Archive of Our Own

The smell of flowers was filling the air. Roses, lilies, fuchsias and especially, Chuuya's favourite, camellias. He's always wanted them at his wedding, and now, they were even kind of the theme of it. Carefully woven into his hair, two braids on the sides of his head, ending together in an elegantly messy bun. The perfect updo, as expected of Kouyou. That wasn't where it ended though, while the ones in his hair were white, a hem made of deep red camellias adorn his black jacket. He wore matching red pants and a white shirt with some light ruffles.
Dazai, who was waiting for him at the flowery altar was also dressed in white shirt. His jacket and pants both were a dark brown though. It was Chuuya's request, he always believed brown was Dazai's colour. His hair was combed for once, and tucked behind his ear on one side. He had a white camellia on his jacket, matching with Chuuya.
It was everything he ever wanted, Chuuya thought as he let Hirotsu lead him down the altar. Small in size, but grand and romantic in atmosphere.
The happiness was a little dimmed out tho, as he arrived to his, very-soon-to-be-husband and realized Dazai was frowning. Dazai was clear about not liking the idea of a romantic wedding but he agreed so what was this?!
"Aren't you happy to be marrying me?" He whispers teasingly while Hirotsu left to join Oda, their other witness. Dazai's expression didn't change "I'm not happy about the wedding" He hissed, ignoring that the officiant started talking.
"What?! You agreed to it!" Chuuya whispers back angrily.
"Dazai Osamu, do you take Nakahara Chuuya as your lawfully wedded husband?"
Chuuya couldn't help but hold his breath, waiting for Dazai's answer.
"I do" phew. Chuuya smiled again, he didn't even realize he stopped smiling before, but it didn't matter now.
"Nakahara Chuuya, do you take Dazai Osamu as your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do" Chuuya is full-on grinning now.
"I only agreed to this atrocity so you would shut up and just marry me" Dazai tells him but it doesn't even matter.
"I now pronounce you husbands"
"Well, I did shut up and marry you..."
"You may now kiss" the officiant says and Chuuya smirks.
"Now it's your turn to shut up and kiss me" he tells his husband, before pulling him down. They lips meet and everything is as it should be.
   
                     .....................

No, no, no, it shouldn't be like this. This shouldn't be possible, let alone happening to me. But it is.
"You're going to a mission tonight. Expect Dazai to appear." Mori tells him, and it doesn't look like he's kidding. Chuuya does his best to stay on his feet and not just fall down to his knees there and then. Get it together Chuuya, work first, breakdown later.
Still, he croaks out "D-Dazai, sir? I thought he was dead..." He trailed off, afraid to say too much. Mori's eyes pierce through him none the less.
"I declared Dazai a traitor to the port mafia, I never said anything about his death even once in the four years."
"But it's been so long without anyone seeing him or knowing anything about him! Surely..." Mori folds his hands in his typical way and leans forward. "You should not underestimate Dazai like that, Chuuya-kun. I thought you as his partner would know this." He tells him, and he puts on the infuriating 'disappointed father' kind of tone.
After studying Chuuya's expression for a little longer, Mori spoke again. "You're fully dismissed for the rest of the day, but I expect you to be prepared for the mission. That's all"
Chuuya bows and heads through the door, body slightly shaking in anger, sadness, pain, betrayal, and other feelings he cannot place. At the moment he only realized one thing, he won't be able to see his husband while sober.
Right, husband... The thought makes him pause and then turn around again. All of the emotions pushed into the back of his mind, he asks "Boss, may I borrow one of our lawyers for something?"
Mori looks at him with rare expression of confusion, but then shrugs. "Do as you please." He tells the executive, waving his hand dismissively.
Perfect. He might not get drunk on wine today, but he'll get drunk on revenge.

...

The very first thing he noticed about Dazai already filled him with rage. Not only did Chuuya grown just to 160 cm, Dazai was clearly much taller than Chuuya remembered, and therefore obviously much taller than the redhead.
It was an absolutely stupid reason to get angry at Dazai. So dumb that Chuuya's almost wanted to laugh at himself. This was the man that left him without a word little over a year into their marriage. A man who he believed to be dead, having offed himself in some river. And yet, the first thing that pisses Chuuya off is his height. It felt so...them, it made him want to lean over the grass and vomit. Unfortunately, he had a task at hand, one which involved saving the mackerel, that somehow ended up with an injured arm, yet again of course. Of course, the bastard had to be reminding him of their first meeting, whether it was intentional or not.
Sighing, he calmly headed into the middle of what will soon become a Battlefield.
He was giving up a valuable advantage of surprise, but he hardly cared. He didn't want to strategize. He wanted to tear those guild soldiers apart, before he did it to his husband instead.
As expected, all guns were aimed at him immediately. God they were making this easy for him.
All he needed was to wait for the moment the bullets just touched him...there. Grinning like a madman than he was, Chuuya stood there, surrounded by the bullets. He could feel the moment they're realized that they fucked up... and the second they did, he kicked the bullets all around.
He didn't care if the bullets hit Dazai. If the man wasn't smart enough to duck, he deserved it.

Dazai wasn't exactly smart enough to duck. Or at least he wasn't planning to do it at first. Chuuya had perfect control over every bullet, even though he often liked to act like he didn't and just send them everywhere. He knew better, obviously. He was the one helping the hatrack train his aim.

It was after a silly argument, Chuuya yelling at him to stop trying to kill himself, because he'll be the one to, and he citates, "end him, gut him like the fish he was and then put his skin up as a trophy" Dazai laughed in his face and told him to come try. Chuuya, easily provoked as always, grabbed him by the neck and slammed him into a wall. Very painful experience, 0/10 Dazai would not recommend. So he kicked Chuuya's knee in. It honestly surprised him that Chuuya didn't make almost any sound as he fell down to his other knee, not letting go of Dazai though. Impressive. "Let go fucker" the younger wheezed, prompting Chuuya to growl at him. "Like hell! You told me to kill you anyway!" Now Dazai was starting to really struggle to breathe, and he could feel his oxygen running low. With human body handling at best 3 minutes without oxygen, he technically had quite enough time, but already 3 seconds meant damage to the brain and most importantly, the protest of his lungs hurt like hell. Deciding his actions, Dazai reached his head to Chuuya's face, and put the tips of his fingers on Chuuya's eyes. Not daring to blind such important asset to the mafia he mercifully let the other close his eyes before applying pressure.
Just as planned, Chuuya instinctually tried to move his head away, but Dazai's hands were longer than his, and soon there was nowhere to escape. Obviously Chuuya let go. So did Dazai and the two just glared at each other for a while before the smaller started rubbing his, no doubt aching, eyes.
"Don't touch your eyes idiot, you'll make it worse" Dazai uttered helpfully.
"Oh now you're giving me advice?!" Chuuya snaps back, but stops none the less. "Mhhm, I am. I'll even be so kind and help Chuuya to the infirmary to grab some eyedrops and" Dazai looks at the other's clearly dislocated knee "...some ice for that." The older gives him a nasty look. "Ice?"
"Yeah, for the swelling to go down" the younger answers, pretending not to notice what Chuuya was getting at.
"I don't think the swelling is the main problem right now Dazai" the slug answers with the nastiest smile he could possibly archive, clearly passive aggressive.
"Look if you want me to pop it back in place right here and now just say so, but it'll be more comfortable with ice at hand"
"As if you'd make anything more comfortable."
" Don't try me slug, I can still step on it and you'll be getting screws in your knee" Chuuya didn't react to that, but his face visibly paled so Dazai took it as his victory.
He lowered himself to the redhead's level and took his hand, throwing it over his shoulder. "C'mon, up we go" he partially lifts Chuuya up, making sure to keep him off the injured leg. Like this, he helped the other get to the infirmary without a single word passing between them. Dazai was starting to remember that he was feeling shitty, and slipped back into the uncomfortable void of emotions that somehow felt worse than he imagined an actual sadness would. The feeling disappeared tho, as they got to the infirmary, instead replaced by the need to bug and annoy Chuuya as much as possible. He turns to him with a grin. Soooo, me or them, who's fixing you up?" The hatrack just sits down on the ground. "Go get whatever was the shit you said you needed." He tells him, leaning against the wall nonchalantly.
Dazai studies him for a while. In no way did he imagine Chuuya would actually choose him just like that, he shrugged tho and disappeared to ask the stuff for eye drops and some ice.
When he got back, Chuuya was just where he left him. "Eyes first hatrack"
"Fuck you I can do that myself!" Dazai watched with amusement as Chuuya repeatedly failed to get the little bottle out of his hands, clearly opposed to having the brunette anywhere near his eyes again.
Unfortunately for the little mafioso, Dazai was just in the mood to bully him. After a while of unsuccessful grabbing, Chuuya did eventually give up and just let Dazai force his eyes open and clean them with the drops.
Next came the really fun part. "Will you scream? Should I give you something to bite into?"
"You should shut up and just do it"
" Awwh, but that would be no fun, I need to build up anticipa-" In the middle of the word he applies pressure to the dislocated joint, popping it back in place. "-tion. More fun when you don't expect it. Also more likely to make you scream, though I see you won't grant me that satisfaction" He grins at the other, but his eyes are glaring hole into Chuuya. The slug is of course glaring right back.
Not breaking their eye contact, Dazai puts the ice onto Chuuya's leg, then decided he should prop it up with something.
Due to practicality, the training rooms were right next to the infirmary, so he decided to look there. That's how he got the idea, because the first thing he saw upon walking in was a box of ammunition. Grinning he picked it up and carried all the way back, where he just dropped it right next to Chuuya.
"Since you'll be needing to keep the leg still for a while, I was kind enough to think of a way to entertain you!" He kicks the box over, all the bullets spilling out. Then he walked to the wall across from Chuuya and nonchalantly sat down. "You can train the awful aim of your ability. Shoot the bullets towards me, but make sure none hit me. Or at least make them hit me right in the head, or through heart.... Anything painless really." He explains.
The older boy just stares at him. "Have you lost your mind?! What makes you think I will not hit you anyway?"
"Easy. I challenge you not to hit me, and if you do, I'll just have to assume you can't aim. Oh Chuuya, your face is matching your hair." Dazai chuckles upon seeing that the other's face is indeed turning red.
First bullet swishes through the air next to him, burying into the wall, way too close to the brunette's ear. "HEY! YOU COULD AT LEAST START AT A SAFER DISTANCE FROM ME!" The answer to Dazai's screeching was yet another bullet.

