#Ranpo's mom handing him and Ranpo a lunches she made them

[flaresanimedump]

Back on my "Fukuzawa meeting Ranpo's parents" bullshit.

-Love the idea of Ranpo's parents adopting Fukuzawa on sight and parenting him to his befuddlement

BUT ALSO

-Fukuzawa suddenly has.... three Ranpos. Both of Ranpo's parents being tiny, childish, brilliant balls of energy like him (if slightly more mature). They take him to dinner and worry that they're talking too much in their own language to each other, what with Fukuzawa being so quiet, but he's actually just experiencing the equivalent of watching a whole family of kittens play in front of him and he's trying very hard not to gather them all up in a hug.

-Ranpo's parents parenting at Fukuzawa while Fukuzawa keeps slipping and patting their heads and praising them because that's how you deal with a Ranpo.

#Ranpo's mom handing him and Ranpo a lunches she made them #Fukuzawa's wrapped in a cat handkerchief #and telling them to have a good day at work; dears #and he's touched but he doesn't know the appropriate human response and she's doing that thing Ranpo does when he's proud of himself #with the head tilt and the smile #so he pats her head without thinking about it #and they both leave the encounter like ???? :3 ???? #Ranpo's dad hauling them both along on cases to be like #well boys let your old man teach you a thing or two #and Ranpo vs his dad is legendary and his dad still shows off at the end even though Ranpo ran circles around him for a bit #'you boys are fine detectives' - Ranpo's dad #proud #earning another headpat from Fukuzawa #because Fukuzawa doesn't know what to do with people being proud of him like that #Ranpo's dad is then also ???? :3 ???? #Ranpo later being like 'hey where's MY headpat huh???' #and Fukuzawa says 'I thought you'd outgrown that' #and Ranpo's mad 'MY PARENTS HAVEN'T WHY SHOULD I???' #and Fukuzawa is like 'you get better things' #and kisses him silly #(and pats his head later) #fukuran #ranfuku #ranpo edogawa #edogawa ranpo #fukuzawa yukichi #yukichi fukuzawa

[subserviiient]

no surprise: atsushi/anzu

Relationship meme: accepting

where they first met and how: Atushi and Anzu have numerous paths of which their first meeting could have went, in ways that could be exciting and full of adventure, or rather mundane and passive- rather than a big chaotic event targeting her school by an ability user, it was instead a more passive meeting. Upon seeing him nervously looking around, clearly lost, the producer had approached the detective and asked him if he needed directions. 

how long their ‘flirting’ phase was before feelings got involved: Flirting? More like mutual support and caring for the other one- however, with such a genuine bond between them- I’d say the feelings begin to stem within a few months, although, Anzu and Atsushi don’t realise they have said feelings until much longer due to the very nature of their feelings being based off such a friendship. 

who fell for who first ( if applicable ): Anzu. It’s rare anyone wants her beyond her use, and yet Atsushi seems to care more for the person than what she can do for him, and eventually she becomes so attached to him that she can’t really deny that she has these feelings because how could she? It’s way too obvious for her to deny it...to herself at least. She’ll deny it to everyone else until she’s ready. 

where their first date was and what it was like: I can see them both being confused about what to do for a date, Anzu’s never thought about them too closely and Atsushi still has no idea how they managed to get on one in the first place. Though, they soon decide to simply go out to eat and watch a movie afterwards, which Anzu insisted on paying on, and while it was awkward at first, it soon became pretty normal to them. They went out for Chazuke and then Anzu suggested a horror movie. 

who asks who out and how ( with a sign? spelled out on a cake? just a simple ‘will you go out with me’? ): Anzu. She’s very blunt about it, both so that he knows she’s asking him on one ( because Anzu herself struggles to tell the difference between someone asking her to hang out or go on a date ) and to get rejected, but he instead accepts- after a while of awkward silence on both of their parts and Anzu straight up internally screaming at herself for asking.

who proposes first: .....Hard to say, I’d say Anzu’s more likely than Atsushi. She’s the more bold about it, but even if he’s rather blunt about wanting to marry her before she considers proposing to him.

if they keep / kept their relationship secret or let everyone know right away: Both of them decided to keep it secret for a while simply because they had no idea how to tell people you’re dating someone, or when you should bring it up but they came out about it pretty soon.

where the proposal happens and how ( kiss cam at a baseball game? on a hillside surrounded by ducks? at a disney park? ): Anzu doesn’t want to make it a public proposal, as she doesn’t want him to feel pressured to say yes- rather the producer plans for them to have a date and as soon as night hits, she takes him to a less populated area, like a park- and gets down on one knee. 

