#New text from Mori: now you see the shit I had to deal with?

[shininas-ideals]

Co-workers.

[serve-corps]

Haruhi x fem RICH reader

Haruhi's secret girlfriend snuck Haruhi out of school for a date <3 part 2 here part 2

The cross-dressing girl sighs as the so-called 'daddy' of the host club shrouds himself in a corner with mushrooms being his only trusty companions.

she deadpanned at the male as he kept complaining about how his precious daughter held such low standards as she confessed how she didn't care if those girls from that school, what was it called? oh yeah! Lobelia Girls' Academy; didn't care if they flirted with her and tried to persuade her to join their school instead.

basically, the prefect and most idolized pupil of that school was a massive lesbian. she had no issues with this, but her friends did. Tamaki was terrified of someone stealing his precious little girl from him.

welp. that ship's sailed. ¯\_( ͡❛ ͜ʖ ͡❛)_/¯ she's already got a girlfriend!

our poor Haruhi, (I'm sorry for the bad joke there) flipped open her phone impatiently as she had been doing for the past 2 hours whilst dealing with clients sat RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER.

our (little shit) Kyoya took notice of this and was jotting it down in his little rip-off death note and further analysed her uncharacteristic anxious behaviour.

oh? this was new....her eyes were flicking to the outside, more or so to the entrance.

every noise that sounded like footsteps made her snap her neck in their direction with wide eyes, her facial expressions weren't giving away anything about her emotions or thoughts.

Now, back to Haruhi. She was only slightly worried which is unusual of her, but if the host club was reacting like this to the thought of her going to a different school, how the fuck would they react to her girlfriend who's been with her since middle school.

things got a whole lot worse when her phone vibrated 20 seconds after she put it down, she snapped it open almost at Mach 20, hoping it was her most prized person. AND IT WAS! her lips twitched upwards a little but fell once more as she read her beloved's message.

"hi daffodil, ill pick u up an hpur early today! dont worry i got consent from dad dearest and he phoned the school bout some appointment (fakest shi-) "

"but do u want me to go to ur class and pixk u up or meet me bo the g8? gimmi the word gurl"

"lets make this date as long as possible, ur dad gave the rec spot, said it was "✨️fabulous!✨️". yeah. i could see the sparkles as he said it bro. "

Haruhi smiled as she read over the spammed texts, as soon as she finished reading one text, another popped up with a buzz, she smile widened a bit and her eyes softened as she read over them. she jumped as she remembered she had to fuckin reply of course.

"ok tea cake, ill meet you outside by the gate, try be quiet. also, turn auto correct back on <3"

she closed her phone expecting radio silence but as soon as it was back in her pocket it buzzed once more, sighing and smiling, she flipped it back open to see her lover's message in retaliation.

"AUGHK BUT YOU KEOW IT PISSEs ME OFF >:("

she chuckled at the ironicness and childishness, she could almost hear how she was whining in real life, a phantom voice. God she was making her schizophrenic.

another buzz and she looked at her screen, in calm a calm manner which flustered her,

"love you daffodil"

her cheeks dusted pink at the message, it was the little things that got her down bad, she shut her phone with a loud clap, shoving it into her pocket and she looked back at the club.

all eyes were on her, shit.

for starters, all the clients left about 10 minutes ago when her middle school sweetheart started messaging her, but none of the host club members left.

some were giving her weirded out looks, some were smirking at her knowingly and some were just seriously fucking confused.

the 2 smirking were Hikaru and surprisingly kyoya, the weirded out was Kaoru, and again, weirdly enough mori the remnants were the confused one's honey, and the one and only Tamaki.

she snapped out of her embarrassment and flusteredness, turning herself to face Kyoya.

"Kyoya Sempai, my dad arranged an appointment for me today so I'll be leaving an hour early. I'm sorry but can you move my duties to tomorrow?" she winced at her own question, knowing this was going to be added to her debt.

"hm... I'll just cut today's costs and add them to your debt Haruhi. a completely understandable deal as you're about to go fooling around, not to an appointment." his smirk grew as he cornered her verbally.

he's been onto her for a few weeks about this but he could never picture Haruhi being romantically attracted to anyone. he must have been wrong because she jumped at the remark as if she was caught red handed trying to eat some fancy tuna without the hosts noticing.

her phone buzzed again and she twitched faintly, but since the hosts were already looking at her, they noticed this time, kyoya already noticed the past few times but this was the fist time the whole gang saw it.

she flipped open her phone and turned around, hunching over her phone in secrecy as she felt as though her privacy was about to be deeply invaded.

she looked intently at her screen and it was a message from her oh so precious girlfriend.

"hey daffodil, I messaged u while I was driving b4 but I'm outside ur school now ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ"

Haruhi's eye twitched at the thought of her girlfriend texting while driving only to remember her car can do text to speech, she also has a slang filter on it, it's a digital car! wowie! que the eye-roll.

she snapped her phone shut, turning back to the group, she slowly inched her way backwards to the door subtly, and casually said to Kyoya,

"right you can think what you want but...! well i gotta get to this appointment because as a commoner i can't afford a cancelation fee from the doctor! HAHAHA." she awkwardly came up with excuses and conversation to distract them until her hand touched the door handle. She yanked it down and swung the door open,

"BYE!" she shouted; slamming the door behind her, leaving all the hosts stunned into silence. a shared glance among them.

the crossdressing bloke sprinted down the halls, despite never being the most athletic, this was the fastest she'd ever run, she even skidded a few times on corners! badass.

Once she got to the doors, she barged them open with her shoulder and continued to run down the steps leading out the door, she undid her blazer and tied it around her waist, loosening her tie until it came off. her footsteps thumping on the tiled floors rapidly as she heard Tamaki shout after her screaming "WAIT! HARUHI!!" she was halfway down the path at this point, the gravel making her almost fall a few times but she quickly picked herself back up again. some students male and female blushing at the 'boy' changing while running extremely quickly.

the sound of a car engine could be heard, she panicked and miraculously ran even faster, hearing multiple sets of gravelly footsteps behind her made her panic and alarmed as she was hoping to avoid any confrontation. She skidded as she turned the corner around the fence, to keep herself stable she placed a hand on the cement to make sure she didn't fall, leaning on it as she rounded the gate seeing a car that she recognized in the distance, (y/n)!

she ran down the pavement, running past people who were drawn to the car, accidentally running into a woman and Haruhi apologised profusely.

She ran towards a crowd of people. people who were looking, not because of Haruhi's rush. Even people on the street were looking. not at Haruhi. people were covering their ears, not because of Haruhi. people were taking pictures, not of Haruhi.

they saw something sleek that looked jaw-dropping, it was attracting attention, it looked amazing and even sounded amazing, let alone expensive.

a Gordon Murray T.33, in white and reflective silver, it was stunning.

Anyway, it was a convertible and the hood was up, a girl that was no older than 17 was casually sat in the driver's seat with (y/h/c) hair as she had the sun visor mirror down applying the finish touches of mascara.

the (y/h/c) girl turned in the direction of where she heard running and a out of breath Haruhi who looked like she was being chased by a tall black-haired male and a set of twins lacking behind.

immediately the girl in the driver's seat pressed a button and the hood of the car retracted back into the boot/trunk of the car, she applied a lip balm while this went on, she was calm yet her girlfriend was getting chased by a bunch of men. she didn't give two shits. she knew they wont be an issue.

Haruhi jumped over the car door into the passenger seat with a hop, skip and a fucking jump. panting like there was no tomorrow and like she ran around the country twice at the very least. she looked at her girlfriend in panic as she was still applying lip balm, not even turning on the car to get ready to drive off, it was still in stationary.

"(your nickname!)" Haruhi shouted in desperation.

the boys were getting scarily close to the car and her girlfriend was meant to be a mystery! they couldn't let them find out she had a girlfriend which they already did, but it'd be so much worse if they found out who it was!

if they get caught they're done for!

"aaugh..." Haruhi threw her head back as she shook her head, accepting her fate that not even her lover could save her from this fate.

just as she had that thought,

you popped and smacked your lips together a few times, making sure the lip balm was evenly coating your lips. you snapped the cap back on, putting it into the side door of the car with a neutral expression.

your face then changed to a focused look, you cracked your knuckles and put your hand on the gearshift.

then, shifted the gearstick to automatic mode and the lights turned on in the car, it revved loudly and people cheered at the sound while some kids covered their ears at the loudness. with as much power as you could muster up, you put your foot on the pedal and pressed it to the metal as hard as you could.

the tires spun a few times as you stayed stationary; wobbling a bit as the tired made a squeaking sound and left marks in the road, but then the car shot off into the road, zooming away from the school going straight to 60mph casually building speed to 90mph! your girlfriend put on her seatbelt then she sat up in the car and stuck her hands in the air with a massive smile. this is why she missed her lover. She made her feel free.

the boys that were chasing Haruhi were left in the dust, even more shocked than normal, not even Kyoya was expecting that as he slowly walked up to the boys who wasted their effort in chasing her down.

"hm..." the male with glasses hummed.

back to the lovely couple,

"so haruuu, how was school?" you asked casually as you lowered the speed as there was no way the boys were still on your ass, going the speed limit to make sure there were no issues.

your girlfriend sighed, "some girls from this other school just kept flirting with me, trying to persuade me to join their school and their host club. I'm so done with it" she said in her normal voice.

the car sped up a bit at that comment then slowed right back down with a jolt, making Haruhi lunge forward a bit and turn her head to her girlfriend who was a bit wide eyed, holding the steering wheel tightly.

you slowly turned your head to Haruhi, keeping your eyes on the road until your face was pointing at her, then your eyes left the road and met her own eyes that showed worry.

"huh?" was all you could say.

"Don't worry, I whispered to them I'm taken....they didn't take it well...they thought it was with another member of the host club...."

you stared at Haruhi for a bit until you both jumped at a long, loud honk which was directed at you as you were now going too slow in the middle lane, you turned your eyes back to the road and drove properly only to squeak out a question,

"Fujioka....are you ashamed of me?" your grip on the wheel was faltering only for your worries to be soothed when she replied.

"oh god no. you're like the best thing I have in my life, other than dad." she said, not showing a care in the world. her head leaning on her hand as she absentmindedly looked outside of the window, watching as we sped by some stationary cars and trees.

you sighed a breath of relief.

"I just don't want people trying to be friends with me to try and get to you, and I'm not even talking about money." she said with a sarcastic eye-roll.

your heart swarmed at the consideration Haruhi had for you, that was her way of trying to be protective.

"I love you..."

Haruhi jumped slightly while turning her face to you, her cheeks only faintly pink because she was caught off guard.

"what's with that all of a sudden?" she said questioning your motive, though the comment wasn't unwelcome at all.

you chuckle to yourself then mutter a 'Never mind', you slowly increased your speed as you have a set time you were meant to arrive at the place you were surprising Haruhi with.

"Just let me treat my amazing girlfriend to something that's also amazing" you huffed as you moved your hand from the gearstick and placed it on top of Haruhi's hand which was resting on her lap, you stroked her hand with your thumb, she smiled softly at this and flipped her hand over so she could intertwine her fingers with yours.

"you don't have to y'know?" she retorted while smiling gently at you, observing every detail about your face, hair, smile, eyes, all of you.

you would never think that Haruhi would be a romantic sap but here she is, head over heels for someone who was always her shoulder to cry on when her mother passed, when times were rough, (y/n) always made sure to comfort her, she was good at it too. one second she could be shivering in fear from a lightning storm and the next she's doubled over and laughing her lungs out of her chest.

"again, Daffodil. i want too. anyways! we're gunna head to Tapas Molecular Bar. its about 10 minuets away from where we are now." you said with a wink.

"oh okay- WAIT WHAT?!" Haruhi reacted panicked as she knew damn well that place was expensive.

"nonononono!- I wont be able to afford that!"

you cut her off by clasping your free hand over her mouth.

"daffodil. I'm doing this for you. you do realise this is my 'I'm sorry' present because I missed your birthday?" you said with a frown, still beating yourself up over not telling your parents you couldn't go with them to Russia for business and celebrated with your girlfriend instead. but luckily Haruhi's friends celebrated with her which you were grateful for.

when will your parents realise it's your company not theirs? they treat it like it's their money.

she leant back in the car seat, hitting her head on the headrest in the process. "but (y/n)-" "No buts!" you said with a grin, going around a roundabout and pulling up to a services area and parking.

Haruhi looked at you confused, weren't you meant to be going to a Michelin restaurant?

"love, in the nicest way possible, I think you'd feel a smidge embarrassed if you went to a food place in your uncomfortable uniform" You already knew her question and giggled at her face.

