Dazai is far away from his past now. Like a dog running from a collar— he never quite slips away. It'll always hang firmly around his neck, invisibly visible to all.

He doesn't work for the Port Mafia anymore; he left Chuuya behind without a word. It still haunts him every moment he breathes.

Now he works for the Armed Detective Agency and only very lately, has talked to Chuuya again. The four years he spent away from his soulmate hits him like a brick in the gut everytime he sees the man. How could he?

"Dazai-kun?" Kenji pipes up, sipping messily on his hot chocolate compared to Kyouka, whose silently drinking in an orderly, quiet and calm manner, "What's Mr. Fancy Hat like outside of work?"

Mr. Fancy Hat is obviously Chuuya, gaining popularity among the younger members of most organisations with his useless almost maternal style.

"Well," Dazai taps his chin mockingly, thinking about what lie to make up about Chuuya this time, "He's very witty. Sarcastic, too. But really, he's just one big softie, who loves dogs and wine and romance films and cello music and jazz bars and dad-rock songs..."

Wow, he really has gone soft. None of that was a lie, and he ending up sort of... gushing about Chuuya. Who would gush about that guy? Dazai hates him afterall.

Kenji smiles, "Mr. Fancy Hat says you like to try and stab him."

Dazai barks out a laugh and Kyouka even smirks a little into her cup— Dazai couldn't lay a finger on Chuuya if the man didn't want him to! Let alone stab him. Dazai's the verbal ventriloquist, Chuuya's the final act of violence.

"Dazai-kun couldn't touch Chuuya-kun," Kyouka giggles softly, swirling the leftover hot chocolate around gently in his cup.

Dazai lays an offended hand to his chest, gasping loudly for dramatic effect, "Why, I'll have you know I lay hands on him all the time," He snickers at his own dirty joke, "But... I suppose, yes, my blade is no match for his wits!"

Chuuya is more of a feeling. A feeling Dazai will miss for as long as breath comes from his mouth, as long as there's still moisture in his body, and even as long as he remains fictional for.

Kenji suddenly brightens tenfold, waving over Dazai and when he turns around, there's a faintly annoyed looking Chuuya standing behind him.

"What's this about laying hands on me?"