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Chapter Text

The chilling breeze of winter approached as snow covered the roads entirely, trees dried solid with the weather as birds flew in search of shelter in desperation to avoid the glacial winds. Those who wished to leave their homes wore heavy clothing outside to bear the numbing cold during this time of the year, he cold soaking through Dazai’s coat as he wandered the backstreets of Yokohama. He had no particular destination; his missions were complete, his allies occupied, and the weight of existence pressed heavily on him as it often did. But for Dazai, that day was especially bad. He'd been feeling down lately because of Mori's continuous nagging. But today was the worst he'd felt in a long time with days of sleepless nights and his exhaustion. He felt nothing really, even the cold breezes that swept by him were futile in snapping him out of his depressed trance. He felt empty. Very empty. As he walked down the alleyways mindlessly, he could hear the happy chatter of people. Now that he thought of it, today was Christmas wasn't it?

A holiday humanity established based on religion. A day to commemorate, the birth of a savior Dazai didn't get the concepts of such holidays. To him it was point less. But then again Dazai thought that everything was pointless in life.
The city was alive with its Christmas festive hum, but for Dazai, it was all muted ; a distant symphony he had no desire to listen to. His steps carried him aimlessly through the dimly lit streets, his coat swaying as the chill of the evening bit at him. His mind swirled with thoughts he wanted entertain, weighed down by the usual melancholia that clung to him like a second skin.
Then he heard it. A faint yowl ; sharp, distressed, and coming from the shadowed mouth of an alleyway. After a long time, he finally snapped out of his depressing trance. Curiosity or perhaps boredom compelled him to turn toward the sound. As he approached, he saw a group of kids around his age, their laughter cruel and jagged. At the center of their jeering was a small, trembling black cat, its fur matted , backed into a corner with nowhere to run. The scene before him was unpleasantly familiar

Now, wasn't his too cruel? Even to someone like *Dazai*, he felt it too cruel. After all, it was just a small kitten. What had it done to them and why did they have to abuse it on a holiday? That Christmas, nobody, not even Dazai himself knew why he decided to step in. He was taken over by an unexpected wave of heroism. ";Now, now," Dazai's voice rang out, calm but with a sharp edge. The children turned to find his dark eyes that had a glint of danger, fixed on them, a thin smile on his lips that didn't reach his face. "What's so fun about hurting something smaller than you? Are you all so bored with life that you’ve resorted to terrorizing innocent creatures? How pitiful.”
The kids froze, turning to see him standing there, his expression unreadable but carrying an unmistakable weight of authority. One of them muttered an excuse before they all scattered, as if sensing the kind of man they had stumbled upon. The kids hesitated, their bravado shrinking under his gaze. One muttered something about it being “just a stray” before they scattered, leaving the alley in tense silence.
Dazai knew that he was what they called creepy or scary, so it wasn't a surprise that they scurried away like the rats they are. Somebody once told him that he exuded an aura that screamed danger. Those kids, they were his age. He looked where they had ran off to and saw them with their parents.... *Parents*. They were supposed to love their children unconditionally right? Then why were *his*.... He'd rather not think about it. Its all useless. He's gonna die no matter what so why even bother....

Dazai stepped closer to the cat. Seeing it flinch, he slowly crouched down to its level, he'd heard somewhere that this makes them feel less threatened. His gaze softened as he extended a hand toward the tiny creature. The cat hissed weakly, its body trembling, but it didn’t have the energy to flee. “Well, aren’t you a scrappy little thing?” he murmured, his voice uncharacteristically gentle for someone who was threatening just a moment ago.
After a few moments, the cat sniffed his hand, then tentatively nudged it with its nose. Dazai smiled faintly. Funny enough, he was seeing himself in this cat. “I suppose we’re both a bit broken, aren’t we?”
Scooping the cat into his arms, he felt its fragile weight against his chest. It shivered slightly but didn’t resist, its tired body settling into his warmth. As he walked back toward his apartment in the thick snow, the cat curled closer, its purring a soft, rhythmic vibration against his heart that made his heart feel weird. Although he wasn't complaining, it-...it felt nice.
The loneliest place in Yokohama. Close to the center of it, was where Dazai lived. What Dazai lived in was not a house. It was one of the abandoned shipping containers near a dumping site. Quite pathetic right? He'd already thought of a name for the Kitten by the time he reached his apartment(shipping container), "Chuuko," he said as he set the cat down on the couch, watching as it explored its new surroundings cautiously. “Simple, but it suits you.” He thought of the name as 'Chuu' coming from Chuuya as the cat also had heterochromia, one eye being blue just like Chuuya's!
Chuuko had bruises from earlier. Dazai pulled out a first-aid kit from under his bed and sat down. Chuuko came up to him wondering what he was doing. Dazai bandaged her up after cleaning her wounds. It was dark already so Dazai climbed onto his bed. Chuuko jumped up and onto the bed next to Dazai, nestling on him. Dazai was quite shocked. He was overwhelmed by cuteness, something that had never happened before. He wanted to attack something, he didn't know why!

***Time skip!***

Over the following days, Chuuko became a quiet presence in Dazai’s life. The cat had an uncanny ability to sense when Dazai was sinking too deep into his thoughts, interrupting his brooding with a soft paw to the face or curling up in his lap, demanding attention.
“Ah, Chuuko, my dear accomplice in melancholy, it seems you’ve become quite the demanding housemate,” Dazai mused, scratching behind Chuuko’s ears as she lounged lazily on his lap. Her heterochronic blinked slowly at him, a regal indifference in her expression.

Realizing he’d been feeding her scraps from his own questionable meals, Dazai decided it was time to give Chuuko the royal treatment she clearly thought she deserved. He grabbed his coat, slung it over his shoulder, and headed to the nearest pet store. What a terrible owner he'd been!

The bright, cheery atmosphere of the pet store was a stark contrast to Dazai’s usual haunts, he felt severely out of place . He strolled through the aisles, his curious gaze scanning everything from cat trees to toys shaped like mice.

A helpful store clerk approached him hesitantly, her smile forced and little wary. “Sir, c-an I help you fi-nd anything?”

