot! Did you think faking your death was funny, dipshit!? I COULD BASH YOUR HEAD IN-" Chuuya stopped himself with a choked off sound, all the rage draining from him as despair took its place and suddenly, the other Dazai was dragging him down into his chest and just holding on tight as the redhead shook and trembled against him. "T-this isn't a-a dream, right? I-if it is, p-please don't wake me u-up. Please don't leave me, too."

"Shh, it's not a dream. Somehow, my suicide was interrupted or just stopped. I was taken out before I died and ended up here. We're not dead and you're not dreaming, Chuuya. Remember, Chibis can't dream because they're so Chibi even the Sandman can't find them." The other Chuuya was so distressed that he didn't even react to the insult, instead just holding the taller tighter. "Seriously, though, Chuuya, what were you thinking? Using Corruption without me there to nullify it ... I thought I made the appropriate countermeasures and preparations for Lovecraft ... You should have been able to defeat him without Corruption ... "

"Who the fuck is Lovecraft and what preparations are you fucking talking about, you shitty Boss?" The alternate Chuuya asked, looking up and rubbing the tears away from his face so he could properly glare at the brunet.

This world's Chuuya turned to his own Dazai, who had gone to fetch the Book before anyone else got bright ideas to try and take it. "Oi, Dazai, what the hell is going on here, really?" He asked suspiciously, well aware that there was no way his partner didn't know more about this situation than anyone else present.

"Who the fuck are you and why are you pretending to be me? As a matter of fact, aren't you the Armed Detective Agency's doctor or something? Why the hell would you heal me?" The three piece suit-clad Chuuya demanded first of his alternate self before turning to Yosano, who was just watching everything in confusion. He then cast a look around behind her and narrowed his eyes on Atsushi. "Oi, Nakajima, what the fuck is up with that haircut, huh? You fucked up on a mission or something and someone got close enough to give you a trim? ... Is that Mori? Speaking of, asshole!" He turned his attention back to the Dazai he was so comfortably sitting atop, punching him in the jaw far too gently in comparison to how he'd usually manhandle his Boss. "WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT YOU TOOK OVER NOT BY KILLING MORI BUT BY MAKING HIM RETIRE AFTER YOU SUPPOSEDLY SAVED HIS LIFE, HUH!?"

"WHAT!?" Mori couldn't help but yelp, completely flabbergasted because he'd never expected Dazai to take his seat through any other means than coldblooded murder.

"If you'd all calm down," the original Dazai said with a genuinely tired sigh. "I'll explain everything."

"That would be much appreciated, yes," Fukuzawa said warily as they all closed in on the two versions of Soukoku as Yosano finally got away from where she'd knelt down to treat this other Chuuya. Who still wasn't making a move to get off of Dazai, by the way.

"Chuuya, would you mind?" Kouyou asked in fond exasperation and the two alternates actually flushed in slight embarrassment before helping each other up none too gently. "Now, what is this all about, lad?" She asked of Dazai - either or both, she did not care, recognizing that both of them were the only ones in the know as to what was happening here.

"Right. How to explain this in a manner that won't have you all freaking out?" Beige-Dazai wondered but black-Dazai had no such reservations.

"Basically, my Chuuya and I are from a different universe that exists within the Book, created by Dazai Osamu in order to allow Odasaku to live his dream of becoming a writer," he explained plainly, getting a groan from his other self when everyone's jaws dropped and eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "To achieve this, quite a few things needed to change in our world, which is where I come in," he said with a gesture at himself and his attire. "Unlike anyone else using the Book, No Longer Human allowed for a paradox singularity to occur, letting me become aware of all the other universes' Dazais' memories. I am the only one self-aware within the Book's universe. I used this knowledge to manipulate my world into what it is today, as was written in the Book for my life to be like. And my arc has finally come to its completion: upon telling Atsushi-kun and Akutagawa about how the Book functions, in order to maintain the balance of our little universe, I committed suicide, ensuring nothing in this world could ever drag Odasaku away from the life he deserved."

"WHAT THE FUCK!?" Both Chuuyas thundered, first at the black-Dazai before realizing he wasn't even one to shoulder most of the blame. This world's Chuuya grabbed beige-Dazai by the lapels of his coat and shook him violently, because he was the one who had sentenced his other self to death, something neither Chuuya could ever forgive him for.

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING, YOU VAGABOND!? You can't just take over the Port Mafia just to leave it leaderless a couple of years later!"

"Chuuya was supposed to become the next Boss, though," both Dazais countered, only making their partners all the more angry. In fact, suddenly, both Chuuyas made to lunge at the opposite Dazai, only the alternate Chuuya changed direction when he saw this and literally launched the other gravity manipulator into a wall before he could so much as share the same air as his Dazai. The spectators watched with dropped jaws as their Chuuya climbed out of a ruined wall, looking murderously at his counterpart.

"What. The. FUCK!?"

"Ah, Chibi, the other Chibi is the other me's only bodyguard in the other world," beige-Dazai explained. "What he did was practically instinct."

"You made me some lowly grunt, you shithead!?"

"Fuck you, I'm the Executive of the Port Mafia," spat the other Chuuya as he stood in front of black-Dazai protectively with an ease of familiarity even as rage still painted his handsome face.

"The Executive?" Ranpo echoed, a bit incredulously.

"Of course Ranpo-san caught that," beige-Dazai muttered to himself while black-Dazai just smiled at the Armed Detective Agency, friends and colleagues that could have been but weren't.

"Yes! I've reformed the upper echelons of the Port Mafia so that, when I die, Chuuya wouldn't be contested as my successor. After all, our world differs from yours. The Executives at the time when I took the seat are not the Executives present in this universe. I had to get rid of half of them permanently lest they created a conflict within the Port Mafia itself. Chuuya was very helpful in that department. And, really, no one dared oppose us becoming Boss and the only Executive. Fear and awe will forever be raw in our Port Mafia."

"Fuck, it's so fucking weird for you not to call me by some stupid, irritating nickname," this world's Chuuya commented, narrowing his eyes at his and his partner's counterparts. "Hell, we were separated for four years and yet we feel closer than you two." The other Chuuya looked angry and hurt at that, which caused beige-Dazai to sigh.

"That would be because he," he gestured at his counterpart, who looked scandalized that Dazai was sharing any of their secrets so casually. "Distanced himself in an attempt to make your counterpart hate him to soften the blow of his death. Clearly, however, we've miscalculated," he said with a wince he shared with black-Dazai, who dared not look at the newly enraged alternate Chuuya.

"MOTHERFU-"

"Language!"

"Shut the fuck up, glasses!" Both Chuuya's yelled at poor Kunikida, who looked half scandalized and half scared since they both started glowing with For The Tainted Sorrow. Beige-Dazai quickly nullified his partner's Ability and the other Chuuya deactivated his own with a single glance from his Boss.

The alternate Chuuya took in deep, calming breaths before rounding on his Dazai. "You don't get to just die whenever you feel like it, understand, Boss?" He spat the title as he poked a harsh finger into black-Dazai's chest. "You promised me, as your fucking partner, that you'll die only at my hands and no one else's. That includes your own or his," he whirled around to glare at beige-Dazai. "And you! Just who do you think you are to dictate my life, huh, discount shitty Dazai!? I've got to deal with enough plotting and scheming from my bastard of a Boss that I don't need another fucking version of him making my life even more of a hell!"

"Chuuya-"

"Do you have any fucking idea how much it hurt knowing I wasn't good enough for him to live for!?" Alternate Chuuya thundered, cutting beige-Dazai off. "I am his partner! Or does that word not mean anything to either of you in the face of some man he didn't even know in our world. Yeah, I fucking know about that Oda Sakunosuke. Kyouka filled me in before running off to find where Nakajima ended up. Why do you fucking think I tried to destroy Yokohama with Corruption?"

"I'm sorry, you tried what!?" Practically everyone even the slightest bit in the know yelped or exclaimed and even those who didn't know anything about the true form of For The Tainted Sorrow didn't really need the context to know Nakahara Chuuya was most probably the most powerful and dangerous Ability user in the whole world. Destroying a city wouldn't be too hard for someone like him. This was especially clear to those who were there for Soukoku's teenage years, especially the year they were sixteen. But it was also blindingly clear to them that this was Chuuya's swan song of destruction and calamity, as once he enters Corruption, nothing and no one but Dazai or his own death can stop him.

