Chapter Text
"Oi, Chuuya. Now would be a lovely time for you to wake up from your nap."
He groaned, surprisingly more out of the pounding in his head than to the misfortune of waking up to Dazai's teasing voice. He felt the pressure of restraints digging into his wrists when he became more aware and reflexively triggered Tainted. He blinked his eyes open wide. Nothing happened. A dark room greeted his eyes almost as if he’d lef them shut. He took a quick assessment of himself: his legs were tied to chair legs, his torso to the chair back, his arms to the arm rests. He didn't have his gloves on, which set him on edge more than he wanted to admit to himself. His upper arms were bare and bound to Dazai’s also uncovered skin. Touching Dazai had always had a calming, if confusing, presence for him. Every now and then a break from the blistering power that stirred inside him was a courtesy he was undeserving to receive. Now, he breathed in a rising sense of dread.
"So, what's your plan?"
"You're so trustworthy, Chuuya!"
"Shut up, shitty Dazai, just tell me what's going on."
He could feel when the air shifted, no light entered the room, but someone had entered, and both of them waited patiently. Chuuya couldn't shake the terrible dread crawling up his neck.
A bright light flashed above them and Chuuya kept his lights open. There was no visible door or figure before him, meaning they were probably talking facing Dazai. Great, that didn't bode well for him. There were no defining characteristics. Concrete walls, concrete floors. He assumed they were somewhere underground. Some footsteps walked to Dazai and stopped in the light. Chuuya could feel Dazai still slightly against his arms. He was preparing to show no emotions to their captures. Chuuya took the hint and followed suit.
"Dazai Osamu."
"Masked mystery man."
"Tell us the code."
Dazai's hum rumbled through his body. Chuuya could almost feel his dark mask slipping on, his Port Mafia negotiation tactics spilling past his everevolving ADA reformation. Chuuya kept his face nuetral. "Ah the code. Well, i know of many codes. None of which i believe would be of interest to you."
"Tell us or we will make you."
"I do believe you boys have the wrong idea. There's nothing you could ever do to make me do anything. In fact, i think you'll come to see that it's the other way around."
"Youre in no position to be making threats."
"Positions don't matter when it comes to threats. People on the other hand..." Chuuya ran his tongue along the inside of his teeth. He'd been on the other side of that comment and he knew exactly how it felt to not be the one in chains and yet to be the one threatened. It was Dazai's intellect and foresight.
"We'll see." Chuuya heard the footsteps move past Dazai until a brawny man covered from head to toe faced him. They wore all black, leather gloves, and a fencing type mask. Chuuya couldnt tell a sibgle distinguishing thing about him, not even a smell he could pick up on. He locked his jaw and steeled his gaze as the man's fist raised into the air above him and began to glow.
Akutagawa was never called into Kouyou's office. He had to admit he was slightly nervous, she had been the woman to train Chuuya-san after all. He couldn't shaje the feeling that it was wrong that he was meeting with her instead of him. But either way, she was his superior. He had no reason to object. He knocked before entering and bowed his head. "Akutagawa reporting."
She sat at a small tea table by the window of her office. Smoke still rose out of her tea cup, buf she brought it to her lips anyway, taking a long sip that Akutagawa knew had to have burned. He didnt question it. She set her tea cup down on the plate and folded her hands. "What time is it, Akutagawa-kun?"
He stifled a cough. "9:04 am Kouyou-senpai."
He could see her reflection in the glass even though she wasn't facing him. Her face couldve been porcelain if not for the single line in the set of her mouth. "Has Chuuya-san given you your duties for the day?"
"He always briefs me the night before if he is able so I can get right to work. I was already following instructions today."
"And when does he arrive in the mornings?"
Akutagawa could feel something was wrong. These were things she knew the answers to. Chuuya-senpai treated her like a big sister. "8am or earlier everyday."
She tapped one of her fingers on the back of her hand. "He has not arrived yet today."
Akutagawa's eyes widened in shock. Chuuya-senpai would never be late unless something was horribly wrong. Even then he wouldve contacted someone to inform them about his absence.
Kouyou continued. "The boss is currently unaware. Chuuya had no missions today, simply paperwork. If that paperwork is not submitted on time suspicions will arise."
"I can go to his apartment ans leave Higichi in charge of my duties for the day."
Kouyou picked up her teacup. "Keep me informed Akutagawa."
He bowed. "Of course, Kouyou-senpai."
He held in his coughs until he was speedwalking down the hallway. Something was terribly wrong. Chuuya-senpai would have called him or left a text even if he was to be five minutes late. He was punctual and professional. He dialed his sister's number and when he heard her pick up he started without waiting for an acknowledgement. "Something has happened to Chuuya-senpai." Gin didnt speak but he could tell he had her undivided attention. "I need you keep an ear out amd make sure things stay on the low."
He could already hear her moving. "Are we under orders?"
"Kouyou-senpai."
"Understood." The line didnt go dead right away, so he keot it to his ear. "Keep me in the loop, Ryu." They hung up. Akutagawa hit another speed dial as he slid inti the drivers seat of one if the mafia's cars.
Higuchi answered immediately "Akutagawa-senpai, how was your meeting?"
Akutagawa coughed into the crook of his elbow before returning the phone to his ear and peeling out of the parking garage towards Chuuya's apartment. "I will not be back today. I need you to take over my responsibilities."
He could hear the worry and need to prove herself in her voice, "Absolutely, Senpai. Do you need backup?"
"Do as you're told, Higuchi."
"Yes, senpai. Good luck."
Chuuya didn't live that far from headquarters, and at the speed Akutagawa was going, he arrived there in under 10 minutes. He'd only been to Chuuya's apartment a handful of times, and off the clock only once, but he already memorized the number of steps he needed to climb and where he hid the spare key. Chuuya had shown him that himself. At first, nothing inside the apartment seemed out of the ordinary. Chuuya's coat and hat were gone from the hatrack and his shoes were missing from beside the door like he'd left that morning normally for work. Akutagawa called Rashoumon to him, just to be safe as he stepped further into the space. The kitchen seemed so pristine, he'd have thought Chuuya never used it if he didnt know better. The same with the living room, Akutagawa always wondered how Chuuya had the time to keep things so clean. He came to what could only have been Chuuya's bedroom. He hesitated before pushing open the door, as Chuuya probably wouldn't appreciate an invasion of privacy like this, but if it was to help him... He stepped into the room and glanced around. At first, everything seemed in order. His bed was tucked in so nicely it looked like a hotel. There was nothing on the floor. He walked around the bed and his eyes focused in on floor on the other side of the bed. It felt like his world was spinning, like how off kilter he felt after hed first been struck by the jinko. Chuuya's gloves lay on the floor next to the bed.