Chapter Text
He was terrified, waking up in a strange place, the walls much more bare then the one he shared with Akutagawa. There were no paintings hanging on the walls, no portraits of the two of them.
He always loved those, the remembrance of a happier time when nothing was wrong. Miko had come in sometime when he was still in a hazy drunk with sleep.
Dragging his eyes down the need to just fall to bed curl up and sleep forever.
He wanted this all to be a dream, a crazy reality that his mind had made up. Although he’s wanted that to be true for a long time. A slimmer of hope that he had made everything up.
Though that could never be true, he had too little knowledge to know how the world truly worked. Too much childish imagination to know what was really going on. He tried though he tried way too much, trying too hard wanting to fix things.
He would fix things and he would make it better for everyone. He’d fix things, he just needed Dazai’s help with that. Getting the gods eye would make everything balanced, and once everything was balanced everything would be right.
A hard knock on the wooden door shocks him out of his thoughts. Spinning to look at the door fast and hard as Miko walks in. “Excuse me Atsushi-san, Dazai-san is waiting for you in the tea room.”
“Do you want me to escort you, or do you remember we’re it is? Or maybe do you need a little more time to get ready? There will be people, gods and generals you may want to wear something more armory.” Miko states sweetly, questioning him lightly and staying near the door.
“Can I have some time to change please? Also may you step out for a minute? I need to get ready for a minute and would appreciate it if you can step out please. Then can If you can may you please bring me to the tea room?” He asks as politely as possible, almost begging for some time alone.
Miko obviously takes the hint by the way she quietly leaves. Shutting the door behind her, he hears her heels stop right outside the door obviously waiting for him to come out.
He doesn’t want to keep her waiting so he hurries gathering some papers he worked on when he woke up in the middle of the night. Some he stole while Fydor was distracted, he tries not to think about what was going on back home.
Not wanting to think about the vile and sick things that may have happened. The anxiety of not knowing if Akutagawa was okay or not was practically eating him inside.
Changing into the armor in the closet, with a little wider frame then his. Causing him to have to double wrap it, the silver glinting in the sun. Finishing up he tightens then thigh straps adjusting them silently.
Finishing packing everything into his arms was easy, looking over it a few times trying to figure out how to pick up a few documents. “Miko, can you help me with something?” Atsushi calls out to the girl, causing her to enter. Asking what he needs help with, and saying she can help with anything.
He pushes the scrolls and documents into her hands letting her adjust. “I’m done! Can you show me the way to the tea room please?”
“Of course, please follow me.” She chirps keeping the documents in her hands tightly gripped. He follows her out of the room, clicking of her heels on the stone floor bouncing around the halls. Twisting through the halls, making their way to Dazai.
Making their way to the white wooden curtain door, flower petals are woven into the fabric. Pushing the aside she places the documents into a basket at the side of the circle low table. Atsushi moves to sit down on one of the plush seats.
“Ah Atsushi, was the room to your liking? If so, I assume you had a good sleep!” Dazai chirps, pulling a document out and placing glasses to keep them spread out.
Dazai didn’t look like he had a good sleep though, dark eye bags dragging down his face. His eyes glazed over and slightly foggy looking dazed and confused. His body looked stiff and sharp but still aware of what was happening around him.
“I slept alright, it’s a lovely room. I'm glad to have it! Though I did have some time to plan.” He’s a little nervous with the few gods standing behind Dazai. Moving to sit down as soon as he waves his hand for them. Getting Miko to place down some fresh hot tea on the table for them.
“Dazai-san, I appreciate the offer for help in the war but I don’t understand what you need our help for?” Naomi asks, looking at the war god who was pouring over the documents.
They would be truly helpful in the war against Fyodor much more helpful than other gods that hadn’t shown up. “We have to rethink our strategy for the fight against Fyodor. It would’ve been easier to travel if we had an Akutagawa that would allow us to travel in the shadows away from Fyodor’s light.”
“What about Chuuya? I’m sorry if this is rude but how could a god like that help us in a war?” Atsushi asks quietly, trying to get answers from Dazai.