And with Dazai gone, dead, Arahabaki's abrasive power would destroy him from the inside out, it was only a matter of time of how long it could last before Chuuya's body couldn't take it anymore.

"You IMBECILE Chibi!" Black-Dazai thundered, grabbing his Chuuya by the shoulders and shaking him like a madman, his own visible eye wild, wide and so distressed that all the resemblance to beige-Dazai's teenage years as the Demon Prodigy suddenly vanished like a smokescreen from the Mafia's minds. Now all that was left was a distressed child only beige-Dazai could recognize as himself the night Odasaku died. "What the fucking hell were you thinking!? Did that stupid, tacky hat finally eat your last brain cell!? If the Book hadn't spat you out when it did, right next to me, you would have died!"

"Oh, you mean like you, you fucking mackerel!? Isn't that what partners are supposed to do? Die together? Or does that only apply when it's convenient for you?! And why would you even care, huh?! You clearly only give a fuck about that Oda guy!" The shorter dimensional visitor shouted in the taller's face.

Black-Dazai just shook him some more, actually screaming in Chuuya's face, too, something none have ever seen Dazai do: scream or even raise his voice. It stunned quite a few people even before the actual words registered.

"A world with no Chuuya is a world I can't even imagine! I can live without Odasaku but I could never live without Chuuya! So, as your Boss, I forbid you from dying, you stupid slug!"

"Wait, do you actually mean that?" This world's Chuuya was the first to recover, rounding on beige-Dazai to demand an answer while their counterparts froze at the revelation.

Beige-Dazai refused to look anywhere near Chuuya as he replied. "The world they come from is a world in which I've never met Odasaku, let alone became friends with him. However, in no world that I've created in an attempt to save Odasaku's life and dream has Dazai Osamu not met and lived side by side with Nakahara Chuuya. The concept is so foreign to me that I couldn't even try to imagine it; it was impossible. Mostly because I knew what it was like to feel alive for the first time only after I've met a certain Chibi brute from the slums of Suribachi streets."

A long moment of stunned silence before both Chuuya's let out frustrated snarls. "Fucking damn it!" And the next thing anyone knew, both pairs of Soukoku were on the ground, the gravity manipulators doing their best to suffocate both Dazais in their affections. Love can hurt quite badly and both Dazais were finding that out in their partners' embrace, yet neither resisted or complained, despite their claims of hating pain.

"So," Tachihara leaned over to Lucy to not so subtly whisper to her. "Any fucking idea about what's actually going on?"

"Haven't the faintest, old sport," Fitzgerald, who overheard them, commented.

Mori, who was still hiding behind Fukuzawa, who was strangely okay with that, rolled his eyes at them.

"Are they really from a different universe, Ranpo-san?" Tanizaki asked and the greatest detective could only shrug.

"Seems so. I mean, there's no other explanation. It'd be literally impossible to clone Mr Fancy Hat and Dazai specifically. I don't think I should go into detail as to why, but their Abilities would be extremely hard to replicate and that's what I'll leave it at." He then pouted and leaned on Poe, sneaking a hand into the taller man's coat to take out his backup snack reserves. "I can't believe I never deduced that Dazai's had the Book all along! Or at least knew where it was and how to use it! We've been struggling to understand and find that thing for months and he'd just been there and done nothing~!" He whined, practically squirreling himself away into Poe's coat, much to the shy mystery novel writer's embarrassment. "I should have figured it out! He'd even stopped talking about suicide since we found out Dostoevsky was after it!"

"So are they just going to remain here forever or ...?" Higuchi asked hesitantly. "And where would they even go? I mean-"

"Not in the Port Mafia, that's for fucking sure!" Screeched Mori, surprising everyone with that declaration as they'd all thought he'd fight tooth and nail for another Chuuya and a Dazai he didn't need to constantly try to persuade to come back. "Oh, don't look at me like that! They overthrew other me! Or Dazai-kun did and this Chuuya-kun is irrevocably, indisputably loyal to him above all others! I don't need a coup just because Dazai-kun got bored!"

"It'd be funny, though," Elise commented with a malicious giggle that had Mori whining to Fukuzawa as he tried to cling to the man but Fukuzawa sidestepped him at the last moment. Mori pouted up at him but was ignored. "Get up, Rintarou. You're embarrassing yourself in front of the other stupid Dazai and Chuuya-kun."

Black-Dazai tilted his head to the side to observe Elise now that he's heard her voice. "... Wow, I forgot Mori-san used to be a lolicon."

"How can you forget something like that?" Asked an incredulous Yosano.

"Eh," black-Dazai waved her off. "Surprisingly enough, under the right circumstances, even bastards like him can change. Would you believe me if I told you he's been successfully and morally running an orphanage for the past few years? Even Elise looks like an adult and not a creepy doll in the shape of a child that represents all of Mori-san's sickest fetishes, fantasies and desires."

"Hey, I'm not creepy, stupid Dazai!"

"No, but Mori-san sure is."

"... Touche."

"Elise-chan~! Not you too!"

Both Dazais, Yosano, Elise, Ranpo, Kouyou and Fukuzawa all pulled a disgusted face at that.

Mori pouted harder.

Everyone ignored him.

"So, can we actually go home? Without either of us dying, that is?" Other Chuuya asked as he finally got off of black-Dazai and even dragged them both to their feet.

This world's Soukoku didn't bother getting up yet, still tangled up in each other though now in a sitting position.

Beige-Dazai nodded, reaching over to the Book he'd dropped when his Chuuya had tackled him. "Yes, of course you can go back. I'll probably have to rewrite some things if you're intent on going back alive, though, because you've just been wrenched from two different time stamps in the narrative. But please don't destroy Yokohama regardless of what you choose to do after you get back. I really did go through a lot of effort to make sure there exists at least one world where Odasaku is happy."

"Then don't kill the only person who can fucking stop me," snapped back the other Chuuya. "You should be grateful that I'm not skinning you alive as we speak."

"Oi! If anyone can skin this mackerel alive, it's me, damn it!" Their Chuuya snapped defensively, only to have his Dazai drape himself over him a moment later as he cheered about Chuuya's protectiveness over him. Chuuya just grabbed him by the ear and dragged him back into a somewhat normal standing position. "Of course I'm protective of you, shitty Dazai! I've dragged you out of one too many rivers, cut down one to many nooses, stitched and bandaged one too many wounds and fought one too many monstrosities for you or at your side for me to let anyone else decide whether you're allowed to live or die!"

Black-Dazai stared at them with a wide, disbelieving and ... hopeful(?) eye. "That almost sounds like a declaration of love ... " He whispers but both gingers and his counterpart heard him. Beige-Dazai facepalms. And, well, they weren't the only ones who heard. The Port Mafia, in particular, are of the opinion to scream "Finally!" at this turn of events.

"Yeah, no shit, dipshit!" Their Chuuya rolled his eyes. "You don't stay partners with someone through thick and thin and questioning your humanity for seven fucking years without at least something developing."

"Wait, really?" Beige-Dazai asked and now the alternate Chuuya rolled his eyes.

"You're both hopeless."

"You have no idea," Kouyou muttered in agreement, to which the ever all-knowing Ranpo could only nod, not even needing his deduction skills to notice just how utterly hopelessly in love and hopelessly awkwardly constipated about it were both world's Soukoku.

"Hopefully you can work on that now," Lucy dryly commented, not even sure why she was inserting herself into this drama, except that she wanted popcorn to watch it with.

"But hopefully in your separate worlds," Hirotsu commented with a sigh, exasperated and fond and far too knowing.

Both versions of the partners slash devastating rivals had the gall to blush at all of that.

"I'll just ... get on that in a second, yeah?" Beige-Dazai hastily said, already scrambling to open the Book to the right pages and sighing as he took out a knife and cut his finger. He ignored the alarmed cries he got for the action as he smeared his blood over the pages. No Longer Human lit up, its light extending until the alternate version of Soukoku was engulfed along with the Book. The text within the Book started erasing itself line by line, letter by letter even as, with a flash, the other Soukoku disappeared. When all the offensive text was erased, Dazai took out a fountain pen he seems to have had hidden in his coat and started writing without pause, seemingly effortlessly coming up with an alternative for whatever situation led to other Chuuya losing his shit enough to destroy the whole of Yokohama as his final hurrah.

"You better ensure that other you lives, extra stuff with bandages," Chuuya halfheartedly yet sincerely threatened.

