Change of Touch

Chapter 6: Predicament

POV: Omniscient

Warnings: Mild erotic imagery (may be disturbing or triggering for some)

It is now two days before the actual case investigation day. Despite getting many phone calls and texts throughout the last few days, (Y/n) was too preoccupied to listen to her voicemails and has ignored the unknown caller for sometime. The amount of commotion during her rounds the past few days has kept her away from the ADA building for quite some time. Aside from the amount of work to do under the head doctor and fixing some of her junior's mistakes at the hospital, all she's ever done was literally work 15-hour average shifts, maybe even more hours, and then go straight home to Dazai's apartment. Little to no dinner was eaten due to fatigue overcoming hunger despite Dazai making a good amount of food for her those days.

"To think Dazai would actually call me after not seeing him during the past couple days." Timing between her and Dazai has been mismatched that whenever (Y/n) comes home, it's so late that Dazai has fallen asleep. On a few occasions, Dazai has woken up from his slumber to get up and help her get rested, but little about each other's day was shared as (y/n) would want to push it off to discuss the next day.

Texts were on mute the last few days, as (y/n) looked through her phone. It was 1:25 in the morning. Despite not getting any call notifications, it appeared that her text notifications have been on mute and phone on "Do Not Disturb" the whole time. (Y/n) opened her text app to see many texts from Dazai filled with exclamation points and emojis. Barely did she have time to read over the texts.

(Y/n) could not help but also replay the memory they had lunch at the cafe days prior.

"Have you ever fallen in love?"

She could only help but blush at the moment he asked and even now as she carried on her tasks she was so stuck on that thought.

"If I was totally infatuated with you, I'd make you mine in a heartbeat!"

She tried to shrug it off. Get yourself together, dammit, you're at work.

"I do have someone in mind that I've been falling head over heals for… She probably doesn't love me yet, but the day will come… when she will."

"Ahh!" (Y/n) was found walking into a wall while she zoned out and looked down at her paperwork, now spilt onto the ground.

"Dr. (L/n), get yourself together! What is the matter with you?" The head nurse in the neurology department called.

(Y/n) was on the ground gathering up the heaping mass of papers off the ground. "Sorry, I didn't have much sleep last night. Been shifted twice to do the night rounds and one of the patients kept complaining of her lower back pain the whole night."

"Remember, Dr. (L/n), you're also human." She smiled.

"Well, it'll only be a few more hours until I'm off for a few days."

"Hm? You're off tomorrow?"

"Yes, it's just a lot of personal stuff along with some needed sleep. Like you said, I'm only human, and to be honest," (Y/n) moved her hair to the side. "Being human sucks."

As she left the neurology department, she went into the break room and pulled out her phone to open her texts from Dazai.

Only these times did she ever feel free from her responsibilities while at work. It was now 1:40.

Meanwhile, Dazai has been at home, feeling lonelier than ever now that (y/n) has been on call for the last few days. Of course, since she's put off working since she arrived in Yokohama for a considerable amount of days, it was no surprise that she'd have to come to this sooner or later. Yet, the longing for her grew more intense not seeing her around. Prior to her workaholic period, she's advised him not to call but text due to working in the quiet area of the floor.

"Dammit… Why hasn't she replied back to any of my texts?" He lied in bed, his button shirt undone as he looked up to his texts, phone up in the air hanging above his pondering and saddened face. "She didn't decide to leave me permanently without telling me, did she? No. That shouldn't happen. Unless…" Dazai reminisced of the lunch (y/n) and him had a few days ago as well as the words he spouted. "For a smart girl, she should have taken the hints I've sent her at least that time. She can't be that dense. Did I scare her with what I said?"

