New Dolls

Summary: Since he's actively doing his best to be a good man, Dazai finally decides to make up with all those he wronged. He's already working on it with the Akutagawas. This one deserves a special visit, though.

Part 3 of Strangest People Dazai Visits

Despite having very loving and doting parents and grandmother when he was a kid, Dazai had never been one to be overly enthused about toys. He can't remember a time he sat down to play with them, much more preferring to read books or play chess and other such games. As he grew older, he discovered video games and, well, the Mafia - and Chuuya - so yes, toys had never held much of an appeal to him.

However, he knew kids liked toys. Loved them, even. Kyouka-chan adored the bunny Atsushi-kun got her when they first got her out of the Mafia's clutches. Kenji-kun had his own country bumpkin toys and plants he liked to play with occasionally. According to Tanizaki-kun, Naomi-chan even had an entire collection of plushies at home. Even the ever-mature (for her age) Aya-chan liked the occasional toy she got and she treasured it all the more if it was from Kunikida-kun, Bram-san or - surprise surprise! - Jouno, who apparently felt like he owed it to Aya for setting her up for such a dangerous mission all those months ago. Hell, even the Akutagawa siblings didn't turn down the toys they were given, even if they never actually played with them and kind of just ... put them on a shelf as a display. And Odasaku's kids adored toys. They had a literal room full of the kiddie stuff Dazai, Oda, Ango and Kiye spoiled them with.

(Dazai doesn't count Elise liking toys as a viable part of the overall statistics, considering she wasn't even an actual, real kid.)

So, yes, it was safe to say kids generally liked toys.

So you can guess why Dazai's in a toy store, right?

The problem was ... Dazai's never bought toys for someone before. It'd be kind of intimidating if the kid he was getting them for wasn't a little shit who'd probably still be happy with whatever scraps of attention Dazai would bestow upon them. Still, the point wasn't to just ... take whatever and dump it on them. Besides, Yumeno was kind of growing out of the 'playing with toys' phase ... Or perhaps they would be if only they had gotten a normal childhood.

So yeah, screw it, Dazai was trying to buy them some toys they might like.

Because if this past year has taught him anything, it's that it's never too late to mend broken bonds and that life was surprisingly short. It had always felt like every day was an eternity for Dazai, the time never passing fast enough except when he had to watch out for Chuuya because of Corruption.

And if he was already trying to mend things with Akutagawa-kun so they can be a semi-proper mentor and pupil, he ought to mend things with Kyuusaku, too. They probably have a vitamin D deficiency from all the years they spent in the basement and, well, even Chuuya was willing to forgive them after all the subordinates he'd lost because of them, so Dazai figured he might as well do it, too.

Hence the toys he needs to buy.

Verlaine-san, who accompanied him on this adventure just to enjoy his suffering, like a true bestie would, snorted. "Just get them a PlayStation 5 or something. They're getting to that age where dolls and Legos just won't cut it."

"Excuse you, Q would absolutely love Legos. They and Elise-chan would leave them all over the place and get Mori-san to order everyone to walk around barefoot and then watch the carnage with some popcorn." Abd Verlaine couldn't argue that fact, because they all knew the pair were sadistic and bored enough to actually do it. And Mori was up there right next to them.

"And children like these ... soft, stuffed misrepresentations of wild beasts?" Bram-san, who had also tagged along because he was suddenly a 21st century father now, even if it's been months since he took Aya-chan in, asked, staring at the very unrealistically presented crow in distaste. "How barbaric."

"You should see what they do to fictional characters, both in real life and on online forums," Verlaine-san snorted and Dazai glared at him for even thinking of introducing Bram to Adam's favorite sites. He wants to keep Bram-san's refreshing innocence towards the true evils of the modern day world intact for as long as he can, thank you. It's why he placed parental control on all electronic devices in the Stoker-Koda household! The gay Frenchman will not ruin all his hard work! The Assassin King must have sensed his displeasure because he sighed and took a random toy from a shelf and showed it to Dazai. "What about this one? It's very ... squishy?" He offered as a selling point and Dazai realized they all sucked at this.