if they adopt any pets together: Bro, they have Akinari, but if Atsushi suggests adopting a cat, or any other animal? Anzu will gladly do so, jokingly dubbing whatever animal they get their “Son” or “Daughter” which flusters the detective greatly.

who’s more dominant: ...Hard to say? I think it switches depending on who’s feeling more bold with their affections that day. 

where their first kiss was and what it was like: Honestly? I think it was when Anzu decided to visit her boyfriend in the ADA to bring him lunch on one of her very rare breaks, passing him his lunch which he went to take, only to trip and well, accidentally kiss her. Both of them were already flustered by the mistake, but considering Ranpo, Yosano and Dazai were present, they only got more flustered by their teasing. 

if they have any matching couples stuff ( mugs? sweaters? pillowcases? ): Well, I can’t see them actively matching things, but occasionally they’ll buy the same copy of something because the other one suggested that it was useful, or comfortable. 

how into pda they are: They’re not the most into PDA, but they do hold hands, especially if the streets are busy- and they do have the occasional hug in public, especially if there was a broadcast showing he did something dangerous and she happened to catch it. He’ll be tugged into a tight hug regardless of who’s around to watch.

who holds the umbrella when it rains: Atsushi, he’s the taller one so he’s the man for the job- and they do have to walk closer when they’re under it, as they both called the other one out for trying to give them more space and getting their clothes wet because of it. Though, sometimes Anzu will shove her umbrella at him and go running into the rain so he can have it all the way home. He’ll normally tell her off for it later. 

where their usual ‘date spot’ is ( if applicable ): They probably go to the arcade and fast food places more often than not, Anzu is determined to show Atsushi each game in the arcade, and they both need some nice food after the stress they go through. 

who’s more protective: Both are equally very protective of the other, with Anzu not taking any slander to Atsushi lightly and getting ready to fight anyone who speaks ill of him, but Atsushi is more physically protective of the producer, she may be capable of fighting off delinquents, but she’s no match for an ability user and she is pretty gullible. 

how long it is before they sleep together ( can be as in ‘had sex’ or as in ‘shared a bed’ ): Anzu invites him over to her house to sleepover fairly quickly, actually, because she quite likes having sleepovers and doesn’t quite get why people would find it odd, and she insists he takes her bed and she the floor, the debate goes on for a while until they both decide to share the bed. The...sexual side of things takes a while longer due to her not wanting to have Takehiro around to hear them and because it flusters them both greatly, but at the end of the day, the hormones give out. 

if they argue about anything: “Take care of yourself!” is a frequent statement in their arguments, it’s hard to grasp that she’s not a tool to be used of and it’s hard for him to take care of himself when there’s so much at stake but other smaller arguments come from Anzu insisting she’s going to pay for everything. 

who leaves more marks ( lipstick, hickeys, scratchmarks etc. ): Anzu and Atsushi both leave a lot of marks- and they both immediately panic because they have work the next day and how are they going to cover it up when Anzu doesn’t wear makeup?!

who steals whose clothes and how often: ...Anzu, although she does offer him her skirts up rather frequently, is normally the one picking up Atsushi’s clothes and putting them on- although she does get embarrassed when he catches her moving her hand to watch his glove move.

how they cuddle ( spooning? facing each other? ): They change it up rather frequently, although normally one of them lays down on the sofa and the other one crashes on top of them, which leads in them wrapping their arms around each other and the one on top to nuzzle their face into the other’s chest. 

what their favourite nonsexual activity is: They like having the rare days in, where they’ll have a coffee or tea and talk to each other, it’s nice to be away from paperwork or serious threats for a while and just unwind for a bit. She usually runs her fingers through his hair as they talk. 

how long they stay mad at each other: Depends what it is! If it’s a serious argument, they can stay mad at each other for a long time, if not, it’s over and done with relatively quickly. 

what their usual coffee / tea orders are: Black coffee with three shots of espresso and extra coffee is the thing that keeps Anzu most sane throughout her days, while Atsushi normally goes for a less life threatening kind of coffee, should he order one. Though he normally gets a green tea. 

if they ever have any children together: Twins. So many twins. Anzu swears they’re cursed to have only twins when they reproduce, but they also adopt! Anzu jokes about adopting twins and Atsushi astral projects at the mere idea of more twins entering his household. 

if they have any special pet names for each other: Sushi. Anzu calls him Sushi, both as a way to tease him and show how important he is to her, she rarely gives nicknames- far preferring to use people’s first names but for him? Sushi. Atsushi simply refers to her as Kobayashi-san. 

if they ever split up and / or get back together: I can’t see them being on and off sort of people, so I’d opt for a no.