“War isn’t good, people don’t like that and since we started that war we would need a fall back. Chuuya is the love god he’d be able to make everyone feel better and safer.” Dazai explains hurriedly, before moving back to some maps and documents.
“Wait, how is everyone being devoted and fully in love with Chuuya a good thing?” Tanizaki asks, holding onto his sister's arm as she leans against him. This seems to make Dazai either uncomfortable or angry? It was hard for Atsushi to tell, Dazai had gotten better at hiding his emotions.
Not letting anything slip past the facade and mask he has put up. “He would help us gain the support of Citizens even after the war. They believe in him being a rising figure that holds authority. They believe his powers are divine to smooth things over. They also will believe he sides with the less hateful because of his nature. So most likely they’ll side with whoever he sided with which would help us if we have him on our side.” Dazai explains pushing the plans out.
Atsushi doesn’t get this, the people can’t be naive enough to believe Chuuya’s good? He’s a monster who has sided with a demon, only hurting his people. If this monster sided with them they’ll be doomed, since people will relay his horrible behavior onto the group.
“His reputation is terrible, especially with the common people. It would only dampen our own reputation if we are seen with him.” Atsushi tries to explain, to break the fog that covers the true evil that’s Chuuya Nakahara.
“I believe Atsushi is correct, unlike us he has been living in the capital. He knows what has happened for the past three years. It may be easier to format a correct plan if we listen to him, Dazai.” Fukuzawa advises rubbing Dazai’s back and smiling at him. This is brushed off by Dazai who just looks over the plan again.
“Fine, If Atsushi will speak on what he lived through we could modify the plan I’ve already come up with. But in the time being I already have a plan that will work out.” Dazai argues, spreading out the plan more as everyone moves to look at it.
The plan was careful and detailed, a map of battles that were being fought across the land. There was a path drawn out on how to avoid them. Circled in red was a base he thinks? Before taking a closer look seeing Ranpos name scribbled in messy handwriting.
“Please, do tell us about what’s happening in our old home, Atsushi. That would be truly helpful, if you can.”
Fukuzawa says resting his hand on Atsushi's back, breaking him out of his supposed stupor.
“Uh, depending on what you want to know, I was allowed into the planning room. So I could tell you what Fyodor is going to do. I could also talk about the relationships between each gods or with the people. There’s also the people and what has happened to them over the years.” Atsushi mumbles out, stuttering over a few words trying to get an idea of what they want to hear.
“All of those will be helpful, we can find holes in his plan.” Dazai scoffs out, looking angry and resentful vile spilling onto his words. “If we know the relationship between gods and gods or even gods and people. This would allow us to push them apart, and get them to fight against each other.” Dazai continued before signaling for Atsushi to continue.
“Ah yes, for the plan Fyodor wants to attack Sasaki, he knows if you and Sasaki team up it will be disastrous. Sasaki’s walls have already fallen, and they're very close to capturing her palace. They don’t know we’re Ranpo and Poe are. But they do know that they aren’t here though.” He starts to explain watching everyone’s reactions carefully.
He coughs slightly, as Fukuzawa takes a sip from his tea gracefully. “Yosano has caused quite a commotion since the underworld is overflowing. The price of reincarnation has even gone up since you left, people can barely afford it. People can’t afford housing or food yet they work all day. There's also a rise in slavery of mortals who oppose him.” He continues on, as everyone looks over the plans. Fukuzawa smiles at the mention of Yosano or her, causing a fuss against Fyodor.
He takes this as his right to continue, “the gods basically just follow Fyodor. Kunikida has been making plans for Fyodor though he sometimes slips good mess ups causing Fyodor harm. The rest follow but also object to him fighting him on some subjects. Chuuya is probably the only one who doesn’t fight him on anything. Most of the time Chuuya sided with Fyodor, which would make it hard to get a good reputation by pulling Chuuya under us.” He shares his observations, these causing tension in the air.
Dazai rips the paper as he scrubs trying to fix any mistakes in the plan. “Alright, now that we’ve learned that information, I will leave you all to create a plan. We should aim to leave in two days.” He stands quickly pulling the papers into a basket. Quickly moving towards the door, long strides making it quicker.