He wished Chuuya wasn't negotiating a deal in Vietnam right now. The chibi would know what to do in this plight.

"Verlaine-san, as of last year, Kyuusaku's afraid of anything with tentacles or bat wings."

"Your point?"

" ... That's an octopus."

" ... Right ... "

" ... "

" ... "

" ... Do you think they'll like that squeaky bat-"

"No, Bram-san."

"Oh."

Dazai couldn't help but facepalm.

They continued browsing through the store, Bram pausing to have some sort of existential crisis over which princess + castle he should buy for Aya-chan and then another one when he had to choose between different brands of dolls that had a Halloween/monster themed set, thus having a vampire among them. Verlaine spent most of his time sneering at the plastic toy guns and knives, though he did seem intrigued by some life-sized collector items from video games, such as fantastical swords he muttered plans about actually sharpening. He also seemed a bit confused by figurines of characters from a popular assassin-themed game.

"What are you even doing here, Verlaine-san? Bram-san is basically a father now, so getting things for his daughter makes sense, but why are you here? Well, besides the chibi being a worrywart."

That had Bram also stopping in his scrutiny of some other vampire or last-century-themed toys and looking over at the assassin Executive with an arched eyebrow as well. "I am perfectly able to provide any required reinforcements."

"We don't need another vampire apocalypse," drawled the blond man sarcastically.

"I would not," hissed the vampire lord and Dazai just rolled his eyes at them.

"Bram-san, don't make me call Aya-chan. Verlaine-san, drop it. Also, if you think you can bribe your way into adopting Kyouka-chan and Gin-chan, though luck. You'll lose."

The gravity manipulator looked extremely offended at that. "And who would be a better candidate for my best and cutest students but myself and my dear Arthur?"

"Well, for Kyouka-chan, you'll have to fight Ane-san and Fukuzawa-shachou for custody, though even that's in vain. After all, the Akutagawas and Atsushi-kun and Kyouka-chan are, apparently, my kids," Dazai explained dryly, snorting when that caused the Assassin King to bump into a shelf of toys in surprise. "You can try out for best uncle, though."

" ... What type of presents do they like?"

Dazai nodded to himself as he finally found a shelf of things he thinks Yumeno will like. "We'll go over to the sports shop later. Their martial arts section ought to have something for them both and karate stuff for Aya-chan. Though for Kyouka-chan, bunnies are always a way to go-" He cut himself off as suddenly every stuffed bunny in the store started glowing maroon and floated after Verlaine as he marched off towards the cashier, who started shaking in fear at the sight of him.

Dazai just sighed and followed a Bram who had three carts full and wondered since when was being some kid's more or less official guardian this hard.

Chess with Dostoevsky was a relaxing tea party in comparison.

00000

Sneaking down into the dungeons of the Port Mafia's basement was concerningly easy, even for someone like Dazai. Not that it's really his problem anymore ... Except it always will be, like all things Yokohama, especially all things Port Mafia, much to his chagrin. He's appalled security dropped this much in quality since his defection. Then again, with Verlaine-san down here ... That is, if he could even be bothered to give a damn.

Still, it's concerning how easy it is to get so deep into the Mafia headquarters. Dazai hadn't even bothered with much of a disguise, just a pair of stylish sunglasses, and no one batted an eye in his direction! Even the guard he greeted only looked on in confusion, though that might be because of the shopping bags from the toy store from earlier.

'They probably thought this was Elise's things,' he huffed to himself as he rounded the corner of Q's hallway, where they were kept separately from other Port Mafia prisoners that were down here for interrogation or safekeeping until a ransom could be made. Q was down here only because this was the only place they could keep the kid but they were also isolated from the shrieks of poor fools stupid enough to cross the Mafia. Dazai had made sure of it. After all, Yumeno's mental state was already unstable enough. They couldn't handle hearing torture happening two doors down from them.

Probably. They did, after all, have a sadistic side.

But still, kids supposedly should be shielded from such things, according to Odasaku and ... just about everyone he's around on the daily these days. A luxury for a teenage Dazai, really, one he couldn't afford nor had he cared about, but he was down here on a mission today. A self-assigned one that only Chuuya, Bram-san and Verlaine-san were aware of, but a mission nonetheless.