“Yes!” Dazai said, beaming. “I recently acquired a very temperamental roommate. She’s small, furry, and judges me constantly. What would you recommend to appease such a creature?”

The clerk blinked, then laughed nervously. “Uh, a c-at, I assume?”

“Correct,” he replied with exaggerated seriousness. “Her name is Chuuko, and she’s a queen among mortals. I must provide her with a feast befitting her station.”

The clerk guided him to the food aisle, where Dazai stared at the overwhelming variety of cat food. “Chicken? Tuna? Salmon? This feels like preparing a banquet,” he muttered. Picking up a can, he studied the label intently before asking the clerk, “Do cats prefer pâté or flaked texture? Or perhaps something existential, like the futility of choice?”

“Uh… most cats like variety?” the clerk offered hesitantly.

Satisfied, Dazai grabbed a mix of flavors. “A culinary roulette it is! If she doesn’t like it, I’ll simply apologize with extra cuddles. Though she’ll probably ignore me anyway.”

Now, for another challenge, toys….. What should he even get her??!
The toy aisle was another adventure. Dazai picked up a feather wand, inspecting it with mock seriousness. “Do you think this will entertain her, or will she see through the shallow attempt to distract her from life’s deeper questions?”

“Cats usually love these,” the clerk said, visibly unsure whether Dazai was joking.

By the time he reached the checkout, Dazai’s basket was overflowing with cat food, a plush bed 'though she’ll probably still sleep on my pillow', a scratching post, and a collection of toys.

“You must really love your cat,” the cashier remarked as she rang up the items.

“She short of saved me, you know,” Dazai said softly, his usual playful tone replaced with something genuine. “It’s only fair I return the favor.”

Back at his apartment, Dazai set everything up with exaggerated flourish, explaining each item to Chuuko as if she were royalty inspecting her new castle. She sniffed at the scratching post, batted at the feather wand, and then promptly curled up in the plush bed as though she’d always belonged there.

Dazai leaned against the wall, watching her. “Well, Chuuko, it seems I’ve succeeded in making you happy today. A rare accomplishment for someone like me.”

Chuuko purred in response, and for the first time in a while, Dazai felt a little lighter.

As usual afterwards Dazai took a nap. He thought Chuuko would sleep in the bed he bought her but he was promptly proven wrong as Chuuko came up onto the bed and slept with Dazai. Dazai was quite touched, although he wouldn't say it out loud.

Chapter Text

Back in his apartment like any other day, Chuuko had already made herself at home as always, lounging on the windowsill, watching the rain fall over Yokohama like a queen surveying her kingdom. Dazai set down the supplies, speaking to her as he unpacked.

“You’re lucky, you know,” he said, opening a can of salmon-flavored cat food. “Most things that cross my path don’t get a second chance.” Chuuko didn’t respond, of course, but the flick of her tail suggested she wasn’t impressed.

Dazai chuckled at that. Now that he thought about it, tomorrow is the one moth anniversary of meeting Chuuko. She's.... grown a lot in that one month. Due to the harsh condition of where she was from, she probably didn't get much food which led to malnourishment. Now that she had a healthy environment provided by Dazai, her once matted and rough fur fur was now kind of slick and smooth. On cold nights, Dazai would get in bed earlier and let Chuuko curl up besides him. He would run his long fingers though Chuuko's fur aimlessly, it helped his insomniac ass go to sleep and partially stop his overthinking.

And its not just Chuuko being helped, Dazai's being helped by Chuuko in her own way. The cat’s insistence on routine—whether it's meal times or their daily walks (Dazai insists on calling it forceful— even though he kind of does it on his own accord) forces him into a rhythm. When Dazai spirals into his darker moods, Chuuko’s antics, such as smacking his head or kneading dough on his arm or just being there and purring , provide a welcome distraction to his misery of life. His subordinates notices a shift. Dazai’s wit is still sharp and his aura/ method's are still terrifying as usual, but there’s a slight softness in how he talks about Chuuko. "She’s a fellow tragic soul," Dazai says one day, "but he stays for the shiny things in life. Perhaps I should do the same."
Over a few days when he would take Chuuko along with him for a mission, Dazai noticed that Chuuko had a habit of perching on his shoulders.

It was a quiet evening in the Port Mafia’s underground headquarters. The heavy air carried the scent of paperwork, disinfectant, and lingering tension—just another normal day for the organization. Dazai strolled into Mori’s office with his usual nonchalance, but this time, he wasn’t alone.

Perched elegantly on his shoulder was Chuuko, her sleek black fur blending almost seamlessly with the dark fabric of Dazai’s coat. Her eyes scanned the room with an almost imperious air, her tail flicking lazily as though she were completely unfazed by her surroundings.

Mori looked up from his desk, his sharp eyes immediately noting the cat’s presence. He leaned back in his chair, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Well, Dazai, I must admit, this is... unexpected.”

Dazai grinned, tilting his head slightly so Chuuko could rub her cheek against his. “You’re always telling me I should find hobbies outside of work, Mori-san. Consider her my latest ‘project.’”

Mori chuckled, setting his pen down. “A cat, of all things. Does it have a name?”

“Chuuko,” Dazai replied, his tone light but with a subtle warmth. “Found her in an alley. She’s been kind enough to tolerate my existence ever since. Oh and its a she, not an 'it'”

Mori’s gaze lingered on the cat for a moment, his calculating mind undoubtedly analyzing every detail. Mori noticed that the name sounded quite similar to Chuuya, though he paid it no mind. “She seems... fitting,” he said finally. “Quiet, observant, and clearly quite attached to you.”

Chuuko, as if understanding she was being discussed, let out a soft meow before hopping down onto Mori’s desk with the grace of a seasoned predator. She sniffed at the papers, swatted a pen off the edge, and then turned to stare directly at Mori, her heterochronic eyes unblinking.

Mori raised an eyebrow. “Bold little thing, isn’t she?”

“Of course,” Dazai said with a smirk. “She’s my cat, after all.”

As Mori reached out a hand, Chuuko sniffed it cautiously before batting it away with a paw—gently, but decisively. Dazai laughed. “Ah, it seems she’s not a fan of authority. A girl after my own heart.”

Mori smiled thinly, his expression unreadable. “She’s... charming. Though I hope you don’t let her distract you from your responsibilities.”

