Mafia Black

Chapter 4 – A Nice Night For A Walk

"夜はいい。。マフィアの時間だ。"

"The night is a good time. The Mafia's time."

-Dazai Osamu Bungou Stray Dogs

Chuuya punched a hole in the flimsy wooden wall of the dark room. The foot soldiers eyed each other uneasily, the same unspoken worry on their mind – if the mafia executive started to lose control, how would they get out of here alive?

Damned Mackerel, Chuuya thought through gritted teeth. Damn him, damn him straight to hell.

The picture of Akutagawa's slender form in his arms – his eyes like-

Chuuya shook his head violently. This wasn't his fault. Much as the green monster of jealousy was whispering to him how fun it would be to see how Rashomon fared against Arahabaki, he reminded himself that all this, like most things, was Dazai Osamu's fault.

He was just mad that he would stoop so low as to play with Akutagawa's feelings like this, he decided. The poor protégé was probably too afraid to stand up to his boss. He squashed that one voice in his head that said that pointed out that Akutagawa didn't seem at all unwilling.

Dazai hadn't meant to take it further than a little show for Chuuya, he really hadn't.

He glanced at the boy walking next to him, his face turning all sorts of shades of red every now and then as he kept his eyes resolutely in front of him and seemed to be avoiding Dazai's eyes at all costs.

It was just a kiss, to get the point across to Chuuya, the swiftest solution to the problem at hand. The mafia boss had done far more than kiss to accomplish his goals before, it would have been so easy to walk away.

But the way that Akutagawa's body had responded in his hands. He had always known Akutagawa didn't have a particularly strong physique but it was like handling a flower.

Even the dinner had been surprisingly fun. Turned out Akutagawa was well-read on a variety of subjects and the conversation had been pleasant. Talking with Chuuya had mostly just been lobbing insults back and forth and the occasional one-word responses and grunts.

The cool night breeze picked up and gently played with Akutagawa's hair. The clouds parted to reveal a half moon in the inky night sky. The faint moonlight fell on his pale, gaunt face; Dazai thought it highlighted his delicate beauty. He saw Akutagawa shiver a little from the slight chill. He had the sudden urge to offer him another jacket.

Dazai chuckled inwardly at his own unusually mellow thoughts. Akutagawa wasn't weak. He'd survived far worse than a little cold...

It was Chuuya's fault for setting the bar so low, Dazai decided. That's what it was; the redhead was such an abrasive pain in the ass that anyone even remotely normal seemed lovely by comparison.

"W-what?"

He looked to the side to see Akutagawa observing him intensely and he realized his amusement must have shown on his face.

"We're almost at your building," Dazai pointed out, smiling.

Akutagawa turned pink even at that. Dazai wondered darkly what other colors he could have on the boy if he really put his mind to it.

"Y-you didn't have to walk me home, Dazai-san," Akutagawa managed to mumble. "It's out of your way." It was weird enough for the boss to be unaccompanied by guards or anyone, on top of that, he hadn't even taken his usual bullet-proof vehicle. It was dangerous to say the least. Dazai's ability wasn't suited for defense. Akutagawa would of course protect him with his life, but he was still one man and what if something happened to Dazai-san and it was his fault -

Dazai's smile turned into a grin and Akutagawa couldn't figure out what he'd said that was funny.

"It's no bother. It's a nice night for a walk," Dazai told him. He could practically hear the other boy's thoughts in his little head. The three-piece black suit and expensive coat stood out like a sore thumb in this neighborhood. Chuuya always harangued him to carry a weapon but what was the fun in that?

They came to a stop in front of Akutagawa's gate. Dazai noticed the dilapidated structure and the absence of a watchman or any kind of guards. The streetlamp nearby wasn't even working and the only light was from a dimly flickering lamp over the building's gate.

The mafia paid its people well, even someone lower in the ranks like Akutagawa. There was no need for him to be living like this. The port mafia boss made a mental note to find out what was going on.

"I'm sorry for not inviting you up," Akutagawa blurted out, face turning pink. "Gin's upstairs and – " he trailed off, embarrassed.

Dazai couldn't help the dark smirk that bloomed on his lips at what the other seemed to be thinking would happen if Gin wasn't upstairs. He filed the information away for the future.

The look on his face seemed to have alarmed Akutagawa who couldn't seem to meet his eyes and Dazai let the smirk melt into an innocent smile.

"Say hi to Gin-chan for me," he said brightly.

Akutagawa turned a whole shade of maroon at that. He wasn't planning to tell his devil of a sister that he not only finally had his date with Dazai-san but that Dazai-san had dropped him home. But now he would have to.

"I- I will," he mumbled.

Dazai waved to him cheerfully and prepared to leave. Out of habit, Akutagawa bowed low at the waist.

Dazai stopped and turned back, patting him on the shoulder casually. Akutagawa stiffened in the bow. "When we're not at work, you can drop the formalities."

When Akutagawa straightened, he had a serious look on his face. "Yes, Dazai-san, I'm sorry."

Dazai tried his best not to laugh, but damn it, Akutagawa was too fucking cute.