“Dazai-“ Fukuzawa tries to call out to him, but is stopped when the curtains slide close. He proceeds to sigh, sitting down as everyone filters out. Atsushi stops for a second looking at the defeated man, before moving out of the room to leave him alone.
He feels lighter after the talk with Akutagawa, the feeling that bricks have been pulled off his shoulders. It was nice hearing that he wasn’t the awful villain all the time. It was different and a strange feeling was crawling and settling in his chest. It’d been awhile since he had ever had this strange feeling.
Walking about the halls he feels light feather light footsteps as he gracefully strides along. Walking out to the garden he walks along the Terrace. Unable to go down to the people he settles for waving and smiling at them.
They smile back for some reason, the kids spinning around and waving, jumping up as if to reach him. As a small smile reaches his face, as a girl moves toward him, dirt on her face. Reaching small hands out as her eyes hollow with a begging look.
He snaps his fingers and a basket appears in her hand, a fresh loaf of bread, small container of soup, another container with tofu, sliced apples and carrots, with two large potatoes. This is on one side while a few past Aries and treats are on the other, mixed in with a bottle of fresh water. And another with medication of the gods ready to heal anything with just a drop.
As she sifts through everything he smiles, snapping a few more into others' hands. Reading their hearts is a part of the job as it is his organ that he created. It allows him to read their consciousness seeing how they would use the basket.
Readying him to give it to those truly in need of them, desperate parents, children with ill siblings or relatives. Of course this practice was forbidden, but Fuldor never cared if he did it as he was the only one who could. Other than Fukuzawa, who taught him the skill allowing him the generosity that lay in a human heart.
“Mistress Fyodor, you are not allowed to do that-“ Aniko tries to stop him, vile and hatred very present in her voice. She reaches out ready to pull him off the ledge brushing her hand against his arm a prickling sensation hitting him hard.
“Chuuya that is my name by which people call me, me and Fyodor are not married nor realatied so it is in fact a lie if you call me that. Also there are no rules forbidding me from handing these out. So unless you're Fyodor then I don’t think you have any right forbidding me from doing this.” He speaks calmly and slowly hoping to get his point across without any anger in his voice.
“Ah of course, I’m truly sorry Mistress Fyodor, I never meant to make you angry, I just wanted to advise you against doing something that may cause you harm.” She sheepishly apologizes although she doesn’t fix the mistake she puts so obviously in her wording.
“I told you I’m not-“ he starts his tone rising with every word ready to snap and yell at someone.
“CHUUYA, enough she apologized for her mistake. And is just trying to keep you from getting in trouble even though it’s her who’s more likely to get in trouble because of this. Also is it really a mistake everyone knows your Fyodors anyway.” Yosano fumes striding towards the two of them, anger glaringly obvious in her eyes.
“Do you know how bad he treats her? Of course you don’t, because you are treated like utmost royalty by Fyodor and everyone with half a brain cell. His Mistress, especially Aniko, are treated like shit by him. And you want to bully her because you're jealous? She didn’t do anything wrong! While she only wants to warn you to be careful.” She yells not allowing him to say a word as she pulls her close striding away while whispering quiet words to her.
“It’s okay I can take care of you for a while, he won’t get to you will he? You did the right thing, he just doesn’t appreciate it. You did absolutely nothing wrong.” Her voice gets quieter as she walks, allowing him to tune out everything.
Sliding down to the floor as his chest tightens, as he wonders what he did wrong. Analyzing everything they said to each other trying to find anything that pointed to him being the bad guy.
This is cut short when he realizes that the mortals below probably saw what happened. And as held quickly looks over the ledge he was once sitting on. He sees most looking at the gifts smiling at each other and talking about what they’ll use them for.
Absentmindedly he smiles realizing they didn’t hear and if they did it didn’t warp their perception of him. As the small girl looks up smiling and waving followed by other huge toothy grins making him laugh. Temporarily forgetting about what happened content with looking at these kids play together.
