Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ryuunosuke is… confused.

He’s not exactly certain the reason as to why, but all he knows is that something feels off. Weird because the day seems just like any other. The sun is shining, the stupid birds are chirping, he’s still breathing. So why…?

He shakes his head as he walks up the steps of the agency. The sun beats down on him, his khaki overcoat doing absolutely nothing to help, but he wouldn’t lose it for the world. Whatever it is, he’s sure it’ll hit him in a moment. 

Once on the fourth floor where the Armed Detective Agencies headquarters reside, he makes his way toward his desk, noting the people within. 

Kunikida was at his own, punctual as usual and writing away at his notebook without a single glance up as he muttered inconsistently to himself.

Kenji was off to the side at his, humming a soft tune to himself as he fiddled with a small bonsai tree. He too has yet to notice Ryuunosuke which was a bit odd. Ever since he came to the agency, despite their liking for him, his presence alone was enough to make them put up their guard before they realized it was simply just him.

Ranpo is the last. He’s asleep at his desk, feet propped up and an arm splayed over his eyes to keep the light out. A bag of chips is balanced precariously on his chest, looking a hair’s breadth away from falling to the floor. 

Ryuunosuke says nothing as he takes a seat, eyes catching the stack of paper at the edge of his desk which is… odd. Kunikida has given up on making him do paperwork. He’s learned that life was not for Ryuunosuke and instead decided to keep him to shredding, but that’s located across the room with a whole bin for that specific purpose, so papers on Ryuunosuke’s desk were… rare.

Despite himself, he can’t help but reach over and pluck the top page, inspecting it thoroughly. As he reads, his brows furrow. 

This is… odd. He doesn’t remember anyone going on such a case recently. 

Briefly, his eyes flick over to the empty desk across from his where his master typically sits. Empty, as per usual, but since when was Sakunosuke Oda ever on time? Still, if he were here, he’d be able to tell Ryuunosuke exactly what this paperwork meant. It’s not like he had a formal education from the slums, maybe he was reading something incorrectly. 

There’s a small creak, someone shifting in their chair before Ryuunosuke feels the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. Going off instinct alone, he glances up and directly at Kunikida who is looking at him with a furrowed, confused brow and a fire in his eyes.

“Akutagawa! What are you doing here?!” He stands to attention, holding his notebook out defensively.

Kenji startles with the yell as does Ranpo, the former standing as well while the latter merely falls to the floor in a heap.

Ryuunosuke is confused, to say the least, more so than when he entered. That prickling feeling of something being off worsens as he stares into the eyes of his colleagues who hold no signs of companionship, only hostility. 

“What… do you mean?” he asks finally, eyes flicking back and forth, body automatically on the defense. He feels Rashomon thrum around him, his overcoat ready for a moment’s action.

“Did I stutter? What are you doing here, Mafia dog?” Kunkida seethes and Ryuunosuke has to blink at the words.

Mafia… Dog…

Just what is going on?

A sudden feeling of foreboding floods him. 

This wasn’t right. None of this was right. The plant by the door was different. The desks were out of place but only marginally. Kunikida loathed him when he used to look at Ryuunosuke with a certain fondness. Kenji looks wary when he used to smile so wide. 

A shame too because despite himself, Ryuunosuke liked Kenji.

Nothing was as it should be.

Why?

Memories flood his mind the next second and he blinks, placing a hand on his desk to help keep himself vertical as his vision whites.

Ah, that’s why.

*   *   *

A puddle splashes as his foot lands in it, messing up the image of the moon and stars it reflects back into the night sky. 

Ryuunosuke doesn’t even notice as he makes his way down the darkened alleyway. The colors white and red reflect back at him, lighting up his signature scowl with no one to see. The sign Lupin Bar castes a familiar glow but he’s longed stopped noticing. It’s always been there and it will continue to be for as long as the bar remains. 

Oda showed him this place. Just once. For his twentieth birthday. It’s where he had his first drink. Oda’s never went back, not since then, and probably never again, but that’s okay. It was their spot now.

The bell on the door chimes as he pulls it open, the smell of stale cigarette smoke and whiskey assaults his senses, but he pays it no mind as he steps inside and descends the steep staircase. Jazz music hums quietly throughout the establishment and the person at the bar sways with it quietly almost as if he were lost in a trance. 

Ryuunosuke’s eyes zero in on the man immediately, a small… something twitching at the corner of his lips as he looks at the man’s side profile. He sits at the only bar within the small room, his black coat laying limply in his lap. He wears a dark brown turtleneck. Stylish? No, warm? Yes. He doesn’t twitch but Ryuunosuke knows that the man is aware of his presence.

Clink.

Ryuunosuke watches the movements as the man places down his coffee cup and sighs.

“You’re late.”

That twitch is back and worse. “I’m right on time,” he states, stepping past and taking a seat beside the silver-haired man. Dichromatic purple and yellow eyes flick to him before looking forward once more. 

“Subjective, I suppose,” the man states, a smile playing on his lips as he raises the cup to his lips once more.

The bar is empty, only them, yet there’s a cup of piping hot tea right in front of him, sending a flash of warmth through his body. He’s silent as he picks it up and brings it to his lips. He lets the flavor wash over him, closing his eyes to embrace it before letting out a small sigh when the sensation finally fades.

“Delicious?” The man, Atsushi, asks and Ryuunosuke can hear the humor in his voice.

“Disgusting,” Ryuunosuke states but there’s no bite.

Click. He places the cup back on its dish and revels in the silence. 

It was nice. This was nice. It’s not a recent development. They’ve done this for some time now, but each time feels as if it’s been stolen. 

In a way, Ryuunosuke supposes it was. 

They came from two different words. One light and one dark. Yin and Yang. Two sides of the same coin. 

Though, they haven’t quite been that for a while. Atsushi got out after all, so were they still light and dark? Yin and Yang?

It’s also been quite some time since they last tried to kill each other. Spar? Yes, quite frequently, but kill? Not since the day that man died. That man who took everything from him. That man who opened up a whole new world for him. Was it admiration or hate? Respect or contempt? Lines blur because as they say, there is a fine line between love and hate.

“How’s Kyouka?” Ryuunosuke asks, deciding that he’ll be the one to break the silence tonight. He was in a pleasant mood for some reason.

“Good. How’s Gin?”

Ryuunosuke shoots the man a glare, feeling irritation spike. Atsushi knows better. Gin still wasn’t with him and it was still a sore wound.

Even the smile that breaks out on the man’s face isn’t enough to cool Ryuunosuke’s ire and he knows it.

“Sorry,” Atsushi mutters after a while. “Couldn’t help myself.”

Ryuunosuke rolls his eyes but decides not to comment.

Nights like these were the best. They were quiet and slow. Nothing too significant or important happened. It was just a time when the two men could just be… them. 

He would never tell anyone, but it was these nights that he most looked forward to. It’s not that they were rare or infrequent. No, in fact, they happened weekly. It’s just that he enjoyed it. The peacefulness, the company. They were different during these times. No facades. No play on strength to see who was better.

A ringing of a bell has both of them instantly tense, pausing in unison where they had their cups poised to take a drink.

See, there was another thing about these late-night meet-ups—it was only them and ever them. They purposefully came right after the bar closed so no one would intrude— could intrude. So, having someone come in, well, that’s enough to rouse unease.

Tap, tap, tap.  

They watch as the man, a curly, blonde-haired foreigner it appears, walks up to them. He’s humming to himself. At least, it sounds that way until he slides up beside Atsushi and that’s when Ryuunosuke realizes he wasn’t humming but speaking quietly.

“…know. Yes…must be quiet…y’ll know if I say…thing…off.”

Atsushi’s eyes connect with his and something silent passes between them. No words need to be spoken yet they both still understand.