“Distract me?” Dazai echoed, he took offense. How dare Mori say that his precious Chuuko was a distraction?. “Mori-san, Kuro is an asset. Her mere presence improves my mood, and a happy subordinate is a productive one, isn’t that right?” he said with a higher voice than usual

Mori didn’t respond immediately, his gaze shifting between Dazai and the cat. Finally, he waved a hand dismissively. “As long as she doesn’t interfere with your work, I see no issue.”

Chuuko, apparently satisfied with her inspection of the mafia boss, leapt back onto Dazai’s shoulder. She settled there, her tail curling around his neck like a dark ribbon.

Dazai turned to leave, his steps light as always. “See? She’s already proven her worth. Besides, if anyone’s a distraction, it’s you, Mori-san. Always dragging me into your schemes.” His words had a warning in them.

Mori’s smile lingered even as the door closed behind Dazai. For a brief moment, his thoughts turned to the enigmatic young man who had somehow managed to form a bond with a stray cat.

“Interesting,” Mori murmured to himself, smirking a bit, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk.

Chuuko’s presence on Dazai’s shoulder became a common sight around headquarters. She earned a reputation as the Port Mafia’s unofficial mascot, though few dared to approach her—or her infamous owner.

Chapter Text

Today was supposed to be a mission with Chuuya and he was especially late. Why you ask? Because Chuuko's name was way too damn close to Chuuya's! Damn it... why hadn't Dazai thought of the possibility of Chuuya meeting Chuuko?? When Chuuya learns of Chuuko's name, he'll probably make fun of him and Dazai definitely did not want to be teased by Chuuya fucking Nakahara of all people. That damn midget.... Well, he could make a fake name for Chuuko. How about.... Kuro! Yes that's perfect- no, its purr-fect!

Chuuya stomped into the dimly lit meeting room, his boots clicking against the polished floor. He was already irritated—Dazai had, predictably, been late again. The mission they were supposed to discuss hung in limbo, and Chuuya was ready to let his ex-partner hear it.

“Oi, Dazai, where the hell have—”

Chuuya froze mid-sentence, his sharp eyes narrowing at the sight before him. There was Dazai, lounging in his usual carefree manner, but perched on his shoulder was a sleek black cat. Its green eyes met Chuuya’s with an unimpressed stare, as if already judging him.

“What. The. Hell. Is that?” Chuuya demanded, pointing at the feline.

Dazai smirked, gently scratching under Kuro’s chin. “Oh, Chuuya, how rude of you. This is Chuu-no ,Kuro! Kuro, my esteemed companion. She’s far too refined to deal with your yelling.”

Chuujo let out a soft meow, as if to agree, and flicked her tail dismissively.

Chuuya blinked, utterly baffled. “You? A cat? This has to be some kind of joke.”

“Why is it so surprising?” Dazai replied with mock innocence. “Kuro is a reflection of my soul—mysterious, elegant, and unbothered by the trivialities of the world.”

“She’s tiny and looks like she wants to claw your face off,” Chuuya shot back.

“Exactly,” Dazai said, grinning. “She’s perfect.”
At that moment Dazai really wanted to make a cat pun but the person in front of him is Chuuya so.... No puns for now..

Despite himself, Chuuya couldn’t help but be curious about the cat. As Dazai rambled on about their mission, Chuuko leapt gracefully from his shoulder onto the table, padding toward Chuuya.

“Uh, what’s she doing?” Chuuya asked, stiffening as Kuro approached.

“She’s assessing you,” Dazai said, watching with a faint smirk. “Kuro has an excellent sense of character. If she doesn’t like you, well… that’s probably a sign you should reflect on your choices.”

Chuuko stopped in front of Chuuya, sitting down with a regal air. She tilted her head, her green eyes scrutinizing him. Tentatively, Chuuya extended a hand.

“Hey, uh… Kuro, right? I’m not bad with animals,” he muttered, his voice softer than usual.

Chuuko sniffed his fingers, then—after a moment’s pause—nudged his hand with her head. Chuuya blinked, surprised, before scratching behind her ears. “Huh. Guess she’s got decent taste after all.”

Dazai leaned back, feigning shock. “What? Kuro likes you? I must admit, I’m disappointed in her standards.”

“Shut up, Dazai,” Chuuya snapped, though he couldn’t hide the faint smirk tugging at his lips as Chuuko began purring softly.

As the meeting progressed, Chuuko alternated between sitting on Chuuya’s lap and returning to Dazai’s shoulder. Every time she jumped back to Dazai, Chuuya glared.

“She’s just using me for the petting,” Chuuya grumbled.

“Well, isn’t that how all relationships work?” Dazai quipped.

Chuuko, apparently tired of their banter, let out a sharp meow that silenced both of them. Dazai chuckled. “Ah, see? Even Kuro thinks you’re too loud, Chuuya.”

Chuuya groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Great. Now I’ve got a cat judging me, too.”

But as they parted ways after the meeting, Chuuya couldn’t help but glance back at Chuuko. He wouldn’t admit it aloud, but there was something oddly comforting about her presence—something that softened even the sharp edges of Dazai’s endless provocation.

As Dazai walked away with Chuuko perched proudly on his shoulder, Chuuya muttered under his breath, “At least one of them’s tolerable.”

From that day on, Chuuya and Chuuko’s interactions became a source of endless amusement for Dazai. While Chuuya still grumbled about “that damn cat,” it was clear to anyone watching that he’d grown fond of her. Chuuko, as always, remained the true mastermind—playing her part in the ever-chaotic world of the Port Mafia with quiet grace.

Chapter Text

***Chuuko's Approval is a Privilege***

It had been a few days since Kuro’s first meeting with Chuuya, and to his annoyance, the cat had somehow wormed her way into his thoughts. Not that he’d admit it—especially to Dazai.

The next time they crossed paths, Chuuya was leaning against a railing in one of the Port Mafia’s underground corridors, scrolling through his phone. The sound of soft, deliberate footsteps caught his attention.

“You’re late again, you—” He stopped, glaring not at Dazai but at Chuuko, who was draped lazily over Dazai’s shoulder like some spoiled scarf.

