Chuuya aged only a few nights after that. Dazai hadn't seen it himself, but when he fell asleep and woke up and there wasn't a cursed crying noise, he himself could cry with joy.

He stepped into the living room to see Chuuya looking a few years older, perhaps he was about four or five. He was currently having a conversation with Mackerel, nodding along intently as if the cat was talking back.

Dazai inconspicuously snapped a picture before going on with his day. Strange enough, Dazai noted that the ability worked weird. It was as if instead of regressing in age, that Chuuya's younger versions were simply brought to this universe. They had no recollection of the future, yet remembered their present memories.

And what they had been wearing when they appeared also worked as proof. Dazai had never seen that little blue schoolboy uniform in Kouyou's bag before, so he was assuming that this Chuuya was in school.

He must have had a normal life before it went to shit, a report card, and everything.

Dazai chuckled bitterly, it sounded like the rustle of dead leaves in autumn. Little Chuuya shot his head at Dazai, halting in his movement of hugging the cat as if he had been committing a heinous crime.

Dazai put his hands up in a surrendering gesture "it's fine, I'm your babysitter, your parents had to make an emergency trip."

Dazai wasn't all sure how much little Chuuya understood, but he nodded anyway "w-when do they get back?"

"Hmm, we don't know yet."

Chuuya accepted his fate, turning back to the cat, and Dazai's eyebrows furrowed. A normal kid would be asking more questions, maybe even tear up at their family being gone.

Dazai sat on the couch, pointedly ignoring the cat near his feet. "Are your parents gone a lot?"

Chuuya nodded "uh-huh."

"Oh, I see. And why is that?"

Chuuya looked back up at him, one eyebrow raised "shouldn't you know that?"

Sassy much?

Ah, Dazai guessed that he would know where his parents were if he was his 'babysitter.' They probably worked a lot of long hours or had to travel.

"Right, sorry."

Dazai sluggishly made his way to the kitchen, ignoring Chuuya's gaze when he accidentally bumped his hip into the counter. He needed coffee and he needed it soon.

"What happened to Isamu?" Chuuya suddenly asked, resting his head on top of the cats.

Dazai almost spilled his coffee "Isa-who?"

Chuuya blinked up at him "Isamu. My normal babysitter."

Oh.

"His name is Isamu?"

Chuuya nodded slowly "...yeah."

Dazai leaned forward against the counter, resting his head on a fist. "What's he like?"

"He's better than you," Chuuya stated blandly as if he hadn't just broken Dazai's heart in two million tiny pieces.

"Isamu isn't here anymore."

Chuuya looked alarmed, his hand stopped petting the cat. Dazai slightly regretted it when he looked up with watery eyes "he's dead?"

"No no  no" Dazai scrambled "he's... he's out on vacation."

"...oh." Chuuya resumed his movement in petting Mackerel. "He's still better than you."

Dazai hummed "you can't say that when you haven't even been watched by me before."

Chuuya ignored him. Maybe he missed his parents, or he was just upset that they left him so much.

Dazai was going to prove to him that he was obviously the superior babysitter, better than that Isamu kid.

He had the day off today, it being a Sunday, the agency only got called in during emergencies. "Chuuya, would you like to get out of this ugly apartment and go do something?"

Chuuya looked around and said, "I don't think it's ugly." Ugh, it looks like he always had the same expensive taste.

"Well, we can go get ice cream?"

Chuuya's eyes lit up as he bolted from the floor to Dazai's side, scaring both the cat and Dazai half to death. He tugged on Dazai's coat, eyes wide "can we please?"

Dazai snorted "you act as you've never had ice cream before."

A beat of silence.

"...you haven't had ice cream before?"

Chuuya shook his head, a pout on his lips.

Last Dazai remembered Chuuya wasn't lactose intolerant. Maybe his parents were stuck-ups who didn't allow sugar in their household?

Either way, the Chibi was getting ice cream today.

"Alright" Dazai clapped his hands "eat breakfast and then we'll go."

Chuuya smiled brightly.

Dazai had a feeling that he was now far more superior than that Isamu guy.

————-

The weather outside wasn't the most adequate for being out and about, yet people still crowded the streets, walking about with their families or selling items for their businesses.

The skies were overcast and the wind whipped through Dazai's hair, making his coat flutter behind him. As soon as they had stepped outside, Dazai noticed Chuuya shivering and hustled him back inside to grab a little blue jacket he had left.

He was an A-plus babysitter.

Even if he hated children.

The commoners who knew Dazai did a double-take when they noticed Dazai tugging a child with him through the streets, some pulling out their phones to call the police with their eyes full of suspicion. The others glanced curiously at the redhead, his hair color stuck out in the crowd of muted hair colors.

Either way, Dazai kept an arm on him.