Out of the 100 bullets that day, Chuuya didn't hit Dazai once. Obviously, he thought he'll avoid getting shot this time too, but as he watched Chuuya pause, eyes scanning around like a can watching a struggling bird, he felt chill run down his spine. His hatrack's murder intent was clear, and Chuuya with a murder intent is a Chuuya to avoid.
Being the wise man that he is, Dazai ducked about a millisecond before Chuuya fired.
The guild soldiers fell to the ground in unison, some groaning in pain, most dead. The gravity manipulator clearly didn't care, making his way to Dazai instead.

The tall man looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Really? You would have shot me?" He gets no verbal response. The smaller simply keeps walking towards him until he finally deems the distance small enough. Then he thrusts out his hand, slamming a pile of papers against Dazai's chest, holding it there until the younger takes it with a puzzled look.

"Hope you have a pen at you, asshole. I don't want to have to lend you mine." Are the first words Chuuya says to his husband after 4 years. He planned this though, giving Dazai the papers being the first thing he does. He just wants to be free, wants Dazai's signature and the divorce finalized as soon as possible.
Obviously, the other wasn't going to make that easy, because instead of at least taking a look at what Chuuya handed him, he starts to put it in his pocket, to the executive's utter horror. "DON'T YOU FUCKING PUT IT IN THERE IDIOT! THOSE ARE LEGAL FUCKING DOCUMENTS, THAT SHIT CAN'T GET CRUMPLED!" He yells, leaving Dazai even more baffled.

For a while at least "legal.... documents......    Oh, I see" the others eyes narrow at Chuuya. "Let me just fold it carefully then, before I put it in the pocket." He says, voice strangely tense. As he does just that.
"What? Fuck that, just read it and sign it, no need for you to drag it anywhere." Chuuya tries to grab the paper back, but fails miserably when Dazai simply sidesteps him.
"We're on a mission Chuuya. Stop being unprofessional, we can deal with this later." Oh, it makes sense. The way he speaks, the grinding of his teeth right now. He knows, knows what he's just been given. Good.
"Fine you bastard. Let's get the kid first, we'll talk once we have it."
Dazai answers with a noncommittal hum that makes Chuuya want to strangle him. They enter the weird building without a sound, but that of course doesn't last long.
"You know, out of all the pieces you could have changed in your outfit you just stick with the ugliest ones. Especially the hat. It's so damn tacky c'mon, even you could do better-"
"Fuck off"
"No but seriously. At least the shoes are good"
That made Chuuya pause as he inspected his boots. They were from fine leather, with steel tips too. Pretty and practical. "You think so too?"
"Pfff, as if. They suck. Just like the rest"
"Fucking hate you. I hate you so much that I opened my Pètrus to celebrate when you disappeared" he tells his ex-partner. He doesn't know why, but he kind of wants to show Dazai in just how much pain he's been. Maybe a desperate wish that Dazai will regret what he did. A piece of hope which Dazai swiftly stomps out in his next sentence. "Yeah, I put a bomb in your car. Did it blow up?" The brunette asks with a smirk.
"Yeah, NEARLY IN MY FUCKING FACE! WHAT WERE YOU TRYING TO DO? KILL ME?!" He yells because what the actual fuck. Dazai was a bastard, he wasn't the best boyfriend either, but this was below him. To actually try and kill Chuuya-
"I didn't try to kill you. I would have set it differently if I wanted you to die."
"Well sorry if I don't believe that" he does, he still trusts Dazai "because if it's true, why did you set it in the first place?!"
"For fun. So I could imagine the face you were making."
"Jeez you were such a bad husband."
"Mhhm, I missed you too. Now maybe continue walking down the stairs? We still have business to finish."
Chuuya sighs and starts moving again. He didn't have the energy to argue. He didn't even feel angry. He felt hopeless, like you gave up something dear to you and you made peace with the fact that it's gone...but it still hurts. And you still want it. Because you love it. Because you wish it would still love you back.
He doesn't properly register when the stairs stop. He walks few more steps before moving to the side to let Dazai walk through.
There he stops, still deep in his feelings, drowning. It's funny because he realizes, if he just puts his head up, he wouldn't be breathing in the water. He'd break from the haze, but something about the depressing, suffocating emptiness around him felt comforting.
Dazai doesn't grant him this peace either tho, talking to him way too soon. "You're unfocused slug, I could literally just cut the kid's throat, you wouldn't be able to stop me~" he tells Chuuya and it pisses him off because it's completely unnecessary. First of all, it's just stating an obvious fact. Second, the kid caused so much suffering, just by being let free. Sure, it wasn't entirely it's fault and Q didn't ask for the ability, but...

Their bodies. So many bodies and the black bags. "Keep up! Protect the city goddamn!" Why? Why am I telling them this? Sending them to die...so many of them. Is there a way to stop this, without him? Why, why did you have to leave? We need you Dazai. The world needs you but you left it.
No, that doesn't matter now. This is our city; we will protect it. The port mafia can't lose Yokohama and the city can't lose us. "Keep going!"
He'll feel bad, once this is over. Mourn his people. But he'll never regret it, because he is saving his city, so that the mafia can keep thriving.

"Do it." He tells Dazai without even looking up. "Boss said to bring Q alive, but all the kid reminds me off are the black bags my men were put in." He adds. Osamu doesn't deserve his reasoning. Perhaps it's just because of the habit that he tells him anyway.
"I see~ then I shall..." There a sound of knife swishing through the air before hitting the bark. Chuuya doesn't raise his head when Dazai gets Q out of the tree. He just stands still and lets him put the child on his back.
It's when the moon hits their faces after walking out that Chuuya allows himself to raise his head and break the imaginary surface of the water.
"Well? We finished the mission. Let's talk about the divorce." He tells Dazai firmly. There was no way he'll let Dazai out of this conversation.

They didn't end up talking about the divorce. Because just as Chuuya was getting ready to start, a green fucking tentacle interrupted him, and threw Dazai god knows how far. It was possibly the scariest experience of Chuuya's life, because for Dazai not to nullify something, yeah this was bad.
He already knew at this point it was corruption level of bad.
Still, he wouldn't risk like that until Dazai gave the sign. If there was any other way to deal with this than to put his life into his ex-partner's hands again, he would take it.
It looked hopeful at one point, they managed to surprise the god-like thing and he did pin it to the ground with gravity. Unfortunately for him, it didn't seem to do much. The monster was standing up again, getting rid of Chuuya's ability as if it was nothing.
It was time. He looked at Dazai for confirmation and received a stern nod. No other way then...
"Thou grantors of the dark disgrace, you need not wake me again" He recites the words, giving the control of his body to the god within him, and the control of said god to Dazai.
The rest was a blur of pain, red and adrenaline. He could see what was happening, knew that Dazai definitely took longer than necessary to nullify corruption. But it was all fuzzy and he didn't remember the details when he regained control of his body again.
Well partial control because falling down to his knees while trembling wasn't exactly his doing.
Nor was the distinct feeling of oh fuck I'm gonna pass out. Through gritted teeth he hisses at Dazai "We're not done with the damn divorce."
He can't tell if it was the reality or a hallucination when he saw Dazai smirk nastily and reply "Oh silly chibi, yes we are." No matter the truth, it was still his last memory when he woke up again, still on the same cold ground. His coat was folded next to him, with his gloves and head on top. When he reached over to put it on, the divorce papers he got together with their best lawyers were staring up at him. Not a single sign of Dazai's signature though. Obviously.
He ends up rummaging through his pockets to find a phone. It's hard because all his muscles hurt and his fingers sometimes bend on their own, but he manages to call someone to pick him up.
The funny part was that he should probably be thinking about Dazai. Feeling all those emotions he did before, but the truth was, he felt nothing. Just pain from the corruption. And he felt tired, and kind of bored. He wasn't thinking about Dazai, he was thinking about wine and his bed.
Unfortunately for him, first stop on his way there was Mori's office.
The boss kindly let him sit down upon seeing his condition, gave him free week to recover and enough painkillers to survive it.
Which obviously ruined his fantasy of wine, but he wasn't going to complain about the lessened pain.
As soon as he can move without aching everywhere tho, he'll hunt down Dazai and make him sign the papers. This won't be going on any longer than necessary.