The man takes a seat next to Atsushi, leaving one stool space between them. He hums a soft, melodic sound now, quietly to himself.

Ryuunosuke eyes him and he sees Atsushi do the same. The man vaguely reminds him of Fitzgerald, a man he hasn’t seen in years. Not since he came in with a small army of his own, on the hunt for Atsushi. Monochrome in his clothes. Gray suit, white dress shirt, black shoes.

The man glances over as if he senses Ryuunosuke’s thoughts, a twinkle sparkling in his blue eyes.

Ryuunosuke flinches with the sudden eye contact and knowing gaze. A cold feeling settles in his stomach and alarm bells ring in his mind.

Wrong, wrong, this is all wrong! Caution!  

Atsushi must think the same thing because he tenses further and Ryuunosukue catches the slightest bit of white striped fur before he hides his forearm underneath his coat. Despite all these years, Atsushi still has trouble controlling the beast within him but even now, it seems that the beast agrees with them. This man was trouble.

“Hello,” the man finally states, voice cheery and bright. “Might I ask you for the time?”

Atsushi tenses further, eyes flashing at some unknown trigger while Ryuunosuke merely stares from the corner of his eye. The man didn’t ask him, after all, but Atsushi.

When Atsushi fails to respond, the man’s smile dims. 

“You’re not going to tell me the time? Oh dear, I must know it. I have a schedule. A schedule, I say! Say I schedule!” The man erupts in giggles as his eyes flick around the bar now. He stands abruptly and Rashomon flares slightly from the sudden movement but the man does nothing more than place his feet on the stool and step onto it. From there, he stares down at the two of them with this wide, unnerving smile.

“Did you know that the sun rises in the West where I come from?”

The two don’t answer, but the man doesn’t seem bothered as he slowly starts to twirl atop the stool.

“The sky is yellow and the sun, blue! Oh, what a world.”

In another abrupt movement, the man stops and sits atop the bar now, feet planted securely on the stool. He looks directly at Atsushi as he whispers, “Do you have an ability?”

The previous alarms scream louder and Ryuunosuke goes to stand but a hand—claw—on his knee stops him. Atsushi doesn’t even look at him as he merely states, “I do.”

Ryuunosuke looks at the weretiger as if he had gone mad while the man smiles and rejoices. 

“I knew it! I knew it!” He stands once more and claps. He opens his mouth to say something else before his brow furrows and his head sharply turns to the side. “Shhh!! They’ll hear you,” he whisper-yells, glancing at them from the corner of his eye. “Okay, okay, I’ll ask, now be quiet!”

He harrumphs as he sits once more, elbow on his knee and head on his hand. He doesn’t say anything contrary to his previous mad ramblings. 

“What’s your name?” Atsushi asks abruptly, startling not only the man but Ryuunosuke too. The claw on his knee still burns before it’s taken away.

The man smiles wider. “Lewis. Lewis Carroll.”

Atsushi, who seemed to take the initiative in figuring out what exactly this man had come for nods. “I’m Ats—”

“Atsushi Nakajima and Ryuunosuke Akutagawa. What strong names.”

They freeze.

Lewis acts as if nothing is amiss as he hops down from the counter and wanders forward in a zigzag motion. There’s not a lot of room as is but Lewis doesn’t seem to care as he carries on with his meandering. 

“Yes, he tells me of you, you know,” Lewis states as he comes to a stop, looking up at the blank wall as if there were a mural there and he was the art spectator. “He whispers to me constantly and I, him. We are one and the same, after all.” His fingers reach out and gingerly touch the brick.

Ryuunosuke’s heart races. That’s an amazing feat, putting fright within him. He has little he fears but… there was something unnerving about this man. Atsushi seems to be in the same boat as his dichromatic eyes are now their yellow slits. Fur slowly coats along his cheeks and Ryuunosuke can see the war within the man as he barely keeps the tiger at bay.

Lewis turns at the next moment and looks at Ryuunosuke for the second time since entering. His eyes, blue and wild, hold something in them that has Rashomon flying out on their own.

Lewis sidesteps and hops every single hit as if Rashomon were nothing. As if Ryuunosuke’s efforts were futile and amusing.

It infuriates Ryuunosuke. He starts to stand, prepared to make an attack with more effort but Atsushi stops him again. Another claw on his arm this time and Ryuunosuke looks at him.

“Don’t be rash. He is… something else. I can feel it,” Atsushi mutters and Ryuunosuke glances back at the man who smiles maniacally at them, a devilish glint in his eye.

He shudders. He can feel that this man is different too.

“How do you know our names?” Atsushi asks, voice low and deadly. 

Lewis tilts his head. “Curiouser and curiouser! Why, I wish I knew the answer but the answer is that I just do.”

Ryuunosuke can feel Atsushi slowly tense next to him. It’s a different kind of tense than when the man first appeared, it’s the kind of tense he gets before he goes in for an attack.

“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense,” Lewis states, glancing around. “Up would be down, right would be left. There would be a cat who disappears with a smile and a Jabberwocky that needs slaying.” Lewis hums. “Mhmm, mhmm, nonsense indeed. What a wonderful world. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't. And contrariwise, what it is, it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?”

He takes a step toward them and they're on their feet in seconds, all previous instances of casual peace gone. They were prepared for a fight. It wouldn’t be the first they had together, nor would it be the last. 

“What do you want with us?” Atsushi snaps and Lewis pauses, tilting his head.

“Well, I can’t put it any more clearly, sir, for it isn't clear to me.”

“Just tell us what you want,” Ryuunosuke finally snaps, speaking the first words to the man.

Lewis smiles like the cat who ate the canary. 

“Want? What I want is for this world to be overwritten and replaced by the most beautiful one.”

Ryuunosuke’s heart sinks and he knows Atsushi’s does too by the look they send each other. How does he know…

“Why are you here then?” Atsushi snaps, playing it off but Ryuunosuke knows it’s futile. They’ve been got.

“Why, who else to remove from such a simplistic equation than the protectors of the Book themselves?”

Atsushi’s attack is instantaneous with Ryuunosuke close behind. Always. He slashes the air—

Lewis isn’t there. 

Rashomon flies out in all directions yet not a single tendril hits. It’s just like the man… disappeared.

They both turn, eyes searching frantically only settling when Lewis speaks, voice filled with concern rather than amusement now.

“Do any of you have the time? I might be late.” 

They turn to find the man sitting on the bar in front of their previous seats. He shoves his hand in his pocket and pulls out a silver pocket watch. He clicks it open and his face falls. 

“Oh dear, that’s not good, that’s not good. I’m late, I’m late! Oh no, look at the time,” Lewis howls as he turns his watch toward the other two. Drawn, they have no choice but to look with confusion only to find a mirror staring back at them. Warped and bent, their reflections stare back with the same confused expression.

Bewildered, Ryuunosuke tries to force his gaze back to Lewis but finds himself unable. Belatedly, he realizes why he can’t as his world begins to darken.

“Life, what is it but a dream?” Lewis states but even his voice sounds far away. “Be careful. Glass is fragile. Break it, and—”

Then nothing.

*   *   *

Ryuunosuke blinks as the light filters through his gaze. He organizes his thoughts as he focuses on the scene in front of him. Kunikida was still eyeing him warily, though he wasn’t as on guard anymore. Kenji was looking at him with something akin to concern while Ranpo seemed to have finally gathered his bearings and was reseated in his chair, leaning back in a similar fashion to earlier except now Ryuunosuke could feel those green eyes on him.

He rubs his temple as he feels a dull throb. He’ll probably have a headache later on. Great.

“Uh,” he states dumbly. 

“Are you okay?” Kenji asks because despite apparently not liking Ryuunosuke, he’s still concerned for his well-being. 

