Work Text:
The whole Shibusawa incident had taken all energy from Dazai. He had been promoted to an executive, his work pile increasing significantly. The entire Port mafia was in shambles trying to return to its original state even after the huge number of causalities faced.
Dazai had been working hard to fill up the gaps left by the previous executives. Two executives dying at once showed how crucial of a loss the Port mafia had faced. It was a huge gap to be filled. Him and another member, Ace got promoted at the same time. Though his position wasn’t even deserved. After running all the mafia casinos and earning a good amount of wealth he practically bought the position. It was stupid but not surprising. Hirotsu-san had been offered a position but he refused, preferring to work on the field.
Being an executive wasn’t actually a great thing, yes he got access to lots of confidential information but it wasn’t worth it for the huge amount of paperwork he got. It was frankly exhausting going through the entire pile of papers, signing here, checking for loopholes there. Fieldwork becomes a much appreciated break when one becomes an executive.
This is what he has his dog for. Chuuya was practically an honorary executive at this point. He finished half of Dazai’s paperwork because he got tired of Dazai’s constant whining. Chuuya had trained himself to be ambidextrous previously to help finish his own paperwork faster. He could write finish two different paperworks at the same time. So now he used his skills to write both his own and Dazai’s papers. Although he often made fun of Chuuya for being dumb the truth was that Chuuya was plenty smart, it was just that he had the misfortune of being close to Dazai. Compared to Dazai anyone would look dumb.
Chuuya’s intellect often got overlooked. In fact, he was surprised that Chuuya hadn’t been promoted to an executive as well, considering the huge amount of things Chuuya did. Jewel trade, A-grade missions, heavy paperwork, negotiations, and the occasional undercover missions.
While it is usually Dazai who works on the negotiation missions since he has a way with words, Chuuya wasn’t bad. He knew multiple languages, grudgingly even more than Dazai. Chuuya had a knack for different languages, he loved learning them. Dazai on the other hand only learnt them cause he was forced or he was bored.
Chuuya was also trained by Koyo-neesan, something people often forgot. He could seduce and use his body to achieve missions like undercover or negotiation. Though Chuuya dislikes the whole concept of selling his body and till now, had never had used it. The max Chuuya had let them do was touch, after which he would immediately go and take a long bath, where he would scrub all the filthiness away. In this regard both him and Chuuya shared the same opinion. Dazai hated people touching him and thus was very rarely sent on such mission. He would have killed Mori-san had he even thought of Dazai for such missions. Chuuya was just too much of a people pleaser to resist orders.
According to Mori-san, Chuuya still had a lot to learn and improve before he could be promoted to an executive but personally, he was pretty sure it was because just like himself Mori had also noticed the potential that Chuuya possessed and thus he was hanging the executive position over Chuuya’s head like a bone over a dog.
It didn’t matter in the end as Chuuya already did half of an executives work even without the title or the perks of the job. Since double black were a joint package, it wasn’t surprising that Chuuya was also dragged into whatever work Dazai was doing.
Dazai had been worried about things at first when Chuuya had finally woken up after he had used corruption for the second time. It was different from the previous time, there were no black wings on him this time. He was also more agitated, making weird growling noises, his method of killing Shibusawa was brutal, unlike with Verlaine who Dazai had recently discovered had not only survived but also was offered to be an executive, hiding underground and training assassins.
Chuuya had so many bandages after he woke up in the hospital, he was bleeding internally, externally, had broken bones, broken ribs, ligament tears and still he insisted to work out and exercise regularly because he couldn’t afford to fail.
Dazai and Koyo-neesan had to both wrangle him back to bed and convince him to rest.
Chuuya wasn’t a workaholic, he did show those tendencies but in reality he was a health freak hence he valued proper rest and sleep. It’s just that Chuuya was also an overthinker who worried about being useless, a trait he had developed due to the Sheep.
Dazai had been thoroughly amused how both of them looked so similar. Chuuya had been covered in bandages the entire time. Elise-chan had teased them a lot during that entire period,
“Oh my god Chuuuuuya! You and Dazai are matching! I think this is the first time I’ve seen someone wear matching bandages. Couple bracelets, necklaces, earrings, clothes and now for the first time bandages! Hehehe”
“Elise-chan, please shut up! As if I would willingly match with this guy! He rarely even changes his bandages, his hair is greasy, his clothes are always wrinkled, his face is ugly, his entire being is repulsive. On top of that he stinks like anything! I would never fall so low as to want anything with this piece of shit!”
This was of course not true so he had to defend himself.
“Oh please hat rack! As if I would ever want anything with you. You change my bandages all the time, you love my hair to the point you often run your hand through it, my clothes are just fine, you didn’t think my face was so ugly the last time you were in my bed and if I truly stink so much why do you cling to me while sleeping? You’re just too enamoured, it’s okay my sidekick, even though I’m way out of your league I’ll still take pity on you and let you live in the delusion of us being in love.”
“Ewwww! Who’s your sidekick oi!? I change your bandages cause I know you won’t, you are the one who forces me to run my hand through your hair when you’re lying on my lap and rolling side to side like a mackerel out of water, I have never been in your bed, stop spreading rumours and you are the one who likes cuddling while sleeping you societal outcast. Weren’t you the one who confessed to me after knowing me for a grand total of 5 hours. It seems like you’re the desperate one not me you lying bandaged parasite.”
