Chapter Text
There is silence all around them, shocking and terrifying. Chuuya knows something is not right here, they all know something is off.
A sinking feeling begins weighing his heart down, Dazai forces himself to look up at the memory and sees Odasaku's face.
Eyes serious and cold, not a single emotion other than unadulterated anger in sight.
"There is no reason for an enemy to address me in that way..."
Second thing he sees is himself. Grown and the same age as now, yet in the attire of the man that he despises.
"...Boss of the Port Mafia"
Atsushi lets out a gasp while Akutagawa stands there still, eyes blown wide in terror. Chuuya physically recoils, snapping his head over to look at Dazai.
Dazai closes his eyes and wishes he doesn't have to see this. For what has he done in another world. For what he has created.
It confirms his suspicions of The Book's contents, and how he wishes it was untrue.
A few moments pass by, and Dazai stares. Eyes wide and so hurt. He takes a breath and drops his gaze to his hands. Hair covering his expression.
Odasaku's gun is still pointed to his head.
"...It was hard."
He stares at the scars on his hands, the spaces where bandages don't cover.
"It was really hard."
For beneath them lie a million more.
Atsushi's heart squeezes within his chest, he has always known yet refused to believe. The confirmation hurts every time he sees it.
Odasaku looks at him with a cold gaze. It feels as if he does not even care. It feels as if he has absolutely no idea what he means to Dazai. What Dazai should mean to him.
"I fought Mimic in an organisation without you. I had to take over Mori-san. Made an enemy out of everything, expanded the organisation", Dazai snaps his head up, he looks at Oda with a wild look in his eyes. Desperate and anguished, like an animal.
This is heading somewhere Dazai does not like, he watches the memory with a distant, sinking feeling in his heart.
"Everything so this world would–!", he cuts himself off, voice raised. "That's.. everything was–"
Akutagawa stands there silent yet there are tears in the corners of his eyes. The despair of his past lingers in the reminder of he sees. It reminds him of himself and what he used to be.
The boy stares into Oda's cold uncaring eyes, expressionless face, and the gun held tight in his hands, and sighs. His hands twitch as he yearns to make Odasaku understand somehow, in the end... he slumps. His hands fall limp and he shuts himself out.
"The reason...", images of Bar Lupin and their old times together flash before his eyes. "The reason I called you here.. was to say goodbye for the last time."
He wants his Odasaku back, but he would sacrifice his wants for Oda Sakunosuke's life anyday. The red scarf sits heavily on his shoulders.
Wide blue eyes watch intently, breath stuttering at the sight. Chuuya is grasping onto Dazai's arm like a lifeline and he looks as if he wants to hide him away from everything that can ever hurt him.
If he can help it, he will never let him out of his sight ever again.
"...A life in which you have someone to say goodbye to is a good life. More so if that someone is one who would be left thoroughly hurt by your goodbye."
The three men stand around one link who interconnects them. They stand like a shield and an image of the words they hear.
Dazai is standing now, black coat fluttering as he gets up.
"Won't you agree?", he asks Oda.
The man himself answers with yet an unforgiving gaze.
"Yes, you're right."
If Dazai could change everything he would, but what is he to change within a memory that does not belong to him. A memory he is somewhat glad is not his to bear.
"If you want to shoot, you can.", Dazai smiles, eyes turning to look at Odasaku one last time. "However if you'll allow me, I have one request"
Oda looks at him, waiting, with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
"Please don't use guns inside this establishment. I don't mind if you shoot me anywhere, just not in this place."
The brown-haired man watches and he hurts. It hurts his heart, his mind, and his soul. He will be selfish in this world, for he is so so glad he meant so much to Odasaku.
Meant anything to him other than an enemy.
There is a smile on his face yet his single uncovered eye is glistening as Odasaku puts the gun down and away.
"Thank you..", he whispers, turning away with grateful eyes and a hint of another emotion Oda cannot figure out on his face.
It reminds him of Ryuunosuke when he first found him, alone and scared. Small and vulnerable.
A child.
"Goodbye, Odasaku."
As he leaves, his coat flutters behind him and leaves an odd sense of grief settling within Oda's heart.
"Sure, goodbye."
He stares at Dazai's back, and swears he sees a tear roll down the other's cheek when he turns away.
The memory shatters around them, glass falling and disappearing into the ground as it fades away.
Atsushi is the first person to speak.
"Is this.. the power of The Book..?, Dazai-san", he questions, looking towards his mentor. Dazai hums, eyes still staring at the black void where the memory ended.
"I suppose it is, Atsushi-kun. However I don't understand why it would appear in one of my worst memories-"
"–Bullshit!", Chuuya cuts him off, staring at his face with blue eyes blazing with a fire that tells him that he knows Dazai has realised something he is hiding. "You know well why so tell us."
