Chapter Text
Mori slipped before him on the desk a set of two pills, their obscene shade unlike any medication Dazai had seen in the doctor’s medication cupboards before.
“What’s with this?” the brunette raised a questioningly eyebrow. He wasn’t stupid, he knew exactly what the pills were but a part of him hoped they wouldn’t be what he thought they were. Ah, Hope… But then again hope was the main crusher of dreams as it was the bane of what drove people towards their goals. Hope and determination. Personally, Dazai just couldn’t relate. Being his apathetic self, he wondered why people would strive towards such goals when he failed to see the point. The world bored him and humans being enslaved to their hopes, dreams, desires and determinations was nothing but pathetic, in his opinion. A genius needed some way to stimulate his brain and was the world’s creations of gullible humans not his delightful pawns to entertain and amuse him?
“Ah Dazai,” Mori’s face etched into its signature unsettling smirk (the one that disgusted Dazai yet everything about Mori disgusted him) “I thought that you would have figured by now, no?” the mafia boss leaned his head forward to place on his clasped hands as his elbows rested on the table to emit his sinister aura. Dazai simply shared the icy glare.
“The ability nullification pills you’ve been working on for this mission to succeed. Yes I’m aware,” Dazai hummed dismissively. If he was being honest (which he never was) he’d actually be slightly excited that there’s a chance his ability wouldn’t create a barrier for his emotions. It was a theory he had and he wasn’t entirely sure if it was true but he was willing to test it out. But as quick as that hope had kindled, Dazai had just as quickly blown it out. There was no time for such childish emotions. He wasn’t even human anymore. His capability to feel human emotions was long gone by now. The only ‘emotion’ that resided within him was cold, bitter and utter numbness.
“Now Dazai, I’m sure you’re aware that this pill could be detrimental to all ability holders kind as it’s such a precious tool that would be a huge step of evolution. But also a potential threat to the mafia if an enemy organisation were to get their hands on it. Which is why I had to work on this pill solo without any involvement. I’ve already removed all traces of the pill being investigated with only my memory intact but even so I could never fully replicate the pill without some form of guidance and Kouyou’s currently looking into an ability user to remove my memories which means you only have these two pills, Dazai. Don’t lose them or you’re not getting a replacement and you could be stuck on the other side of the portal.”
“And you’re sure the pills would work?” Dazai eyed Mori sceptically. Most things like these didn’t work on him, especially if it was magical based. If the pill was biologically based then it would be targeting his very core and soul (which Dazai was unsure even actually was a physical thing that existed) and while that could be highly detrimental to Dazai's health possibly leading to death, he didn’t like to leave things undone before welcoming sweet death. He still had Odasaku (and maybe Ango), afterall.
“Of course~” Mori’s tone sent another wave of disgust through Dazai. To anyone else they would have felt fear but whenever Dazai was around Mori the only emotion he ever felt was disgust (which again made him question his humanity for feeling so strongly). “Although I may have my doubts, the benefits and chances of this pill working highly outweigh the odds and the pill is curated from your own essence so it’s bound to work. I don’t know for how long but I’m certain your ability will kick in eventually but it should be long enough for you to travel through the portal.”
Dazai slowly nodded as he absorbed this new information. “Another thing,” the prodigy’s face morphed into an apparent expression of distaste. “Why do I have to be paired with Chuuya for this? I’m fully capable of performing this mission myself!” He crossed his arms as he stared Mori down, the act reminding the other of whenever Elise would be mad with him and huff, crossing her arms. How endearing.
“Well, it’s best to have both halves of Soukoku to be prepared for whatever threat may be to come in that world. And before you ask about Soukoku’s need here, the mafia has been fairly peaceful recently with immediate and larger enemy organisations already eradicated and while you two may be our strongest force, the mafia still has a few tricks up its sleeve and alternative ways to defend ourselves and gain control even if necessarily launch an offence. Soukoku’s just the fastest and easiest way to remind the underground of who’s in control. We have dealt years before without a Soukoku, I ‘m certain we’ll live,” Mori sent a curt nod towards Dazai before his tone took a stern turn. “You both will still be members of the port mafia undercover there so do not lose focus on the main aim or get too relaxed without supervision. The portal will open whenever it deems fit that the mission is complete so ensure you have the second pill on you at all times.”
Dazai’s head stuck up at the latter part. “So it’s unclear how long exactly this mission will be?” He furrowed his eyebrows.
“It all depends on the world, how much there is to collect and whether or not you’d have some external factors to take care of but in summary, it’s all completely random.”
“Are you saying… that I’ll possibly be stuck with that slug for even years to eternity if this mission was not deemed as complete?!” Dazai exclaimed, anger flaring his eyes. Seriously, out of all people why did it have to be Chibi? (he knew why, don’t answer that) If he was possibly going to be stuck an eternity with someone they would have to at least be likeable. That hatrack didn’t even make it to the list of the people Dazai liked. To be fair the list was fairly petty and short but Dazai was petty enough to under no circumstance even put his dog remotely near his dear friend Odasaku.
“I said no such thing,” Mori nonchalantly shrugged. “And while it would be unfortunate for the mafia if we were to lose our precious Demon Prodigy and Gravity Harbinger, shouldn’t you be ecstatic at the opportunity to take your pet dog with you, Osamu, dear?” He added the second part with a strong hint of sarcasm. Was he purposefully trying to rile poor Dazai up? Yes. Yes he was. Was it working? Well, the answer seemed pretty obvious.
“Chibi’s a useless mutt!” Dazai viciously spat as he threw his head in the air and strided off towards the office door, shoving the pills in his pocket and slamming the door shut.
“I feel sorry for him,” Elise spoke up. She was on the side drawing and colouring the entire time the conversation was taking place and had only just spoken up after Dazai had left.
