Dazai X Chuuya || Dark Reflections

Behind the Curtain

Part 13: Behind the Curtain

Dazai and Chuuya moved through the dimly lit hallway at the back of the club, their footsteps silent. The muffled sounds of laughter and conversation from the main room faded as they approached a heavy, steel door. From behind it, they could hear the low murmur of voices—serious, calculated, and entirely focused.

Chuuya glanced at Dazai, his lips curling into a smirk. "Ready to crash the party?"

Dazai gave a nonchalant shrug. "Always."

Without another word, Chuuya kicked the door open with a powerful thrust, sending it slamming against the wall with a deafening crash. Inside, a group of figures seated around a long, wooden table froze, their eyes snapping toward the intruders. The room was dimly lit, a single chandelier hanging overhead, casting long shadows over their faces.

At the head of the table sat a man, tall and composed, his eyes sharp with intelligence. His posture remained relaxed, despite the sudden intrusion. He wore a tailored black suit, his silver hair slicked back neatly, and his hands rested casually on the table in front of him. Behind him, several guards moved, their hands reaching for weapons—but with a subtle gesture from the man, they stopped.

"Now, now," he said in a smooth, calm voice. "There's no need for violence. I take it you're the ones who have been causing trouble for my operations?"

Dazai smiled as he sauntered into the room, hands in his pockets, as if he owned the place. "Oh, you could say that. But I prefer to think of it as... asking questions."

Chuuya followed, his gaze hard and unforgiving as he glared at the group. "We don't have time for games. Who are you, and why are you moving against the Port Mafia?"

The silver-haired man chuckled softly, gesturing for them to sit. "Please, have a seat. There's no need for hostility. After all, we’re all professionals here."

Dazai exchanged a glance with Chuuya before he strolled over and sat down at the table, completely at ease. Chuuya, however, remained standing, his arms crossed, his eyes never leaving the man’s face.

"You didn’t answer his question," Dazai said, his voice still light but carrying an edge.

The man leaned back in his chair, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Ah, where are my manners? My name is Kurokawa. I represent an organization that has recently taken an interest in Yokohama’s power balance. And as you might have noticed, the Port Mafia is no longer the sole player in this city."

Chuuya's jaw tightened. "So, you think you can just walk in here and take what you want? You must be pretty stupid."

Kurokawa's smile never faltered. "Not stupid. Ambitious. Yokohama is ripe for the taking. The Port Mafia has grown complacent, fat on its old glory. It’s time for someone new to take the reins. Someone with vision."

Dazai leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with interest. "And I take it you think you're that someone?"

Kurokawa’s expression turned cold. "I don’t think. I know. My organization has resources the likes of which the Port Mafia can’t even dream of. We’ve already infiltrated key sectors of the city. Soon, Mori will have no choice but to step down—or be eliminated."

Chuuya’s temper flared, and he took a threatening step forward. "You talk a lot for a dead man."

But before Chuuya could make a move, Kurokawa raised his hand again, signaling his guards to remain calm. "I admire your loyalty, but this is bigger than either of you. I don’t intend to wipe out the Port Mafia—merely reshape it. The smart ones will survive and thrive. The rest... well, let’s just say this city doesn’t have room for the weak."

Dazai tilted his head, his smile never fading. "Reshape, huh? So you think you can control the Port Mafia from the shadows?"

Kurokawa’s smile returned, this time sharper. "I think it’s already happening. You see, the real power isn’t in brute force. It’s in control—control over information, assets, and people. We’ve been pulling strings for months, and Mori has yet to realize how deep our influence runs."

There was a brief pause, the tension in the air thickening. Dazai’s smile grew wider, and he chuckled softly. "You know, I’m impressed. It’s not easy to fly under Mori’s radar for this long. But you’ve made one mistake."

Kurokawa raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what might that be?"

"You’ve underestimated us."

In the blink of an eye, Chuuya launched forward, his ability activating with a flash of crimson light. The table splintered as he sent a shockwave through the room, knocking Kurokawa’s guards off their feet. The air crackled with energy as Chuuya’s anger fueled his power, his control over gravity warping the very space around them.

Kurokawa barely flinched, his expression remaining calm as he stood. "I see. I had hoped we could avoid this."

Dazai stood as well, his gaze cold now. "We’re not interested in your grand schemes. We’re here to end this."

But before either of them could make a move, the door burst open again, and a figure stepped into the room—a woman, her presence commanding. She wore a long, dark coat, her hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail, and her eyes gleamed with intelligence and danger.

"Enough," she said, her voice cutting through the chaos like a knife. "You’re both walking into a trap."

Chuuya blinked in surprise. "Who the hell are you?"

The woman didn’t answer, her gaze fixed on Kurokawa. "Your game is over. You’ve been compromised."

For the first time, Kurokawa’s composure slipped. "What are you talking about?"

The woman smiled coldly. "You’ve been sloppy. We’ve been watching you for some time now, waiting for you to make a move. The Port Mafia isn’t your only enemy."

Dazai’s eyes flickered with interest. "And who do you represent?"

The woman’s smile widened, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she turned to Chuuya and Dazai. "You’ll want to leave now. Things are about to get... messy."

Before they could respond, the sound of sirens filled the air, growing louder by the second. Chuuya’s eyes narrowed, and he glanced at Dazai. "We don’t have time for this. Let’s get out of here."

Dazai nodded, turning to the woman one last time. "You’re full of surprises. I’ll be seeing you."

Without another word, the two of them disappeared into the night, leaving the club behind just as the authorities arrived. The game had changed, and new players were emerging from the shadows. But one thing was certain—this was only the beginning.

As they vanished into the maze of Yokohama’s streets, Dazai’s mind was already racing. Whoever Kurokawa’s mysterious enemies were, they weren’t amateurs. The real power struggle was just getting started, and Dazai intended to be right in the center of it.

Chuuya’s voice broke through his thoughts. "You think we’ll ever figure out what’s going on here?"

Dazai smiled, the thrill of the chase sparking in his eyes. "Oh, I’m counting on it."