Akutagawa gasped as his hand was grabbed unexpectedly and he was pulled forward. Dazai leaned down and kissed him, a soft kiss just brushing on his lips.

Akutagawa stumbled back when he was released, and Dazai smiled at him with a wicked twinkle in his eyes. "That's how you should say goodbye," he instructed him very seriously. Akutagawa's eyes widened and his cheeks glowed red in the moonlight. Akutagawa ducked his head low, hiding his eyes behind his hair.

Dazai walked away smiling, leaving Akutagawa standing in the dim, flickering lamp light, a stunned hand brushing over his lips.

When he reached his apartment, Gin was reading by a table lamp in the living room.

"You're late," she said, shutting her book, giving him a quick once-over to check for injuries.

"I had a dinner," Akutagawa said as casually as he could as he threw his keys in the bowl by the door.

He didn't see Gin's eyes narrowing behind his head but he could feel her suspicion.

"A dinner," she repeated dubiously. Her brother going out for a late-night social meal was almost unheard of.

Akutagawa made his way to his room as swiftly as he could without being overly conspicuous.

"By the way, Dazai-san says hello," he added matter-of-factly and ducked his head in the door of his room as quickly as possible.

He could still hear Gin's very unladylike bark of laughter through the door.

Dazai strolled unhurriedly down the quiet streets. The light, cool breeze was a welcome relief from the heat of the day and he enjoyed the fresh air after a stuffy day in the office.

A little distance away, nearing the end of Akutagawa's street, he stopped. A small smile played on his street as he stared into a dark corner.

"You can come out," he called out casually, his voice loud in the quiet night. Not far off, there was the dim sound of traffic as vehicles still plied back and forth in the busy city.

There was no answer. Dazai's smile widened.

"It will be worse for you if I have to come find you." His light voice didn't match the dark threat in his words.

Slowly, a short figure stepped out of the shadows. The dim streetlight reflected off his dull silver-grey hair and tiger-like eyes glittered in the dark.

"Dazai-san," the boy greeted cautiously, a fierce look on his face.

"Ah, Atsushi-kun!" Dazai said brightly. "The Agency must really be short-staffed if they're sending you to spy on me." Bandaged hands were tucked casually in his suit pockets, his stance relaxed as if he were talking to an old friend, not a confirmed enemy.

"The Agency didn't send me," Atsushi replied defiantly. "I'm here on my own."

Dazai let the silence stretch uncomfortably between them. Atsushi took a deep breath. "Akutagawa-kun... leave him alone!" Atsushi's hands clenched into fists. Dazai's face was like stone and Atsushi felt a sweat break out on his forehead despite the coolness of the night. "Please," he added harshly.

"He is my employee, you know," Dazai answered, seemingly ignoring the rudeness.

Atsushi stood up straighter, arms balled at his sides. "Is that how you behave with all your employees?" he shouted.

The moment the words slipped out, Atsushi knew he shouldn't have said it, but a familiar thrill went down his spine. He had the uncanny ability to say exactly the thing that pushed people's buttons.

Atsushi searched the port mafia boss's face for signs of anger but he couldn't see any change in Dazai's expression. His dark hair cast a shadow on his face and Atsushi couldn't see his eyes. The night seemed to have suddenly turned still, though.

"In what capacity are you questioning me exactly?" Dazai asked quietly, taking a single step towards the tiger ability-user.

Atsushi stepped back without thinking. "I'm... his friend," he declared, glowering at the man dressed in black.

Dazai looked up and his glinting brown eyes were unreadable as always. His smirk widened as he looked at Atsushi like a wolf might at a stray lamb. "Does Akutagawa-kun know you're here right now?"

Atsushi flinched and Dazai's laugh was like glass splintering on Atsushi's skin. Dazai turned away from him, black coat swishing elegantly in place.

Atsushi just stood there, uneasily watching the man walk away. He opened his mouth to yell after him but his voice wouldn't come out.

"Be careful in the night, Atsushi-kun," Dazai said lightly over his shoulder, waving an elegant, bandaged hand. "You might get hurt if you're not careful."

Back in his apartment, Atsushi screamed in frustration. He didn't care that the walls of his apartment were thin, didn't care that the neighbors would probably hear.

Who did Dazai think he was? He was a criminal, scum of the society of Yokohama responsible for most of the violence and bloodshed and crime.

It was his fault his Akutagawa was caught in the clutches of the mafia. Akutagawa had told him when they were together – all about how Dazai was the one who had recruited him. It had given him a sick feeling even then, the way he had talked about Dazai. Poor Akutagawa couldn't see what that demon had done to him, that much was obvious but to think that he was now cavorting with him even outside of work -

Atsushi stumbled to the window and grabbed on to the wooden window-sill, back rigid, eyes wide with anger. Moonlight fell on him, on his dirty white shirt, his face distorted with fury. Tiger stone eyes glittered malevolently in the yellow moonlight.

How dare he, how dare Dazai walk around like he owned the place? How dare he lay a hand on his boy? How dare he make him, Nakajima Atsushi, the Beast Underneath The Moonlight afraid?

Atsushi had to find a way to make him pay.

A/N: Feedback is very welcome!