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Three days had passed since Atsushi escaped from the lab. He was starving and exhausted. He hadn't allowed himself to sleep for long because he was so stressed that the people from the lab would find him.
When Atsushi finally decided to take a chance and enter the city, he took a black t-shirt and jeans off a washing line in the hopes it would help him blend in. He couldn't find any shoes, but hoped no one would notice. Still, he thought it was better than the grey gown he was initially wearing.
Atsushi should've known that luck wasn't going to be on his side because not even thirty minutes after he entered the city, he was chained to a chair.
Atsushi initially believed that he was being brought back to the lab, but was almost sure that the man who captured him had nothing to do with the place. It didn't help that the man with the choppy black hair with white tips was glaring at him the entire time. It nearly made Atsushi wish he were back at the lab because he had a feeling that the man wanted to kill him, painfully.
The more the stranger glared at him, the more it made Atsushi think maybe he wasn't actually a stranger. When Atsushi woke up in the lab seven months ago, he had no memories. He wasn't even sure if Atsushi was his real name. The fear started to creep in that he might actually be a bad person, and everything that had happened to him at the lab was deserved.
Atsushi didn't know how much time had passed when the door opened, and in walked a tall man with brown hair, covered in bandages. Atsushi's first thought was that he was handsome. Which he cursed himself for, but he couldn't help it because it felt like he was getting lost in the eye that wasn't covered with a bandage.
“Akutagawa-kun, leave us.” The man commanded.
“Yes, Dazai-san.” Akutagawa bowed and left the room, closing the door behind him.
The brunet slowly walked over to him, not taking his eye off him even for a moment. Atsushi didn't know what to think. He knew he should've felt afraid because it was obvious the man was dangerous, but he didn't.
Dazai knelt down beside Atsushi. "Did you really think I wouldn't have helped you, Atsushi-kun?" The frustration in his voice was apparent. "Do you know the position you are putting me in? You know what happens to traitors." With it being Akutagawa who found Atsushi, Dazai wouldn't be able to keep it quiet.
Atsushi was confused. This Dazai person knew him, that was for certain, and it sounded like Atsushi hurt him deeply.
"We didn't know where you went, so we couldn't hide your tracks. I should've been proud, but…" Dazai bit his lip, "Chuuya took it hard." They both did, but Chuuya blamed himself the most because he was the last one to speak to Atsushi before he left. Atsushi had been stressed, and Chuuya told him to go home and rest. Chuuya kept replaying that moment over and over in his head, how he wished he had gone home with Atsushi and made sure he was okay. Maybe then Atsushi would've shared with him that he wanted out of the Port Mafia. Without question, they would've made it happen.
Atsushi just stared. He knew that Dazai wanted him to say something, but he didn't know what to say.
"You're not going to even speak to me, Atsushi-kun?" There was a sadness to his voice as Dazai untied Atsushi. "Did I do something to lose your trust?" Atsushi always used to confide in him. Dazai had only become the Port Mafia boss a few months before Atsushi left. Could that be the reason? That he didn't like the person Dazai was becoming? He had never set out to be the boss. It just happened. If he had known that he'd lose Atsushi because of it, he never would've taken the position.
"You know me?" Atsushi asked. He thought it was best to be honest with Dazai. He didn't think Dazai would take advantage of him.
Dazai's expression instantly changed to one of relief. "I know you very well."
"Did I do something wrong?" Why else would Atsushi have been captured and chained to a chair?
Dazai shook his head. Even if Atsushi left the Port Mafia on his terms, he could never do wrong in Dazai's eyes. It was just other high-ranking members who saw it as an issue. "What do you remember?"
"I woke up in a lab about seven months ago, but before that, I don't remember anything." Atsushi flinched from the anger he saw flash in Dazai's eye.
Dazai dropped his head onto Atsushi's shoulder. “I'm sorry, Atsushi-kun. I always promised to protect you, and I did a terrible job." He would need to investigate why it was said that Atsushi had run away from the Port Mafia.
Tears started to build up in Atsushi's eyes. The sincerity of Dazai's words got to him.
Dazai took a good look at Atsushi. He had been so happy to see Atsushi that he hadn't realised how awful he looked. The dark circles under his eyes were predominant, and he lost a lot of weight. Atsushi had weighed more after he was kicked from the orphanage three years ago, and that was saying something.
Dazai had to stop himself from wiping away Atsushi's tears. "I know you must be confused right now, Atsushi-kun, but how about we get you cleaned up and some food, and then we can talk after you get some rest." He couldn't imagine what was going through Atsushi's mind right now.
Atsushi nodded, not trusting his voice to speak. Dazai sounded like he was really worried about him. If he had known he had someone out there in the world who cared about him, it would've given Atsushi strength to push through the last seven months.
The door slammed open, causing Atsushi to jump. Dazai immediately stood in a protective stance in front of him.
"We're not killing him, Dazai. Fuck it if everyone else thinks you're playing favourites." Chuuya won't allow any harm to come to Atsushi, and if anyone has anything to say on the matter, they'd have to deal with him.
That fear Atsushi felt earlier came rushing back.