Dazai is, kindly said, in big trouble. Accurately said, he's fucked. And he fully realizes this, to the point where the only thing he thinks about is this predicament he's gotten himself into.
It affects his job, obviously, though not that visibly since it was rare to see him doing something around the office anyway.
Others still notice. That meaning Ranpo notices and tells the others. In form of a backhanded "so you'll slack off even more than usual Dazai?" but the whole office takes notice.
Kunikida strides up to him, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and yelling right in his face "YOU BETTER NOT DAZAI! YOU GET PAIN TO WORK HERE SO BETTER DO AT LEAST THE BARE MINIMUM!"
Dazai smiles at the blond and answer in a cheery voice "Don't worry Kunikida-kuuuun, my thinking abilities aren’t affected in the slightest~ it'd just be a waste to only use me for paperwork"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN ONLY?! YOI DON'T EVEN DO PAPERWORK YOU LAZY PILE OF BANDAGES!"
With that the office mostly returns back to normal.
Until a few days after the mission with Chuuya. Four, to be exact. Just the time for the chibi to be able to move without much pain. Dazai feels a chill that day and decides he needs a plan. And most likely Ranpo's help.
"Ranpo-san~ I've been thinking... surely you'd be willing to show off your ultra deduction." Ranpo gives him a knowing smirk, of course he expected him to come.
"I see, you want me to deduct-"
"How do I avoid him, yes." Dazai finishes for him.
"Avoid him?" The older detective chuckles "not an option. What you need, Dazai, is a very good lawyer. And to bring me some chocolate bonbons, I ran out."
Dazai's blood turns cold at the implication. If even Ranpo told him the only way is to get a lawyer, it meant the divorce was happening. He would lose Chuuya. Suddenly his chest felt tight, his body felt uncomfortable to be in. He wanted to become someone else, to leave his body, stop existing. It felt as if he was suffocating. It was terrible, bad and Dazai didn't know why, he just knew he wanted to escape this feeling.
"YOU'RE WRONG! I DIDN'T FUCKING ASK YOU TO HELP WITH THE DIVORCE I ASKED YOU TO STOP IT FROM HAPPENING!" He yells in Ranpo's face, primally hoping it would ease the feeling. He hated this, Ranpo, himself, all of it.
Almost everyone currently present in the agency turned to them with concerned gazes. Yosano and Kunikida looked ready to go protect Ranpo and kick Dazai's ass, but the older detective just waved them off without even opening his eyes to look at them or Dazai.
It kinda rubs him the wrong way. "You're not even taking me seriously, are you? and clearly neither my situation- but I do. I won't let my Chuuya leave, not ever. Do you even get what I would lose? Everyone would want him, he's so beautiful, he'd be gone in no time" realizing he slipped into a tone that dangerously resembled begging only causes the feeling to intensify. It makes him weirdly tense, feeling cornered by all the eyes. He almost doesn't realize that he's yelling again. "SO FUCKING TELL ME HOW TO KEEP HIM FROM MAKING THE DIVORCE COME THROUGH!" Despite this the other detective is still completely unaffected. He does open his eyes though, if only to give Dazai a condescending look.
"aren't you a little too old to throw temper tantrums?" He asks him calmly and Dazai explodes.
"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME?!"
"That. That's what I'm talking about, you sound like a child who got told he can't have the expensive toy" Ranpo keeps up his level-headed tone and oh, Dazai will probably murder him soon.
"THIS ISN'T ABOUT A FUCKING TOY, THAT'S MY HUSBAND!"
"Exactly." With that the older one ends the argument, leaving Dazai staring.
What? Obviously, the brunette knows what Ranpo means it's just.... blocked? He doesn't want to realize it, so he doesn't. It's not going to his head but he still knows that the other is right. He indeed feels like child right now, one that's been severely scolded and he doesn't like it in the least. Especially from Ranpo, who has in the meantime closed his eyes again, and is just hanging in Dazai's grip.
"and go buy me those chocolate bonbons, you not ignoring my advice doesn't mean you don't have to pay for it" He announces after a while.
Growling into his face, Dazai lets him go, balling his hands into fists when he hears him chuckle at the reaction. Angry or not, he does need to get Ranpo his bonbons. Not even some higher entity could save someone who'd refuse to pay Ranpo, innocent as he might seem, the man could be cruel and devious when he felt like it. Which was usually after lack of sweets.
Sighing, Dazai headed to the cafe, and through it to the streets. Nearest candy store was few blocks down and he sure as hell wasn't looking forward to the trip.

Every step feels heavier, more suffocating. Will bringing Ranpo the chocolate prove him right? Is there even a way to escape, still?
Logically speaking there isn't. Chuuya will bring it up and if he just avoids his husband forever he might as well just sign the damn thing.
But Dazai doesn't think logically, not when it comes to the redhead. He's obsessive and possessive, he'll do anything to bind Chuuya to him. He blew up his car for the same pretty reason too, so the mafioso would remember him. And bad memories always last longer than the good ones. Maybe that's why he acted like shit towards the other so often...

Lost in thoughts as he was, the road to the shop didn't feel all that long. Nor did the shopping itself, where he absentmindedly picked the first chocolate bonbons he saw.
When he was checking out though, he felt a sudden rush of anxiety. The cause was yet again unknown but the intention clear, he didn't want to go outside. Something bad will happen if he leaves the closed space of the store- deep breath. It's all in your head again. He tells himself. It's been a while since he had his last paranoid episode, thought he supposes things like these take a while to fully disappear- if they ever do.
The looks of the strangers in the shop get him to stop standing there trembling like the insane person he is and head out instead. There's nothing weird outside, sun, street, the wind... it's all the same as it was when he entered the store. Slightly reassured he continues along the way to the agency. Obviously, his stupid paranoia doesn't get that though, because the closer he gets, the more pressure in between his shoulder blades he feels. Was it because of Ranpo? Stupid as it seems it was the most plausible explanation, just his social anxiety running wild aga—
It was not Ranpo, he realizes way too late, alerted by the unmistakable shade of red. There was only one place in Yokohama you could see this colour... and that place was the head of the one person Dazai really didn't want to see right now.
Of course, Chuuya would hunt him down, he just expected it to be slightly later and certainly at a more private place than in front of the agency. He knows it's too late to run, he and his husband could basically sense each other's presence.
Sure enough, Chuuya confirms this. "Come out Dazai, I know you're behind the corner." He says, not even looking in his direction. Might seem like an opportunity to escape, but they both know the mafioso would catch him within seconds if he tried. Defeated, he forces a smile onto his face and approaches the shorter man.
"Chibikko, I see you've missed me" He remarks cheekily, trying to keep up his typical behaviour. A sentiment which Chuuya clearly didn't share. "Keep it, I don't need your annoying voice, I need your signature."
And Dazai's too fucking done to keep up the facade, his metaphorical mask dropping along with his smile. Taking just few steps forward, he cages Chuuya between himself and the wall. "I'm not divorcing you." He states firmly, glaring into Chuuya's eyes. The ginger is completely unphased. "I am divorcing you." He replies, glaring back at Dazai just s viciously. "Actually" he shoves Dazai away with ease "I don't even care if you want to or not. You owe me this. You fucking left me for four years, you'll survive leaving me legally too. I won't be bound to a man who refuses to be bound to me!" For once he's not yelling. Chuuya's voice is levelled and eerily calm. Not something Dazai is used to and it disturbs him. He opens his mouth to speak, to piss the other off, to make him yell like usual, but Chuuya is faster. "You owe me this." He repeats, cutting him off venomously, glaring daggers at Dazai.
"But I came back-" he tries to protest in vain.
"No. You don't deserve shit for that, you coming back only serves to show that you think you'll always have me at your back and call." That was a fair point, Dazai supposes, and he can't really tell that it's an incorrect one either. He did kind off expect them to go back to their usual dynamics. Did he expect them to become romantic again? No definitely not right away, but he definitely didn't think Chuuya would want a divorce. If anything, he believed that the other would hold onto it like crazy, a reminder that Dazai is still his. Funny how his expectations were the opposite of reality. Here he was, the one holding onto the divorce, begging to keep the proof that Chuuya is legally his. Not that their wedding was exactly legal, but the documents were still valid. Oh, Chuuya's still talking...
"not to mention even back then you were toxic."
"Chuuya I'm not like that anymore, I've changed!"
"AND HOW THE FUCK SHOULD I KNOW?! YOU DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME YOU WERE LEAVING! For all I know your 'change' could have been from suicidal but breathing to a dead body!"
Dazai stands speechless for a long minute, fully taken aback. Did Chuuya...think he killed himself? Surely his husband believed in him more than that, right? Then again, he didn't contact him for four years, and sure maybe the few times he made himself flatline weren't helping.... okay he could see Chuuya's reasoning. It was almost maddening, no, fully maddening to think about his Chuuya, mourning him, without even a body to bring him some closure. He hated, absolutely hated knowing he is the reason for so much pain his only love went through. He wanted to make this right, couldn't Chuuya see that? Maybe he deserved to be divorced, but Dazai Osamu was not a fair man and he was going to keep what is his.
"Chuu I'm so sorry, I never once thought you could believe—" Chuuya raises his hand to cut him off. In a very un-Dazai manner, he actually shuts up and listens. Oh, he wishes he didn't.
"I almost wish it was true. That I didn't cry over just a picture of you for no reason. In my head, I buried you and now you're back. I don't know how to feel Dazai but I'm angry. And I sure as hell don't want you in my life again. I could excuse betraying the mafia, just because I love you, but you betrayed me" Not giving Dazai any time to recover, he forces the divorce papers into his hand and disappears.

Dazai stands there completely baffled by the situation. He doesn't even have time to feel something. Not emotions, no feelings, not his body either- the body that he's only distantly aware is sliding to its knees.
He doesn't feel himself breathe, but he doesn't feel the stinging lack of oxygen either so he supposes he's doing it. He tries to move his hand, just to see if he can. It moves- in the way he wanted too, yet it doesn't feel like he was the one controlling it. He doesn't try again, doesn't have the energy. Yeah, that was it, he was just too tired. Needed a nap. He'll have one later in the office.

Kunikida finds him still like this, down on his knees and unresponsive to most of his surroundings. Exasperated but also slightly worried he drags him inside the office.
Once Dazai decides that it might actually be a good idea to at least try to register what's going on around him he finds over half of the detective agency worriedly watching him from afar and one Edogawa Ranpo right up in his face.
"So-" the sweets-lover starts.
"I need a good lawyer." Dazai responds before Ranpo can. The other just raises an eyebrow at him. Not needing to be a genius to know what Ranpo was getting at, Dazai feels around in his pocket and takes out two packs of chocolate bonbons. He hands them over to Ranpo who frowns. "They're melted" the older complaints. "Only half melted and there's two packets." Dazai retorts, earning an unimpressed look. "Okay, I'll put them in the fridge for you." He offers and Ranpo grins brightly, finally pulling away from Dazai's face.
"Very well then! As the world's best detective, I shall show mercy to you and help!" Dazai smiles at him, reassured by the typical theatrics of their greatest detective.
"I happen to know one of the best lawyers in the whole city~ one that doesn't work for the mafia too" the older boast. Making Dazai smile brighter. "He can help me stop the divorce?" Ranpo shrugs. "He can help you not lose half of your property- not that anyone would even want that seeing as that means clothes, a quite shitty apartment and you'd definitely find a way to include half of your trash in there to, if not all of it." The two smirk at each other knowingly. Yep, Dazai would definitely do that.
"Okay then, let's meet this lawyer" the brunette suggests only to get stopped by Ranpo's lollipop in his face— he could swear he didn't have one just a few seconds ago...
"Pa-pa-pa Dazai, this is a good lawyer. You need to ask for a meeting first!" He lectures, obviously taking great pleasure with it.
"Right..." Dazai sighs and gets up to finally put the bonbons in a fridge. Getting a meeting it is then.