what their shared living space is like ( messy? clean? what kind of decor? ): Atsushi gets to move in with Anzu, and he finds that Anzu’s house is normally so clean it hardly looks lived in- besides her room, where her table is a cluttered mess of cans that once contained her energy drinks, a ton of paper piled up but bed sheets that looked like they were in an ad, instead of being used. She tells him that he can buy anything he wants, and even offers her mom’s credit card, telling him to go wild- he doesn’t go wild but buys a few things that caught his interest with enough prodding. 

what their first christmas / hanukkah / etc as a couple was like: Anzu invites Atsushi over to her house so she can give him cookies and some food she made before she takes his hand and declares that she’s got a live to show him. For once, she sits in the audience seats and has him watch the show with her. She’s going to make sure he has a good day, even if it kills her. 

what their names are in each other’s phones: Sushi-kun with a sushi emoji and a blue heart emoji, with his simply being Kobayashi-san although she typed a (;・・;)  on there when they first exchanged numbers. He does not know how to get rid of it and she thinks it’s too funny to tell him. 

if they have any ‘couple traditions’ ( buying a new mug for their collection every year? baking every friday evening? ): Pointing to tigers when they appear in media and going ‘it’s you’, they have lunch together every Tuesday and Atsushi drags her ass off for designated nap time.

who falls asleep first and who wakes up first: Atsushi falls asleep first, she wakes up first. 

who’s the big spoon / little spoon: Big spoon? Usually Anzu, while the little spoon is normally Atsushi! They do swap places from time to time though!

who hogs the bathroom: Neither?

who kills the spiders / takes them outside: Anzu leaves them be and Atsushi takes them outside.

#cut for length! #madamhatter

[datura-foxglove]

(Dazatsu Week Day 5) Hypnos’ Thrall

Prompt : Trust - Sleep

Rating : T

Summary :

“Atsushi-kun, what kind of place is your ideal world?”

“Huh? Shouldn’t you ask Kunikida-san about ideals?”

“His ideal world is boring. I want to know yours.”

“Uhh… when you ask me suddenly like this, I don’t know what to answer…”

“Just tell me what is the first thing you thought of when you think about ideal world. A world that you can shape to your will and desire.”

“Well… maybe…”

It was cold.

The cold sank into his bones, the only thing he could sense for a few moments as he floated. The next thing he felt was the way his lungs burned, his lips opened in panic to inhale air but the water choked him instead. His eyes couldn’t see well, only faint glimmering of light from what he assumed was the surface above him the only thing standing out in this cold world.

His legs weakly kicked in the water, desperately trying to reach the surface before he drowned. He was so focused on moving his weirdly really weak and sluggish body that he jerked when something white floated beside him, slithering to the surface like a snake.

‘Bandages?’ Atsushi eyes widened seeing a few long rolls of unraveled bandages rose from below him to the surface, elegantly swaying in the water. The sight of those white strips of cotton, however weird, crushed his chest in different way than the pressure of water.

For a long moment, it was like time itself had stopped in wonder. His burning lungs forgotten, Atsushi ceased his desperate attempt to return to the surface and looked down. Somewhere in the back of his mind, horror stories that he had read long ago about monsters that lurked in the depths of the ocean nagged at him.

But his eyes didn’t stare into eyes of hungry monsters. No, instead they stared straight into a pair of chocolate eyes of a man slowly sinking to the depths of the water where the light couldn’t reach. The man smiled, a painful yet hopeful smile, as he spread his arms around him in waiting. The bandages unraveling from the man’s body like a curtains that hid the two of them from… something.

Despite the presence in his mind warning him of the danger, Atsushi dove towards the waiting man. It was like answering a siren’s call, a song so sweet and tempting filled his head as his hands reached towards the beautiful man with sad smile. He was so close, so close to touch the man and sank together with him to the depths—

“Atsushi!”

Atsushi jerked awake, his widened eyes blurry and unable to focus at all as he heaved his lungs out. It felt like he had just drowned, taken out of the water just before his consciousness disappear within the watery depths. A hand touched his shoulder gently and it took a few minutes to calm his breath and tilted his head to his side.

Kyouka, his beloved and sweet younger sister figure, looked at him with worried eyes. “Are you alright? I’ve been trying to wake you up for a while.” She rubbed his back comfortingly, like how she usually did whenever one of them woke up from bad dreams. “Nightmare?”

“I—“ Atsushi cleared his throat, his throat felt dry and scratchy. “I don’t think so? I don’t feel any fear at all, I think… it’s a weird dream, but not a nightmare.”

Kyouka listened attentively, like she usually did. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Atsushi shook his head. Somehow, the dream felt too intimate to share, especially now that his emotions still felt so raw. He looked towards the alarm clock on his bedside table and his eyes widened once again. “Kyouka-chan, we are going to be late!”