This kind bubble of happiness is broken when he hears horns blare announcing sun down. Making him flee his way into the halls, bumping into walls as a terrible headache hits. Along with other feelings he can’t quite place not understanding them himself.
Though he knew he needed to get to his room, even with the feeling clouding his judgment. Unusual sounds echoing around him as he walked though they might’ve been made by him. They echo around clinging to him and not letting go and not wanting to Hoping to stay forever. Bessemer in the unstable part of his mind, the part that’s controlled by that dreaded creature.
This causes him to stumble around leaning against the walls for support leaning his head against the cold hall wall. Trying to look even semi presentable when Kouyou and Yosano walk by the girl pressed in between them looking elated. Though a look of disgust and hatred paints itself on two of the three people as soon as they spot him. The other has a look of concern, confusion on her face. Looking slightly torn between helping her wife or adopted brother.
She picks her side though turning a blind eye and rubbing the small of her wife’s back. Pushing her away from the god as he staggers into his and Fyodor’s room. Falling into the chair as the kids rush up to him, crowding into his space.
“Is something wrong, Chuuya-san?” Kouyoka asks tentatively, stepping forward to help the older man. Pulling the decorations out of his hair, letting the long ginger locks fall. Curling in on themselves as they bounce slightly before falling into place ready to be brushed.
“I’m just tired Kouyoka, today was a severely eventful day. Lots of things happen that you shouldn’t have to worry about.” He replies, trying to comfort the children's worries, brushing them aside so he doesn’t have to face them.
“Mama, If you're really tired, how about we run you a bath, or you could just sleep now! That should help with the tiredness.” Elise suggests smiling at him pure and innocent. He can only reply with a weak shake of his head and a small smile.
“This isn’t a type of tired that can be fixed by sleeping, and even though that’s an amazing idea. I don’t think it will help that much, sorry Elise.” He tries telling her as he stumbles out of the chair.
The room spins around him, voice morphing together as their volume changes. The walls clang together as objects fly around. Panic stricken screams echo about the room, he briefly wonders who their from. Or why his mouth feels completely dry, a burning feeling rising up his throat.
It’s nauseating, vile running up his throat as he tries to choke it down. Head pounding as he slowly falls, the world around him blurred and fuzzy. It finally goes black as he hits the cold ground static sounds filling his ears blurring any other sound making sure he can’t hear them. As he drifts of letting his body relate and melt under the tiresome weight it always faces.
He was in the middle of figuring out what the hell he’s supposed to do, the wars in there favor but it’s pointless. And nobody has figured out what Dazai and Fukuzawa were planning if they were. He also had to stress on not knowing where Ranpo and Poe were.
Which meant two of the smartest gods were missing and off the charts. With Ranpo also being very loyal to Fukuzawa he could be helping them. These stupid gods can’t even find simple Data on a few people?
Plus there’s been quiet gossip running around that Atsushi is going to join sides with Dazai. And even rumors that Chuuya, beautiful Chuuya, would join forces with Dazai.
So he had to laugh when Ace came barging in screaming his head off about betrayal and some shit. This Buffon has the nerve to kick his door in and scream about how his Chuuya, his Partner, was planning on betraying him.
How would he even do that? His pathetic kids' lives were in Fyodor's hands, he couldn’t even breathe wrong without Fyodor noticing. He couldn’t betray him, without everyone he loves being crushed underneath Fyodor's hand.
“Ace, stop Fucking yelling, explain what you heard or I will cut your ears off.” He breathed out, getting to the end of his line ready to snap and he was about to break Ace's neck.
“Chuuya and Akutagawa were talking in Chuuyas old room. The one you told me to tell you if he ever went in it, because of the ‘sentimental’ value of the room. While they were talking they mentioned Dazai, And Atsushi running away because of a letter. Dazai has a plan and he wanted Chuuya and Akutagawa to come find him. Chuuya also knows that if he takes a step out of line then you won’t hesitate to kill his kids or the people he cares about.” Ace relays pretty much everything he can remember keeping unimportant stuff to himself.
