- Akutagawa, when are we going to stop?- Atsushi woke up.
- when we reach the village,- driver blankly replied.
- but that's three days of driving!- Atsushi gasped.
- not that village, idiot!- Akutagawa sighed.- there's one about 20minutes away, we're gonna stop there.
- oh, okay,- Atsushi didn't want to annoy the guy, but still couldn't connect the dots.- wait... what time is it and what are we gonna do there?
- tch, it's around 6am and I'm going to fucking sleep there,- Akutagawa slightly frowned, but didn't get his eyes of the road.
- o-oh, but you know, you could sleep in the backseat and th-
- then what?- Akutagawa interrupted.- Dazai or you are going to wreck my car?
- okay, I'm going to shut up,- Atsushi got the clue.
- good idea,- the driver relaxed his shoulders.
for a few minutes both of them sat silently, Atsushi stared through the front window, glancing at Akutagawa from time to time, but he pretended not to notice Atsushi's weird looks.
- uh, um what are they doing back there?- Akutagawa couldn't stand the awkwardness anymore.- it's a bad sign if they're silent for so long.
- uhm,- Atsushi looked behind his chair and his grey eyes widened.- I don't think you would believe if I say this...
- what is it, weretiger?
- uh, just see for yourself,- Atsushi shook his head, weirded out by two guys in the back of the car.
- I can't, idiot, have you not driven a car in your life?!- Akutagawa raised his voice, mainly because of the curiosity.
- uh, no I haven't,- Atsushi tried to smile a bit.- I don't know, slow down a bit then?
- tch, you're so fucking stupid,- Akutagawa rolled his eyes, but still slowed the car, so he could see what was happening.
- Okay, I get what you meant now,- Akutagawa stared at Dazai and Chuuya for too long, almost forgetting that he has to drive at the same time.
- Right, did we miss something?- Atsushi gave Aku a questionable look, this was the first time they interacted like human beings.
- no, they'll probably scream at each other the second they get up,- Akutagawa sighed and returned his full attention to the road.
For sure, Dazai and Chuuya were acting weird. Chuuya's head was on Dazai's chest, he was clinging to Dazai with his whole body, as much as it was possible with seatbelts. Dazai had a hand around Chuuya's shoulder and his head was thrown back, both of them peacefully sleeping.
( something like this but you know, in the car ^^)
Eventually, the sky started turning orange, the sun was rising, spiking Akutagawa's eyes with brightness. Luckily they saw small buildings in the horizon and Atsushi called Tanizaki to announce that they'll stop there and book a room for them to sleep.
Tanizaki couldn't thank him enough. He wasn't like Akutagawa, he couldn't bear exhaustion for that long, he spoke like he was about to pass out.
Atsushi googled if there's any rooms to rent for the day, and luckily found a shady place with low price, the village was tiny after all.
Akutagawa and Tanizaki parked their cars in a small parking lot, in front of a 2 store building, with a sign ,,cheap rooms". they certainly didn't put much into advertising.
For their own safety, both Akutagawa and Atsushi silently decided not to wake Chuuya or Dazai yet, so they quietly left them in the car.
- are you open?- Atsushi opened the front doors and peaked inside.
- huh?- oh, yeah,- a woman behind a counter replied.
The three men walked in a tiny room. it was all made of light wood and the only obstacles in there were the doors, the counter and stairs up.
- you want something?- the woman asked, pulling out a cigarette.
- uh,- Atsushi mumbled when Akutagawa forcefully pushed him in front of them to speak.- yeah, we need a room for uh, till tomorrow morning.
- how many beds?- the woman wrote something down in a notebook.
- uhh,- Atsushi didn't know whether to say 2 or 5.
- five. five beds,- Akutagawa helped him out.
- that will be 75$ till tomorrow 9am.
- uh, Aku-...
- move, idiot,- Akutagawa pushed Atsushi away and payed for the rooms himself.
- you don't even know how to book a fucking room,- Akutagawa mumbled while going up the stairs, with room keys jiggling in his hands.
they all went to a room #4 and #5, the last ones down the narrow corridor.
