Chapter Text
As Dazai walked deeper into the forest, he couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.
Maybe those were just the effects of the forest, combined with the darkness of the night as his melancholic thoughts brought forth the instinctual feeling of paranoia that something bad was going to go happen.
He should probably turn back, it would be a smart move, a safe move.
And yet, he marched on.
He couldn’t celebrate with other soldiers who were drinking their weight in alcohol in the taverns of the town near their camp settlement.
They all had reasons to be happy, they were returning home alive and victorious after stopping the invaders at the Eastern border after months of constant battle.
But he was different.
This victory didn’t amount to anything.
His life was constantly filled with battle, and he knew that it was only going to get worse once he actually ascends to the throne.
It was his duty as the Crown Prince, it was a curse that befall on him upon his birth.
His life belonged to his Kingdom, and there is no path that he can choose that would allow him to live his life the way he wants.
Or to be more accurate, to not live.
He thought about killing himself before, it would silence the voice of guilt that plagued him ever since his death, but...
That would also only create problems for his family.
At the thought of his brother’s scared face, his mother’s tears, his father trying to be strong for the rest of them...
He just couldn’t go through with it.
He knows what kind of life was planned out for him, so he’ll wait until he has sired an heir and that heir has grown up enough to handle the Kingdom by themselves, and only then he’ll be able to die honorably in a war.
That would cause everyone less grief. They would say “He fought honorably until his last breath.” or something like “At least, he lived a good life.”
That sounded like a perfectly normal way for a king to die, and in that way he won’t bring dishonor upon his family’s name.
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind appeared together with the light so bright that it forced him to close his eyes.
It only lasted for a moment, but even that was too much.
There is no way that that light was normal. The light as bright as the sun’s rays can’t shine in the middle of the night and within the thickness of the forest, without interference of something outside of human understanding.
Even so, he pulled out his sword from the shed. He might not stand the chance against whatever mythical creature of phenomenon just appeared, but at least he could go out fighting.
Finally, when the light died down and his eyes adjusted to the dark, he cautiously made his way towards the direction from where the light shone just the moments before.
The first thing he noticed was the sweet scent of wine and roses.
(Which was weird since that smell typically belongs to...)
The second thing was an unmoving body with their back turned to him.
Not taking any chances of a surprise attack, he circled the body in a wide arch with his sword pointed at the figure.
Luckily, no attack came.
As he came face to face with the figure, he started to notice a few things that didn’t register to him in the moment of anxious caution.
The odd black clothes, tight pants seemingly made of leather that perfectly emphasized their curves in an almost sinful way, a white shirt and on top of it another black unbuttoned shirt so short it served no protection against the cold at all and...
a black collar.
It dawned onto him now why he smelled something sweet.
The oddly dressed figure was an omega.
His realization got cut short when the omega began to stir, and then he finally got a good look at his delicate face and hazy blue eyes that blinked at him in confusion.
He was charmed, under a spell or whatever else you might want to call it.
But this was his first time being so out of breath by just looking at the eyes of an omega, and he saw many. This one was just very special. The hair red as fire, plump lips, eyes bright sky blue that showed a sigh of recognition-
“Osamu…” was the only think that the omega said before he lost consciousness.
With that, Dazai was left speechless.
Just how does he know that!?
--------------------------
Considering how many soldiers were left in the camp and that Dazai was the one to organize the patrol routes, getting back to his tent undetected was an easy task.
What was not an easy task was figuring out what to do with the omega.
Wait until he wakes up, certainly.
Hopefully, he will have a family he can get in contact with, and then he would be out of his hands.
However, that was probably not the case considering that people don’t normally appear in a flash of light in a forest in the middle of nowhere.
He looks normal...
If you consider a strangely dressed omega with the face and figure that looked as if it was carved by God-which it probably was-normal than yes.
Just what was he supposed to do!?
He can’t let other soldiers know that there is an omega inside his tent, how would he even begin to explain that. What if that started a rumor, or even worse the word of this got back to his mother!
Then again, he can’t just leave him alone. He would be unprotected, and who knows just how many alphas would try to do something to him. He looks literally out of this world, and there is no way that some of them would pass on a chance to either sell him for a high price to some Lord or take him for themselves.