“Chuuya you clearly love me. Do you want me to give a list of the times you almost put your life on the line for me!? Don’t slander my name, I do not remember any confessions taking place. I know that your embarrassed shorty but don’t bring me into this!”
“YOU BASTARD, I’LL KILL YOU!!“
Then Chuuya started glowing and Dazai saved the day once again. Elise-chan said some more things in the middle but she’s not important and yaps too much so he never bothers remembering what she says.
So as stated before the Shibusawa incident had taken a lot of energy from him.
Things were better now, it had been 5 months since, Chuuya was back in the field, Odasaku and Ango were no longer busy, his hard work had paid off and his workload had reduced. He had solved all the security concerns, had reestablished relations with other organisations and was now happily looking forward to a hopefully very good week ahead where he could meet up with his friends every evening and also annoy Chuuya a lot.
Obviously like with all the other wishes in his life, it fails.
It’s going to be New year’s in a month and Boss all of a sudden had a very important emergency mission for Soukoku, shipping them off to Tokyo because they had to reestablish relations with the Kodo-kai, an organization with its main branch in Nagoya. It was less yakuza and more mafia like, it even earned the name of “Financial mafia” for its activities in investment banking and just banking in general. The Port mafia could also easily earn such a name if it wished but Mori-san didn’t want to attract any unwanted attention. On top of being the biggest mafia organization in Yokohama they also contained the powerhouse, Soukoku, any more scrutiny and the other organizations might see them as a big threat and band together to end them. The Shibusawa incident had just ended, they couldn’t afford any more attacks.
Kodo-kai’s closest branch was Komatsu-gumi in Tokyo.
Boss also needed them to track a traitor who was currently acting as an informant in Kabukicho district. Honestly, Dazai was fed up. If you’re turning traitor at least go to someplace new and do something different. An informant in the red-light district in Tokyo, how original.
Dazai had wanted to spend the new year with Odasaku and Ango if possible, or maybe in his shipping container trying new suicide methods, even doing a mission by himself was fine. Why did he have to be cursed to see Chuuya’s face. This was so unfair.
When he voiced his complains out to his partner, his partner replied in kind.
“As if I wanted to be with you. I had my whole day planned. Morning would be as usual plus I would visit the Flags and clean their graves, afternoon I would cook something nice and watch the 8th episode of Strangers from Hell, evening me and ane-san would go and have dinner together at Bashamachi Okawa, night I would relax and sleep late for once after rewatching Girl from Nowhere. My whole month was ruined as well. I even had a New year’s party planned with my subordinates on New Year’s eve.”
Dazai only complained once again. Chuuya was so done with this guy.
Chuuya had been really overworked for a long time and this bastard hadn’t helped. The month after the Shibusawa incident was really hard. He had no time to mourn and ane-san was constantly worried for him. Even Hirotsu-san had asked if he wanted a cigarette and that old guy never shared his cigarettes with anyone!
The mackerel had also hovered around him for the first week or so though he doesn’t think that Dazai himself realized what he was doing. It was unfortunate but the brunette was quite dense in the matters of the heart. To be honest spending time with Dazai wasn’t the worst possible outcome, it could have been Kaji, Q or he shudders to think about it, the Boss and Elise-chan themselves. When compared Dazai was still more tolerable. At least he could bash Dazai’s head if he did something fishy unlike the others. Kaji was just weird and if Chuuya could help it he did not want to touch him, there was no question about why he wouldn’t want to be near Q and even the Boss and Elise-chan were pretty self explanatory.
Tokyo was a pretty fun place. Chuuya had already looked into it and there were many fun places that they could go to after their missions were over. It was surprising that he hadn’t been to Tokyo even though it was such a hotspot, for criminal activities and businesses. But then again, Chuuya’s forte was international relations after all compared to the national ones which Dazai handled.
They likely won’t have time to do anything, missions including them were always unpredictable, sometimes they finished early and sometimes it took too much time, way more than it should take. 2 missions in one month, not bad. Normally Boss would give them 4-5 missions and 2 months.
They could destroy enemy bases in one night but unfortunately the Port mafia cannot go around destroying every enemy out there, that would just warrant others ganging up on them. So they had to take their time, solving things diplomatically. He was really glad that ane-san was his mentor, he would have destroyed enemies with his impatience otherwise. It wasn’t that Chuuya had a short temper, a very common assumption to make since he often was with Dazai and Dazai somehow always managed to leave him at the end of his wits, but he hated all the fake flattery stuff that was common during negotiations.
Chuuya was a straightforward person and underhanded trick were dishonourable in his view. When in Sheep he would always take Shirase or Yuan with him while talking to other gangs in Suribachi because Chuuya would often just be too blunt and wanted to get things over quickly thus getting on the nerves of the other party.
It was his ane-san that taught him grace, patience, and seduction. Three important qualities that helped him make the people around him behave with respect towards him.
