On The Run (Soukoku)

-Chapter 9-

The sun slowly setting, the sky a shade of orange and yellow. Wind blowing at the brunette's and ginger's face, making their hair sway in the wind. It has been 1 week and 3 days already. Thankfully, the distance of the next town getting closer. Every step they took was one step closer to danger. The duo were unaware about it though. "I heard that the next town is known for their arts. Maybe we should be artists there." Dazai chirped as he glanced at Chuuya who chuckled, "No way! If we did, we would end up being poor!" Dazai pouted slightly as he complained, "You telling me my art is bad? How do you know that?" Chuuya sighed as he retorted, "I can already imagine it..." Dazai fanned a hand over his heart as he dramatically acted like he was about to faint.  Chuuya face-palmed himself as he picked up speed, his walking turning into running. Dazai who realised, gasped as he also started chasing after Chuuya. Dazai quickly caught up to Chuuya as he hugged the ginger from behind. The ginger who was surprised by the brunette's action, stumbled as both fell too the floor. Getting off the ginger, Dazai brushed the leaf on Chuuya's head and saw the ginger's irritated face turn into a laughing one. He fell to the floor on his back and kept on laughing, not intending to stop. Dazai stared as he too, joined in the laughter. Both laid on the ground, laughing at just a simple matter. That was just how much their relationship improved after meeting at the cliff or should I say when they met after Dazai pushed them off a cliff.

Their laughter slowly eased as Dazai got up, using a nearby tree as support. He stretched his hand out for Chuuya to grab on to it. Chuuya did so as he reached for Dazai's outstretched hand. 

Snap!

Once Chuuya grabbed on to Dazai's hand, he was suddenly pulled up hastily and a gloved hand slapped itself onto Chuuya's mouth as his eyes widened. As his back gently hit Dazai's, Chuuya was about to step on Dazai's foot as a gesture for him to let go. That was until he heard footsteps steeping and the crunching of leaves. He held his breath as he saw Dazai clench his fist, that hand reaching for his hood as he pulled up his hood to cover his face. He slowly pulled up Chuuya's as well, his hand placing itself on Chuuya's head when both heard the footsteps getting closer.

"That's strange...I swear I heard laughing here." A male voice announced. Both hiding, mentally cursed at their mistake.  "Me too... We need to hurry! Check the right, I'll go left." A female voice this time. Dazai's and Chuuya's heart dropped when they heard the last sentence. Daisuke's father? The townspeople? Which one was it? As the footsteps stopped right in front of the tree that the duo were hiding behind, Chuuya started shivering as Dazai moved his hand onto Chuuya's to calm down. Chuuya smiled slightly but he couldn't calm down. Dazai bit his lip as he kept perfectly still. Hearing a "No one here!" from the male, the duo internally sighed in relief. However, a click was heard as a gun was placed at Dazai's head. Both, eye-wide, heard a pin drop silence which followed before the male announced, "Or... Maybe there is..." Dazai immediately let go of Chuuya's hand as Chuuya brought his dagger up to the hooded figure's neck. Chuuya smirked as Dazai pointed his gun at the figure. Chuuya slowly put his dagger down but he pulled Dazai towards him as a bullet scraped Dazai's hood and hit the tree. Chuuya dragged Dazai who was fixing his hood back to it's place away as he brought the dagger up to his face and turned the blade sideways and saw a reflection of another hooded figure beside them, holding a gun. Dazai kept his gun and took out his dagger and faced the female once again as Chuuya faced the the male with his dagger. Both took their ready stance and rushed forward. Aiming straight for the neck for a clean cut, Dazai clicked his tongue, frustrated as the lady dodged. The lady pointed her gun as her finger quickly pulled the trigger but she was too slow. Dazai dodged as he appeared behind her. The female gasped as she stumbled to turn backwards but got tripped by Dazai as her back hit the floor with a thud. Dazai didn't waste a second as he immediately hovered her and placed his dagger on her neck to refrain her from moving and kicked her gun away. "Chuuya! You done? Mine's down!" Dazai yelled to the dodging Chuuya as the female's eyes widened at that name. "Shut up waste of bandages! I'm trying! Your's is just weak!" Dazai smirked as he glanced back at the female and brought his dagger closer. The male, upon hearing Chuuya yell back at Dazai, his actions slowed down as he saw his companion on the floor, defeated. Chuuya took that to his advantage as he swung his dagger right at the male's head. The man barely dodged it as he bend his head backwards hastily and fell to the floor, some of his hair getting cut off. Holding onto the dagger with two hands, Chuuya brought it down right in front of the man's ahead but his dagger suspended in the air, few centimetres away from the male's head. The female, upon seeing that, exclaimed, her voice hoarse. "Chuuya! Stop it!" Chuuya turned his head and stared at the women as he slowly got up, head hung low. "Piece of shit! I don't even  care anymore. Dazai, you do it!" With that, Dazai stared at Chuuya who looked rather upset and glanced back at the female. Guessing right, he hesitated, "You sure?" His voice was his normal emotionless one. He only showed his expressive side to Chuuya only. Chuuya sighed as he walked forward and pulled the hood off the female. "Let's see. My mother...yes, I'm sure!" His voice was impatient. Dazai, looking at Chuuya's angry figure walking away, shrugged as a murderous look flashed in his eyes. His eyes had a tint of red. He raised the dagger but before he swung it down, Chuuya's father, Hiroshi, spoke up, "Please don't do it. We don't mean any harm. We even almost burned down a whole forest to get to you." Dazai doesn't trust that easily as he looked at Chuuya who looked back. "And why should we trust you ?" Dazai was actually happy that he was always included in Chuuya's questions, he was always there to support Chuuya and aid him. Chuuya never forgotten him in any cases unlike everyone else. Hiroshi got onto his knees as he started begging. It was an embarrassing thing to do alright, even Dazai was stunned. He won't do that even if it costed it his life. He rather die than to be humiliated. Apologising like a broken recorder, Dazai slowly got off Isamu as she walked forward to Chuuya and hugged him. Hiroshi joined in the hug as they all did a family hug. Isamu did a quick explanation on what happened and Chuuya nodded as he sighed. He sauntered away, waving his hand to gesture to follow him.  Isamu and Hiroshi smiled at each other before eagerly following. Dazai behind them, signed in annoyance. "More people added to the group..." He mumbled to himself as he walked forward, only to be stopped by Isamu pointing her gun at him.