Why did that last part leave a bitter taste in his mouth?
But maybe...
It wasn’t a coincidence that he was the one who found him.
What if the omega was some kind of gift sent to him by the God as an answer to his wish for something more than what was assigned to him?
Male omegas are rare by themselves, and this one-with his bright colored hair and eyes-even more so.
It's surely not a coincidence that he appeared before him when he was alone and somewhere far away from any human settlement.
Could this omega-
A loud groan snapped him out of his thoughts.
And he was once again left face to face with the beauty from the forest.
“Don’t worry, you are safe here. I swear it on my hono-” Dazai started but was cut off by the omega moving so fast that he didn’t even manage to comprehend what happened.
All he knows is that one moment he was standing in front of the omega, and the next one he was on the floor being restrained with a knife at his throat.
“You didn’t even check me for the weapons?” The red-haired omega asked him with a curious and yet firm tone. “Bad move.”
“Didn’t think you had any.” Dazai smartly said back. Really, why was he supposed to think that an omega would carry weapons on them, even the ones who magically appeared in the forest.
(He tried to wiggle his restrained limbs under the redhead’s weight to free himself and flip the situation, but to no avail.
Just how strong was this omega)
“Very funny.” the omega commented in a dry tone.
“I’m a funny guy.” He smiled cheekily.
That earned him a slap to the face and an image of a ticked of omega.
Totally worth it.
He wasn’t loving being at the omega’s mercy, but seeing his cute ticked off expression made him feel things that he never thought was possible.
“Answer me! Where am I?” The omega demanded in a tone that left no room for refusal.
Now, this was interesting. All of the other omegas he met couldn’t even look him in the eyes, and yet this one was staring at him with the eyes of steal-firm and unwavering-waiting for the reply that was going to come or else...
Deciding to indulge, Dazai answered: “You, my dear, are currently inside my personal tent near the outskirts of the town of Futur in the Kingdom of Glagol.”
The omega studied him for a minute before letting out an annoyed sigh. “As I thought.”
As he thought? Just what was that supposed to mean?
Did he plan to end up here? Can one even plan appearing unconscious in the middle of the forest? Did someone inform him of where he was going to end up? Why near Futur? That town isn’t of much significance, except that it is one of the bigger towns near the Eastern border.
“What did you mean-” Dazai was cut off.
“I’m the one asking the questions here.” The omega put more pressure against his throat using that damned knife to emphasize that he was currently the one with the upper hand.
Dazai rolled his eyes, “Then ask away.”
The omega briefly swept his eyes over the tent and then asked: “How high ranked are you?”
“Very high.”
The omega raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for an elaboration.
“I’m the Crown Prince of the-” He started, but was once again interrupted by the omega, except this time...
The omega was laughing hysterically.
Dazai didn’t know what exactly he found funny, but he was glad that he was able to bring out that melodic laugh.
Or that was the case, until the omega managed to get out “You’re the Prince!? You!?” between laughs.
Well, now he was just insulted.
“Yes.” He said, eyebrow twitching in irritation. “ And you are currently in my custody so if you would please cooperate with me-” The omega interrupted him once again.
“Oh, high and mighty Prince, what exactly does being in your custody entail?” The mocking tone was hard to miss.
“It would mean that I would ensure that all of your basic needs will be met and that no harm shall befall on you until I can make sure that you return to your family.”
And that was the truth. As any respectable alpha, it was his duty to ensure the safety of any omega until their family could come and collect them. Usually, that would mean that their alpha father, brother or husband was available to do so, if they weren’t then they were brought to the church.
Dazai doubts that this omega has a family that he can reach-even as a Crown Prince with a lot of connections-since he magically appeared out of thin air, but it was important for him to say that in case that there truly was someone awaiting his return.
“No need.”
“No need? What do you mean no need?” Did this omega not understand the danger he would put himself in if he was left alone to fend for himself!? Dazai can’t in good conscience let that happen.
“I can take care of myself just fine.”
Dazai just stared at him for a couple of seconds before deciding that he’ll have to break reality to this omega. “Sure, you can wield a knife, but what good would that do against an alpha? You are just an omega, you are not immune to-”
“What did you just call me?” Was it just him or did the omega’s tone imply that he was insulted?