Ryuunosuke’s silver eyes flick back and forth between the faces until he finally nods. He was… fine. Relatively speaking. He still doesn’t know what happened to him, just that something did and that it apparently made his colleagues hate him. Or, at the very least, wary of him.

“Fine—”

The door slams open and voices float in. Ryuunosuke’s eyes are immediately drawn toward the commotion, brow furrowing in confusion when he sees Atsushi walk in. 

Except he wasn’t Atsushi. There was no long black furred coat anywhere to be seen. No dead gaze that only recently had begun to fill with life. No leather collar. Nothing recognizable except for the body. Even the way this imposter held himself was different.

Ryuunosuke is immediately on guard. 

“I don’t know why you keep putting me through this!” Not Atsushi exclaims, growling at someone behind him. “You’re making Kunikida-San gray and he’s only twenty-two!”

A tall, lanky figure slides in behind Atsushi and laughs. Ryuunosuke’s eyes slowly slide up the khaki-colored coat, so similar to his own that they’re essentially indistinguishable. He eyes the bandages peeking out from under the cuffs and neckline before, finally, silver connects with brown.

Recognition zings in Ryuunosuke’s brain and immediately a scowl covers his features. Emotions he buried deep for years rise as the Man in Black stands in front of him once more. Impossible. At least, it should be since Ryuunosuke watched with his own two eyes as the man took his own life.

The confusion, anger, and hate swirl within Ryuunosuke’s veins, and Rashomon lashes out before he even realizes. 

The man, Osamu Dazai, doesn’t even flinch as he stares at Ryuunosuke with a stoic expression. Rashomon’s tendrils barely manage to touch him before they disappear into blue mist.

That’s right. Ryuunosuke forgot. Dazai’s ability was to nullify any and all abilities. The ex-Port Mafia boss was just that for a reason.

He closes his eyes and takes a breath. He was better than this. He was over this. Osamu Dazai died and he wasn’t keeping Gin from him any longer. He had no reason to keep holding onto such resentment even if it was all he knew at one point in time. He was going to be better. Good. If he was, maybe Gin would finally see that he wasn’t evil and she’d come back to him.

“What—Akutagawa?” Not Atsushi asks and Ryuunosuke’s eyes slide to him. He looked too much like Atsushi not to be, but Ryuunosuke knows. This is an imposter. Certainly. “What’re you doing here?”

Dazai still has yet to speak, eyes blankly observing Ryuunosuke and gluing him in place. He felt like an animal in the zoo as those hazel eyes slid from his face and down to his body. The first signs of emotion cross the ex-boss’s face and Ryuunosuke immediately recognizes it as displeasure.

He looks down at himself, his coat, and back up at Dazai. Ah, that’s why.

“He just–showed up,” Kunikida states, voice holding a lot less hostility and anxiety. He pushes his glasses up his nose.

“Who are you?” Dazai states, calmly and cooly but Ryuunosuke’s instincts scream for him to run and get away.

He shivers. This Dazai and the dead one might not be too far off.

“I don’t answer to the likes of you,” he seethes and Dazai’s eyes flash with something unknown.

“Oi—”Kunikida starts.

“What is wrong with you—” Not Atsushi begins.

There’s a sudden crash that stops all conversation. Debris flies everywhere and something— someone is thrown through the wall, hitting the opposite and landing in a heap. 

Ryuunosuke flinches and ducks from the remnants flying through the air but he stands not a moment later, eyeing the pile. When he can discern a familiar black coat within the wreckage, he’s over there in an instant.

Atsushi— his Atsushi groans in pain from where he’s laid in the middle of the crumbling rocks and brick. He winces as he tries to pull himself free, giving up and flopping back a moment later.

Ryuunosuke goes to help, to pull him free when there’s another crash, different this time that has him turning his attention to see black tendrils so, so familiar, snap onto the edges of the crumbling building and pull something inside. No, they guide some one and Ryuunosuke feels the breath leave his lungs when an identical face appears in the crack. 

It’s the same scowling expression. Same silver eyes. Same black and white hair. It’s Ryuunosuke, but it can’t be because he’s standing in front of Atsushi defensively.

The other him notices immediately and pauses his assault inside to stare, bemused and Ryuunosuke just knows that they’re wearing the same expression.

A groan breaks him from the silent stare off with himself and he turns, something filling him that he doesn’t want to name as he looks at this beaten Atsushi. He bends down to help the other from the rubble. 

Atsushi stands on shaky legs and Ryuunosuke’s something rises because he’s never seen Atsushi in such a state. Not since the last time they tried to kill each other.

“Are you okay?” he asks, hand tentatively clasped around Atsushi’s arms.

Atushi glares at him with hostility and suspicion before his gaze seems to finally process what’s in front of him and he relaxes.

“Akutagawa?” It’s hoarse and filled with hope. 

Ryuunosuke has no other choice but to nod. “The one and only.”

Atsushi’s gaze flicks to something behind him, his already pale face whiting further and Ryuunosuke smothers a sigh.

“At least, I was.”

“What happened,” Atsushi rasps, hand rising up to clasp his neck, and Ryuunosuke’s eyes zero in on the motion.

“I don’t know,” he states as his hands, too, rise. “Let me see.”

Immediately, Atsushi tenses but lets Ryuunosuke do as he wants, pulling the zipper of the coat down just enough to reveal Atsushi’s neck. Tentatively and carefully, Ryuunosuke folds the neck of the sweater down to reveal the collar hidden beneath. Adorned with sharp spikes both big and small, they pierce Atsushi’s skin in several places.

Ryuunosuke’s jaw clenches as he stares at the mess of blood and flesh in front of him. Atsushi’s so stubborn. Always. No matter how long they practice or how many times, he still refuses to trust his ability. The loathing the human has for the tiger is something that runs too deep it seems. Ryuunosuke could only wish that they could have the same bond he has with Rashomon . 

Still, it doesn’t mean he can’t test the boundaries until that miracle happens.

“You should really take this off—”

Smack!

He’s not surprised. Not really as his hand goes flying off to the side. Atsushi’s own come up to clasp his neck protectively and dichromatic eyes glare.

Ryuunosuke sighs. He could push it, but not right now. Not here.

“I don’t need to take it off. I’m fine.”

He scoffs as he eyes the mess of flesh resembling sliced meat. “Yeah, so fine that you’re standing in a pile of rubble while it looks like you went three rounds with a vampire.”

“Like I expected I’d have to defend myself from you.”  

Ryuunosuke can’t find any words to refute the implication of their unspoken bond. 

Someone behind them clears their throat and they turn to find everyone staring at them. Atsushi seems to finally recognize the elephant in the room as he hesitantly steps out from behind Ryuunosuke, rezipping his coat before the others can see.

“D–Dazai-San? Is that—is that really you?”

Dazai, for his part, isn’t phased as his eyes narrow at Atsushi. 

Ryuunosuke grabbed the man’s wrist before he could take another step. When confused eyes question him silently, he merely shakes his head.

That’s not Dazai.

What do you mean? He’s standing right there!

And so are we.

Atsushi exhales heavily from his nose and clenches his jaw.

Ryuunosuke lets his wrist go. 

He would never admit to anyone that he and Atsushi have these silent conversations. That they understand each other well enough that no words even need to be said for the other to just understand.

“Okay, what’s going on?” Kunikida states, glancing around the room. “Why is there another Atsushi and Akutagawa?”

The other Ryuunosuke— Akutagawa, Ryuunosuke decides to call him in his mind, eyes Ryuunosuke with curiosity but also contempt. 

“Yes, I’m curious about that as well,” Dazai sings and it’s so far from the Dazai that Ryuunosuke knows, his brows furrow.

Atsushi follows too, glancing at Ryuunosuke with understanding and defeat.

Yeah, that’s not Dazai.

Ryuunosuke holds back the I told you so look and simply nods once. 