Chuuko blinked slowly at him, her expression as haughty as ever.

“Does she ever walk?” Chuuya asked, crossing his arms.

“Why should she?” Dazai countered, stroking her fur. “She’s earned the right to be carried. You, however, haven’t.”

“Carried?” Chuuya scoffed. “She’s a cat, not royalty.”

Chuuko, as if insulted by this remark, leapt down from Dazai’s shoulder and landed with a soft thud at Chuuya’s feet. She stared up at him, tail flicking sharply, as though daring him to repeat himself.

“Oi, don’t look at me like that,” Chuuya muttered. He crouched down, hesitating before reaching out a hand. Chuuko sniffed his fingers again but this time didn’t nudge him. Instead, she turned her back to him, lifting her tail high as she strutted over to a nearby crate and jumped atop it.

“She’s ignoring me now?” Chuuya grumbled, standing up.

Dazai laughed, clapping his hands in mock delight. “Oh, Chuuya, you’ve been judged and found lacking! How does it feel to have your ego bruised by a cat?”

“You shut your mouth,” Chuuya snapped. But as Chuuko turned her head and flicked her gaze back at him, he sighed. “Tch. Fine. What do I have to do to win her over?”

Dazai grinned, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Oh, Chuuya, I’m so glad you asked! Cats love a good bribe—treats, toys, maybe a fancy scratching post. You could even sing her a song.”

“Like hell I’m singing to a cat.”

Chuuko meowed, a soft sound that almost sounded like a chuckle.

***An Unlikely Alliance***

The next day, Chuuya showed up at their meeting with a small bag of cat treats tucked under his arm. He tossed it onto the table without a word.

“What’s this?” Dazai asked, raising an eyebrow.

“For her,” Chuuya muttered, jerking his chin toward Chuuko, who was perched on the windowsill. She hopped down and sauntered over, sniffing the bag with evident interest.

Dazai smirked. “You’re trying to buy her affection? How very capitalist of you, Chuuya.”

“Shut it, Dazai. I’m just... making sure she doesn’t starve, alright?”

Chuuko batted at the bag with her paw, and Chuuya opened it, shaking out a treat onto his palm. She sniffed it again before delicately taking it and munching away.

For the first time, Chuuko actually brushed against Chuuya’s leg, her tail curling slightly as she moved past him.

“Well, well,” Dazai drawled, resting his chin on his hand. “It seems Kuro has decided you’re worth tolerating. Congratulations, Chuuya. You’ve won the favor of my cat.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Chuuya muttered, though he couldn’t stop the faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

***The Chaos Catalyst***

Later, during a joint mission, the three of them ended up in a quiet safehouse. Chuuya paced near the window, restless as always, while Dazai lounged on the couch. Chuuko had claimed the armrest beside Dazai, her different coloured eyes following Chuuya’s movements.

“You’re making her dizzy,” Dazai remarked lazily.

“She’s fine,” Chuuya snapped, though he did stop pacing.
Huh. Chuuya just noticed. Chuuko, or Kuro as Chuuya knew, had heterochronic eyes like him. The same colours too. The only difference was their placements/

A few minutes later, Chuukko jumped down and padded over to Chuuya. She looked up at him expectantly.

“What now?” he asked, confused.

“She wants you to sit,” Dazai said, grinning. “Don’t disappoint her, Chuuya.”

Grumbling, Chuuya sat on the floor. Chuuko immediately climbed into his lap, circling once before curling up with a contented purr. Chuuya stared at her, dumbfounded.

“What the hell is this?”

“She’s chosen you as her throne for the evening,” Dazai said, barely containing his laughter. “Enjoy the honor.”

Chuuya sighed, but his hands instinctively moved to stroke her fur. “You’re such a weird little thing,” he muttered, though his voice was softer than usual.

Dazai snapped a picture on his phone, smirking. “Ah, Chuuya, you’re adorable when you’re not yelling. This is going straight to the group chat.”

“DELETE THAT, YOU BASTARD!” Chuuya roared, leaping to his feet—though carefully enough not to disturb Chuuko, who merely meowed in protest.

And so the chaos continued, with Chuuko perched regally in the middle of it all, the true mastermind of their peculiar trio.

Chapter Text

The office was unusually quiet for once, a rare reprieve from the usual chaos that followed Dazai and Chuuya like a persistent shadow. That calm, however, was destined to be short-lived.

Dazai was lounging on the couch, legs crossed, his book precariously balanced on his chest. His expression was one of serene disinterest, as if the world outside didn’t matter. Chuuya, however, was pacing furiously, his boots echoing on the floor as he ranted about their latest mission gone awry.

“You just had to improvise, didn’t you, you suicidal moron?!” Chuuya snapped, his voice sharp enough to cut glass. “We had a perfect plan, and you threw it out the window!”

Dazai barely glanced up. “Now, now, Chuuya, you know life’s more fun when you leave a little room for surprises.”

“Surprises?!” Chuuya’s voice rose an octave as he whirled to face him. “You call nearly getting us killed a surprise?!”

Before the argument could escalate further, a soft, almost imperceptible sound cut through the tension—a deliberate, authoritative meow.

Both men turned their heads toward the source.

Perched on the armrest of the couch sat Chuuko, her sleek black fur glinting faintly in the dim light. Her green eyes gleamed with an intelligence far beyond what one might expect from a cat. She observed the scene like a seasoned judge presiding over a courtroom, unimpressed by the antics before her.

“Ah, Kuro, there you are,” Dazai said, his tone shifting to something warmer, almost playful. He reached up to scratch behind her ears, his lips curling into a lopsided grin. “You’ve arrived just in time to witness the ongoing tragedy that is Chuuya’s temper.”

Chuuya scowled, his gaze darting to the cat. “Why am I not surprised? Of course she’s here. She probably thinks this is her damn show.”

Chuuko tilted her head, her tail flicking lazily as she regarded Chuuya. The look in her eyes was almost mocking, as though she knew she had the upper hand in the room.

“She knows it’s her show,” Dazai quipped, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Kuro’s the true mastermind behind everything. Isn’t that right, my little strategist?”

Chuuko responded with an unblinking —a gesture that, in the world of cats, was the equivalent of saying, Yes, and I’m doing a better job than either of you.