“An omega?” Dazai truly didn’t understand why that would be a problem. Surely, he was aware of what he was, unless...
“What is an omega?”
No. He can’t be serious...
“You are.” The amount of dread he was feeling at that moment was indescribable.
“If you’re insulting me, might as well explain what that insult means so I can laugh as well.”
He was not laughing.
“Do you really not know what that means?” He was hoping that the omega denies it, that he says that he was just messing with him, making fun of him, however...
“Should I?” This was his final nail in the coffin.
“YES!” He exploded. “How can you not know about secondary genders!?”
Dazai was usually quite calm and collected person, but this omega-who doesn’t even know that he is one-is making him go hysterical. He hasn’t felt that panicked since he was a little kid.
On the other hand, the omega didn’t seem to be panicked at all. He just groaned in annoyance, and then quietly muttered: “Figures that I would get transported into some fucked up world...”
“All right, listen here!” The omega pulled his face closer to Dazai’s so that they can see each other eye to eye, and despite the sharp tone Dazai couldn’t help but feel anything but mesmerized as he gazed into those beautiful sky blue eyes. “I was hit by a special ability which transports people into different universes for an unspecified amount of time, which means that I’ll remain stuck here until that time runs out or until my idiot partner nullifies that guy’s ability, we clear?”
It took him a few seconds to register what the omega just said. His eyes widened, “Listen omega-”
“Chuuya.” The omega interrupted him.
“What?”
“My name is Chuuya.”
“Alright. Listen, Chuuya!” Dazai tried to approach with reason. “That sounds a little far-fetched, magical abilities aren’t...”
He trailed off as he watched the knife-that was just seconds before on his throat-spin in the air in various patterns.
He probably would have paid more attention to the fact that Chuuya wasn’t pinning him to the floor anymore, but straddling him arms crossed with an expression that just screams ‘I told you so’ if there wasn’t a floating knife right in front of him.
“Magic is real...” He muttered to himself quietly, but obviously not quiet enough since the omega chose to comment “Well, abilities aren’t magic, but at least you get the picture now.”
He jerked his head to the omega in disbelief. “How can this not be magic!?”
Dazai wasn’t really superstitious, and while he worshiped God-as was expected-he didn’t really believe it until this gorgeous being appeared in front of him, but even then magic wasn’t something he could quite wrap his head around. From every story, there was never a mention of a mortal having some kind of power. Sure, priests claim to channel the God’s power to repel against evil and bring blessings upon the land, but there was never a clear example of magic being used.
But this was impossible to ignore.
“Abilities themselves are a power that comes from the soul, making them unique to each person. There are no rules to them as you might come to expect from the magic. Then again, we might have different definitions of what magic is.”
Well, that explanation didn’t clarify anything.
“What is your ability exactly?”
“Why would I tell you that?” came the unimpressed voice of the omega.
“So we can establish some form of trust between us?”
The omega just shrugged, “I told you, there was no need. As soon as I get enough information out of you, I’ll go on my own.”
Dazai didn’t even know what issue to address first, there were so many things wrong with what he had just said.
“And you’ll go on your own in a world you don’t know without protection?”
“You seem to think of me as someone defenseless, why is that?” Chuuya asked, a curiosity painting his voice.
“It’s because you’re an omega!”
“And I told you that doesn’t mean anything to me, so explain why that’s important?”
“You really aren’t jesting me, are you?” Dazai asked, hoping-despite already knowing the answer-that he’s joking.
The omega just rolled his eyes. “We already established that I’m not.”
Dazai lay there on the floor, contemplating what to do, but in the end decided to ask: “Would you be amicable to a friendly conversation without involving any knives?”
“Sure.” The omega said as he pocketed the floating knife.
Thankfully, his tent had a table and chairs-since he is a general and a Crown Prince, a bit more comfort was expected-so their discussion could be held in a somewhat better way.
If you ignore all the maps and documents scattered around the table, you could almost consider it a friendly meeting between friends. Except…
There was a difference in station and designation between both of them, and apparently worlds too.
“So you’re from another world?”
“Yup.”
“And magical abilities are real there?”
“You’ve seen it.” Came a nonchalant reply.
“And there you don’t have secondary genders and you want me to explain them to you?”
“It would be helpful.”