Chuuya wasn't doing much better than he has been for the past week. Most of the corruption-induced aches are dulled already but they're certainly still there. Especially in his mind, as little sense as it makes. It's not a migraine per say, but it resembles one. It's like a phantom ache in the area of his forehead and temple. He's aware that there's no real pain, it's not even that bad either- he takes painkillers none the less. Just because he can. And maybe because it stops him from opening one of his special wines. He promised himself not to waste them on grief or anger or whatever shitty mental state made him want to chug it all down in one go. No, he'll leave it for when he can savour the taste.
He did it. Partially at least, he did force Dazai to take the papers. He doesn't have them signed yet but he's ready to take his 'husband' to court if he doesn't. He tries to concentrate on the ache. Even that is better than thinking about the talk with Dazai today. Yet he still can't escape the feelings in brought him. The anger was the easiest to deal with, he understood it, he liked it. Unfortunately, it didn't end there. There were so many more; sadness as Dazai showed again and again that he doesn't even care about how Chuuya feels. He refuses the divorce but won't even talk to him about it. The weird feeling that tightened his chest when Dazai again and again refused- what if I'm making the wrong choice here? What if he'll use this against me? Destroys the papers? It whispers. Yeah, Chuuya hates that one but it doesn't beat the feeling of absolute wrongness when he heard Dazai do anything to try to get him to change his mind. The way he wanted to just say fuck it and tear the divorce papers. To fall back into Dazai's arms. To just forgive him and love him. He won't give in though.
Knock
"Huh?" Chuuya's eyes narrow at the sound. "Pretty sure I'm supposed to be still off duty..." He mumbles on his way to open the door. He half expects Akutagawa, bloodied and seeking comfort that Chuuya gladly offered him as his new mentor- but when he opens the door the person isn't Akutagawa at all.
"Anee-san?" He asks, confused at Kouyou's presence. She smiles down at him "Hello boy, I've thought I'd come over and see how you're doing." She explains, making Chuuya smile. It was nice to have someone genuinely care about him. "Oh, come in, excuse the mess though, I wasn't exactly feeling like cleaning." He apologizes even though the mess has the form of one dirtied cup on his nightstand and like two plates still in the sink instead of dishwasher. Kouyou just gracefully waves him off.
"So-" she starts but Chuuya cuts her off. "Let's sit down first Anee-san." He offers as politely as possible. She does follow him to the kitchen where they sit down by the table. "No need, wouldn't it be better for you to sit in bed?"
"Not at all, I'm just fine like this." He insists.
"If you insist. So, how are you feeling?" She asks, though it's clear to Chuuya that it's rather a demand for answer than question.
"I'm good. Few minor aches but I'm sure they'll be gone soon." He answers truthfully. She looks at him curiously. "And about the other thing?" She presses. "Oh...that thing." Chuuya sighs because he really doesn't want to talk about it, even though a part of him wants nothing more than to share his thoughts and feelings with someone.
"I'm okay, all things considered." He settles on, because it's probably the most honest answer he can get without being forced to reveal more- or so he thought.
"I see. And what are all the things?" The question surprises Chuuya, Kouyou is usually way too polite to push boundaries like this "Anee-san..."
She sighs. "I'm sorry Chuuya, I'm just trying to make sure you're alright. I want to help." She insists. And he knows she's telling the truth but, he really doesn't feel like talking right now. So he doesn't. Technically it's rude but, he hopes Kouyou will be understanding.
"It's alright, you don't have to talk about it" she reassures him "but I want you to know, you're doing the right thing. You're in full right to divorce him and it'll all be okay, I promise." She tells him and it feels good, reassuring. It doesn't ease his worries fully, but it helps.
"Thank you, Anee-san."
The rest of their time together goes well, they have some tea and Kouyou updates him on the situation in the mafia. By the time she had to get back to her duties, Chuuya was feeling like he could get through this.

"A letter?" Dazai asks again, making sure he's heard right even though he checked at least three times.
"That's the fourth time you said that" Ranpo notes.
"Well, I just don't see why we can't just call or email-"
"And I told you we can email, it just has to be formulated as a letter."
"What's the difference thoo?" Dazai objects and Ranpo sighs exasperatedly. "How should I know?" He retorts much to Dazai's displeasure. "Then why are you telling me to format it as a letter?!" He asks, already suspecting some not exactly stereotypically logical reason.
Ranpo straightens up, opening his eyes slightly and smirks "because" he makes a grand gesture with his hands, waving them around "it'll sound more professional." Dazai resists the urge to slam his head into the desk.
Sitting back down, Ranpo pops another bonbon into his mouth. "Basically, it'll make you stand out. I might have connections with him, but your case has to catch his eye first, he's a busy man." He explains and yeah, that makes sense.

"Kunikiiiidaaaa-kuuun~" Dazai calls out, making the blond ball his hands into fists and reluctantly turn around. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT?! IF YOU WON'T DO YOUR JOB AT LEAST DON'T INTERRUPT ME YOU BANDAGE WASTING DEVICE!" He yells immediately. Dazai grins like a cat, snickering to himself as he calls out "How scary~" when his partner starts turning red, he gets to the point- kind of "You can write letters right? I mean with your way of life it must be one of your skills" he states, making sure his tone indicates a compliment.
Kunikida blinks a few times, clearly taken aback. Good. "Well yes, I do." He answers, anger momentarily forgotten.
"Come write it for me" Dazai says and just like that it's back. "WHAT?! WHO DO YOU THINK I AM?! I'M NOT HERE TO WRITE YOUR, I ASSUME NOT EVEN WORK-RELATED LETTERS! WRITE IT YOURSELF DAMN IT!" He yells again making Dazai laugh in the back of his head.
"But it's very important, I might not write it well enough." Dazai complains, making sure he resembles a clueless kitten.
"WHY SHOULD I CA-"
"I'll write the report for yesterday's meeting." Dazai says finally, pulling out his strongest weapon.

Everything goes quiet except for the sound of Kunikida pushing his chair away from the table. He pushes his glasses up, his hand hiding his expression as he slowly stands up and makes the first step towards Dazai. Then he pulls it away from his face with an extensive momentum.
"I'LL DO IT!" He exclaims making Ranpo and Dazai exchange a look, it's meaning clear to both. I knew he would.

He pushes Dazai away from the computer, sitting down and after cracking his knuckles he puts his hands on the keyboard. The brunette has to hold back from telling him that it causes joints problems. But he doesn't have time for another round of shouting- however amusing it may be.
"What do you want to write?" Kunikida asks him.
"Well.... I'm contacting a lawyer..."
"About?" The idealist detective presses impatiently.
"A divorce..." The outraged gasp from Kunikida was fully expected and Dazai wastes no time before explaining.
"It's the opposite of what you think! I don't want the divorce, I want to avoid it. That's what I need the lawyer for- I'm refusing to sign it and chibi is definitely taking me to the court over this." Judging by the way he could almost see Kunikida's veins bulging, this explanation wasn't a good much better.
"ARE YOU EVEN SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?! YOU CAN'T KEEP SOMEONE FROM LEAVING YOU! THAT'S SO- I- I HAVE NO FUCKING WORDS" Oh he'll be definitely yelling for a while. "HOW EVEN DARE YOU, IT'S SOMETHING YOU DID TOO, ISN'T IT?! DID YOU CHEAT?! BY GODS I SWEAR DAZAI IF YOU CHEATED—"
"I DIDN'T! I LOVE HIM! THAT'S WHY I DON'T WANT THE DIVORCE I- I can't lose him...." Dazai basically chokes on the words coming out, they feel disgusting on his tongue, too vulnerable and honest. Yet he didn't force them out, they left mouth on their own volition, letting Dazai to deal with the consequences.
Everything is quiet and still, including his mind, but it wasn't the good quiet, it was the weird feeling of his brain slowing, everything feeling out of reach.
"Dazai...." Kunikida sighs. "I'll write it, in the very least so that you don't lose all you own if it comes to the divorce. But I implore you, think about this. Do you really need to force this person to remain in marriage with you? Is it worth it?" The former teacher announces, voice unusually soft and kind. Dazai hates it, despises the reason behind it but he won't look a gifted horse in its mouth. If he gets a chance to keep Chuuya even a little longer he'll withstand anything.

Four days. It's been four days without hearing a single thing from Dazai. The now detective didn't call, didn't text, not even once tried to break into Chuuya's house- he changed the lock the very day he could move again after corruption. The passcode was different too, he didn't want a certain slimy mackerel getting into his house. Yeah, keep telling yourself that Chuuya, great work. A voice in his head remarks sarcastically and much to the ginger’s, it doesn't sound like Dazai but like himself. It made him sick, knowing he is the one who's calling himself out. Also, it felt wrong to have anyone in his head other than little Dazai voice or a raging god. Sometimes he didn't know who he preferred, but undoubtedly, he missed his ex-partner's one.
I should call him.
No, no, no bad idea, really bad-
But it would be to ask him if he'll sign. I need to know somehow...
"FUCK!" He yells as loud as possible, simply because he can, and stomps over to his nightstand. He picks up the phone which he left there, gripping it with unnecessary amount if strength, and all but punches in the number.
It rings once...twice...thrice...all the way to the point where the phone just gives up on the call.
Well, it might but Chuuya won't. He presses call again, with even more force than before.
Of course, he gets ignored yet again.
Oh, if I keep gripping this hard...
Too late does he realize the strength of his hold, the phone is already bent, yet still somehow functioning.
"Third time's the charm, you better pick up this time you deranged mummy who should have stayed buried under a pyramid." He mutters as the phone rings- until it stops and beeps instead.