Chuuya crossed his arms, glaring at the feline. “Great. Just what I need. A cat with an ego as big as yours.”

Chuuko, unfazed, hopped gracefully down from the armrest and padded over to Chuuya. She stopped at his feet, looking up at him expectantly.

“What do you want now, huh?” Chuuya muttered, but his tone lacked the edge it had moments ago. There was something disarming about the way Chuuko looked at him—calm, collected, and utterly in control.

Without hesitation, Chuuko leapt up onto his lap, her green eyes never breaking contact with his. Chuuya froze, his arms stiff at his sides.

“Oh, this is rich,” Dazai said, his grin widening as he leaned forward to watch the scene unfold. “She’s chosen you, Chuuya. You’ve been blessed by her affection.”

Chuuya scowled, though his cheeks flushed ever so slightly. “She’s just trying to mess with me, like you always do.”

But Chuuko wasn’t done. She nudged her head against his chest, purring softly—a sound so soothing it caught Chuuya off guard. Against his better judgment, his hand moved to stroke her fur, his movements hesitant at first, then more confident as Chuuko leaned into his touch.

“See?” Dazai said, his tone dripping with amusement. “She likes you. And if Kuro likes you, that means you’re not as scary and unapproachable as you pretend to be.”

“Shut up,” Chuuya muttered, though his voice lacked its usual bite. He scratched behind Chuuko’s ears, earning a pleased meow from the cat. “She’s just a cat. This doesn’t mean anything.”

“Oh, it means everything,” Dazai said dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. “She’s a better judge of character than any of us. If she’s warming up to you, it’s because she sees something she likes.”

Chuuko hopped off Chuuya’s lap and strutted back to Dazai, her tail held high. She climbed onto his shoulder, her usual perch, and meowed softly in his ear, as though delivering some secret message.

“What’s she saying now?” Chuuya asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Dazai’s grin widened. “Oh, nothing much. Just that we should get along better. For her sake, of course.”

Chuuya rolled his eyes. “Right. Like I’m going to take advice from a cat.”

Chuuko meowed loudly, her tail flicking against Dazai’s cheek. Her green eyes were fixed on Chuuya, her expression unreadable but pointed.

“She’s serious, Chuuya,” Dazai said, barely suppressing a laugh. “Kuro’s our mediator. She knows we’re better as a team, and she’s not afraid to make that happen.”

“You’re both insane,” Chuuya muttered, though his lips twitched as if fighting a smile.

Chuuko leapt down from Dazai’s shoulder and returned to Chuuya, hopping onto his lap once more. She rubbed her face against his chest, purring louder this time.

“Fine,” Chuuya sighed, scratching her head. “I’ll play nice. But only because Kuro said so.”

“That’s the spirit!” Dazai cheered, leaning back with a satisfied grin. “See, Kuro? I told you he’d come around.”

Chuuko’s purring grew even louder, her green eyes shining with triumph. She nestled into Chuuya’s lap, her tail curling around his arm.

As the two men settled back into a tenuous peace, one thing was clear: Chuuko had once again succeeded in bridging the gap between them. She was more than just a cat—she was the glue that held their chaotic partnership together.

And in her eyes, it was only a matter of time before the two finally realized what she had known all along.

Chapter Text

The rain came down in relentless sheets, turning Yokohama’s streets into shimmering rivers of light. Chuuya had walked through the storm, his coat soaked and his boots heavy with water, just to reach the dimly lit office.

He hadn’t even stopped to shake off the rain when he stormed inside, his hat thrown carelessly onto Dazai’s desk. His movements were sharp, his temper barely restrained as his gaze locked onto the figure lounging on the couch.

Dazai, of course, looked unbothered. Reclined with one leg draped over the armrest, he absentmindedly stroked the fur of the black cat perched on his stomach. Chuuko—or Kuro, as Chuuya knew—purred contentedly, completely unfazed by the storm outside or the storm brewing in the room.

“You didn’t answer your damn phone,” Chuuya started, his voice tight with frustration.

Dazai didn’t even look up. “I was occupied.”

“Occupied?” Chuuya snapped, throwing his arms out in disbelief. “With what, exactly? Staring at the ceiling? Napping?” He gestured toward the cat. “Babysitting her?”

Dazai’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Kuro and I were having a very important meeting. Isn’t that right, Kuro?”

The cat blinked lazily in response, her eyes glowing in the dim light.

Chuuya wasn’t amused. “You think this is funny? I spent half the night cleaning up your mess after that mission, and you can’t even be bothered to check in?”

Dazai’s smile faded slightly, his hand pausing mid-stroke on Chuuko’s back. He finally looked up, his brown eyes meeting Chuuya’s with an unreadable expression. “I knew you’d handle it.”

“That’s not the point!” Chuuya shot back, his voice rising. “You can’t just disappear whenever you feel like it, Dazai. We’re supposed to be partners.”

“Partners,” Dazai repeated, his tone light but edged with something darker. He sat up, gently shifting Chuuko onto the couch beside him. “Is that what we are?”

Chuuya blinked, thrown off by the question. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Dazai stood, his movements slow and deliberate. He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving Chuuya’s. “It means you’re always cleaning up after me, always yelling at me for not taking things seriously. But you never stop to ask yourself why I don’t.”

The room fell silent, save for the sound of rain pelting against the windows.

Chuuya’s fists clenched at his sides, his voice lowering. “What are you trying to say, Dazai?”

Dazai tilted his head, his smile faint but not reaching his eyes. “Why do you care so much, Chuuya? Why does it bother you when I don’t answer my phone? When I act like my life doesn’t matter?”

Chuuya’s chest tightened, his heart pounding in his ears. He hadn’t expected the conversation to take this turn, and he wasn’t sure he liked where it was going.

“You’re my partner,” he said finally, his voice steadier than he felt. “That’s reason enough.”

Dazai took another step closer, his gaze softening but no less intense. “Is it? Or is there something more?”

The question hit Chuuya like a punch to the gut. He wanted to deny it, to scoff and roll his eyes and call Dazai a suicidal idiot like he always did. But the words wouldn’t come.

