「Anime x Reader One Shots」

Faded Memories (Dazai Osamu x Reader)

Dazai was exceptionally good at keeping secrets. He was a master at twisting lies to fit the truth or when that failed to work on you, coming up with excuses to distract your mind from the subject. You were his girlfriend for over a year, yet you knew just as little about him as a passerby on the street.

If there was anything you knew the least about, it was his profession. He was always bringing in money every week without leaving so much as a hint as to where he got it from. With his secretive nature, you couldn't help but suspect his job was one that you wouldn't approve of.

Stripper? Prostitute? You constantly questioned him of discretely taking part in either of those acts, but he always denied it with an amused look on his face as if those potential crude jobs were the least of your worries. Perhaps deep down, you were almost hoping he was taking part in either of those professions. After all, they weren't nearly as dangerous as the other option that laid on the table.

Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. Throughout all that time, you still had not a clue as to what he was doing to earn all that money. The fact that he hid it from you made you all the more nervous until one day, you couldn't stand the gnawing anxiety you felt whenever he left for work.

Deep down, you knew it was wrong to follow him to work. The last thing you wanted to do was make him believe you were the kind of girlfriend who had no faith in him because it wasn't like that at all. Despite his secretive nature, you trusted Dazai more than anyone else. You could easily put your life in his hands and trust him wholeheartedly to protect you.

His faithfulness wasn't what you were suspicious of. All you cared to know was to make sure he was living a normal life - one free of any dangers.

It was certainly a shock for you when you found yourself following him straight to the hideout of the infamous Port Mafia. You didn't realize it at first until you spotted the gun-wielding men in the distance, welcoming Dazai like a respected higher up as he made his way further into the depths of hell.

You froze, utterly stunned by this sudden discovery. Had he been working for the Port Mafia all this time? Is this how he easily managed to bring home so much money? But your biggest question of all:

How could you not notice?

You desperately wracked your brain for any possible sign that could hint at his dangerous profession, but nothing came to mind. No blood stains on his clothes, no injuries besides an occasional scratch or two, and you didn't even know if he owned a weapon or not. There was nothing connecting the dots between him and the Port Mafia, so how could this be?

The only possible thing you could think of doing was to go home and wait for his return so you could question him about it. He surely wouldn't deny it once he knew you caught him in the act. Maybe then you would finally be able to learn about this other life of his that he tried so hard to hide from you.

Before you could turn back, a sudden pain burst in your head and you collapsed to the ground. All you remember before blacking out was the metallic smell of blood in the air and the wicked grin of the man who loomed above you.

* * *

"Ah, Dazai, you came," noted Mori who sat behind his desk, clearly waiting for his arrival.

It wasn't like he had much of a choice after receiving notice that Mori requested his presence to discuss an important issue. Random summons such as this were an uncommon thing for the leader of the Port Mafia to do. As much as an inconvenience it was for Dazai to listen to his every beck and call, he didn't have much of a choice.