human ~ dazai osamu

7 : strange; what lies still and hidden beneath the mind

A/N: long chapter!

~

It was October now, the leaves on the trees had turned a pleasant auburn, the days growing shorter as the sun slept earlier in the day allowing the moon to rise and darkness to fall onto Yokohama in the early hours of the evening. It was a perfect time for the dogs of the Mafia to roam around the city under the protection of the night sky, as longer nights meant more time for completing their villainous deeds.

Letting out a sigh, as you delved deeper into your warm bath, a pleasant feeling overcame you as your sore muscles relaxed; the water danced along your skin - the Nyuuyokuzai* you had added into the water must have healing properties as you felt the dull pain in your legs and abdomen fade away like the steam rising from the viridescent water. Your mind then wandered to the training you had completed with Chuuya earlier that evening.

You had been training with him for just over 3 weeks, and already you felt yourself getting stronger. Before, it was even a struggle to run the circuits during PE, but now you could successfully block most of your superiors attacks. Today, you had worked on strengthening your leg and core muscles in an attempt to start practising Muay Thai* the following week.

He had told you that you were progressing very well and in no time you may even be on the same level as him - a rather generous statement from the Port Mafia's top martial artist, you had thought.

Inhaling the steam that rose from the water, you shifted slightly, to lean in a more comfortable position but winced and hissed as your abdominal muscles flexed unintentionally causing a jolt of pain from your lower stomach, you pursed your lips disapprovingly.

Training with Chuuya was hard work, he would always push you to your limit, and his regimes were harsh and compacted, you thought that perhaps even a professional athlete may grimace at them. Though, the red head had grown accustomed to your character and knew exactly how to encourage you, he was susceptible to your exhaustion and could tell when you needed to have a break to cool down for a few minutes. In turn, you and Chuuya had grown closer in the last weeks; sharing conversations about meaningless happenings that had occurred during the day; interests you shared and sometimes you would listen to him venting about what Dazai had said or done to him the previous day. Pursing your lips and sighing again, you thought about the brunette that had seemed to occupy your mind more persistently in recent moments of daydream.

Unfortunately, you hadn't seen Dazai very often during the last few weeks; your ability training had to be put off until the end of this week as he was unavailable due to certain meetings and work he had characteristically left untouched. Though, some days while you would walk towards the training quarters, he would suddenly appear beside you, a teasing grin on his lips. This would happen almost every time you arrived at the Port Mafia building to work with Chuuya, he would so happen to be walking at the same time and tag along by your side to talk about his day, or ask you questions, never forgetting to throw in a flirty compliment followed by a wink, which would result in a humoured chuckle from yourself.

You asked him countless times why he escorted you through the building, yet he gave the same expression every time; one mixed with surprise and confusion, but one that was seen through so easily. Dazai would slip his fake expression, the smallest smile tugging at his lips as he says either:

"I don't want you to get lost."
or
"I was going this way anyway."

A hum of acceptance would pass through your lips as you both carry on walking through the hall of the light and dark, a small leer appearing on your lips. That is how your training evenings with Chuuya usually begin, however the day before, it surprising to see both your superiors waiting at the entrance of the building.