To his dismay, Kyouka was already prepared for school. She left him to change his clothes and brushed his teeth in peace. Atsushi’s feet stomped down the stairs loudly, although no one in the house protested. He found Kyouka sitting on the dining table with his parents, munching on the last of her sausages and calmly drank her miso soup.

His mother caught him by his collar before he could even run and abandon his breakfast. “You are a growing boy, Atsushi. Eat your breakfast.”

His father chuckled from behind the pages of his newspaper. “The school won’t run away, take your time.”

“I’m going to be late!” but Atsushi obediently sat and wolfed down his sunny side eggs and octopus shaped sausages, drinking his miso soup in one go despite how it scalded his tongue. “There, finished!”

“This boy, really…” His mom put a bento box wrapped in blue cloth on the table beside his arm. “Go, study hard today too!”

Atsushi hurriedly put the bento box on his school bag and almost sprinted towards the door, jumping like bunny as he shoved his feet to his shoes. “I’m going!”

“I’m going too.” Kyouka bowed before she left, ever polite to Atsushi’s parent despite having constantly stayed at their home for years whenever her parents had to go overseas.

Atsushi heard faint ‘be careful on your way’ from his parents before the door shut behind him.

“Atsushi, don’t run.” Kyouka tugged at the bottom of his school uniform. “You are going to get stomachache later.”

“My first lesson today is with Kunikida-sensei, Kyouka-chan.” Atsushi felt shiver going down his back. “If I want to stay alive, I can’t be late.”

Kyouka nodded sympathetically, keeping pace beside him with no sweat despite that Atsushi was dashing forward like the devil was on his tail. He only stopped when they arrived at a crossing and they had to wait for the light to change to green before they could cross. Atsushi fidgeted nervously, his eyes keep flicking towards the clock displayed on his phone. If they continued in their pace, they should barely make it before the bell rang. He sighed and pocketed his phone, his eyes dazedly surveyed his surroundings in vain attempt to make the light change sooner.

On the corner of his eyes, he caught a glimpse on tan colored coat blown back by the wind. His eyes followed the coat and finally found himself staring at the owner of the coat. He was standing there, across the street. Short brown hair and chocolate eyes, a small smile as that person noticed his stare.

Atsushi blinked, and the person was gone. Before he could even fully comprehend what had just happened, Kyouka tugged at his hand and pointed towards the green light.

The bell for lunch break rang noisily. Ranpo-sensei cheered louder than the students and immediately packed away his books, the first one to leave the classroom while the students just stared for a few moments before packing up themselves.

Atsushi heaved a loud sigh and slumped on his desk. He felt the beginning of headache and wondered if he should just sleep on the break but an insistent poke on his shoulder disturbed his peace. Atsushi lazily moved his head so he could see Tanizaki looking at him weirdly. “Are you okay, Atsushi-kun?”

“’m fine…” he mumbled, but he relented and rose from his seat with his mother’s bento on his hand. “I just can’t focus at all today.”

“Are you staying up late yesterday?” Tanizaki walked beside him, the ruckus of school lunches made it almost impossible to hear the boy if it wasn’t for the fact that were almost squished together in the hall.

“No… I had a weird dream and I keep seeing things today.” Atsushi swore that whenever his mind wondered, he would see glimpses of tan coat or bandages.

Tanizaki put a hand on his forehead, which made Atsushi yelped in surprise. “I don’t think you are sick, but do you want to go to Yosano-sensei after we eat?”

“No.” Atsushi vehemently refused. If he wasn’t dying, then he wouldn’t offer himself up to the doctor who had too much fun traumatizing students with her ‘treatment’.

Tanizaki smiled sympathetically, as a fellow brother who had been subjected to the terror of the school’s doctor. “You should go home after the school is over and rest then. We can go to the book store tomorrow.”

Atsushi nodded, trying to smile despite his head throbbing faintly.

“Are you sure you can go home on your own?” Kyouka stared intensely at him, daring him to lie to her. They had grown up together and while Atsushi was a bad liar, it was harder to see the extent of his pain. No matter how much he suffered, Atsushi always brushed it under the rug. He never broke down in front of anyone before and he preferred to keep it that way.

Atsushi’s head throbbed again, this time the pain was stronger than before. Atsushi hid his wince, there was a buzz on his ears and distorted images appeared in his mind.

He was hugging his knees, sitting on a wooden crate. He hid his face as he muttered how no one would even notice if he got killed. How he had no place in the world.

The scene changed, and this time he was on his elbow and knees as he sobbed into his hands, screaming that he was not good after all.

The last scene was him sitting on a bench in a park, his face crumpled in confusion whether to smile hysterically or sobbed his heart out.

