BUNGO STRAY DOGS SHORT STORIES

a night to die for

Brief summary: Atsushi suffers from night-terrors.

TW: night terrors and gore.
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The human mind is a powerful thing. It can either be your greatest ally, something to seek shelter in, a safe harbour. Or it can be a ghastly place that'll tear you down just as easily as it can build you up. Atsushi Nakajima knew this, he always did. His own mind even believed that he were worthless. The change of the urban campus was not enough to keep his mind out of survival mode. He felt as though it was recycling old nightmares, like pressing on bruises, it left him disoriented and numb. Even under the safety of his new accommodation, he partially thought the nightmares he endured for so long would dissipate, but he was wrong.

Three nights in a row, three sleepless nights, three nights he was afraid to close his eyes because of what he'd see behind them. All because of one miserable day.

Atsushi was running. His boots drenched in murky water, there was a tint to the colour and he begged that it wasn't blood that he had stepped in. The mystery substance on the bottom of his shoea was the least of his worries, Akutagawa was on his tail, and his ability wasn't working. Something was wrong, the thick air moving into his lungs.

Atsushis' mind was running faster than his own body. The fact of the matter was simple, he was going to die this time. He was sure of it, the moths in his gut growing more ferocious than ever before. His luck was sparse and he had only just turned the corner of an empty side-street when Akutagawa let out his Rashoumon into his gut. Sending him stuck in motion, as if someone had paused a movie. The back of his throat burned and blood spilled between his lips.

"Running from your problems is pointless." Akutagawa spoke words of venom but the agent wasn't listening. Atsushi was thrown into the back wall of a restaurant, bits of debris and trash scratching his skin.

"What did you hope to gain from running, mercy?" Atsushi stared up at the man who had only ever caused him pain, multi-coloured eyes unwavering.

"Good for nothing." Akutagawa spoke, bringing Atsushi up to face him. The younger man struggled against the ropes of the Rashoumon.

There was something like a spark in Akutagawas eyes. "Why should I waste my time on a worthless brat like you?"

"Thought I was worth something," Atsushis voice was barely audible due to the severity of his wounds. "On the black market."

"Still have some spunk huh?" Akutagawa tightened his grip on him, crushing ribs. Atsushi felt white-hot fire shoot through his chest. A broken, begging cry left his lips.
Every decision Atsushi ever made led up to this point. If there were such thing as fate, or gods, why was it all so unforgiving towards him? What had he done?

The scream that could be heard from Atsushis apartment was sickening. It was the sound, of a young boy who was feeling the firey pits of hell. But there was no devil to greet him. Only the small space in the cupboard. Atsushis body lunged forward, his arms flailing around to protect himself from the still air.

"Can I come in?" A quiet, familiar voice that was muffled by the sliding door that separated Atsushi from Kyouka. Atsushis throat was raw from the screaming and croaked when he had replied. Kyouka pushed the door back, her eyes resting on the dishevelled agent. "Thats the third time in a row." She spoke as if the words had no weight behind them.

Atsushi smiles but finds no humour in the comment. "New record," He finds the courage to look up at the young girl. "I know it's not funny, but I won't go to Dazai about it." He answered the question she was asking with the pale tones of her eyes.

Kyouka moves closer. "What was it this time?" The younger agent slides under Atsushis covers with him. Atsushi speaks quietly, he speaks of the way he ran through puddles. He spoke of the way Akutagawa called him all the things he can only think of. Kyouka listened and offered a shoulder for the boy.

Atsushi is unaware of this, but hes strangely talkative in his sleep. And tonight was no different. She's not good at comforting, but the silent offer of warmth was enough to calm the young man's mind.
Often times, Kyouka would catch glimses of Atsushi during the work day, in his own world. Kyouka knew more than anyone that he was trying to will the darkness away during those times. She knew that when Atsushi stared out of the office windows, it was the calm before the storm.

"Sometimes," Kyouka spoke after minutes of silence. "Before we can let go of the baggage, we have to allow it to sit, heavy in our hands." Atsushi had already fallen under the spell of sleep. But when he wakes in the morning, the young girls words will sit in his mind and he will allow the darkness to rest beside him the following night, instead of shutting it out in the cold.