Dazai couldn’t take it anymore. “How are you so unbothered by all of this!?”
The omega just shrugged. “I’m used to way weirder stuff.”
Dazai chose not to ask since he’s pretty sure that whatever this omega considered crazy just might break his mind. He sighed in defeat.
“Right.” And then explained to him what exactly are secondary genders. (Though, he firstly explained primary genders just in case that there was some confusion in that aspect as well.)
At his explanation that alphas are the strongest, dominant and born to lead and pointed to himself as an example, the omega judgingly looked him up and down which stung a bit.
Betas he understood better since his world seem to only be consisted of them, which is something that Dazai can’t even imagine. Just how did the world function without alphas to lead them to new heights or omegas to give birth to next generation. Surely, only betas aren’t enough.
And finally, he told him what it meant to be an omega. They’re the mothers, caregivers, the ones who support alphas while in return the same alphas protect and provide for them.
“Ah, so you’re sexist?”
Dazai spluttered. What…?
“Did you not listen to the word I’ve just said!?”
“No, I did.” The omega once again shrugged. “The alphas think of themselves as superior, the betas are basically the working class, this body can apparently give birth-”
“Well, not exactly think-“ Dazai tried to correct him.
“And you’re sexist.”
Dazai was once again left speechless, but then exasperatedly asked: “Why do you keep bringing that up!?”
“I mean, why else would you be addressing me by my gender? That’s just weird.”
“I didn’t know your name-“ Dazai tried to defend himself but was interrupted.
“And even after having a knife on your throat all while not being able to free yourself, you never once stopped looking down on me.” The omega said as he crossed his arms, and then muttered: “At first I thought it was just because you’re Dazai, but it quickly became apparent that that’s not the case.”
It was only then that Dazai remembered one crucial detail. “You knew my name?”
The judging look was back. “You claim to be a prince and yet are shocked that people know your name? Shouldn’t you be used to being known?”
“No, well…” Dazai let out a frustrated sigh. The omega misinterpreted that on purpose. “You knew my personal name! There is no way a stranger would know such a thing, but you knew! You knew because…”
The realization has finally settled in. “You know me.”
Dazai locked eyes with now smirking omega. “You know a version of me.”
“And it would seem that you still have your smarts even in a different universe.” The omeg-Chuuya sent him a knowing look. “Though, you don’t seem as devious as the bastard I know.”
That didn’t sound positive.
Is it weird that a very attractive person already has a bad opinion of you, not because you did anything, but because a different version on you already shamed you?
“Then I feel obliged to apologize in his stead.”
Chuuya sent him an incredulous look. “Wow…you really are different.”
“I hope to be better than the version of me who has slighted you so.”
“That’s not a very high bar, you know.”
Just how horrible was his other version!? Dazai knows he’s not a good man, he has killed many people on the battlefield, sent his men to death all to achieve victory and he took every opportunity he could to gloat over others.
And yet there exists a version of him who is worse.
“How do you know the other me?”
“Do you want the honest answer or one that will give you a peace of mind?” Chuuya asked, incredibly amused.
Dazai had a feeling he was going to regret it, but… “The truth.”
“We’re partners.”
That’s it? He can’t say he’s not jealous of his other self for being able to mate with such a gorgeous omega, but then why did it seem like he was going to be told something bad?
“Well, ex-partners because he turned traitor and left without a word.”
There it is.
Is his other self insane!?
Why would he abandon someone so gorgeous, someone with such a feisty spirit that has managed to catch his interest in such a short amount of time and a scent to die for?
“Though, he did blew up my car right before he left.”
Dazai wasn’t sure what kind of expression he had, but whatever it was it made Chuuya burst out laughing, and he could swore he heard him mutter between laughs ‘So that’s why he finds messing with me so fun!’
Dazai doesn’t know what that so called ‘car’ is-and he doesn’t want to know in the fear that it’s a living being-but blowing up something that belongs to the person (mate!) you abandoned is as cruel as it gets!
He managed to get out: “…I see that forming some kind of trust between us is going to be quite hard.”
Chuuya shrugged. “Not as hard as you might think. He is very annoying, suicidal, no good piece of shit who would manipulate everyone and anyone for his own amusement-“
Dazai knew he wasn’t a good person, but for someone to just lay out all of the darkest parts of himself that he’s trying his hardest to suppress is…
“-but I trust him with my life without question.”