"Wow, not a very nice welcome slug. I figured you wouldn't just leave me alone unless I picked up."
Oh...I missed his voice. Chuuya thinks.
"Shut up you fucker!"  He growls instead.
"Ah, if you'll just insult me, I'll have to hang up, I've got work to do you know"
"Oh I bet. I'm sure you've got ton of it because you never touch it, as always. So don't go pretending you don't have time for me. I'm only calling to know if you're ready to sign the papers anyway." Chuuya says and immediately startles- he's not used to hearing his voice so calm and levelled. So free of feelings, emotionless. If he thinks about it though, that's how he feels, isn't it? Just too tired for anger, or sadness, or anything really.
"Slug...are you okay?" Dazai's voice sounds from the other line. Clearly, he wasn't expecting this either.
"None of your business. Just tell me when you're ready to go sign it."
There's silence on the other line, but just aa he's about to speak again-
"I won't." Dazai answers and maybe it's just Chuuya's imagination but his voice trembles. He doesn't know what it means. He's sure he doesn't want to think about it either way.
Why?  Why, he wants to ask. Why won't you just do this for me. Do you want to torture me?
"Expect a call from my lawyer. He'll let you know the court date." He tells him, ending the call before the first sob can escape him. After that, he cries without restraint. He doesn't care about the weakness he's showing in the moment, he earned himself a while of letting his emotions out.
30 minutes. He tells himself. He hugs his knees to his chest, head hiding between them, as if it would protect him from the world and its pains. "I- I don't want to feel like this" he cries out to no one in particular, because maybe, just maybe someone could stop the invisible chains that are crushing his chest. Force the transparent hand that is holding his neck to let go. The water falling from his eyes is also filling his chest, and he's drowning from the inside. It'll get into his lungs- and he won't be able to breathe, he can't take in oxygen.  It's hard to breathe out too and he'll pass out for sure...
Good. His whole body relaxes, no longer even struggling to get the little gasps of air. I want to pass out. Then I won't feel like this.
"CHUUYA-SAN!" a familiar voice calls out to him, partially snapping him out of the haze his mind fell into, still, he's unable to place the voice. He opens his eyes, which he doesn't remember closing, trying to focus on the black and white blur in front of him.
"w-who?" He mumbles through the haze while the hazy figure puts its hands on his shoulders- is he hallucinating this? Dazai once told him hallucinations include all senses, even touch, but it felt so real....
"-ya, Chuuya-san. It's Akutagawa..." The voice of the figure- no, Akutagawa, finally sounds clear to him. He blinks rapidly, trying to see him more clearly too but it doesn't really work. His vision was no longer only blurry, there were little black dots dancing in front of his eyes now. Akutagawa suddenly takes Chuuya hand, placing it on his chest. Wha?
"-breathe" what was Akutagawa saying? Breathe....yeah, I should breathe. ...am I not breathing? When did I stop? I don't feel like I'm not breathing...is this why it would always take Dazai so long to start breathing again? No wait, Dazai always breathed, he just hyperventilated. Am I hyperventilating?
Once again, he lost awareness of his surroundings, too distracted by his own mind to actually realize anything happening outside of his little inner conversation. That's probably why it surprised him so much when he felt sharp pain in his hand. It wasn't that bad, more like a cat bite when it's being petted.
Wait- I don't have a cat.
Chuuya's eyes fully open instantly, not that it helps his vision, but he does recognize the black flicker of Akutagawa's ability.
"BREATHE FOR FUCKS SAKE!" Akutagawa yells and Chuuya just finds that and the cursing from the usually quiet guy so ridiculously outrageous that he gasps. Not really to get air, but he does in the process and it feels good. So he does it again, slowly getting his breathing under control. Until he feels Akutagawa let out a very audible sigh of relief, which makes him chuckle a bit. His ... quirks an eyebrow, clearly surprised and slightly concerned and Chuuya holds back more laughter. Then he remembers what actually snapped him back into reality and looks down at his arm, where he finds two bite marks, looking suspiciously like...
"Did.... Rashomon bite me?" He asks cautiously, making Akutagawa avert his eyes.
"I'm sorry Chuuya-san, I didn't really know what to do and you weren't reacting... I'm sorry for the shouting too." Is the given answer and Chuuya breaks, howling in laugher. "Y-you, made Rashomon bite me..... like a cat hahahahahahah- that, hah, that's precious." He never expected to feel so much pure joy given the predicament he was in with Dazai, but holy shit he was laughing his ass off and it felt great, with or without Dazai. And even though the thought of him right now made his chest hurt a little, it didn't stop him from laughing.
Meanwhile Akutagawa didn't look as enthusiastic about Chuuya's outburst, but rather worried. "Chuuya-san you were out of breath a little while ago, are you sure you should be-" the boy pauses, looking for the right words. "Doing whatever this is?" Oh...he didn't find them. "I- hahahahaha, Aku you- heh, you're Hi-hahahha, I can't..." Okay maybe the younger man had a point, as Chuuya was finding himself short of oxygen yet again.
"Oh is that how it is, you just won't breathe will you? Do you want to die of suffocation?" Akutagawa asks sarcastically, looking at Chuuya quite sceptically. He's definitely not helping me breathe. Chuuya thinks, not capable of stopping his snickering at the poor boy. His laughter only intensifies when he realizes that the thing Akutagawa is sceptical about will probably be any seeming remains of Chuuya's sanity.
Okay, shit, this is starting to hurt, I do have to actually breathe now. Chuuya realizes and tries to actually stop laughing. It does take a while but he actually succeeds, taking in heavy gulps of air while Akutagawa watches him with poorly concealed amusement.
"Holy shit. Holy shit that was something. I didn't laugh that hard in I don't even know how long." He knows, deep down, but he really doesn't want to think about it. He does anyway.
Fucking shut up brain! I was having a god time shit shit shit I don't wanna feel bad again, please stop. His begging has no success and his chest grows tight with anxiety once again.
"So, what exactly got you into the state I found you in?" Akutagawa questions, oblivious to just how much his mentor doesn't want to talk about that.
"I-" don't want to talk about it.
But I owe him. He deserves to know.
"I'm divorcing Dazai." Akutagawa blinks. Once...twice...
"You were married... To Dazai-san?" He asks in utter disbelief. Oh shit, I forgot Dazai insisted we never tell him. Well too bad you mackerel fuck.
"Yeah, since we were sixteen, or seventeen? I can't remember, but it's been a while. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, I kind of forgot you don't know." Akutagawa nods absentmindedly.
"Why are you divorcing him?" He asks after a while. "Because he left me. Left us without a word. I know that you of all people understand me when I say it hurts. I hate him for it. I don't want to be tied to a man who can't stay by my side. If he wants to be free that bad, I'll free him." He spits out.
"If he wants to be free though, why didn't he divorce you?" Akutagawa asks, confused.
"I don't know. I think he has some messed up ownership need or something. He just wants a proof I belong to him."
"And you want to prove you don't."
Jeez- how does the kid get in my head so easily...
"Akutagawa-"
"I'm not saying you're not right to divorce him. He's a traitor and" Akutagawa sighs “he hurt us." He admits before continuing. "But if you want to divorce him- why were you, you know, because of it?"
"Breaking down?" Akutagawa nods.
"Oh. I think, as much as I want to, I can't just stop loving him. It's hard to let go but it's what's best for me, right?"
Akutagawa looks up at him with surprisingly gentle eyes. "I don't know." He admits and Chuuya smiles at him encouragingly. He shouldn't ask Akutagawa these questions, he's still young. "That's okay. Neither do I."

They don't talk about it after that. Chuuya invites Akutagawa for tea and the other accepts. They talk about other things, for example Chuuya asks how's Gin or how was the other's newest mission. They talk about nonsensical questions, usually given by Akutagawa. Like do clouds feel that whether they're heavy. Few people knew this side of the mafia's hound. They also didn't know that these questions were quite usual for the boy, along with various philosophical problems. Chuuya liked answering them- if he had the answer at all.
By the time they were done talking it was quite late so as the right host, the ginger offered Akutagawa can sleep over. The younger man agreed, even though it was only out of concern for Chuuya- which the latter greatly appreciated.
He slept quite calmly that night, but knowing it won't last for long.

