Chapter Text
Chuuya had never seen Dazai like this before. Quiet, drained. Dazai didn't show weakness.
When he suddenly appeared at Chuuya's door sobbing, blood coating his hands, Chuuya got worried. How could he not? Dazai had a glint in his eyes. A dangerous glint.
“He’s dead,” The brunette had said. “Is this how you’ve felt?” Chuuya didn't know how to reply. Hell he didn’t know what happened or who was even dead.
“What are ya talkin’ about?” Chuuya sighed, quickly pulling the younger man into the apartment. “Who’s dead?”
“Odasaku,” Dazai replied, voice darkening. “He was dead by the time I got there.” Chuuya nodded slowly. Dazai’s drinking buddy. The one he liked. Chuuya let out a low sigh.
“Come on,” He said, tugging Dazai’s sleeve. “Let’s clean ya up.” Chuuya led the somewhat dumbstruck teen to the bathroom, leaving only to grab a pair of sweatpants and a new shirt.
“...Chuuya.” Dazai breathed out, slumping onto the stool in the bathroom. Chuuya hummed quickly, kneeling by his side.
“It’s gonna be okay.” Chuuya hummed slowly, trying to be as comforting as possible. “The pain dulls after a while.”
“No,” Dazai laughed, voice pitched and broken. “This will never fade. I won’t let it. He was everything. My life. The light at the end of the tunnel.” Dazai stared at Chuuya with a startling emptiness.
“Dazai,” Chuuya interrupted. “Calm down. It’s goin’ to hurt, but trust me it gets better.” It really did get better. Yeah the flags death still felt like a sucker punch to the stomach whenever he thought about it, but the pain had dulled since then.
“It won’t,” Dazai hissed, fingers digging into his skin, dragging along the skin. “Odasaku…” Chuuya sucked in a breath. He didn’t know how to help. Hell, Dazai feeling anything was a shocker, let alone loss? How was Chuuya supposed to act?
“Dazai,” He tried again. “Calm down. Don’t do that.” His hands closed around Dazai's, preventing the brunette from scratching any farther.
“Oh,” Dazai suddenly gasped, eyes widening. “Chibi’s all I have left.” Chuuya let out a hum just trying to sooth the other as he unwrapped Dazai’s bloody bandages. Dazai let out a low giggle.
“Chuuya can’t leave me okay?” The brunette leaned forward, wet brown locks rubbing against Chuuya’s ginger hair.
“Dumbass,” Chuuya sighed. “I’m not goin’ anywhere.” Dazai’s eyes sparkled.
“You’ll be my new Odasaku won’t you?” Dazai whispered, voice edging on insanity. Chuuya felt his heart stutter.
“No. I’m not Odasaku. I’m Chuuya,” He sighed loudly, a hint of exhaustion tensing in his voice. “Just, relax okay?” Chuuya pulled off the teen’s suit.
Dazai frowned, clearly unhappy with Chuuya's response. The boba eyed man let out a wounded noise as Chuuya checked for wounds.
“Want your binder off?” He asked gently. Dazai absently glanced at his hands.
“No.” He said flatly. Chuuya hummed gently, scrubbing off the blood from Dazai’s hands. Dazai let out some weak whimpers as Chuuya worked. The blood had stained Dazai’s pale milky white skin.
“Almost done,” Chuuya soothed. “Just hold on a bit longer.” Dazai matched his hum with his own, slowly letting his eyes droop shut.
The poor brunette must be exhausted. Losing someone close was never easy. When Chuuya lost the flags, he had barely been able to rest. The exhaustion had worn him down until he passed out in Dazai’s office in the middle of a fight.
Chuuya carefully dressed Dazai, wrapping his arms up with fresh soft bandages. He slowly helped Dazai to his feet, leading the brunette to Chuuya’s soft plush bed.
“Rest up okay?” He said, carefully lowering the teenager onto the sheets. Dazai immediately curled into a ball, burying himself into the sheets with a sob.
Chuuya somberly climbed in next to him, pulling the brunette into a hug. “Sh…I’m here.” He whispered. The bandaged teen melted into his grip, breathing slowly as Chuuya’s fingers carded through his hair.
