Ideas and stuff

action his partner had made. Speaking about Dazai... Where was him? Kouyou entered the room bringing in the mafia elegance and a certain pleasant smell - her perfume. Light steps echoed around him as Kouyou rested a hand on his shoulder. "Congratulations lad" she greeted

, her voice was calm and elegant like a violin solo. Then she quickly - but elegantly - retracted her hand from her pupil's shoulder as she walked towards an empty seat on the table. Chuuya looked towards her with a respectful expression. "Ane-san. Thank you." he nodded.

She smiled a bit and then sighed. "I heard the boss has been thinking about giving you something special." Chuuya's heart was heavy and his mind was spinning around from reading such hedious reports. "Is that so." he said with no enthusiasm; he paused and then looked at her

"Was everyone in agreement with my promotion?" Kouyou lifted a hand up to her pink mouth, seemingly being thoughtful. "If I remember correctly... yes everyone was in agreement with your promotion." she smiled - almost a fraternal proud smile "I expected no less of you lad"

Chuuya reciprocated the smile but then he stopped. Something was not making sense here. Because, he remembered what Dazai had told him when he became an executive. "Well, being an executive has its perks, you know? I can always vote against Chuuya's promotion!"

Although it had been a joke, Chuuya - more than anyone - knew how far Dazai would go just to annoy him. Chuuya was certain that Dazai would vote against his promotion, just to annoy him and not because he was against it. After all, he was the one who gave him clues about those

awful documents. He made Chuuya's pain a little more bearable and that was something that Chuuya was thankful for - not that he would ever say it to Dazai. So, there was no way that Dazai had voted for his promotion. But just to clarify his doubt, he asked Kouyou for

information. "What about Dazai?" Chuuya asked and Kouyou narrowed her eyes " Did that bastard vote for my promotion?" "Dazai?" she asked "Oh Dazai was not there to vote, so don't worry" Kouyou smiled. That caught Chuuya off guard. He wasn't in the mafia? How was that

even possible? Dazai didn't make overseas missions, because he was the Boss' right hand. So why was he not in the meeting? "Did that bastard skip the meeting?" Chuuya found himself wondering out loud. Kouyou looked at him for a while, with a cautious expression.

Then she sighed. "In a way yes." she said quietly; Chuuya narrowed his eyes. "What?" he let out an incredulous laugh "Did that bastard skip his obligations, again?" he half-smiled a bit amused - as his partner he was more than used to Dazai's irresponsible and indifferent

behavior. But still, Chuuya couldn't believe the guy's attitude - the disrespect. Kouyou stared at him with a doubtful expression - she was looking at him as if Chuuya was having a strange behavior. Inclusively, she even frowned with questions behind her eyes.

But then her face became increasingly more understanding and almost... apprehensive. That was what surprised Chuuya - he waited a bit anxiously for her answer. Then, it arrived. "Chuuya, lad..." she sighed softly, closing her eyes with almost a sad expression "Dazai-kun...

"Chuuya looked at her with expecting and curious eyes; it seemed to worsen Kouyou's struggle to talk about the matter "Dazai-kun... is not in the mafia ... anymore" Each word and each interval between them, felt like a slap. Leave it to Kouyou to make everything emotional

with her incredible silk voice. Time stopped and so did Chuuya's mind - he wasn't able to answer it. So, Kouyou explained to him. "Yesterday he was declared a traitor." she informed and then paused, to give Chuuya some time to process the information; she added "He is not

in the mafia anymore, that's why he was not part of this meeting" He couldn't quite explain what he was feeling at that moment. He felt something similar to emptiness, similar to the collapse of the wall that was being built, something similar to... pain. He hadn't felt like

this in a long time - but it was a familiar sensation, he could recognize the sword that crossed his own heart anytime. Kouyou didn't speak anymore - probably in respect - and she gave Chuuya the intention of wanting to leave. But before it, he spoke for the first time "Oh.

Is that so?" his voice was not trembling or anything; his heart was emptier than he had remembered "I wonder why I was not informed of." Kouyou sighed in concordance. "The Boss thought it would be something that would trouble your performance so he didn't tell you" she said.

