For ninjou.

[tenimuho]

[For some time now, Dazai had been... the center of unusual occurrences.

Calling them 'supernatural' wasn't precisely it, since Dazai dealt with supernatural abilities on a regular basis. These were on a much smaller scale, barely fit to be called 'disturbances'.

Pens falling off his desk with no apparent cause. Books being closed one moment and open the next time anyone glanced their way, only when in Dazai's presence. In the most dramatic incident, a roll of bandages had caught fire.

No one could adequately explain what was going on, not even Ranpo, although he did shoot down most theories besides Atsushi's somewhat joking "maybe you're being haunted, Dazai-san?"

There's a whiteboard in the agency's planning room, which Dazai is currently occupying by himself. The markers are capped and definitely immobile.]

DAZAI

[But that wasn't written on the board the last time Dazai glanced that way, about two seconds ago.]

Comments

[ninjou]

Just as expected. I'm not even allowed to sleep in... Kunikida-kun makes sure I don't.

[He's smiling, so so faintly.]

[tenimuho]

I'M GLAD YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT YOU NOW

[Maybe they don't know his sordid history as well as Odasaku does, but they still care about him. Even Kunikida.]

YOU'LL BE ALRIGHT WITHOUT ME

[ninjou]

I know.

[Smile, Dazai. Just... smile. No matter how much it hurts.]

I've been fine. But...

[tenimuho]

BUT?

[Waiting patiently.]

[ninjou]

I miss you.

[He feels like he's said it a thousand times.]

[tenimuho]

I MISS YOU TOO
WE'LL SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN
I PROMISE I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU

[Waiting. He doesn't want the day of their real reunion to be tomorrow, but sometime in the future.

He could have moved on by now. He knows that. But he doesn't want Dazai to be as alone in death as he was for most of his life.]

[ninjou]

[Dazai reads the words, then looks up at the ceiling.

Someday, maybe. Someday. But Oda is a better man. They'll have him in a better part of hell, or something.]

Don't.

[tenimuho]

[Then he'll just have to stay a ghost forever. It's not so bad.]

SORRY, BUT YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHEN TO MOVE ON

[It's his decision, and it's important enough to go against Dazai's wishes.]

[ninjou]

[It's awful. Dazai hates it. It's awful and Dazai hates it]

Don't you want to be with them again?

[The kids.]

Go. I'll be fine.

[tenimuho]

[No need to ask who.]

YES
BUT I KNOW THEY'RE ALRIGHT
THEY HAVE EACH OTHER AND THEY'RE SOMEWHERE BETTER NOW

[Neither of them are granted that assurance for when they pass on.]

[ninjou]

[Dazai hums thoughtfully, as though he's actually considering the point, when he's actually not. Really, he's just mad that Odasaku has been.......

Following him around. Haunting him. Watching over him.

He hides his face again.]

I can't believe I'm being beat at this sort of thing. You're being a nuisance and messing with my desk, and you expect me not to tell you to go away~

[tenimuho]

I'LL GO AWAY IF YOU WANT ME TO
SORRY ABOUT YOUR DESK
AND YOUR BANDAGES

[He will actually do it - okay, well, no, he won't pass on, but he'll stop talking to Dazai and setting his bandages on fire (although that was one time).]

[ninjou]

[SNORT.]

I thought the bandages were my fault.

[He doesn't want him to leave. He wants him to not be dead. He wants another chance to raise a toast and feel warm skin in a handshake and see that sorrowful smile that Odasaku keeps for Dazai alone. He thinks, anyway. Damn the man for always making him feel special, even if there were so many vast gaps between them.]

You're right. I don't want you to go. Are you happy that I said it?

[tenimuho]

I'M NOT SURE

[At least he's honest.]

I THINK IT WAS A LITTLE SELFISH TO TALK TO YOU AT ALL
WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN HAPPIER IF I DIDN'T LET YOU KNOW

[ninjou]

We're all pretty selfish people.

[It hurts, but Dazai is used to pain.]

I'm just sorry I can't hear you. Can you haunt a dream or something? That would be a lot easier.

[tenimuho]

IF I FIGURE OUT HOW, I'LL LET YOU KNOW

[But he hasn't learned that trick yet, if it's even possible.

It would be easier. There are a lot of things whiteboards just can't do.]

[ninjou]

Thank you.

[As long as he tries, Dazai is satisfied. He'll forgive failure. But perhaps one day he'll fall asleep and wake up in the little hole in the wall bar, just him and Odasaku, doing nothing but existing. They can raise a glass and smile.]