The man sighs, leaning more into Chuuya as he closes his eyes. "Ah, my dog knows me so well.."
Akutagawa's hand is tightly clutching Atsushi's as Dazai begins to explain. They stand there still. It feels as if time has stopped as the words leave Dazai's mouth.
"If what I have come to realise is true.. then as Achiyo Kimiko's biography had said, I will either make it out of this ability when my mind has been destroyed, or when I die."
A beat.
"Therefore, I think that when the man in the memory of this parallel world dies. I will die with him"
Chuuya's hand grips his arm tighter, and Atsushi lets out a gasp. Akutagawa doesn't move until he does, and the boy walks over to Dazai, before burying his face in his shoulder.
Dazai does not hesitate to take the boy into his arms immediately. Seeing Atsushi and Chuuya's expression, he pulls them in too. He shuts his eyes tightly.
"If that is what is going to happen.. then I would like to apologise–"
"–Shut up, Dazai-san. Respectfully.", as a surprise, it is Atsushi who this comes from. "You are not going to die."
The detective looks towards the weretiger.
"Atsushi-"
"No. Jinko is right. We are not letting you die this easily, Dazai-san", Akutagawa says resolutely. Chuuya does not wait to throw a powerful yet gentle punch at brown-haired man's shoulder.
"If you think you can run away from us again, then think again. You shitty, scheming bastard", he huffs, staring at him with a determination so strong it could knock down buildings.
There is a fire burning in their eyes which warms up this heart that belongs to one Dazai Osamu like a well-lit home on a winter's afternoon.
For once, he hopes these words of theirs will come true.
The darkness around them flashes once again, and next thing they see is the roof of a building.
Dazai is standing on the edge, black coat fluttering with the wind along with his bandages. Atsushi and Akutagawa are standing there too, looking so different from who they are as they stand before the man.
He claps loudly. Once, twice, three times, an applause to the stars, the universe, and the destiny he chose.
The detective watches with unbated breath, while his counterpart stands there. As if staring into the eyes of his own, a challenge, a silent plea.
"Congratulations"
He steps forward.
"Congratulations, both of you. That was excellent."
Atsushi silently gasps, the blood trickling down slowly from his forehead as he lays in the centre of the crater. Behind him, Akutagawa scowls, recognising Dazai almost immediately. "Man in black."
"A splendid fight, rivalling the 'battle on the ship'.", the boss of the Port Mafia says. "So the victor was the one who carried resentment, carried race for four and a half years— Akutagawa-kun."
Dazai approaches Atsushi as he looks at Akutagawa, of which the former is still lying on the ground, bloodied and defeated.
"But it's surprising you defeated Atsushi-kun, whom I trained for four and a half years as well.", he walks until he is standing right next to Atsushi's head.
"Or perhaps, is this the power of the Detective Agency", the man in black stares down at the silver-haired boy.
"Seriously now, I've lost face."
Atsushi stares up, eyes wide and so shameful as Dazai speaks once again.
"Atsushi-kun, you're fired."
Atsushi gapes. "Hah?!", he pouts as Akutagawa not so subtly hides a chuckle behind a cough. Dazai rolls his eyes at the reaction as he pats the boy's shoulder.
"It's okay, Atsushi. Don't worry! I'd never fire you"
The weretiger shuts his eyes, jaw tightened. "Understood"
"Live in the outside world instead. I've arranged for someone to take care of you. Make your way to the world of light."
The boy blinks.
"–Together with Kyouka-chan."
Of course. Dazai lets a small smile appear on his face. He thinks he understands now.
He stares up at Dazai with eyes wide open.
"Eh..!?"
"What is the meaning of this, man in black!?", Akutagawa shouts. "You led me here today, You used the letter, used Gin as bait. But if you only wished to kill me, there must have been a simpler way to do so. What are you after?"
His eyes almost flash red as Rashoumon spikes behind him. Akutagawa scowls. "Beyond today's battle.. what do you see?!", he roars.
His ability dissipates when it comes into contact with Dazai. Who lets out a small chuckle as he speaks. Akutagawa stares, bewildered with a hint of fear.
"The battle today? you've got it wrong, Akutagawa-kun. Not today."
The world feels as if it stills around them, the cloudscape freezing as the earth stops spinning, an ominous breeze seeping throughout the air.
"You mean 'since four and a half years ago'."
A beat of silence. Deathly quiet.
"From the day I separated you from your sister, all components have been designed for the sake of achieving these circumstances today."
Akutagawa's face is pale, eyes wide in both horror and unadulterated trepidation.
"Even Atsushi-kun's training. Even the mafia's expansion of power."