“I’m,” Atsushi starts, glancing anxiously around the room. “I’m Atsushi Nakajima and this is—this is Ryuunosuke Akutagawa. I’m not sure what happened or where we are.”

Ranpo whistles from the other side of the room as he sits up, eyes widening until everyone can see the green that’s always hidden. “Dorthy, you’re not in Kansas anymore, huh? What a world, what a world.”

“Ranpo-San, do you have anything to say?” Kunikida asks, pushing his glasses up his nose again.

Ranpo merely smirks silently as his eyes are hidden once more. “Heh, nah. This is gonna be fun.” He pulls a package of sealed popcorn from thin air as he leans back once more. He waves a hand. “Carry on, please.”

Kunikida sighs exasperatedly and opens his mouth to say something else, but Dazai cuts him off.

“It… should be impossible,” the older man finally states. 

Ryuunosuke notes that his eyes never left the two of them and have, for the most part, remained entirely on Ryuunosuke. He’s not too sure what to make of that.

“What should be?” Not Atsushi asks.

Akutagawa slowly walks around the room to meet the pair on the other side. He silently stands behind Dazai and next to Atsushi, Ryuunosuke notes with a hint of curiosity. Akutagawa doesn’t look at Dazai with contempt but with longing.

What in the—

“Are you two familiar with the Book?” Dazai asks, pulling Ryuunosuke’s thoughts away from the other him.

Immediately, he and Atsushi tense, jaws clenching in unison as they glare at the man in front of them.

Dazai’s brows raise slightly as he takes in their reactions. “I suppose that’s a yes.”

“The Book?” Not Atsushi asks, turning to look at the taller man. “Like the one Fitzgerald was after? The Fydor is after?”

Dazai’s eyes slide to Not Atsushi, smiling with them, he nods.

Not Atsushi pales as does Akutagawa.

Ryuunosuke, however, understands where this man is leading. Turning slightly, he makes eye contact with a pale Atsushi who looks like he knows too.

Is this him? The real Dazai? Atsushi’s eyes ask and Ryuunosuke merely shrugs. Memories long forgotten rise in his mind as the old Dazai’s words swim within. His ramblings of the Book and another world. Despite all his hate for the man, Ryuunosuke never doubted the truth of the words. Especially after the people who were after the Book in the first place let alone the Book itself.

“The exact one,” Dazai states, drawing the two’s attention back. He smiles down at Not Atsushi serenely. 

Not Atsushi’s eyes slide back to them as does Akutagawa’s and they both look sick. 

Dazai looks back too, taking a step forward but pausing when he sees Ryuunosuke tense. He eyes Ryuunosuke curiously but he picks up where he left off, walking to a desk and picking up a book. He holds it up and toward the crowd.

“Say this is the Book,” he opens it and shows the pages within as he leans on the desk behind him. “On every single one of these pages holds a world. An alternate reality that holds the capability to become the reality if ever written. The possibilities are endless, you see. So, what happens if something in here,” he runs his finger down one of the pages, “comes out here?”

“You’re… saying that these two, they’re us?” Not Atsushi asks incredulously while Akutagawa’s brows furrow. 

“That’s—” Akutagawa states but cuts himself off when Dazai waves an arm.

“Just look at their faces. They know. Don’t you?”

Ryuunosuke makes eye contact before looking away with a clenched jaw. He can see Atsushi mirror him from the corner of his eye. 

The others take their silence for the confirmation that it is.

“Impossible,” Kunikida states, hands gripping his notebooks in a vice-like grip.

“Amazing,” Kenji breathes and Ryuunosuke is momentarily taken over by a feeling of fondness for the teen.

“But, how?” Not Atsushi asks and Dazai straightens as he holds Ryuunosuke and Atsushi in place with a single look.

“Now, that’s what I’d like to find out. Boys?”

Ryuunosuke’s jaw jumps and Atsushi takes a step back. They should… probably disclose the information. It wouldn’t cause harm, would it?

“There was…” Atsushi states, looking at the floor.

“A man,” Ryuunosuke finishes when it seems Atsushi’s overwhelmed. “Blonde. Foreigner. Looks like Fitzgerald with his clothing and style. His name is Lewis Carroll. We—” he cuts himself off when he realizes he was about to reveal what exactly he and Atsushi were doing but he doesn’t exactly know how to explain it.

Dazai seems content with that answer for the moment as he hums. “Lewis… Carroll, you say?” Despite his cheery tone, Dazai’s eyes are dark. 

“Do you know him, Dazai-San?” Not Atsushi asks.

“Never heard of him,” Dazai replies, and Ryuunosuke has a feeling that he’s speaking the truth. “The question is, why target you two? What makes you important?” he asks them directly and Atsushi physically flinches at the gaze.

Ryuunosuke’s glare hardens and his jaw ticks again.

“We—” Atsushi states and Ryuunosuke’s head snaps over.

“Atsushi!”

“What?” Atsushi snaps, lowering his voice so as to not let the outsiders hear. “We’re outside the Book. It’s not with us. Do you realize what will happen if that man actually gets his hands on it? Our world will cease to exist. The faster we get back, the better. Dazai-San can help. I know it.” 

At Atsushi’s pleading, Ryuunosuke feels himself soften, just slightly, and he sighs, looking away. He doesn’t say anything and Atsushi shoots him a small, grateful smile.

“Lewis, he’s after the Book. Our Book. He said—He said that he spoke to himself. The one that’s out here. They can talk and somehow, he knew that–that Ryuu and I are the Book’s keepers.”

Despite himself, Ryuunosuke feels his face warm. He’s not sure why. Maybe it’s the way their other selves’s eyes widen slightly or maybe it’s the looks they shoot him, but he feels like Atsushi just revealed something he shouldn’t have.

Should’ve just called me like he used to.

“Interesting,” Dazai murmurs and Ryuunosuke has a feeling he’s speaking more than just the information they spoke. He eyes Ryuunosuke with more open curiosity before he looks away.

“You’re what?” their other selves ask in unison.

Atsushi looks at them and Ryuunosuke sees the way he eyes himself with curiosity. 

Ryuunosuke rolls his eyes. Curious. Atsushi’s always so curious. It’ll get him killed one day.

“Can you—do you know a way back?” Atsushi asks, concern filling his voice. “If Lewis gets his hands on our Book, the world we know it will cease to exist. We can’t let that happen. Not after—” he cuts himself off, glancing at the ground.

Ryuunosuke rolls his eyes again. Stupid Osamu Dazai. Stupid Book. Ryuunosuke should just burn it when they get back, then nothing can change their reality.

This Dazai, so obviously different from theirs, nods. 

“Of course, of course. What kind of detectives would we be if we didn’t help people in need?”

“Detectives?” Atsushi asks, voice incredulous. 

“Help?” Ryuunosuke follows, his own disbelief coloring his voice.

Dazai glances back, curiosity peaking again as he nods. “Why yes, the Armed Detective Agency. You’ve heard of it, right?”

Ryuunosuke rolls his eyes while Atsushi’s jaw drops.

“You? A detective?”

At Atsushi’s tone, Dazai’s eyes flash before he locks away his emotions once more. “Yes. Why, was the me in your world not?”

They neither confirm nor deny but Dazai seems to just know, eyes once again falling onto Ryuunosuke, his coat specifically before he hums and turns away.

If this Dazai was a detective, it made sense. It explained why he’d be in the building so casually and explained the… life he has about him. Their Dazai was the opposite. He oozed death and despair. Atsushi knew him better and despite being in the same headspace, the ever-empathetic Atsushi could tell that their Dazai was hurting.

Dazai sighs and looks at the mess of brick and dust in front of them. “I suppose, before we get started on this next case, someone should clean this up, huh?”