He had set out on fixing what can be fixed and hopefully healing some scars along the way. Kyuusamu had more than enough of them as it was, after all, and, well ... There used to be a time Dazai might have been a teeny, tiny bit fond of them, before they decided to compete for his attention after he became a partner, Executive and mentor at sixteen and suddenly had too little free time to dedicate to just them. They hadn't liked sharing and they had chosen the target that took up most of his time: Chuuya. They hadn't known about Odasaku and Ango, which was a blessing, and the Akutagawa siblings, Ryuunosuke especially, had already been too deadly and warned against them and their Ability. In fact, both of the siblings were more likely to skewer the kid with their weapon of choice than let them get the chance to activate their Ability. Akutagawa-kun would have probably proudly presented Q's corpse to Dazai like a trophy and neither of them needed the potential consequences of such actions on their already rocky relationship.

So, reall, it had been brilliant of Q to go after Chuuya, who had only ever seen them docile because they were in Dazai's company and Chuuya had an unfortunate soft spot for kids. An incident like that was almost inevitable.

Doesn't mean Dazai didn't grow to despise Q when he finally found his partner in the throes of Corruption while aiming most of the damage he inflicted onto himself.

That was the day Q had been locked up.

Dazai, hoping to prevent something like that in the future, has decided to visit Q and hopefully hash things out peacefully. After all, he wants Q to have a chance to at least see the sun and sky regularly. And to get in their good graces before they try to stab him with a crayon or something, he brought peace offerings.

Which is why he'd spent half a day in a toy store.

And why he was here now, arching an eyebrow at the by now infamous Rimlaine as the two French Ability users waited for him outside Q's ... quarters. (Dazai still cringed at that duo name, in case you were wondering, but Randou-san liked it so Verlaine-san liked it, too. Dazai double-cringed at the simp behavior, mostly because he's pretty sure he and Chuuya could be just as bad for each other ... Though hopefully not as cringe-worthy.)

"Arthur likes to worry," Verlaine-san blurts out, getting an offended look from said man.

"Excuse me? I don't worry when he's talking with a Russian terrorist of a rat, I would not be worried over a child!"

"Arguably, Q is much more dangerous right now than Dostoevsky is."

"Then don't project your fretting onto me!"

To be fair, both men were worriers enough to match Chuuya, and protective besides. Who said blood is thicker than water? Clearly the water Chuuya and Verlaine were kept in once upon a time and that clearly splashed Randou, too, was much thicker.

"I appreciate the concern," Dazai began amusedly. "But I hardly need all this protection to deal with Q. It's why I snuck in instead of making a formal visit."

"Q hardly has fond feelings for you after everything, Dazai-kun," the blond of the trio pointed out even as they shifted to let Dazai pass. "Having backup in case they try something is never a bad idea. Their Ability might not work on you, but you're not invulnerable."

"It'd be worse if they got you, Verlaine-san," the brunet pointed out and suddenly Randou-san started fretting for a whole different reason. "Besides, you don't really know mine and Kyuusaku's situation, so I guess it makes sense you worry they will attack me."

In reality, only Mori knew the true situationship between the two little brunets he picked up nine and eight years ago, respectively. No one else was informed about how or why Q decided Dazai was the person to aspire towards and why they became almost obsessively possessive over him in no time to the point that they'd tried eliminating other people in Dazai's life, or at least plotted it. Not even Chuuya ever found out about why Q would turn hostile towards him or why he'd used their Ability on him.

After all, Chuuya only saw Yumeno when they were first brought in and then later, when they 'settled' which was perhaps months later. They didn't see that process, which Dazai was put in charge of because he was the only one safe from Q's Ability.