Dazai slowly began to doze off leaving Chuuya alone with his thoughts. He never saw this much emotion from the brunette. Knowing Dazai, this would hit him hard. Chuuya would have to keep a close eye on him.
“I’ve got ya,” He whispered, hugging the brunette tighter. Dazai didn't reply. Chuuya didn't really expect him to.
He let his own eyes fall shut, resting as Dazai's breathing deepened and slowed. The second the brunette was asleep Chuuya was able to doze off next to him. Protecting him from the world once more.
—
Chuuya woke up cold. The blankets were scattered, Dazai nowhere in sight. For a second Chuuya forgot that Dazai had been over. For a second.
Then the panic settled in. Chuuya shot to his feet, yelling Dazai's name in a frenzy.
His thoughts turned darker with each silent room. Dazai didn't try to kill himself did he?
Chuuya grabbed his phone, dialing Dazai's number desperately. His eyes were slightly wide, hair disheveled.
Dazai picked up on the fourth ring.
“Where are ya?” Chuuya growled, trying to stay calm. Dazai didn't answer for a moment.
“With Mori.” He croaked, voice strained and dry. Chuuya felt his heart sink.
“Why?” He asked coldly, a tinge of panic filling his voice. “Why are ya with Mori?” Chuuya strained, trying to hear any signs of Mori being there.
“...Had to have a chat with him.” Dazai said absently. His voice was light hearted and smooth. As if he was back to his normal self.
“Can I talk to Mori?” Chuuya asked, breath hitching. Dazai paused, going silent for a moment. A sinking feeling filled his gut. “Dazai?”
“Mori’s busy.” Dazai breathed, voice fading into a quiet sigh.
“Busy?” Chuuya hissed. “Dazai what the fuck did ya do?” Dazai stayed silent. “Dazai I’m not fuckin’ jokin’ around. Fuckin’ tell me what the hell ya did!” His voice raised somewhat to a shout.
Chuuya wasn’t dumb. He had a feeling Oda’s death had to do with Mori. But that didn’t matter. His loyalty lied with Mori.
“Please…I didn’t mean to,” Dazai whispered, sounding small. “It wasn’t on purpose. It just…happened.”
“What happened?” Chuuya snapped, a mix of fear and anger filling him at Dazai’s words. Dazai didn’t respond. He was silent once more.
“Chuuya,” He breathed finally, voice cracking like he might cry. “I’m so sorry.” Chuuya felt his heart drop.
“Don’t move. I’m comin’. Just stay right there.” Chuuya hung up, grabbing his coat, running out the door.
Please don’t let it be what he thinks it is.
It took him less than 10 minutes to drive his motorcycle to the Port Mafia building. Another 5 minutes to storm in and enter the elevator. The elevator ride took forever. Chuuya tapped his foot impatiently.
His breath was labored and harsh as he finally managed to get to Mori’s office door.
He tore the door open with a weak pant, fear clenching his heart until it bled.
Chuuya's heart dropped at the sight. His hand tightened at the door.
“Dazai. What did ya do?” Chuuya hissed, rushing forward to the body laying on the ground. Mori was bleeding profusely from the back of his neck, body slummed over himself.
“...I didn’t mean for it to go this far,” Dazai hummed dully, sitting down in Mori’s seat. “It just happened.” Chuuya hissed under his breath checking for a pulse.
Nothing.
“Oh God,” Chuuya groaned, fighting back a mixture of pain and panic. “Dazai what the fuck.” He turned to the brunette with a glare. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!”
Dazai frowned, a flash of hurt passing over his face. “I…He had it coming! He deserved it!” Dazai stood up, reaching for Chuuya. “Don’t…Don’t look at me like that!” Dazai’s voice broke at the hatred reflecting in Chuuya’s gaze.
His loyalty was to Mori first and foremost. If Dazai decided to kill his boss it only made sense that Dazai was killed and branded as a traitor.
Chuuya couldn’t bring himself to do that though. He was silent watching as Dazai’s face twisted through a flurry of painful emotions.
