There is more than one of him

Chapter 17

"Look, I get it. I was gone for a really long time, I'm totally different now and you want to know what happened you wanna understand why. But I can't tell you all of that. It's just not possible. So can't you just be happy I'm back and let's be done with it?"

Dazai wanted to get up and leave, they didn't get it. They never would. And how would they get it. They didn't know his return was only a temporary thing in order to get Itsuki away from Yokohoma.

They would never understand why he was how he was. Why everything turned out this way. Why he couldn't stay.

So he remained seated.

He had this one chance to talk to his family and he wouldn't mess it up by following emotions. He needed to make them realize that it was better for everyone, if he didn't stick around, without letting them know, that the mafia is very much the reason for it.

"Alright then. You don't want to talk about it right now. That's ok. Why don't we go and eat something together?" Tane suggested, she had wanted to do so since they had arrived, however considering Osamu's apparent food habits, she hadn't dared before.

Though he wasn't really in the mood to eat, Dazai was glad about the change of topic, so he easily agreed.

"Wonderful idea! I haven't eaten something from around here in a long time"

Though Dazai quickly realized the fault in the game. His mother had meant going out to a restaurant, not ordering or picking up food and eating it here, the way she had often done in the past.

However in the past was thirteen years ago and a time she had most likely tried to forget everything about.

Still now he couldn't back out anymore, he had already agreed, if he were to pull back now, they would think of him as some fragile broken child, instead of a grown adult who could think before he acted. And thinking before doing was something that had made thousands of people fear him to death. It was- had been- his job for longer than he would like to admit.

And so that's what happened.

The moment the four of them left the house though, Tane realized the fault in her idea. They were out in the open. In public. People could see the four of them now.

The four of them together. Most of the neighbores either remembered Shuji or knew of the story which occured 13 years ago. If any of them saw Osamu with them...

Yes it was true, Osamu hardly looked like Itsuki's twin anymore. However he still looked ironically similar.

And judging from how physically unhealthy Osamu looked compared to Itsuki, people might start weird rumours.

But now it was already too late. So they just had to hope no one would ask.

Dazai had similar thoughts. However he didn't concern himself with the neighbores, he would be gone by sunrise the day after tomorrow. No his concern were mafia agents reporting what he was doing.

Arriving in the restaurant Dazai already knew some dumb shit was about to happen. Well to be fair he had known some dumb shit was about to happen ever since his brother had stood in front of him in the agency that day.

Nothing good ever came from surprises, not in the past not in the present and judging from his prediction of it neither in the future. However it was too late now.

Dazai knew what was gonna happen, he always did. It was one of the many things the previous boss had taught him. He had taught him how to use his intellect and Dazai had always been a quick learner.

And so for better or for worse he knew, his plans of keeping the mafia and Yokohoma's afairs away from Kawasaki and from the people hwo called him his family.

He couldn't yet truly understand whether he still cared for them or not and in all honesty it didn't matter. He had been gone for too long. He had done too many things he should regret but didn't. He couldn't go back to people who thought he was nothing but a broken victim, just like the agency did.

Dazai was well aware of Ranpo analyzing his every movement. How they all looked at him. Especially the president. He knew they thought they were seeing something in him, behind the facade.

Maybe Ranpo was seeing something and Dazai admitted it, he was quite fucked up, some of the things they thought about him were simply wrong. He never corrected them on it, because correcting meant admitting he realized what they were doing and that again would mean letting them know how much he knew.

And it was just the same with his parents and Itsuki. He knew they were judging him, they would even more if they all knew what he had done and they would surely cast him out once they found out he didn't regret a single thing.

So he couldn't stay with them, but they were not connected to him anymore, so they didn't deserve to be targeted by the port mafia either.

Ergo, he couldn't stick around, because otherwise a lot of thing he had carefully layed out for the past seven years would all go to waste.

"Ah, YOU?! Out of all the people I didn't want to meet here or ever again!!! YOU had to show up! You know the ONE freaking time I'm sure I wouldn't accidently runt into you because I was somewhere where YOU had refused every job for the past -...- however long I know you years and the best thing you manage is to fucking show up here in the same place as I am. you suicidal maniac!!!"

And of course like always he was right. But why Chuuya out of all people?

In the middle of the restaurant, Chuuya was standing in front of Dazai and three very confused people, pointing with his finger at Itsuki's face so close it almost impaled it, and screaming at them.

Chuuya himself didn't even seem to acctually register the other three people and much less the fact, that he was pointing at the wrong person.

"Itsuki do you know this man?" Tane asked slightly intimidated
"I do not, but I-" Itsuki started however was interrupted by Dazai.

"Ah, well I assure you I haven't missed your voice either. However I do feel offended I mean I know we're twins, but come on we don't look that similar and besides that you've known me for seven years. A, why do you not know that, B, why can't you recognize your own ex partner?"

"Well I tend to not remember traitors at all, since usually they are executed at first sight. You are the only one who ever got to live, though I'd be happy to change that and execuse you for remembering every stupid detail, why the hell does it even matter how long ago we first met?"

By this point all other guests except Chuuya, Dazai, Itsuki and their parents had left the restaurant. Though Tane, Gen'emon and Itsuki had taken a couple of steps back.

"Huh, as if. You know exactly what happens if you kill me, I'm sure the government would be terribly grateful to you though."

Itsuki guessed this guy was port mafia then. Seven years ago, he knew Dazai had been, ... with... the port mafia.

"Tsh, yeah right, we've been over this whole shit already. Anyways, why the hell does that guy look like you?"

"Do you seriously not listen to what I say? We are twins"

Now Chuuya took a buffled step back.

"Twins? I didn't know the previous boss had more than one child?"

After that statement Dazai broke out in histerical laughter.

"Ah, you're funny, as stupid and small as you are, I have to admit you're funny. Geeze, me? haha, the old man's kid haha!! Oh you're good."