Chuuya was 17 now, and he never expected at this age he would be in this position. Sitting in a hospital room bawling his eyes out because the one person he loved more than anything in this world was dying. Oda had fallen ill and ended up with prostate cancer, Chuuya didn't understand why. Oda was so healthy, he always took his health very seriously. How could this happen? Why him? Why not someone else? Chuuya never believed in prayer but if there was any hope there was a God out in the world somewhere, he was praying. He just wanted Oda to get better.

Chuuya sniffled and he wiped his tears with one hand while the other held Oda's hand tightly. Oda weakly groaned and he looked over at Chuuya. He gently squeezed his hand.

"Hey... why are you crying hm...?"

Chuuya shook his head and he grabbed a tissue. He couldn't talk about it.

"C'mon... you can tell your old man." Oda chuckled softly.

No matter the circumstances. Oda always was in a happy mood. No amount of chemotherapy, vomiting, weakness took his smile away.

"I don't wanna lose you..." Chuuya was crying and he tried to hold his composure.

"Hey... you won't lose me." Oda said, rubbing his hand.

"You don't know that... I don't know that... You're not getting any better Dad... I see how sick you are..."

Oda gently leans over and he wipes the tears from Chuuya's eyes and he pulls him close. "Hey... it's just a bump in the road. I know it looks bad... but I'll make it. Your old man is tough... You have to believe that for me too... okay?"

"...Okay..."

But Chuuya thought it wasn't just a bump in the road. It had progressed dangerously and within a month Oda had died. Attending his funeral was the hardest thing Chuuya ever had to do. He had a lot of support from Asa, Maemi, the whole Armed Detective Agency but no matter what he was broken. The voices around him, the condolscenes given, it was all like static to him. Chuuya felt completely alone. There were so many things his Dad still wanted to do. He wanted to get married to Maemi, see Chuuya graduate, he wanted to see Chuuya off to college, get married and have children of his own, be a grandfather. And all that was stolen away by a sickness that was far out of their control. After the funeral no one saw Chuuya. He didn't even come back home. Which had Maemi and Asa extremely concerned. They both offered Chuuya to come home with the one of them figuring being at home alone would be too much to bear. But he refused and just left.

"I haven't seen him since the funeral, have you?" Maemi asked Asa.

"No... He just got up and left in his car. I shouldn't have let him leave alone. His phone is off too. I tried calling."

"I'll go look for him." Dazai says.

"I'll come with you." Maemi offered.

Dazai shook his head. "It's best if I go alone. I'll bring him home. I promise."

*

Dazai didn't have to go very far. He knew of a spot Oda and Chuuya always used to go together. To play, have picnic's, and fly a kite. It was their spot with a lot of happy memories. Chuuya chugged back some whiskey and he heard a rustling from the bushes, Chuuya turned around and he was shocked to see Dazai.

"I thought you'd be here..."

"Go away."

"I won't."

"I just want to be alone."

"Now isn't the time you should be alone." Dazai said slowly approaching Chuuya and he sat down beside him.

Chuuya laughed a little. "You know... he taught me how to ride a bike here. I remember my first go without training wheels. I busted my ass so hard that I started to cry. And my dad picked me up and he told me it was okay. And that I was strong, and a little pain wouldn't stop someone like me." Chuuya sighed and he started to tear up. "But right now... I'm far from that..."

Dazai felt his pain and he started to tear up with him. "Oh Chuuya..." Dazai reached out and he pulled the ginger into his embrace tightly. Chuuya started crying into Dazai's chest, and Dazai rubbed his back and gently rocked him. Dazai wasn't good at comforting but he was trying. He made a promise, one he will never forget.

*

"I'm dying Dazai. I don't have long... weeks if that... I'm afraid... but I can't worry Chuuya more than I already have." Oda said as he started to cry. "It's going to shatter his heart when I die... and he's going to need a shoulder to lean on... promise me... promise me you'll be there for him... and you won't let him be alone... love him... even when he pushes you away... when he tells you he doesn't need your sympathy... that he's fine... love him. Because he's going to need that."

Dazai grabs Oda's hand and he nods his head. "My dearest friend... I promise with all my heart and until my last breath. I will love and protect your son. I'll be there for him. I'll watch him graduate, make sure he goes off to college, make sure no one hurts him. I promise you."

"...thanks buddy. I can die peacefully knowing he'll be cared for. Make sure he knows I loved him every second I got to spend with him. He's my pride and joy. When he graduates. I wrote him a letter... it's in my closet in a box... inside has the letter... and a bank account that I left for him. A bank account that has had money put in it since the day he has been born for his graduation. Make sure he gets it..."

Dazai nods. "I will. I promise."

Dazai stayed with Oda all through the night holding his hand, being his support system. And one hour after Dazai left that morning to go get ready for work, he was told Oda had died.

To Be Continued...