"Hey, Chuuya? Do you believe in reincarnation?"

School had ended for the day, so Dazai and Chuuya were now free to do what they pleased and converse about what they pleased.

Chuuya could finally put his prized hat back on his head.

"Why do you ask?"

Dazai adjusted himself on the bench beside Chuuya.

"I was just wondering...what do you think we were like in a past life?"

Chuuya looked up at the sky.

"I am your old partner, after all."

"I don't know."

Dazai leaned against him and moped.

"Come on, you're not even gonna try?"

"Lay off him already. He can choose for himself what to do with his power."

Chuuya sighed. "Ugh, fine. You're so fucking annoying, I swear."

Dazai laughed. "Thank you, I try."

He tucked his arms behind his head. "So, do you think we might've known each other in a past life?"

"There will be no second chances!"

Chuuya looked at Dazai for a moment, then at the brick pathway below his feet.

"Probably."

Dazai turned his head towards his old friend. "What do you think our relationship was like?"

"Let's just give up and die."

Chuuya stared harder at the ground. After being unable to come up with anything to humor Dazai, he turned to look at him.

"What do you think?"

Dazai blinked quickly.

"In other words, the suicidal maniac wants to live."

"I've come to think it's worth trying."

Dazai closed his eyes tightly in thought. The look on his face made Chuuya laugh.

"You look like you're trying to take a shit, you idiot."

"Oh, shush."

"You used Corruption, believing in me? How beautiful."

Dazai sat in thought for about a minute until he came up with something.

"I think that we were from rival organizations."

"Damn, I can't move a single finger."

"We used to be good friends."

"Chuuya! I had no idea you were such a good person!"

"Until one of us betrayed the other and left for years."

"I'll have you die somewhere, I swear."

"But we met again years later, somehow."

"This isn't your place to die!"

"But we never really rekindled what we once had."

"The fog hasn't cleared yet, Chuuya."

"It was hard to, given we were no longer on the same side."

"It's my way of saying go to hell, idiot!"

"But we still worked together just as well as we always did."

"I'll bet that dimwit Dazai went and blabbed."

"We told each other we hated each other."

"It's over now. Take a break, Chuuya."

"That we drove each other crazy."

"I used Corruption because I trusted you."

"And we forced ourselves to believe that."

"See that I…"

"But deep down we still cared."

"...get safely back to base."

"But it's not like there was anything we could do about it anymore. The past was the past."

"You got it, buddy."

Chuuya stared at Dazai blankly for a moment. Then he burst into laughter. It took him awhile before he could get out any words.

"Look at you, makin' up shit for me. Guess you're not as bad as I thought, Dazai."

Dazai feigned a laugh. "Thanks."

Chuuya looked up at the clock and stood up from the bench. "Well, I should probably head home now."

Dazai stood up with him. "May I walk you home?"

Chuuya rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure, why the hell not?"

Dazai twined his fingers with Chuuya's and the two of them walked together, side-by-side.

Past lives were strange. The fact that one could have the capability of remembering their past life was unbelievable.

And yet Dazai did.

Dazai and Chuuya were star-crossed. Unable to grow the bond they desired. Unable to reform the friendship they had.

Their relationship was doomed to fail.

But they reincarnated in the next life. As if they had been given another shot.

Dazai swore this time he wouldn't blow it.

~

"Hey, Chuuya?"

"What is it?"

The two of them sat together on Chuuya's couch, Dazai resting his head on Chuuya's shoulder.

"Do you think I could start calling you 'aibou?'"

"Aibou?"

"Yes."

Chuuya lightly ran his fingers through Dazai's messy chocolate-brown hair.

"You go right ahead. But can I ask something?"

"Of course."

"Why 'aibou' of all things?"

Dazai closed his eyes.

"Oh, I...just thought it sounded nice."