Ane-san to him was an indispensable part of his life, if he somehow lost her, whether because of death or due to betrayal he wouldn’t know what to do with himself. She had been there for him when he had first joined, when the Flags died, during the Shibusawa incident and even just in general. She was his pillar. Dazai was his partner no doubt and he had been there for him many times when Chuuya was on the verge of a break down but Chuuya felt different things for each of them, ane-san made him remember of all the times the Sheep used to huddle together to preserve warmth during winter or when the Sheep members used to bring back little trinkets that reminded them of Chuuya or when they would bring leftovers from really good restaurants for Chuuya’s birthday.
After all Suribachi didn’t have any big restaurants so they went all the way to Yokohama for him. Chuuya had always appreciated the gesture, it was one of his most cherished memories with the Sheep.
But Dazai made him feel differently, there was no comparison for the way he made him feel. Everything with Dazai was a new experience. Chuuya felt warm in his stomach, his chest would hurt, his head would feel slightly foggy and his face and ears felt hot whenever Dazai comforted him. It made him feel weird. And on top of that Dazai’s comfort was more of him relating and thus holding him while ane-san’s was more of understand and thus comforting him.
So as much as he hated to even think about it, he appreciated both of them being part of his life.
Dazai was an idiot who barely carried stuff so Chuuya had packed for both of them. It was often like that when it came to them. Chuuya would have to do all the stuff because Dazai was a “minimalist” as he liked to day but in reality he was just a lazy self sabotaging wimp who didn’t even understand how to take care of him. It didn’t matter though since Chuuya would cover for him, after all no matter how much he hated him, he was still his partner.
“Dazai its time to leave, the car is here, are you done?”
Dazai’s shipping container was not a very not a conducive environment for an 18-year-old boy, so he often trespassed into Chuuya’s penthouse, even though he could move to proper house with the salary he earns. Dazai just had a thing for ruining anything good in his own life. Chuuya’s house was big enough for the both of them anyway and Chuuya had learnt to live with it. That’s how things with Chuuya normally were nowadays, he had grown slightly softer since the whole Verlaine thing, more indulging in how Dazai behaved.
Chuuya had gotten quite used to Dazai’s antics. It wasn’t that hard when you knew that asshole for 2 years.
“Yeah yeah. Give me a minute, just sorting out the boarding passes and identity cards.”
“K. I’m bringing the suitcases down, come down and don’t forget to lock the door. If you mess with the house or purposefully set some prank for me for when we come back, I’ll kill you!”
“Just go carrottop, I won’t mess with our house. Not too much anyway.”
Hearing him call his house, our house always made those weird feelings Chuuya felt come back. He wasn’t dumb. The Sheep had often snuck into movie theatres from time to time for fun and Chuuya had seen people on screen have such feelings, it was just that the person for whom these feelings were for was not someone Chuuya could easily accept.
It wasn’t that Dazai was bad, it was Dazai was unpredictable. A quality he valued in friends not in his significant others. Not that Chuuya had any experience but he at least knew his type. He needed someone who would stay by his side no matter what, someone solid.
Being the protector of the sheep and then the other half of Soukoku did not give him time to chase after romance. He was too busy doing work. His relationship with Dazai was very ambiguous, they did all things lovers would do and they only behaved in such a way with each other, and both of them were possessive over each other. In a world like theirs it was impossible to trust other people hence they only had each other. So Chuuya did not know if Dazai was only this way with him because he had no other option or because he truly wanted Chuuya.
Dazai entered the car, stopping his thoughts.
“Ne chibiko, what’s got you frowning like that?”
He raised the separator between them and the driver.
Chuuya’s face just now was weird. He was concerned about something, his whole face had scrunched up. With Chuuya who had endless worries it was hard to predict what exactly was bothering him, Chuuya was the type of person to worry about everything big or small. Whenever they went to shrines, Chuuya would spend a considerable amount of time praying for everyone he knew and he wasn’t even religious. According to him, “It’s better to hope than to give up altogether.”
“It’s nothing. Have you locked the house? Give me the key.”
Dazai tosses the keys towards Chuuya.
The car ride was silent. They both were laying on each other. Chuuya had his head on Dazai’s shoulder while Dazai had his on Chuuya’s head. It lasted for half an hour until they both entered the airport. They had their own private Port mafia handled plane waiting for them.
Dazai taking full advantage of the luxuries provided not even 5 minutes into the journey had started pinging the air hostesses, bothering them with food, drinks, and blankets.
Chuuya was quietly sitting in front of him, working silently on his laptop. Recently the mafia was shifting to digital reports, all thanks to yours truly, Dazai. It was a safety hazard to write reports and send them through online means when anyone could hack into your information but Dazai had made his own program, that month spent learning everything about Java was finally useful, and now the Port mafia could safely write e-reports.
A revolution truly, because it is much easier to write them online where you can copy-paste and autocorrect everything.
There was a huge pile of workload, holidays were the favourite season for criminals, people’s guards were down and the ones who were doing such things out of need become desperate. Chuuya was tired honestly. This was his 53rd report of the day. And this was only part of the review and rectify pile full of his subordinates reports which had 78 reports in total. He still had to go through his my missions pile(18 reports to write), joint missions pile(7 reports to coordinate with his colleagues and write), Soukoku missions pile(3 reports to write) and Dazai pile(39 reports to write, 28 reports to check and rectify).
