ANGEL'S ASHES, bungou stray dogs [on hold]

xxiv. grave of the long lost

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𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋'𝐒 𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐒

𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘺-𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳: 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦
𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵

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     ANGEL SHOULD REALISE SOMETHING is wrong when she finds Dazai sitting at Sakunosuke's grave on the anniversary of his death. Flowers and a bottle of his favourite alcohol are clutched in her hands, and her lips are in a firm line at the sight. A part of her doesn't want to believe that Dazai is about to bring everything crashing down upon them, but there is no denying the darkness in the depths of his brown eyes as he leans against the back of the gravestone and stares up at the trees shadowing the grave. Sighing, Angel lays the flowers in front of the headstone and then makes herself comfortable across from Dazai, holding the bottle out for him to crack open.

     "Huh, I never thought you realised," Dazai says with a faint smile, accepting her offering and taking the first mouthful, lips twisted at the potency. "Odasaku always did prefer this over regular saké."

     Angel snorts and takes the bottle back, humming as the liquid burns the whole way down. "Damn, I forgot how strong this shit really is. I suppose that's why he didn't always drink it straight."

     The brunet man laughs. "You give him too much credit, tenshi."

     "Osamu, I need you to answer me honestly here, alright?" Looking up, Angel takes note of how his golden eyes have reverted to their former Port Mafia darkness, and she knows he completely understands what she's about to ask. "You're the one that brought Fyodor Dostoevsky and what remains of Tatsuhiko Shibusawa here, aren't you? Even knowing what's going to happen, you've still brought them here?"

     "You're worried for no reason, Angel. Everything will go according to plan — we both know that."

     They don't say anything after that, instead sharing the bottle of Sakunosuke's favourite alcohol between themselves and waiting for everything to come without an ounce of hesitation. Even when Dazai's new subordinate makes his way over to the pair, hesitant with Angel's presence, the brunet says nothing to convince her why his plan is a good one; why he's brought two people here who should not be alive — or a ghost of their former self in Shibusawa's case. Even as he stands and walks away, dismissing the idea of going to the Agency's meeting in favour of trying out a new method of suicide, Dazai simply looks at Angel with dark eyes and waves goodbye, leaving the Weretiger alone with her.