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his hand as he held the tiny box with his hand. During the movement, he looked suspiciously at Dazai, who was smiling like a kid who just got his favorite toy for Christmas. Slowly, Chuuya looked down to the box and opened it. His eyes widened up as Kouyou leaned a bit, with

genuine curiosity. She too was interested and surprised. "So? Did Chuuya like his brand now collar." Dazai's eye was closed so he didn't see how Chuuya held the "collar" and looked with pure surprise at it. "It's a beautiful necklace, lad" she commented softly. Chuuya didn't

comment it. He simply raised the "collar" to put it on his neck and when Kouyou tried to help him, he gently denied it. "Eh???" Dazai looked at Chuuya as he put on his "collar" - this was nothing what he intended to do. His stormy eyes were closed as he tired the material

to his neck. Dazai had no reaction , but just for a while because when he recuperated his senses he laughed - a bit forcedly. "Oh? Did Chuuya like his collar? Is Chuuya admitting his dog's characteristics?" he tilted his head, in amusement. But Chuuya didn't answer as he

finished putting the "collar" on and, finally opened his eyes. Dazai's heart made a flip when he noticed the lack of their typical violence. They were soft - equally fascinating, but no longer defensive. The storm had calmed down. That made Dazai's mouth open a bit.

But that was it, because he could speak back. He couldn't tease or make fun of Chuuya. He was, for the first time, speechless. Chuuya looked at him with a tense expression. "This is not a collar, it's a necklace bastard" he started to say, but his words were no longer violent

- Dazai realized that he liked the soft tone of Chuuya's voice; he continued "And I am keeping it, not because I am your dog or anything but..." he paused, one could say he was truly embarrassed "because I... I liked it" his expression softened and he added a quiet "Thanks"

Again, Dazai lost the ability to answer. He simply stayed with his mouth open as he saw Chuuya smiling - an honest, white and captivating smile - and then he turned to his mentor to say something. She nodded her head in approval and Chuuya flashed a gentle smile.

Then, the boy looked at Dazai, who - by the way - was still speechless and offered an honest smile. "I'll see you around Dazai" he said and Kouyou nodded gracefully. After that they left. The pair passed right next to Dazai and the wind by the created made Dazai regain his

senses. His plan had failed. Chuuya wasn't supposed to enjoy this present. Who would want a collar, for God's sake? Chuuya was supposed to scream with him, to get angry. He was not supposed to act elegantly - Dazai blamed Kouyou - and to be gentle with him.

Their footsteps were far and far away as Dazai thought about the plan he had failed. He wanted to scream. He hated that boy so much, the guy ruined all of his plans in seconds. It was so so unfair. How dare him. How dare him to be happy with an offense? His mind was a mess

and, suddenly, the only thing he could think about to calm down was the way Chuuya smiled at him. A genuine and honest smile. He really liked the present. He sighed. It was disappointing yes.

But that was fine with Dazai. He would have a lot of chances to make fun of him. Besides, he thought as turned his heels, the /necklace/ kind of suited him. And a beautiful smile suited him too. That was a different kind of beauty that Dazai had found on Chuuya.

And now that he was thinking about it... Dazai kind of liked to see Chuuya happy. The only thing he thought about as he was walking down the wall, was the living contraction that Nakahara Chuuya was.

That, by itself, was enough to make Dazai's life brighter and his heart lighter. He just didn't know it yet.

Time has passed by. Dazai had become increasingly distant from everything and everyone - including Chuuya. And he was pretty much his only "friend" and the person he got "along" with. He was someone who Dazai thought was worth knowing - worth exploring.

Unwarily, he found himself studying Chuuya, like one would study a scientific object. Every step, every move, every word, his weaknesses, his strengths, his problems, what made him happy or sad... Dazai wanted to know everything about him. He was thirsty for more "Chuuya".

He wanted to know Chuuya, like no one ever has done. But the limitations were clear - the boy didn't want to get involved with Dazai. To be honest, Dazai didn't blame Chuuya, but that didn't mean that he would leave the other alone. It was a new emotion.

Like a compulsion or an impulse, this was something that was out of his control. He was so out of himself that he -foolishly - confessed his "love" for Chuuya just after they met. "Ew!" Yeah, definitely not one of his brightest moments. Luckily Dazai was a good actor.