“Ne Chuuya, how many have you done from mine?”
“I haven’t even started and I’m not starting anytime soon, I have my own to finish first. You can either wait or do it yourself.”
Dazai hummed. He himself had 267 reports, from which Chuuya was doing 67 leaving him with 200. He had his own laptop open in front of him. Out of 200, 50 reports were about this year’s finances, he had to go through them and ensure no money was being laundered, Ace was not a trustworthy executive after all. 30 reports were about the security measures and system that the Port mafia was following currently, he has to ensure that everything is working properly and eradicate all the loop holes. 80 reports were submitted by his subordinates for this month’s missions, he had to go through them and ensure there were no inaccuracies and understand areas of improvement. 40 were all the reports he had to write, either his own or joint mission report.
Ugh so much work. Dazai scoffed and continued working.
Chuuya had finished his review and rectify pile and 5 out of the 18 in his my mission pile when they landed. This was quite shameful to Chuuya because he could have finished 10 in the time he took to write 5 but turns out being ambidextrous while writing and typing were two different thing. Typing on the keyboard with only one hand was hard, resulting in both hands being used for one report hence reducing his efficiency. Dazai on the other hand no issue, any way he can annoy Mori-san he would take it. Slightly reduce the efficiency of the fastest one to finish reports in the whole of Port mafia? You bet your ass Dazai is going to do it.
Picking up their luggage because both of them were paranoid enough to not trust their own subordinates with their belongings, they both left, getting into the car waiting for them at the end of the terminal to take them to their hotel.
While in the car, Chuuya did not take his laptop out, opting to look around. It was his first time in Tokyo after all. Dazai wasn’t interested, this was nothing new to him, already having been here a few times thus instead focusing on finishing his huge workload. The hotel they were staying at, The Okura, was half an hour away. He could approximately finish the 30 reports he was supposed to and with the 50 he finished on his way, he would have only 120 left. Goddamn it, it was still a lot!
They finally reached.
They both went inside, heading to their respective rooms to freshen up and prepare for the upcoming meeting with Kodo kai. Mori-san did not like wasting time, he had arranged the meeting as soon as possible and he was hoping for them to finish as soon as possible as well. That’s just the way he was, ensuring maximum efficiency.
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It had been half a month since they were here. The negotiations went well and relations had been established. Now they had 15 more days to catch the defector. Fumiko Enchi, special ability: A tale of False Fortunes, she can recover lost information using whatever little data she is provided. Her ability helps her know everything, a valued member of the mafia for information brokering, black mail and background check, a dangerous adversary against the mafia. Even though Boss had been careful enough to not share any information about members fearing that she could go rogue, she had only needed them to give a little information for her ability to work. From getting answers to meagre questions like how was your day, what did you have for lunch she had knowledge of their past, how their abilities worked and their weaknesses.
Her ability reminded Dazai of Ango’s, except her’s was more threatening.
She had only defected a month ago and already she had caused chaos. The reason they don’t have their information broadcasted right now and didn’t immediately apprehend her is that no one believes her to have any information due to the exorbitant price she is charging for it.
When no one is sure of her in the first place her price just become an ensurer that no one would approach her.
Red light district was normally Koyo-neesan’s territory, but she was wary of having her courtesan’s information being obtained and then used by Fumiko. While there was no doubt her girls were good assassins, blackmail is the prime method of manipulation. When multiple of Port mafia’s enemies have succumbed to it, it’s not far fetched to think that their own will turn against them.
So now Soukoku was being deployed, a very unnecessary decision in Chuuya’s opinion, one that Dazai also agreed with. They would prefer not having to see the others face if they didn’t have to, thank you very much.
Dazai had a plan already. It wasn’t uncommon for a new comer to want to gain information on others in their turf. They just had to go undercover as members of a foreign organisation, after which they could kill her. First they would gain her trust, then they would get information from her, and then she would die the traitors death. A clean mission which should approximately take them a week at most.
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Chuuya tries to repress his urge to scream at Dazai.
What should have taken them seven days to finish a mission, took them 12 days because the damn traitor was paranoid and even after the whole mission was over, Dazai couldn’t even spend one day without flaunting how suicidal he was hence he had purposefully poisoned himself with some new poison that seemed to be available in the market these days.
Now Chuuya’s sightseeing days were reduced to 3 days because for some reason this poison actually affected him meaning that the weak piece of crap was currently compromised and Chuuya couldn’t leave his partner alone in such a state. Attempts at their life was nothing new and this was a perfect opportunity for Dazai’s foes. Chuuya often thought that enemy assassins didn’t even need to weaken the knock off mummy, he himself created situations perfect to take him out.
Chuuya had no option but to take care of the bastard. Seeing that he couldn’t go anywhere he might as well finish some of Dazai’s reports since he was done with his.
The mackerel had 40 reports left to write.