But this was most certainly new, though he could work with this. He knew Dazai was alive and at least doing something, though it was possible Sasaki was sending for him. Although she wouldn’t ask for Chuuya, she hated him with almost every bone in her body. Coming to the same interesting conclusion the rest of the gods had.
The situation Chuuya is in was interesting, with how he never stands up for himself. The rest of the gods point at his flaws while ignoring their own. It was a simple case of people punching a scapegoat because they can’t punch the real mastermind. It was honestly pathetic especially with how he doesn’t fight back against them.
“Uh, excuse me my lord? Your opinion on what we should do going forward?” Ace interrupts again, breaking his train of thought.
“How about we ask your opinion, since you heard it first hand what should we do?” He says sugar coating his words, letting Ace talk away allowing himself more time to formulate a better plan.
“Well sir, I advise we kill the traitor close circle, then go after Atsushi and capture him and get what information he has. He may even lead us to Dazai allowing us to capture everyone starting a ruckus. Sir” this plan formulated by the oblivious naïve human has so many holes. To many ways it could go wrong, definitely not stable enough to go through with.
“Okay let’s say we kill everyone Chuuya cares about, who will keep him chained here? He’s not staying because of me, he’s staying because their lives are on the line. If they were gone he would conspire with Dazai and kill me.” He states glaring at the mortal as he slowly steps toward him.
“Second, if we do run after Atsushi we’d be going into an open battle field with people who hate us. This would lead to a shortage of trained military ready for the war going on. And again we already know where Dazai is hiding. The reason we haven’t gone to fight him is because there is a kingdom in the way, may I remind you.” He seathes, pushing the idiotic mortal aside.
Heading out of the room, before turning to stare at him, “I’m going to formulate a plan that won’t blow up in our faces and get Chuuya’s side on this.” He replies leaving him alone in the room.
Briskly walking down the hall, pushing his way through the small crowd of gods outside his study. Surprisingly while walking past Kouyou and Yosano's room he sees Aniko sitting on the gods vanity.
Laughing with the healer, as she styles her hair sipping dark red wine. A calm and cheerful atmosphere around them as a fire crackles in the hearth. He decides he’ll question Aniko later when they're in private.
So he walks away making his way to his and Chuuya’s room, letting some of his anger melt away in excitement of seeing the redhead. Although as he pushes the doors open he doesn’t expect what he sees inside of the room.
Kouyoka is kneeling on a cushion beside their bed, holding a wet rag on Chuuya’s forehead. Dipping it in ice water and squeezing it every few seconds, before placing it back on his forehead. Kenji is pacing a steaming bowl of soup down on the side counter allowing it to cool off a little bit.
“What’s happened here?” He asks, looking at the whimpering god as he writhes in pain. His face beet red and scolding hot when he placed his hand against the normally cool skin.
“He passed out, we brought him to the bed, Q, and Elise are bringing him medication.” Kouyoka answers, bowing slightly towards him as she continues with her job.
“That won’t be necessary, I already have something to heal him. Now, leave both of you.” He swears glaring at the children as they quickly start to leave. Though they are interrupted by the door slamming open.
“No, I don’t trust what you're gonna give him, and why should we leave. It's not like you can do anything to us.” Elise states standing her ground even when her smarter siblings tell her to drop it.
“I can do whatever I want, you're not special just because Chuuya likes you. You can be replaced. Plus your mother hasn’t been very smart so he owes me greatly. So no he can’t protect you.” He whispers, smirking at the defeated look on the girl's face. Closing the doors after pushing all of them out keeping them away from the sick god.
“Fyodor?” A harsh whisper breaks through the angry tension. Strangled and muffled, by the harsh fever his throat torn and ragged. Not even able to open his eyes fully, yet he still calls for him. Not Kouyou and definitely not Dazai, Chuuya calls out for him.
Allowing him to move him to lean against his chest in an upright sitting position. Grabbing a bottle of golden liquid from his belt, pushing it against the gods lips. Before tipping the bottle, allowing the contents to slip down his throat. “Hush for a while, I have a favor to ask and questions that need answering and you won’t have a choice in the matter.”