You're my Dog in Life and Death

Give Me A Reason

"Damn it, this fucker keeps regenerating!" Gin screamed out in frustration, emptying their last round into the writhing mass of tentacles that was bearing down on them.

"Take Kouyou and go!" Chuuya yelled, panting as he blocked another assault.

"I won't leave you! Even if I don't have a gun, I can still fight!" Gin said stubbornly, drawing their knives. Chuuya knew that they would be about as useful as toothpicks against this monster.

"That was an order, Akutagawa!" Chuuya barked, sparing a hasty glance at his unconscious mentor. A steady trickle of blood leaked from her head where she had been struck, but it wasn't life threatening. He refused to let them get hurt on his watch, and he knew that he couldn't defend the two and attack at the same time.

 Gin lifted Kouyou's limp body and stumbled back, glancing at Chuuya one more time. "Without Dazai, you'll-"

"I know what I have to do! Now go!" Chuuya yelled, launching himself into the air. He was worn out and near his limit, but the eldritch horror he was facing showed no sign of damage. He drew Lovecraft's attacks away from the two executives; giving them enough time to get away. He'd known this day would come sooner or later, and he almost felt relieved that he no longer had to wait. 

"Oh granters of dark disgrace, you need not wake me again..." 

Chuuya felt a surge of power rush through his limbs, threatening to drown him as pure, unfiltered rage filled his entire being. An inhuman scream rent Chuuya's throat as Arahabaki took over, and he simply became a spectator trapped inside his own body. He let go of himself, embracing the god of destruction that was finally set free. Chuuya laughed like a maniac as he conjured black hole after black hole, and hurtled them at the monster. The enemy was defeated, but there was nothing that could stop corruption. Chuuya started to cough blood as corruption continued to rampage, tearing apart his body with its unrelenting fury. This is how it had to be. Chuuya thought sadly as his consciousness faded. 

Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed Chuuya's wrist, and he fell to his knees, completely exhausted. He slowly looked up to see Dazai standing there, holding him firmly and keeping him from falling any further. My life is flashing before my eyes... because Dazai is dead, and there's no way he could really be here to nullify corruption... Chuuya thought vaguely.

"The enemy has already been destroyed. Rest, Chuuya." 

Dazai's voice; how he'd missed it. Chuuya smiled as his eyes fluttered closed. Of course that bastard would be the last thing I ever think about...

"You don't seem very surprised to see me, do you think that I'm not real?" Dazai asked with an amused chuckle, catching Chuuya's head as he swayed and fell backwards. 

"You're dead," Chuuya muttered, trying to tell himself that this wasn't real. 

"I am," Dazai confirmed, running a hand through Chuuya's hair as he let him rest his head on his lap, "I've become a demon of hell, but I still came for you." Chuuya looked up at him in confusion, shuddering slightly as he felt his love's hand stroke his hair. He noticed for the first time that Dazai's exposed eye was glowing a soft red.

"A-are you here- am I seeing you- because I'm dead too?"

"No Chuuya; you're not dead, but you would have been if I hadn't managed to get here in time." Dazai said, smiling down at him fondly. "But the next time you use corruption, you will die if you don't give me something in return."

"I don't get it, how are you even here? Why haven't you ever come back for me if you can? Why the hell did you kill yourself in the first place, and what the fuck do you want from me now?!?!" Chuuya asked, his voice growing increasingly hysterical with each question. He tried to get up, but he didn't have the strength. Instead he just glared at Dazai; the man he hated and loved the most in the world. 

"I have to leave soon, and it'll be for good unless you sign this contract." Dazai said softly. "I can't answer your questions right now, but if you sign this paper, I'll be able to come back every time you use corruption," Dazai said. He pulled out a piece of golden parchment that had an almost ethereal air to it, then offered it to Chuuya. "If you take this deal, I'll be able to come back to the living world and nullify corruption; and when you die, you'll be by my side forever. Are you willing to make a deal with the devil?"