While on normal circumstance Chuuya would rejoice in seeing such a small number, Chuuya was bored and stuck with a blockhead, his only distraction was work which was very less. Chuuya could finish one report in 10 minutes so this would take 7 hours tops. Which means he would once again have to find something else to do. He was so fed up, with Dazai, this mission, Port mafia itself.
Dazai was watching Chuuya fume silently while in the bed. Okay, to be fair, he hadn’t expected the poison to work. He knew how much Chuuya like learning about new things and places, Chuuya was always curious. And now by falling sick, he had reduced Chuuya’s days to go and discover Tokyo. The poison was new in the market so it didn’t have an antidote either. Dazai sighed. Well, knowing Dazai’s resistance to poisons, it should only take him one day to bounce back. Dazai took his phone in his hands, opening the note pad to list down and plan an itinerary for what to do in Tokyo while they were still here. 3 days was more than enough to have fun.
He had come up with an itinerary. If they were here then they might as well have fun and spend New year’s together.
They had 3 days, so first day was just them mucking around. First they would go to Akhiabara to buy video games and go around shopping after which they could go to Takeshita street for all the weird foods and trinket shopping. No matter how long Chuuya had been in the mafia, he was still attracted towards the cheap thing they sell on the street.
The next day they could go to Team Lab Borderless and Red° Tokyo Tower to have fun. The first destination wasn’t really to Dazai’s liking but Chuuya liked pretty looking things. The second activity was something both of them would enjoy, not only normal games but VR games were present as well. Dazai could already imagine how fun it would be to win against Chuuya again and again. All the humiliating things he could do as the prize for winning their bets. Chuuya face would be flushed red in anger, his hair would float around slightly and his features would be all scrunched up, shouting at him for supposedly “cheating”. Even if he was, it’s not like that pipsqueak in black could prove it.
And for the last day, on New year’s, they would eat Osechi Ryori and Toshikoshi soba together, to celebrate. After which they would go shopping in Toranomon Hills, it was high profile so they could buy gifts for their friends. Unlike everywhere in Japan, the mafia did not have 1-3 Jan as holidays, only the 1st. Dazai had already been invited by Odasaku and Ango and he also had some things planned with Hirotsu-san. Chuuya too had plans with Koyo-neesan and Hirotsu-san.
Their original plans and original date had thankfully remained, just slightly tweaked. Initially they were worried that since this mission required both of them, the time taken might extend but instead it had fortunately reduced.
The Imperial Palace was on the way and Chuuya had always wondered about the Japanese royalty so they would see him give his speech as well. Then in the evening they would go to the Akasaka Hikawa Shrine after which they would head to the night market to celebrate, watching the fire cracker together.
“Not bad blockhead. Will Takeshita street have the cool 3-D latte art thing?”
“Doggies shouldn’t talk back, and instead be grateful for how well their mater is treating them. I do so much for you and yet you still act so brutish. You’ve only yapped about 3-D coffee art like 300 time by now of course I would forget about including that.”
“So it is there. And stop being such an ass.”
“Human cannonball!”
“Fuckwipe!”
“Angry tangerine!”
“Miserable FULL BODY CAST!”
“MUTT FOR BRAINS!”
“BANDAGED TERMITE!”
“LAWSON VERSION OF PUSS IN BOOTS!”
Upon hearing the knocking at the door, they both quieten down.
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Chuuya had been bustling with energy for a while. Dazai had gotten better and also laid out a very satisfying plan of the days to follow. He had chosen all the good things to do and for the first time in his life Chuuya was appreciating Dazai’s presence.
They were walking down the streets, halfway done through shopping. Chuuya had bought a bunch of videogames, matching customised Nintendo switch, one with bandages and mackerels for himself and one wine hats and slugs for Dazai, and a normal switch for Elise-chan. She had been getting into gaming recently but the Boss wouldn’t buy any for her, getting new dresses instead. Chuuya was grinning. Tokyo was really flashy and expensive for no reason to be honest. But this was just how it was and Chuuya was here to enjoy the experience, “When in Rome do as the Romans do” . Besides money was never a problem to him anymore.
Dazai was looking for a new gamepad, his may or may not be destroyed by Chuuya in a fit of anger.
Both of them were looking for VR games as well. They were getting popular and Chuuya had a specific room for gaming where they could play these games. There was also a VR game called ‘Mortal Blitz’ here that was really popular so they were going there after they finished shopping.
It was 3 in the afternoon when they were done. The VR game was not that good. Though that was probably just them since the fighting was so unrealistic. Chuuya was frustrated he couldn’t play with Dazai as it was single player, he had planned to kill Dazai before he could even touch a single monster in the game.
Dazai giggled at Chuuya. He had gotten a higher score than the redhead and now he was grumbling to himself, his face all scrunched up like a cute cat. Wait- scratch the cute, he doesn’t know where that came from. They had also gone to this cosplay makeup thing on the way and now both of them were cosplaying Ivan and Till. The shorty was obviously Till, they were both so hot headed, and short. Dazai giggled to himself.
“Dazai lets go to Takeshita street now. It’ll close at 6.”