“You don’t get it,” Chuuya said, his voice quieter now. “Every time you pull some reckless stunt, I have to wonder if it’s the last time. If I’m going to walk into the aftermath and find you gone.” His hands tightened into fists. “I can’t keep doing this, Dazai. I can’t keep pretending I don’t care.”

Dazai’s expression shifted, his usual mask of indifference slipping away. For once, he looked… vulnerable.

“I didn’t realize I mattered that much to you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Of course.,” Chuuya scoffed, his frustration giving way to something raw and unfiltered. “You never consider my feelings do you? You never ever do. Nobody does! Am I that worthless? That- that nobody ever thinks twice before- throwing away my feelings or not even considering them?.... .” his voice cracked and all of his suppressed emotions just came tumbling down.

The silence that followed was heavy, the air between them thick with emotions. Even Chuuko, who had been grooming herself on the couch, paused to look up, her green eyes flicking between the two men as if sensing the gravity of the moment. Dazai spoke first.

"C-Chuuya, I didn't mean it like-"
"I dont wanna hear it. Shut up. I'm leaving."
Chuuya stormed out the door swiftly, covering his eyes.

The silence was unbearable to Dazai.
"I messed up badly didn't I?...." Chuuko just meowed in response.
Why was Dazai like this... He just messed up the only thing good going on in his life. It was always like this wasn't it? Dazai ruining good things in his life one by one? What was Dazai expecting? For this to go on forever? Gosh... He'd been too stupid, too-too reckless as always and messed up, except this time it was too much. How was he going to fix this? By using words? Hell nawh. That was one thing Dazai was terrified of telling his real honest words. Besides wasn't Chuuya better off without him anyways? Maybe Dazai deserved this. He wasn't human in anyway now was he?

Dazai chuckled mirthlessly to himself.

He was being real pathetic right now.

Dazai felt his eyes burning and his chest tightening. Wet liquid rolled down his right cheeks. He lifted a hand to examine what it was. Water? Its salty. Is it... tears? Dazai, was crying? This cant be. He's not human and never will be. No. No. NO. He can't be crying right?

right?...

Tears started flowing uncontrollably and his breaths came out as sobs. How long has it been since he cried like this? Like a child? He doesn't even remember, so why today? Was it because of Chuuya? No. Chuuya has no role in this. This all all his fault. He did this and he's the one crying. Pathetic honestly.

That night Dazai got too drunk.

Chapter Text

When Dazai woke up that morning at for no apparent reason, he could feel the headaches forming from last nights drinking spree. Subsequently, he has also ran out of his alcohol stash but he still wants to drink. Solution? Go to a bar of course! He spotted Chuuko also getting ready to go outside. He gave her, her daily pets and pats. As he got ready, he spotted Chuuya's hat that he left last night. He physically winced at the reminder of how badly he messed up last night. He had no idea of how to make up for what he did.
Damn.... He was getting really worked up... What should he even do? As he walked down the foggy streets of Yokohama, he spotted a bar. Not his brightest idea but Dazai decided to go in against his better judgement. Surprisingly, there was another man too.

He was a tall man with dark brown eyes and short hair that had a reddish tinge and was slightly parted so that a small area of his forehead was visible. He also had light stubble similar to Mori's.

His clothes consisted of a black-and-white pinstriped collared shirt that he wore loosely, whose collar covers part of a long-sleeved beige-brown Kevlar-woven coat with brown buttons on the cuffs. His pants were pale grey, whilst his shoes were light brown.

Dazai sat down next to the man and ordered a alcohol containing drink.

"Aren't you too young to drink?"
Dazai was kind of startled when he spoke first.

"I am, but who cares?"
Dazai downed the drink in one gulp.

"Why is someone as young as you here in a bar this early in the morning?"

Dazai sighs softly.

"I got no place else to be. Why does it matter?"

"I see. Care to tell me why?"

Since Dazai knows that he'll be at no loss if he tell that man why, he tells him all about Chuuya and his scruffle, leaving out the mafia parts.

"So, your boyfriend is angry at you?"
"Yes that's exactly-.... He- he's not my b-boyfriend!"
Dazai's face was flushed with embarrassment.

"Yeah sureee.... Not yet is what you mean right?"
"..."
Dazai was speechless, which was very surprising.
"Anyway, to make him happy I can give some advice.
"Really?"

Maybe coming to the bar at 5 in the morning WAS a good idea after all.

"To make up, maybe you should give him a gift while returning his hat and say sorry?"
"I should do that but what do I get him?"
"Well, what does he like?"
What does Chuuya like? Wine? Right..
"Wine."
"What was I even expecting? What does he need?"
"Lemme think." (Dazai big brain mode on)

Chuuya has that stupid barcode tattooed on his neck and Dazai has noticed multiple times that Chuuya tries to hide it. He should give something to cover it. 'Would cover it? A scarf? Nope. Something daily wear all seasons. A collar since he's my dog? A choker then.

"I think a choker along with wine will do..."
"Then thats ok."
"Thank you uhh.."
"Sakunosuke Oda."
"That name, I think I recognize it. Do you perhaps work with the mafia?"

Dazai knows cuz he's Dazai. Jk. He knows cause once he was bored with nothing to do he decided to memorize all the names of the people in the mafia... Mostly.

"Yes... Yeas I do, I'm an errand boy. How did you know I was in the mafia?"
"I just know :) Anyway I'm Dazai, also working in the mafia."
"I assume your soon to be lover is also in the mafia?"
"S-stop with the lover! Yeah he also is."

Dazai ended up talking to Oda for another hour and left to buy the gift. But then he remembered he don't have no money. Time to bother Mori then!

Dazai walked towards his house. It had heavily padlocked doors and windows with bulletproof glass. He easily bypassed all the security measures and broke into Mori's bedroom. He also brought his favorite gun... for no reason of course! After getting into Mori's room he lifted the safety off his gun and aimed it directly at Mori's head 

"Wakey wakey Mori-san~!"

Mori was abruptly waken up by Dazai's not so subtle murderous aura and his creepy tone of voice. He immediately stood straight and looked around and then blinking a couple of times when he spotted Dazai.

"D-Dazai-kun, what are you doing here so early in the morning?! Its 6 right now and is- is that a GUN that your pointing to me?!"

