Bound by Obsession

Part 25

As the door to the mansion closed behind Fyodor and Dazai, the tension outside only deepened. Chuuya stood rooted to the spot, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles had gone white. The image of Dazai, slipping into sleep in Fyodor's arms, played over and over in his mind, and he could hardly believe what he had just witnessed.

"Dazai..." Chuuya growled under his breath, torn between rage and disbelief. "That idiot."

Ranpo, who had been watching closely, adjusted his glasses with a frown. "He's completely let his guard down. This isn't good."

Kunikida's eyes remained fixed on the mansion. "I don't know what's worse: the fact that Dazai let Fyodor hold him, or the fact that Fyodor's the only one Dazai trusts enough to fall asleep around."

"Trust?" Chuuya spat, turning to Kunikida. "That's not trust. That's manipulation. Fyodor's getting into his head, and we're standing here watching it happen!"

Yosano, who had been silent, finally spoke up. "I don't like it any more than you do, Chuuya, but we have to be smart about this. If we act rashly, we could lose Dazai entirely."

Chuuya scowled, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "So what, we just wait? Watch while Fyodor—" His voice broke off, too angry to continue.

Ranpo sighed. "Dazai's always been good at hiding his true feelings. Maybe he's still playing some kind of game here, but..." He trailed off, not sounding convinced.

There was an uneasy silence between them, the weight of the situation pressing down. They had all known Dazai could be unpredictable, but none of them had expected this—especially not Chuuya. The partnership he and Dazai shared had always been defined by their rivalry, their sharp edges and constant bickering. But seeing Dazai so... open, so vulnerable with Fyodor, was like a punch to the gut.

And yet, they had no choice but to wait.

Inside the mansion, Fyodor carried Dazai upstairs with ease, careful not to disturb his peaceful slumber. He opened the door to a spacious bedroom and gently laid Dazai down on the large bed, pulling the covers over him. Dazai stirred slightly, murmuring something under his breath, but didn't wake.

Fyodor smiled down at him, brushing a stray lock of hair from Dazai's face. "Sleep well, Dazai," he whispered. "You're exactly where you belong."

He lingered for a moment, watching Dazai's chest rise and fall in the steady rhythm of sleep, before quietly leaving the room. As he descended the stairs, a glint of satisfaction flickered in his eyes.

Downstairs, Fyodor settled himself in a plush armchair, his mind racing with plans. Dazai was here now—finally—and everything was falling into place. It had taken years to get to this point, but Fyodor had been patient. And now, he had Dazai exactly where he wanted him.

There was still work to be done, though. He knew the Port Mafia and the Armed Detective Agency wouldn't stop looking for Dazai. And even though they had no idea where he was, they were getting closer. Fyodor could feel it. But that didn't worry him. In fact, it excited him. The closer they got, the more fun it would be to show them just how much Dazai belonged to him now.

Back outside, Chuuya finally broke the tense silence. "We can't just sit here forever. We need a plan."

Kunikida nodded. "Agreed. But we can't rush in blind, not with Fyodor involved. We need to be smart about this. Ranpo, any ideas?"

Ranpo tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I'm working on it. But one thing's clear—Fyodor's got a hold on Dazai right now. We have to figure out how deep that hold goes before we act."

Chuuya's expression darkened. "And what if Dazai doesn't want to be saved?"

Yosano glanced at him, her eyes serious. "Then we have to remind him why he does."

The group exchanged uneasy glances, knowing that the road ahead would be far more complicated than they had anticipated. Dazai was at the center of it all, but whether he was truly being manipulated or playing his own game, none of them could be sure.

But one thing was certain: they wouldn't leave without him.