Kunikida looks at Dazai in amazement. “That’s actually the most responsible thing you’ve ever said, Dazai. Good j—”

“Not it~!” Dazai sings as he turns on his heel. He’s out the door before Kunikida even realizes. “Come get me when it’s done and we’ll start, ‘kay?”

Kunikia’s glasses crack and the pen in his hand snaps. “DAZAI!!”

Dazai’s melodic laughter flows through the building.

*   *   *

Kunikida ends up the one cleaning, muttering curses toward Dazai under his breath while Kenji is forced to help with the heavier items. It was so in line with Ryuunosuke’s Kunikida that he found himself glancing toward the man more than once as he and Atsushi were settled into chairs in the corner. It’s not like they have anywhere to go and this place was familiar, to say the least. Ryuunosuke felt the most comfortable here even if Atsushi looked out of place. He offered to help, too, but the suspicious look from Kunikida was enough to warn him off.

Their… counterparts, for lack of a better word eye them speculatively, and they, in turn, return their curiosity. 

He can’t help it. He knew there were… options. Knew that there were other hims out there, he just never thought he’d meet one. Let alone one who looked so… different.

The Ryuunosuke across from him, Akutagawa, was thinner. Paler and more sickly looking than himself. He looked as Ryuunosuke did when Oda first took him from that river bank. He was healthier than from his times in the slums, however, but still underweight. Still suffering. There was that look in Akutagawa’s eyes, one that Ryuunosuke is very familiar with and one he’s long lost. 

It makes him wonder. Wonder why Akutagawa still has that look. Why his coat is battered and bruised from years of misuse and age. Rashomon was important to him, them, so why would he not change it out with the opportunity? 

The four have been sitting in silence for a good thirty minutes now, simply staring at one another and he knows that he nor his counterpart will be the ones to break it. He knows himself better than that, so it boils down to Atsushi and his.

The other one, the healthier-looking one appears to break first. His hands twitch as his dichromatic eyes never leave his mirror image. He’s curious. Ryuunosuke can see, just as his Atsushi is curious.

Not Atsushi—Nakajima as he’s deeming mentally, leans forward slightly across the small table between them as if to tell them a secret. 

There’s a dull thump behind them before Kenji yells out an accented, “Sorry!”

Kunikida mutters something about his schedule and how messed up it is before he refocuses on getting everything back on track. Briefly, Ryuunosuke wonders where the others are as he notes a lack of familiar faces. Ranpo has fallen back asleep in his corner but otherwise, the office is desolate.

“So you’re… me,” Not Ats—Nakajima finally states, drawing Ryuunosuke’s attention back to him.

Atsushi leans forward in a similar motion, eyes shining with more emotions than Ryuunsouke’s seen in a while. “I am.”

They blink in unison before, “Wow,” they breathe.

At the familiarity, Nakajima’s vacillation seems to dissipate as his shoulders drop, relaxing. 

“So—” he starts, before he stops, seeming to bite his tongue. His eyes trail down Atsushi as his brows furrow. “You’re so…”

“Different?” Atsushi finishes. “Quite so.”

“I’ve never met another me before. I mean, there was that one time when we had to fight our abilities but that was just Byakko—”

Both boys grimace at the name and Ryuunosuke stifles an amused smile. Ah, so the trouble with their abilities transcends worlds, huh? Unsurprising. 

“What’s it like?” Nakajima asks, taking on an air of innocent curiosity as he leans further forward. “Your world?”

Atsushi fiddles with his hands, gaze flicking toward Ryuunosuke for assurance. 

Ryuunosuke shrugs. He doesn’t see the harm in sharing and he wouldn’t lie. He was curious about theirs too. It’s not like they didn’t know they were from the Book. He’s not too certain how that will affect their world, considering that man said only three people could know before things dissolved. These two were outside their world. Surely, the laws didn’t apply.

The thought makes him momentarily pause. He and Atsushi knew, obviously, and they had hoped to keep things to themselves to prevent the catastrophe but if Lewis knows… Would that even matter because his ability apparently talks to the Lewis from the outside? Has he always known? If someone else found out, would their world have fallen apart without them even knowing?

He briefly pales at his musings before shaking them away. A problem for another time.

“I… don’t quite know what to say,” Atsushi starts briefly, hand coming up to fiddle with the collar of his jacket.

Ryuunosuke immediately scowls because he just knows the mess that’s going on underneath. Can practically see the blood seeping through the black material, but he bites his tongue. He knows Atsushi would never want to be so vulnerable in such a situation so he’ll bide his time.

“I don’t know what exactly is different.”

“Then just tell me about your life. What do you do? Are you a detective like me? Do you have the same friends? Did we grow up in the orphanage? Do we have parent—”

Atsushi raises a hand, looking momentarily overwhelmed by his other self’s enthusiasm. 

Nakajima flushes while Akutagawa shoots him a sideways scowl.

Ryuunosuke merely observes silently. 

“One at a time, please,” Atsushi states before clearing his throat. “To start, did you say detective?”

Ryuunosuke blinks, processing the words before his head snaps to Nakajima. He means… it makes sense. That man was a detective. It would make sense for Atsushi to be one, too, since they were so close. Still…

His eyes flick back to himself to find Aktugawa already eyeing him with a slight crease between his brow. He flicks his gaze down to the old, worn material and back up to silver eyes as his own widen in panic.

No… It can’t be.

“Mafia?” he asks, voice low and incredulous.

Akutagawa’s brows furrow as he seems to pick up on what Ryuunosuke is saying, eyes scanning Ryuunosuke the same way he was scanned. “…Detective?”

“No,” they mumble in horrified unison.

Nakajima’s brows furrow as he observes Ryuunsouke. He’s noticed that the weretiger has taken an avoidance of looking at him but now it seems his eyes can’t help it as they scan him up and down.

“Detective?” he asks, voice holding a hint of incredulousness. “Then does that mean…” his head snaps toward Atsushi who looks on with a furrowed brow as well.

“You’re a detective?” Atsushi asked at the same time Ryuunosuke muttered to himself, “Mafia?”

He’s briefly teleported back to the past. To a conversation, he and Atsushi had very briefly. Mutterings of old.

‘You? In the Mafia? That’s hard to imagine,’ Atsushi had muttered, eyes twinkling with mirth despite his blank facial expression.

‘I agree. I would never join the Mafia.’

“Are you serious? I’m in the Mafia? How did that even happen? And Akutagawa, a detective?” The weretiger dissolves into a fit of laughter at the mere thought and Ryuunsouke scowls. Though, he shouldn’t be too offended considering how he and Atsushi had the exact same conversation all those years ago albeit a mirrored version.

Akutagawa looks pained and confused. He leans forward and opens his mouth as if he were about to ask before thinking better of it and snapping it shut, leaning back.

Ryuunosuke is silently thankful because where would he even start?

Atsushi, on the other hand, immediately delves into an explanation telling of his backstory at the orphanage and how Dazai had come to pick him up. Rescued him, really. It was the first time Ryuunosuke had heard such a story. Atsushi knew that the Man in Black was a very sore spot for him and they tended to venture away from the subject of him in general.

Nakajima looks horrified. At what, however, is unclear. It could be the horrors Atsushi’s experienced or it could be the fact that Dazai was leader of the Port Mafia. Even Akutagawa looked a little perturbed. 

“Dazai-San’s really…” Nakajima mutters, trailing off as he bites his lip in contemplation.

“Dazai-San saved me,” Atsushi states, clasping his hands in front of himself on the table. “But he was also the worst thing to happen to me.”

Now that was a new development. Ryuunosuke can’t help his head snapping over but Atsushi doesn’t look at him. Not even a flinch of acknowledgement but Ryuunosuke knows Atsushi knows he’s staring.

“The Mafia… was not good. It’s not good. I was loyal to it for years but they used Kyouka-Chan against me. Dazai-San… he let us go. I now reside in the countryside, helping out at the orphanage.”