That last part made him snap his head towards Chuuya.
“…why?”
He couldn’t fathom why he would trust someone as despicable as his other self if he is well aware of what he is like.
Chuuya’s smile softened. “Because we’re Soukoku.”
“That doesn’t mean anything!”
“To you? Of course not. But to us? It sums up everything perfectly.” It sounded so very honest…
“Fine! Be cryptic, but that still doesn’t change the fact that now you’re stuck in this world and you won’t be able to survive out there on your own!”
“I’ve lived on the streets before, I’ll be fine.”
Another terrible fact about him. Does he not have anything positive in his life!?
“Not on ours you haven’t!” Dazai snapped at him, it seems that he’ll have to be clearer on what would happen to him in this world as an omega. “All it takes is one alpha command or for you to go into heat and it won’t matter if you have magical powers or not, you’ll be taken advantage off.”
And for the first time since he met him, Chuuya’s scent changed from calm to a dangerous one that meant that he was seconds away from doing something horrible if he doesn’t get his way.
(It put their precious interaction in a whole new light. Chuuya is obviously very dangerous with his magical ability and a presence that he’s only ever felt from the other alphas on the battlefield.
However, he doesn’t seem hostile by nature since he was very calm and collected the whole time even in the face of an unknown situation all while trying to gather as much information as possible.
It was only now that he’s become alarmed that he’s showing his fangs.)
“Explain!” He was not asked to explain, he was demanded.
And from the way he said it, it would seem that Chuuya was someone in a high enough position to give orders.
“I don’t know that much about heat, because that’s more of an omega thing, but it’s basically a time when you are the most fertile and when only a touch of an alpha can satiate your hunger.”
Chuuya pinched his nose in frustration. “Alright, I get it. Heat is some super horny time to the point of frenzy.”
Dazai decided to leave it at that, he had no desire to venture in that part of omega private life with someone who just knows how to make things even more awkward for him to explain.
“And the alpha command is when an alpha issues an command that establishes their dominance and makes it impossible for an omega to disobey.”
Dazai was watching as Chuuya’s eyebrows furrowed, he knew from the moment that the words came out of his mouth that this beautiful creatures before him won’t take his explanation well.
Whatever moment of contemplation the omega had, it ended when he uttered a question: “In short it’s some sort of mind control?”
“…I guess you can call it that.” Dazai wouldn’t boil it down to that because it’s more complicated than that but explaining all of the nuances would take more time and effort.
“And what are its limitations?”
“Limitations…?”
Chuuya gave him a strange look. “You don’t know?”
Dazai gave him a strange look back. No one really did any tests about it, and generally it is frowned upon to issue a command on omegas for absolutely no reason.
And really, the only limitation he could think of is that a mated omega will be unaffected if issued a command that is not from their alpha mate.
He said as much to Chuuya who just huffed in annoyance.
“Do you see now why you can’t just go on your own?” Dazai asked, having made his point by explaining the difference in power between an alpha and an omega.
He got a blank stare and then an eye roll as a response.
He was about to start lecturing him because he can’t be seriously thinking that he stands a chance against an alpha even after learning all about their dynamics.
“You’re really annoying no matter the universe, you know.”
Dazai chose to ignore that. “I thought you understood the dangers of-“
He got cut off. “I kill people for a living, danger is literally written in the contract.”
“…You what?”
“Right, I didn’t exactly introduce myself.” Chuuya decided to give him a quick summary of who exactly he is dealing with.
“I am Chuuya Nakahara, one of the five executives of the Port Mafia, a criminal organization with legal right to conduct business with correlation to trade, marketing and shipment of goods.”
He said it with such a emphasis on his title that it must be something important, though how important can it be when what he said basically makes him a merchant?
Sure, the criminal part sounds bad, but if he has a legal permit to do so, then he can’t be called a criminal.
It sounds more like his merchant’s guild got the permission of whatever royal family rules their country to defend themselves and their goods no matter the means.
They must be a crucial part of the economy for their kingdom if they were given such freedom.
Though…
“You have two names?”
