Bound by Obsession

Part 21

A week had passed, and in that time, Dazai found himself in a strange, almost nostalgic routine with Fyodor. It was as if they'd slipped back into their childhood days, a time when life was simpler and the world around them didn't feel as heavy. Fyodor, despite the dark and calculating mind that made him feared by many, had somehow managed to make Dazai feel... comfortable. The two of them spent their days watching old movies, sharing quiet conversations, playing chess—an activity that often turned into a battle of wits, with neither giving an inch.

It felt almost too normal, too peaceful, and that gnawed at Dazai. He wasn't entirely sure how to reconcile this—being held captive yet treated with such care. Fyodor was dangerous, of course, but the way he treated Dazai was different. There was a possessiveness in his actions, in the way he would watch Dazai when he wasn't looking, and a strange sense of longing that lingered between them.

But Dazai knew better than to trust the calm before the storm. He had a choice to make, and the longer he stayed, the more complicated it became. Fyodor seemed to be waiting, patiently, as if he knew Dazai's internal struggle and was confident that, in time, Dazai would choose him over everything else. Every chess game, every movie, every shared moment between them only made that decision harder.

Meanwhile, back at the Armed Detective Agency and the Port Mafia, the week had been nothing but a relentless search for Dazai. Chuuya had thrown himself into the mission with single-minded determination, working alongside Ranpo, who, though typically nonchalant, was just as focused. Together, they combed through every lead, every tiny piece of information they could gather. Frustration built with each passing day, especially for Chuuya. He was haunted by the idea of Dazai being with Fyodor, unsure of what that meant or what might be happening to him.

On the seventh day, they finally found something. Ranpo, using his sharp deductions, pieced together the scattered clues, and Chuuya's instincts led them to the breakthrough they needed: a location. Fyodor had been careful, but not careful enough to evade both the sharpest mind and the most determined fighter.

"It's a mansion," Ranpo confirmed, tapping his finger on the map in front of them. "Hidden in the outskirts. It's isolated, hard to track unless you know exactly where to look. Fyodor's clever, but this is it."

Chuuya grinned darkly, the tension of the past week lifting slightly. "So, that's where he's been hiding."

Without missing a beat, Chuuya stood up, ready to charge in. "I'm going after him."

"You're not going alone," Kunikida said firmly, standing beside Ranpo. "We'll go as a team."

But Chuuya shook his head, his eyes cold and focused. "You don't understand. This is between me, Fyodor, and Dazai. If Fyodor's involved, you need more than just a plan—you need someone who can handle him. That's me."

Ranpo sighed, adjusting his glasses. "Chuuya's right. If anyone's going to get Dazai out of there, it's him."

Kunikida frowned but didn't argue. He knew Chuuya's feelings for Dazai, even if Chuuya never admitted them outright. There was no stopping him now.

With the location confirmed, the team quickly mobilized, preparing for what was sure to be a dangerous and unpredictable mission. But as Chuuya and the others prepared to confront Fyodor, only one thing was clear: this wasn't just about rescuing Dazai. It was about understanding what had happened in the time he'd been gone, and whether he even wanted to come back at all.