Dazai just rolled his eyes at him and invited Chuuya to monitor him. But the redhead waved him off, knowing he can trust Dazai once he's given his word. Besides, he had other things to worry about. Like how Fitzgerald looked like he was gearing up to try and snatch the Book from Dazai. He activated For The Tainted Sorrow and easily took on a protective stance in front of the brunet the same way the other Chuuya had been guarding Dazai practically the whole time. "Do you really want to feel the crushing weight of gravity?" He challenged confidently, eyes narrowed at the blond millionaire.

"You think you can stop me, kid?"

"Ki- Did you just call me kid!?" The redhead growled, letting the gravitational pull of his surroundings increase until the others - besides Dazai - could definitely feel it. It was like nothing compared to what Corruption did, but it was a reminder that there was a reason why Chuuya was the one hailed as the most dangerous and powerful Ability user in the country, if not the world, if people weren't stingy about their prides, that is.

"Chibi, he's literally twice our age. He probably sees us all as kids," Dazai absently commented, not looking up from where he was writing in the Book. A glance at him showed that he'd sat down and left the Book on the ground, not touching it with anything but the pen. Letters and kanji were glowing a blinding white and surrounding him and the Book in a gentle whirlwind that felt more like a caress than the threat of a tornado. The Book was glowing brightly, illuminating Dazai's face and showing the true color of his eyes - red as freshly spilled blood. It was a color so rarely seen these days, Dazai careful to not let the light hit his eyes just right to display it since many people found it so disconcerting, but it was the prettiest red Chuuya had ever seen since he'd first discovered it when they joined hands to defeat Rimbaud.

"Is he necessary?" He asked instead of acknowledging the comment or how ethereal Dazai looked at that moment. The others had a harder time ignoring that aspect of this turn of events; the Agency more so than the rest of them, never having seen Dazai in his element as the Demon Prodigy when the true shade of his eyes was especially revered or feared, making him look more otherworldly than any Ability ever could.

"Hmm, not particularly, but he's a good ally, so I'd rather you not dispose of him unless he makes it a necessity," the brunet replied with a put-upon sigh and Chuuya huffed, letting his Ability drop down to idly active, ready to spring to his command the second he detected danger but no longer actively suffocating their surroundings by enslaving gravity to his whims. "Besides," Dazai said and just from the change of tone his partner knew he was no longer being addressed. Instead, Dazai looked up from the Book to face Fitzgerald. "Even if I were to allow you to use the Book to fulfill your wish, the life you want with your daughter wouldn't be a life you and your wife can live with her; instead, an alternative version of you will never have lost her and you could only read about it. It wouldn't feel real for you, it would be just a story in a very special Book and you'd have no way of confirming whether the Book even did anything, so, for all you know, your efforts would be for nothing."

"Then how do you know?" Fitzgerald asked desperately, angrily, helplessly. "How are you aware of whatever goes on inside this other world!?"

"No Longer Human," Dazai replied, going back to his writing. "I told you already; or the other me did. And even we can't actively share memories, thoughts, sensations or experiences with each other. Anyone else would just be reading a Book, a self-insert fanfiction, almost. Me, on the other hand, I can do it under certain circumstances that I'd rather not explain because I fear what other harebrained scheme you'd come up with in an attempt to steal my Ability from me or something equally as ridiculous in order to have a chance to experience the same thing. Besides," he snapped the Book shut, apparently already done. "How analytical are you? Do you know the exact causation to your daughter's death, down to the smallest, most minuscule microscopic detail? Because you'd need to rewrite everything to stop it; hell, I needed to write Mori-san as a good person with next to no lolicon tendencies for Odasaku to live the life he does in the Book. And you need to be able to predict the consequences of the changes you make. What if some change you make ends up killing your wife instead? Or both of them? Or all three of you? Even worse, what if you find the cause of your grief in the emrio faze and doctors advise you and your wife to terminate the pregnancy in the first place? Could you live with that? Would it be worth it to potentially ruin thousands if not millions of lives for a wish that may never be granted by the Book?"

"Then what am I supposed to do?" The blond demanded and Dazai sighed before reaching into his pocket for a piece of paper and writing something down on it. "Here," he extended it towards Fitzgerald. "I know an Ability user not unlike Lovecraft." The Guild, especially Fitzgerald, froze, knowing the implications of that one comparison. Chuuya, too, eyed Dazai warily, recalling how unsurprised Dazai was to find out Lovecraft's power couldn't be nullified by him. "They prefer not to deal with humans and keep hidden, but when one is desperate and determined, it wasn't hard to find them," he says with a shrug as Fitzgerald takes the note. "Tell them I sent you, they owe me a favor."

"And just what can they do for me?" Was the wary question.

"Their power allows them to grant someone a wish, a single wish, every decade or so," Dazai replied casually, as though he hadn't revealed the existence of an extremely powerful being. "Go to them, make a very specific and precise wish, no details left out, that doesn't try to change reality. They can bring people back to life, but you need to treat these wishes like you'd treat ones granted by a bitter genie in fairy tales. They won't actively try to trick you, but their power is very susceptible to loopholes, which is why you have to be careful. They'll explain to you how to make a wish if you tell them I sent you and show them that note."

"If this person can bring back the dead," Fitzgerald asked warily. "Then why aren't you using this favor they owe you or something to bring back your friend?"

"Odasaku would still be as devastated today as he was four years ago that the children he'd taken in were brutally blown up right in front of his eyes," Dazai replied with a bittersweet smile on his face. "This miserable world would just continue destroying him, chipping away little by little with his oath of no longer killing broken and his kids gone. He might even end up more suicidal than I am and I wouldn't be able to stomach burying him a second time. So it is a bit selfish of me to not want to risk it. After all, only one person can be brought back per wish and reality can't be changed with one, either. It's why I turned to the Book; I could create a whole new world where Odasaku and his kids lived happy, carefree lives in the light because the other me kept the darkness at bay. But you don't need a separate world, you just need your daughter back. And with the money, connections and influence you have, you'll have no problem covering up whatever years she'd been gone so you can provide her a normal life."

"Why are you doing this? Why offer this when you could keep that one wish for yourself?" The asked and Dazai only shrugged again.

"Because I'm trying to be a better person? Because I know what it feels like to be desperate to bring back someone you care about so much? Because I can? Because I don't trust myself with that sort of power? Take your pick. I only ask you that you leave Yokohama and not even because I'm demanding this as a favor; in fact, I'm doing you the favor. For all that the Ability that grants the wishes isn't actually an Ability, No Longer Human can nullify the results of the fulfilled wishes if I touch them. Therefore, for the sake of your wish, take your daughter as far away from me as possible and never cross paths with me again in a manner where contact between us is possible. You only get one wish, one chance. Not even a different person can wish your exact same wish for you. It can only happen once. The power that grants wishes is immense and versatile, but it is also greatly limited. So be careful, if you even decide to take me up on my offer. I only ask that you stop trying to get the Book. It's hard enough to keep it safe and hidden as is," he said with a sigh, giving a little jerk with the hand still holding out the note.

Fitzgerald all but lunged for it, taking it before Dazai could change his mind. Chuuya went to blow him to smithereens when he continued his lunge towards Dazai but stopped himself when he realized the blond was only hugging the brunet. "Thank you, old sport. If you ever need anything, you know how to contact me." Then he let go, called off his men and all but sprinted off, out of the tunnels and out to the surface to start his search for the wish-granter. The rest of the Guild, save for Lucy and Poe, followed as they listened to Fitzgerald's promises of a raise and an even greater pension plan. Louise bowed in thanks and goodbye and then they were just gone.

"Is that Ability user really real, Dazai-san?" Junichiro asked and the genius nodded.

"How did you even find someone like that?" An incredulous Atsushi asked and the man just shrugged, pocketing away the pen and tucking the Book into an inner pocket of his coat.

"It took me less than a month to find them and drag them from down south to their current location. It took me about a week to find the Book," he replied casually. "You see, Atsushi-kun, when someone is truly desperate, nothing is impossible. So you just make sure you never make anyone desperate."

"He must have been a great friend, then, Dazai-san," Kyouka commented as they all just stood around awkwardly, not really sure what to do now that the fight and the drama was over. The problem of the Book still very much existed but Dazai seemed to have a handle on it for now.

"So, what do we do about the Book now?" Tachihara asked. "We can't just leave it here; we more or less announced to the world where it's been hidden this whole time. And any defenses that used to exist sure have been decimated," he said with a pointed look around at all the damage they, the other Chuuya and No Longer Human have done to both the supernatural and physical protections the Book used to have.