Nakajima seems taken aback. “I—”

“Impossible. No one leaves the Mafia unless it’s in a body bag,” Akutagawa snaps, making Atsushi’s tiger eyes narrow immediately.

Nakajima’s too as he bristles. “Dazai-San did,” he snaps and Ryuunosuke’s gaze narrows.

“That man is Mafia here too?”

Nakajima glances at him, immediately looking chaste. “I–well, that was a long time ago—”

“Yes,” Akutagawa cuts him off, “Dazai-San was in the Mafia. He was the biggest candidate to take over after Mori-San. A prodigy.”

Ryuunosuke blinks as he digests that information. That man was in the Mafia but got out? Is that why he looks so… different? So alive? It was perturbing, to say the least. The thought of that man being in the agency with him. His agency doesn’t need Dazai, though. They already have Oda.

“Why didn’t he take over here?” Atsushi asks, voice low and Nakajima blinks, brow furrowing.

“Well—”

Before Nakajima can carry on any further, the door slamming open garners their attention. They all turn to find Dazai floating through calling for Kunikida as if the blonde wasn’t frothing at the mouth at the mere sight of him.

“Dazai—!”

“Ah~ Kunikida-Kun, you did a splendid job at cleaning up this mess. I should have you come clean my dorm because you should see the—”

Kunikida breaks another pen as he fumes, dropping the pieces as he goes to grab Dazai’s shirt before thinking better of it and dropping his hands to his sides. “Dazai, I swear to—”

He’s cut off as Fukuzawa walks in. Ryuunosuke straightens immediately, going on alert as the man in traditional clothing flicks his gaze their way before looking toward Dazai. 

Ryuunosuke had a… begrudging respect for the man. He was the only other person Ryuunosuke couldn’t kill no matter how hard he tried. Sakunosuke Oda was a given. He was Ryuunosuke’s sensei after all, but Fukuzawa Yukichi was an enigma. A leader in every way. Ryuunosuke could see why Ranpo idolized the man in such a way even if he went a little overboard with it.

A familiar face pops out from behind the detective. Yosano’s wide eyes survey the scene as she whistles low. 

“Damn Dazai. Didn’t think you were telling the truth when you said there were two.” She tilts her head to the side, dark hair falling into her face on one side while the other continues to stay clipped due to the butterfly barrette in her hair. Her gaze flicks over Ryuunosuke curiously but doesn’t linger, instead honing in on Atsushi with a familiarity.

He clenches his jaw. He can already tell he isn’t going to like being here. Like being an outcast. He won’t admit it out loud, but he’s gotten used to the familiarity the Agency brings. Got used to the warm looks and the welcoming hellos.

Tanizaki is the next one to enter. Wide eyes and gaping mouth. He glances between the two pairs with shock.

“Seeing double. I’m seeing double. Is this what the sudden meeting is about?”

Naomi, who was never far behind, pops out from behind her brother, wrapping her arms around his waist as she too surveys with wide eyes. “Oh wow. It’s like the color pallet got reversed!”

Tanizaki observes her observation with a snort of laughter. “Right? How funny. What else is reversed?”

Oh, if he only knew.

Fukuzawa clears his throat, gathering everyone’s attention as he goes to stand at the head of the meeting table. “Thank you everyone for coming on such short notice. I know we are missing a few, but they are out on missions and I will catch them up later. As you can see, the reasons as for which such a meeting has come to be are sitting in the corner.”

The stragglers make their way to open seats, turning their attention to their leader even if Ryuunosuke does get a few curious glances. 

None of them linger. All inevitably land on Atsushi, too. 

He hates it here.

Dazai must’ve caught Fukuzawa up on everything because the man relays it all to everyone who is present. 

He notes that Akutagawa looks a bit out of place, glancing toward the door every few seconds. Atsushi looks the same but that was given. He briefly wonders why his other self is still here until he realizes that he’s the reason. Who wants their doppelganger walking around without their supervision? The thought alone is enough to ruffle his feathers but he can’t do anything about it. He knows he’d be the same had their positions been reversed. He’d be worried about what his other self would mess up when people inevitably took them for the other.

“So, we are now on the lookout for a man named Lewis Carroll,” Fukuzawa finishes. “This case takes precedence given the severity of the consequences that could happen. Anything to do with the Book is priority.”

“What about them?” Nakajima asks, glancing at Ryuunosuke and Atsushi with a furrowed brow. “They’re… us. They can’t exactly be seen.”

“Yes, that was another thing.” Fukuzawa turns to them and Ryuunosuke straightens once more, “Seeing as they have no place to go, they will be staying here.”

He feels his shoulders relax as relief seeps in. Atsushi, however, tenses further.

“I understand how little room in the dorms we have, which is why I must ask some of you to bunk together. Any takers?”

The room goes deadly silent and Ryuunosuke sighs internally. He knows just how packed the dorms are. He got the last one when he appeared. Still, he doesn’t want anyone to give up their home for them. It makes him… uncomfortable, thinking about someone, one of the people he’s grown close to in the last few years, giving up their space for him. Even if they weren’t the same people, he couldn’t possibly impose.

“That’s okay—” he goes to state, noting how relieved Atsushi looks with his actions, but he’s cut off by a familiar voice.

“They can have my room while they’re here. I can manage.”

Ryuunosuke immediately scowls at Dazai’s voice. The man smiles in his direction, giving a small curl of his fingers as a wave like he knows how bad that will piss Ryuunosuke off.

He opens his mouth to immediately decline when Fukuzawa nods.

“Okay, thank you, Dazai. Does anyone want to sh—”

“No,” a chorus of voices replied, leaving Dazai to purse his lips petulantly. 

Ryuunosuke stares because… it’s so weird. To see such facial expressions on that man.

“Boo, you guys are no fun. Or nice. Whatever,” the brunette rolls his eyes, leaning back in his chair. His bandages bunch and twist with his movements but virtually don’t move. “I can make it on my own, Boss.”

The two seem to share a silent conversation that ends with Fukuzawa nodding once. 

“Then it’s done. We’ll meet tomorrow with everyone and discuss our next steps.” 

“I got that one,” Dazai states, glancing at Ryuunosuke and Atsushi. “How was your Fitzgerald?”

Atsushi immediately grimaces while Ryuunosuke scowls.

Dazai’s eyes alight with amusement. “Ah, that’s what I thought.” He turns back to Fukuzawa with a smile. “Permission to take them with me?”

The two share yet another silent discussion before Fukuzawa sighs and nods his head once.

“They are not to be harmed. They are guests—”

“Yes, yes, Boss! I know.”

Ryuunosuke dislikes immediately that Dazai is dictating what he does but on the other hand, he desperately wants to return home. If Fitzgerald can, in some way, assist with that, he’ll follow along.

“Well then, chop, chop,” Dazai states as he stands, pointing at the two sets of twins. “Let’s go. You can gossip later. Oh, and Kunikida-Kun? I really will need that dorm clean if our guests are going to be staying there.”

“Dazai—”

“I know, I know. You don’t have to be the one to clean it, but you want to, don’t you? Think about how it will reflect on us if we let them stay in a trashy dorm!”

Ryuunosuke must begrudgingly admit that Dazai is really good with manipulation. He knows just the right words to say to get something and although he’s only seen it used on Kunikida, he holds no doubt that he uses it in all contexts of his life.

After a little more back and forth, Kunikida inevitably folds with a promise of reward from Dazai.

“Nothing too crazy,” the blonde mutters as Dazai herds the four of them out the door. 

Ryuunosuke wants to rebel. To stay standing where he is but Atsushi’s light grip on his wrist has him following.

“No promises~!”