Little Chuuya didn't seem too put off by the weather, stomping forward with a determined look in his eyes even though he most likely had no idea where they were.

Dazai had grabbed his hand once the crowd started to thicken, but when he looked down to see Chuuya's panicked and confused face, he bent down to let him up on his shoulders.

Chuuya wasn't used to the city was he?

Little hands gripped his hair, legs wrapping around his neck like a frightened cat. Dazai reached up to pat what he hoped was Chuuya's head. "It's okay Chibi, how's the view up there? You'll never be able to be this high again so enjoy it."

Chuuya's grip only tightened.

He would need to get him away from the crowd after they got the ice cream at the stand.

"Chibi, we're here" Dazai informed, stopping in front of the line. Dazai was taller than most people, standing a good head above everyone.

Dazai slowly lowered Chuuya to the floor so he could order, Chuuya holding onto the hem of his coat as they waited.

Though Dazai had made a big mistake, overshadowed by the Chibi and his young antics, he forgot that he was brought to the armed detective agency for a reason.

"Chu-yaa" Dazai spoke, eyes trained on the menu of the ice cream flavors. "You've never tried ice cream before, so I suggest a plain flavor- Chibi?" When Dazai reached down to put his hand on the redhead's shoulder, he was met with empty air. Dazai's eyes quickly darted over the crowd, looking to where the child could have run off to, though... Chuuya seemed pretty insistent in staying with him and away from the crowd so he couldn't have just randomly left...

For the first time in a while, Dazai's heartbeat spiked as he shouldered through the crowd, frantically scanning his surroundings. He had become careless.

The wind picked up and Dazai braced himself against it, ignoring the howling of the oncoming storm as he called out for Chuuya. He had separated from the crowd, so only a few onlookers gave him concerned looks as he jogged down the street.

And then he heard it, a high whining and the sound of a man cursing under his breath louder than intended. It was surprising that Dazai's ears picked up on it with the sounds of the harsh rain starting to fall from the grey skies. Dazai immediately turned heel and ducked into the alleyway, heart stuttering altogether when he noticed the sight.
A mountain of a man practically eclipsed little Chuuya, all muscle as he tried to forcefully pull him backward. A beefy hand covered Chuuya's mouth, though Dazai could tell that the child had put up a fight by the bleeding bite mark that peeked past his palm.

But without his ability yet, there was no way Chuuya could win this fight.

"What do you think you're doing?" Dazai's voice didn't sound like his own, unhinged and trembling with a burning hot feeling.

The man's bald head shot up and Chuuya opened his bright eyes that had been screwed shut. "Stay out of it" the man growled, jostling Chuuya around "this ain't any of your business."

Dazai sent him an icy glare, eyes lingering on the rickety truck behind the man. "If you were planning on kidnapping a child, then I believe it is everyone's concern."

Dazai's tone paired with his sharp eyes made the man tremble slightly, his hands shaking but remaining firmly around Chuuya.

Dazai whipped his gun out from his overcoat in one fluid movement and aimed it directly at the man's head. "What will it be, let go of the child, or get shot?"

The man's big lips twisted into a shaky grin "You won't do it, not if I have the kid right here." Chuuya made a small noise when the tip of a knife was pressed against his back.

Dazai could shoot him dead on and Chuuya wouldn't suffer any damage, something dark and ancient wrapped around his heart, hatred clenching it between its claws. Though Dazai noticed something swirling in those Azure eyes of Chuuya's. Crocodile tears fell from his cheeks, he was no doubt terrified, though something else was hidden, and it was that stubbornness that Chuuya always had inside of him.

Chuuya was being defiant.

Even if he was currently a five-year-old, Dazai found himself trusting the redhead's judgment, slowly lowering his gun. "Fine, you may take him."

The man faltered "wait really?"

Dazai's own grin spread across his face "No."

Chuuya sprung into action, kicking a leg back to land a kick right between the man's legs. The man yelped, instinctually moving his hands to protect himself, his knife clattering to the floor. Chuuya wasn't done with his onslaught. As fast as a whip, he twisted around and slipped the pepper spray from his uniform pocket, spraying it directly into the man's eyes as he doubled over.

Dazai smirked, satisfied as the large man fell to his knees, pawing at his eyes. Chuuya used the opportunity to run back over to Dazai, chest heaving with the combination of panic and overexertion.

Dazai gently pushed Chuuya behind him, Chuuya leaning against his back in an attempt to hide himself from the pouring rain, or the situation. "Chuuya" Dazai said, eerily calm "I need you to close your eyes."

Chuuya's eyes traveled down to the gun Dazai still clutched in his hand, then back up to his face, his lips were drawn to a thin line. "D-don't do it."