"Not to mention that we can't exactly trust Mori-sensei not to go behind our backs, take the Book and abuse its power," Fukuzawa said, ignoring the indignant sound the younger leader made at that.

"I propose we leave it to Dazai," Ranpo surprised them all by saying, even raising his hand so everyone would pay attention to him. "He clearly knows what to do about its protection and how to hide it, not to mention that he knows how to use it and has the least reason to be tempted to use it again. That, and with him comes the bonus of Mr Fancy Hat, and we all know there's no getting past those two."

"I agree with the detective," Kouyou hummed. "As much as he may not seem like it at first glance, I think we can all agree that Dazai is a lot more capable than people give him credit for. That other Dazai was proof enough."

"Besides, if there is already a defense mechanism placed on the Book," Mori took up where his eldest Executive left off. "Especially one such as that, it'd be in our best interest to not do something that might accidentally change it, or challenge it. Soukoku so thoroughly drenched in darkness such as that version is would most certainly not hesitate to deal with anyone stupid enough to try and take the Book."

"Then it's decided?" Fukuzawa asked. "That Dazai will be the one to protect and hide the Book as he deems necessary?" No one had an objection to that, so the president turned to said genius to nod at him. "There you have it, your standing assignment. Now, can we all please leave this place?" He asked, eyeing the cracks and demolished parts of the tunnels caused by both their own fight and the brief experience they had with Corruption. "I don't trust our safety in these tunnels anymore."

With that, the two organizations made it back out, to the surface, chatting and exchanging experiences and thoughts on the alternate pair they've had the questionable fortune of meeting. Dazai and Chuuya brought up the rear, one because he wasn't ready to get bombarded by all the questions no doubt everyone had about this alternate universe he'd created within the Book, and the other simply because he'd found out just how far Dazai was willing to go when he got desperate. Chuuya wasn't even worried about the Book and what its power meant in Dazai's hands, but rather the fact that Dazai was willing to so callously sacrifice himself if it meant someone he loved got to live. Something which is terrifying as a prospect to Chuuya as the man's partner.

Had this whole crazy thing not happened, would that have been Dazai's fate one day, too, and none of them would have been the wizer until they found his mangled, crushed corpse?

"I know what you're thinking," Dazai said, ringing the ginger out of his thoughts and focusing his attention on the brunet. "And you don't need to worry. Jumping off of high places is one of the worst ways to die; you have a lot of time to contemplate all the things you'd rather not regret and remember in your last moments if you want a peaceful death. And it's horribly messy, completely against my ideal clean and cheerful suicide~" He tried to lift the mood but one look at Chuuya's face told him he really wasn't up to dealing with this bullshit right now. "I'm serious, though, Chuuya. Would it make you feel better if I swore never to trie a suicide method that you can't at least try to save me from?"

"It would make me feel extremely better if you'd stop altogether, but I know you won't. Those silly attempts are what keep the itch at bay from actually doing something irreversible, right?" The redhead asked with a sigh, despite already knowing the answer. Still, Dazai nodded. Chuuya sighed again. "Yeah, it would make me feel better if you promised me that. In fact," he stopped and tugged at Dazai's wrist until the taller half of Soukoku also came to a halt, the men never once taking their eyes off of each other. "I want you to make me another promise."

"Oh?"

"Once you give someone your word, you don't back out on it; I know that much hasn't changed," the hat-wearing mafioso stated with absolute certainty. "So I want you to promise me that the one thing you'll never die of is gravity."

Dazai stared at him, bewildered, before a laugh burst forth, genuine and far too fond for two men who insist they were nothing but rivals and enemies. Something that will undoubtedly change after this day, of course. "You really never cease to amaze me, Chuuya! But if that will put your mind at ease," he extended a hand for Chuuya to shake. "I swear to these two promises, on my honor as a suicide enthusiast!"

Instead of shaking his partner's hand, Chuuya yanked him down into a kiss to seal their deal, which Dazai all too enthusiastically returned after a moment of shock. It was chaste, given it was their first and the fragile, gentle promise it was sealing, but they were both panting by the time they pulled apart just enough to touch their foreheads together.

"Chuuya plays dirty."

"And I'll do it again, shitty Dazai. You're not allowed to die just yet, after all."

Dazai just smiled and nuzzled closer.

Chapter Text

Dazai came back into himself in the second he fell off the edge of the Port Mafia building to the terrified faces of Atsushi-kun and Akutagawa. Hearing Atsushi-kun's desperate cry of his name again was agonizing and seeing the anger flee from Akutagawa's eyes only to be replaced with fear was not what he'd wanted his final moments to be like.

However, he put faith in his other self; the one thing that never changed about any Dazai was that they were, ironically, a man of their word and his other self had promised both Chuuyas a happier ending for him. Or rather, a continuation.

He felt the exact moment when his salvation appeared; Chuuya, in his desperation to cross Yokohama in time, had unleashed far too much of his power, the gravity making the very air around them all heavier, denser, slowing down Dazai's fall.

The first thing he felt under him was a mattress of some sort, making him realize Chuuya must have sped across Yokohama collecting soft things to soften his fall. He didn't exactly feel those things pile up underneath him, though he did feel it when Chuuya would slam things from underneath the pile in an effort to slow the fall. He couldn't fully stop it for as long as Dazai lived and Chuuya must have never been so simultaneously relieved No Longer Human was fucking with his Ability as he was vexed by it. Under just about any other set of circumstances, this would be funny. Now, Dazai just tried to hold on to the mattress beneath him as more and more things slammed from below, bouncing him and his collection of savior mattresses up sometimes almost violently enough to undo all of Chuuya's desperate planning.

After what felt like an eternity but couldn't have been longer than maybe ten to twenty seconds, Dazai and his conglomeration of soft things slammed into the ground. Dazai almost didn't feel the impact before what appeared to be airbags did their job, popping up and absorbing even more of the impact. However, them popping up also had the side-effect of launching Dazai up with a strangled yelp. He braced himself for actual, though not nearly as deadly impact yet again, only to find himself safely caught in familiar arms. He blinked up in bewilderment at Chuuya, who was actually holding him princess style in front of their whole organization to see and gawk as their Executive miraculously saved their Boss.

"I want a raise. And a vacation. And you're coming with me, shitty Boss," Chuuya promptly said as he casually started walking back into the building as though the Port Mafia Boss hadn't just almost succeeded in unaliving himself. "Ain't no way I'm taking my eyes off of you ever again. You'd probably just do something stupid again and like hell am I going through that and this ever again."

Dazai actually hid his face against Chuuya's neck, just allowing himself a moment to rest, something he hadn't done for even a minute since he'd become Boss. "Chuuya worries too much."

"I think I worry a reasonable amount, considering the shit you get up to, shitty Boss."

The taller couldn't help but give a huffing chuckle at that, burrowing even further into his partner's neck. "I'll try to not make Chuuya worry as much in the future. I can't promise I'll stop altogether, but I will try never to leave my dog alone like this again."

Reading between the lines and into all the things left unsaid with the ease only Soukoku could ever manage, even after years of not actually being on a battlefield together, Chuuya squeezed the bandaged man tighter against his chest, his hat hiding his eyes as he entered the elevator, still not letting go of Dazai. "I don't think I can ask for more from you. But don't think this means I won't stop every single attempt, you suicidal brat. And don't think I'll ever let you plot and scheme behind my back again. I'm not just your bodyguard and your Executive. I'm your fucking partner and I demand to be treated as such."

"You've got a deal, partner."

Neither will admit to how their chest squeezed at that familiar form of address that had died the day Dazai had shown himself before Chuuya with that red scarf.

Speaking of ...

"How much do you think he changed? That goody-goody Dazai?"

The Port Mafia Boss could only shrug. For once, he had no idea about how the story will end. It was exciting, in a way. He'll probably soon be able to predict things as he usually does, but their little world still needs to settle from whatever changes his counterpart wrote down. "I think quite a few things will change with my survival. Let's just hope it's for the better."