He talked to his lawyer the very next day, asking him to send Dazai an invite to court for him. They've been preparing for this scenario for a while, so when the court was announced for three to four days from day, it just meant some mental preparation for Chuuya. Which consisted of trying not to think about Dazai. And that involved drinking. A lot more of it than he does even usually, but there was barely anyone on a high enough position to have the right to tell him off for it. So he kept it up, at work, at home, anytime a though of Dazai popped up, he drank. He was trying to drown them all, drop by drop, only to find out that they could swim. They kept coming back, again and again driving him insane. So he drank more. Maybe he can't kill the thoughts but it had other benefits. Like by the time he got home, he just falls onto the bed, too blackout drunk to remember most of the day, including the pesky reminders of Dazai, his love for him, the pain he cost him and more.
Kouyou gave up trying to break him out of it, but she did threaten him with taking action if he won't sober up before attending the court. Which was reasonable but then again, he wasn't that much of an idiot to even think about going to the court drunk. He wanted to win after all.
Hirotsu occasionally checked up on him, but he didn't really intervene. Chuuya wasn't surprised about that, the poor man probably had some kind of trauma from the times he was forced to babysit him and Dazai back in the days.
The one who watched him the closest was Akutagawa. The poor kid spent every lunch break making sure Chuuya actually consumes some food and not just excessive amounts of alcohol. Chuuya would probably appreciate it if he was in better state of mind, like this it was just a nuisance. He still let the boy do it, if it made him feel better about the executive's condition then why not.
Chuuya was mostly unbothered by it, until the point where Akutagawa started asking questions. "I've never seen you drink so much. And I’ve seen you drink many times. Are you really handling this okay?" He asks one day, in Chuuya's office and hidden from everyone, obviously to spare Chuuya's ego from the humiliation of people hearing about his mental state.
Chuuya sighs and puts down his current bottle, looking at the other with barely focused eyes. " 'm doin 'kay... Jst shi-shitty Dazai....fuckin can't sign...just wan'a solve it with punch, not a court...."
Akutagawa looks at him sympathetically. "Punching him doesn't feel as satisfying as one expects. At least it didn't for me..." He answers and Chuuya feels like he sobered up right that second. "What...did you just say? WHEN DID YOU SEE THE DAMN TRAITOR?!" The yelling was clearly unnecessary, but Chuuya was drunk and, well, Chuuya so he didn't really hold back any aggression.
Akutagawa keeps silent for a while but is prompted to speak after a nasty glare from his superior. "It's some time already, it was a bit before your mission with him, when he was held in the basement..." The younger boy continued, not even realizing how deep he was digging himself into trouble.
Chuuya grits his teeth in an effort not to totally blow up. "Why" he utters through them "wasn't I told?!"
Now the younger actually seems to realize the situation as he tenses up, even though it's hardly noticeable.
"Kouyou-san's orders..." He almost whispers.
"I didn't hear you" Chuuya grits through his teeth aggressively. He did. He heard but he doesn't want to believe he did.
"Kouyou-san ordered not to tell you anything." Akutagawa repeats, this time clearer and in a normal volume.
Chuuya sees red. Red and crimson turning together in a spiral right before his eyes, a spiral of rage, guilt, betrayal and sadness and he was falling right into the middle of it. The feeling that dominated it all was confusion, born from disbelief. He doesn't understand why would Kouyou do that, he trusted her more than anyone else, maybe excluding the traitor...
He is broken out of his potentially another breakdown by the sound of Akutagawa's coughing fit. Himself and his feelings momentarily forgotten, he rushes over to the boy, handing him some tea and patting his back reassuringly. "You okay Aku?" He asks when the fit seems mostly over, receiving a confirmation in the form of a nod.
"Okay, good. I'm glad." He keeps rubbing the others back until he notices him leaning away from his hand- a clear sign Akutagawa was getting uncomfortable with the touch.
"Hey kid" he says after sitting back down "can you do something for me?"
"Yes, Chuuya-san."
"You didn't hear what- but that aside, could you please go get ane-san for me? Thank you" He requests, noting how Akutagawa's eyes widen just a fraction. The boy was quite fearless and it was only heightened by his time in the mafia but Kouyou could be a truly terrifying woman.
"I'll make sure you don't get in trouble for telling me“ He assures with a smile.
Akutagawa huffs ... And leaves the office.
And Chuuya suddenly can't breathe. It came out of nowhere, suddenly taking a breath is just hard and he doesn't know what triggered it since he could breathe just fine even when learning the news. Doesn't matter, concentrate on breathing- in and out, in and out, this is stupid
He tries to even his breathing but it only ends in him taking bigger and more desperate short breaths with every attempt, slowly bringing himself to the point of hyperventilating. His head hurt and his chest does too. It feels too tight, not enough space for his lungs to expand is that even possible? He feels like he might puke.
It's fine, it's just a feeling. I won't really- oh gods I'm gonna actually vomit... He doesn't end up emptying his stomach but he does dry heave. It's like two opposing forces are working in his body, one trying to get the contents of his stomach, which is mostly alcohol, out of his body and another one desperately trying to keep himself from puking. There was also some obstruction in the bottom of his throat, like the air in there solidified and was now blocking it...
"Chuuya?" Kouyou's voice sounds from outside and the ginger quickly draws in a breath before calling out to her. "Come in!"
She does, graceful as ever, sitting on the chair across from where he is sitting. "What did you need to discuss? Unfortunately, I am quite preoccupied at the moment so it'll have to be quick." She warns him and he snorts. "I'll put it quick then- WHY THE FUCK WAS I NOT TOLD THAT WE HAD DAZAI CAPTURED?!" He yells but Kouyou stays calm. "So, you found out"
"YES, I DID! NOW ANSWER ME ANEE-SAN!" He demands.
"I did what I had to."
"I THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD! I COULD HAVE KNOWN MUCH SOONER-"
"And what would that change?"
"I DON'T KNOW, SOMETHING, EVERYTHING-"
"His betrayal would have stayed the same. You'd fee just as you do now."
She does have a point, still....
"Why didn't you tell me? And forbade others to do so too!" He asks and this time Kouyou doesn't answer. She bites her lip nervously, clearly uncomfortable with the question. It gets the wheels in Chuuya's head into motion as he tries to figure out just why.
What could she gain from it? Unless she hoped I wouldn't learn at all. But...oh
His eyes widen in realization.
"Why did you need me to think he was dead?!" He snaps at her.
"Excuse me? I never told you to think that."
"OH DIDN'T YOU?! YOU WERE THE ONE THAT CAME TO ME WHEN HE DISSAPEARED, SAYING WE CAN'T BE SURE HE'S ALIVE! YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HIM AS A IF HE WERE A CORPSE EVER SINCE! You might have no outright said it, but you conditioned me into believing it! WHY?!" He stands up, getting in her face.
"BECAUSE IT WAS THE BEST FOR YOU!" Kouyou gets up as well, towering over him. "YOU NEEDED TO KET GO, I GAVE YOU A CHANCE AT CLOSURE!"
"I GOT NO CLOSURE! I DIDN'T GET A BODY, I CRIED OVER A GODDAMN PICTURE! NOTHING OF MY HUSBAND BUT A PHOTO! I WANT TO DIVORCE HIM OVER MAKING ME BELIEVE HE WAS DEAD BUT IT WAS YOU WHO DID THAT!"
"YOU DID GET CLOSURE! YOU STOPPED CHASING AFTER HIM, YOU STARTED WORKING AGAIN, AND HEALING! HE STILL LEFT YOU!" They're both breathing heavily, glaring at each other. Nothing moves, the whole world still, just their chests heaving.
It's Kouyou who breaks the moment, brushing a speck of invisible dust from her kimono. "Hate me all you want boy, but promise me one thing. Do not stop the divorce. You still have reasons and it's still the best you can do for yourself." With that she leaves, and Chuuya stays alone, Conflicted and betrayed. He collapses into the couch, but it doesn't last long until he's on his feet and hurrying towards one particular cabinet- one containing his cheap wines.
He picks at random, returning onto the couch and chugging third of the bottle in one go. It's not a good taste but he doesn't care at the moment. He told himself he wouldn't drink, because as the court was the day after tomorrow, but that didn't bother him either. Not at the moment. He can always quit tomorrow, because today, he totally needs it.

The first court meeting was to happen on Monday, it left not even four whole days for preparations, way too soon for Dazai but that was clearly the intention. The Mafia had deep pockets and they were full, there wasn't much in the city that they couldn't sway in their favour. Tight on time as they were, he and the lawyer had multiple-hours meetings going over possible strategies of Chuuya's lawyer and over their own.
On Sunday they had one last meeting, simply to summarize what they decided over the previous three days.
"Hello,  Nathaniel-san" Dazai greets politely. The lawyer smiles at him in a friendly way. "Good afternoon Dazai-san. You ready to start?" Over their work together the detective learned one thing, Nathaniel Was straightforward and straight-to-business kind of person, Dazai liked that about him. That and also, he didn't ask about Dazai's emotional involvement, he just did the job he was hired to do.
"Certainly, let's proceed." Nathaniel Nods.
"Alright then. We've already established that we can't use your true reasons for objecting the divorce."

"So, you don't want the divorce to happen at all, and you want me to find a legal way to stop it." Nathaniel Asked right on their first meeting. Dazai technically knows he just needs information to work with, but it doesn't stop him from getting defensive "yes." He answers, forcing himself to remain as polite as he can possibly get himself to.
"Well that won't hold in any court. You might as well save yourself the trip to court and sign the papers if that's what you're going in with." He tells him bluntly and Dazai grips the edge of the table- tight. Of course, it doesn't go unnoticed. "Don't worry, I took your case despite knowing this detail- I'll find a way for us." He reassures and Dazai breathes out a sigh of relief."

"Yes, I recall. I won't mention anything about my emotional involvement in the case." Dazai responds and Nathaniel nods approvingly.
"Onto the next matter then- our strategy"

It took them surprisingly long to find one, despite how easy the solution ended up being. In about half of their second meeting, the decision was made "The courts are usually not used to stop a divorce, but to negotiate its terms when the people can't agree…" Nathaniel trailed off, before snapping his fingers. "That's it, right in front of me this whole time! We'll just try to set demands your spouse won't be willing to meet, keeping this up until they ultimately decide it's easier to forfeit the divorce."

Nathaniel looks at Dazai with serious eyes. "You're still sure you have enough of the things you could demand that he won't consider giving up?" He asks, making the other smirk. "oh don't worry Nathaniel-san, I have more then a few ideas." The lawyer opens his folder and takes out a stack of papers, reading his pen. "Right, let's go over them then, shall we?"

Monday came sooner than either of the expected. Chuuya definitely didn't feel ready for it, if anything he felt less prepared than ever. He hoped the morning shower would calm him down but the only thing he could think about is not to vomit.
He did actually puke just a while after the shower, Akutagawa holding his hair, his other hand resting on Chuuya's back reassuringly. The boy's presence helped; he was really glad he asked him to sleep over yesterday night. It was to stop Chuuya from drinking, originally, but having him by his side also calmed him down, even if just by a bit. It wasn't the plan for Akutagawa to linger this long, but after Chuuya's third trip to the toilet to rid his stomach of its contents it was decided that he'll stay until the executive has to head out.
Right now, they were sitting on Chuuya's couch, the ginger's fingers unconsciously digging into his palms.
"Chuuya-san, stop that." The younger reminded him again. Chuuya did so with a nervous laughter. "Sorry. You know what would help me stop though? A nice bottle of wine..." He tries to joke but all Akutagawa does is give him a disapproving look.
Why am I being called out by a guy two years younger than me again?
They stay silent for most of the thirty minutes that Chuuya has to wait. Actually, the next words passed between them are when Chuuya's climbing into one of mafia's black limousines, with his chosen lawyer waiting inside.
"You don't need me to come with you?" Akutagawa asks in a professional tone, masking his concern.
"I'll be fine Ryuu." Chuuya waves him off, climbing into the car. I won't be. He admits to himself, but they're already driving off towards the court building. Dazai is waiting there, and so is possibly the biggest challenge of Chuuya's life.

