Soukoku One-Shots

Death & Destruction Pt. 3

a/n: there is one stormbringer character in this part and part five. there aren't technically any spoilers but there are references to stormbringer events, so just be cautious. 

Alternate Universe

Dazai had never noticed that the enormous chandelier in the throne room looked like a dragon if one looked at it directly from the doors.

Not until Chuuya pointed it out so excitedly as they came inside from a walk around Tartarus one late afternoon, smile warm and eyes bright, and now Dazai couldn't stop seeing it. Every time he entered the palace from the carriage house, it stared at him, and Dazai's face would grow warm with the memory—it was something so insignificant and yet he thought of it constantly—almost as if were mocking him.

Dazai let out a sigh for the umpteenth time, slouching on his throne as the soul was taken away, screeching and shouting obscenities as if that would change his mind.

"Dazai," Sasaki warned, frowning, and Dazai gave her a cloying smile in return. She studied him for a moment more before calling for the next soul to enter.

Dazai watched the doors open with half-lidded eyes and quickly found himself watching a tall young man walk through the doors, hands in the pockets of a dirty lab coat.

Dazai narrowed his eyes at the silver watch on his wrist. Something about him was vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.

"State your name," Sasaki demanded, but her voice didn't boom through the room like Dazai's did. He'd never thought that a place this large and hollow suited her.

The soul opened his mouth to reply, but he didn't get the chance when the doors burst open—immediately, the strange pulling sensation returned from behind Dazai's ribs.

"Don't say one fucking word."

Fiery red hair came into view, and the sight stole the breath from Dazai's throat as he watched Chuuya storm into the throne room like it was his, eyes alight with raw, burning fury and lips twisted into a savage snarl. Angry power radiated from him like rippling waves, ones that Dazai could feel against his bones as he watched, entranced.

The soul didn't seem phased and barely turned his head to acknowledge Chuuya's presence at all.

"Chuuya," Dazai began, and though he registered his mouth moving and his voice echoing through the room, his mind still felt far away, stranded on thoughts of such beauty before him. "Do you know this gentleman?"

Chuuya's gaze snapped to his in an instant and Dazai's breath caught in his throat—he looked so alive. "Yeah. He's a real piece of work." Chuuya looked back to the young man, eyes narrowed into slits as he stalked forward.

Dazai thought he saw Sasaki move to speak—perhaps reign in the situation, perhaps ask for answers from the soul, perhaps nothing at all. She didn't get the chance, though, when Chuuya's hand snapped out and gripped the soul's chin, yanking their faces close enough to share breath.

Something twisted in Dazai's belly.

"You wanna tell me what the fuck you're doing here?" Chuuya hissed.

The soul chuckled. "It's good to see you again. You're well, I hope."

Dazai stood, but neither one looked his way. As beautiful as the sight—of Chuuya—was, the angry waves of his power would bring the palace to rubble if he let things continue as they were. Dazai began making his way down the dais and ignored Sasaki's curious gaze as it followed him.

"Fuck you." Chuuya raised his hand—to smack him, to punch him, to shatter him—but Dazai moved first. Without thinking, his fingers wrapped around Chuuya's wrist.