"Speaking of things changing, there's something I'd like to change," Chuuya said as they exited the elevator on the top floor. He confidently strode towards Dazai's office, behind which hid an apartment they both lived in most days. The Port Mafia building was by far the safest, most protected place in Yokohama, therefore the best place to house the most feared and most hated man in the city. It also made it far easier on Chuuya to drag Dazai to work when he felt too lazy to bother, which had become increasingly rare. Chuuya should have taken it for the sign that it was. "Where does this Oda of yours live, work or hang out? I'd like to have a chat. And I do mean an actual chat, relax," he said with an eye roll when Dazai became stiff in his hold. "Maybe I can't convince him to be best buddies with you again, but I think I can convince him to at least not hate you for no reason. And it is no reason, shitty mackerel; you've never done anything to harm him or his, right?" Dazai nodded. "There you have it. He hates you on the principle of being the Mafia Boss. He'd probably hate Mori or me or anyone else by that same principle. That shitty Agency is convinced we're all some cold-hearted monsters. And while we haven't exactly given them a chance to see otherwise, we should use this second chance to fix that, right? After all, we have yet to deal with that great big threat you've been dreading and preparing for. An alliance might just be a good thing to have settled in advance instead of after shit hits the fan."

Dazai contemplated this as Chuuya carried him through his office and into the secret apartment. "Yes, I suppose you are right, hatrack. Establishing an alliance, or at least a lasting ceasefire before the Guild arrives to cause trouble would be a good move. Yes ... Yes, we should do that. I know how we should do that. Yes, we just need to send out a few peace offerings," he said with a smile up at the ginger haired man.

Chuuya snorted. "Sure, whatever you want, Boss. However, that can wait; you need to rest, first. And I need it, too. Neither of us has quite recovered from the adrenaline rush of your latest stupid stunt."

Dazai just closes his eyes and returns to resting against his Executive. "Whatever the chibi wants ..."

00000

Oda was considering changing bars he frequented when, for the second time in a row, he ran into a mafioso in Lupin.

To be fair, Nakahara Chuuya blended in much better than the Port Mafia Boss had. He was dressed as a stylish businessman more than anything, but there was no overlooking the danger the man's aura radiated. He was confident to the point of cockiness and arrogance, if not for the fact that he could back it all up with skill and power. He wasn't the Port Mafia Boss' right hand man for nothing ... Or rather, perhaps, the Port Mafia Boss himself now? The rumors surrounding what happened that day at the Port Mafia headquarters building were unclear. The only thing anyone knew for sure was that the man had jumped from the rooftop and then simply disappeared from public eye. Not even Akutagwa knew for sure what had happened and he had seen the whole thing go down with his own eyes.

It had been a week since then and yet Nakahara did not appear before him as a vengeful beast out of control and reason or as a cold, black clad wraith with a red scarf around his neck and grief weighing his shoulders. Ranpo had theorized that the Boss and his singular Executive were extremely close, have known each other for years. There was even some proof that they may have once been Soukoku, the legendary duo who was now, indeed, more legend than anything. Nakahara should have been out for the Agency's blood, yet he only roved his eyes over Oda and snorted, as though he couldn't see anything special about him. Oda was not sure whether he should be offended or not.

"So, you're him, huh?"

Oda blinks. "Excuse me?"

The man looks like he's on the verge of saying 'You're excused' or something but refrains. "You sure do know how to cause a lot of trouble without even being aware of it, ya know that? Probably not."

"May I ask what is your purpose here?" He asks warily but Nakahara waves him off.

"I'm not here to kill or harm you; that would defeat the whole purpose of my presence here, which is, by the way, to give you this," he reaches into his jacket pocket, completely uncaring of the gun Oda points on him practically by instinct. In fact, he seems amused by the move more than anything. Understandable, considering rumors have it that the man can stop bullets with the ease of breathing. Instead of demonstrating all that monstrous strength and power he was infamous for, he slid three envelopes and what looks like a book of some sort, old and worn, to Oda across the bar top. "Consider it the Boss' peace offering. He's become aware of a great threat approaching Yokohama in the relatively near future and would prefer all three parts of the Tripartite system to be in alliance with each other when shit hits the fan than have us driven to participating in a three-sided war or something."

The older redhead cautiously picks up the top envelope, finding it addressed to Fukuzawa-shachou. He wonders whether he should open it. His Ability is not giving off any sings of him being in danger as he moves to do so, so he lets it go, now knowing this wasn't a threat. He does the same with the other two envelopes, one much thinner addressed to Akutagawa and one thicker than the other two combined addressed to the Armed Detective Agency as a whole. This causes him to arch an eyebrow and regard the 'messenger' warily, wondering what could possibly be said to the President exclusively by the cold and ruthless Port Mafia Bo-

"Stop that," the ginger haired man suddenly said, snapping Oda's attention back to him. "I know that look. Stop. I know the Boss has a reputation and that his list of crimes couldn't be more horrifying if it was written in a child's blood, but stop; despite his appearances and deeds, Dazai's not actually a monster. And, for whatever reason, you considering him one drove him off a rooftop. I don't want to kill or hurt you, but if you ever do something that could cause a repeat of that, I won't hesitate. I am his bodyguard, his Executive, but most importantly, his partner. It is my duty to ensure he's miserable in this world for as long as possible."

Oda supposes he shouldn't be surprised that Ranpo had been right about them being close, but he wasn't expecting a speech like this, either.

Nakahara sighed, downing his glass of wine in one go like one would a shot. He clearly wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible. "Look, I don't really know how to explain this, or how much I'm even allowed to say ... But tell me ... If you had a friend, a single, true friend in this world and you were stuck in a dark and abusive place with rarely anyone else looking at you as anything but a tool, a weapon, a soldier ... And if that friend died ... Would you do anything to see that friend alive and well again? Even bend the laws of reality and existence? Commit atrocities almost no one would ever forgive you? Even give up the friendship you shared with that precious friend, if it meant they'd be alive and well and happy?"

The older man paused as he finally sat down near the Executive. "I suppose I don't really know ... I don't think I've ever had a friend like that. The Agency is more like a family than anything, so I don't know if they count. I would definitely kill for them, but as a former assassin, I'm not sure if that means much ..." He studies the mafioso as he dares ask. "Is this something you had a dilemma over? Or your Boss?"

"Surprisingly, both of us, just at different times and over different people," Nakahara answers with a snort, taking out a cigarette and lighting it up. He offered one to Oda, but Oda declined and took out his own instead. Nakahara just shrugged as he took a drag, the little flame at the tip lighting up his eyes in a truly exotic way. Oda would be lying if he said he could find the right words to describe it. Some aspiring writer he was ... "Different methods, too. And I'm really not supposed to be telling you this but ... In a different time, in a different reality, in a different world, whatever ... You and that shitty Boss of mine used to drink together in a bar like this. Maybe this exact bar, I don't even know. Don't care, not the point. Point is, the Boss' Ability in a way allows him to be aware of that different world. He's aware of that friendship and what he lost. So he keeps you safe, even though you've done jack shit to earn his protection, loyalty and affection."

"And that angers you."

"It annoys me, is what it does, and don't fucking interrupt me, scrub. Listen, I don't care about anyone's opinion on my partner unless they are actively trying to endanger him. But he cares about the fact that you, apparently, hate him. For no real reason whatsoever, might I add. Yes, he's a criminal and you're a goody-two-shies so you should hate all bad guys or what not," he says with a flippant wave of his hand. "But has he ever hurt you or yours? Do you really have a reason to feel something as strong as hate?"

"He traumatized Akutagawa," Oda snapped.

Nakahara narrowed his eyes at him dangerously. "From what I understand, Akutagawa wasn't exactly at the peak of mental health when they ran into each other, either. Dazai is naturally traumatizing, don't misunderstand; he's earned all the monikers people hailed him by for years, as well as the position he holds now. But Dazai's hardly the cause of everyone's collective shitty hand in life just because he once crossed paths with them."

"He kidnapped Akutagawa's sister."

"And he treated Gin-chan like a precious treasure, never once letting her come to harm or delve deeper into the Mafia than being his secretary. In fact, he spent more time teaching her how to leave the Mafia without anyone being able to track her down and kill her than he did trying to integrate her into our troops. She would have made a fine assassin if Dazai would have let it happen but he used to snap even at me for daring to show her how to hold a weapon as anything but a self-defense tool. She was safer with Dazai than she would have ever been on the streets, even if it was with her brother." He sighed, getting annoyed. "Listen, like I said, I don't fucking care what you think of him. Just ... can you just not hate him? Like, disapprove of his actions or what-the-fuck-ever; I'm not asking you to magically decide to be his friend. I'm asking you to be neutral towards him unless he does something personally to you. Can you do that? Because, if things go according to his plans, and they always do, we'll be working together in the future," Nakahara says with a nod towards the book and the letters. Then he casually stood up and went past Oda to exit the bar, seemingly done with him.