The scenes were all different, but there was one similarity each time. Each time Atsushi broke down, his heart crumbled under the stress and unable to go on… there was a person there. Always nearby. Always listening. Always helping him get back to his feet.

In front of that person, Atsushi could unload the burden in his heart without any fear of being rejected.

“Atsushi?” Atsushi almost flinched when Kyouka grabbed his arm, but he managed a small smile as he shook his head.

“Sorry, just a headache.” He patted Kyouka’s head tenderly. “I will be alright. Go with Naomi-san and have fun, okay?”

Kyouka reluctantly let him went home alone, promising to buy something for him too. Atsushi watched her go away, the pressure on his chest that built up since he woke up that day almost crushed his ribs when there was no one beside him to keep his mind off it. He walked despondently, confusion mixed with frustration made it impossible to keep still for long. He was restless, yet he didn’t know why. Despite the noise of traffic and people chattering like usual around him, Atsushi heard nothing but silence. Even within the throngs of people on the busy street, Atsushi felt like he was alone.

Loneliness gripped his heart like a maw of a beast that refused to let go of it’s prey. But it was ridiculous, he just spent time with everyone like usual and he split up with Kyouka not even ten minutes ago. So why he felt so, so alone?

Why the orange sky of late afternoon only made his chest ache more instead of being soothed?

Again, he caught a glimpse of a man in tan coat standing just across the road, looking at him with such a sad smile that Atsushi wanted to dash across the road, traffic be damned, just to hug and comfort him?

Again, the man disappeared before Atsushi could do anything.

“Let’s have a bet, Nakajima Atsushi.” Someone laughed, a confident smirk on his lips. “If you win, I will turn myself in and even let that man nullify my Ability. If you lose… well, then you will join the other people that I have saved.”

Atsushi groaned as he blindly slammed his hand over the ringing of his alarm. Lately, his sleep was terrorized by weird dreams. People that he never saw, or people in his life in acting in different roles. Places so absurd that it must be just his imagination (really? A flying whale?). Fortunately, he mostly forgotten about the dreams he had before he got out of the bed. Despite the slight exhaustion and constant frustration, the dreams didn’t affect his life much.

He washed his face and brushed his teeth. He changed his pajamas to his school uniform. Atsushi’s mind wander as his body moved in autopilot, wondering if the dreams were really because of the stress from the upcoming last exams. He looked at his reflection in the mirror and winced. Okay, maybe a week of disturbed sleep had made the dark rings under his eyes much more visible. He just hoped that he wouldn’t worry people too much. He thought his school uniform changed into a white dress shirt with black necktie for just a second, but he shoved the thought into the corner of his mind.

He got out of his bedrooms, walking downstairs to the dining room where his parents and Kyouka already seated.

“Oh? My boy finally woke up in time.” His father teased good naturedly. Atsushi was ready to retort but when he looked up to his father his words died in his throat and his eyes widened in shock.

There was a black blur on his father’s face. It was akin to watching an old CD that were already with it’s surface already scratched up.

“Don’t tease him, dear. It’s a good thing he didn’t have to rush today so we can enjoy breakfast together.” Atsushi’s head snapped towards his mother and to his horror, her face was also torn by the black blur.

“Alright, alright. Don’t glare at me sweetheart.”

Atsushi furiously rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was still dreaming. To his relief the black blurs disappeared and he could see his parent’s kind faces again.

“Atsushi?” Kyouka called him, the only one whose face didn’t blur out. Atsushi gulped before he took his chopsticks and started to eat.

His mother’s usually delicious cooking tasted like nothing in his mouth and Atsushi lost his appetite.

“That sounds like horror movie.” The boy beside him gasped. “Oh! That would be exciting if this is truly a horror movie! I wonder if a psychopath will appear soon and murdered us.”

Atsushi sighed, though he had a fond smile on his face. “Dazai-senpai, that sounded too morbid in the morning.” His eyes watched at his upperclassmen, who grinned at Atsushi as he continued on with his horror movie like story.

He had missed Dazai. He had really missed him and Atsushi almost cried when he saw Dazai’s back at the school gates, cheerfully talking to Ango who looked so tired.

“Atsushi-kun? You aren’t listening, are you?” Dazai accused, his lips pouting so adorably that Atsushi couldn’t help but to chuckle.

“I’m sorry, Dazai-senpai. It’s just… I miss you so much.” Atsushi’s face blushed as he realized what he was saying. “It felt like it’s been forever since I last saw you.”

“Aww, Atsushi-kun.” Dazai’s pout disappeared and replaced with goofy smile. “It’s just school trip! I even brought back a souvenir for you. But I’m glad to be so loved by my junior.”

Atsushi choked on air, his face as red as tomato. “N-no! It’s not like that, I just…” he sighed as he rubbed his face, willing his blush away. “Sorry, just forget what I said.”

