what is this?

Dazai stirred, his body shifting slightly beneath the weight of the sheets. A deep warmth surrounded him, unfamiliar yet oddly comforting. His brow furrowed as his senses gradually sharpened, a dull ache pressing against his temples. Slowly, he opened his eyes, his vision adjusting to the dimly lit room.

Confusion flickered across his face. How the hell did I get here?

The air carried a lingering scent—one that felt intoxicatingly foreign yet strangely familiar. As he moved, the sheets stirred slightly, and a slow realization dawned upon him. His skin was bare. More than that, his neck burned faintly, the sensation of multiple bite marks registering against his fingertips.

A breath hitched in his throat.

The sheets shifted once more, and from beneath them, a head of black hair emerged. Maria's sleepy gaze met his, followed closely by Aelthyria, whose greenh eyes gleamed with quiet amusement.

Dazai's jaw tensed.

"What the hell—what happened here?!" His voice came out hoarse, a mixture of disbelief and irritation. A sharp pain pulsed through his skull, forcing him to press a hand against his forehead. "And why the—hngh—why does my head feel like it's splitting in two? I thought I'd be stuck with that insufferable entity, L, for the night—"

Before he could finish his growl, movement beneath the sheets sent another shiver through him.

Maleficent stirred next, her raven-black hair spilling over her shoulders as she shifted languidly. Moments later, Medusa's golden, serpentine eyes flickered open, her lips curling into a knowing smirk.

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Then, the door creaked open.

"Dazai, you're finally awake. I heard noises—"

Akatsuki's voice cut through the tension, but the moment his gaze landed on the scene before him, he froze.

For exactly one second.

Then, without hesitation, he turned on his heel and shut the door behind him with a finality that spoke volumes.

Standing outside, he exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. That was not what he had expected.

As if on cue, Touka approached, her expression laced with curiosity.

"Is my baby boy awake already?" she mused, then paused, noting Akatsuki's stiff posture. Her crimson gaze narrowed slightly. "Hmm… You seem troubled. Is Dazai alright in there?"

Akatsuki forced a chuckle, masking his exasperation with well-practiced ease.

"He's still out cold," he lied smoothly. "Muttering in his sleep, you know? But he'll be up soon. He ain't a quitter."

Touka studied him for a moment before nodding in satisfaction. "Good. Let me know when he's awake." With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Akatsuki to release a deep, weary sigh.

"Man, you're gonna owe me big time, Dazai…" he muttered under his breath.

Just then, a figure passed by, his tone barely above a murmur.

"Hmph. That boy surely loves trouble… What a drag of a child."

Akatsuki's eyes narrowed slightly as he turned toward the retreating figure. A flicker of recognition settled in his expression.

"I may not be as sharp as Dazai, but I've got a damn good memory…" His voice dropped to a near whisper. "I only know one man who ends a sentence like a fart…"

His fingers curled into a fist.

"Bruce… is that you?"

Ryuko halted mid-step. A beat of silence stretched between them before a low, amused chuckle escaped his lips.

"Well, well," Ryuko mused, tilting his head slightly. "There was only one soul who ever called me that long ago… So, Jacob. You've been reincarnated, I see."

His gaze shifted, a knowing glint in his eyes.

"And the fact that you're here… just for him… means Dazai—" He exhaled, a smirk playing at his lips.

"He's Leon."

His voice was laced with quiet certainty.

"Mmm… Fate seems to be tying things up nicely."