Yumeno Kyuusaku was discovered by Dazai in a raid he was assigned practically the day after he dismantled the Sheep and all but destroyed the GSS as a new Port Mafia member. Mori had sent him out to deal with some sort of nightmarish cult in some near-abandoned village close to Yokohama with aspirations to move into the city. He'd found the cult to be half-mad and that they all blamed it on some kid. Only it hadn't actually been Q's fault that time. Dazai saw the difference first hand when he demanded to meet the kid and found them in a cage with only their ugly doll, dressed in what looked like a hospital gown. They had looked at him with their strange eyes and smiled when Dazai didn't appear scared of them as he knelt in front of their cage, only to cry out in pain when someone dragged them out by the hair from the door at the back. Then Yumeno's Ability activated and the man who'd inflicted pain on the child started crying tears of blood as Dogra Magra destroyed his sanity. Dazai had seen enough when the others tried to kill Yumeno for 'the witchcraft' and instead ordered the group to be exterminated. He left that to his subordinates while he gently carded fingers through Kyuusaku's dual colored hair.

He asked Yumeno to go with him and Yumeno agreed, only to pass out on him a moment later from malnutrition and abuse.

He took them back, handed them over to Mori for treatment and just as Chuuya was recovered from his own ordeal, so was Q and so they spent their first few days following Dazai around like a duckling while he was in the headquarters, asking him to play with them.

He indulged them, from time to time, especially while Chuuya used to basically ditch him and completely ignore him in favor of the Flags and at one point Yumeno even tried calling him 'Dazai-nii', only to be rebuked by Mori, who overheard.

Overall, it's why Dazai didn't have the heart, so to say, to kill them and just imprisoned them instead when they purposefully tried to hurt Chuuya to get back at him. Another repeat of that incident won't be dealt with as lightly, even if Dazai is in the Agency now and is trying to be a better man, even if he's trying to reconcile with Q. Chuuya comes first. And that was the status quo before Chuuya basically proposed to him.

Now, Dazai's not sure what he would do if something happened to his partner, but that's neither here nor there. Soukoku is a whole entire world separated from the situation Dazai has to deal with once he opens the doors to Q's room.

At first, the only thing he feels is relief to find that it wasn't treated and furnished like an actual cell. There was a carpet, good lighting, a comfortable bed and some things for Q to entertain themself.

Then he feels apprehensive when Q turns around to see their new visitor - something that must be a rarity, given their Ability and isolation - and both brunets tense.

Verlaine-san and Randou-san also tense behind him, the black haired man ready to spring a barrier between them at the slightest wrong twitch from the teenager.

But Q basically remained blind to them, because they suddenly burst into tears and launched themself at Dazai. Dazai caught them with an Oof, not having expected that sort of greeting, even less so when Q just kept repeating his name and clinging to him. The two Frenchmen who'd come in with him seemed at a loss as to what to do but Dazai knew.

He may be surprised, but this was hardly the first time he'd had to calm Kyuusaku down. So he carded his fingers through their white fringe and hummed his usual suicide song, a melody both of them knew and was so Dazai that the child almost immediately relaxed against him, silent tears streaming down their face.

"Bad dream?" He guessed and Q nodded against Dazai's stomach where their face was buried.

"Dazai-san didn't come to save me."

"Ah." He guessed it makes sense that Q might still have nightmares after the Guild incident when they had been kidnapped. That would have been a lot of firsts for them. First time they went against someone like Lovecraft, first time they were kidnapped, first time pain didn't give them the upper hand, first time they were tortured ...

First time they were no doubt scared out of their mind.

First time they didn't know whether someone would come for them.

First time they thought they would die.

Perhaps even the first time they wanted to.

It made Dazai want to disembowel Steinbeck, maybe even Lovecraft, but he had only captured Q. The ones worthy of the Demon Prodigy paying them a visit would definitely be Fitzgerald, Steinbeck and Alcott, who gave them the idea/strategy. He wouldn't kill them - they were useful allies, for now, and he'd even forced the blond idiots to get along through the help of Zelda Fitzgerald. But there are so many different ways to get revenge on them. So many. Dazai could even rope in others to help him do it. Shin Soukoku and the chibi were basically guarantees, Verlaine-san and Randou-san, too.

But plotting vengeance can wait.

"But I did."

"I know. It's been months. It's stupid."