Dazai felt worse than he did for years. Part of him still didn't believe it was happening, the sweet, delicious part of him that only felt void and not this weird tightening of his chest.
It wasn't a good feeling, nor a bad one. Just absence of any emotions. Dazai missed the void. It was better than this feeling crushing his lungs and stuffing itself into his throat. He could breathe with the void.
While in the shower he contemplated just laying under the showerhead, letting the water fall into his mouth and just drowning but it sounded rather uncomfortable and way too survivable. He had a sip of sake for his breakfast and just threw on the only suit he found. He finger-combed his hair and deemed himself ready, albeit mostly on the outside.
It's fine. We have a strategy. He reminded himself, he was sure it will work but then again, Chuuya was the only one who could really surprise him. And oh boy, was he good at it. Dazai just hoped today wouldn't be one where the redhead does it once again. There was more than their lives at stake, this was about Dazai's marriage. He sighs and walks downstairs, getting into the cab he ordered with some limited money he had. Thankfully ... Allowed payment after the case is finished, since Dazai was fully set on getting the money to pay for it from Chuuya's account. He obviously didn't have enough himself.

The building was heavily decorated, multiple beautiful carvings in its walks. It was the ugliest sight either of them has ever seen.
Especially combined with such infuriatingly beautiful sight as each other.

Chuuya almost ran to the nearest grass patch to dry heave again and Dazai nearly ran. Anywhere but into the proximity of his for now still a husband. Not for long though, if it was up to Chuuya.
Their lawyers bowed to each other, and the pair did the same, entering the building and sitting by a heavy wooden table, Dazai facing Chuuya and the lawyers facing each other. It made the redhead sick, but he knew better than to show excessive emotional involvement in court.
A third ... entered the room, standing at the head of the table. Some neutral party that will look over the negotiations, he's not to decide though. Nobody here can really decide but Chuuya and Dazai.
"We are here on request of Nakahara Chuuya to discuss terms of ending the marital status of him and his spouse, Dazai Osamu." The neutral party announces before sitting down and letting it begin.
"My client, Nakahara Chuuya wishes for a divorce with Osamu Dazai, after his four-year absence from his life. He raises no claim of any part of Dazai-san's property."
"My client, Osamu Dazai wishes to raise a claim on Nakahara-san's collection of expensive wines, as well as an amount of 550 000 ¥." Dazai's lawyer states and Chuuya's eyes go wide. He expected Dazai to ask for money but his wine... Oh. Oh no, no no no that fucker is not doing this. Dazai subtle smirk speaks for itself though. He can't be serious, he's trying to draw this out by giving impossible requests. The mafioso realizes.
His lawyer thankfully acts without any prompting from Chuuya. That's good because he doesn't think he could move if he wanted, let alone speak. He feels frozen, all of him. He can't tell if he's breathing, the room is spinning and he's just trying to find anything to keep himself from falling apart. He can't, not right now and not here. 
"On what base does he make this claim?" Chuuya's lawyer questions.
Dazai's pulls out a stack of papers and slides them towards the other.
"Dazai-san and Nakahara-san were owners of a shared account. Most of these wines were purchased using money from this account, therefore technically, my client's money."
Chuuya doesn't have to look at the papers. He knows it's true, to an extent. The account was originally his, but after finding out Dazai's living conditions and diet consisting of crab and sake, he took him to his bank and made the account joint.
The wine was all bought for Chuuya's money of course, as Dazai rarely took or added anything to the account, unfortunately that wouldn't be easily proven because Dazai did put in an excessive amount of money. It was on the night that he left, almost as much money as Chuuya himself had. The thing is he didn't keep the receipts from the wines and therefore had no proof of their purchase being before Dazai's huge deposit. He was screwed.
Dazai actually has claim...
He almost couldn't believe it. His lawyer leans over to him, asking for his opinion and Chuuya just shakes his head. No way he was selling the wine. It took him years to make that collection, he couldn't, won't give it all up because of Dazai's theatrics.
"May we offer monetary compensation of the wine?" His lawyer asks.
"I'm afraid not. Unless you have a receipt as a proof of their price or- are willing to pay for an assessment of their price." Is the answer and Chuuya's lawyer looks at him questioningly. The ginger shakes his head. It was too much money, whatever the price was it would be a hard hit to Chuuya's luxurious lifestyle and he possibly can't even afford it. Unshed tears of anger and despair sting in his eyes, and he's barely managing to hold them back. His lawyer leans to him to discuss the situation and Chuuya takes the chance. "I can't do this, I want to leave" he whispers and his attorney nods and straightens up.
"We will need time to consider this." He says and Dazai's lawyer thankfully agrees. They set a date, about a week from now and finally Chuuya is free to leave.
He doesn't know how he manages to move and get out but he supposes it was the need to escape the situation. He collapses on his knees as soon as they're outside, punching the ground. He doesn't notice Dazai approaching him, only realizing he did when his hand touches Chuuya's shoulder gently. He slaps the mackerel's hand away immediately. "HOW FUCKING DARE YOU TO TOUCH ME RIGHT NOW!" He snaps.
"Chuuya..."
"NO! DON'T CHUUYA ME! WHY? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME? I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT THIS BUT DO YOU HAVE TO TORTURE ME OVER IT?! I DON'T WANT THIS, I HATE ALL THIS LEGAL STUFF WHY ARE YOU DRAWING THIS OUT?! WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO ACHIEVE? YOU'RE JUST PROLONGING THE PAIN FOR BOTH OF US!" He finally breaks down, sobbing and gasping for air which seems to be avoiding him.
"Chuuya you're hyperventilating" Dazai reaches for him again but Chuuya yells at him "LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!"
He probably seems hysteric to any bystander, the knowledge doesn't help soothe his panic mixed with anger so he just forces himself to get up and into the car. His attorney is going home himself so Chuuya just curls up on the backseat and sobs. He can't breathe over his cries but all he cares about is getting home. Home is safe, even though without anyone to hold him. He'll be okay. He'll shower, drink and pass out. Kouyou might be right in one thing, that Dazai wasn't good for him, but neither was this divorce.

Seeing Chuuya breakdown in front of him wasn't a good thing. It shouldn't feel satisfying like that, he knows that. Part of him is disgusted at the fact that it makes him feel relief, but there's little about himself that doesn't inspire that feeling.
He didn't enjoy Chuuya's suffering, gods he hated it, but if he was breaking down it meant two possible things.
Either he still loves Dazai and doesn't really wish to divorce him, or he can't handle the requests they put on him and is close to dropping the case. It didn't matter which was correct, both meant hope.
Even if Chuuya buried all his feelings for him, Dazai is older and willing to put time and effort into digging them back up.

The next court day, Chuuya doesn't feel any more prepared than he was the first time. If anything, he's lacking in that field. He might know Dazai's strategy now, but that doesn't mean knowing what is the next ridiculous thing the mummy will come up with now.
He's shaking as they make their way inside the room, not waiting for Dazai outside. He was very pleased with not seeing his partner already in the room, because he certainly needed to be sat down once they're face to face again.
Which unfortunately didn't take too long.
They all said down, Dazai's lawyer initiating this time. "Have you and Nakahara-san considered our offer?" He asks.
"We have, and will not agree to the given terms. My client is willing to pay the 550 000¥ thought."
The other attorney leans to Dazai who whispers something in his ear.
"550 000¥ and the motorcycle listed under Nakahara-san's name."
Tell me I fucking misheard that.  Chuuya's lawyer puts a hand on his shoulder, trying to remind him that emotions were not welcome in courts, the ginger couldn't care less at the moment. The bike given to him with his friend's last breaths, the one Chuuya cleaned every day, and had locked up in the most secure garage in whole Yokohama city. With tears threatening to fall once again, Chuuya stands up to yell at his husband "YOU HAVE NO CLAIM OVER IT! IT WAS A GIFT FROM A FRIEND!"
Where Dazai got the audacity to watch him with a completely calm and composed expression is beyond him. His attorney clears his throat. "Dazai-san raises his claim as you were left with all vehicles and since the car belonging to him were destroyed under your care, this would be a compensation."
Chuuya's face is red with pure fury.
"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO BLEW IT UP!" He screams, all but ready to jump over the table and settle this matter himself.
He can't be fucking serious... Even Dazai wouldn't go this far, right?! But he did, he is doing it.
Dazai tilts his head to the side innocently. "Why would I destroy my own property?"
Suddenly, there were no doubts in Chuuya's mind about this divorce being the right thing. He would be a liar if he said he never considered that Dazai might have actually changed, that he could be better husband. And he has just been proven wrong.
There was no way he'd stay with a man who was capable of abusing Chuuya's emotional ties, just to keep him in marriage.
He doesn't love me. Nobody could do this to someone they love...
He doesn't realize that he's shaking from his rage. He doesn't notice how his legs move on their own, approaching Dazai rapidly. His fist is stopped mid-air at the last moment.
He looks over at his lawyer who is holding it.
Right...court ...I can't get violent.
He turns away from Dazai and moves to his side of the table, but he doesn't sit down.
"We do not agree." His attorney says simply, looking over at the third party.
"Dazai Osamu has no claim over a gift intended and given to Nakahara-san." The neutral lawyer says.
Dazai's attorney bows and speaks again. "My apologies, we will need to discuss other possible property my client should receive."
Chuuya almost stands up again and yells at Dazai to just take half of his money and go to hell, but his lawyer puts his hand on his shoulder, half a reminder, half simply holding him down.
"This meeting is over then. We'll see you in another four days." Chuuya's attorney says, leading the mafioso out of the building.
Not looking over at ..., Dazai races after them, trying to catch up to his husband and apologize. He fucked up, he knows he fucked up with this decision but he has his reasons and he needs the other to listen to them.

"CHUUYA!" He yells, trying to get his attention but the redhead doesn't even turn around. He just speeds his steps slightly, getting into the car and leaving.
Oh fuck. He hates me he hates me he hates me;
Dazai shut the fuck up
He hates me
Fuck shut up, I fucked up who cares.
I don't care I don't feel-
Liar
SHUT UP!
Dazai's thoughts were spiralling out of his control, feelings flooding him and he just wanted it to stop, the voices to shut up, everything to just go away.
He knows he shouldn't just leave ... there, but he needs to distance himself from the situation. Find a nice bridge, yeah.
He does find one eventually. It's wooden, some kind of pine perhaps. There are Sakura's on both sides stretching their branches over it to the best of their abilities. The water bellow isn't the wildest but it's lively. It's a nice place. A calm one. He almost feels bad for his intent to taint it. Hopefully his body won't rot in this part of the river, as much as he's love to rest in a place like this, it didn't deserve his filth.

