#feralspent.

the slums of yokohama were a breeding grounds for violence,   a cesspool of crime,   and a home to suffering that could only be understood by those who had once lived there.   everyone turned a blind eye to the crimes that occurred there,   the military police,   the government,   even the agency rarely had reason to go there.   but it was also filled to the brim with bodies,   hungry mouths in search of food,   soot-filled faces of children abandoned by their families,   orphans who lost everything as a result of conflicts in the underworld.   no one mourned those who died,   they received no funeral.   their bodies were burned and life moved on. it was the way things were and it was something that had never much affected dazai.

he thought it might have affected the man before him,   had he had a different life,   had someone gentle saved him from himself.   then again,   there were some that could not be saved.   he thought perhaps that were true for the demon standing across from him now,   his dark overcoat prepared to pierce through a group of children,   huddled together and begging for mercy.

❛   we really can’t keep meeting like this.   ❜   dazai spoke,   reaching out and placing a hand on his shoulder,  motioning to the children with his head that they should run while they had the opportunity.   ❛   you shouldn’t be here, akutagawa.   ❜   he frowns,   ❛   what brings you to the slums anyways  ?  don’t tell me you’re so simple minded you’re satisfied by killing those who can’t even protect themselves.   ❜

❛   wake up, akutagawa.   ❜   his voice is dry,   void of all emotion  as he stares down at the boy that had once been his subordinate.   ❛   pathetic,   ❜   he sneers,   ❛   you were meant to grow stronger these past years,   not weaker.   ❜   of course,   akutagawa  has  grown strong,   in all the ways that dazai had predicted when he met him in the woods that night.   he remembered telling odasaku that he’d had the opportunity to grow into  the strongest ability user  the port mafia had ever seen,   but he wasn’t there,   not yet.   he needed to be in order to deal with  that demon  when the time came.   they were running out of time.

calm  ?  it almost makes him laugh.   he supposed he  could  get angry,   he could shout,   kick him or fire a gun in his direction like he once had.   surely it would still make an impact.   but it’s what he’s expecting.   instead,   dazai smiles,   the picture of tranquility,   ❛   ah i suppose i am  !   ❜   his eyes open as his smile disappears,   ❛   it was easy enough to predict that  you would make a mistake  and mess everything up.   ❜   his voice is soft and uncaring but his eyes are cold,   the light in them fading with every second.   ❛   i had already accounted for your  failure.   ❜

suddenly, he beams once more,   his finger raising into the air with an idea,   ❛   oh  !  of course  you could make it up to me  !   ❜   his voice lowers to a quiet mumble and he looks down,   tapping a finger to his lips as he pretended to think aloud,   ❛   it would be  proof of his strength,   i’d be forced to acknowledge him.   ❜   his head snaps up,   ❛   it’s my understanding you have a deal with atsushi,  correct  ?   how you won’t kill  ?   that’s good.   i’m surprised you can manage it.   if you’ve succeeded so far,   you’ve done well.   ❜   he would need to give a little if he wanted to keep him vying for more,   ❛   i have a job for you,   i planned to give it to atsushi who would most certainly complete it with  ease,   but if you believe you can manage it,   i’m sure i could be convinced.   ❜