The rooms weren't that bad, well, they didn't have a choice but to stay here. in the #4 room there was 3 beds along the wall, a small bathroom and an empty wardrobe. In the corner stood a small table and a couple cups and some tea, that was it.
- guys, can you fix everything, I'm just really tired...- Tanizaki groaned and fell right on the closest bed.
- Atsushi, you do shit,- Akutagawa demanded and went to the furthest bed, leaving the middle one empty.
- wait, why me? - Atsushi tried to resist.
- because we're sleeping,- Aku just went under the covers with all his clothes, just without the shoes.
- you... you sleep with your cape?- Atsushi awkwardly stood in the middle of the room.
- don't bother me, weretiger.
Atsushi quietly nodded and closed the door, leaving the two men sleeping.
,,uh, right, what now?... " Atsushi thought, but the immediately froze on spot.
,, Dazai!" Atsushi went down and stopped before opening the car doors.
Akutagawa left the car unlocked, since there was no-one around and they left people inside, however Atsushi wished he wasn't the one to wake them.
,,it's fine, they just fell asleep..." He tried to calm himself and opened the doors only with his fingertips, so he wouldn't be loud.
Then Atsushi realised another problem. He was at Chuuya's side, so he couldn't wake Dazai first. His primary plan was to carefully wake Dazai and then ask him what to do with Chuuya, but he couldn't wake Dazai if he didn't want to get in the car.
,,Do I wake Chuuya, or I step inside the car and wake Dazai, but be within their punch reach?"
,, No, it's better to wake Chuuya and then jump back as far as possible."
with that, his decision was made. He didn't know Chuuya that much, but he always seemed angry, even though he often looked quite funny, shouting at Dazai with their height difference.
Well, from Atsushi's point of view, anyone who shouted and was from the port mafia, was scary.
So, he tiptoed as near as he can and poked Chuuya's choulder.
Nothing happened.
He went closer again and poked harder. Chuuya moved a bit.
Atushi's eyes widened and he jumped back as far as he could without the weretiger abilities.
- huh?- he heard Chuuya groan, waking up.
- AAAH!- scream, punch.
-AAAH!- another scream, punch, punch, punch, punch, slap, punch punch, scream.
At this point Atsushi covered his ears and stepped back even further. He was behind the car, so he couldn't see what was happening inside, however it was still quite clear.
After a loud bang, Dazai stepped out of the car.
- uh, Dazai?- Atsushi called.
the brunette looked over to Atsushi, but fell on the ground before saying anything.
- Dazai!- Atsushi ran over to him, forgetting about Chuuya.
Dazai layed there, face down and didn't move, meanwhile Chuuya stepped out completely fine, without a scratch.
- uh, Dazai, are you alright?- Atsushi tried to wake him up, again.
- he's alive,- Chuuya looked down on them.- well, probably.
- probably?!,- Atsushi shouted anxiously.
- tch, it's not the first time,- Chuuya rolled his eyes and went inside the building, somehow already knowing where to go.
,, not the first time?! how many times have they killed each other?! "
Eventually, Atsushi gave up on trying to wake Dazai, however his pulse was here, so it was fine for now.
Nobody showed up to help Atsushi, he tried to take Dazai up the stairs himself.
Thankfully, the woman behind the counter was gone, so nobody saw Atsushi's not so safe way of dragging Dazai up.
Since Atsushi couldn't lift Dazai, he just grabbed both of his arms and dragged him up the stairs, hitting every single corner with brunette's head.
,, sorry, Dazai"
Atsushi carefully sat Dazai down, leaning him against the wall and opened the door to #4 room. Akutagawa, Tanizaki were still here, sleeping and the middle bed was still empty, so Chuuya was in #5 room.
,, thank godness, I won't face him"
Atsushi sighed, relieved.
He dragged Dazai up to the middle bed and tried to place him as comfortably as he could.
However, he didn't realise a big mistake. Now, there was only one bed left to sleep in, and that was in Chuuya's room.