"you don't have to if you want-"

she sighed, cutting you off. "no I see your point. do you have any clothes- of course you do." she rolled her eyes and you wrapped your arm around her seat and grabbed something from the backseats. you pulled out a folded pair of flared black trousers and a flowy white long-sleeve shirt. fashionable and androgynous.

you left the car and went around it, you opened the door for her to step out; clothes in hand. you shut the door behind her and clicked your car key to lock it.

walking in was simple for Haruhi, not for you. people were trying to get you to go in their shops as you looked like you had money to spend. some men hit on you but you scowled at them with disgust and they got angry and pissed off. leaving you alone.

you walked Haru to the bathrooms and kept a watch for any creeps. 2 tried and failed only to leave the building with 5 more bruises than when they came into the building.

Haruhi left the bathroom in her new set of clothes and you wolf-whistled, looking her up and down, apologising immediately after.

she smiled at you and walked out of the automatic sliding entrance doors, you snapping out of it and chasing after her.

getting back in your car, you finish the rest of the drive towards the restaurant. it was quiet as it was a weekday.

Haruhi and yourself sat in a secluded and quiet corner, not very visible to the public, she tried to order the cheapest thing on the menu but you quickly ordered some for her, seafood and a glass of lemonade/lemon soda with exotic berry flavouring while you ordered some other fancy shit that you know tastes damn good with a light cocktail to wash it down. (they didn't ask for ID in this place because you had to be an adult to book and it's pay upfront. they don't care)

Conversations were had between the both of you, laughs were shared and you just fell deeper in love with your girlfriend with every second. it seemed like she was feeling the same with you. some jokes from middle school were brought up which made you both cackle like witches, some problems currently happening were brought to the table and solutions and condolence were shared.

soon enough, the date was over, sadly. the very kind waiter that you two had today placed the cheque in the centre of the table, expecting the bill to be split. you snatched it quickly before Haruhi put some money in, you wrote down the payment of  ¥50,400 (£274.79, $348.76, or €405.10)

Haruhi was left with her hand reaching out to thin air going to grab the cheque before it got snatched with a shocked smile on her face, she didn't even see the price yet but she knew damn well the price was high. she'd pay for the tip at least-

"here, your tip ma'am" your soft voice said to the kind woman.

damn, you beat Haruhi to it. wait... that's a wad of cash! no way! that's more than 15%!

she felt herself die a little inside as you stood with the waiter thanking you profusely and bowing.

you grabbed Haruhi from her seat and rushed her to the car, once again opening the door for her, being a gentlewoman. you drove off back to her home, on the way, however, you forgot to buy dessert at the restaurant! shitballs!

you did some quick thinking and drove across a small stall along a road, pulling over to park somewhere quickly, you jumped out of the car, leaving Haruhi in and locking it. she just sat there confused as she watched you run away.

less than 5 minuets later, you were running back to the car with two large ice creams in your hands, you unlocked your car with difficulty and Haruhi rolled down a window and grabbed the both of them, you then sat in your car, clinking your ice creams with little smiles.

you gazed into her eyes as your hand didn't move, she started brutally attacking her ice cream like it owed her money, usually its the other way around.

she noticed you staring at her so she turned to you and tilted her head in confusion and innocence. you leaned over to her side of the seat and softly kissed her lips, her breath hitched and eyes widened only for her to melt like your ice cream. her lips were cold because of the sweet treat which largely contrasted yours as you hadn't even made a start on it yet. she was pushing you back a bit by pressing her lips firmly back onto yours, so you weren't leaning over her; straining your neck and you both enjoyed it.

you pulled away from her as her lips had warmed a bit and coincidently so did her cheeks, you smiled at your accomplishment at making her look more cute than normal, starting on your melting ice cream.

the silence was deafening for a minute or two, then both of you broke out into a fit of giggles, it always feels like your first time whenever you kiss her, I'm guessing it's the same for her but it just adds to the cuteness.

you finished your ice cream as it was basically liquid yet hers was still in her cone, you felt jealous. eyeing up her ice cream that was somehow by some miracle solid, you leaned your head on her shoulder, slowly shuffling your head closer and closer to her ice cream until she sighed and just put it in front of your mouth.

a bright look crossed your face as you stuck your tongue out and scooped a bit out of the cone. savouring the sweetness, you relax yourself back on her shoulder. She chuckled at what you thought was your pure stupidity. but to her; adorableness.

she turned her head to face you whilst your eyes were shut. they only opened once more when you felt her put her lips on your own, you let out a startled hum only for you to close your eyes again and place a hand on her cheek, now savouring her instead of the treat. this kiss lasted a long time, you were no where near complaining, you just remembered you had a deadline you had to bring your girlfriend home to. you shot up from her shoulder as well as her lips unfortunately and checked the time.

10 MINUETS TO GET HER BACK OR YOURE D E A D .

"shit! sorry Haru! i gotta get you back your dads gunna kill me!!!"

you started up the car and almost sped to her apartment, barely dodging a few tickets here and there but you made it in one piece. you parked your car and opened the door for your beautiful soulmate and held her hand, walking her up the stairs.

just as you got to the door, you noticed something. of course it wouldn't be a classic date if you got ice cream and you didn't clear ice cream off her face., you rolled your eyes at the cliché antics of how the world worked.

in the illuminated hallway Infront of her door, you said "Haruhi, don't move please"

you leaned down and pecked the side of her mouth, clearing away the remaining ice cream. she looked at you with wide eyes and then pouted at you.

"oh c'mon...how could you miss?" she retorted with sarcasm, you were confused so this time it was your turn to tilt your head in questioning, only for her to grab your cheek and go on her tippy toes to plant the softest peck onto your lips, your face turns red at the display of affection as you were very under prepared for that, your mind was scrambled as she rubbed your cheek and chuckled, she tuned away towards her door and yanked down the handle, shouting a " DAD! I'm hoommee!!"

she walked through the door, giving you a wink before she got glomped by her father and closed the door on impact.

you strode back to your car and headed for the location called home which was all your property by the way, your parents just claim it's theirs despite the fact you paid for it.

as soon as you left, you were unaware of the group watching you drop her off back home, most were left stunned for multiple reasons, for the fact Haruhi was so happy for once, it seemed genuine. she seemed different, she managed to get someone romantically and finally, someone was crying because his "daughter" was no longer pure.

despite how hard he tried, kyoya couldn't find out a single thing about you...the only one who matched your description was the self-made billionaire child prodigy who originated from the United Kingdom and travelled globally for work, named (y/n) (l/n). there was no way....she could shut all of their companies down as a host club and their parents in one collaboration... how did Haruhi get with someone like her?

your thoughts on your drive home and for the rest of the night were, 'how in the hell did I get with someone as great as Haruhi?...'

part 2 here part 2

THANKS FOR READING! PLEASE GIVE ME SOME RECOMMENDATIONS!

[inkribbon796]

I Thought We Were Brothers Ch. 1: Wish I Could Relive Every Single Word

Summary: Marvin and Chase have a lot of unspoken grievances between each other and neither of them know what to do about it.

A/N: For Marvin’s birthday. Chapter title from the song “Brother” by Kodaline.

Chapters: 1, 2

Marvin knew he should say something. Anything at this point was better than the growing chasm opening up between him and several of the Septics. J.J and Henrik were civil on a good day but Chase was a different matter.

It started way before time travelers came came back with grim news, or Marvin first voiced the want to train Chase’s daughter in magic. It began with Robbie.

Sweet, innocent Robbie.

Marvin would never apologize or regret raising the young teen from the dead. He couldn’t.

The magician had looked the young man’s mother dead in the eyes and swore that he’d protect Robbie. Had sworn on his magic and own soul that he would do everything in his power to always bring him back to her alive. And Marvin had done just that, he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if he hadn’t tried.

But that night had left Marvin and Chase on unspoken bad terms. Chase ceased trusting Marvin, had started drinking again, and then cleaned himself up a couple months after. The atmosphere, forever spoiled.

After the incident with the Suits, Marvin had ceased trusting Chase as well. Chase now had a part of Clubs forever buried in his soul, and it showed in little ways. His beard was getting trimmed instead of him just allowing it to go wild until he shaved it back. He’d gotten a gun, a real one, and was hiding it in his room in the base. None of the heroes tried to talk about it, but many of them knew it was there. The marksman sometimes made especially barbed jabs at Marvin when he was tired or too exhausted to keep his filter up. Then there was the matter of Dark.

Marvin had seen the look in Chase’s eyes whenever Damien was on the news. Chase was especially anxious whenever Marvin got near any of Dark’s kids. Even if those kids were King and Host. Dark was more willing to hold long conversations with Chase, and Chase had been caught by Marvin on more than one occasion texting Dark.

There was something growing between Dark and Chase and everyone was too busy walking on eggshells to confront either party about it.

Well Marvin was sick of watching his friend group tear itself apart. He needed to talk to Chase, before the guy did something stupid.

Marvin walked into the comms room. Chase was in there with Tommy and King.

“This job always as borin’[1] as shit?” Tommy asked.

King chuckled, “Yeah but so long as you’re listening to the feed you can be on your phone or work on stuff. Logan and Bing once built a transforming roomba from the ground up during a couple comms sessions. It’s why Logan likes to be in here, he gets his little side projects done.”

While King and Tommy were talking, Chase immediately noticed that Marvin had opened the door and was just staring at him.

“Hey Chase, can we talk?” Marvin asked.

“Logic, takin’[2] a smoke back,” Chase scoffed into the microphone and stood up, “King, yeh[3] have seniority, call us if anythin’[4] happens.”

“Yes, finally!” King smiled in joy and threw his arms up as Tommy groaned in annoyance, flopping back in his chair and rolling his eyes. “I got it!”

Without a word, Chase stepped out and quietly motioned for Marvin to follow him and took him out to the little smoking area. There Chase lit up a cigarette and took a deep lungful of nicotine laced smoke, before even acknowledging Marvin’s presence, “What do yeh[3] want?”

“I wanna talk,” Marvin reminded. “Why do yeh[3] think I followed yeh[3] out here yeh[3] bollocks[5]?”

Chase took a seat, “Fine, what yeh wanna go on about?”[6]

“Look, I know we don’t usually talk, but we need ta[7] talk about somethin’[8],” Marvin told him.

The marksman gave an amused chuckle, “Nah, we don’t have anythin’ ta talk about. Just go back ta yer books Marv.”[9]

“Yeh[3] hate me, so we got shite[10] ta[7] talk about,” Marvin told him.

“You murdered Stacy an’[11] the kids, ‘a[12] course I fookin’[13] hate yeh[3]!” Chase ripped the cigarette out of his mouth and stomped towards him.

Marvin flinched and Chase pulled away, “An’ sure yeh didn’t this time, but yeh did the other times, yeh did before they came back. Yeh set an entire city on fire, killed hundreds ‘a people. What am I supposed ta say ta yeh?”[14]

“I know,” Marvin called back, terror in his voice. “I know an’ don’t know what the fook was wrong with me ta brin’ me ta that point. That is hundreds ‘a thousands ‘a people who did nothin’ ta deserve the horror ‘a fookin’ burnin’ ta death!”[15]

“I don’t remember what was wrong with yeh[3],” Chase shot back, still angry. “I got stuck with that fooker’s[16] feelings, not his memories.”

The two of them fell quiet, the air nasty and injured between them.

Marvin felt like poison was bubbling in this throat. “The fook[17] happened ta[7] us?”

“Yer gonna have ta be specific,”[18] Chase asked curtly.

“I wanted ta[7] learn magic an’[11] hunt ghosts,” Marvin raked his hands down his face. “I didn’t want ta[7] save the world an’[11] deal with the fact I fooked[19] the future so bad it had ta[7] be fixed.”

“Yeah,” Chase frowned, before his phone went off. Chase pulled it out to see a text had shown up. It was Mori, in the water, near some tunnels with a fish in his mouth, the photo taken from the shoreline which meant Memento or Tempus had probably taken the picture.

The picture got a tiny breathy laugh from Chase, and a small smile. His kids seemed to be having fun, they didn’t seem to be getting into some big trouble. Yet, at least.

“They usually text yeh[3]?” Marvin asked, trying to make his tone sound less hostile.

“Yeah,” Chase’s expression turned bittersweet, he started texting Dark with an update. “Helps ta have a second pair ‘a eyes on ‘em. They tend ta slip out ‘a the Manor or the warehouses when Dark’s not watchin’. An’ that’s on a day when Wil doesn’t just sweep ‘em away an’ cause trouble with ‘em.”[20]

“Why are yeh in charge ‘a watchin’ ‘em?”[21] Marvin asked, completely confused. “Can’t those two just rise an’[11] repeat what they did with the other six? I mean if yeh[3] can handle raising six fookin’[13] demons in secret, three seem like no big deal.”