"Steinbeck is stupid." That, at least, got a snort from the younger brunet and their grip on Dazai slackened a bit. "Want to prank him? I kind of have him trapped between a rock and a hard place." The Fitzgeralds might as well be the best torture tool against the American farmer.

That had Q brightening right up and they beamed up at Dazai with unholy glee that unnerved even Verlaine-san.

Dazai just grinned back at them. "But first!" He said dramatically, stepping out of Kyuusaku's hold to do a twirl that would show off the two bags of toys and stuff he brought with him. "Gifts~!" He chuckled when Q's eyes became huge. This must be the first time in years they got gifts that served no other purpose than to be played with.

"For me?"

"Of course~! Who else?"

Kyuusaku squealed and tackled Dazai again for a brief hug before they tore the bags out of his hands and immediately started rummaging through them. Verlaine-san made a displeased sound at the 'disrespect', but Dazai didn't care. He was too busy cataloging each of Q's reactions to the toys he'd brought.

The Legos earned an evil grin and Dazai already knew the Port Mafia will be full of howls of pain soon enough.

The drawing set got a curious head tilt.

The books were approved off.

The game console earned a loud cheer.

Q was neutral towards the balls.

Dazai had a feeling that the action figures and Barbies will end up headless soon enough.

It's the stuffed toys and dolls that had Kyuusaku tearing up all over again. Specifically a plush teddy bear with bandages wrapped over its right eye. Out of all the toys, that teddy bear was the only one made by hand. Dazai's hand, to be precise. The toy store he had visited with Bram and Verlaine had a make-your-own-toy set up and it was meant for kids, really, butDazai had no sewing skills, so he'd asked the employees for assistance, knowing this would be a huge deal for Q.

After all, he remembers that Q once told him that their doll was a handmade gift from a woman in their life before their Ability manifested, though they can't remember what their relationship with the woman was. She could have been their mother or sister or just someone random taking care of them, Q didn't remember, but they remembered the gesture and the attachment to the doll probably caused their Ability to attach to it, too. After all, the doll is always repaired or downright replaced and back by Yumeno's side by the time Dogra Magra is no longer in effect. However, that doll is almost in shreds and has probably never seen a wash. Yumeno can keep it, of course, be it for the sentimentality or for their Ability, but Dazai wanted to give them a new doll, one made by him as an apology.

The way Q clutched it to their chest suggested they understood that. "T-thank you, Dazai-san."

"Don't thank me yet," he playfully winked at the teen. "I'm planning on negotiating at least a biweekly excursion system so you're not stuck down here all the time. You'll have to be supervised, of course, and actually behave before, during and after going outside, but you'll get to be a normal kid at least for a little while. Well, as normal as a kid mafioso can be." It's something he's been thinking about even before he left the Mafia, but Q had been too bloodthirsty back then for him to even seriously contemplate it. Q had wanted destruction and chaos and to cause Dazai pain so he'd pay attention to them. To do it so soon after the mess they made ... It would be like a reward and that wasn't something they could afford back then. Sadly, that thing never got resolved since Dazai left at eighteen and Q's been stuck down here ever since until last year, which also turned into a disaster, but it had mostly not been Q's fault. "I'll probably be your most regular chaperon, for obvious reasons, with Verlaine-san as the most likely close second. You won't be allowed around Chuuya and Verlaine-san unless I'm around, due to also obvious reasons."

He arched an eyebrow and Q actually looked sheepish. Perhaps even a bit guilty? That's a step in the right direction!

"I'll also visit you once a week regardless of the outings, unless I'm simply too busy. You'll have to learn to accept that, because this is your last chance, Kyuusaku. Mess it up ... "

"I understand, Dazai-san," the smaller brunet said with determination. "I won't waste this."

"Good," Dazai nodded, pleased. "I'll have to introduce you to my grandmother at some point," he mused, more to himself than anything. "She'll probably spoil you rotten and you'll end up a little ball from being stuffed with Sebastian's sweets. I'll also see if Elise, at least, wants to come down here and play with you. If you're nice, maybe Kenji-kun, Kyouka-chan, Aya-chan and Odasaku's kids can come visit you, too? Having friends in actual kids your age ought to be good for you ... "

"That sounds lovely, Dazai-san!" Q exclaimed, before suddenly turning shy in a way Dazai hadn't seen since he was almost sixteen, back when Q used to look at him like he'd hung the sun and stars. "I ... Dazai-san?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm ... older now, all grown up! So would you ... please ... Play with me now?" Those hopeful, unique eyes turn to him and they resemble those infamous puppy dog eyes that kids use to manipulate adults into giving them things.