Dazai smirked, evidently enjoying teasing him. “How can I forget such a passionate love confession, Atsushi-kun?”

Before Atsushi could deny that, the bell signaling the end of lunch break rang obnoxiously. Dazai and Atsushi packed away their bento boxes and Dazai waved his hand at Atsushi as they split up at the stairs.

Something stopped Atsushi and he had to climb up the stairs again and caught Dazai’s wrist before he entered his classroom. “Dazai-senpai, where is your bandages?”

Dazai looked at him in as if he suddenly sprouted another head. “Bandages? I’m not hurt so why should I wear bandages? Is this because of that fight with that slug? Atsushi-kun, that slug can harm me as much as a toddler can.”

“I heard that, bastard!” Atsushi saw Chuuya shouted from his table inside the classroom. “Do you wanna go at it again, mackerel!?”

Kunikida stopped the two bickering students and sent Atsushi back to his own classroom. That’s right, Dazai had never wore any bandages except when he got into a fight with Chuuya. But why it was so jarring to see uncovered skin on his arms and neck? Why was it that seeing Dazai so carefree and unrestrained with his expression felt wrong?

On the corner of his eyes, he could see the man with the tan coat again. It took him a moment before he noticed how similar the man was with his senior, but also how different.

“Atsushi-kun, what kind of place is your ideal world?”

“Huh? Shouldn’t you ask Kunikida-san about ideals?”

“His ideal world is boring. I want to know yours.”

“Uhh… when you ask me suddenly like this, I don’t know what to answer…”

“Just tell me what is the first thing you thought of when you think about ideal world. A world that you can shape to your will and desire.”

“Well… maybe…”

It was getting worse. Atsushi couldn’t even remember how long he had been having these weird dreams. Each time he woke up, he wanted to do nothing but lay there on the bed or screaming his lungs out. Each time he went downstairs to have his breakfast with Kyouka and his parents, he would see again the black blurs that hid his parents face. It stayed longer and longer each day, until now it completely fixed on their faces and Atsushi couldn’t even remember their faces anymore. Their voices were also distorted, now sounding more and more like broken radio.

What was the color of his father’s hair?

What kind of smile his mother always showed him?

Only Kyouka’s face remained the same, unaffected of the way the world around him distorted. As they walked together to school, Atsushi would see images overlapping. The streets they usually walked to school changed into an unfamiliar yet also familiar street. The faces of people he met on the streets blurred like his parents except for few people that were strangely more detailed than others. Even on the school, most of the students and teacher’s face were blurred except for few that he was always close with.

But even those people felt wrong to him. It felt wrong to see Naomi complaining about her meager allowance her father gave her. It felt wrong to see Kenji needing help to carry heavy things. It felt wrong to see Tanizaki failing his drive test for a motorcycle. It felt wrong to see Kyouka carrying a pink school bag around and not a knife. It felt wrong to see Dazai without his bandages and his worst problem was that Kunikida giving him detention again.

There were so many wrongs that it drove him insane.

Yet, even if the people around him felt more like a mirage… he should be satisfied, right? They were so happy and everyday was so peaceful. The worst thing they had to worry about was exams and not having enough money to buy books or games.

Atsushi should be grateful. He should be happy that people who were precious to him were so happy. This kind of daily life, this boring and peaceful daily life… didn’t he used to wish for these kind of days?

Atsushi should just… let go. He should avert his eyes from the way the world was distorting and breaking. Maybe someday everything would return to normal. Someday he wouldn’t even remember all of this and went on his days like normal.

Ignorance was a bliss, right?

Atsushi was ready. He could do this. He could blind himself to the truth and pretend. It would be easy. Everyone were happier here and he shouldn’t—

A glimpse of a man with a tan coat appeared on the corner of his eyes. Atsushi froze, his heartbeat going wild. Did he know what he was thinking? Did that man saw what Atsushi was doing?

Usually, the one with Dazai’s face would just stand there watching him. But now, when the world keep overlapping and breaking apart by it’s seams, the man… walked away. He turned around and leave.

Before he knew what he was doing, Atsushi stood up. Kunikida looked shocked to see Atsushi dashed outside of the classroom and tried calling for him, but Atsushi couldn’t hear it with all the buzzing in his ears. He ran with all of his might, frustrated at himself for being so slow. He knew he could go faster. He knew he had the ability to dash with speed faster than what could be seen by normal eyes.

To his shock, Kyouka was waiting for him by the school gates. He couldn’t see Dazai’s back anymore, but his instinct knew where to find him. If he rushed then maybe he would be in time to… to what? He didn’t know, but he knew that he had to get to Dazai before it was too late.