Chase paused, his fingers still. They were going to figure it out eventually. King already knew, he’d confided that in Chase already. “Cause[22] they’re mine, Marv.”

Marvin spent the next minute trying to figure out if Chase was joking, and then another minute trying to figure out how that was possible since they were demons and Chase was still human.

But a nagging feeling tickled the back of his head: was he still human?

Logan and the other Sides had been demons since the first moment he had met them and no one had been the wiser. Not even the Sides, and Marvin should have known. He should have taken one look at Virgil and more importantly Remus and known. Chase could be a demon, he could not know, and fly under every kind of test and radar known to magic itself. Hell, Patton and Roman still came up as humans for those tests.

“Do— Does uh,” Marvin floundered for an adequate response, because what the hell was he supposed to say to that! “Does Dark know?”

“Yeah, he’s the one who told me,” Chase was moving his cigarette back up to his lips. “Don’t know if he told the rest ‘a[12] his kids but they all know too. King said as much.”

“So what now?” Marvin asked.

Chase let out an ugly, contemptuous snort, “What about now?”

“Dark’s got yer[23] kids, is there another custody battle comin’[24] up?” Marvin winced at the memory of Chase’s last custody battle, one he had lost handedly.

“They’re Dark’s kids, he’s the most powerful bein’[25] in all Egoton, there’s nothin’[26] ta[7] fight against, Marv,” Chase dismissed, rolling his cigarette around in his mouth.

“Chase, no yeh can’t just roll o’er an’ just—”[27] Marvin spat.

“Calm yer[23] fookin’[13] tits, Marv,” Chase scoffed. “Dark an’[11] I have somethin’[8] set up. I see ‘em[28] more than I see my human kids.”

Marvin shoved his hands in his pockets, not sure what to do with them. “Okay, that’s good at least. So did yeh an’ Dark talk about stuff then. I know that the Clubs version ‘a yeh was with him in the future.”[29]

“I don’t have a future with Dark anymore,” Chase snarled. “He’s with Wil.”

“Wil cheats on him with practically the entire town,” Marvin reminded.

“I know!” Chase slammed his fist on the bench before raking his fingers down his face. “Yeh[3] think I haven’t noticed that bubblegum bastard perched on his arm, being the fookin’[13] shittiest arsehole[30] in the whole fookin’[13] world?”

Marvin opened his mouth but Chase turned and started on a tirade, “Dark is loyal ta[7] him. He fookin’[13] raised those kids almost by himself. An’[11] what does he get in return? The fooker[31] rips his heart out an’[11] leaves. It pisses me off.”

“I thought they said Wil died?” Marvin asked and all the momentum bled out of Chase’s system.

“Yeah he did,” Chase corrected himself. “Fook![17] I did it again.”

“Did what again?” Marvin asked.

“I say weird thin’s[32], I do weird thin’s[32],” Chase dismissed. “Yesterday I made like three different coffees, one fer me, one fer Eef, an’ another fer Dark. Crank wasn’t e’en in that day, an’ why the hell should I be makin’ a fookin’ coffee fer Dark? I was in the base.”[33]

“Wasn’t future yeh datin’ him or fookin’ him or somethin’?” Marvin asked.

“I think he was gonna[34] propose,” Chase admitted.

Marvin just stared at Chase, “What? How do yeh[3] know?”

“I caught myself lookin’[35] at rings,” Chase admitted. “Tryin’ ta find somethin’ that looks nice with red an’ blue. Not that it’s ‘a any use now.”[36]

“How much do yeh[3] remember or feel?” Marvin asked, coming closer and taking a seat next to Chase.

“I don’t have memories, just his feelin’s[37],” Chase frowned in thought. “Frustration, anger, love. Future me was so smitten with Dark that I know he was killin’ fer him. The weight ‘a my guns feel off now. Whene’er I look at Mori an’ Memento I feel so upset ‘cause they’re with Wil an’ they’re so big an’ it eats at me. Wilford fookin’ stole my kids an’ changed ‘em, an’ I’m supposed ta stand by an’ watch his aura keep changin’ ‘em.”[38]

“Have yeh tried talkin’ ta Dark about this?”[39] Marvin questioned.

“An’[11] tell him what?” Chase demanded. “That I fookin’[13] hate his guts an’[11] I wanna[40] take him out on a date ta[7] this nice curry place I saw on my last patrol at the same time. That I think his boyfriend is awful fer[41] him an’[11] I wanna[40] put a hollow point right between his fookin’[13] eyes?”

Marvin was trying to find some way to comfort or calm Chase down as he kept rambling. “Yah know maybe I should march my arse o’er ta his office an’ tell him that I hate wakin’ up in the morning. That when I wake up, I can’t stand it when my bed is fookin’ empty. That someone is supposed ta be in my bed with me an’ I just lay there fer hours ‘cause I can’t leave until he knows I’m there.”[42]

“Yeah, Marv, Dark would love that,” Chase laughed sadly. “Big, powerful mob boss would love some sad alcoholic who can barely hold himself together long enough ta[7] get out ‘a[12] bed in the mornin’[43]. That’ll really get his attention.”

“Well he must’a liked somethin’ ‘cause he was datin’ yeh,”[44] Marvin tried to offer.

“Wil was dead,” Chase reminded. “He’s alive an’ kickin’ now. Dark’s not gonna e’en look my way if Wil’s alive.”[45]

Marvin and Chase went quiet again. Unsure how to help either of them.

Fortunately for Marvin, he didn’t have to. King called them both back in. City hall wanted Average, Marvin, and Jackie to come in for a meeting.

Marvin saw the tense look in Chase’s eyes but he agreed and the two of them set off to meet Jackie at City Hall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Accessibility Translations:

1. boring

2. taking

3. you

4. anything

5. balls

6. Fine, what do you want to talk about?

7. to

8. something

9. Nah, we don’t have anything to talk about. Just go back to your books Marv.

10. shit

11. and

12. of

13. fucking

14. And sure you didn’t this time, but you did the other times, you did before they came back. You set an entire city on fire, killed hundreds of people. What am I supposed to say to you?

15. I know and don’t know what the fuck was wrong with me to bring me to that point. That is hundreds of thousands of people who did nothing to deserve the horror of fucking burning to death!

16. fucker’s

17. fuck

18. You’re going to have to be specific

19. fucked

20. Helps to have a second pair of eyes on them. They tend to slip out of the Manor or the warehouses when Dark’s not watching. And that’s on a day when Wil doesn’t just sweep them away and cause trouble with them.

21. Why are you in charge of watching them?

22. Because

23. your

24. coming

25. being

26. nothing

27. Chase, no you can’t just roll over and just—

28. them

29. Okay, that’s good at least. So did you and Dark talk about stuff then. I know that the Clubs version of you was with him in the future.

30. asshole

31. fucker

32. things

33. Yesterday I made like three different coffees, one for me, one for Eef, and another for Dark. Crank wasn’t even in that day, and why the hell should I be making a fucking coffee for Dark? I was in the base.

34. going to

35. looking

36. Trying to find something that looks nice with red and blue. Not that it’s of any use now.

37. feelings

38. Frustration, anger, love. Future me was so smitten with Dark that I know he was killing for him. The weight of my guns feel off now. Whenever I look at Mori and Memento I feel so upset because they’re with Wil and they’re so big and it eats at me. Wilford fucking stole my kids and changed them, and I’m supposed to stand by and watch his aura keep changing them.

39. Have you tried talking to Dark about this?

40. want to

41. for

42. You know maybe I should march my ass over to his office and tell him that I hate waking up in the morning. That when I wake up, I can’t stand it when my bed is fucking empty. That someone is supposed to be in my bed with me and I just lay there for hours because I can’t leave until he knows I’m there.

43. morning

44. Well he must have liked something because he was dating you

45. He’s alive and kicking now. Dark’s not going to even look my way if Wil’s alive.

[leonawriter]

Denning Down

Read it on AO3

Fandom: Bungo Stray Dogs/Mononoke

Pairings: Dazai/Chuuya

Characters: Dazai, Chuuya, Mori, Atsushi, others mentioned

Summary: For Dazai, adjusting to the fact that he isn't as human as he always assumed he was - and at the same time, just as human as he had figured he'd have to be, with how badly he fitted in with the rest of humanity - is going to be a slow process.

So is adjusting to the fact that his home isn't quite where he'd left it.

Chuuya, meanwhile, has all of Dazai's problems and more to deal with.

(Part of the “Not All Kitsune Have Nine Tails” ‘verse. Follows “Foxes and Spirits and Office Chairs.”)

...

"Chuuya."

It was annoying, it was frustrating, but he had to admit that he'd effectively signed himself up for this, so he couldn't even complain that much. Even so, he wished...

"Chuuyaaa...."

He wished that Dazai would shut the hell up and let him sleep. But it felt like they'd been like this for over half the night now, and he hadn't been able to rest at all. Which was going to be bad in the morning when he had to get up and out to work to report on everything to the boss. He'd only managed to send out a quick text to say that the threats had both been neutralised - not eliminated, no, because a confused ten year old kid and an exhausted Dazai who didn't even know what he was doing didn't deserve to be taken out - before collapsing into bed.

And yet, Dazai hadn't stopped pestering him. Every single time he thought he was nearly asleep, Dazai would start calling his name again. Only to stare at him when Chuuya's eyes stayed open.

He glared this time, too. Hoping that Dazai would get the message and get the fuck to sleep already.

Dazai doesn't close his eyes again, and not for the first time Chuuya thinks he sees something in those brown eyes of his, wide and hesitating, but he's getting too tired to do more than wish his bedmate would give up and leave whatever it was to the morning. 

"Chuuya...?"

He sighs, heavily. 

"What? What is it? For fuck's sake, Dazai, and you'd better actually say what it is this time instead of just assuming I can read your mind or whatever the shit you think I can do."

He more than half expects to be given the silent treatment again, just like every other fucking time, and at this point he'll take it so long as he gets even five more minutes of sleep-

"...Did Chuuya mean it?"

The words come out so quietly, so mumbled into the covers, that he almost doesn't hear them.

He blinks.

"Hah?" It takes him a moment to even think of what Dazai could be talking about, before hitting on the obvious. The entire reason why they're like this in the first place. Of course. Typical Dazai. "Why?"

"Because it's important."

He can hear the pout and the whine. There's an extra something in that whine now, though, that puts him on edge and that he knows he's going to have to get used to.

"Nothing's all that important at..." He squints around the covers, lumps and all, at his alarm clock. "It's nearly half two in the morning, Dazai. I'm tired. You're tired. Go to sleep."

He reaches over to try and force Dazai to at least lie still, but winds up clutching at empty covers and just groans.

"It's important," Dazai repeats, sounding for all the world like the petulant kid Elise should be, if she weren't... well, what she was. "I wanna know if you meant it."

And now Dazai's sitting on the edge of Chuuya's bed as if he's going to walk out at this hour in the morning, just because he's being a brat.

Which... now that he thinks about it, maybe isn't the best or most charitable way to think of things. Dazai had just had things about his past thrown in his face that he was still having to come to terms with, which Chuuya of all people should be able to sympathise with. And...

He sighed.

He knew exactly what he was being asked, and it was because he knew, that he'd wanted to put off answering. 

Did you mean it.

Those four words made his heart pound in his chest.

"I..." He closed his eyes and breathed, thinking back, remembering. Opened them, to see Dazai's back, his silhouette marked by those two new additions, which were lying flat on his head. He didn't know much about fox behaviours and body language, but he didn't have to just to know Dazai, and Dazai was still just as vulnerable as he had been several hours ago. In so many ways, it was as if he'd just started undoing all of his bandages in front of an audience. Which he hadn't, but he might as well have. "What would you do, if I said I didn't even know what it meant to you, the first time I said it?"

For a moment, Dazai didn't move, and he didn't breathe.

"If that was what you said... I'd wait. Because you said it again. Did you mean it, Chuuya?"

He could remember feeling nervous, knowing that it wasn't just Dazai there, that they had people watching, and it wasn't as if he'd admitted any of this even to ane-san before any of this. 

"What would you do if I said I didn't know, that second time? If... I hadn't been sure, because that's a huge responsibility to put on someone, and- what would you do if that was how it was?"