“An enemy got in.” Chuuya whispered, voice cold. Dazai froze, eyes widening.
“What?” Dazai matched his whisper.
“An Enemy got in and killed the boss. You had nothin’ to do with it. I found his body and called ya. Understand?” Chuuya hissed, removing his hand from Mori’s corpse. “Do ya understand, Dazai?”
“...I understand.” Dazai whimpered, sinking to the ground next to Chuuya, burying his head in Chuuya’s shoulder. Chuuya let out a harsh breath, pulling his phone out.
He sent a simple text to Ane-san. “Come to the Boss’ office. We need help.” It was vague, but Chuuya wasn’t sure how to explain that the Boss was dead. How could he?
The man he admired and respected, the man that had his full loyalty, was killed by the one person who understood Chuuya. The one person who went through it all with him.
“...How could ya,” He whispered, voice cracking. “How dare ya make me choose between my Boss and your sorry ass?” Dazai stayed silent.
Chuuya’s fist clenched. “You’re a fucking disgrace.” Dazai’s breath hitched. The brunette stood up, still silent.
“Chuuya!” Ane-san yelled, bursting through the door. “What happened-” Her voice went icy as her eyes landed on Mori’s corpse.
Chuuya leveled his voice. “An enemy broke in. I don’t know how but we found him like this.” Chuuya’s voice shook with restrained anger. “He was dead by the time I got here.”
Ane-san’s face went hard, panic flickering behind it. “Lad,” Her voice was as strained as Chuuya’s. “What…this can’t be.” Her hand fled to her mouth covering it. “Oh God.”
The next few moments blurred together as Ane-san called for help. Chuuya barely registered his surroundings. Time seemed to freeze as the Boss’ corpse was removed from the room. Security flooded the building searching for how this could have happened. It was oddly good luck to have the cameras turned off the day the Boss died.
Chuuya didn’t know how he got home. He just remembered Ane-san telling Dazai to get him out of there.
Dazai. That bastard!
Not only did the brunette take the flags, the sheep away from him, he had taken Chuuya’s boss as well. Chuuya didn’t understand.
How could he? Chuuya had gone through hell and back and never, never snapped at Mori. The one time Dazai loses something he kills the boss?
Chuuya furiously rubbed at his eyes, trying to erase the memory of blood from his brain. When he looked up there Dazai was, calmly watching as if nothing had happened.
“Chuuya,” Dazai began. “Let’s run-” Chuuya didn't let him finish.
“Lets?” Chuuya scoffed. “Lets run away? Why would I run away with a fucking bastard like yourself?” Chuuya glared hard and cold. “I’m not going to protect you anymore.”
Dazai frowned, black eyes flickering. “But Chuuya, he deserved-”
“Oh shut the fuck up!” Chuuya yelled, standing up fiercely. “Get the fuck out.”
“Chuuya-”
“Out.” Chuuya snapped, a fist slamming into the wall. “I don’t want to see you.” Dazai’s mouth opened and closed. He looked..hurt. Serves him right.
Dazai hesitated for a moment before turning to leave. He went slow as if he was waiting for Chuuya to call him back. Chuuya didn’t. The door slammed.
Chuuya sank into his chair, breath heavy as he relaxed. He needed a fucking drink.
—
It was several hours before Chuuya started to get concerned. Dazai’s phone suddenly was out of service. His things were still in that small shipping container.
Chuuya started checking all the usual spots. Nothing.
He started checking around the river. The one that led into the ocean.
He saw a black coat bobbing in the streams. His heart stopped, chest seizing as his fists clenched.
“No…” He whispered, feet moving before his brain could process. He stumbled down the bank, diving into the water, pulling the coat from the stream’s grasp.
No Dazai was connected to it.
His heart clenched, throat getting tight. The current was strong. Who knew how long the coat had been here.
Dazai was probably long gone by now.
He quickly pulled himself out, whipping out his water logged phone, calling all Mafia units to the river to search.
They had to find him. They just had to.
Of course. They never did.
A funeral was held for both the Boss and Dazai. And Chuuya? He became the new Boss overnight.