Chapter 7

"Alright Chuuya, I want you to tell me if you've met Mori san before?" Dazai asked, squatting in front of Chuuya. They were now back at Dazai's house.

"I h-haven't" Chuuya replied, staring directly at the ground, shoulders tensed.

He was clearly lying.

"Chuuya—" Dazai started. He grabbed Chuuya by the shoulder, attempting to make the little kid relax a little. That was apparently not the best idea.

Chuuya flinched and recoiled, holding his arms in front of him, protectively. His eyes were wide with terror and he refused to look at Dazai.

"I'm sorry. Don't hit me, please..." he mumbled, his voice cracking .

Dazai was speechless.

'Hit him? Where did he get that idea from?'

Sure Dazai had told Chuuya if he doesn't behave, he would hit him but he had NEVER once hit him, no matter what he did. He also always made sure that his words didn't came off sounding like threats but only as small reminders that it would make him unhappy if Chuuya misbehaves.

Yet, Chuuya was here in front of him, trembling uncontrollably, waiting for Dazai to hit him. Dazai's felt his chest tighten at the state of the boy in front of him.

He pulled Chuuya into a hug, stroking his hair.

"It's okay Chuuya, I'm not mad. You can tell me everything. I promise, I will not get angry" Dazai, whispered in a reassuring manner. It did not help at all. On the contrary, he felt Chuuya shiver. Chuuya buried his face in Dazai's shoulder and Dazai could hear him trying his best to stop crying.

"Chuuya, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Please tell me. If you don't tell me, how am I supposed to help you?"

Chuuya shook his head and hugged Dazai tighter

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I will not cry anymore, please don't hit me" Chuuya said these words in such a broken voice, it shattered Dazai's heart.

"No, it's okay. You can cry"

"You'll get mad"

"I won't"

"You're lying"

"I'm not"

"Grown ups get angry when kids cry"

"Who told you that?" Chuuya shook his head.

'Damn you, Mori. What the F*k did you tell him?''

"Chuuya, I promise, I will not get angry"

In the end, no matter what Dazai said, Chuuya didn't tell him anything. He just cried silently, hugging Dazai the entire time, thinking Dazai wouldn't realize he was crying if he couldn't see his face.

Dazai never felt more helpless in his life. In the past week, without even realizing, he'd gotten so attached to Chuuya that seeing him in this state almost made him cry too, but he hugged the little boy trying to comfort him in any way possible.

The next day (At Mori's Office)

"Dazai kun, these are the details of your mission. As always, I expect you to complete it without fail"

"Understood Boss" Dazai replied, emotion lacking in his voice. The dead look, that had left his face when he left port mafia,was back on his face again.

"You can leave Chuuya kun here to play with Elise chan if you want"

'Like hell I would'

"I appreciate the offer but I have to decline"

"Well then who'd take care of him? I don't think your Agency colleagues are have that much spare time"

"They don't but I have made arrangements. Thank you for your concern" Dazai said and left

He raced to Kouyou san's placeand knocked on the door.

"Dazai, come in. Chuuya was asking about you"

"Where's he?"

"In the living room, watching TV"

Dazai went in the living room to Chuuya. Chuuya looked at him and smiled.

"Chuuya" Dazai started, in a serious tone "I have to go somewhere for work. I'll come back tomorrow. Will you be okay staying with Ane-san?"

Chuuya nodded, looking a little sad.

"Look, if you act like a good kid while I'm gone, I'll take you to the park when I come back"

Chuuya's eyes sparkled at the mention of parks.

"Chwuya will be a good boy! Pwomise!" Chuuya exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.

"Well then Ane san, please take care of him"

"Don't worry Dazai kun, I'll spoil him rotten"

"I'd prefer you don't"

Dazai patted Chuuya's head and left for the mission.

Chuuya sadly stared at the door. Kouyou came to him and with a box of chocolates.

"Chuuya kun, do you like chocolates?"

"What are chocorates?"

"You haven't had one before?"

"No"

"Then what are you waiting for? Pick one" She smiled

Chuuya curiously looked at the chocolates, trying to make up his mind.

"You can choose more than one if you want"

Chuuya shook his head

"I'll eat one. It's gleedy to take a lot at once" Chuuya said and picked one small chocolate.

Kouyou chuckled at that.

'How adorable. Minding his manners even though he is so small'

"It's okay Chuuya, if I'm saying you can take more than one then there's no problem. But try one first and see if you like it, okay?"

Chuuya nodded and stuffed the chocolate in his mouth. His eyes sparkled and his cheeks turned red as he realized what a delicious treat he had been missing on for 'half of his life'

"It's dewishiwous!" He said, his face stuffed with chocolate.

"Well Chuuya kun, how about we play board games and eat chocolates? And then we can cook something for Dazai for when he comes back"

"Yay! We'll cook! Chuuya will do his best!"

They spent half of the day playing games like Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, Checkers, Jenga. They also ended up finishing the whole box of chocolates.

When they finally got bored of playing, they decided to bake some cookies. Kouyou brought a small apron for Chuuya to wear and they started preparing the dough. Chuuya sat excitedly on the counter watching Kouyou do the work.

"Chuuya wants to help too" he said with determination, wanting to give Dazai something he made himself. He wanted to make Dazai really happy, because he noticed how Dazai looked a little sad this morning.

Kouyou smiled, looking at the determined little boy and said

"Well then Chef Chuuya san, can you please add these butter sticks and sugar in this bowl?"

"Sure!"

She then gave him a measuring spoon and told him to hold it still and poured vanilla in it and asked Chuuya to add it to the butter and sugar.

They spent the hour preparing the cookie dough. All the while, Kouyou gave Chuuya the simplest tasks and encouraged him that he was doing an amazing job.

They finally set the tray of cookies to bake in the oven. Once the cookies were baked they decorated them together. Chuuya drew a lot of funny shapes on them claiming it was Dazai's face he was trying to draw. Once they were done, they kept some cookies in a packet for Dazai and ate some themselves. Kouyou then brought him some dinner.

After dinner she tucked him to bed.

"I'll give it to him tomorrow" Chuuya said sleepily

"Yes dear"

"Mm...good night mama"

Kouyou was taken aback for a moment. She then smiled and placed a kiss on Chuuya's forehead and said

"Goodnight Dear"

A/n: Alright everyone. I think I did well enough in my chemistry practical so I guess I won't fail. Thank you for your support and thank you for 100 reads . I love you all! 3