"Will you keep being in thoughts or actually jump? I'd prefer neither by the way, I'm really not in the mood to go fishing you out."
Dazai turns around.
"Ranpo-san"
"You want advice? I won't charge you much this time, because honestly you're being really pathetic right now, the sight makes my eyes hurt."
"You don't have them open Ranpo-san"
"Just spill it- I can already tell you fucked up."
Dazai sighs. "I...he hates me."
"I told you before, you treat him like a toy, like an object to own. He isn't yours Dazai."
"He won't be if I don't stop the divorce"
"He won't be if you don't stop being an idiot. Stop torturing him for one selfish decision he made."
"Should I- just let him divorce me?"
"Duh"
Ouch, Ranpo really can be heartless. He's right tho~
Shut up
I need to let Chuuya be, he told me I'm hurting him, I just ignored it....
But he's mine. I won't give him up.
"I suggest you do ask for some money though. At least to cover your lawyer, based on your strategy he'll likely give you almost anything."
"How do you know about our strategy?"
"Because it's the only one that could work. Now find a way to get us back to the office, I'm getting tired of this conversation. And my legs hurt. I don't wanna walk."
Dazai ended up walking all the way to the agency alone, only to drive a car back to Ranpo and drive him to the destination. After that he excuses himself from work because he "did a lot of work Kunikida-kun" and walks onto the street.
After finding the first usable corner he leans against a wall and takes out his phone.
"...-san, we're changing the strategy."

Chuuya has been shaking from anger for the past hour or so and there were no signs of it stopping soon. What the hell was Dazai's problem?
The bandaged freak has always been an asshole but this... it's not usual. Yeah, he openly didn't care about death of Chuuya's friends, but he never rubbed it in and definitely not this hard. He never reminded Chuuya of it needlessly.
This wasn't normal behaviour, especially if Dazai was trying to be a good man.
So why? Does he hate me that much that he wants to spite me in this? No, he'd never put in this much effort...
Does he-
He doesn't want to entertain that thought but "does he love me that much?" He whispers to himself, shaking his head like a wet dog right after. Snap out of it Chuuya, you're thinking nonsense

The third court came too soon for everyone. Dazai still wasn't sure of his decision and Chuuya wasn't even close to mentally prepared. He was shaking, even as he sat in the chair, looking anywhere but at his Dazai, who was, on the other hand, not watching anything but Chuuya.

As the court gets started, it's neither of the lawyers who speak first, but Dazai.
"I agree to the divorce, with toned down requests. I do insist on the 550 000¥, however I won't ask for anything else. I do in fact, have a property I will give back to Nakahara Chuuya, one of my own choosing."
Everyone but Dazai and his lawyer look confused. The detective simply sits back down.
Chuuya balls his hands into fists. "What are you trying to foist to me?" He asks, tense.
"Chuuya, a little trust?"
The redhead sighs
How bad could it be...
"I accept, we can sign the papers tomorrow and I'll send you the money after that."
Dazai smiles at him. "Deal."

Is...that it? Am I free? Did he let me go? Just like that, it's over? I don't feel worst but, I'm not relived either- why? It's just the uncertainty, I'll be fine once it's signed.
"Chuuya-san we need to go." He looks up at his attorney.
"R-right. Thank you, and good job."
The lawyer nods and leaves, Chuuya waiting a bit longer before following the example.
He'll just have to survive tonight. Tomorrow, everything will be better.
It just, seemed so far tho...

He hopes he did the right thing. That Chuuya feels better and giving him up wasn't for nothing. He should at least show up at work, even if he'll do nothing, but he can't bring himself to. He feels heavy, his chest tight in a way different to the one before. It wasn't outright suffocating him, but it was slowly crushing his chest. He doesn't go to the agency. Or his house. His destination was on the far end of the city, a little abandoned cottage/safehouse.
It was tied to many memories for him, but also had something he needed for tomorrow.

As soon as he sees it it's like looking into the past, like it was playing out again, right in front of him.

"A MONTH?!" The redhead yells again and Dazai considers knocking either himself or his boyfri- husband unconscious.
"Yes slug. I confirmed that to you at least five times now." He tells him.
"FUCK" The redhead curses, kicking the closest thing to him.
"Could you not destroy this place right the first day? We'll need to stay here no matter the state of it and I'd rather not eat raw food after you break the stove."
"Fuck you" his chibi answers, but he seems like he won't break anything for a while.
"Well, that's one way of keeping entertained" Dazai notes. He clearly spoke too soon about Chuuya not breaking things because I cup shatters on the floor, after it was thrown at the bandaged man. "I was joking." He says dryly.
"I know" Chuuya answers, clearly frustrated. With himself, with Dazai and most of all, with the situation.
"DAMNIT! How did we end up in this mess"
Dazai looks at, weighing his chances of survival if he answers the clearly rhetorical question.
"There's a new gifted in Yokohama. He can momentarily steal other abilities and use them himself. It's a short time but enough for him to destroy the whole city if he got to your gravity manipulation, or even Arahabaki. And no one knows what would happen if he got to my ability so the mafia is keeping us hidden until he's killed." He answers finally, getting a sneer from Chuuya.
"I KNOW THAT ASSHOLE!"
Ah, typical Chuuya, feeling crowded just from the thought of having to lay low for a while.
"It's not like you're trapped indoors, there's a garden and I'm sure we're allowed to wonder around the forest a bit." Dazai tries to soothe.
"But- can they even take him down without us?" Chuuya asks, stopping his pacing and wrapping his arms around himself. Dazai stands up and walks to his husband, hugging him from behind.
"Definitely better than if he got a hold of your ability." He comments, feeling just how tense Chuuya is in his hold.
"Look, we didn't have any breaks since the wedding, think of this as our honeymoon." He offers and the chibi scoffs. "As if a bastard like you is capable of something romantic." Dazai raises an eyebrow. "Are you challenging me chibi? Well then, I can't back down, can I?"
He lets go of the smaller man and starts rummaging through the whole cottage until he finds the gardening utensils. Picking up two pairs of gloves, some watering cans and a pack of seeds, he proudly returns to Chuuya.
"We'll plant these together and we'll be coming to check up on them once they grow- a beautiful scenery just for the two of us. Romantic enough for you my dear?"

They never got the chance to visit that place again. Not when Dazai left so soon after. Still, he didn't forget this place and it just happened to be the time for Camellias bloom. The whole garden is colourful and overflowing with flowers of all different shades. Dazai picks a bouquet of the red and the dark pink petals, before plucking a single white Camellia and putting it in the middle. With the flowers in hand, he heads to Chuuya's apartment. They were supposed to go to the city office to sign the papers in about an hour so he wanted to make sure he actually caught the mafioso there.
The flowers were sure to wilt before they'd get to sign the papers and Dazai couldn't let that happen. He doesn't knock, he can break in just fine, as expected of him. It's Chuuya's fault, really, never even tried to Dazai-proof it. Not that it would be possible anyway.
He sits on the sofa, making sure not to look around too much. He didn't want to see just how the place had changed. Chuuya enters the room a little while later, already dressed. He puts his hands on his hips, glaring at the intruder. "What are you doing here?" He questions sharply."
"Upstanding my part of the deal, I brought you the thing."
Chuuya sighs "you couldn't have given it to me at the office?" He asks sceptically. Dazai stands up, walking up to him before he speaks.
"Not really, they would have wilted." He explains, handing the flowers to Chuuya.
The ginger doesn't take them, instead staring at them as Dazai was offering him poison. Then he turns around and starts pacing around the room.
Deciding to give him space, and save the flowers, the detective continues further into the apartment, towards the kitchen. He picks a random vase from a cabinet and fills it with water, arranging the flowers into it before leaving it there.

Chuuya stopped pacing in the meanwhile, now just standing there.
It was all too much. He felt tears gather in his eyes as he picked up the nearest thing, a plastic bowl from the coffee table. He planned to throw it with all his force and vent his anger, but he ended up simply tossing it to the side with little to no force. He felt the first tears fall as he fell down on his knees. „Why didn't it make me feel better?" He wondered, maybe even out loud. Never once did he notice the figure sadly watching him. Dazai sighed as he came closer, having finished in the kitchen. „Because you don't feel any anger Chuuya." The redhead wanted to glare at the intruder but somehow didn't feel like it at the same time. "You're wrong, I'm angry!" He tried to yell at the other, but it only came out as a weak whisper. Dazai shook his head, pitying look in his eyes. Oh Chibi..." He sighed as he lowered himself to the other's level, taking his chin between his fingers. "I know you're overwhelmed right now, but try to listen. I was an asshole and I don't deserve you as my husband after what I did. I am signing the papers I just..." He pauses, swallowing his own tears. "I can't be without you. The means- that I used to try and keep you... it was so wrong and I, I didn't mean to hurt but I couldn't, I can't let you go. I will let you divorce me Chuuya, but please, please don't kick me out of your life, don't find another lover or boyfriend- give me a second chance. I promise I'll try, I'll do anything. I'll let you divorce me but don't love another man." He begs, now crying just as much as the man in front of him.
"As if I could..." Chuuya murmurs, making Dazai look at him in shock.
"What?"
"As if I could love anyone but your stupid ass."
"Y-you're giving me a second chance?" Dazai questions and Chuuya frowns
"Don't get me wrong, I'll drop you as soon as you fuck me over again, but... I guess I'll let you take me out."
Dazai's eyes light up and he's about to squeal before Chuuya stops him with a hand over his mouth.
"One date. And you better take me the fanciest place you can afford. I'm more important than money got that?!"
Dazai just chuckles.
"My love, you're more important than this whole universe"

...

Two years later, Dazai was putting a ring on Chuuya's finger for the second time, now with a big smile on his face and determination to never leave his husband's side again.