The next words were not thought nor planned. They just flew out of his lips, like it was normal. "Then, the Boss was wrong," he said firmly, making Kouyou widen her eyes "the fact that Dazai is not here anymore, doesn't make things any different." he said "I'll be the same

as I always had been" Chuuya declared and Kouyou looked surprised for a while; then she glared at him trying to find - perhaps - a lie or an act - but there were none. Therefore, Kouyou, visibly relieved, raised her eyebrows. "I see then. I am glad you are not letting your

emotions take control of your obligations" she was being genuine. Once more, Chuuya didn't think before speaking. "Why would I even care about Dazai leaving? He is nothing to me, he was my partner but from the moment he betrayed this organization" he tried to control his anger

"he has lost that privilege and he is no longer part of my life." Despite his notable emotional control, Kouyou noticed how he stood up and pushed the chair - noisingly. She smiled understanding the situation - but she didn't said nothing about it. "I have better things to

do than to worry about traitors" he said and bowed his head "If you excuse me Ane-san, I have something to do." Kouyou smiled. "Of course lad, I look forward to working with you as an executive, Chuuya." she said softly. And he just offered a plain smile but grateful anyways

"I feel the same, Ane-san" after those words he left and didn't look back. His mind was empty and didn't think about Dazai or the fact that he had left the mafia, during the whole traject. His heart, however, was beating quickly with some anxiety as he walked down the stairs.

He felt like he was seeing his past before his eyes, memories who were lost for years, were coming back. The Port Mafia basement. Chuuya was in front of it. He was feeling nothing and thinking about nothing. Dazai had left and he was a traitor. Okay, that was

fine for Chuuya. He had always known Dazai's poor loyalty to the Mafia. That was totally fine with him so... so why was Chuuya looking for someone to talk with... if his departure meant nothing? He shook his head, dismissing his thoughts as he pushed the door that gave the

access to the basement. The sound of blades clashing echoed and a voice he hadn't listen in a while - but never forgotten - filled his ears and went straight to his empty heart. Suddenly the blades stopped and he heard a muttering before the same voice said "Chuuya, little

brother... what a pleasant surprise..." his voice was melodious as always and it felt like a blessing to Chuuya's emptiness. He, indeed, had not felt like that in a while. He walked towards the man he called his brother - then he looked at him, eye to eye. "Paul Verlaine"

The man he had once wished to kill. The murderer of his friends. But also his savior. As Chuuya walked towards him, he saw his brother's majestic features and his elegance. Paul Verlaine had a beautiful and calm smile on his lips - it almost made Chuuya's heart break

in pieces, seeing the warmth and adoration writen in those eyes. Those cold and sharp eyes - the eyes of an assassin, that killed with no hesitation and his hands were filled with blood. To Chuuya the gesture felt immensely warm - warmth that came from the man who murdered

his friends with brutality. Chuuya closed his eyes as he sighed - Verlaine immediately noticed something else behind his beloved brother's heart. He looked like a child, small and fragile who was struggling to admit that they had been responsible for breaking their mother's

vase. Chuuya's eyes were like two polished jewels but they didn't shine with life - they just were there. Verlaine sighed, closing his eyes. "I have a table where we can talk" his voice was soothing and it felt better than any caressing "Walk with me" And like a lost sheep

Chuuya followed Verlaine to the table. As they sat down, he noticed the teapot and several cups with the respective dish under each one. After a while Verlaine glanced at Chuuya. "Tea?" And Chuuya nodded as he watched the man pouring the liquid into his cup; he did the same

for his cup and then looked at Chuuya "So... what brought you here, little brother?" He paused "Don't get me wrong it's always a delight to see you Chuuya, but you must have something in mind right now.... don't you?" he said as he mixed the sugar with the tea with a spoon.

Chuuya looked down as he sighed. "I came to you, because you are the only one who can help me" he said and Verlaine's eyes lit up "No one will ever be able to understand me. No one...no one but you... brother." he diverged his attention to the cup as he used his spoon to mix

nothing in special. The smile he offered was kind. "Well, then how can I help you dear brother?" Slowly, Chuuya raised his head and looked inside Verlaine's eyes - deeply and dripping with feelings. "You said people often lie to illude and to foul other people, right?"

Verlaine, nodded slowly. "I didn't. Humans are not trustworthy creatures." then he added with a sigh "Every human but Arthur. He was an incredible human being" his smile illustrated the intensive and burning adoration Verlaine felt for his deceased ex-partner. Chuuya had to

swallow. "You can't trust no one but your allies. Your partner included, correct?" his voice was now a bit higher, but still not too high. His brother, who was sipping his tea, narrowed his eyes, staring at Chuuya silently. Then, he placed the cup on the little dish

as he sighed. "I see... so this is about that guy... what was even his name?" he pretended to think "Ah it was Dazai-kun, wasn't it?" Silence filled the air. Chuuya took a sip and then proceeded. "You were right. You were right about thinking about the future and not the

present." Chuuya admitted as Verlaine watched him attentively "What I have today might not exist tomorrow or it might turn out to be a complete lie." he paused "I was foolish to think that something could last forever." a sigh "People come and go, they do whatever they want

and they don't care about the other's feelings." Verlaine looked at him with an apprehensive expression. "Humans are treacherous creatures. They can't be trusted" he said softly "I told you before, didn't I?" Hesitantly, Chuuya nodded. "You did. But I was too much of a foul