Dazai studied the red-rimmed eyes as tears still flowed freely from them, lingering on the bruises on his neck and cheek. He could feel the age-old darkness seeping back into his heart, but when he looked at the teary eyes of Chuuya, all of those feelings dispersed.

Dazai haltingly placed his gun back into its place, hidden by his coat. "Right" his mouth felt dry. "Are you hurt?"

Chuuya shook his head, though Dazai was sure that the both of them looked like a mess, drenched to the bone and hair messy. As Dazai placed his hand on the child's back to turn him around and escort him away from the scene, the redhead's legs shook too much for him to move.

He must have been in shock, not surprising for the situation. He handled himself extremely well for such a young kid, most five-year-olds were still tripping over themselves. Maybe he was just smaller for his age and was older than Dazai previously thought he was?

Most young children also didn't have pepper spray on hand, his parents had really prepared him, huh?

Dazai knelt down to wipe the tears from Chuuya's face, they mingled with the rainwater, making it impossible to tell if Dazai had gotten them all. "It's okay Chibi." Chuuya didn't struggle when Dazai wrapped him in his coat, picking him up.

With one last parting glance at the truck's license plate, Dazai departed from the alley.

They would obviously not be getting ice cream anymore, but Dazai had a solution for that, as he did for everything else.

Chuuya leaned closer to Dazai for warmth, and the next thing Dazai knew was that he had fallen asleep, exhausted from the ordeal.

Dazai was not a good babysitter.

—————

The rain didn't let up for the rest of the day, continuing well into the night. Dazai never minded the pitter-patter in the background as he stared at the ceiling, though he wouldn't be doing that tonight.

Chuuya had woken up from his nap shortly after they returned, and Dazai showed him the bathroom, telling Chuuya to yell if he needed anything. They both needed hot showers if they didn't want to catch any sickness (Yes, Dazai was being responsible.)

Mackerel had sensed the strange atmosphere, apparently, because she remained on her perch at the top of the fridge, looking down on the apartment like she was some kind of queen. She was similar to the last cat, Mackerel, that Dazai and Chuuya had owned during their port mafia days. They were both entitled and Dazai wanted nothing to do with them.

Before it was Dazai's own turn to take a shower, he had slipped his thankfully undamaged phone from his trouser pocket, dialing a number.

It didn't take long for Atsushi to pick up, only about four rings. "Dazai-san it's late into the afternoon and it's everyone's days off-"

"Yes I know, I know" Dazai waved him off "but I need you to run a quick errand for me."

He could practically feel the exasperation from the other end of the line as there was shuffling. "What should I get from the store this time? Another set of bandages? Some rope?"

"That would be nice, yes, but perhaps next time." When Dazai spoke his list over the line in a more serious tone, Atsushi seemed to get the gist of the situation.

"Okay, I wrote it all down... though I do have some questions about some of these..."

"Don't worry about it" Dazai saw Chuuya walking into the room from out of the corner of his eye, wrapped in a towel. "Ah- I have to go, I'll send you the address~"

Ah, Atsushi the lifesaver.

"...Do you know where any of my clothes are?" Chuuya asked cautiously, shivering slightly as he pulled the towel closer to himself.

Oh, right, he didn't even have any of his normal outfits. Dazai held up a finger before wordlessly moving to the room that Chuuya had emerged from, bending down to rifle through the multiple bags. Thankfully Kouyou had the foresight to pack clothes for all ages, so Dazai pulled out a pair of shorts and a t-shirt looking like it was meant to be for an older toddler.

Dazai shrugged, Chuuya was small, it would probably work out.

"Here, turn on the TV." Dazai passed Chuuya the remote once he had dressed. Surprise surprise, the clothes fit. "If a strange man knocks on the door with the worst haircut you've ever seen, take all of his belongings and attack his ankles."

Chuuya didn't bat an eye, "Okay."

———-

Dazai's shower was quick, and when he emerged from the bathroom with his own sweatpants and shirt, there was a knock at the door. He finished wrapping his bandages while he smugly listened to the rustling from the other room, then Atsushi's screeching, and Chuuya's laughing as he tried to steal the grocery bags.

But Dazai was feeling extra generous today, so he strolled into the room and called Chuuya off. His attack dog sure was one feisty one.

"Dazai-san, what's going on?" Atsushi looked helplessly confused "and about the grocery list."

"Yes well you see, me and the Chibi" Dazai patted Chuuya's head "went out today to get ice cream, but ran into some... trouble."

Atsushi blinked "trouble?"

"Yes, some thugs wanted to kidnap Chuuya, possibly for something his older counterpart did."

Atsushi made a little distressed noise "but what could he have done?"

Dazai's lips pulled into a straight line "Working for the mafia isn't exactly the cleanest job."

Chuuya's head bounced back and forth between them, tracking the conversation with intrigued eyes.

