We don't talk about Jouno

A truly bad idea

What Tetchou was about to do was something he knew he shouldn't. Teruko had strictly forbidden him from going to see this person, but Tetchou didn't care. He was hurting, he was sad, he was angry and he was numb. If nothing else, Fukuchi would understand that. He'd known Tetchou's fury. He'd talk. Tetchou slammed his access card against the wall, and stealthy turned his phone to silent. The other members of the hunting dogs had probably already figured out what he was up to. That was okay. Let them try to stop him.

When Fukuchi turned around, Tetchou could see his former boss was a hollow shell of himself. Good. Tetchou wanted him to suffer. "Tetchou." Fukuchi said, sounding genuinely surprised to see him. Tetchou said nothing, only walked over to the opposite chair, and sat down. Teruko frequently told Tetchou that usually he looked friendly enough, but that when he was angry, he could scare the living daylights out of anyone. That was what he was going for here.

"I suppose there isn't much to say." Tetchou said coldly. "I could rant and scream and beat the hell out of you, but that won't bring Jouno back. Thanks to you, nothing will. I'm here for the information and nothing more." Fukuchi pushed his chair back. "I didn't want to kill him." He said softly. "If Jouno had just kept his head down and gone along with the plan, we wouldn't be here right now." Before Tetchou could say anything, Fukuchi said the worst thing he possibly could have here. "I'm sorry."

It took everything in Tetchou's power not to leap across the desk and kill the guy. No one would blame him if he did. "Oh, that's okay." Tetchou said, low and dangerous. "You're sorry. You killed Jouno. You stole the light of my life. You took the person I love the most in the entire world, and you ensured I'd never see him again. But, it's okay, because you're sorry."

Fukuchi looked down, too much of a coward to meet Tetchou's eyes. "I want to know what the decay of angels are planning. I want to know. And I want to know now." Fukuchi paused, then said "I don't know much. I was always just the decoy. I know they're planning something far worse, though." Tetchou crossed his arms. "So, what I understand is, you're basically useless." He got up to leave. "When I tell Teruko, I'll request I be the one to execute you."

"Tetchou, wait." Fukuchi said. Tetchou wasn't sure why he stopped in the doorway. "After Jouno was turned, I found this in his pocket." Tetchou glared. "Oh, not only did you kill my boyfriend, you pickpocketed him." Tetchou had never seen Fukuchi look so distressed before. "I was checking for weapons but I found this instead. He would have wanted you to have this." Fukuchi reached into his own pocket, and took out a small box. Tetchou took it warily. "Wait until you're out of the cell." Fukuchi said. "I don't have the stomach to see you when you open it." And, with that, Tetchou left the cell.

Tetchou made his way back to his room, without catching the attention of anyone else in the building. Good. He sat down on his bed, and started to open the box. Tetchou was genuinely concerned it'd explode or something, but if it really came from Jouno, he couldn't risk it, so he opened the box. What Tetchou saw nearly made him throw up. There, gleaming in the small box, was a pristine silver wedding ring. Jouno had gotten Tetchou a ring.

Tetchou had gotten Jouno one too, but had never been able to work up the nerve to propose. That was something he'd regret for the rest of his life. He never thought he'd get the answer to how Jouno felt about him, but now the answer was staring up at him from the box. If Jouno was still alive, he and Tetchou would be engaged. Tetchou threw his head back and screamed.

*

Chuuya and Tachihara rarely got quiet time anymore. That came with being part of the hunting dogs after the chaos of the vampire outbreak and the decay of angels. Chuuya's room was on the small side. He'd used to stay in the spare bedroom in Tetchou and Jouno's apartment, after he joined the hunting dogs for the first time. Now, for obvious reasons, he didn't do that. As a result, his 'bedroom' was a storage closet in the building that he'd redesigned, with much unnecessary help from Tetchou. It wasn't exactly spacious.

"Thanks for coming." Chuuya said. Tachihara  looked around, slightly amused. "How could I refuse, when you live in a place like this?" He asked sarcastically. Chuuya cracked a small smile. "Smartass." Tachihara became more serious, and reached over to touch Chuuya's arms. It was a sort of hug, made a bit awkward by the fact that they were sitting so far apart from each other.

Chuuya flinched slightly. It wasn't that long ago that Dostoevsky's hands were all over his body. This was different, though. Where Dostoevsky had been cold and controlling, Tachihara was kind and comforting. He felt safe, like home before all of this happened. He'd never make Chuuya wear a dress, or do anything to him that he didn't want.

"I'm sorry." Tachihara said quickly, and pulled away. Chuuya shook his head. "It's okay." He said. "I like it when you hold me." Tachihara blushed visibly. Ever since Dazai left the port mafia, and even before he did, Chuuya had always had a bit of a place in his heart for Tachihara. Tachihara was a nice, normal guy who cared about him. In the end, Dazai had stopped trying to pursue Chuuya romantically. He'd accepted that Chuuya was happy with Tachihara, so even though Dazai was gone now, this didn't feel like a betrayal of his memory.

Tachihara slowly reached out, and put one hand on the side of Chuuya's face. "Is it okay if I kiss you?" He asked. Chuuya was sure he was blushing furiously. Yes, he wanted that very much. He also liked how Tachihara asked first. Unlike Dostoevsky, Tachihara understood consent. "Yeah." Chuuya said quickly. "I think I'd really like that."

Chuuya crossed the distance between them to kiss Tachihara. It was a nice kiss, soft and gentle. However, it was over too soon. Chuuya and Tachihara quickly pulled apart when they heard a knock on the door. Teruko opened the door, and looked down in confusion to see Chuuya and Tachihara. When she realized what was going on, she smiled mischievously.

"Oh, my bad." She said. "I didn't know I was interrupting something." From the look on Tachihara's face, Chuuya was sure they were both in for much teasing about this later. "What is it, Teruko?" Tachihara asked, way too embarrassed to look her in the eyes. "A mission." She said. "Maya used the agency's hacker, and she's pretty sure she was able to find one or the new decay of angels bases. You guys should come. I think it'd be good to get Tetchou out of the house, you know?"

Chuuya nodded. "Whatever we can do to help." He said. Teruko grinned and clapped her hands together. "Okay, then. Get a move on, lovebirds!" She left, and Chuuya just shook his head. "We're never going to hear the end of this, are we?" He asked. Tachihara gave him a look that said he didn't think so. "Just keep an eye on Tetchou, okay?" Tachihara said. Chuuya nodded seriously. "I promise." If this really was an decay of angels base, there was no telling what was going to happen.