*   *   *

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald is a man of taste. Renowned for his love of money and luxury, it’s bemusing to think that he would resort to such lows at this dump. This run-down building that’s falling from the inside out. When Dazai first propositioned that Fitzgerald was staying here, Ryuunosuke immediately protested because seriously? Did he not know Fitzgerald? But then he got to thinking. After the Moby Dick went down, Fitzgerald disappeared. Essentially wiped off the face of the earth, so maybe, just maybe, Dazai might be onto something.

Still, Ryuunosuke can’t help his doubts as he stares up at the weathered building. It really looks as if a light breeze could brush it over. It’s something he would’ve lived in during his time in the slums.

A familiar face opens the door with her light brown hair and piercing green eyes. She stares at them in slight shock as if she couldn’t have predicted this. Odd, because she was known for her predictions.

“Is he here?” Dazai asks, skipping all formalities.

Louisa Alcott pushes her glasses up her nose and looks as if she wants to shut the door in their faces but she nods nonetheless. She opens it further and they slip inside.

They were minus one Akutagawa as he returned to the Mafia shortly after leaving the Agency. Ryuunosuke believes that he’ll keep their presence here a secret and it’s probably only a matter of time before the Mafia gets involved considering it pertains to one of their members. 

He’s not too sure how to feel about that, either. His Mafia is… not good. It spiraled after that man’s death, too. The two organizations hardly work together and when it comes down to it, it’s an unpleasant experience, to say the least.

“I’m home~” Dazai sings and an exasperated sigh is heard deeper within the apartment.

They find Fitzgerald relaxing back against the ragged couch, teacup in hand, and staring at them with a raised brow. He looks as pompous as always, dressed in sumptuous clothing and looking wholly out of place for the environment. 

His sardonic amusement dissipates when his eyes fall on the Atsushis, flicking back and forth between the pair. When they finally land on Ryuunosuke, his brow is furrowed, and face, a mass of confusion.

“I—”

“Trust me, I don’t wish to be here anymore than you want us here, but we have a predicament that I’m sure you’ll be interested in,” Dazai states, cutting the American off before he can start.

Fitzgerald leans forward and places his cup on its matching saucer, eyes never leaving the three of them. “And this pertains as to why I’m suddenly seeing double? Louisa, Dear, you didn’t spike my tea, did you?”

Louisa stumbles in, shuffling her feet nervously. “I–I—of course not, Fitzgerald-Sama! I would never!”

Fitzgerald sighs and leans back, looking lax and comfortable but Ryuunosuke can see the off-set tensness of his shoulders. “Yes, yes, you’re quite right. I apologize for doubting you.”

Louisa disappears with a nervous smile.

Dazai strides forward, taking a seat on the opposite end of the couch. Fitzgerald gives him another raised brow to which he ignores.

“What do you know about a one Lewis Carroll?”

Fitzgerald’s green eyes slide to them immediately, looking at both Ryuunosuke and Atsushi in a new, knowing light. He masks it rather quickly, however.

“Lewis Carroll, hmm? What would make you presume I’d know anyone by that name?”

“Don’t play coy. Ignorance doesn’t suit you.”

“Truthfully, I’m quite pleased with your belief in my extent of knowledge.”

“Not in your knowledge, the Eyes of God.”

“So you just want me for my things? I’m hurt.”

“Were there any other pretenses to our relationship?”

“Enough,” Ryuunosuke snaps before he can help it. For such people as he’s known to act so differently, like this, it’s unnerving. Familiar and wrong.  Two pairs of eyes slide to him and he scowls. “I would like to return home as fast as possible and quite frankly, no one cares for your pissing contest, so can we hurry this along?”

Both Atsushis give him a wide-eyed look but he doesn’t acknowledge it. 

The other two give him an unreadable look before Fitzgerald turns to Dazai without addressing his words.

“You know, Dazai, I find it quite insulting that you’d assume I’d know every white man you come across just because I’m one myself.”

“Don’t you?”

Fitzgerald stares for a moment, before he sighs, relaxing back into the couch. “I do.”

Dazai’s eyes shine with triumph. 

“However, what’s in it for me?”

Dazai doesn’t even look surprised at this turn. “You’re not even the least bit curious about the twins standing behind me?”

Fitzgerald's eyes flick to the Atsushis and back again. “Not in the slightest.”

Dazai sighs, put upon and wearily. “Okay, well that answers that. Thank you for your time.” He stands and Fitzgerald’s brows furrow. 

Ryuunosuke’s follows as he eyes Dazai who strides toward the door. He opens his mouth to snap something when Fitzgerald cuts him off.

“Fine, fine, you win.” The blonde leans forward, narrowing his eyes at Dazai who masks his smirk and turns back, taking his previous spot. Fitzgerald runs a hand through his blonde hair, rousing it. It’s an odd look, to say the least. Seeing put together Fitzgerald with a hair out of place.

“I’m listening.”

“Hush it, I’m thinking,” Fitzgerald doesn’t snap but it is somewhat forceful. The man sighs. “Lewis Carroll is a man I’ve come across only once in my time. He is an Englishman and not much is known about him. He’s a recluse.”

“But you know something.”

Fitzgerald’s jaw clenches. “I do.” He picks up his teacup and leans back. “In America, there are multiple organizations pertaining to humans with abilities. Due to its size, many organizations fight for power and are known throughout, but England is different. It’s much smaller and because of that, there aren’t a lot of ability-founded agencies. The Order of the Clocktower is the renowned organization that reigns supreme and leaves everyone to overlook the others. What about them? Well, there are others, but the most notable is the SPR. They’ve risen in power over the last few years. It is not known who runs it but I know Carroll is a part of this organization.”

“And you just so happened to come across these people,” Dazai says, a leading statement if Ryuunosuke’s ever heard one. 

Fitzgerald also realizes as his eyes flash but he doesn’t refute. “My search for the Book has taken me many a places. England was just one of the many stepping stones it took for me to get here.”

“How lovely.” Ah, that was sarcasm.

Fitzgerald smiles fauxly. “Indeed. It’s been a pleasure.”

There’s a brief lapse of silence before the foreigner sighs again. 

“I’ve met him once and I’d prefer to never to again. He was… unusual. Not stable here,” he rubs two fingers down his temple and Dazai’s brows raise. “Though, I suppose you are the same but he was… different. Strange. Insane, I’d have to say. Certifiably so.”

That certainly coincides with Ryuunosuke’s experience. He shoots Atsushi a look to receive a knowing one in return.

“You have no idea where he would be staying?”

“Honestly, I fear he is so unpredictable that even the Eyes of God would have a difficult time finding him.”

Dazai leans back, humming quietly as he glances off. He seems to get lost in a thought as Fitzgerald’s eyes flick their way.

“I’m afraid that’s where my knowledge ends. Now, I believe I’m due some answers.”

Dazai doesn’t verbally respond but he does wave a hand. When it seems he won’t speak, Ryuunosuke takes it upon himself to explain. Stubborn prick.

“We aren’t from your world. You’re after the Book, we know, so you understand what it does and can do. We’re…” he trails off, eyes flicking toward Atsushi who steps forward.

“We’re from inside it.”

Fitzgerald looks surprised, brows raising. He doesn’t even try to hide it as he looks at the two of them more closely. “Is that so?”

“We met him in our world,” Ryuunosuke states. “At least, our version of him. He was… quite odd as you said and we believe he was speaking to himself. The version of himself that is out here, at least.”

Fitzgerald stares for a moment long before he straightens. “His ability is called Wonderland, however, it is unknown as to what it does.”

“So you did know more,” Dazai murmurs but Fitzgerald ignores it.

“Dimension hopping,” Fitzgeralds states, eyes flicking back and forth between the three of them now. “Whoever would have guessed.”

“Yes, yes, world travelers,” Dazai states, “How do you know what his ability is called?”