The man in black walks past them both, a manic- almost triumphant grin on his face. Both Atsushi and Akutagawa watch silently, jaws slack and eyes wide.
" Everything. "
The four watch silently, their eyes moving between the Dazai they do not know and the one before them.
No one dares to even breathe too loud.
This.. this feels like a nightmare, one that is too real to be untrue. It feels like their entire world has shifted, turned upside-down in the span of a few hours.
They watch.
"Are you aware of a 'Book'?"
They watch, as Dazai explains everything. Akutagawa and Atsushi watch him walk away, nearing the edge of the roof with every step, as he tells them the tale of a book that can change destiny, one that can twist the lines of fate using a simple pen.
One that has already, done so.
They hear of how they are nothing more than words on paper, nothing more than one of many different worlds in one. One source with a countless number of realities, they are both same and different, just extensions of each other.
They learn of the worlds. The ones inside the Book, and the one outside the Book.
"–Regardless, reality is reality.", Dazai says, eyes distant and seeing something beyond his sight.
"This world is just as strong as the one 'outside'. As evidence for that, the 'Book' closely related to the source of the world exists in this world as well."
"Though the 'Book' in this world is like a street gutter."
The man in black stands tall, shoulders back and head held high as he speaks of this supernatural power and unexplainable phenomenon.
"In response to a command from the outside world, the Book would rewrite and destroy this world."
Akutagawa steps forward, holding his bloodied shoulder as his breath catches in his throat, disbelief coating his next words. "How would you know something like that?"
Dazai smiles coolly, black coat swaying dangerously in the wind behind him. "I know."
"He created a singularity..", Dazai whispers, staring at his own face in disbelief. "He somehow created a singularity through our ability and found out what has happened in our world."
Atsushi looks up at his mentor. As do the rest. "How- how is that even possible..?", the weretiger breathes, his grip on Akutagawa's hand tightening.
Their breaths coming in short and fast.
Chuuya scowls. "This is bullshit, how many other of us are there?!"
Dazai doesn't answer, and by the looks on their faces, he doesn't need to.
"As you know firsthand, I have the ability to nullify abilities, and making use of that quirk, I activated a singularity..."
Akutagawa and Atsushi watch in shock at his next words.
"... And forced a connection between the division of the worlds. Because I succeeded in reading the memories of the me outside the 'Book'– in other words, the original me."
"You have his memories?", the detective questions.
And suddenly Dazai understands. Everything comes into place as the pieces connect. He understands this world, this situation, the importance of it, and the key connection.
Odasaku.
"Of the original Dazai-san, a separate person?", Atsushi continues.
They listen carefully, as the man explains the existence of a future in which powerful organisations will come searching for this 'Book', namely the 'Rats' and the 'Guild', and how they will invade Yokohama in search of this supposed 'Book'.
"–You must eliminate all those enemies and protect the 'Book'."
The two teenagers stand side by side, faces mirroring similar expressions of both despair and disbelief.
"If those guys write down anything, this world will disappear and be overwritten."
Akutagawa scowls, "I don't understand!", he shouts. "Supposing your story is true, what does that have to do with taking away my sister!"
Dazai stays calm, a small almost guilty smile appearing on his face. "Because both of your powers are needed. The singularity created from the interaction of your abilities.. as well as that something that goes beyond power, produced by the interaction of your souls."
He turns around and begins walking towards the edge. Every step echoing in the silence around him.
"Thus, there was a need to make you fight eachother once. For you to stand before the abyss of death..."
His foot lifts over the edge, just barely off the building.
"...And to understand who your partner was, there was a need for that."
Atsushi jolts. "Dazai-san!", he shouts. "It's dangerous there! please come back here!"
Dazai ignores him, hand lifting by his side with one finger lifted. "I'll give you a piece of advice.", he looks back, crimson scarf flowing around with the breeze. Dark hair tousles away from his face just enough for them to see his expression.
A mischievous smile.
"Don't tell anyone about what we talked about just now."
Atsushi and Akutagawa stand together, eyes wide and horrified.
"The only ones who should know are the two of you. If 'three or more people' know at the same time, the world will destabilise."
He explains lightly , a serious undertone to his voice. "Should that happen, it's highly likely that this world would disappear without even needing to use the 'Book'."
"....", Atsushi's breath hitches as the reality of the situation dawns on him.
"And so–"
"–Three or more people?", the weretiger questions, eyes suddenly blown wide as a trickle of sweat runs down the side of his face. Goosebumps lining every inch of his skin.
Dazai smiles, standing at the very edge of the building. It's broken and content and heartbreaking all the same.
"I'll leave it to you."
Atsushi scrambles forward, eyes wide and desperate. "Please wait–! Dazai-san!"