So onwards they go. Takeshita street is in Shibuya, slight father and Dazai was a lazy bandaged idiot so they caught the subway to Harajuku station. Chuuya went all out on shopping to be honest. They went to all the popular food places like Reissue for 3-D latte art where Chuuya got a dog, Le Shiner - the rainbow sandwich place, Momi and Toys where they got slug and mackerel looking cotton candies, Marion Crêpes, Long! Longer!! Longest!!! – for really long potato twisters, Strawberry Fetish – for tanghulu and Godiva dessert where they got some packaged for Elise-chan, Koyo-neesan and Odasku’s kids.
The food was really good, Dazai was stuffed already.
Dazai was having fun, he had bitten of some of the chibi’s cotton candy earlier and he even stole some of the tanghulu. To top it all of he had made Chuuya pay for everything. A good day indeed.
Chuuya had been ignoring Dazai for the past half an hour. Only after Dazai had offered to buy him that jacket he wanted, a black leather jacket, Versace Plongé, that cost 10,10,640 yen had Chuuya finally started talking again. They were both at the end of the street to shop for clothes. This part of the street sold streetwear and Chuuya was practically akin to a dog staring at a bone with the way he was looking at the clothes on display. Dazai wanted to stop shopping cause with the amount of things they were purchasing Chuuya’s hand would be full and then Dazai would also have to carry bags. Chuuya of course did not listen.
He had some clothes picked for Dazai as well and if Dazai had to be honest they weren’t that bad. They looked quite good on him.
It was 6 by that time so they left and caught a taxi back home. That evening they ordered room service and played games on their switch until 12. Dazai was too lazy to go all the way back to his room (it was right beside Chuuya’s) so he just pushed Chuuya aside and slept on the bed. It was not like they hadn’t shared beds before and the bed was big enough anyways.
The next day they spent some time indoors lazing around till 10.
Chuuya was furious about losing 13 times consecutively last night so he insisted on one more round which eventually turned to 23 rounds. They then headed to Team Lab Borderless after they were done. It was really pretty. Chuuya couldn’t believe this actually existed. Everything was glowing and the colours were so pretty and you could even touch them. Everything looked so endless. Everywhere he moved there seemed to be more, it was like they were in space. Endless boundary where everything looked so pretty.
Dazai couldn’t take his eyes of Chuuya. He looked so enamoured with everything around him and his eyes were so doe-like at this moment, so curious and wonderous about everything around him. The light reflected in Chuuya’s eyes was shining and Dazai wanted to reach out for Chuuya’s hand so bad. His cheeks had a rosy tint to them and his lips were curled upwards into the most stunning smile Dazai had ever seen. He just wanted to touch him, somewhere, anywhere, anything. Dazai and Odasaku had had a talk about his feelings long ago. He wasn’t foreign to these feelings which had persisted right from the beginning, probably when Chuuya first kicked him into the wall.
Dazai’s hand acted before his mind could and now his hand was entwinned with Chuuya’s. Though Chuuya certainly didn’t seem to mind with the way he squeezed his hand. Dazai couldn’t help the heat rushing to his cheeks, or the dopey grin on his face. It was all due to the petit mafia.
When they came out of there it was 3, their hands were still linked but neither tried to remove them or said anything about them either.
Next stop was Red° Tokyo Tower. It was barely 10 minutes by foot so they walked all the way. Dazai couldn’t stop himself from squeezing the hand in his just to know that it was real. The hand in his also squeezed back. The face to which the hand belonged had red rosy cheeks and a small smile as if it was participating in a secret only they shared.
They went through all the floors playing various games, individual and 2- player. Chuuya couldn’t stop his eyes from staring at Dazai. Dazai looked so excited and happy in his element. He kept on smirking and laughing when he won against Chuuya and he looked so mesmerising that Chuuya was forgetting why he was even supposed to be mad. The people around them also cheered for him but Chuuya couldn’t see anyone but his partner right now.
Chuuya couldn’t stop smiling the entire time out of proxy.
The place sold painting as well so Chuuya bought one for himself and ane-san while Dazai bought one for Odasku’s kids and Ango. Ango really needed more things in his office other than files and more files. His room had no character, like a boring office worker’s. Oh wait- he was an office worker, but still. Dazai’s shipping container didn’t need any more customising than it had already been subjected to so he didn’t bother getting one for himself. Any way’s whatever belonged to Chuuya was Dazai’s as well.
It was 9 now and they had to leave. They headed back to the hotel. Today choosing to eat at Toh-Ka-Lin, Chinese fine dining in The Okura. They both were stuffing themselves, tired form the day’s activities.
Satisfied they both returned to Chuuya’s room to watch a movie. They were rewatching a horror comedy on Netflix, Secrets in the Hot Spring. If they both fell asleep while watching and woke up tangled in each other’s arms then who was really checking.
Even though they both had their separate rooms Dazai’s was barely used. At the beginning of the mission he would come over to discuss the plan, to play games or to just watch some show or movie. In the end he would sleep over and neither discussed about it. Dazai’s room had most likely been used only 1/3rd of the time that they were spending here. Today was the last day of the year. They ordered traditional Japanese food from Yamazato, two Osechi Ryori and a Toshikoshi soba. After eating they headed towards Toranomon hills for quality shopping.