Oda didn't hesitate to leave as well, not sure whether he should trust a Port Mafia Executive that he would continue being safe in that area. Instead, he delivered the letters to their recipients and they were all in for a surprise.

The book he'd gotten turned out to be a diary instead, written by Akutagawa Gin. In the letter addressing her brother, the Boss of the Port Mafia assured him Gin had all the resources to stay safe and that there's a big chance she'll make a reappearance all on her own when she's ready. Until then, Akutagawa was invited to go to her private apartment whenever he wished, the landlord would let him in. The diary confirmed Nakahara's words regarding the Boss' treatment towards Gin, if nothing else, allowing Akutagawa to breathe easy despite still despairing over his own sister leaving him of her own volition this time. Dazai even offered that if he ever wished to see her desperately enough, he was sure he can figure out where she went based on the things she'd no doubt written in the diary, but the option was up to Akutagawa. The boy definitely didn't know what to do with this peace offering from 'the man in black'.

Ranpo ended up being the one to study the official peace treaty proposal because the personal letter to Fukuzawa had the President nearly collapsing and left Yosano with mixed emotions. Oda's not sure what was written in that letter, but it had Fukuzawa organizing a trip out of Yokohama in the blink of an eye despite the rest of them insisting it might be a trap. In the end, the entire Agency packed up with him and they ended up in front of an orphanage echoing with carefree laughter as calming nature surrounding the building.

A man dressed as a caretaker stood up from where he seemed to have put a band aid over a little boy's scrapped knee, a pretty, young blond woman standing by to assist, when Fukuzawa practically launched at the man, wrapping him in his arms and lifting him off of his feet.

Former Port Mafia Boss Mori Ougai squeaked in surprise at the sudden 'attack'.

Fukuzawa-shachou appeared to be close to crying as he held on tight.

Mori blinked in shock at his once partner. "Fukuzawa-dono?"

"You're alive?" Yosano said with a grimace, causing the former doctor to sweatdrop.

"Mori-sensei ... How? ... Why? ... What even ..." Fukuzawa couldn't seem to get his thoughts in order, but Mori seemed to get it anyway. He smiled sadly before inviting them inside, serving them some tea and snacks while the children all snooped around, trying to figure out what these strangers wanted with their caretaker.

"That Dazai-kun, pretending to be a demon yet being so soft," was what Mori started with. "Do you know how he became the Boss? He saved me, spared me, and in return, asked that I take care of this orphanage while he takes over the Port Mafia since clearly someone had it out to get me. He never clarified my status, so I'm assuming you've all thought me dead, no?" He chuckled at the face the President made. "Dazai-kun was always good at manipulation. But it is rare that he would use this talent solely for the sake of others ... I don't know how or why he sent you here, but I am assuming he's finally committed a successful suicide?"

"He's alive, actually," Akutagwa corrected. "The gravity manipulator somehow managed to pull off a miraculous save. We've doubted it until recently, too, but ... " He trailed off, looking down at the diary he now carries everywhere.

"He offered us a peace treaty," Ranpo said, coldly eyeing up the former Boss. "Nakahara delivered it himself and the way he spoke, he most definitely implied Dazai was still alive." He arched an eyebrow when Mori deflated in relief, tension leaving his whole body in one fell swoop. Then Mori laughed, sounding even more relieved than he looked.

"I'm glad," he whispered to himself and Elise as she came to stand by him, running her hands through her hair and giving amused Looks to Fukuzawa when he glared at her. "I'm so glad. I thought he was dead for sure when Nakajima-kun turned up in the orphanage with Izumi-kun the day I received a message from Dazai that phase four was on. I didn't know what phase four was, he never shared it with me, only mentioned it in passing over the years, but I knew what it meant when his own protege was sent to me."

"The White Reaper is here?!" Kunikida demanded, already on guard with Kenji, Junichiro and Oda following him.

Akutagawa, though, shook his head no even before Mori answered. "He was, but he left as soon as he received a summons from Chuuya-kun. I presumed he was helping tie up loose ends ... I suppose it makes sense that he didn't return. He'd only been and stayed in the Port Mafia for Dazai-kun, after all, and if Dazai-kun is alive and still the Boss, it makes sense he'd go back ... "

"The Mafia will always be the Mafia but it seems some changes might be underway," Ranpo observed. "Whatever this phase four is, Dazai wants us to play a part in it. Do you know why?"

Mori could only shake his head, fondly amused. "I have no idea. Dazai-kun stopped pretending at being a child one can read a long time ago and I didn't notice. Who knows what he's up to? But I can assure you that he has the best of Yokohama at heart." His eyes looked lost and far away as he stared out into the distance. "He used to be such a sweet child, even if you had to really look for it in order to see it ... I'd thought that I'd ruined that. I didn't even realize how precious it was until it appeared again for a brief second as he offered me the choice to leave it all to him in exchange for this life ... I was preparing myself for the day one of his attempts was successful for so long that I've never thought a day when he openly cares may come again. I honestly don't know what to do right now ... What would he expect of me?"

"You're a capable strategist," Yosano surprisingly offered. "And a good doctor. Can't believe I'm saying this, but you also seem to be less of an asshole. Not sure what miracles he'd worked to achieve that, but I tip my hat to him for it. Surely he can't be all bad if he managed that, right?" She asked to Ranpo, who could only hum in thought.

"Shachou, will we really work with the Port Mafia?" Kunikida asked, his ideals compromised at the mere thought, but the proposal they'd received was legit and they'd gotten ample warning even if they were to refuse to team up against the new threat. Not even he could say that the offer wasn't good. Dazai knew what he was doing when he made it; it was very hard to dismiss.

"I'd advise it," Mori said before anyone else could comment on it. "Dazai-kun is never wrong. It's a fact of life you learn to live with," he said with amusement and pride. "If he thinks this alliance will be beneficial, then have no doubt that it will be and that he'll accommodate you as much as he reasonably can. I fear Chuuya-kun's retaliation against you should you attempt to abuse that willingness to accommodate more. Besides, whether you accept or not, Dazai-kun no doubt already has the right mechanization in place for his schemes to come to fruition regardless," he said with a light laugh. "It's better to play along than feel like a fool when you're dragged along anyways."

"We'll most certainly thoroughly consider it," Fukuzawa said with a sigh. "Your input might be more than useful, however, Mori-sensei," he said to the younger man, who only stared back at him with amusement.

"You used to hate my plotting, Yukichi~"

"Advice, Ougai. Besides, we don't want to pick a bone with the Port Mafia. We wouldn't stand a chance if they went at us with their full strength, would we?"

Mori sobered up at that and gave them a slightly chilling, empty smile. "No, no you wouldn't."

"Then let's not make them an enemy," commented Junichiro. "Right?"

00000

Chuuya exited the elevator with a bouquet of flowers in his hands, as requested by the Boss. He wasn't sure why Dazai wanted it, but he was hardly going to question the man's schemes; that way led to madness, a well known fact within the Mafia.

Still, he came to a halt, shock overtaking his features as he saw a familiar ravenette sitting at the secretary's desk, casually doing her work as though she hadn't vanished weeks ago without a trace. "Gin?"

The young woman looked up and smiled at the Executive. "Chuuya-san, it's a pleasure to see you again. I'd advise you to enter quietly, I think the Boss is taking a nap on his paperwork," she said with amusement and Chuuya was struck with nostalgia, fondness and relief at seeing her again.

"When did you get back?"

"This morning," she replied. "I heard first the rumors that Dazai-san was dead, so I knew I would have to stay away lest I be tortured or worse. Then the rumors reached me that he was alive and well. I wasn't sure what to make of it, so I stayed away for a couple more weeks. Then I finally made my decision that Dazai-san is too hopeless with office work and decided to come back. What are the flowers for? Have I missed that much?" She asked with an arched eyebrow.

Chuuya looked down at the flowers, considered that perhaps Dazai had just wanted Chuuya to 'woo' him with them, before he looked back up at Gin and realized what the shitty mackerel had been up to. He grinned and walked over to deposit the bouquet on Gin's desk. "I do believe these are for you. Probably a welcome back from the Boss himself," he said with a wink when he saw shock, then flatter,y then embarrassment and then exasperation cross her features. Chuuya fully agreed, of course. Dazai could be so embarrassing and exasperating, but his heart was in the right place and he seems to be more intent on expressing that.