Atsushi nodded, shutting his mouth when he realized he was gaping. "Right, I'll be off now" he bowed low "have a good night." Then he turned to Chuuya, giving him a small sincere smile "I hope you're okay."

Chuuya nodded, a bit caught off guard. And when Atsushi was fully out of earshot, he turned to Dazai "Why can't he be my babysitter?"

Dazai was going to die then and there.

"You'll regret saying that when you see what I got~"

Chuuya followed Dazai into the large kitchen, mackerel jumping down from her claimed place to weave between Chuuya's legs and follow him around.

Dazai haphazardly dumped the bag over, a few pints of ice cream falling from them, all multiple flavors so the Chibi could taste test and eat the one he liked the best. Chuuya's eyes practically lit up at the sight, Dazai had to bat his hands away when he reached for them.

"Na-ah-ah, first dinner."

Oh lord, he sounded like Kunikida.

He had sunk to an all-new low.

Chuuya stood on his tippy toes to see what else had dropped from the bag, squinting his eyes. "What is that?"

"Oh, this?" Dazai smirked as he hooked a finger through the loop of the monkey-shaped backpack. "This is a child leash, I can't have you getting lost again Chibi. You're so small I may miss you in the crowd~"

Chuuya swiftly punched him in the gut.

"Aww, what happened to little Chuuya? He was so cute and happy, now he's just demonic!" Dazai complained to himself, setting the child's leash down to dig out the can of broth.

"I've only known you for a day," Chuuya informed.

If only he knew.

While the soup heated, Dazai propped Chuuya up on the counter to get better access to his face as he spread the ointment over the blooming bruises. He was extra careful around the tender areas, especially when Chuuya flinched.

"You're pretty tough for what- a four-year-old?" Dazai teased.

Chuuya huffed indignantly, crossing his arms as Dazai closed the medical kit. "I'm six."

"Pretty small for a six-year-old."

"I'm only six, I'm still growing!"

Dazai was taken back by the line, lips curling into a smirk. The Chibi really couldn't accept the harsh conditions of his shortness in any day and age, could he?

Dazai had successfully cooked the soup without burning down the kitchen. (Older Chuuya would for sure roundhouse kick him into the sun if he had aged back to find his apartment complex turned to ashes.)

Chuuya seemed satisfied enough with the meal, sinking into the couch to sip from the broth, eyes intently trained on the TV. Mackerel curled up in his lap and demanded to be petted, Dazai stayed as far away from the thing as possible, eating in the kitchen.

But of course, Chuuya didn't forget about the ice cream, demanding Dazai let him try some after he had cleared his bowl. Dazai grabbed a spoon from the sink (it was dirty, but he wiped it with a cloth so it should be fine. Right?) And placed the containers in a row, letting Chuuya take a spoonful from each one.

It was truly a sight to see the delighted look that crossed Chuuya's face as he sorted through each one, sometimes twisting into one of caution.

"It's cold," Chuuya stated once he had finished his rounds.

"It's called ice cream for a reason, slug."

Chuuya scrunched his nose up at the nickname, but pointed to the Chocolate ice cream "I hated that one, I never want to see it ever again."

Dazai gasped mockingly "Chuuya~ I'm not sure if we can be friends if you don't like chocolate."

Chuuya reached to grab for the orange creamsicle flavor, digging his spoon in for another bite. The container looked huge in his arms. "This is the one I'm eating." He said through a mouth full of the desert.

Of course, Chuuya liked the orange one, just like his atrocious hair.

"You can't eat the whole thing, we don't want you to get sick." Actually, Dazai didn't want to deal with Chuuya on a sugar rush, but a little white lie never hurt anyone.

Despite the sugar, Chuuya started slipping in and out of sleep about thirty minutes into their movie. It was amusing to see him jolting awake every other minute, bleary blue eyes focused on the screen. The rain had never stopped, lulling him to sleep.

His hand loosely clutched the melting tub of ice cream, the spoon had fallen to the floor with a loud clatter, yet he hadn't been roused by it. He was passed out cold. Dazai took the ice cream from his loose grip and quickly discarded it in the freezer with the rest of the neglected tubs of ice cream just waiting to be consumed by Dazai later.

Dazai flicked off the light, letting the TV cast a soft glow on the room as Dazai returned to the couch to wake the Chibi and get him to bed. Though seeing as he had fully relaxed into the cushions, falling over on his side to curl into a ball around mackerel, Dazai didn't disturb his slumber.

No, little Chuuya wasn't cute at all. Obviously not.

Chuuya didn't flinch at the flash of Dazai's camera.

Maybe he was a good babysitter after all.

Then Dazai looked at the time, eleven o'clock.

Shit, he had work tomorrow.