It even had a tower called the Mori Tower, the tallest in those hills. They both snickered as they took photos of the tower. They would later edit them and spread them around. Dazai was thinking of a Christmas tree thing with Mori-san’s head as the star on top while Chuuya was thinking of stacking a bunch of Mori-sans on top of each other and equating it to the tower. If they had a drone project embarrassing images of the Boss on the tower so that they could take pictures and mess around then really, it was no one’s business.
They bought clothes for themselves, perfumes for ane-san, coat for Hirotsu-san and Sakunosuke, a suit for Sakaguchi and a cute jumpsuit for Elise-chan.
“Why do you even know Elise-chan’s size Chuuya?” Dazai rolled his eyes.
“Don’t even get me started on the amount of times the Boss has sent me with Elise-chan for either clothes or pastries. Sometimes he forgets that we are Mafioso’s and he’s the goddamn Boss.” Chuuya grunted.
After they are done they head back to the hotel to keep everything. Changing into their yukata’s they came out to go to the shrine close by for praying. Chuuya wore a stunning red yukata with golden dragons on it as if he was a bride for a Chinese wedding. The colours complimented Chuuya’s eyes well, the shine in them more profound now. The obi was black with golden patterns on them, bringing the whole look together and of course since Chuuya can’t survive without his hats he had a black hat with a red strip of fabric tied to it and golden embellishments on them. Dazai sneered at the hat.
Dazai himself was wearing a dark blue yukata with golden phoenix truly making it seem like they were both marrying each other now. His obi was white with golden embellishments. Dazai laughed after realising that him and Chuuya had unintentionally matched. To be fair these were given to them by Koyo-neesan so it was most likely that there was a purpose behind it.
She had always been the most supportive of both of them after Hirotsu-san. Helping them sneak around and have fun, giving gifts to them and cooking for them occasionally, truly living up to her title of a sister.
Before going to the shrine they headed to the Imperial palace. Chuuya was busy checking out the architecture and the garden around them, so Dazai held onto his hand so they don’t get lost, that’s it, that was the only reason. They didn’t get too close to the palace since it was really crowded and they would get stuck without a way to come out for a long time. Chuuya was fascinated by the clothes they wore, marvelling at the patterns and colours, truly worthy of being ane-san’s protégé.
The sun was setting at this point so they took a cab to the Akasaka Hikawa Shrine and after they were done, they would go to the night market to have some fun and watch the fireworks. The shrine they were going to was actually really popular amongst lovers, something they didn’t know while going. Okay, so someone may have known and that someone may have been Dazai but no one had conclusive proof of his involvement so no one could say that this was done on purpose and that he had hidden the fact that loves often come here from Chuuya. Because he obviously hadn’t known.
There was omikuji so no doubt Dazai and Chuuya went to get theirs. Dazai got Sue-kyo (curse to come) while Chuuya got Sue-sho-kichi (Small blessing to come).
Chuuya compared his and Dazai’s. They had some things similar while others were different. All in all it wasn’t too bad.
“Dazai, I see a pine tree there, tie your’s over there.”
“Cmon slug, you don’t really believe this do you?”
“It’s better to believe than suffer. Trust me just tie it. I mean if it’s not real then it doesn’t matter what you do with it right?”
“No way. To prove that it’s not real, I’m gonna keep it with me. Just you wait and see.”
“You bandaged mummy, just listen to me for once in your godforsaken life!”
“Shut up sidekick.”
“Fuck you, you extra stuff that comes with bandages.”
“Oh my god, cursing in a shrine. My dog truly doesn’t have manners. Looks like I’ll have to go back and train you.”
“Shut up you giraffe sized child.”
People had started giving them dirty looks and while on normal days neither of them cared it was New Year’s so Chuuya had become extra cautious in ensuring that the year ends and starts well. What an idiot honestly, if Chuuya is beside Dazai then how is Dazai’s good ending of the year ensured.
So now that night had settled they headed towards the night market.
They both walked all the way, hand in hand and no words uttered between them. Chuuya was too busy admiring the surrounding and Dazai was too busy admiring Chuuya. His eyes light up so beautifully, the freckles are also illuminated, his hair is shining under the light. His entire face is radiant and he looks absolutely like a beauty. His left eye, blue like the ocean, looked like the shimmering water due to the sun set under the lighting while his right eye, brown like the Earth, looked like shining gold due to the sun’s first rays hitting the Earth. He looked divine.
Chuuya turned around to look at Dazai and couldn’t help but stop and look for a second. Dazai’s eyes were shining, they were mahogany under normal light but right now they shone like liquid gold, brighter than the brightest amber and more lustrous than copper. His smile was dazzling, his two dimples easily visible. He looked absolutely reverent.
They both clenched each other’s hands a little tighter.
The minute they entered both of them were immediately drawn in by the atmosphere and the aroma. You could only imagine all the delicious types of food present by the scent in the air, it looked beautiful. People were bustling and hustling around, street hawkers were still energetically shouting, some stray dogs here and there lazing around and looking pitiful to the people hoping for some food, little kids running around laughing joyously, rosy-cheeked couples clinging to each other and beaming, it was a sight.
They themselves felt blood rush to their cheeks, Chuuya’s ears and cheeks were red while for Dazai it was his neck and cheeks.