Kyouka stance wasn’t aggressive. She just stood there in front of the school gate, looking at him with inquisitive eyes. “Are you sure? You won’t be able to go back if you go from this place.”

Atsushi looked down. His everyday life here was like a dream, a wish that normally would be an impossible thing to be granted. Even short, his life here had made him so, so happy.

“There is still time.” Kyouka walked away, letting him to choose. “Think it carefully. What is it that you really desire?”

When Atsushi was still in the orphanage, he wished to have a family. He wished to have a father who would teach him things and praised him with pride whenever Atsushi accomplished something, no matter how trivial it was. He wished to have a mother who would cook for him and tell him bedtime stories, smiling happily as she welcomed him home everyday. Maybe he could have a brother or sister too.

When Atsushi was accepted into Armed Detective Agency, Atsushi wished for the peaceful days to never end. To just be able to spend his time with the people he had thought as family without any life in the line or any danger that could steal his family away right in front of him.

When Atsushi fell in love with Dazai, he wished for the man to be happy. To be free from the void that keep eating him away from the inside until the man was nothing but a husk.

This world. Everything in this world was Atsushi’s wishes made manifest. No matter how impossible his wishes were, this world granted it. He had a family. He didn’t have to worry if next day the Agency would still be there for him to return to. The man he loved was free from the darkness that always clung to him like his bandages.

It was so easy, so very tempting to continue living in this dream world. Even if he never left, what would it matter in the real world? He was just one human in the midst of billions that live in the world, easily forgotten. At least in this dream, he could be happy. He could be happy as time froze in this dream, where the people he loved would also always be happy and safe.

But he had forgotten. Living in this peaceful world had nearly erased a promise that he had made to himself, on the day that felt like forever ago. On the day when Atsushi found Dazai on the grave of his dearest friend.

Atsushi didn’t quite know where he was heading, his memories were mixed up and jumbled. He had to cling to his memories of the real world with all of his might or his memories of the dream world would bury it deep in his brain where Atsushi wouldn’t be able to discover it anymore. Again, the images of the world were overlapping. The sky went from bright blue to warm orange, rinse and repeat, as the cracks on the sky became harsher and bigger. The street turned into river, the noise of streaming water fought against the sound of cars.

Ahead, he could see a bridge. The images’ deterioration became even more rapid, the fissure now even cracked the ground around him. Atsushi saw Dazai standing on the bridge and his heart fell to his stomach as dread clenched his chest. It felt like the time slowed down as he watched Dazai’s body plunged into the water and Atsushi roared.

No, not Atsushi. Byakko roared within him, finally awakened from it’s long slumber.

His legs transformed into Byakko’s legs and Atsushi jumped. The images of water and concrete flashing before him, but Atsushi knew where he wanted to go.

His body hit water, immediately submerged. The warm glow of sunset sky behind him gave him just enough light to see Dazai sank deeper and deeper in the water. Atsushi swam downward, chasing after the bandages unraveling from Dazai’s arms. Atsushi opened his mouth to scream, but all that come out was garbled voice.

“Dazai-san!”

But apparently, it was enough. Dazai opened his eyes, his chocolate eyes so empty and cold. Atsushi swam faster, his hands barely managed to catch Dazai’s sinking body. Only when Atsushi touched him that Dazai’s eyes returned to focus and widened as he saw Atsushi. Atsushi smiled in relief when warmth returned to those chocolate eyes and he wrapped his arms around Dazai tightly, leaning his head under Dazai’s chin. It only took a second before Dazai returned the embrace, his hands gripping the back of Atsushi’s clothes like a lifeline.

The two of them sank into the darkness, warm and content in each other’s embrace as the world was breaking apart around them.

“So you managed to escape from your dream world on your own, that is impressive Atsushi-kun.” Yosano smiled warmly as she wrote down the last of her examination. “Normally, people trapped in the dream created by that Ability won’t be able to do so until their body started dying from being in coma for so long. Thankfully, your Ability healed any kind of damage from nearly a month in coma Atsushi-kun.”

“It’s only possible because Dazai-san helped me.” Atsushi laughed in self depreciating way. “If it wasn’t for him, I would probably choose to stay within that dream.” He tightened his grip on Dazai’s hand that was holding him, but the man didn’t react at all other than returning the grip.

“You shouldn’t be ashamed of that.” Yosano tapped the medical chart on her shoulder. “Humans are creatures of desire after all. The dream world created by that Ability felt so real and fulfilling that only a handful of people are able to choose to return on their own.” Especially people that were so deprived of happiness and had difficulty to connect with reality.

“What about the Ability user?” Atsushi asked tentatively. They had made a bet, even if it was foolish for him to do so. But the Ability user they chased was an illusive man and the numbers of his victims keep growing the longer he stayed free.

