Lies [Dazai x Akutagawa]

6

Exhausted to the bone, akutagawa was returning to the port mafia after completing all his missions. But something on his way back got him enchanted. The tea set in the antique shop.

Akutagawa always felt an unknowing attraction towards antiques. Its not like he had much chance to praise their beauty , growing up in slums. But something always kept him drawn to them.

He entered the shop to take a much closer look at them. Yeah, they were definitely beautiful. The design seemed to be of Victorian style with a traditional Japanese touch.

"It's a very unique piece indeed" a voice rang out behind him. "Do you like it ?" The shopkeeper asked.

" yes" akutagawa replied quietly. The shopkeeper was an old lady, who seemed to be in her late 70s.

" are you planning on buying them?" She asked looking at akutagawa.

"No." He replied. Such a beautiful piece does not belong in his place.

"Alright" she said and turned to the piece , looking at it with the same enchantment as in akutagawa's eyes.

"Would you like to have some tea?" The old lady asked after a few minutes.

Akutagawa turned to look at the lady's smiling face and watched her returning to a room attached to the shop. Akutagawa followed her, understanding.

________

Akutagawa sat down on the carpeted floor, on one side of the table. The old lady returned with a bunch of items and sat opposite to akutagawa, beginning to prepare the tea.

Akutagawa looked at the lady for sometime and offered to brew it himself.

"My goodness! It's not everyday that I come across an handsome young man brewing tea with such delicacy. Must be my lucky day!" The old lady exclaimed with a warm smile.

Akutagawa froze at that and warmth crept to his face. A compliment. That was new. No one had ever praised akutagawa before.

It was a exquisite Darjeeling tea. Akutagawa always wanted to try it, but never got the chance. He relished in it's aroma.

Once he was done brewing it, he offered it to the old lady and then poured it for himself. Akutagawa took a sip and was very satisfied with its taste when it hit his taste buds. It was calm and serene.

"It's delicious" the old lady said warmly, appreciating the tea. Akutagawa agreed.

"Here take this " the old lady said pushing a bowl full of fruits towards akutagawa. "Eat it along with the tea. It will make it even better".

"I don't like them" akutagawa said looking at the bowl full of strawberries, peaches, grapes and apples. "I don't like fruits much."

"Really? That's bad" tha old lady said with a contemplative look. Then suddenly, she got up.

" wait here." She said and went somewhere.

She then returned with a bowl full of something, which akutagawa assumed to be edible.

"Do you know this one?" She asked looking at akutagawa with a smile.

"No" akutagawa said looking at the bowl.

"Try this" she said pushing the bowl towards akutagawa.

Akutagawa hesitantly took one and put it in his mouth, but was suprised when it tasted so delicious. Akutagawa liked, no, loved whatever it was.

The old lady laughed a little when she could see that akutagawa loved the fruit.

" it's fig" she said looking at him warmly.