In such an environment it was impossible to not feel festive. They were both laughing and enjoying. They went around playing different games like catching the gold fish, throwing rings and shooting at the ballons. They even won two stuffed toys. A cat and a dog, taken by Dazai and Chuuya respectively.
Chuuya couldn’t help himself from marvelling at the sights around him. There were so many beautiful things on sale. He bought some hair ornaments for ane-san and himself, he too occasionally like to indulge in hair accessories, some really cute hair clips for Elise-chan while Dazai bought some toys for Sakunosuke’s children and a Tea bag set for Sakaguchi. His ane-san also loved tea but she would never drink tea from places like these where the tea wasn’t high quality.
As they were walking around they bought a set of Karuta, climbing up the hill nearby and sitting at a good spot under the tree, there were barely people there in the first place and majority were foreigners so it wasn’t that hard to find a place to sit. Since they didn’t have a 3rd person for the game, they just each read a card, it may be cheating but no one was keeping a score anyway so how did it matter.
As the clock neared twelve, they had also finished their game and were now looking upwards, awaiting the fireworks. All the past years, New Year’s eve was spent by watching TV programs until 12 as this was the common tradition but in big cities they did things with more pomp, especially to attract more tourists. This was the first time that Chuuya and Dazai were celebrating New Year’s eve like this.
“Ne Chuuya, what is your New Year’s resolution?”
“To be more honest, with myself and the people around me. What about you?”
With the continuous losses that Chuuya had faced the recent years he had decided to cherish people more while they were still with him rather than push them away because with Chuuya it was guaranteed that they either betray him or die on him. He’d rather have precious memories with that person that he can look back at than the sad last moments where he regrets all his decisions.
“Ah, Chuuya knows that I don’t do this weird stuff. I don’t need an occasion to induce change in myself, beside I’m so amazing what is there to change about me?”
Chuuya chuckles while replying, “A lot of things but currently what’s bothering me the most is your relationship status.”
“Huh, isn’t Chuuya getting a bit too bold?”
“I did say my New Year’s resolution, didn’t I?”
Dazai is smiling, he can’t help himself, “It’s not even New Year’s yet but I guess once a dumb dog, always a dumb dog.”
Chuuya’s eyebrows knit in frustration and his voice rises as he continues, “Who the fuck is a dog!? Do you want me to skin you and gift Mori-san mackerel for New Year’s?”
“EW! Chuuya you didn’t say that you were being honest with the people you care about, are you expressing your love for the Boss using me? I don’t want to be involved!”
Chuuya made a disgusted expression, ignoring the previous statement and trying to compose himself he attempts once again, “So? Do you have someone you like?”
“I didn’t know that Chuuya was so invested in my love life.”
“Just answer the damn question you bandaged bastard.”
“I have a question myself, Will you be my boyfriend Chuuya?”, Dazai looked smug as he answered. Chuuya had wanted to ask him first but since It was Dazai who asked him first Dazai had technically won (what competition it was and when it was placed neither the readers nor they themselves know) and Chuuya was sure to be angered.
Just like he expected-
“You damn mummy! I was asking first.” Saying this his cheeks puffed up slightly to show that he was upset.
Dazai only smiled as he held Chuuya’s face in his hands to make him look at himself and asked the same question again.
However instead of giving an answer Chuuya just surged forward and kissed him instead. Dazai had stilled at first before responding. The fireworks had started at that point, signifying that it was 12 but they were both so lost in each other they couldn’t bother with things around them. Dazai was sucking on Chuuya’s lips while Chuuya was sucking back with equal fervour if not more. Dazai bit Chuuya’s lips, Chuuya giving a moan in response. Dazai immediately took the chance and slipped his tongue inside. Chuuya wasn’t one to lose though so they kept on fighting for dominance, the need for air long forgotten.
Dazai won in the end, and so he continued exploring the warm mouth with ardour. This wasn’t their first kiss, it was just the first time after they had officially become a couple but to both of them it was just as if the very first time. From now on every intimate gesture would feel like a first since no matter that they had already done these things, they weren’t really a couple so everything would become a novel experience to them once again. They both were panting by the time they were done.
Chuuya smirked as he said, “You may have asked first but I kissed first so I win.”
Dazai only gave a dark chuckle as he leaned into Chuuya’s ear to whisper, “Oh I’ll fuck you first though so I win no matter what.”
Chuuya’s competitive flame increased, “As if, we’ll go back today and see. You’ll wake up with a sore back complaining about today tomorrow while I laugh at you.”
Dazai only gave a knowing smile in return, “We’ll see.”
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In the morning there was indeed back ache and complains, just not from Dazai. Dazai had indeed won in the end. They had gone at it like rabbits, with Chuuya topping only for 2 out of 8. Both of them were tired, after a bath last night they hadn’t even bothered wearing something, they just went to bed. Dazai’s bed finally finding use in a long time for their last day.
They both packed up for their flight back in the afternoon.
They were both glowing, there hands held tightly they boarded. Now that they were together the chaos back home would just increase. Dazai and Chuuya were cackling discussing pranks, their moods happy and content for once in a long time.