Hypotheticals. Maybes. Treading carefully. He wasn't used to any of these things, and normally he'd have just reached over, grabbed, and yanked Dazai back into bed and threatened him into rest, which was what he'd done plenty of times when they'd still been partners. When they'd lived in the mafia buildings more than not, because they'd been underage and even outside of how the authorities would take an interest in two teens their age living without parents or relatives, Mori had wanted to keep a closer eye on them than not, and there'd be times when he'd see the darkness under Dazai's eyes and drag him to rest, because even pretending was better than nothing.

Now, he had seen what had happened the last time someone had screwed up with this, and he wasn't about to make the same mistakes.

"If that was how you felt... I might want to walk away, because I don't want to just be your burden. But I'm going to wait, because Chuuya said it a third time. And I want to know if Chuuya meant it."

Chuuya swallows, and he wishes he felt certain that if Dazai tried to leave, he'd be able to stop him. Wishes, because he isn't sure he could.

Just like a few hours ago, trapped in the heart of the illusions, he doesn't want Dazai to go. Doesn't want to let go. To lose him like that.

"Then... I'd have to say that the third time I said it," he says, well aware that he's still half asleep and that his words aren't anywhere near as good as Dazai's even when he's wide awake, "all I wanted was for you to come back to me," he finally admits. Dazai stills, ears pricking upward, and a part of him wonders if he's said the wrong thing. But he can't stop now, he can't chicken out. "You were right in front of me, but you weren't there, and I wanted you back." Just like right now. "I didn't care what I had to do or what I had to say, so just - come back to bed and sleep, you stupid fox."

Dazai still doesn't move, and Chuuya starts to feel a coolness to his bed that had never been there before. He isn't often scared, when it doesn't involve Corruption, but this - he thinks this comes close.

Dazai's mother had never been seen again if everything could be believed. And now he was going to-

"You do realise that's a very dangerous thing to say, Chuuya. You can't take something like that back."

"Then why are you acting like I was ever going to, idiot," he mumbles into some other direction.

Come, love, he'd said all that time ago. Sleep. 

Come back to me.

He'd dealt with situations where Dazai had gone missing before - captured, kidnapped, undercover, voluntary or not. But Dazai had always been pulling the strings somehow, and Chuuya had always known that all he'd had to do was follow the plan, whatever that was, which was sometimes even just to be himself and do what he would have done anyway, and they'd get out just fine, just as Dazai had expected.

Always.

But not... not that time. 

He'd known, somehow, that seeing Dazai like that had been more dangerous in a way than seeing Dazai floating in the space where a dragon had been, only just recovering from near death. He hadn't had to feel the way Dazai had been shaking in his arms to know that, either.

He'd thought that saying those things would have been enough - saying those words - but if Dazai has somehow recovered enough to have second thoughts... there isn't anything he can do about it.

"Come back," he says, quietly this time, "you can leave again in the morning if that's what you want, you can pretend we're just... too tired to care that we're supposed to hate each other if that makes you feel better. But just... sleep, okay?"

Dazai doesn't answer back like he had before, but he doesn't leave, either. He just wordlessly gets back under the covers, shuffling himself so that his head - ears and all, which Chuuya just hoped weren't going to tickle him awake all night long - rested somewhat against Chuuya's chest, the (soft, and fluffy) tail curling around around them both, even when Dazai didn't do anything of the sort with any of his other limbs.

Chuuya doesn't mind too much, and while he'd normally be annoyed with the walking waste of a first aid kit taking up space in his home at all, let alone his bed, he falls asleep with his hand slightly outstretched but not quite touching, not quite sure, but grateful just to have the proof that Dazai was still there.

...

Dazai wakes up in an unfamiliar bed that's too soft, and too warm, compared to the futon that he's become used to over the past years away from the mafia and its money. A moment of bleary confusion causes him to wonder why that could be, and how he was asleep at all, and if perhaps Mori had decided to bring him in via force - when he catches a hint of smoke and the fading scent of wine, along with something else-

Something that could only mean Chuuya, and honestly, he isn't sure if that's better, or worse.

Better, because he feels safe, and worse, because the realisation means that the memories of the previous night - and the past few days - start settling into him again, the weight of them sinking to his stomach and making him disoriented.

He wonders if this is how Atsushi felt, when he had woken up after learning that he himself had been the tiger he had thought had been hunting him down. And again, months later, when the ramifications of that would continue to change the context of countless numbers of things he had experienced as a child.

Dazai hadn't even been able to remember most of that before - just disjointed memories of an unpleasant childhood he would have happily traded for a quick and easy way to die, and the knowledge that he had been left - twice over, at that - because he hadn't known how to act human enough, hadn't been able to fit in, had been such a failure before he had even turned ten years old, that life... life itself had ceased to have any meaning.

In the here and now he can only let his legs swing over the bed, feet finding the floor, and find himself wondering where he was supposed to go from here as he put his clothes on - the way he had to feel his ears go flat against his head as he put his shirt on, the way his tail rested awkwardly above the line of his pants, forcing him to leave part of his shirt untucked.

It was frustrating - he knew so little.

Both about who he was, even with everything he had learned. About what he could do-

He had never had active power before. He had always left that to Chuuya, to Akutagawa, to Kunikida, Atsushi... it wasn't as though he'd had a choice. His ability was to nullify an to take away, not to do, not to affect things.

His illusions had hurt people. He remembered that - remembered not caring about anything, other than the fact that he couldn't stand to have them come so close, and pushing them away because they were only going to leave as soon as they realised what he was, what he was capable of, that he couldn't be what they wanted him to be...

He thinks he remembers hurting Kunikida, even if it wasn't serious, even if Kunikida didn't even know that it was him, and that's enough to make him swallow hard and grab his coat, because the only things that memory made him want couldn't be done in Chuuya's home.

Odasaku had told him that nothing would fill the void inside of him, and it turned out that he was still right, even after years and supernatural revelations. Just knowing where he had come from and why he was the way he was didn't help where he was now.

But Odasaku had also told him to save people, and no matter what else he wanted, he couldn't go ahead with any of it without knowing that at least his coworkers had come out the other end of the entire disaster in one piece.

...

"...all of which is fascinating to be sure," the boss was saying in a bored tone that Chuuya was all too familiar with and that skirted the edges of something less pleasant, "but tells me very little of use." He stayed carefully still, even with the nervous way his heart was pounding in his chest from uncertainty. Mori sighed, sounding tired and resigned. It changed nothing. "Chuuya-kun, as one of my most valuable subordinates I would like to think that you at least have a good reason for keeping things from me."

Chuuya was, despite what Dazai would say about how he "only knew how to use his strength and not his head", smart enough to know what was being meant.

I want to trust you, the boss was saying, and I don't believe that you would endanger the organisation. But you have to give me something to work with.

The thing was, he understood that well enough.

It was just trying to figure out what he could use, some piece of information or aspect, that he could use without losing everything.

Then again-

He took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.

"From everything I gathered and experienced," he said, words as measured and full of respect as he could, "the events of the last several days weren't actually all that much to do with ability users at all. I realised that about halfway through the first investigation. There was a mononoke. And after that, something... else happened." He swallowed - that was more than he had explained before, and already it felt like he was stepping too close to the truth. "It was dealt with. No one involved is what I'd classify a threat to the city or the organisation," he added, unable to not think of the pile of fur and bandages he'd left sleeping in his own bed. "If they were, I'd be bringing it up as a matter of urgency. As it is, I can't say anything else."

"You can't, or you choose not to?"

His eyes opened again at the question, but aside from a glance - that he purposefully tried not to think too hard on - he settled his gaze somewhere in the safe middle distance.

"...Both, sir."

"And why is that?"

"There are things everyone keeps secret, boss. These people more than most. I'm sure if I went looking, I'd find more than a few in our own ranks, and all of them would say they were more loyal because they don't have to worry about being outed. I..." he looked to one side, eyes tracking the distance and vector of Suribachi from where he was standing. "You know how few people know about Arahabaki. It doesn't have to be on that level for people to feel the same."

And Arahabaki being an aspect of Chuuya's own identity was executive-level stuff; even Chuuya himself hadn't had full access until he'd turned sixteen, until after the Dragon's Head Rush, and after he'd become an executive himself. Even now, there were things he didn't know about himself, and not because of any restrictions.

He let his eyes track back to Mori, whose fingers were now steepled in front of his face, deep in thought.

"I see," the man said. "In which case it is fortunate for us that I have access to someone with such a high clearance level in such affairs. You said that you aren't aware of any such being is a threat to the organisation?"

"None," he said, acutely aware of how Dazai might speak unfavourably of Mori to say the least, but he hadn't made any overt or actual threats once in the time since they'd first met again after those four years. "Not unless we make them a threat," he added.

"Which I'm sure would be a bad idea," the boss said mildly.

Chuuya didn't reply to that. He didn't have to. A bad idea was pretty much the understatement of the century. Dazai on his own had caused chaos, and that was when he wasn't even trying. A city full of pissed of kami and youkai and who knew what else, and even the mafia wouldn't survive.

"Very well."

"Boss?"

"If the situation changes, you'll tell me. If it becomes possible to inform me of anything new, you will. If you need to act on anything, you tell me what you can. Other than that, I don't see what else we can do here."

...

He's hesitating outside of the dorms.

It feels trivial, really. He shouldn't have to hesitate outside of his own home, to call it home, and yet there he was. Shifting occasionally from foot to foot.

It wasn't as though some youkai magic had bound him to Chuuya's house so that nowhere else would be home or safe; he was the one who could leave whenever he wanted, or stay away as long as he liked. In fact, he'd only stayed with Chuuya because he'd wanted to.

Which still didn't explain why he was staring at the Agency's dorm building like it was somewhere he didn't want to go into.

At least no one could be staring at him for his odd features after he'd figured out how to put everything away again earlier, how to make it seem almost as though he was human.

Not "again." He couldn't say "again" when he'd never been human in the first place.

Nor was he doing anything other than hide the most obvious of surface signs of his inhumanity. It didn't change anything, just as learning what he was hadn't changed him. It had simply allowed him to see himself as he truly was. Stripped the self-imposed illusions away.

The sensation of the wind blowing in his hair and touching his ears in the wrong places and not feeling the fur of his tail brushing against his coat at all was stranger than it had any right to be, after less than a full day of knowing what it was like, and he couldn't wait to be back inside and relax again - or better yet, learn how to use his illusions to be able to go out in public and not worry - but that only brought him back to his original problem.

"Dazai-san...?"

And now Atsushi had noticed. He smiled and waved over at the boy, trying his best to look nothing more than simply passing the time, but the concerned frown on Atsushi's face didn't fade at all.

He wished that having gained a non-ability related knack for illusions could have meant being able to fool people into not taking notice when he wanted just to pretend he was fine.

"Did you know that Kunikida-kun kept staring at my ears or tail so often earlier that I had to remind him where my eyes were? I would have told him that he'd get carried away by spirits and we'd never get him back if he kept asking questions and looking everywhere and squinting at everyone, but I wasn't sure if it'd possibly come true. After all, what if it did, and then who'd do my paperwork?"

"Well, everyone else would be hoping that maybe you'd learn how to do it yourself," Atsushi grumbled, treacherously siding with Kunikida for nowhere near even the first time today. "So... no one, probably." And then, he sighed. Dazai wanted to hope that maybe it wasn't what he thought it was going to be, but, well. He was so rarely wrong. "If it's about... I don't think anyone would mind."

"Kunikida-kun would," Dazai mused to himself aloud. "And Chuuya barely tolerated me last night."

He hates the way that Atsushi looks at him, as if he knows more than he should, as if-

"Kunikida-san was worried yesterday," the boy says, and when did Atsushi grow up to the point where he was the one acting like Dazai's senior, in situations like this? "I told him you were fine, but the last times you've disappeared in the middle of our investigations, things went bad, like the time with the dragon, or when you got shot, or when..." Atsushi looked away, and Dazai did, too, staring up at the sky, which was a beautiful shade of fading blue. With the setting sun in the west, there were places that could almost look like Atsushi's eyes. Which was fitting, for an incarnation of the great Byakko itself. "And Chuuya-san- you should give him a little more credit, Dazai-san."

As much as he felt grateful for Atsushi stopping short of bringing up the incidents surrounding his arrest when things were still only just settling back down to some vague sense of normal, the last thing he'd said brought a tightening to his chest.

But what if I don't know what I want? What if I pick the wrong choice? 

Is going back to Chuuya like this wrong, if it means I'm not living with the Agency?

He didn't even realise that he'd been making a sound until halfway through the whine he let out, which was embarrassing.