"The time has come. The fifth stage, the final stage of the plan. It's quite a strange feeling... like the feeling you get before you return to your hometown."
Akutagawa tenses. "Why go that far, man in black?" he asks. "Why are you fixated on this world to that extent?"
Dazai shrugs, and suddenly the expression on his face is more pronounced, more childlike. "Well... it's true, even if this world disappears, it's of no concern to me. That's what me from another possible world would say, I suppose."
A nostalgic, almost sad smile appears on his face, crinkling his eyes and making him appear as young as he truly is.
"But you know– this is the only world in which he lives and writes novels. I can't let a world like that disappear."
Akutagawa's eyes widen.
Atsushi parts his lips in attempts of a silent scream.
"Ah, Ah, Ah.", Dazai opens his eyes, seeing the two boys infront of him one last time. "It's the long-awaited moment. I can't wait, truly, I can't wait."
He closes his eyes and sees Odasaku's face.
"But you know– I do have one regret, Odasaku.
The man in black steps off the building.
"Dazai-san? Dazai-san!", Atsushi asks as the detective begins to falter.
"That I'll never be able to read the novel you will one day finish."
Pristine bandages and a single blood-coloured scarf flutter in the air in his wake.
Atsushi screams, arm outstretched as he rushes forward, Akutagawa hot on his tail. "No, no! No–!"
"...Right now, that's the only thing I find just a bit disappointing."
And Dazai Osamu falls.
Chuuya is the one who screams first.
"Dazai—!!", grabbing his shoulders as the man drops to the ground, convulsing and shaking. Red lines appear from head to toe covering every inch of his body, bleeding and burning.
His eyes roll back and blood gurgles out from his mouth. It starts streaming down his eyes and from his ears. From every inch of his body.
The impact from the fall affects him just as much as it did his counterpart, meaning Dazai feels like he's dying.
He is feeling how it feels to finally be with death.
Atsushi and Akutagawa fall to their knees as they shake Dazai in a feeble attempt to help. Hands stained and clothes covered in red. Chuuya gasps, barely even breathing as he instantly switches to CPR.
For there is nothing more that he can do.
"Dazai-san- no!", Atsushi hiccups, tears flowing uncontrollably from his eyes as he watches the man he considers a father die right before his eyes.
A scream echoes loudly in the chaos around them and it takes them a while to realise it isn't them. It's Dazai, who is screaming.
The world around them crashes and burns as black flames engulf them whole, and suddenly they aren't in the memory anymore. They aren't in any memory anymore, instead a bright white light burns their irises.
The world around them spins and spins and spins and then suddenly they are outside. Sirens blare and the only thing Chuuya sees is the flashing lights of ambulances around them and the colour red coating every inch of his clothes. Atsushi screams, and Akutagawa chokes on a dry sob.
Through teary eyes, they see the blurry figures of Yosano and Ranpo run over to them, followed by almost the rest of the agency. Ranpo's face is a unnatural shade of white and there's panic etched on every inch.
It feels as if time has slowed down as Yosano runs forward and all but drops to her knees beside the bloody form of Dazai, broken and bleeding and unconscious.
"—Dazai!" , Yosano yells, scrambling forward as her hands hover over the man, she tenses her jaw and presses two fingers to the side of his neck to check his pulse only to find nothing. Fingers coated in blood, she curses with tears in her eyes.
It all feels surreal. It feels like a movie, like a nightmare.
Ranpo just stands there. Mouth open and eyes wide. He looks as if his entire world has been turned upside down, the detective's hands tremble as they fall by his sides, breathing fast and erratic he walks forth, agonisingly slow.
"Dazai, fuck you better not do this-" Chuuya starts, heaving as he cuts himself off with a sob from his throat. Yosano straightens up, suddenly.
Face pale and heart heavy with unbridled grief, fear but determined all the same.
"No...", Akutagawa breathes.
"No- God, no....", Atsushi follows.
The doctor sits up, eyes teary yet ablaze with absolute certainty and she takes a deep breath before letting her hands fall, within milliseconds, a bright flash of green engulfs them all.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
A moment passes by in anticipation as the rain lashes down to the ground, splashing and mixing with the pools of blood.
Dark eyes snap open.
They begin to scan his surroundings until his eyes land on Yosano, trailing over to Ranpo, Akutagawa, and then finally Atsushi.
Yosano takes in a relieved breath, her hand gently landing on the brown-haired man's cheek, wiping away the remnants of blood and rain and tears that are her own.
"Dazai?", she caresses, before he flinches away and moves back from them.
Brown eyes land back on hers, sharp yet confused. Within a moment, the illusion of relief around them shatters, and the storm picks up yet again.
His whispered words might as well be as loud as thunder through the rain and wind.
"Who the hell are you?"