Yeah, and? Whats the point? Anyhow. I'm here to collect my pocket money."

"You could've just asked..."

Mori started pulling out Dazai's usual monthly allowance but then Dazai pressed the gun a little tighter on his head. Mori got the signal and shakily pulled out a couple more bills but Dazai kept increasing the pressure. It was not enough.

"I have a cat to feed now, remember?...."

'Got it..."  Mori pulled more and more money from his wallet and in the end Dazai ended up taking triple the amount of his allowance.

"Aww, thanks Mori-san! You shouldn't have~!"
"No, no.... It's-its fine.."

Dazai happily left and went to a fancy liquor store nearby. The owner immediately recognized him since he'd come here to buy drinks for Mori whenever there was a meeting and gave him a discount. As Dazai wandered around looking for what to buy, he spotted a Wine that some executives had been talking about, 'It's good, for its price I mean.' That meant that it was within his budget and it was still good. He bought it and requested the clerk to wrap it. 

Next, he went to a accessory shop and quickly bought a suitable choker that would match Chuuya and then to the pet shop he bought a black collar with a golden bell for his beloved Chuuko along with a cute black bow.

He noted the time, 7:30. He knew from stalking- ahem, observing Chuuya that after he gets up at 5:00 am sharp, he goes somewhere and returns at 8. That meant that he had 30 minutes to break into Chuuya's apartment and place the gifts and leave, plenty of time would be left. Dazai hurriedly went back to his apartment cough Shipping container cough cough to fetch Chuuya's hat and the spare key to Chuuya's apartment (Dont ask how he got it), he again went back to Chuuya's place and into his room. Next to his bed on the table Dazai placed his hat, the wine and the choker he bought for Chuuya along with a card, which simply said, 'Sorry, I know what I did was wrong so have these things. Again, I'm sorry...'

Dazai finally came back to his container and plopped down on the bed, immediately falling asleep

What a day, starting at 5:00 am and ending on 8:00.

Such a tiresome day for Dazai...

Chapter Text

Chuuya stormed out of Dazai's pathetic excuse of a living space straight to his bike to his apartment.

Chuuya was seething.

Every single nerve in his body was screaming for him to march over back to Dazai’s place and wring his stupid, neck. Instead, he settled for aggressively uncorking a bottle of wine, muttering curses under his breath as he poured himself a generous glass.

The mission had gone sideways—again. Because Dazai had gone off-script—again. And of course, the bastard had disappeared afterward, not even bothering to answer his damn phone. That left Chuuya to once again clean up after that damn idiot.

Chuuya knew that, no, he shouldn't have exploded at him like that but still, that idiot had it comming honestly.

Dazai's supposed to be smart yet he-... Well, he is smart but not in the sense of human emotions. How is it that even Chuuya could be more considerate than Dazai, a real human? Laughable honestly. Dazai could've been more thoughtful at least...

He's too tired to think anymore, if he does than he'll probably end up storming back to Dazai to beat him up. Y'know what? Rather than deal with this today, Chuuya can just sleep, cause who'll stop him? Nobody. and this matter will be resolved by his future self, not his present self right now.

***THE NEXT MORNING***

Chuuya woke up with a start like always, at 5:00 am at the dot. Yet another proof of his inhumanity. What should he do today? If he wants to he could walk another lap around the park and then think about his life choices.

As Chuuya got ready he noticed that his hat was missing. Curse his damn stupidity and luck, he left it at Dazai's didn't he? And he cant just barge in to just take his hat, he'll have to sort things out too...

Another less fancier hat it is then.

On his way to the park, he saw people his age hanging out at basketball courts or the library with their friends discussing about school. Small children walking to school, holding their parents hand.

The only thing Chuuya knew, or remembered as a matter of fact, was that, he was separated from his at the age of five. He wonders what it was, what it felt like to have a childhood, parents who love you unconditionally.

Come to think of it, has that stupid mackerel ever spoken about his parents? Or his childhood? I guess not. Did he have a bad childhood or what?

He should really open up more often. When did he join the mafia again? Oh right fifteen. But he did say that he was with Boss since fourteen.

How did Dazai even meet Mori-san? As a Chuuya was absent mindedly walking he saw a stray cat. Ah, Dazai does look happier around Kuro doesn't he?

He actually smiles like he means it around her. Although its only for a fleeting moment...

Wait, why is he even thinking of him?

As he cursed himself, Chuuya's alarm rang. It was 7 o'clock.

He turned and started walking towards his bike, intending to go somewhere.

Chuuya parked his bike nearby and walked to the gym where he proceeded to work out for an hour before heading back to his apartment. He was way calmer than before as he walked into his apartment.

He stopped. Something felt... off.

The room was exactly how he had left it—but his instincts screamed that someone had been here.

His eyes narrowed as he scanned his apartment.

Everything looked normal... until he spotted it. A small, neatly wrapped box sat on his coffee table, along with his precious hat and a bottle of... wine?

Chuuya’s fingers twitched as he reached for it. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to open it or throw it out the damn window. The tag attached to the bow had a single word scrawled in annoyingly familiar handwriting:

'To: my dearest partner

. Chuuya’s eye twitched. That son of a— He yanked the ribbon off and tore into the paper. Inside was a velvet box, the kind used for jewelry. His breath hitched slightly, caught between suspicion and curiosity.

Slowly, he flipped it open.

Nestled inside was a black choker, simple but nice, with a small, shiny, cat-shaped print on it.

Chuuya blinked.

His gaze flickered back to the note, where there was more text on the other side:

'Sorry, I know what I did was wrong so have these things. Again, I'm sorry...'

Chuuya’s grip tightened around the box. His face burned—not from anger (or at least, not just anger)—but from the sheer audacity of that idiot.

He stood abruptly, marching to his door, throwing it open to scan the hall. Empty. No trace of the smug bastard anywhere.

“Dazai, you goddamn asshole!”

Somewhere, he swore he heard faint laughter.

Chuuya groaned, slamming the door shut. He threw himself onto the couch, rubbing his temples.

The choker sat in his palm, the shiny cat print catching the dim light.

With an exasperated sigh, Chuuya reached up and clasped it around his neck.

“I hate him,” he muttered.