"Dazai-san... can I say something?" He nodded, not trusting himself to speak without making things worse for himself. "I feel so at home here in the dorms because you gave me a home here... because of everyone else who's living here too, everyone who helps make it feel like a home for me, more than the orphanage ever was." The smile Atsushi gave him only made him feel worse. He had helped that happen, and now here he was, potentially abandoning it all. "Home isn't just a place, Dazai-san. For me, it's where all of the rest of the Agency are. No matter where that is. And if Chuuya-san is that for you, then... isn't that all that matters?"

"I'm not quitting the Agency, Atsushi-kun," he said, somehow feeling the need to clarify that. And he wasn't. No matter where he wound up sleeping.

"Good!" There was that smile again, even brighter than before. He didn't deserve it. He still felt like he was running away, somehow. "I could help you move your things if you needed me to?"

That brought out a laugh, a real one, light and a little breathless instead of the barking laugh he'd had for Kunikida earlier.

"And show you right to the door of an unsuspecting mafia executive?" he said, not ungently. "I'm sure I'll be able to manage, Atsushi-kun."

It's only when he's said that and he's picking through his things that he realises that he's already made his choice.

For tonight he has, at least. And he can only hope it was the right one.

...

Chuuya finds himself staring at the beanpole on his sofa, and the thing that strikes him as the strangest part of it all wasn't even the dark orange ears, or the tail that was hanging off the side, twitching from time to time with its owner's thoughts. The weirdest part was the fact that he's just... staring, and not ordering his uninvited guest out of the door. That he's actually letting out a breath of relief that he hadn't realised he'd been holding in all day, ever since he'd left Dazai in his bed.

"It's rude to stare, you know."

"Tch. Like you're not the one taking up all the space in someone else's place-" he looked away, still caught on the way he'd seen Dazai's coat hung up and his shoes put away in the hall, as if he actually belonged there. "What're you even doing here still?"

He can feel the atmosphere of the room shift the moment the words left his mouth, and part of him wishes he hadn't said anything at all. Which just makes him hate the entire situation he's found himself in, and resent everything that Dazai had found out about himself for a moment, because wasn't this going just the way it always had, between them? Dazai making him do all the hard work, while he just lies there and takes it easy.

But allowing himself to resent Dazai is just the easy way out. Kicking Dazai out either with words or force and going back on his own word just because he didn't know how to handle that, because he couldn't take being the one in control even just once, was no different from chickening out.

"I thought you were the one who'd invited me in. You did want me here, didn't you?"

The tail's twitching makes Chuuya wonder just how much of a kitsune was actual fox, and how much was cat. That, and the catty way Dazai was behaving.

"Invites are for vampires," he says without thinking. "But- yeah, I..." He sighs. "Expected you'd just leave and go back to your precious Agency, or wherever it is you hole up, the moment you didn't need to be here anymore." Part of him is convinced that he's not anywhere near drunk enough for this conversation. Another part - that sounds way too much like the bandaged fur-brain on his sofa - says that if he had anything alcoholic, he wouldn't be anywhere near sober enough. "That's what you've done before, right? Just done a shitty vanishing trick right when you don't need me anymore."

He can't help the bitterness from creeping into his voice, even as he pads over in just his socks, putting his hat down safely before he goes to kick Dazai's feet off the sofa, pushing the tail aside somewhat more gently.

Dazai's eyes don't leave him at all the entire time.

"I did leave," Dazai says, and Chuuya would like to say that the way his heart jumps into his mouth is only because of the sudden and unexpected words. "I went to work," he continues. "I turned into a fox and couldn't figure out how to turn for several hours, and for a short while, I was able to put myself back the way I... was. Before." It's more the way the ears press against his head than his words, still even in tone, that tells Chuuya that the experience hadn't been one he'd enjoyed. "I could have gone back to the dorms. But I chose not to."

There were any number of things he could have picked up on from that - you left, for one, you turned into a fox, for another, as well as then how did you turn back, and how did you figure out how to look human again, and he'd definitely be coming back to why did you choose to come back here, then? but...

"I guess that means everyone else at that Agency of yours knows what you are now, huh."

Dazai inclines his head, but doesn't fully close his eyes even with a slow blink.

"That's pretty much how it happened," he admits. "I have to admit, it was fun harassing them all before Atsushi-kun showed up. But it would have come up sooner or later, so in the end, it was the best possible outcome." Dazai tiling his head has a somewhat different effect to it when he's now got two pointed ears moving almost on their own - one flicks right when Chuuya hears some distant sound from outside. "Why, does that mean you're trying to say you told people what happened yourself? It's hardly as if the Port Mafia wouldn't have been expecting some sort of report from someone who was right in the middle of everything, which you, as a trusted and loyal dog-"

"Didn't tell them shit about you, or the first kid that weirdo guy went after, so you can shut your damn mouth already before you say something we both regret."

The way Dazai's eyes widen at that, the way he freezes, makes Chuuya wish he'd been able to move fast enough to take a photo, memorialise the moment. But then he might have missed the moment the tension just seemed to... drain out of Dazai and turn him into some sort of limp noodle. 

"You... didn't tell Mori."

He shrugged, awkwardly. It wasn't as if he didn't know how much Dazai'd grown to hate his boss - Dazai's former boss - and it wasn't as though Chuuya was fully unaware of everything that'd happened. It was just that Chuuya himself just couldn't feel the same way. Sympathise, sure. Empathise, yeah. He'd lost more than his fair share of friends. 

But Chuuya was still in the mafia, and not because Dazai had dragged him in, or because of the information that'd been held over his head for so long. By this point it was just because this was the place he'd found for himself, and he couldn't imagine trying to live any other way.

"I told him the basics. I told him about the mononoke, and how there's people out there who're keeping secrets, but I didn't say who. I said if anyone becomes a threat to the city or the mafia, that's a different matter, but..." Another shrug. "It's not the sort of thing anyone just goes blabbing about."

It was something he knew in the core of his being. He'd always thought you didn't have to be told to know that. Apparently that didn't apply to Dazai, though.

Dazai, whose eyes were slowly starting to close - not narrow tight and still able to watch him, but closed shut.

And then, they snapped back open, full of mischief even if he wasn't moving.

"I hope you really meant it - what you said last night. Because I packed a carry-all bag with my things and dumped it in your room before I came here to wait for you~"

Chuuya groans. The urge to just give in and bury his head in his hands is too strong, and he succumbs, hearing the sound of Dazai's laughter ringing in his ears. 

He was well and truly stuck, now.

Then why are you acting like I was ever going to, idiot.

But it wasn't as if he hadn't asked for it, was it? So that meant that he could hardly argue-

Which was when he felt the other end of the sofa lighten up, as if a weight had been lifted from it, and at first he assumes Dazai had stood up to go find something, but then he feels something small and hard and slightly sharp on his legs, and when he opens his eyes, there's a red fox with distinctive brown eyes looking up at him and making his way onto Chuuya's lap. An angular face that tilted, and then head butted his hands, and knowing Dazai he knew exactly what the bastard was after.

Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad just to give in this once, though, he thinks to himself as he hesitates before taking his gloves off, putting them safely on the arm of the sofa next to him, and places one hand onto Dazai's soft fur, accepting the unspoken request.

..

AN: Chuuya's nerves while talking to Mori are primarily due to how he wants to be able to be open and honest with his boss, but at the same time, his loyalty to not just Dazai but pretty much the entire idea of non-humans existing both in and out of the mafia is... of equal weight. 

Partially this is due to him having made himself into basically the mafia's foremost expert on anything to do with Japanese mythology that's actually real; partially it's because I've got a strong headcanon of Arahabaki having been a forgotten guardian deity, and that sort of stuff is resurfacing in Chuuya.

[searchforthescars]

Little Beast - Chapter 9/9

IT’S HERE!

Real quick, I want to say a big thank you to @bombshellsandbluebells for her tireless editing and encouragement, @thecarstairsheir for listening to me blab about this AU for close to a year and a half, and to @lindseysfandoms, @daisytachi, @maskingtapepoetree and @memorifics for their amazing reviews and tags. It’s alway a sad day when a story ends, but you guys have made the journey worth it.

Also, if you want me to continue the story via a collection of disconnected one-shots (anyone remember The Bunker Diaries? kinda like that...), let me know. I’m not sure I’m ready to let these kids and the small town go just yet, but it’s all at my readers’ behest. :)

Once again, THANK YOU for reading, and enjoy the end.

We pull our boots on with both hands but we can’t punch ourselves awake and all I can do is stand on the curb and say Sorry about the blood in your mouth. I wish it was mine.

I couldn’t get the boy to kill me, but I wore his jacket for the longest time.

Three years and four months later…

“Are you doing it tonight?” Raven asks Murphy under her breath from where she’s perched next to him on one of the diner’s bar stools, letting her bad leg dangle off the edge.

Murphy taps the small, wrapped gift on the counter beside him, nodding slightly. “She can read lips,” he hisses, “so watch it.”

Raven grins brightly, bouncing slightly in her seat. “I’m so excited! But are you sure you don’t want to do it alone, just the two of you?”

Murphy shakes his head. “We’d end up texting all of you anyway.”

Raven laughs. “You’ve both come far since you met. Remember when she hated all of us?”

“I never hated you,” Emori says, sitting on Murphy’s other side. She kisses his cheek. “I just wasn’t sure what to do with you.” [Read on Ao3]

Murphy gently smacks Emori’s hand away when she reaches for her present. “No, Mori,” he says as if she’s a naughty child. “Wait until we exchange gifts.”

“Can I guess?” she asks, lips pursed in a tiny pout. Murphy fights the urge to kiss her.

“No!” he exclaims. “You always guess right and it isn’t any fun.”

Emori smirks. “True. I am good.”

“Damn right,” Raven laughs, and the two high-five over Murphy’s head.

“God help us,” Luna mutters as she passes, giving Murphy a conspiratorial look. Murphy chuckles and grins, the butterflies in his stomach churning.

“Can we exchange gifts now or what?” Octavia shouts over the chatter and the Christmas music coming from Lincoln’s repurposed jukebox, which sits in the corner lit up in red and green. The entire friend group, plus their significant others, Anya, and Lincoln, had drawn a name out of a bucket right after Thanksgiving. Murphy got Octavia, and he’s pretty sure Emori got him, which was surprising, but welcome.

Obediently, the music is turned down and everyone moves tables and chairs to sit in a circle. Octavia sits next to Monty on the floor, and there’s a space between them meant to be filled by someone who will never show up. Harper leans against Monty’s shoulder, her other arm around Lexa. Bellamy, Clarke, Miller and Lincoln sit on the booths closest to the circle, and Luna hikes herself up to sit next to Raven.

“Who wants to go first?” Lincoln asks, barely getting the question out before Anya steps over Monty to give an envelope to Bellamy. “Well, okay then.”

“Consider this your reward for being the diner’s first employee and getting Baby Blake into college. And no, you can’t give this back,” she says firmly, stepping back and watching him tear it open.

“Oh my gosh,” Clarke breathes at the same time Bellamy half-yells, “What?!”

“What is it?” Octavia asks, jumping up to look over her brother’s shoulder. “Holy shit , Bellamy!”

“I can’t take this-” he starts to protest.

“What the fuck did I just say?” Anya grumbles. “You can, and you will. Get your ass in college with that money. Become a teacher and make sure all those kids-” she gestures out the window toward the elementary school, “turn out as good as you.”

She sits down with a decisive nod, and Bellamy thanks her quietly, looking to Clarke, then to Octavia, lost for words.

“You deserve it,” Clarke whispers, leaning forward to give Bellamy a kiss. Bellamy shakes his head wordlessly.

The exchange goes on after that. Octavia appreciates the pocketknife Murphy gives her, though he doesn’t miss the angry glares Bellamy shoots him. Emori insists on going last, so when it gets to her turn, Murphy can already tell that the entire diner is quietly buzzing with curiosity and anticipation.

After she gives her gift, Murphy’s going to give Emori hers. His heart is pounding in his chest, his hands shaking no matter how hard he balls them into fists.

“I got John,” Emori says softly, a laugh in her voice. “And my present is...sort of a big deal, I guess. So get ready.”

She hands Murphy an envelope, then sits back in her stool, biting her lip as he turns it over in his hand.

“Open it!” Lexa shouts, craning her neck. Murphy carefully undoes the seal, then pulls the single sheet of paper out.

“Holy shit,” he breathes, his trembling hands nearly wrinkling the paper. “Is this-”

Emori nods, lower lip trembling as she wraps her arms loosely around her torso. “Flip it over.”

He does. Written in Emori’s distinctive hand is Baby Murphy. 19 weeks. And below it, Surprise, John! It’s a girl.