Not to mention that he'd truly always had a soft spot for Gin. Chuuya hadn't been kidding or lying when he'd told all those things to Oda Sakunosuke.

The young woman smiled as she took them and Chuuya left her to it, going in to see his Boss slash partner - now in more ways than one. It seems Gin was, indeed, right and Dazai was bent over his desk, all but drooling on some papers as he slept away the morning relatively peacefully. Chuuya sighed and went to fetch his stubborn, insomniac partner, easily scooping him up so he can carry him into the secret apartment again in a mirroring situation from a few weeks ago. He's surprised that Dazai didn't so much as stir when Chuuya picked him up, though he did seem to curls himself up closer into Chuuya when he was basically steps away from the bed. Now, Chuuya was a hard, tough man, a mafioso through and through, who'd seen and spilled more blood than any normal man or soldier could ever hope to compare, but that didn't mean he didn't instantly melt at the unconscious show of affection.

This thing between them was still so new that they both often startled themselves with the fact that they could do more intimate things, that flirting with each other was now more allowed and welcomed than ever. Chuuya thinks they've exasperated Ane-san and Hirotsu-san more now than ever before, which was saying something considering how Soukoku had been when they were fifteen and sixteen. Still, it was clear something had changed, even to those who didn't know them as well, and their closest companions were all happy for them, especially those who knew all too well how truly suicidal their Boss was. They were all hoping this relationship might help dampen Dazai's need to take his own life and Chuuya honestly, realistically wondered if that was even possible.

Dazai had been suicidal long before he'd even met the old Boss, let alone Chuuya and the rest of them.

Still, as realistic as he may wish to be, he, too, selfishly hoped he'd be enough. Not to make him stop, because that was completely up to Dazai, but to at least lessen the need for it.

As he moved to leave his partner on the bed and take over some of his duties for the morning so he can actually relax in the near future, Dazai latched onto him and stirred awake, blinking sleep out of his eyes as he regarded his Executive. "Why is Chuuya putting me to bed? It can't be even ten in the morning and I have a meeting with that yakuza at noon ..."

"I'll take care of it. You actually get some fucking sleep for once. We have that first official meeting with the Agency tomorrow and you don't want to show up looking like a corpse warmed over. What kind of impression would that leave on the violent goody-goodies?"

"It's a meeting between leaders ..." Halfheartedly complained Dazai, but he still let Chuuya push him down to rest fully on the bed.

"I'm basically the extension of your will, you idiot. Everyone knows that whatever I say may as well have come from your mouth," he scoffed affectionately before leaning down and stealing a shot, sweet kiss from the sleepy brunet. "Now get the fuck back to sleep, extra stuff that comes with bandages. I'll be in the office, Gin is just outside and Nakajima and Izumi are coming back from their mission in a couple of hours, so you have nothing to worry about. We'll keep this shitty world safe for you."

"Promise?"

Chuuya's heart squeezed at the subtly desperate plea. "I swear, on my honor as your partner."

Dazai relaxed at that and let himself be swept away by sleep again, knowing nothing was more precious to Chuuya than the partnership they nearly lost forever. Chuuya had to admit that he wasn't exactly faultless in that process. Even before he'd suspected Dazai to have killed the old Boss - which turned out to be false - he'd always been hostile to Dazai's attempts at bridging the gap between them, only to then get frustrated when he finally started trying to do the same but Dazai stopped.

In many ways, he was envious of the other Chuuya and his Dazai; they may have spent four years apart, but their bond was somehow much stronger than his and Dazai's. They'd both tried to make it work, had nurtured their trust in each other and protected it even during their time apart while Chuuya had stopped trusting Dazai as fully as he used to about the time when Dazai had started planning all missions and operations so Chuuya never needs to use Corruption again. Dazai's unspoken care for him had created an even deeper chasm between them because the trust that used to exist between them wasn't put to the test again and again and din't get the chance to pass it again and again.

The first time in at least two years that Chuuya had been called back to himself with the cool touch of No Longer Human had been when he'd tried to destroy Yokohama in his grief, only to wake up in an alternate universe outside his own and meet a different version of himself and his partner, while his Dazai clutched at him almost desperately. He'd very nearly died that day. He would have died without remembering what it felt like to leave his life in Dazai's capable hands.

Since then, he'd been almost tempted to use Corruption again just to have a repeat of the experience but he doubted Dazai would be happy about that. He'd probably feel guilty and damn it if Chuuya hadn't decided to dedicate the rest of his however long or short life to making sure that idiot mackerel never feels the need to take a swan dive off of a rooftop ever again.

They may be Boss and Executive and they'll always be, to the day they retire or die, but more than anything, they were partners and actually willing to act as such.

That had to be good enough.

It had to be enough.

They'd make it be enough.

For as long as they lived, they had time.

And even with the upcoming threats, they have time.

00000

"Dazai-kun!" Mori Ougai exclaimed as he all but rushed the current Port Mafia Boss and tackled him in a hug. Well, he attempted to, but found himself pinned to the ground by gravity, but that didn't seem to deter his good mood. "It's a delight to see you again, my boy! How you've grown ... And you actually seem to have been eating better! Chuuya-kun seems to have been taking good care of you," he said with clear amusement while Dazai looked down at him with an equally amused arched eyebrow.

"Mori-san, I see that retirement has treated you well." He then nodded respectfully to the Armed Detective Agency's president, Kunikida and Oda, who had accompanied him to the meeting with the Boss. For Dazai's side of the negotiation table, it was just him, Chuuya and Gin, not that they needed any more people than that. Chuuya was their main fighter and with Dazai there to direct the battlefield as he wished, it wouldn't have made any difference if the entire Agency had come against them.

Still, Fukuzawa and Kunikida were extremely surprised to see a secretary there with the Boss and his Executive, while Oda quickly texted Akutagawa before openly observing the man he'd only met once and had insisted on hating based on nothing but his reputation.

Having gotten to know Mori as he and Fukuzawa rekindled whatever once used to exist between them and further nurtured it, Oda could safely say that no man was truly, completely irredeemable unless they themself wish to be that way. Yosano was still extremely cross with the former Mafia Boss but even she had to admit he had changed and that he wasn't as much of a douchebag as he used to be. Ranpo even confirmed it was an honest change and not just a mask. Mori expressed that he strongly believed he had been the one to ruin the man Dazai Osamu could have otherwise become but that he still believed there might be enough light left in the man for him to bask in it, even if he may not be able to live in it. The Agency had been skeptical, to say the least, but Akutagawa had, surprisingly, been the one to accept it the easiest out of them all.

Oda was glad that his young friend's assurances and belief hadn't turned out to be folly, as Akutagawa Gin stood before them alive and well, of her own free will and glaring at anyone who so much as looked at her Boss the wrong way. She and Nakahara were certainly glaring really hard at Kunikida as Dazai and the President sat down and started thoroughly discussing the proposed treaty and further details of the incoming enemy. Mori was sure to intervene on Fukuzawa's behalf when the man seemed a bit stumped by Dazai's proposals, information or predictions. Dazai accommodatingly slowed down and simplified or went into more detail as necessary, never appearing condescending or mocking them for not being able to keep up with him. Oda at times wondered if even Ranpo or a robot could keep up with the speed at which the man changed plans according to the reservations the Agency had about them.

He also wondered how he was able to tell when Nakahara or Gin were getting too agitated by the Agency's hostility towards him or them as a group because he always either addressed them to distract them or casually touched them 'by accident' to probably signal them to calm down and not cause an unnecessary scene.

Kunikida was surely all too ready for a fight to break out and even Oda and the President were on edge, but no one made a move to further agitate the tension and Dazai remained all too relaxed throughout the whole meeting.

Only for Oda to realize he was not at all relaxed, he just hid it. It was by accident that he even discovered it, because he'd looked over at Mori as Elise served them tea and saw the mean relax in the proximity of his Ability there to protect him, then looked back to see Nakahara had placed a hand on Dazai's shoulder and whispered something to him that caused the brunet to relax. Then their eyes had met and Oda understood.

