"Let's live together."

The words echoed back in Chuuya's head. It had been months since Dazai made that proposition. But Chuuya still remembered it with fondness as if it was yesterday.

Chuuya, of course, was opposed to the idea at first. But he caved eventually. Dazai was always good at that.

Now look at him. He shared a flat with his partner.

He had no idea he would be so happy. It was Osamu Dazai he was with, for crying out loud. They drove each other crazy.

But after years, the madness wasn't as...maddening.

"Why don't we get married?"

Another proposition Dazai had made. This one not as long ago.

But it gave Chuuya just as many fond memories.

That moment of intimacy, of warmth, is something both of them would look back on, always. Dazai getting down on one knee, taking out the ring, and beginning to recite a long speech to Chuuya, when he was cut off by the redhead saying, "Shut the fuck up and give me that ring, you romantic bastard," and then the two of them started to laugh.

Of course, that was Chuuya's way of saying yes.

He never imagined saying yes to Dazai proposing marriage to him. He never even imagined Dazai proposing marriage to him in the first place. After Dazai left the mafia, Chuuya let go of every little thing he clung to about his bond with Dazai.

But Dazai, by some strange miracle, came back into Chuuya's life.

And at least now with the ring, Chuuya could make sure Dazai didn't run out on him again.

"I want that," Dazai whined like a child, pointing at the television screen.

"Want what?" Chuuya inquired.

"Domesticity," Dazai answered.

"You have that already, idiot."

"No. I want it to just be us."

"What do you mean?"

Dazai closed his eyes. "You're why I'm still alive," he started. "Every week I would try to kill myself, until we reunited. Over time I put back with it. Now, I don't want to die anymore. I want to live. With you."

"Okay, mister poet," Chuuya said sarcastically, "enough with the sap. What is it that you want?"

"I just want this. I don't want to suffer through the work of the A.D.A. or you always having Port Mafia business to attend to. I want peace in our lives."

"You are aware we can't do that, right?"

"I know. But we can live in the moments. Make them last longer. What do you say, aibou?"

Chuuya gave Dazai a crooked smile. "I say, 'hell yeah.'"

Dazai laughed. Chuuya always loved hearing that laugh. He hated that, but he did. It was so simple. Dazai simply expressing he found something amusing. But it made Chuuya's heart race.

When Dazai's laughing subsided, his eyes met Chuuya's. They were staring at him admirably.

"What is it?" Dazai asked. "Why are you giving me that look?"

"I love you, Osamu," Chuuya answered.

It was Dazai's heart's turn to race. Nobody ever called him Osamu. He didn't let anyone call him Osamu. Except for Chuuya.

And hearing that one word spill from Chuuya's lips was like heaven.

It was the equivalent of Chuuya calling Dazai "my love."

Dazai put his arms over Chuuya's shoulders and pulled him closer. "Say my name again," he requested.

"Osamu."

"Again."

"O~sa~mu."

Dazai planted a kiss on Chuuya's lips, barely giving him time to breathe.

But Chuuya didn't mind.

"I love you too, Chuuya," Dazai finally answered.