“It’s common knowledge among the elites what a notable person’s ability is. Carroll was strange enough to take note of. Of course his ability would be questioned, however, they were only ever able to get the name out of him.”

“Hmm.”

“Indeed.”

Dazai stands after that, nodding. “Well, thank you for your time.”

Fitzgerald doesn’t rise but he does eye them. “I’m not done with my questions.”

“Then maybe you should help out. We’ll be working to find a way to get them back for the foreseeable future. I’m sure they’ll be happy to answer whatever it is you want to ask if you let us use your resources.”

“Don’t answer for me,” Ryuunsouke snaps before he can help it. Dazai’s attitude was getting the best of him, what can he say?

Atsushi leans toward him, but he ignores it. He takes a breath and calms himself.

Dazai doesn’t snap back but he eyes him analytically. Like he’s dissecting Ryuunosuke for all he’s worth. He despises it.

“We’ll answer them,” Atsushi states, earning a betrayed look from Ryuunosuke but the weretiger ignores it. “If you assist.”

Fitzgerald’s eyes flick between them. Actually, Ryuunosuke can feel all three of their gazes but he pays it no heed as he clenches his jaw. It’s either that or he snaps and that would be childish. He was better than that now.

“I’ll let you know what I find,” Fitzgerald finally states.

Dazai doesn’t look smug but Ryuunsouke knows he is.

“Thank you,” Atsushi states, bowing slightly. Begrudgingly, Ryuunosuke follows when Atsushi’s eyes flick his way but doesn’t bend nearly as far down. 

Fitzgerald seems surprised but he manages a nod back. “I’ll collect my levy later.”

Dazai’s already striding toward the door before Fitzgerald even finishes, waving a hand over his shoulder as he glides. “Wonderful to see you, Dear. Let’s not meet again.”

“Don’t barge in next time, Dazai,” Fitzgerald calls, frowning. 

Dazai doesn’t respond as he leaves.

The Atsushis follow after quickly but Ryuunosuke lingers, eyeing the foreigner who eyes him back. They don’t say anything as he turns on his heel and follows the rest out the door.

It’s a quiet walk back with nothing more but the noise of the city and the crunching of their footsteps accompanying them. 

Atsushi eventually takes it upon himself to guide up to Nakajima and start a conversation. It’s met with equal enthusiasm and Ryuunosuke scowls at the back of Atsushi’s head.

Dazai lingers. He doesn’t know it, however, until the man falls in line with him.

“What?” he snaps when he notices.

Dazai doesn’t rise to the bait. Doesn’t do anything, really, but observe him.

Eventually, the man states, “You dislike me quite a bit.”

“What gave it away?” Ryuunosuke snaps, rolling his eyes.

“I am quite curious about my counterpart, however, I’ll stem it for now because I’d rather like to know where you got that coat.”

Ryuunosuke’s eyes fall to Dazai’s own and his jaw clenches. “Why the hell should I tell you anything?”

Dazai seems to mull the words over for a while before he finally states, “Because I’m going to be the one helping you get back. Wouldn’t it be a shame if you were here longer than need be?”

The threat makes him bristle and seethe. Of course this man would be exactly like that one. Of course. He should’ve known better. It’s honestly his fault for thinking that maybe things would be different here just because the man was part of the Agency. 

“You—”

Dazai sighs as he takes in Ryuunosuke’s rage. “Perhaps that was not the best way to go about things. I’m asking because it looks similar to mine and I’m trying to work things out.”

Ryuunosuke’s anger dims slightly at the truthfulness of the words, but he doesn’t let himself believe. His eyes flick to Atsushi who is speaking amiably with Nakajima. Atsushi would want him to keep the peace, wouldn’t he? 

His eyes take in that soft smile, one he sees only rarely, and sighs.

Fuck.

“It belongs to my sensei. Or, it used to.”

Dazai’s eyes flash and a look of seriousness comes across his expression. It looks so similar to the last look Ryuunosuke ever saw on the man’s face that it momentarily takes him aback. “What happened to him?”

“Nothing?” It sounds like a question but that’s only because of the forcefulness of Dazai’s words.

Dazai blinks at that, brow furrowing. “Nothing?”

“Oda-San mentors me at the Agency. He gave this coat to me a few months after I arrived because he found out I stole the previous one from an old lady.”

Dazai seems to blink in incredulity for a moment before amusement lights in his gaze. He quickly turns his head away, however, so Ryuunosuke couldn’t be certain but the thought alone makes him scowl nonetheless.

“So Odasaku’s alive, huh?” the man finally murmurs, seemingly to himself but Ryuunosuke hears it. 

His brow furrows as he casts the man a look. “Oda-San isn’t alive here?” And did that man just call him ‘Odasaku?’ 

Dazai turns back to him with a blank, dead gaze. He doesn’t verbally answer but the look was answer enough.

Ryuunosuke’s stomach sinks at the thought. His brow furrows and a pang of sadness hits him. He knew he hadn’t seen Oda earlier, but he merely thought that he was away on a mission as Fukuzawa had stated. To think that he wasn’t even alive… It brings Ryuunosuke’s mood down tremendously.

“How’d he die?” he finds himself asking before he can stop.

Dazai’s silent for a long while before, “There was an organization that rivaled the Mafia and he was targeted because of it. That and a betrayal.”

His head snaps over before he can help it at the implication. “Oda-San was not in the Mafia.”

“Maybe not in your world, but in mine, he was.”

He swallows thickly, digesting that. He couldn’t imagine Oda in the Mafia in any world. He was too good for that. It was as preposterous as Atsushi being in the Agency.

Yet, that’s exactly what this world is, no?

“I’d take it from the anger you directed toward me, that I’m not in the Agency with you.” And him. It goes unsaid but Ryuunosuke hears it nonetheless. Dazai makes it sound as if he and Oda were friends. How laughable. 

“Of course not,” he scoffs before clearing the knot in his throat away.

Dazai doesn’t outwardly react but he hums. It seems like he’s going to drop it there and for some reason, that pisses Ryuunosuke off to no end.

“You’re not even the least bit curious?”

Dazai gives him a look of wide eyes and innocent shock. “Why, would you tell me if I asked?”

“No.”

“Then there’s no need to waste my breath. I can get it out of Atsushi-Kun later.”

Ryuunosuke pauses, turning toward the other. “Leave him alone.”

Surprise shines in Dazai’s eyes before it's masked. “And why should I?”

“Because I’ll kill you if you don’t.” 

Dazai’s death hit Atsushi hard. Really hard to the point he gave up on life until Mori found him. Back then, Ryuunosuke didn’t really care all that much about the weretiger. He just wanted to challenge him again, but nothing could ever mask the sad darkness in Atsushi’s eyes when Dazai is brought up.

Dazai’s blank face stares back at his glare unflinchingly. He eventually turns away without a word and picks up his pace.

Ryuunosuke follows not because he wants to continue this conversation but because the Atsushis are further away now and quickly disappearing.

The silence drags on and Ryuunosuke’s content to keep it until Dazai interrupts once more.

“Is he happy?”

He looks at the man from the corner of his eye, assessing, but Dazai gives nothing away. He continues to stare forward as if he never spoke at all.

He doesn’t reply at first, biting his tongue to keep it inside but when Dazai doesn’t push further, he finds himself caving.

“Kunikida-San gets onto his case often when he’s late,” Ryuunosuke pauses, hesitating a moment before he adds, “He helps out at this orphanage, too. And he’s writing this novel he won’t let me read. ‘Not yet,’ he says. ‘It’s not done yet,’ but he seems to enjoy it. I’d presume he’s as happy as anyone can be.”

Imperceptibly, Dazai’s shoulders relax a fraction and he slowly, so slowly lets out a breath he must’ve been holding.

“Good,” the man breathes and that’s that.