The choker was nice though...

Chuuya groaned again. He was going to kill Dazai.

…Later.

Chapter Text

The next day was a holiday. Chuuya was bored so he decided to stroll around an abandoned park after having his lunch.

Kuro decided to join him. It totally did not make him happy or anything like that. It was chilly around this time of year.

What is Dazai doing right now?

Probably scheming or preparing an elaborate prank on the boss. Considering his mission success and performance, Chuuya estimates that he'll rise to the rank of 'executive' soon.

Not to mention the boss somewhat favours him more than his other subordinates. Although it won't play a big part in his rank rise, it will still play a part.

Chuuya abruptly stops, making Kuro look back at him, meowing softly as if asking what's wrong?

Dazai's going to become an executive soon. The youngest executive in the history of the Port Mafia. When did he join the mafia even? Even if he is a prodigy and whatever, it still should take him time, years maybe.

His line of thought was quickly disrupted when he's hit by a cold water balloon, splat on his back.

He doesn't even need to look behind to guess it's Dazai.  Which idiot besides him would do this? his idiot  Besides, he's the only one who does his type of shit on a random day, just to annoy him.

"Dazai." Chuuya say menacingly as he turns around to face Dazai who was holding a water balloon in one hand and a bag full of balloons. There's another bag on the ground full of something he can't figure out.

"You've got exactly five seconds to explain or else..." At Chuuya's threat Dazai chuckles nervously, glancing at Kuro as if asking her to calm Chuuya down.

"Well you see Chuuya dearest, today is is Holi!" Dazai says cheerfully. Kuro curls her tail around Chuuya's leg.

Chuuy idly notes that Dazai isn't wearing his usual edgy suit, in it's stead, he's wearing a white shirt and black shorts. Then realization dawns on him. Dazai's actually wearing something normal for once!

"Oh really? And what does that have to do with you splashing water on me?" Holi? That's something new. Chuuya guesses it's like an event or something like that.

"Wel my dear dog, Holi is a festival celebrated in India along with a few other countries." Chuuya gives him a look of warning at the nickname.

"And to answer your question, it's a festival celebrated by splashing water balloons and smearing other's with colours." Dazai pulls out a containers full of different colours out the bag on the ground.

So that's what was in the bag.

"Well then I guess I should return the favour then?" Chuuya picked up a water hose on the ground and turned it on.

Dazai's face was absolutely priceless as he turned pale and immediately threw both the bag to the side while also simultaneously trying to jump out of the way.

Safe to say, he was not lucky and got heavily doused with cold water right on the face.

Scowling Dazai scanned the area while also running away from Chuuya with the hose. Once far enough, he found another hose and that was how both of them ended up absolutely drenched with ice cold water, while running and laughing.

Once the laughter died down, they were both on the ground. Kuro walked ever so gracefully towards them,  meowing. She would've jumped on one of their laps but they were wet.

Dazai grabbed the bag containing colours from where he threw them while trying to escape Chuuya with his hose, they were in the bushes.

He took out three containers from the bag which were the colours red, green and purple. The most used colours on Holi. Dazai, with two fingers, took the colour red first and smeared them on Chuuya's cheeks. It was then followed by green then purple.

"Happy Holi, Chuuya." 

"Same to you too, Osamu."

Chuuya took the colours from Dazai and proceeded to do the same, in reverse order. So it was purple first, then green and red at last.

Both the boys looked at Kuro, who, as if sensing danger, had started to back away.

She was not fast enough and so, had been smeared with various colours all over. They used all the colours that Dazai had bought and Kuro looked like she had just walked out of a colour filled bomb.

Chuuya and Dazai smirked proudly at their work. Dazai was the first one who spoke.

"Hey Chuuya?"

"Yeah?.."

"It's now or never but I have to tell you something..."

"Go on."

Dazai hesitated. His ears were red. If he told Chuuya, he'll tease him until the world ends. God... 

" So, uh, Kuro... isn't her real name..."

So that's what he wanted to talk about. Chuuya thought it was gonna be something serious. "Go on, I'm listening."

"Well, her name is .... Before I tell you, promise to tone down your teasing?..." Ah, so the problem was that her name was embarrassing. 

What could embassy Dazai so much that he put a fake name?

"HerrealnameisChuukoanddontteasemecuzifudothenmyegoisreallykindadoomedcuziknowyou'llteasemeinfrontofothersand..." 

Chuuya blinked. "What?..." 

Dazai blinked, red as a tomato, "what?"

Chuuya shaked his head. He managed to understand that her real name was Chuuko.

"So, who'd you name her Chuuko? And why did you feel the need to hide her name from me?" 

"Huh? Well... I uh thought it was and embassing name. That's all!" So Chuuya really didn't get the connection. Good.

Chuuya narrowed his eyes.

Dazai grabbed a handful of blue colour.

"Dazai no...."

"Dazai yes."

He did it. He rubbed it all in Chuuya's hair and his clothes.

"DAZAI! YOU-" Chuuya practically growled as he picked up the colour red and returned the favour.

Chuuko sat there unfazed as she looked at them both smear colours in each other's clothes and face.

In the end, all the colours were empty and both of their clothes were covered in spots and handprints of different colours. 

Their hair was still wet. Dazai sneezed.

"We should go home Dazai."

"Yeah, I guess so." Said Dazai sniffing and looking at the setting sun.

"C'mon Chuuko, let's get you washed up too." Chuuya extended his hands to carry her. He picked her up and she sat on his shoulder.

As Dazai started walking away, Chuuya pulled him back.

"You too, idiot."

Dazai looked confused, then processed what he meant, then flushed red as a tomato.

Chuuya held his hand and they walked away, ignoring the looks people were throwing at them.

The next day, Dazai woke up with a cold, in Chuuya's bed, besides him and Chuuko who was in between them.

What a holi...

Chapter Text

Hellooooo everyone who's been reading thisssss

His chapter is to inform you that me, aka the author, will probably not continue this.

Partially because the bsd manga has gone wayy crazy and I also don't really follow up the manga or anime that much.

I had also been suffering from my mental health deteriorating and I may or may not have attempted and got put into an mental hospital!!

So yeah.

I won't be updating.

I think.