“Elise-Chan!” What about me?” Mori pouted. “He was quite rude to me too, you know?”
“Shut up, Rintarou!” Elise hmphed, crossing her arms and turning away. The act was similar to what Dazai had performed before. “You deserved it anyway!”
“Elise!!!!”
“Remind me why I have to be paired with you?” the redheaded mafioso scowled.
“Because it’s best to have both halves of Soukoku to be prepared for whatever threat may be to come in this world,” Dazai simply rolled his eyes as he pretentiously quoted what Mori had said earlier in a more monotone and bored expression. In all honesty, Dazai hadn’t really minded being paired with Chuuya. That would just make the whole trip all the more fun if he were to continuously tease the shorter one. Not to mention the way Dazai always acted around Chuuya was different from the usual front he put on. Sure he acted differently in front of Ango and Odasaku, but it was genuine and the front he put on in front of Chuuya was probably another genuine one too. Probably… No way he was going to even hint towards the slug how he actually felt. Even if his dog was dumb, he was still smart enough to maybe catch on that Dazai did indeed consider Chuuya a great companion and friend. Did he though? Nah! To be quite frank, even Dazai didn’t know how he felt about Chuuya and he didn’t plan to dwell on it too much. It wasn’t like it mattered much anyways. He was just used to not showing his true emotions to anyone he wasn’t comfortable with. You know what they say! Fake it ‘till you make it!
“Let's just get this done and over with,” Chuuya mumbled through gritted teeth. Dazai could tell that he had wanted to say something else but the Boss’s sudden presence as he had entered the room was enough for the ginger to keep his mouth shut.
“I hope you boys are ready,” Mori gave them his gut wrenching, tight lipped smile. “Do you have your provisions on you?”
Chuuya pulled down the backpack he had previously been wearing and unzipped the bag to show his Boss the contents.
“And, Dazai, the pills?”
Dazai simply grumbled. “Yeah, Yeah! Right here!” He lazily waved the packaged pills under the older man’s nose, Its azure and violet hue slightly glistening in the light.
“Dazai, I cannot stress enough-”
“-the importance of the pills. Yes I’m aware, Mori-San,” Dazai cut off the boss’s exasperated warning.
“I assure you, Boss , since when have I ever lost-”
Chuuya cuts him off with a very unintentional and not sarcastic cough.
“-anything of immense value to a mission.” Dazai side eyed his partner. That last part seemed to shut him up. Honestly, that cough was targeted.
“Very well then.” Mori sighed. He then turned to Chuuya and pressed a burner phone into his hand. “This will be our line of communication. It’s infused with an ability which allows the range to reach cross universes so it’s best if you hold onto this, Chuuya-San. It’s a bit of a gamble but if it works then it holds to its value.”
“I bid you both farewell,” The ravenette man stepped back as he eyed the two boys who stood before him, his large black overall coat swishing slightly in the wind (which was quite peculiar considering they were inside an abandoned warehouse in front of the so-called cross dimensional portal.
Chuuya nodded and held his breath as he began to step into the portal, clutching the straps of his backpack tight. Shortly after Dazai followed.
It wasn’t long until they were sucked into a dark, swirling, tenacious abyss.
The first thing they had noticed once they had stirred awake was that they were lying on the ground. The second thing they noticed was that they were in an alleyway. One that you’d find in any average city. The third thing was that they had no recollection of how they had ended up here. They knew that they had travelled through the portal but after that, it was a spontaneous spur of darkness. The actual experience of the journey itself had nauseated them.
“Well I'll be damned…” Chuuya muttered. “The pills actually work,” He eyed the bandaged brunette sitting a few feet to his left.
“Of course it worked!” the taller boy huffed, “Are you underestimating Mori-San’s capabilities?”
Honestly, Dazai was surprised too that the pills had worked. That small seed of doubt that had uncomfortably resided within him had now dissipated and filled him with ease. It was a shame that he couldn’t remember the experience (or if his ability was the cause of his emotionless state) but at least he was away from the awful clutches of the sinister Port Mafia Boss.
Whilst Dazai was lost musing over his thoughts, Chuuya had lifted himself from the ground and had already strolled towards the edge, glancing around from the wall to survey the surrounding streets.
“WHAT THE FUCK?!”
His shriek startled Dazai out of his thoughts as he slightly jumped “Mind keeping it down, slug?” His tone was sharp and cut through in a harsh whisper.
But the pale expression the redhead wore concerned Dazai.
“What is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Th-There’s some weird ugly-ass creatures out there with humans but they don’t even look anything like animals!”
Dazai rushed over to Chuuya’s side and peered out to see the so-called creatures that had frightened his dog. His eyes widened as he kept them trained on the peculiar creatures that roamed the streets with their supposable human companions. He furrowed his eyebrows and trained them on a certain person tapping a strange dual coloured ball against their creature and it seemed to magically suck the object and disappear.
“You know… as cool as this is, it’s kinda freaky,” Chuuya frowned as he glanced around at the odd creatures.
“Yes well I suppose we’ll just have to get used to it.” Dazai hummed. He stepped back and sat down on a crate in the corner of the alleyway, crossing his legs and comfortably leaning against the wall (as comfortably as he could at least).
Chuuya’s hands slipped into his pockets before he turned back around to stride towards Dazai and lean against the wall across from him. “So, what’s our next move?”
“Already? We’ve just gotten away from Mori and aren’t in any way under his supervision yet you want to commence with the mission instead of having a bit of fun?”
“I’m not saying that we should continue with the mission straight off the bat,” Chuuya huffed and rolled his eyes. “Aren’t you just the least bit curious about this place?”
Dazai’s lips stretched into a mischievous grin, “Of course I am. And here’s our first course of action…”