A Monster Like Me

Suicide Mission

"You summoned me, Mori?"

The man clad all in black stood before the iron throne, dark hair falling over a face half covered in bandages. His long cloak fell around his shoulders, its color melding with the shadows of the hall. 

Mori Ogai's mouth twitched, as if he were holding back a smile. This particular subject never bowed or addressed him by any sort of honorific, a prospect that he found more amusing than anything.

"Tell me Dazai, why is it you wish to die?" The king asked, intentionally leaving off his title as well. 

"Let's turn that question around," Dazai replied, his eye flashing as he met Mori's gaze. "Is there really any value to this thing we call 'living?'"

"Touche," the king replied, his eyes roving over the man in black. He was one of the few who knew why the boy wore those cloth strips around his arms and neck. "You have shown a surprising vitality for someone with such a bleak outlook. You have proven your worth, so I think I will reward you, my loyal subject~" He said, the mockery clear in his voice. Dazai scoffed, but before he could reply, Mori continued. "I haven't found a willing partner to do lovers suicide with you, but I will give you the next best thing. With luck, your death will be quick and painless. I'll turn your suicide into a noble quest and have you die a hero."

Dazai perked up slightly, a glint of morbid interest in his blood red eye. "A suicide mission? So you're just going to throw away your favorite tool, huh?"

"I can be merciful," Mori said, his snakelike grin betraying that this was hardly the truth. "A powerful dragon has been discovered in the Emerald Mountains, and I want his hoard.  What do you say, Dazai; fancy yourself a dragon slayer?"

"Now this is interesting... why not? It would be an honor to be killed by such a majestic creature~" the brunet replied sarcastically. 

"I knew that you would accept. If you defeat the beast, send word and you'll have riches and honor beyond your wildest dreams. If not, I doubt you'll be missed." 

Dazai turned to go, a satisfied smirk on his face. Finally, something to break him from the dull monotony of his usual life.

Maybe if I slay the beast, someone beautiful will fall for me and we can jump off a cliff together. If not, well, I'll get to see something new before I die. I wonder how big this dragon is anyway...

Dazai packed his bags and left that very day, riding off towards the distant mountains on his skittish grey mare. Mori was right, he had no one to say goodbye too. 

He made no rush to complete his journey, driving his horse at an easy pace as he took in what would most likely be the last days of his life. Dazai felt his spirits lift once he reached the trackless wilderness, the solitude and gentle sounds of nature his only company. There was no one to watch him, to criticize him, to impress. There was no reason to put on a fake smile and pretend everything was fine; just him and his horse in this wide, green country. 

After a few weeks steady travel, Dazai made it to the foothills of the great mountains, the shining peaks indeed looking like emeralds in the morning light. Wild sheep grazed on the open pastures, the only obstructions in the rolling grassy hills the occasional tree or lone boulder. 

"Looks like you'll have plenty of grass to eat, Setsunai. Let's hope that the dragon doesn't see you as food, huh?" Dazai said, patting the horse on the flank. Inwardly, he felt slightly nervous at how exposed he was out here. The towering mountains seeming to loom over him, and it was easy to imagine some great beast perched on the peak, watching his every move. 

Even after another day of steady riding, there was still no sign of the dragon. The standing stones had become more frequent, and the terrain had become more rocky and broken up, evidence of a glacial activity in a bygone day. Wildflowers of every color grew on all sides, and the soft sound of a mountain stream just made the scenery more beautiful. It was hard to imagine a bloodthirsty dragon living anywhere near here. 

Over the next few days, Dazai travelled further into the mountains, slowly making his way towards the tallest peak. If dragons were as proud as legend said, this is where it would make its home. He could now see occasional signs of the dragon; huge clawed footprints, fallen and splintered trees, and the occasional pale gleam of bone from one of its meals. Dazai smiled as he imagined himself lying out here, getting covered in a shallow grave of new grass and fallen leaves. It was an oddly peaceful thought to imagine his own bones lying in this beautiful wilderness with no gravestone or memorial to mark them. 

The air grew thin, and the morning mist hung heavily on the mountainside, making it impossible to see more than a few yards ahead. Tall spires of rock reared up on every side, their mist shrouded shadows making them look like some huge monster lying in wait. Setsunai huffed and snorted, sensing Dazai's own unease, but he urged the reluctant horse on. As the mist cleared, however, Dazai finally found what he was searching for. Far ahead, nestled on top of a steep anticline, was the yawning maw of a huge cave. This was most definitely the lair of the dragon. 

Getting there proved to be more difficult than expected, though. Steep drops and impassable crevices opened up suddenly beneath his feet, and rocky outcroppings blocking his path. Finally, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Dazai made it to the base of the cliff below the dragon's cave. He stopped to camp for the night, not daring to light a fire this close. Weary but unable to sleep, he laid down on his bedroll and watched the stars. 

Dazai sensed rather than saw something moving in the night. It was far too dark to see anything, but he imagined that he felt a disturbance in the air, and heard the faint sounds of a huge beast breathing. He lay absolutely still, clutching his sword with a white knuckled grip and straining to hear the faintest sounds. Setsunai suddenly spooked, but her frightened whinnying was suddenly cut off with the sound of crunching bones. The darkness made everything so much worse... Dazai's imagination ran wild, and he couldn't fight what he couldn't see! He just lay there in silence, praying that the dragon wouldn't notice him. 

Of course I'm not that lucky, Dazai thought as he heard the soft footsteps approaching him. Suddenly, the full moon came out from behind a cloud, shedding light on Dazai's foe at last. The silhouette of a giant serpent was slowly stalking closer, its gleaming eyes fixed on him. Dazai sprang up and drew his sword, shaking slightly with fear. He'd never seen anything so big! 

Upon seeing he was discovered, the dragon quitted stealth and walked towards Dazai more quickly, his claws clacking menacingly as he came nearly face to face with the small warrior. Then the dragon spoke.

"Who the hell are you, and why are you here?!"

Dazai jumped in surprise, not expecting to hear such a human like voice.

"I'm here to kill you, slug!" Dazai replied, faking bravado. 

"That's laughable; I could crush you with one paw! Leave now; I'm not giving you any of my treasure!" 

"I can't!" Dazai said in a sudden burst of frustration. The dragon's cocky attitude irked him for some reason. "You killed my horse, remember? How am I supposed to get home?"

"Not my problem. Just get lost, scum!" The dragon huffed and turned to leave, but stopped to look over his shoulder. 

"You didn't answer me earlier. Who are you?"

"My name is Dazai; you?"

"Chuuya." 

With those parting words, the dragon retreated into the night.