Immortality [Dazai x Female Reader]

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Game of Words and Alliances

A/N- Just letting you know, I might've accidentally made this Chapter 23 even though it's supposed to be 22, so the rest of the chapters will be 1 off, Sorry people :<

Y/N sat quietly in the back of the van, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery through the small, grated window. The heavy silence inside the vehicle pressed down on her, the weight of her situation sinking in further with each passing moment. She had known this day would come eventually—being captured by the Hunting Dogs—but she didn't expect the plan to feel so real, so intense.

The van hit a bump in the road, jolting her slightly, and she sighed. She couldn't afford to lose focus now. Dazai was counting on her, and the success of their plan hinged on both of them playing their roles perfectly. But as much as she trusted Dazai, doubt still crept in at the edges of her mind. Would this really work? Was she really going to walk out of this alive?

A sharp voice cut through her thoughts.

"You look awfully calm for someone in your position."

Y/N turned her head slightly and found Jouno sitting across from her, his expression unreadable. His eyes were closed as always, relying on his ability to sense the world around him without sight. There was something unsettling about the way he carried himself—his air of absolute confidence. He leaned back casually, as if this whole situation was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

Y/N raised an eyebrow, hiding the small flicker of unease that sparked in her chest. "Calm? I wouldn't say that," she replied, her voice carefully measured. "But I've learned that panicking never helps."

Jouno's lips twisted into a smirk. "Wise words, coming from someone in chains."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she adjusted her position against the cold, hard seat. "You seem very confident in your success," she said evenly. "But things don't always go as planned, do they?"

Jouno let out a quiet chuckle, his head tilting slightly in her direction as if he were studying her. "You're stalling," he said matter-of-factly, his smirk widening. "Trying to find weaknesses in your captors, perhaps? Or maybe you're hoping for a miracle."

Y/N's expression remained neutral. She couldn't give anything away. "Maybe I'm just curious. You've been hunting me for a while now. What exactly do you think you're going to gain from this?"

Jouno's smirk faltered for just a second, replaced by a colder, more serious expression. "You've lived for too long. Committed too many crimes. Do you really think the world will just let someone like you walk free? Immortality isn't a gift—it's a curse. And justice will always catch up to those who try to escape it."

Y/N felt a chill run down her spine at the venom in his voice. She knew the Hunting Dogs had their reasons for targeting her, but hearing it put so bluntly still struck a nerve. She was more than her crimes, more than the mistakes she had made over centuries. She was trying to do better—trying to find a purpose. But none of that would matter to people like Jouno.

"And what about you?" Y/N asked, keeping her tone light even as her heart raced. "What drives someone like you to become an agent of 'justice'? Do you really believe in what you're doing?"

Jouno's lips pressed into a thin line. He was silent for a moment, considering her words. "It doesn't matter what I believe," he said finally. "The world is full of chaos, and someone has to impose order. That's what we do. We bring order to chaos. People like you, who live beyond the rules of life and death, disrupt that balance. You're an anomaly."

Y/N's heart sank slightly at his words. The more she heard, the more she understood that Jouno and the others wouldn't stop. They truly believed in what they were doing, and that made them all the more dangerous. Still, she couldn't let him get under her skin.

"So, I'm just another job to you, then?" she asked with a wry smile, trying to keep the conversation flowing.

"Not quite," Jouno replied, a dangerous edge creeping into his voice. "You're a challenge. Most criminals beg for their lives or try to escape. But you, with your immortality, think you're untouchable. You think you can evade justice forever."

Before Y/N could respond, the van hit another bump, and a new voice interrupted their conversation.

"Hey, Jouno, don't get too philosophical on her. We've still got a job to do."

It was Tetchō, sitting further up in the van. His tone was gruff but not unkind. Y/N glanced over at him, appreciating the momentary break from Jouno's sharp words.

"Relax, Tetchō," Jouno said with a smirk. "I'm just getting to know our guest. After all, it's not every day we catch someone this important."

Tetchō grunted in response, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. Y/N could sense that, despite their differences, the Hunting Dogs were united in their mission. They weren't going to let her slip through their fingers.

But Y/N wasn't giving up. Not yet.

She took a deep breath, trying to keep her mind steady. She had to stay strong, trust in Dazai's plan, and—most importantly—bide her time.

Far from the van, in the shadows of an alley, Dazai moved with his usual grace and confidence. His steps were silent, purposeful, as he approached the hidden meeting spot. The rendezvous was risky, but he knew it was necessary. They needed someone who could help them gain the upper hand against the Hunting Dogs, someone who had connections beyond the reach of the Agency.

And that someone was Fyodor Dostoevsky.

The dark, calculating man was waiting in the dimly lit alley, his sharp eyes flickering in the low light. Dazai couldn't help but smirk as he approached, already anticipating the game of words and strategy that was about to unfold.

"Dazai," Fyodor greeted him with a smooth, cold voice. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Dazai leaned against the wall, his expression unreadable. "I need your help," he said, cutting straight to the point. There was no need for pretense here. They both knew that when Dazai came to Fyodor, it was for something important.

Fyodor raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Help? You? I'm surprised. What could you possibly need from someone like me?"

Dazai's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. "Let's just say I'm facing an interesting challenge. I've got the Hunting Dogs on my tail, and I need to make sure someone... stays safe."

"Ah, Y/N," Fyodor mused, his eyes glinting with interest. "I've heard rumors about her. Immortality. Such a fascinating concept. And yet, here you are, risking everything for her."

Dazai's gaze sharpened, though he kept his tone light. "What can I say? I'm sentimental. But enough about that. I know you have your own reasons for getting involved. We both want the same thing right now—freedom from the shackles of the authorities. So, what do you say?"

Fyodor considered him for a long moment, his lips curling into a small, sinister smile. "Very well, Dazai. I'll help you—for now. But remember, nothing comes for free."

Dazai chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

With their alliance in place, the pieces of the plan were beginning to fall into place. Dazai was always one step ahead, and now, with Fyodor on his side, he had the resources and the connections to ensure that Y/N would be protected—no matter what.

Back in the van, Y/N's conversation with Jouno had drifted off into silence, but her mind was anything but quiet. She knew Dazai was out there, working to save her. And for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to hope that maybe, just maybe, they would pull this off.

The van slowed to a stop, and the doors were thrown open. Tetchō stood up, motioning for Y/N to follow. As she stepped out into the cool night air, her heart pounded in her chest.

Whatever happened next, she was ready for it

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