He shrugged it off. "Well, even if I did," He locked his phone. "I'll make sure that what I've said is held true to the very end of my word, scared or not." A smile grew on his face. He got up out of bed to look down at (y/n)'s belongings. First thing he touched was a lace bra, and as he slowly pressed and squeezed the fabric, he grew tomato red. How naughty and unobscured you are to wear something like this, he thought. He could only imagine the time (y/n)'s cleavage was right in front of him, where part of her bra peaked from the collar hem of her shirt. Such an idea gave him a twitch in the lower regions. Underneath the bra, he picked up one of (y/n)'s license tags, endearingly looking at the photo of (y/n) smiling.

"Someone like you… ever since Oda… I can't let go this time." His thumb glided over and over the photo, his eyes softened as if he was trying to carefully relish a perfection and caress it ever so lovingly. His eyes grew to become crimson as his prolonged gaze on the photo was of mixed, abnormal adoration.

She hasn't replied to my texts, he thought to himself. I want to hear from her. Verbal or not, just... anything.

"She has to be back here. I hope she knows that, especially with the case all planned out..." He murmured as a smirk grew. He pulled out his phone to check his notifications: 0. Fingers tapped onto the flat screen.

[(Y/n)-chan! How has work been treating you? I miss you, and I can't wait to see you back here after your shifts are over! ;_; ^_^] -sent-

He placed his phone at his bedside and grabbed the license tag, once again being taken aback by how lovely and enticing she looked despite her age and occupation.

"I'm so curious... I'm dying to know behind that sexy, workaholic, nerdy woman you are how much you're on par with me..."

He brought the tag up to his face and carefully smelled it, relishing the scent of its owner.

"Can't wait till we play when the day comes~!" He rejoiced. Before he returned to his phone, he hugged the tag against his chest and now in mind the flowery aroma of his potential love.

"Its inevitable that everything that is worth wanting will be lost the moment I obtain it... but..." He looked back at the photo of the doctor. "Her touch, no, everything that is her I will cherish and keep! I'll make sure I'm the only one she needs! And if anyone gets in my way...

...they will suffer."

(Y/n) was mere hours away from her awaited leave from the hustle and bustle within the hospital floor. In the break room, she went to her belongings to see that her phone has died from not being charged for a few days. She plugged in her phone charger and hooked the wire into the port. Minutes later, countless text notifications overflowed her phone screen, all of which came from Dazai. Another notification showing three additional voicemails from an unknown caller were received.

"MESSAGE ONE: Hello, my sweet (y/n). It's been a while since I've gotten to have a chat with you on the phone. I long wanted to thank you for saving Fukuzawa Yukichi's life, yet I haven't yet thought of how to meet or thank you… yet. You may be wondering why I know the guy, but let's just say, the old man and I go way back. Hehe.

"MESSAGE TWO: (Y/n), I need you right now. I want to hear your voice so goddamn badly. Hell, it'd be nicer to have you with me to hold, making you try playing detective in more ways than one, to spend my time… thanking you… For coming into the life I've been routined to work with and curing the person I most respect. And I say this carefully… I admire the man so much that I'd lay my life on the line for him for helping me out of the dark. You're just so precious, you know that? Hear me out, my love: I. Love. You… I'll say it more loudly and clearly if you didn't hear me the first time….

I.

LOVE.

YOU.

Call me crazy, but you should blame yourself for my craziness! YOU are what's made me so crazy worked up lately, lovely…" A squishy, splashy sound was heard on the other end, and (y/n)'s expression bore one of fear and disgust. "Ahh…" The morphed speaker moaned. "Do you hear this…?" Squelching sounds ensued. "It's the sound of my pleasurement… synchronous to the feelings I have for you."

"Please… Stop it…" she kept pleading. The behavior triggered her memory of her abusive father that took the life of her mother away, with such irrational, deranged adoration.

"First…Dazai will be the first on the hitlist." The speaker cackled. "He needs to be rid of somehow… soon. May be a couple days… or now actually!"

