Chapter Text
“Chibi~! Help me~! My ability isn’t working~!” Dazai whined as he floated helplessly in the air.
“I’m not doing any better jack ass,” Chuuya responded, the irritation seeping into his voice.
“Who are you two?” A younger red headed boy demanded. He looks exactly like Chuuya did when he was sixteen. A carbon copy.
“How about you put us down first brat?” Chuuya shot back.
“Wait…did you just call him Chibi?” A younger brunette boy questioned, looking at Dazai. This one looked exactly like sixteen-year-old Dazai.
“Yes…?” Dazai answered, not totally understanding why this was an important detail.
“Look, they look just like us, but a little bit older,” The smaller brunette pointed out to his red-haired companion.
“It could just be some whack ass ability,” The red head suggested.
“They said their abilities aren’t working,” The brunette reminded. “And, that one looks like he’s used to floating around. He doesn’t look all that stressed out about it.”
“What are your abilities supposed to be anyways?” The red head inquired.
“No longer human. It’s supposed to nullify abilities, but it’s not working right now for some reason,” Dazai pouted.
“Mine is gravity manipulation, same as you,” Chuuya answered. “Feels the same as yours too.”
“See, I told you he seemed too comfortable,” little brunette stated.
“That’s not the important part right now,” The smaller red head shot back. “They’re the exact same abilities as us. Or, well, they would be if they worked. His has the exact same name as yours too.”
“Yeah. Is it possible for two people to have the exact same ability? Mori always said mine was one of a kind. He never explained why, but that’s what he said…” The brunette went quiet in thought before turning to the adults. “Your names?”
“Osamu Dazai.”
“Chuuya Nakahara.”
Should they be giving their names out to some random kids with the exact same abilities and names as them while their own abilities aren’t working?
No.
Do they really care all that much, especially considering the entire under world already knows who they are?
Also no.
The two teens looked at the adults, a little stunned. The little red head didn’t seem too surprised, but his partner did.
“How…?” The smaller brunette started, trying to understand. “It makes sense if you know his name, but how do you know mine?”
“I think, it’s because I am you,” Dazai started, looking the two teens over. “Either, we’re all being played by some kind of ability, or this is some whacky dream that I need to wake up from.”
“How the hell would we both have the same dream?” Chuuya questioned.
“That leaves us with the first option then,” Dazai decided. “We’ll figure this out, but you need to let us down first,” Dazai pointed out, realizing they were still floating. He had always wondered what it was like to be affected by Chuuya’s ability, or by any ability for that matter. He can’t say he’s entirely opposed to it, but he does understand why people are always so afraid to get into a fight with the executive.
The younger red head obliged, releasing his ability and stepping away. “How are we supposed to figure this out?”
“Good questioned…” Dazai mumbled, thinking hard.
“Hey Mackerel,” Chuuya piped up, giving Dazai’s shoulder a little nudge. “Look around. This isn’t HQ. Not what it looks like now at least.”
Dazai swiveled around, taking in the sight. To his surprise, the place did look the same way it had six whole years ago.
“You’re right. How…”
“Wait, six years ago?” Little brunette breathes. “How old are you two?”
“Twenty-two,” Chuuya answered.
“They totally line up with us,” The younger, apparently Chuuya, notes.
“Well, we could test the theory,” Dazai suggests. “If we’re in a place from six years ago, apparently being made by an ability that is some how effecting me, then we can probably find other people from back then too.”
“Like wh- oh,” Chuuya realized out loud. “That annoying ass detective you work with.”
“Bingo!” Dazia chirped. “Will you two be coming with us?”
“Where?” Little Chuuya asked.
“The armed detective agency building,” Dazai answered. “Where I work. There’s a man there with a particularly useful ability, especially for cases like this.”
“Are they an enemy faction? We shouldn’t go if they are,” Younger Dazai explained.
“Well, as of six years ago, they aren’t, so you two should be fine. Besides, the president is a reasonable man, so words should be all we need,” Dazia assured the children.
“Alright then, we’ll come too,” Little Dazai confirmed, dragging little Chuuya along with him.
“You don’t have to pull dumbass, I can walk on my own!” The younger Chuuya protested as he yanked his arm free.
.
.
.
“Here we are,” Dazai announced. The four of them stood in front of the Armed Detective Agency building. It looked quite a bit newer than Dazai was used to.
Walking inside, the man standing behind the counter looked a fair bit younger, and they walked by him to the stairs. Dazai led the way to the fourth floor and stopped Infront of a door.
The sign that he was used to seeing on it was gone, but he’s certain it was the right spot. He’d been walking through this door for the past year now.
The man knocked three times and waited for an answer.
“Hello,” Fukuzawa said, cracking the door open slightly. “Can I help you?”
.
.
.
“Hey Dazai?” Chuuya asked.
“Yeah?”
“I thought you said this guy was reasonable,” Chuuya quoted the brunette’s earlier statement. Fukuzawa had drawn his blade; it was pointed right at them. The four of them weren’t exactly fazed. They had all been in the Mafia too long to be afraid of a sword, older Chuuya especially.
That being said, they wouldn’t be able to get anywhere with this if they started killing each other, and Dazai would like to avoid killing his new boss.
“Hello President. We need to talk to Ranpo,” Dazai informed, tilting his head to try and look into the office. He could see Ranpo sitting at a desk, trying to get a better look at what was going on.
“How do you know him?” Fukuzawa demanded, his eyes were locked on little Chuuya.
“We’re co – workers,” Dazai answered simply. “Well, we should be at least. See, my partner and I think we’ve been affected by some kind of ability that put us six years in the past. Perhaps it’s by creating a false space, or maybe it’s something else. We need answers. I know about Ranpo’s ability because I’ve been working with him for a few months, so we need him to use it and help us figure out what’s going on.”
Fukuzawa continued to stare them down for a while. Dazai had to admit, he had never felt more stressed in his life.
“Fukuzawa? What’s going on? Why’s your sword out?” Ranpo asked, walking up to the man. He looked around the sword wielder, trying to catch a glimpse of their guests. “Who are you four?”
“Why don’t you use your ability and find out?” Chuuya questioned. “I know how well it works.”
Ranpo narrowed his eyes. “How do you know about that?” He demanded, tucking himself behind Fukuzawa.
“You’re a detective, do your damn job,” Chuuya snapped. Ranpo hesitated for a moment before complying.
He pulled out his glasses and dramatically slipped them on. Fukuzawa stepped aside slightly to give the young detective some space, but he was still with in killing distance.
“You said words were enough for this guy,” Little Chuuya complained while Ranpo worked. It was taking him longer than normal, Dazai assumes it’s because he’s younger here and doesn’t have as much practice with it.
“It’s entirely your fault,” Little Dazai accused his partner.
“Huh!?!? How is it my fault!!??”
“It’s your face. It’s everywhere, so anyone can recognize you!” Little Dazai argued. “That’s why he’s so on edge right now!”
“I can’t help that I was caught on camera! I didn’t even know what the fuck a camera was back then!”
“Yup, that’s definitely us,” Chuuya chuckled softly. He missed those petty fights they would get into. Dazai was barely around anymore. Sure, they stayed in the same apartment, and they saw each other every night. But, by the time they both got home, they were too tired for much of anything.
“Fukuzawa,” Ranpo suddenly said in a serious tone. “These guys aren’t our enemies, let them in.”
“Who are they then?” Fukuzawa questioned, hesitantly stepping aside to allow them entry.
“We should all sit down first,” Ranpo answered. “This is going to take a lot of explaining. Geez I’m such a pain!”