“Emori-” he chokes out, tears in his eyes. “Holy shit .” He pulls her arms away from her torso and rests his hand over her stomach. There’s no bump yet, but his heart swells with love for the tiny baby that’s there, right under his palm. He can’t tear his eyes away from the ultrasound photo, either, but makes himself when Raven snatches the paper from his shaking hand with a happy shout.

“She’s beautiful,” he whispers to Emori, kissing her temple. “I can’t believe it.”

“Are you upset?” she asks, doubt in her eyes.

Murphy shakes his head. “Never.” He kisses her forehead until her nervous frown smooths out. “I’m going to be a dad!”

“Hell yeah!” Anya, who has seemingly gotten over her shock, yells.

“And actually…” he pushes his present toward Emori and the entire room goes silent as Raven shushes them loudly. “This fits perfectly with my present.”

“Oh?” she asks, face glowing as she beams up at him, obviously relieved that he’s not angry. As if he ever could be. “Does this mean I can finally open it?”

He nods, the nerves threatening to overwhelm him. “Yep.” Please let her say yes.

Emori takes the small package, curiosity calming the adrenaline still rushing through her. She wasn’t sure if the anxiety surrounding her gift was good for the baby, but she couldn’t think of a better way to reveal her pregnancy than surrounded by all their friends. She knew John wouldn’t mind, either, which is the only other reason she had done it.

She carefully unwraps the ribbon tied around the package, watching the ultrasound photo pass from hand to hand around the circle, while all eyes remain on her. Briefly, she wonders if there’s something the others know that she doesn’t, because the atmosphere is too expectant for this to be any ordinary present. Disappointingly, no one’s eyes give anything away.

“Just rip into it, Emori!” Raven says, leaning forward, eyes bright. Emori rips into the paper, tossing it aside to reveal a small white box.

“John, what-”

“Open it,” he says, voice unreadable. Emori does so, and lets out a gasped “oh!,” touching the delicate gold band with one finger. “John, is this-”

When she looks up, John is down on one knee, and the entire room is holding its breath.

“I knew I wanted to marry you three years and four months ago,” he says. Emori feels her chest tighten and tears prick at her eyes. “And I’ve never changed my mind. I want to wake up with you in our shitty apartment and live my boring life with you because you make it less boring. You make it perfect. I want to love you even when - and especially when - you don’t love yourself. I promise to try every day to be the person you think I am, the person our daughter will be proud of.”

He reaches for the box and turns it toward her. “Will you marry me?”

She reaches out blindly, grips the edge of the counter tightly, her thoughts scattering. “I- I don’t have a left ring finger,” is all she can think of to say.

He laughs, more nervously than anything else, and reaches up to pull the ring out of the box. “It’s on a chain, babe. See?”

“You really do think of everything,” she laughs, wiping a runaway tear from the corner of her eye. She reaches for his hand and pulls him to his feet, wrapping her arms around his shoulder. “Yes, John,” she says, sniffling slightly. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

“Thank God!” he exclaims in a rush of breath, bending down to kiss her, then wrapping her in a hug as the entire room breaks out in cheers. When he puts the ring around her neck, she touches it and smiles.

“Finally!” Raven exclaims, throwing up her hands and giving Monty a high-five. “I’ve known about this for months! The suspense was killing me!”

“You knew?” Emori asks, laughing when Raven nods dramatically. “And I never even had a clue.” She looks up at John. “You’re learning the art of the con. I’m so proud.”

“Dude, we love you, but move,” Miller tells him. “We wanna see the ring more than your ugly mug.”

Obediently, Murphy steps aside, staying close to Emori, his hand in hers, as her old family celebrates the start of her new one.

The next morning, she goes to the gravestone she erected for her brother after his cremation and tells him the news.

“Thanks for bringing us here, Otan. To Virginia, I mean.” she finishes. “I owe you one. Actually…” she touches her stomach. “I owe you everything.”

She turns, feet crunching in the fresh Christmas snow, and goes to join John at his parents’ graves.

“Hi, future parents-in-law,” she says to the weathered stones. The smile John gives her is blinding.

[lantia]

Why did Moriarty ignore Mycroft?

So while season four theories are flying sky high all around, I wanted to get back to something that keeps bothering me since The Reichenbach Fall/The Empty Hearse and that won’t go away until explained. Prepare for the Great Wall of Text that is as much of a serious theory/essay as Mrs. Hudson is just an old, boring housekeeper. It’s just my struggling brain throwing these letters out there in hope y’all join me in some equally serious discussion.

Why DID Moriarty completely ignore Mycroft in his final game with Sherlock?

According to Sherlock’s explanation of things - which I know many fans are suspicious about anyway - it would seem to me that Mycroft was the proverbial actual Queen on the chess-board, devising steps and steps worth of ahead strategies and pawn movements with the King *cough*Sherlock*cough* in order to protect said King from the enemy while aiming to defeat the evil King...you know, the one that you should really want to see in a crown because it’s the new sexy.

It tells us one thing - that Sherlock wasn’t confident enough to go against Moriarty alone. Some time ago he probably would have been - reckless, not confident - but realizing the stakes currently, he opted to seek help from the one person nobody would really expect - his dear brother.

Seriously though. No matter how well-known the Holmes’ brothers dynamics is, would Moriarty be really so sure that Sherlock would never consult Mycroft in order to defeat him? So damn sure that he omitted Mycroft from the game entirely?

“Three bullets, three gunmen, there’s no stopping them now...”

John, Mrs. Hudson and Lestrade. The Knight, the Rook and the Bishop that Moriarty targetted on the enemy board because he considered them sort of Sherlock’s pressure points, if we’re talking in Magnussen terms here. The three people Sherlock would jsut as well do anything to protect - die, if need be. So where is Mycroft in all this? What was Moriarty’s thought process while deciding that he is not worth the trouble?

Even if Moriarty would discard Mycroft as someone Sherlock would do anything to protect (my secret canon of course is that this is simply not true, but anyway), it would be an insult to Moriarty’s intellect to consider that enough of a reason.

Mycroft is smarter than Sherlock - something even Sherlock at times admits. He might not be a better detective, he’s too lazy for that, but generally speaking, he is the smarter one. He is also the Government, when he’s not too busy being the secret service and the CIA on freelance basis. And finally, the fact he cares a great deal about Sherlock and is going to great lenghts to keep him safe from any harm should be an easy find/deduction to make for Moriarty, considering Mycroft casually kidnapps people close to Sherlock off the street and brings them to abandoned warehouses to bribe/threaten them (it only happened with John on screen, but we all know that’s what he did with everyone).

“I worry about him...constantly...”

And since Moriarty wants the end game to not be just surrender, but a true and final defeat - a sacrifice, really - the first thing I would have expected him to do was to get Mycroft out of the way. I actually spent the entire TRF episode waiting for the penny to drop and see Mycroft going down first before Sherlock ever falls, because it didn’t compute in my head in any way that Mycroft would let a known threat such as Moriarty freely playing some weird game that could ultimately cost Sherlock his life and just sit in his dungeon office, sipping tea, eating cake and doing nothing.

This is where Sherlock’s explanation made sense to me. The two of them taking on Moriarty together was the smart move. I never bought a second of the whole “Mycroft didn’t know and he actually helped Moriarty get to Sherlock” thing, not a second. On the other hand, Moriarty leaving Mycroft out of the picture was the wrong move to make, obviously, and to me also a bit - okay a WAY - out of character for a villain that is supposed to be Sherlock’s equal. I just don’t get it. Someone explain it to me like I’m five. Why didn’t he get rid of Mycroft?!

It would be difficult, no questions about it. Mycroft does give the impression that he is a tricky man to get close to, let alone kill/kidnapp/bribe/threaten. Magnussen sort of confirmed that theory for us. After all, he had to go all the way through Mary -> John -> and Sherlock to get a chance of ever destroying Mycroft - or trying, anyway. (also love how everybody seems to ignore the fact that Mary and by proxy John were not the only ones Sherlock “saved“ by killing Magnussen) Still, not even trying to get rid of Mycroft speak of unaccaptable ignorance on Moriarty’s part. So either there is more to this, or there is a gaping plot hole along with the actual hole in Moriarty’s head that I cannot unsee anymore.

Mycroft and Moriarty are in cahoots OR Mycroft is/created Moriarty...? Or is the East wind blowing...

Mofftiss throw so many red herrings at us with every second of the show that they had made us perfectly unsure of what we can or cannot trust. Take the very first episode for the best example ever, The Study in Pink. When we first encountered Mycroft - back when we didn’t know it was Mycroft - we thought it was somebody else, didn’t we? After all, he introduced himself in quite the fashion. The whole little powerplay he had with Watson, playing with the cameras, establishing his superiority, deducing facts off of him in the same mysteriously clever way that Sherlock did just hours ago, his apparant interest in Sherlock...it all pointed to one man. Moriarty. Sherlock’s arch enemy. Hell, Mycroft even described himself as such. And Sherlock didn’t help moment later when John told him about the meeting.

“Who is he?”

“The most dangerous man you’ve ever met.”

Mofftiss derailed us into thinking Mycroft was Moriarty and only brough us back on the right path by the end of the episode. I am slowly beginning to question if we really ever got on the right path at all. God damn red herrings and the paranoia that comes with them :D But...it would somewhat explain why Moriarty didn’t target Mycroft.

Because he knew he didn’t have to.

Because he might as well have been Mycroft himself, so why target yourself. Poor Richard Brook a mere pawn - a brilliant pawn - but exactly what he said he was - an actor.

“That’s what you do, when you’ve said a big lie. You wrap it up in a truth to make it more palletable.”

A little less wild of a theory, but less rational, would be that Moriarty was indeed Andrew Scott’s awesomeness, but was in fact working with Mycroft. And what would ever lead Mycroft to collaborate with a criminal mastermind other than ensuring his little brother’s safety? After all, the East wind is coming to get him...and knowing what that means now is all the more sinister. Obviously Mycroft knew or suspected Eurus would make a reappearance at one point and if she is who she says she is and there is some dark past that binds them that Mycroft is trying to avoid unburying, I imagine he would go to even greater lenghts to protect Sherlock from that - keep him away from her.

Then again, what was Moriarty’s part in all this other than some clever plot to protect Sherlock. In the end, he dies and I wonder why would a criminal mastermind agree to such a thing.

“Sherlock, your big brother and all the king’s horses couldn’t make me do a thing I didn’t want to.”

The more sense one thing makes, the less sense other one makes. Unless “Richard Brook“ is in fact alive and everything was just a game set by Mycroft for Sherlock to play. Just an illusion, cruel, but necessary. If Sherlock’s death could have been faked, then...anyway who else other than real Moriarty or Mycroft could ever compete with Sherlock’s brilliance. Maybe it wasn’t Sherlock who created Moriarty (which was Richard Brook’s little ploy for the papers, wasn’t it?), but Mycroft.

Even wilder theory, that I do believe had been out there for a while, is that Moriarty (Andy) is Sherrinford. Everybody stops at three, well, I say Sherrinford is still the third brother, out of four siblings. And in some way, Mycroft’s insinuation at the end of HLV and during TLD tells us that he couldn’t have saved “the other one“, no matter his position of power, it made no difference to the fate he or she met. According to Mycroft, Sherrinford is secure and being regulary checked on. If Eurus was for some reason Sherrinford, then Mycroft needs to fire whoever is keeping that b**** sacured, ‘cause she’s out there, alright? :D Moriarty on the other hand, a criminal mastermind with a pretty huge list of all the people he killed/help kill and what not, that fits the bill of someone beyond Mycroft’s ability to save even if he wanted to, so really, keeping him secured somewhere would be the only option other than...permanently getting rid of him.

On a slightly different note, how poetic would that be, if the Great game was all about protecting Sherlock and instead of dragging Sherriarty (haha, not the pairing...hmmm) to some abandoned house to execute him MI5 style, Mycroft had him meet his inevitable end for a good cause that even the criminal mastermind wouldn’t be against - protecting their brother from their psychopatic sister - still not quite sure how - but anyway, it would be the only scenario making some sense in which Moriarty dies on purpose, for Sherlock. I’m just spinning ludicrous tales now, aren’t I? :D

Sherriarty or not, it would somewhat describe Sherrinford’s situation, whoever he is/had done. Aaaaand anyone could be Moriarty after all this was said, right? Eurus could be Moriarty. Mary could be Moriarty. Mrs. Hudson could be Moriarty, Rosemond could be Mori...okay, enough of this :D *rebooting brain*

I’m so done, Mofftiss, I’m so done with you, you clever little shits :D I don’t know anymore. But the original question just bothers me to no end. I hold both Moriarty’s and Mycroft’s intelligence in high regards and no matter what, TRF is an insult to both of them unless there’s more to it. Universe is rarely so lazy to give us so many coincidences. The entire show is based on a the biggest of coincidences after all! (anyone still remembers that faithful meeting in the park with an old colleague who just happens to be Sherlock’s associate who just happens to be on a look out for a flat mate and...oh GAWD! Unvierse pls...)