Nakahara's implications had been rather clear that night at the bar. Somewhere out there existed a universe, a reality, where Oda might have been friends with the current Boss of the Port Mafia in this universe. Someone who had been just as cold and cruel but had somehow earned his loyalty and affection. Oda didn't know under which circumstances these other him and other Dazai met or how they've fostered such a friendship in such a harsh environment as their world and their professions are, but it was now painfully clear that it's most definitely happened. The look in Dazai's eyes, even with so little context given to him ... There was no mistaking the longing and grief, the hurt.

Perhaps this man was, indeed, more than the demon everyone portrayed him as.

He had to be; Nakahara and Gin seemed rather protective of him, Mori had been relieved to hear he had survived his tumble off of the Port Mafia building and Nakajima was almost as protective and as loyal as Nakahara. A truly horrible man with not a single redeemable trait could not possibly earn such devotion and care from others. Perhaps everyone had judged the young man too harshly.

He was undoubtedly a criminal and his reputation and list of crimes were garish. But he was still human; humans make mistakes and then try to fix them. Humans live to save themselves is a quote Oda will never forget, a quote he was happy to live by. Who is he to deny the Port Mafia members doing the same for themselves, including their seemingly untouchable Boss? Was it fair to judge him so harshly when the man was doing so much to keep their Yokohama safe? When he'd extended an olive branch and even offered protection when the Guild, this new enemy, inevitably comes?

Oda decided he had no right to judge, not when he'd been an assassin once, too, and had killed his fair share of people. Not when he still raised a gun with killing intent on his enemies if his allies needed him to. And Dazai was just like the gun, wasn't he?

Mori had certain ideations about what it means to be a leader. Dazai reflected those ideations perfectly.

How pitiful ...

When the meeting was finally over, the tensions were considerably lessened and both leaders seems satisfied with the outcome. Without much preamble, Fukuzawa bid Dazai goodbye and instead asked Gin for a short conversation - no doubt about how she was welcome to visit her brother whenever she felt like it, within reason, of course. Nakahara took Mori to the side and the two seem to be catching up - undoubtedly about ways to make the Boss take care of himself, as apparently he needs assistance with that; Oda can even see it, the man was so thin and had such dark circles under his beyond exhausted, dull eyes that stood out like bruises on his pale face.

With Kunikida distracted glaring at Gin suspiciously and writing everything down into his notebook, Oda took this chance to approach the Port Mafia Boss, who was contentedly waiting for his companions to finish so they may leave. Another sign that they had greatly misjudged just how 'inhumane' this man may actually be, if he was considerate and patient enough to wait for his underlings instead of ordering them around. Perhaps he was like this only with these two, or a select few more, but any sign of humanity from a supposed demon was enough to solidify Oda's plan.

When he stood in front of the young man, he was struck by the realization that he really was very young as those brown eyes widened in shock upon seeing him there. That was a change, too; the last time Oda had seen him, he'd had his left eye covered in bandages, and while the rest of them were still there around his body, his face was now fully visible. He was almost painfully young. And he had been even younger when he'd taken on the mantle of Yokohama's dark protector.

What a jarring thought.

"Hi," he began, not really sure how one should even go about making an apology of this nature but going ahead with a heart full of honesty regardless. Kenji-kun was right about one thing, if nothing else; honesty was always the best way to communicate such complex things like this. "I believe we've met and that I've reacted rather poorly, all things considered."

"No, no," the Boss russed to reassure him despite sounding incredibly calm. An amazing poker face, this one, yet i had shattered when Oda had denied him any sort of familiarty despite them being complete strangers at the time. Well, at least from his point of view. Perhaps that might change, perhaps it won't, but Oda refused to be a hypocrite by not granting someone a second chance when he'd gotten one so generously himself. "It was perfectly understandable, after all."

"Still," he insisted. "I think we got off on the wrong foot. Oda Sakunosuke," he extended a hand. "A pleasure to officially meet you."

Dazai gave him a painfully hopeful smile that he tried and failed to write off as something less vulnerable and honest. "Dazai Osamu. It's indeed a pleasure to meet you."

Oda nodded as they shook hands and filed away the strange feeling touching the man sent through him. He didn't know if it was an aftereffect of touching the world's only true nullifier or if it was perhaps a deja vu of sorts from this other world, but he'll think about that at another time. He was currently a man on a mission. Mori had told them Dazai and Nakahara had been painfully young when they'd been dragged into the Mafia by their already bleak lives. They'd grown up knowing only the Mafia's world. Their experiences with kindness were so limited it could make one cry.

They were orphaned, abandoned children who'd found little solace in this world outside of each other but they'd never known how to show or appreciate it, either, not until recently, it seemed.

And Oda had always been far too weak to orphans.

Nakahara wanted nothing to do with him, that much was clear from the way he looked at him and talked with him at the bar. He was willing to tolerate him, but he wouldn't be appreciative of Oda sticking his nose into his business. He would, however, accept Oda sticking his nose into Dazai's.

And Dazai looked like he desperately wanted and needed it.

He needed a friend who wasn't his partner or someone who entirely depended on him.

How strange that Oda was considering offering that. Only time will tell whether something like that could ever develop between two such different characters like themselves, but color Oda intrigued.

"Say, I feel like getting a drink. Would you mind joining me?"

Dazai's eyes went wide as saucers and he desperately looked over at Nakahara as though needing to confirm he wasn't dreaming. Oda's not sure what sort of signal the ginger haired man gave him, but Dazai was filled to the brim with barely suppressed hope. It looked like he couldn't control his face, for once discarding his mask as he smiled up at the redhead. "I'd very much enjoy that!"

Oda couldn't help but smile, slightly endeared by the almost childish delight on the younger man's face. He had no doubt Nakahara would be close enough during this little venture of theirs to protect his Boss, but he wouldn't interfere. Not when Oda had apparently made Dazai's day with that one simple offer. "Do you know a place?"

"I think I do."

And if that outing to Lupin was just the first of many, well, history books will one day be written about the stray dogs who united to protect this city despite their differences.

00000

"Hmm, this ain't half bad, shitty Osamu," Chuuya said thoughtfully as he turned the last written page. He frowned when he realized there was no more writing on the next pages and turned to look at his partner. They were sprawled over Chuuya's couch, Dazai reading through Chuuya's poetry notebooks that the redhead had given him in exchange for the Book, for a peak into the world Dazai had created. "Oi, what's the meaning of this? There's no ending!"

"Eh? But that makes sense, no?" Dazai replied with an arched eyebrow. "No one person, or even a million people, can ever fully finish a true story, right? There's no end for as long as people exist, even in a world contained only within the Book. And to say something as silly as 'and they lived happily ever after' simply doesn't work for the Book; it would just make everyone within it immortal and that's hardly the life I want for any of them. Humans aren't meant for true immortality. Trust me, I know, I've made that mistake already."

"I suppose that's reasonable," the Executive said with a sigh. "Still, I'm happy that they managed to figure shit out. The open ending leaves them with lots of space to grow too, right?"

"Nope, chibi will forever and always remain a chibi~!"

"Bastard!" He tackled the brunet, rolling them off the couch so they could wrestle on the floor like they were silly teenagers again until they were out of breath and had enough. "I'm proud of you, ya know? You did good for them. I'm sure their lives won't be easy, but I think they'll still have plenty of happiness."

"I sure do hope so," the detective said with a contented sigh. "It would make fighting for the Book worth it when the next asshole comes to try and take it."

"You won't be fighting them alone, oi," Chuuya said with a jab at the taller's ribs. "This whole situation brought us all much more firmly together. The next fucker who comes to terrorize Yokohama will learn not to mess with us ever again!"

"But of course," Dazai agreed with twinkling, mischievous yet dangerous eyes. "They'd be going up against Soukoku and many more."

Chuuya returned his dangerous look with one of his own, a confident grin splitting his lips. He grabbed the Book and flung it at Dazai's chest carelessly before laying his head down on his chest, arm thrown over his middle. "You betcha. We'll make sure this Book will have only one author, since clearly you're the only one who knows what he's doing and when and where to fucking stop. You were never greedy for power, no matter how much of it was shoved into your hands. I don't think any of us realize how lucky we are that you're so surprisingly humble in that regard and that you've never had ambitions beyond teasing or inconveniencing people. I think meeting Dostoevsky really put that into perspective for us."

"Why would I need more power than the power to annoy a certain chibi yet keep him by my side."

"Bastard." Yet there was no denying the grins on either of their faces.

There was no denying the kisses they shared.

That night, Yokohama was peaceful.

So it shall remain. Or, well ...

Until the next adventure.

OWARI