"WHO ARE YOU?!" (Y/n) screamed in mixed fear and anger, realizing it was only a recording. This man can't be serious…

"I-I-I just… can't help myself but think of r-ravishing you with all my might, my mind, body and soul… and making you mine. YOU. As MINE. And only… ONLY mine—"

(Y/n) immediately ended the voicemail and deleted the rest of her unknown caller's recordings, in shaken fear as though she were being physically violated without any contact from the other at all. The words she's hear wrapped around her, constricting her from taking another step from her spot. Compulsiveness took over when she nearly overhand threw her phone across the room, but was found to not let go.

I need Dazai right now to help me… I can't keep on like this!

After a few minutes of quiet contemplation and deep breaths, she sat down and unlocked her phone to continue through her missed notifications. She accessed her texts to see a numerous amount of Dazai's texts and emojis. Seeing this helped calm (y/n) down as she skimmed through her many texts.

Osamu: (Y/n)-chan! How has work been treating you? I miss you, and I can't wait to see you back here after your shifts are over! ;_; ^_^

Osamu: Hi, (y/n)! Please don't stress yourself out. I feel bad not being awake to help you most of the time you're still out working... don't worry about dinner, it'll be on me!

Osamu: Do what you gotta do, and after things are sorted out, you owe me lots! Good luck! ;D ^o^

Osamu: I'm so bored at the office right now and it would be really awesome if my cute roomie can drop by some coffee or food if she's got time, or maybe we can have a lunch date again at the cafe! :3

Osamu: Or a place of whatever you'd like. I'd be down to try new things with you! w ... I miss you :'(

The amount of texts was massive enough to lose count as (y/n) continued scrolling. Did he really miss me that much? (Y/n) was somewhat dumb stricken, but remembered the conversation again from before.

"...I do have someone in mind that I've been falling head over heals for." Dazai said.

"He's talking about another girl like he said… but I feel like… maybe… I might be the one… But at the same time, that'd be dumb and narcissistic of me to assume like that…"

As she kept scrolling through the mass of texts and emojis, key words and phrases stopped her.

Osamu: Every time I wake up it feels like you're barely there and it dims my day a bit...

Osamu: would be nice to be with you here all the time drinking sake and playing games here... being adults suck a lot but I guess it has its benefits…

Osamu: oh sorry I didn't mean to send all that. But tbh it feels so weird having to briefly see you whether it's at night when you're minutes from crashing or in the early break when you're trying to gather your stuff for your next day... I worry about you, (y/n). I can't stand that stress level you're probably dealing with right now.

Dazai… (Y/n) pondered in her thoughts and emotions, figuring out her feelings versus his feelings. These texts are a real good indicator, both the quantity and context… "There's no doubt about it… but…" She slowly slid her thump up the screen to read the next message.

Osamu: if anything, can you ask for some time off? Maybe a few days, or a week if that's okay? Would be nice to see you again and actually catch up instead of simple good mornings or nights or "my day was fine" or whatever...

Osamu: okay I think I'm just saying too much... just one text or call is all I ask. I'm just worried about you... it'd be nice to hear your voice... :(

Osamu: maybe one day, if you're ever like this again, I can stop by the hospital, no? I don't mind being a deliverer for food, as long as I get to see you! :)

"He cares so much, too…" She reflects back on how despite the mismatched timing with him, everything up to this point was her living under his care; from preparing food, to helping the other get in bed, and to even text to check up on the other, it's all so apparent… the affection and care, it's all so evident.

Another text was received as (y/n)'s phone scrolled all the way back to the latest messages.

Osamu: The case is just a matter of hours away, just letting you know. I miss you so much. Come back home soon…

Another text was received.

Osamu: …and we need to talk. before your stalker gets out of hand…

Osamu: Please…

(Y/n) locked her phone, remembering the disturbing voicemail warning. "I'm coming to you, Dazai…"

Hi everyone! Sorry for the long wait on this chapter; I was expecting this part of the story to be shorter but my imagination basically overflowed and went crazy full throttle and long af this time. But anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading this so far! Take a guess who may be the stalker~ You'll be surprised who; there's some clues to what he says that gives it away, ahaha... Anyway, please RR! I'll try my best to update more often, school is kicking my butt right now... ^_^"