Dazai rested in hand on Atsushi's shoulder. "I never once thought about having you killed, Atsushi-kun." Even the thought of it made Dazai feel sick to his stomach.
Deep down, Chuuya knew Dazai would never hurt Atsushi, but when he heard that Atsushi was captured and was in the basement, his emotions got the better of him. He had ignored the whispers the last few months about how Atsushi would eventually meet the same fate as all traitors did, and Chuuya wouldn't be able to cope if that actually happened.
Atsushi peeked around Dazai to get a look at Chuuya. He was taken aback by how breathtaking he was. Like, Dazai was good-looking, but this man was on another level. Atsushi was sure his heart skipped a beat when he smiled at him. Atsushi didn't know what to say as the redhead approached him, and then instantly pulled him in for a hug.
"Chuuya." Dazai gently warned.
Chuuya refused to let Atsushi go, afraid that if he did, he would disappear again. "I just need a moment." He truly believed he would never see Atsushi again, so if he was dreaming, he never wanted to wake up.
It felt familiar being in the man's arms, Atsushi thought. He was sure he would've subconsciously returned the hug if he weren't in such a tight embrace.
"Atsushi-kun has amnesia," Dazai revealed.
Atsushi felt Chuuya tense before taking a step back. Atsushi wanted to reach out to him again because he missed the warmth of the hug. It made him wonder who exactly Dazai and Chuuya were to him.
Dazai's nails were digging into his skin as he said, "He was being held in a lab."
"Where? I'll burn it to the ground." Chuuya was enraged. He knew first-hand that nothing good could come from being kept in a lab.
Atsushi felt small when Dazai and Chuuya both turned to him, looking for the answer. "A fire broke out the night I escaped, so I don't know if the place is still standing." He wasn't even sure if he could remember how to get back there.
Dazai and Chuuya looked at one another wide-eyed. There was a massive fire at a facility on the outskirts of Yokohama three days ago. To think Atsushi was there the entire time, and they hadn't done anything to help him. If Atsushi hadn't been able to escape, would they have ever found out the truth?
Chuuya clenched his fist. "When I find out who is responsible, I'm going to kill them." It makes it worse because how many times did he drive past that place? If only he and Dazai had looked harder, maybe they would've got him out sooner. They had been so focused on searching outside of Yokohama for any traces.
"Calm down," Dazai said as he gently grabbed Chuuya's wrist.
"How the hell are you so calm, Dazai? Atsushi was so close all along, and was probably being treated like a lab rat." Chuuya was cursing how perfect Atsushi's ability was to a scientist.
"I'm far from calm, Chuuya, but right now, we need to be strong for Atsushi-kun." There was nothing Dazai wanted more than to get revenge on everyone responsible for what happened to Atsushi. Now wasn't the time, though. They needed to look after Atsushi and make sure he's okay first. Dazai probably shouldn't mention to Chuuya right now that someone from the Port Mafia had to be involved with Atsushi being taken. He doesn't think he'd be able to stop Chuuya from integrating everyone. They had to be smart because whoever it was could vanish if they knew they suspected someone from the mafia. That's, of course, if they hadn't already left at the news that Atsushi had been found. That wouldn't matter because there would be nowhere on this planet they could hide.
Chuuya took a deep breath. Dazai was right. Letting his emotions get the better of him won't help the situation. "Do you remember any names, Atsushi?"
Atsushi shook his head. "I was out of it most of the time." He doesn't think he'd even recognise any of the scientists if they were to be right in front of him. Atsushi just remembers being cold and needles. He started shaking from fear. What if they came back for him?
Dazai reaches out to squeeze Atsushi's hand. "You're safe, Atsushi-kun. They can't harm you here."
Tears started to stream down Atsushi's face. Hearing those words meant so much to him.
Chuuya gently wiped away the tears. "If they come for you, they'll have to go through me." There's no way that Chuuya will let Atsushi be taken away from them again.
"They never should've got their hands on him in the first place." Dazai nearly spat. He's trying hard not to think about how much Atsushi had been suffering the past seven months. Dazai knows that he and Chuuya would do everything in their power to make sure Atsushi is safe, but how could they even promise to protect Atsushi when they failed him once before?
Atsushi took hold of Dazai's and Chuuya's sleeves. "I'm okay." He didn't like seeing them look so stressed.
Dazai honestly felt like crying. Of course, even though Atsushi couldn't remember them, he was trying to make them feel better. He was truly too good for them. “Can I hug you, Atsushi-kun?” He asked. Dazai needed to feel Atsushi in his arms.
"Of course," Atsushi said without any hesitation.
Dazai didn't waste a moment, throwing himself into Atsushi's arms, sending them both to the ground.
"Idiot," Chuuya muttered as he helped the two sit up. Dazai needed to be careful with Atsushi right now so he doesn't overwhelm him.
Dazai pulled Chuuya into the hug. He missed this so much, having them both in his arms. He couldn't stop smiling when he felt Atsushi snuggled closer to him and Chuuya.
Atsushi might not remember who Dazai and Chuuya were to him, but what he did know was that in their arms, he felt like he was at home. He'll do whatever he can to get his memories back. He wants to remember the life he had with them.