THERE’S ALWAYS MORE TO EVERYTHING IN THIS GOD DAMN SHOW! I DON’T TRUST ANYTHING!

Someone help :D

[leonawriter]

Denning Down

Read it on AO3

Fandom: Bungo Stray Dogs/Mononoke

Characters: Dazai, Chuuya, Mori, Atsushi, others mentioned.

Summary: For Dazai, adjusting to the fact that he isn't as human as he always assumed he was - and at the same time, just as human as he had figured he'd have to be, with how badly he fitted in with the rest of humanity - is going to be a slow process.

So is adjusting to the fact that his home isn't quite where he'd left it.

Chuuya, meanwhile, has all of Dazai's problems and more to deal with.

Notes: Events in this story fit both before and after those in “Foxes and Spirits and Office Chairs.” It’s recommended you read that story first. The Dazai/Chuuya elements are also stronger in this story than the previous one. Involves Kitsune Dazai.

...

"Chuuya."

It was annoying, it was frustrating, but he had to admit that he'd effectively signed himself up for this, so he couldn't even complain that much. Even so, he wished...

"Chuuyaaa...."

He wished that Dazai would shut the hell up and let him sleep. But it felt like they'd been like this for over half the night now, and he hadn't been able to rest at all. Which was going to be bad in the morning when he had to get up and out to work to report on everything to the boss. He'd only managed to send out a quick text to say that the threats had both been neutralised - not eliminated, no, because a confused ten year old kid and an exhausted Dazai who didn't even know what he was doing didn't deserve to be taken out - before collapsing into bed.

And yet, Dazai hadn't stopped pestering him. Every single time he thought he was nearly asleep, Dazai would start calling his name again. Only to stare at him when Chuuya's eyes stayed open.

He glared this time, too. Hoping that Dazai would get the message and get the fuck to sleep already.

Dazai doesn't close his eyes again, and not for the first time Chuuya thinks he sees something in those brown eyes of his, wide and hesitating, but he's getting too tired to do more than wish his bedmate would give up and leave whatever it was to the morning. 

"Chuuya...?"

He sighs, heavily. 

"What? What is it? For fuck's sake, Dazai, and you'd better actually say what it is this time instead of just assuming I can read your mind or whatever the shit you think I can do."

He more than half expects to be given the silent treatment again, just like every other fucking time, and at this point he'll take it so long as he gets even five more minutes of sleep-

"...Did Chuuya mean it?"

The words come out so quietly, so mumbled into the covers, that he almost doesn't hear them.

He blinks.

"Hah?" It takes him a moment to even think of what Dazai could be talking about, before hitting on the obvious. The entire reason why they're like this in the first place. Of course. Typical Dazai. "Why?"

"Because it's important."

He can hear the pout and the whine. There's an extra something in that whine now, though, that puts him on edge and that he knows he's going to have to get used to.

"Nothing's all that important at..." He squints around the covers, lumps and all, at his alarm clock. "It's nearly half two in the morning, Dazai. I'm tired. You're tired. Go to sleep."

He reaches over to try and force Dazai to at least lie still, but winds up clutching at empty covers and just groans.

"It's important," Dazai repeats, sounding for all the world like the petulant kid Elise should be, if she weren't... well, what she was. "I wanna know if you meant it."

And now Dazai's sitting on the edge of Chuuya's bed as if he's going to walk out at this hour in the morning, just because he's being a brat.

Which... now that he thinks about it, maybe isn't the best or most charitable way to think of things. Dazai had just had things about his past thrown in his face that he was still having to come to terms with, which Chuuya of all people should be able to sympathise with. And...

He sighed.

He knew exactly what he was being asked, and it was because he knew, that he'd wanted to put off answering. 

Did you mean it.

Those four words made his heart pound in his chest.

"I..." He closed his eyes and breathed, thinking back, remembering. Opened them, to see Dazai's back, his silhouette marked by those two new additions, which were lying flat on his head. He didn't know much about fox behaviours and body language, but he didn't have to just to know Dazai, and Dazai was still just as vulnerable as he had been several hours ago. In so many ways, it was as if he'd just started undoing all of his bandages in front of an audience. Which he hadn't, but he might as well have. "What would you do, if I said I didn't even know what it meant to you, the first time I said it?"

For a moment, Dazai didn't move, and he didn't breathe.

"If that was what you said... I'd wait. Because you said it again. Did you mean it, Chuuya?"

He could remember feeling nervous, knowing that it wasn't just Dazai there, that they had people watching, and it wasn't as if he'd admitted any of this even to ane-san before any of this. 

"What would you do if I said I didn't know, that second time? If... I hadn't been sure, because that's a huge responsibility to put on someone, and- what would you do if that was how it was?"

Hypotheticals. Maybes. Treading carefully. He wasn't used to any of these things, and normally he'd have just reached over, grabbed, and yanked Dazai back into bed and threatened him into rest, which was what he'd done plenty of times when they'd still been partners. When they'd lived in the mafia buildings more than not, because they'd been underage and even outside of how the authorities would take an interest in two teens their age living without parents or relatives, Mori had wanted to keep a closer eye on them than not, and there'd be times when he'd see the darkness under Dazai's eyes and drag him to rest, because even pretending was better than nothing.

Now, he had seen what had happened the last time someone had screwed up with this, and he wasn't about to make the same mistakes.

"If that was how you felt... I might want to walk away, because I don't want to just be your burden. But I'm going to wait, because Chuuya said it a third time. And I want to know if Chuuya meant it."

Chuuya swallows, and he wishes he felt certain that if Dazai tried to leave, he'd be able to stop him. Wishes, because he isn't sure he could.

Just like a few hours ago, trapped in the heart of the illusions, he doesn't want Dazai to go. Doesn't want to let go. To lose him like that.

"Then... I'd have to say that the third time I said it," he says, well aware that he's still half asleep and that his words aren't anywhere near as good as Dazai's even when he's wide awake, "all I wanted was for you to come back to me," he finally admits. Dazai stills, ears pricking upward, and a part of him wonders if he's said the wrong thing. But he can't stop now, he can't chicken out. "You were right in front of me, but you weren't there, and I wanted you back." Just like right now. "I didn't care what I had to do or what I had to say, so just - come back to bed and sleep, you stupid fox."

Dazai still doesn't move, and Chuuya starts to feel a coolness to his bed that had never been there before. He isn't often scared, when it doesn't involve Corruption, but this - he thinks this comes close.

Dazai's mother had never been seen again if everything could be believed. And now he was going to-

"You do realise that's a very dangerous thing to say, Chuuya. You can't take something like that back."

"Then why are you acting like I was ever going to, idiot," he mumbles into some other direction.

Come, love, he'd said all that time ago. Sleep. 

Come back to me.

He'd dealt with situations where Dazai had gone missing before - captured, kidnapped, undercover, voluntary or not. But Dazai had always been pulling the strings somehow, and Chuuya had always known that all he'd had to do was follow the plan, whatever that was, which was sometimes even just to be himself and do what he would have done anyway, and they'd get out just fine, just as Dazai had expected.

Always.

But not... not that time. 

He'd known, somehow, that seeing Dazai like that had been more dangerous in a way than seeing Dazai floating in the space where a dragon had been, only just recovering from near death. He hadn't had to feel the way Dazai had been shaking in his arms to know that, either.

He'd thought that saying those things would have been enough - saying those words - but if Dazai has somehow recovered enough to have second thoughts... there isn't anything he can do about it.

"Come back," he says, quietly this time, "you can leave again in the morning if that's what you want, you can pretend we're just... too tired to care that we're supposed to hate each other if that makes you feel better. But just... sleep, okay?"

Dazai doesn't answer back like he had before, but he doesn't leave, either. He just wordlessly gets back under the covers, shuffling himself so that his head - ears and all, which Chuuya just hoped weren't going to tickle him awake all night long - rested somewhat against Chuuya's chest, the (soft, and fluffy) tail curling around around them both, even when Dazai didn't do anything of the sort with any of his other limbs.

Chuuya doesn't mind too much, and while he'd normally be annoyed with the walking waste of a first aid kit taking up space in his home at all, let alone his bed, he falls asleep with his hand slightly outstretched but not quite touching, not quite sure, but grateful just to have the proof that Dazai was still there.

...

Dazai wakes up in an unfamiliar bed that's too soft, and too warm, compared to the futon that he's become used to over the past years away from the mafia and its money. A moment of bleary confusion causes him to wonder why that could be, and how he was asleep at all, and if perhaps Mori had decided to bring him in via force - when he catches a hint of smoke and the fading scent of wine, along with something else-

Something that could only mean Chuuya, and honestly, he isn't sure if that's better, or worse.

Better, because he feels safe, and worse, because the realisation means that the memories of the previous night - and the past few days - start settling into him again, the weight of them sinking to his stomach and making him disoriented.

He wonders if this is how Atsushi felt, when he had woken up after learning that he himself had been the tiger he had thought had been hunting him down. And again, months later, when the ramifications of that would continue to change the context of countless numbers of things he had experienced as a child.

Dazai hadn't even been able to remember most of that before - just disjointed memories of an unpleasant childhood he would have happily traded for a quick and easy way to die, and the knowledge that he had been left - twice over, at that - because he hadn't known how to act human enough, hadn't been able to fit in, had been such a failure before he had even turned ten years old, that life... life itself had ceased to have any meaning.

In the here and now he can only let his legs swing over the bed, feet finding the floor, and find himself wondering where he was supposed to go from here as he put his clothes on - the way he had to feel his ears go flat against his head as he put his shirt on, the way his tail rested awkwardly above the line of his pants, forcing him to leave part of his shirt untucked.

It was frustrating - he knew so little.

Both about who he was, even with everything he had learned. About what he could do-

He had never had active power before. He had always left that to Chuuya, to Akutagawa, to Kunikida, Atsushi... it wasn't as though he'd had a choice. His ability was to nullify an to take away, not to do, not to affect things.

His illusions had hurt people. He remembered that - remembered not caring about anything, other than the fact that he couldn't stand to have them come so close, and pushing them away because they were only going to leave as soon as they realised what he was, what he was capable of, that he couldn't be what they wanted him to be...

He thinks he remembers hurting Kunikida, even if it wasn't serious, even if Kunikida didn't even know that it was him, and that's enough to make him swallow hard and grab his coat, because the only things that memory made him want couldn't be done in Chuuya's home.

Odasaku had told him that nothing would fill the void inside of him, and it turned out that he was still right, even after years and supernatural revelations. Just knowing where he had come from and why he was the way he was didn't help where he was now.

But Odasaku had also told him to save people, and no matter what else he wanted, he couldn't go ahead with any of it without knowing that at least his coworkers had come out the other end of the entire disaster in one piece.

...

"...all of which is fascinating to be sure," the boss was saying in a bored tone that Chuuya was all too familiar with and that skirted the edges of something less pleasant, "but tells me very little of use." He stayed carefully still, even with the nervous way his heart was pounding in his chest from uncertainty. Mori sighed, sounding tired and resigned. It changed nothing. "Chuuya-kun, as one of my most valuable subordinates I would like to think that you at least have a good reason for keeping things from me."

Chuuya was, despite what Dazai would say about how he "only knew how to use his strength and not his head", smart enough to know what was being meant.

I want to trust you, the boss was saying, and I don't believe that you would endanger the organisation. But you have to give me something to work with.

The thing was, he understood that well enough.

It was just trying to figure out what he could use, some piece of information or aspect, that he could use without losing everything.

Then again-

He took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.

"From everything I gathered and experienced," he said, words as measured and full of respect as he could, "the events of the last several days weren't actually all that much to do with ability users at all. I realised that about halfway through the first investigation. There was a mononoke. And after that, something... else happened." He swallowed - that was more than he had explained before, and already it felt like he was stepping too close to the truth. "It was dealt with. No one involved is what I'd classify a threat to the city or the organisation," he added, unable to not think of the pile of fur and bandages he'd left sleeping in his own bed. "If they were, I'd be bringing it up as a matter of urgency. As it is, I can't say anything else."

"You can't, or you choose not to?"

His eyes opened again at the question, but aside from a glance - that he purposefully tried not to think too hard on - he settled his gaze somewhere in the safe middle distance.

"...Both, sir."

"And why is that?"