“He honored the bet and turned himself in when you woke up.” Yosano frowned. “Kunikida and Tanizaki-kun are keeping an eye on him until the transfer is finished. Director asked for Dazai to nullify the man’s Ability so the victims will be able to wake up, but… well, they are busy with administration anyway so you have some time before they call you.”

Dazai nodded to show that he had heard, but he kept his head hung low so no one could see his eyes hidden by his bangs.

“Alright, I should go.” Yosano hit Atsushi’s shoulder with the medical chart, though Atsushi barely felt the pain. “That was careless of you, kid. Good work, but if you do that again I will make sure you get the best treatment, hmm?”

Atsushi nodded quickly seeing Yosano’s scary smile. Yosano spared a glance towards Dazai for a moment before walking away. Kyouka and Naomi was outside when she opened the door, but Yosano ushered them to leave the two men alone.

Atsushi waited until the sounds of their footsteps fade away before smiling at Dazai. “Thank you for saving me, Dazai-san.”

“I didn’t save you.” Dazai whispered, so low and broken that pain blossomed on Atsushi’s chest. “I nearly gave up. I nearly left you behind.”

“It’s my fault.” Atsushi shook his head. “I… got blinded by the illusions. I foolishly think that it would be better for me to stay there and forget my reason to take that bet in the first place.”

He nearly abandoned hundreds of victims still in coma out there due to his selfishness.

“I won’t fault you. Your dream world is so beautiful.” Dazai laughed, but there was no humor in his voice. “Even I looked happy in that world.”

Dazai’s words stung Atsushi like a slap to the face. He gripped Dazai’s hand tighter, frustrated at how cold the man’s hand was.

“Why don’t you stay?” Dazai asked, his voice so brittle that Atsushi feared it would crumble and whisked away by the wind. “It would be easier if you live in that dream. Didn’t you also think so? What made you change your mind?”

Atsushi remembered his hesitance to return. How easily he turned his eyes away from the truth even when the world started breaking down. Atsushi would have stayed there, if he didn’t saw Dazai walking away and remembering his promise.

“I… made a promise to myself.” Dazai finally rose his head a little, his exhausted eyes peeking at Atsushi from beneath his bangs. “I promised to stay by your side.”

Dazai’s head snapped up, now their eyes meeting each other properly. “I know you won’t trust my promise if I made that promise with you, so I made it with myself. I promised that I will fight tooth and nail to stay by your side, for as long as you would have me with you.”

Dazai snorted, his eyes dark and shadowed beneath so much doubt and pain. “You are right. I wouldn’t trust that promise.”

Atsushi scratched his cheek sheepishly. “I also don’t trust myself to be able to keep that promise, I nearly broke it when I tried to stay in that dream.” Atsushi’s eyes returned to their hands and smiled a little. “But when I saw you leaving… I remembered why I made that promise.”

“Why?” Atsushi almost didn’t hear the whispered question. He wondered if he was meant to hear it in the first place. Yet he still wanted to answer anyway.

“I… I just don’t want to make you sad.” He didn’t want Dazai to experience loss again. “When I saw you leaving, your back looked so lonely… so I knew I had to go back with you.”

For a long moment, Dazai didn’t respond. Atsushi wrapped both of his hands to Dazai’s cold ones, rubbing them gently to warm them up. Dazai slowly intertwined their fingers together and put Atsushi’s hands on his cheeks.

Dazai smiled for the first time since Atsushi had woken up, and if what he sensed from Yosano was true, then ever since Atsushi fell into coma. Dazai gently kissed the tips of his fingers, his breath felt warm and shaky against his fingers.

“You are too good for me Atsushi-kun.” Dazai closed his eyes. “I don’t deserve someone like you.”

“But I want to be with you, if you will have me.” Atsushi scooted closer to Dazai so he could lean his forehead to Dazai’s. “Can I stay with you?”

Would you trust my promise?

“Of course. I want you to stay with me.” Dazai leaned his head closer and kissed Atsushi’s lips, his longing and desire clear as he deepened the kiss.

Atsushi wrapped his arms around Dazai’s neck as the older man climbed into the bed with him, desiring to be closer. To once again be in each other’s arms.

I trust you.

#dazatsu week 2019 #dazatsu #fanfic #sorry if the ending is rushed #you would think I learned my lesson and didn't procrastinate #and don't only start writing when it was 10 pm #but nooooo #why I did this to myself #for people that is confused #atsushi made a bet with ability user #his ability is to trap people in dream world kind of like poe's #but the trapped person is the one creating the dream #so unless they can accept and wish to escape #they would be forever trapped in coma state #I wanted to call this ability midsummer night dream but eh