But the emotions that Chuuya caused Dazai were like a drug. Once he gave in, he would find himself obsessed with him. Chuuya was like a drug. But if so, he was the sweetest drug Dazai had ever tasted. However, drugs shouldn't be abused, so Dazai drank Chuuya - but just a

silent and little sip. No one would ever notice - certainly not Chuuya, who cursed Dazai every time he saw him. That was not enough to distance Dazai from his addiction - probably nothing will ever be able to make Dazai lose interest in Chuuya.

But just for precaution, Dazai kept Chuuya away from his world. A world full of darkness, blood and pain. Chuuya was not like that. "It must be because I love you!" Yeah...loving was a good way of dying, wasn't it? Dying of love, of deception... it would be beautiful.

So beautiful... But so so painful. It would not be a painless death. These were Dazai's thoughts as he was sat on the bed, where Chuuya was peaceful resting. He might never wake up, he though.

And even so, as he thought his fingers curled around the soft ginger hair, pulling them away from Chuuya's wounded face, it would still be incredibly fascinating watching him go. Sometimes, Dazai had to stop his train of thoughts, because some were definitely questionable.

Chuuya moved slightly on the bed, leaving his arms hanging on the air. It was almost comparable to a flower, that had just blossomed and opened its delicate petals. It reminded Dazai of the fascinating, red spirals,

that were previously drawn on his skin and were traced by Dazai's finger, in a soft caressing. Flower, red, alive, human, captivating, interesting and fascinating. As an involuntary smile appeared on his lips, like a soft breeze, Dazai realized it was not only an admiration

or fascination. Chuuya was not an animal who needed to be open to be studied. He was not someone who should be kept like a wild animal. As much as Dazai liked the idea of having Chuuya all for himself, to have his full attention... his heart wouldn't allow it.

Chuuya was more beautiful when he was free and happy than when he was trapped - like the day when Dazai had found him, after being stabbed. Or when he was brutally tortured - and he endured all of it and it was fascinating - the feelings Dazai expected after seeing him was not

*were not satisfying enough. He preferred much more the smile Chuuya had given him when he had gifted him his necklace... And, he noticed Chuuya was not wearing his necklace. He was wearing another necklace - Dazai knew it had been a gift from his friends.

A relieved smile appeared on his lips as his fingers ran through the ginger curls. He touched Chuuya's hair like it could it could be easily broken. From the tip of his fingers he could feel how delicate the hair was. Another thing that has always surprised Dazai was how

gentle, almost angelical and weak Chuuya was. It was truly fascinating, considering Chuuya's inhuman strength. The contradiction that one person can have was something that made Dazai want to know who Nakahara Chuuya was. He was so strong, but so weak. So delicate and elegant

, but so violent and rude. So small, but so powerful. So human, but so inhuman. And Dazai's favorite was So bright and comprehensive but so deadly and a killer. Nakahara Chuuya was the personification of the contradiction. He proved to Dazai that it was possible to find

in the dark, the light. And maybe a reason to live - although Dazai doubted that. His hand rested on Chuuya's forehead. A protective and honest gesture. Was he getting soft for Chuuya? Him, Dazai Osamu, with a killer count higher than any mafia assassin's

had a heart that beat for another person? Oh so he had a heart. It was a heart covered by a dark cloud of pain, death and blood, but, nevertheless, it was a heart. He had a heart... But he just needed to find the right wind to blow that fog away.

Even if temporarily, Dazai would treasure every single moment he felt the fresh and bright breeze that went straight to his chest. He looked at Chuuya and smiled. Nakahara Chuuya was the breeze Dazai craved and needed. And Dazai loved him for that. He had admited it.

"Chuuya, you're a joke for a mafioso" He leaned in a little bit, just to feel the warmth that came from the calm and tranquil breathing. Yep that was definitely his friend's necklace. Even if Dazai didn't know them, he knew how Chuuya felt.

How so? A crystal clear tear flowed from the corner of his eye, staining the sheet with sorrow and the irremediable loss. And Dazai? Dazai gently pressed his finger against the tear and a smile lit up his face and his heart.

Despite what everyone said about Dazai and Chuuya - self-proclaimed eternal rivals - the two teens, surprisingly, got along. Sure they both have their duties, according to their role in the organization, but they would always find each other along the way.

Sometimes in the hall, others when Mori gave them a common mission or through texting and phone calls. The last ones were rare, because Dazai found it funny seeing his phone ringing with the name "Slug" on the screen. He found it even more amusing when Chuuya ended up

*would end up meeting him, mainly to complain about Dazai's imbecility. Something that Dazai was used to hear from Chuuya. However, due to some increasingly dark jobs, Dazai barely had seen Chuuya. One could say that he... missed him. Or at least that was what Oda had told