"There are things everyone keeps secret, boss. These people more than most. I'm sure if I went looking, I'd find more than a few in our own ranks, and all of them would say they were more loyal because they don't have to worry about being outed. I..." he looked to one side, eyes tracking the distance and vector of Suribachi from where he was standing. "You know how few people know about Arahabaki. It doesn't have to be on that level for people to feel the same."

And Arahabaki being an aspect of Chuuya's own identity was executive-level stuff; even Chuuya himself hadn't had full access until he'd turned sixteen, until after the Dragon's Head Rush, and after he'd become an executive himself. Even now, there were things he didn't know about himself, and not because of any restrictions.

He let his eyes track back to Mori, whose fingers were now steepled in front of his face, deep in thought.

"I see," the man said. "In which case it is fortunate for us that I have access to someone with such a high clearance level in such affairs. You said that you aren't aware of any such being is a threat to the organisation?"

"None," he said, acutely aware of how Dazai might speak unfavourably of Mori to say the least, but he hadn't made any overt or actual threats once in the time since they'd first met again after those four years. "Not unless we make them a threat," he added.

"Which I'm sure would be a bad idea," the boss said mildly.

Chuuya didn't reply to that. He didn't have to. A bad idea was pretty much the understatement of the century. Dazai on his own had caused chaos, and that was when he wasn't even trying. A city full of pissed of kami and youkai and who knew what else, and even the mafia wouldn't survive.

"Very well."

"Boss?"

"If the situation changes, you'll tell me. If it becomes possible to inform me of anything new, you will. If you need to act on anything, you tell me what you can. Other than that, I don't see what else we can do here."

...

He's hesitating outside of the dorms.

It feels trivial, really. He shouldn't have to hesitate outside of his own home, to call it home, and yet there he was. Shifting occasionally from foot to foot.

It wasn't as though some youkai magic had bound him to Chuuya's house so that nowhere else would be home or safe; he was the one who could leave whenever he wanted, or stay away as long as he liked. In fact, he'd only stayed with Chuuya because he'd wanted to.

Which still didn't explain why he was staring at the Agency's dorm building like it was somewhere he didn't want to go into.

At least no one could be staring at him for his odd features after he'd figured out how to put everything away again earlier, how to make it seem almost as though he was human.

Not "again." He couldn't say "again" when he'd never been human in the first place.

Nor was he doing anything other than hide the most obvious of surface signs of his inhumanity. It didn't change anything, just as learning what he was hadn't changed him. It had simply allowed him to see himself as he truly was. Stripped the self-imposed illusions away.

The sensation of the wind blowing in his hair and touching his ears in the wrong places and not feeling the fur of his tail brushing against his coat at all was stranger than it had any right to be, after less than a full day of knowing what it was like, and he couldn't wait to be back inside and relax again - or better yet, learn how to use his illusions to be able to go out in public and not worry - but that only brought him back to his original problem.

"Dazai-san...?"

And now Atsushi had noticed. He smiled and waved over at the boy, trying his best to look nothing more than simply passing the time, but the concerned frown on Atsushi's face didn't fade at all.

He wished that having gained a non-ability related knack for illusions could have meant being able to fool people into not taking notice when he wanted just to pretend he was fine.

"Did you know that Kunikida-kun kept staring at my ears or tail so often earlier that I had to remind him where my eyes were? I would have told him that he'd get carried away by spirits and we'd never get him back if he kept asking questions and looking everywhere and squinting at everyone, but I wasn't sure if it'd possibly come true. After all, what if it did, and then who'd do my paperwork?"

"Well, everyone else would be hoping that maybe you'd learn how to do it yourself," Atsushi grumbled, treacherously siding with Kunikida for nowhere near even the first time today. "So... no one, probably." And then, he sighed. Dazai wanted to hope that maybe it wasn't what he thought it was going to be, but, well. He was so rarely wrong. "If it's about... I don't think anyone would mind."

"Kunikida-kun would," Dazai mused to himself aloud. "And Chuuya barely tolerated me last night."

He hates the way that Atsushi looks at him, as if he knows more than he should, as if-

"Kunikida-san was worried yesterday," the boy says, and when did Atsushi grow up to the point where he was the one acting like Dazai's senior, in situations like this? "I told him you were fine, but the last times you've disappeared in the middle of our investigations, things went bad, like the time with the dragon, or when you got shot, or when..." Atsushi looked away, and Dazai did, too, staring up at the sky, which was a beautiful shade of fading blue. With the setting sun in the west, there were places that could almost look like Atsushi's eyes. Which was fitting, for an incarnation of the great Byakko itself. "And Chuuya-san- you should give him a little more credit, Dazai-san."

As much as he felt grateful for Atsushi stopping short of bringing up the incidents surrounding his arrest when things were still only just settling back down to some vague sense of normal, the last thing he'd said brought a tightening to his chest.

But what if I don't know what I want? What if I pick the wrong choice? 

Is going back to Chuuya like this wrong, if it means I'm not living with the Agency?

He didn't even realise that he'd been making a sound until halfway through the whine he let out, which was embarrassing.

"Dazai-san... can I say something?" He nodded, not trusting himself to speak without making things worse for himself. "I feel so at home here in the dorms because you gave me a home here... because of everyone else who's living here too, everyone who helps make it feel like a home for me, more than the orphanage ever was." The smile Atsushi gave him only made him feel worse. He had helped that happen, and now here he was, potentially abandoning it all. "Home isn't just a place, Dazai-san. For me, it's where all of the rest of the Agency are. No matter where that is. And if Chuuya-san is that for you, then... isn't that all that matters?"

"I'm not quitting the Agency, Atsushi-kun," he said, somehow feeling the need to clarify that. And he wasn't. No matter where he wound up sleeping.

"Good!" There was that smile again, even brighter than before. He didn't deserve it. He still felt like he was running away, somehow. "I could help you move your things if you needed me to?"

That brought out a laugh, a real one, light and a little breathless instead of the barking laugh he'd had for Kunikida earlier.

"And show you right to the door of an unsuspecting mafia executive?" he said, not ungently. "I'm sure I'll be able to manage, Atsushi-kun."

It's only when he's said that and he's picking through his things that he realises that he's already made his choice.

For tonight he has, at least. And he can only hope it was the right one.

...

Chuuya finds himself staring at the beanpole on his sofa, and the thing that strikes him as the strangest part of it all wasn't even the dark orange ears, or the tail that was hanging off the side, twitching from time to time with its owner's thoughts. The weirdest part was the fact that he's just... staring, and not ordering his uninvited guest out of the door. That he's actually letting out a breath of relief that he hadn't realised he'd been holding in all day, ever since he'd left Dazai in his bed.

"It's rude to stare, you know."

"Tch. Like you're not the one taking up all the space in someone else's place-" he looked away, still caught on the way he'd seen Dazai's coat hung up and his shoes put away in the hall, as if he actually belonged there. "What're you even doing here still?"

He can feel the atmosphere of the room shift the moment the words left his mouth, and part of him wishes he hadn't said anything at all. Which just makes him hate the entire situation he's found himself in, and resent everything that Dazai had found out about himself for a moment, because wasn't this going just the way it always had, between them? Dazai making him do all the hard work, while he just lies there and takes it easy.

But allowing himself to resent Dazai is just the easy way out. Kicking Dazai out either with words or force and going back on his own word just because he didn't know how to handle that, because he couldn't take being the one in control even just once, was no different from chickening out.

"I thought you were the one who'd invited me in. You did want me here, didn't you?"

The tail's twitching makes Chuuya wonder just how much of a kitsune was actual fox, and how much was cat. That, and the catty way Dazai was behaving.

"Invites are for vampires," he says without thinking. "But- yeah, I..." He sighs. "Expected you'd just leave and go back to your precious Agency, or wherever it is you hole up, the moment you didn't need to be here anymore." Part of him is convinced that he's not anywhere near drunk enough for this conversation. Another part - that sounds way too much like the bandaged fur-brain on his sofa - says that if he had anything alcoholic, he wouldn't be anywhere near sober enough. "That's what you've done before, right? Just done a shitty vanishing trick right when you don't need me anymore."

He can't help the bitterness from creeping into his voice, even as he pads over in just his socks, putting his hat down safely before he goes to kick Dazai's feet off the sofa, pushing the tail aside somewhat more gently.

Dazai's eyes don't leave him at all the entire time.

"I did leave," Dazai says, and Chuuya would like to say that the way his heart jumps into his mouth is only because of the sudden and unexpected words. "I went to work," he continues. "I turned into a fox and couldn't figure out how to turn for several hours, and for a short while, I was able to put myself back the way I... was. Before." It's more the way the ears press against his head than his words, still even in tone, that tells Chuuya that the experience hadn't been one he'd enjoyed. "I could have gone back to the dorms. But I chose not to."

There were any number of things he could have picked up on from that - you left, for one, you turned into a fox, for another, as well as then how did you turn back, and how did you figure out how to look human again, and he'd definitely be coming back to why did you choose to come back here, then? but...

"I guess that means everyone else at that Agency of yours knows what you are now, huh."

Dazai inclines his head, but doesn't fully close his eyes even with a slow blink.

"That's pretty much how it happened," he admits. "I have to admit, it was fun harassing them all before Atsushi-kun showed up. But it would have come up sooner or later, so in the end, it was the best possible outcome." Dazai tiling his head has a somewhat different effect to it when he's now got two pointed ears moving almost on their own - one flicks right when Chuuya hears some distant sound from outside. "Why, does that mean you're trying to say you told people what happened yourself? It's hardly as if the Port Mafia wouldn't have been expecting some sort of report from someone who was right in the middle of everything, which you, as a trusted and loyal dog-"

"Didn't tell them shit about you, or the first kid that weirdo guy went after, so you can shut your damn mouth already before you say something we both regret."

The way Dazai's eyes widen at that, the way he freezes, makes Chuuya wish he'd been able to move fast enough to take a photo, memorialise the moment. But then he might have missed the moment the tension just seemed to... drain out of Dazai and turn him into some sort of limp noodle. 

"You... didn't tell Mori."

He shrugged, awkwardly. It wasn't as if he didn't know how much Dazai'd grown to hate his boss - Dazai's former boss - and it wasn't as though Chuuya was fully unaware of everything that'd happened. It was just that Chuuya himself just couldn't feel the same way. Sympathise, sure. Empathise, yeah. He'd lost more than his fair share of friends. 

But Chuuya was still in the mafia, and not because Dazai had dragged him in, or because of the information that'd been held over his head for so long. By this point it was just because this was the place he'd found for himself, and he couldn't imagine trying to live any other way.

"I told him the basics. I told him about the mononoke, and how there's people out there who're keeping secrets, but I didn't say who. I said if anyone becomes a threat to the city or the mafia, that's a different matter, but..." Another shrug. "It's not the sort of thing anyone just goes blabbing about."

It was something he knew in the core of his being. He'd always thought you didn't have to be told to know that. Apparently that didn't apply to Dazai, though.

Dazai, whose eyes were slowly starting to close - not narrow tight and still able to watch him, but closed shut.

And then, they snapped back open, full of mischief even if he wasn't moving.

"I hope you really meant it - what you said last night. Because I packed a carry-all bag with my things and dumped it in your room before I came here to wait for you~"

Chuuya groans. The urge to just give in and bury his head in his hands is too strong, and he succumbs, hearing the sound of Dazai's laughter ringing in his ears. 

He was well and truly stuck, now.

Then why are you acting like I was ever going to, idiot.

But it wasn't as if he hadn't asked for it, was it? So that meant that he could hardly argue-

Which was when he felt the other end of the sofa lighten up, as if a weight had been lifted from it, and at first he assumes Dazai had stood up to go find something, but then he feels something small and hard and slightly sharp on his legs, and when he opens his eyes, there's a red fox with distinctive brown eyes looking up at him and making his way onto Chuuya's lap. An angular face that tilted, and then head butted his hands, and knowing Dazai he knew exactly what the bastard was after.

Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad just to give in this once, though, he thinks to himself as he hesitates before taking his gloves off, putting them safely on the arm of the sofa next to him, and places one hand onto Dazai's soft fur, accepting the unspoken request.

...

AN: Chuuya's nerves while talking to Mori are primarily due to how he wants to be able to be open and honest with his boss, but at the same time, his loyalty to not just Dazai but pretty much the entire idea of non-humans existing both in and out of the mafia is... of equal weight. 

Partially this is due to him having made himself into basically the mafia's foremost expert on anything to do with Japanese mythology that's actually real; partially it's because I've got a strong headcanon of Arahabaki having been a forgotten guardian deity, and that sort of stuff is resurfacing in Chuuya.