Dazai is obviously immune, being a master manipulator and disliker of dogs besides, but he was here today to start making it up to Yumeno for all they had to go through because of him.

So he smiled and ruffled their hair, messing up where white and brown sharply separated, instead making it a strange mix to see. "Sure, Kyuusaku-kun~! What do you want to play?"

Yumeno Kyuusaku, the child everyone in the Port Mafia looked at and saw an eldritch terror, beamed before they started jumping around the room in joy before dragging Dazai over so they can play a board game clearly brought down here by Elise during some random visit or something. Dazai let Yumeno explain the rules despite already having figured them out as soon as he saw the box.

The French couple could only watch as Q's smile lit up the room to finally have Dazai play with them. They were mystified this was the same kid they heard so much about and none of it good, but they figured it was just the Dazai effect. He seemed rather good at making strange friends. They watched as the two brunets played for hours, playing various games and Dazai setting up the game console on a TV Verlaine went to fetch for them.

Eventually, Q wore themself out and fell asleep against Dazai whom they'd roped into reading for them. It had been Sleeping Beauty, ironically enough. Dazai doesn't think Q actually has any interest in fairy tales, but they picked up on the fact that Dazai likes them and so they used to use it as a bonding point, once upon a time. It seems they were trying to employ that same tactic again, now.

'Devious and clever, impressive but utterly unnecessary. I plan on actually letting you be a child this once, as much as I can, after all.'

If he was sure it would be safe, he'd shove Yumeno off into Odasaku's more than capable hands, but he's not sure if the kid would take it well, even if it meant frequent visits from Dazai. There's also the fact that Mori wouldn't be very happy about that and Dazai won't hold back from killing him should something happen to Odasaku and his kids a second time.

Verlaine-san gently cleared his throat, gesturing to his watch when he looked up, reminding Dazai that he actually really shouldn't be here right now. So with a sigh, Dazai got Q ready for bed, turned off most of the lights before joining the two older men outside of the room, where Verlaine locked it. "I'm guessing you'll pitch it to the Boss for more freedom for the brat?" He asked, gesturing with his head towards the gilded cage that was Q's quarters.

"Of course," the detective easily replied as he let the two worrywarts scan him from head to toe for any possible injuries before they escorted him out of the basement. "Despite what everyone seems to think, Q isn't actually feral. They were just never taught their boundaries. That's partially my fault, but I'm content to just blame it on Mori-san. A child is not equipped to raise another child, especially given how busy I always was. I think they can be re-disciplined to at least minimize their sadistic and sociopathic tendencies. Especially if given some age-mates to befriend."

Verlaine arched an eyebrow at him. "You're going to start with Izumi and Koda, aren't you?"

"Yup~!" After all, if Kyuusaku tries something with those two ... Well, they'll learn quickly enough not to start fights they can't win. "Not to worry, of course. I'll supervise everything! Don't want any incidents, after all."

"And this is your way of making it up to them?" Randou-san asked, because he actually wasn't there when Q was brought in. He was already six feet under by then. Rimbaud's only experiences with Q are secondhand recounts and this interaction. He doesn't even know the gruesome details of what Q's Ability can do to a person's mind, just that it drives them insane and could lead to suicide if left to run too long. He also only knows that Dazai's the one who locked them up down here.

"It's a start," Dazai shrugs, well aware one right won't fix years of wrongs.

"You've really changed," Randou-san commented with a smile. "I'm glad. The light suits you."

Well, anything suits Dazai as long as he wears the right mask, but ... Well, he hopes Randou-san is right. He's doing his best, after all. Even if he just acts like a good man, it's the results that ultimately count, right?

A few new dolls here and there will surely bring out the optimal results, right?

OWARI