Spain Without The S!

Chapter 17: The Prince Returns

  Dazai sighed, running his finger along the edge of his glass. He hated how empty it felt in the bar, now.
  Then, the quiet bells rang as the door opened and someone descended the stairs.
  "Evening, Mori," Dazai smirked before even seeing who it was.
  "Once again, your ability to predict my every move is astounding," Mori said, a wicked smile on his face.
  "It isn't going to work," Dazai watched as the cat, Natsume, moved to a different stool.
  "You don't know that," Mori took a seat and didn't change his expression.
  "I didn't do anything," Dazai said boredly.
  "Your skill doesn't need you to do anything."
  "You have no way of pinpointing my skill as the cause."
  "You're right." Mori said, "but we don't have anything to say it wasn't."
  Dazai sighed, "I don't mind trying, but if it doesn't work you're out of luck."
  "I'm well aware, as you should already know."
  Dazai sighed as he stood up, looking disinterested.
  "His eyes get more normal when you're around, too. But you knew that as well..." Mori watch him carefully.
  Dazai nodded, looking more and more bored by the second.
  "But I know something you don't," Mori's smile grew as he turned to face Dazai.
  Dazai stared at him, his eyes as intimidating as always when he's unsure of something.
  Mori chuckled, "you have granted Chuuya sight at times. He's told me that he's seen you a few times."
  Dazai paused, "he's blind. It's only his-"
  "I thought that at first as well, but I had him describe exactly what he saw. It was far too vivid to be just his mind playing a trick on him."
  Dazai narrowed his eyes as he started slowly walking, "like I said, I don't mind trying. But I want something in exchange."
  "Of course," Mori sounded thoroughly entertained.
  Dazai kept walking, showing no
Signs of revealing what he wanted.

——

  "What are you doing here?!" Elsie asked as she dropped her hair brush.
  "What are you doing here?" Dazai asked back.
  She narrowed her eyes, "what do you want? I thought you weren't coming back..."
  "I was here last night," Dazai smirked, "guess I am really good at sneaking around."
  Elsie looked up at him suspiciously, "why are you here?"
  He chuckled, "I'm here to save a princess."
  Elise picked up her brush, but then she dropped it again when she heard his words, "what?! You're really going to kiss him?!"
  "What?... no," Dazai looked momentarily confused, "uh, no. But Mori is pretty convinced that he'll be able to see if I'm touching him for long enough. But," Dazai sighed heavily, "I doubt Chuuya will let me."
  "Why don't you just kiss him?" She asked, "that always works."
  Dazai looked down at her for a second, "you are right... but I'd rather not get murdered today."
  "He wouldn't murder you," Elise giggled, "he might hit your really hard, though."
  Dazai laughed, "you're probably right. Still, I don't really enjoy getting hurt."
  Elise sighed, "you're hopeless."
  "And I've got a princess to go save," Dazai turned and made his way down the hall.
  "Why'd you come see me first?" She asked.
  "I was holping Mori would be here," he said without turning, "I need to talk to him about my payment."
  "Payment?" She hurried after him, "Prince Charming always gets paid with marrying the princess."
  Dazai laughed, "I'll say it again, I don't really want to be murdered."
  Elise giggled, "okay, yeah, then he might really kill you."
  Dazai nodded, "so I've decided on something else."
  "What is it?"
  "That's a secret," Dazai pocketed his hands and flashed her a mischievous smile.
  "Now I REALLY wanna know!!!"
  He laughed as he approached the elevator, "now I really want to keep it from you!"
  "You're the meanest Prince Charming I've ever seen!" Elise whined as she entered with him.
  He chuckled, "well, maybe I'm not
Prince Charming. Maybe..." he paused to think. "Maybe I'm the evil villain!" He wiggled his fingers at her menacingly.
  Elise moved away defensively, "don't you dare tickle me..."
  Dazai sighed as he pressed a button, "well, hopefully having you there will make him less upset with me..."
  Elise shook her head, "uh-uh. He wouldn't talk at all yesterday."
  "Is that so?" He asked, as if amused.
  Elise narrowed her eyes, "maybe you really are the evil villain and you poisoned the princess..."
  Dazai chuckled, "suspicion is the worst form of poison... it feeds off of what's already in your mind."
  Elise was confused by this. What did that even mean? "What?"
  Dazai smiled down at her, "nothing. Just words I wanted to say."
  Dazai had a strange smile on his face the entire ride down.

——

  "I'm back," Elise said as she opened the door slowly.
  Kouyo turned her head in their direction, looking very tired. She forced a smile, "afternoon."
  Dazai gave her a wave and pressed his index finger to his mouth.
  "Hi..." Elise stepped in, "has he said anything?"
  Kouyo shook her head, "no..."
  Dazai could tell she was lying, but assumed it wasn't something she wanted Elise to hear.
  Dazai silently stepped farther into the room, Elise beside him.
  Kouyo stood, "I'll be right back..." she quietly left.
  Elise stepped next to the bed, "Chuuya? You awake?"
  Chuuya rolled over towards her, looking empty. He nodded slowly.
  "Chuuya, remember when I said that we could get your sight back?" Elise asked.
  He nodded again.
  Elise stepped back to make room for Dazai. He moved foreword and placed his hand on Chuuya's arm, "I won't enjoy this any more than you."
  "Liar," Chuuya muttered.
  Dazai chuckled, "glad you aren't completely depressed."
  "Don't lump me with you," Chuuya said quietly.
  Elise pulled the chair over for Dazai and he sat down.
  As Dazai took his seat he said, "it's probably going to be awhile, based on what Mori's told me..."
  Chuuya sighed.
  "I know, I know. I'll try not to bore you to pieces," Dazai moved his fingers down Chuuya's arm and took his hand.
  Chuuya looked to the side, as if avoiding making eye contact with anyone.
  Elise looked between the two expressionless men, wishing they would just kiss or something.
  "Hey," Elise whispered to Dazai a little unintentionally loudly.
  "What?" He whispered back.
  "I understand you don't want to get hurt, but a kiss does always work."
  Chuuya groaned, "I'm right here, you know..."
  "You see, Elise," Dazai began to smirk, "I don't think Chuuya's a good kisser."
  Elise looked over at Chuuya, "why? He has lips?"
  Dazai chuckled, "having lips has nothing to do with it. Chuuya's never kissed anyone before, is all."
  Elise gasped softly, "really?"
  Dazai nodded, "so I just don't think it'd-"
  "I can hear you. I'm right here." Chuuya said, narrowing his eyes in their direction.
  "Say, Elise, do you think he can hear us?" Dazai asked.
  Elise shook her head, a big smile on her face, "Nope."
  Chuuya sighed in defeat, "you guys are so annoying..."
  "He's just saying that," Dazai said, gazing over at him.
  Chuuya growled under his breath in frustration.