Chuuya had no idea how he'd ended up kidnapped by the captain of a massive pirate ship.

His day had started like any other: stealing and running from the law. It had become a kind of routine ever since he was young. Survival demanded it; if he didn't steal, he didn't eat.

He'd trained his agility, speed, and cunning for years. Chuuya knew the streets of that town like the back of his hand. Nothing and no one could catch him.

Or at least, that's what he thought, until he crossed paths with a strange boy.

The brunet wore clothes that instantly stood out. Not because they were extravagant, but because no one in that small town ever dressed like that. Though, Chuuya had to admit, the style suited him far too well.

The boy introduced himself as Osamu Dazai, and the sound of his voice sent a chill down Chuuya's spine.

'Fuck…'

Before he could even process what was happening, Chuuya found himself cornered by the handsome stranger;(whose presence scrambled his thoughts) and several armed men.

He fought, kicked, cursed, but it was useless. One of the larger men hefted him like a sack of grain, tied him securely, and hauled him toward the docks. By the time he could breathe again, he was locked away in the brig of a vast ship.

Later, Dazai came to see him.

The truth was simple: Osamu needed Chuuya's agility and stealth to infiltrate a heavily guarded castle where an enormous treasure was hidden.

Dazai promised that if Chuuya completed the mission, he'd be set free and rewarded with a generous share of the spoils.

Reluctantly, Chuuya agreed. In return, Dazai gave him unexpected freedoms: his own cabin, good meals, and the run of the ship.

The journey would be long. And though only a week had passed, Chuuya was already spending most of his time bickering with Dazai about anything and everything.

"Even a rat would make a better captain than you, you dumb mackerel. If it weren't for that stupidly sharp brain of yours, you'd already be fish food."