Chuuya sent him another incredulous look-Dazai should definitely be getting used to those by now-and asked: “Why wouldn’t I?”
“Well, only the noble families have two names. If you ask any commoner they could only give you one name-their given name-or at most the name of their workplace since some merchants and artisans like to add them as a sign of their expertise.” Dazai explained.
Chuuya let out a thoughtful hum. “I see…”
And them decided to ask a question that Dazai was hoping wouldn’t be voiced. “And your name ‘Osamu’ is a secret? Why exactly? You claim to be the Prince which would mean that your name should be known throughout all the land and yet it isn’t.”
Dazai would have probably been more insulted at the ‘claim’ part of his speech were it not for the gravity of what he uttered.
“The given name of all royalty can only ever be known by those within the royal family as the proof of their birthright.” Dazai took a deep breath, “Which means that anyone who finds out the given name of a Royal is silenced.”
The first time he heard his name be uttered out of those gorgeous lips, he was too caught up in the euphoria of his magical appearances and then later he was too flabbergasted from all of the information that Chuuya dumped on him to really ponder the implications if it.
Chuuya’s expression didn’t change at all. Even though a normal person would definitely be frightened to learn that they have a noose hanging above their head.
“The only exception is a spouse.” Dazai added.
Which is probably why Dazai jumped to conclusion that Chuuya was his gift from God, since it would make sense that someone sent to be his mate would prove it by knowing such a detail.
Even now, Dazai can’t say for certain that that’s still not the case.
Chuuya claims that he got here by an accident, but how would he know that it wasn’t by God’s design that he showed up here right in front of Dazai?
Maybe God saw how bad this other version of Dazai was to Chuuya and sent him here where he could be appreciated.
“You don’t have to worry about me spilling your secret, I would not make it very far in the mafia if I didn’t know when to keep my mouth shut.”
While Chuuya meant it in a more, ‘mafia has secrets that should stay buried and its chain od command was absolute’, Dazai took it as ‘Chuuya was under constant threat if he were to disobey’.
That might have been why Dazai took even more protective stance on Chuuya, though the other deeper part of him just didn’t want the omega to leave so he was reading into his words into the way that would benefits his desires.
Dazai had to find a way for Chuuya to stay with him, so…how should he approach this?
Right.
“Even so, I can’t just let you be unsupervised with something so important.”
Chuuya gave him a long hard look, but then sighed. “Fine, I’ll give in. What your plan?”
Dazai hadn’t expected for him to give in so easily since nothing so far was easy with him, but now that he asked for a plan, Dazai found himself without one.
Which Chuuya must have realized, since he started giving him suggestions. “You could say that I’m a hired help. I’m proficient in mathematics and documentation of recourses, or maybe as a bodyguards?”
No. Those would not work.
Can you imagine any alpha hiring an omega as a bodyguard!?
And his advisors would not be happy to let an outsider take a peak at their finances.
“…maybe something else?”
Chuuya tsked, but then hesitantly asked: “You said that omegas were the ones that give birth right?”
“Yes.” Dazai answered even though that was completely unrelated to what they were discussing just moments before.
(Because, obviously Chuuya would not suggest that he introduced him as pregnant especially since he’s not. That would actually create more problems than it would solve.)
Chuuya looked up and then closed his eyes while letting out an annoyed and defeated sound. “Just say that I’m your whore.”
Dazai gaped at him, his mouth was wide open because he never expected to hear that from the omega in front of him. He seemed way to proud for that.
He can’t say that he dislikes the image of Chuuya besides him, and introducing him as his< however…
“How would I even begin to explain that to my parents?”
Dazai had a lot of one time flings when he was younger, but ever since Oda died he has been to depressed and withdrawn into himself that it would be very odd to see him come back home with one out of nowhere.
“Then don’t.” Chuuya shrugged. “Let them draw their own conclusions.”
“Chuuya, they’ll expect an explanation out of me!”
“I though it was common for a prince to have someone on the side.”
“Well yes, but-”
“If it bothers you so much, just say that you found me by chance and offered to help me find my way back home, it’s not like that’s a lie.”
Good point. Dazai did offer him help at the start, and he would like to help him, except that it’s literally out of his hands.
At long last, they agreed on something.
There was just this one thing…
“You’ll need to change into something more fitting.”