Chapter Text
Dazai wasn’t born afraid of dogs. In a world where a fourth of the population was animal shifters, it was common to see dogs.
It was at the age of thirteen when his fear began.
He was shifted when it happened. Along with his curse of an ability, he also had the misfortune of being a shifter, a blue Abyssinian cat. A scrawny cat rather than an animal that could actually defend itself.
At thirteen, he was not exactly a kitten but not a fully mature cat either.
It had only been a few weeks since he ran away and was living on the streets. Despite growing up in a family with more money than they knew what to do with, Dazai practically raised himself. No nannies, parents barely around, and no friends. He was accustomed to the independence that was forced on him due to the loneliness.
That didn’t make the bitter cold of the streets more bearable. That didn’t make the scraps he managed to find enough to fight off the starvation. He quickly realized two things. One, he could get into more places and steal more as a cat, and two, he didn’t need to eat as much as a cat.
As a result, he spent a lot of time in his animal form.
Tonight, he’d made a mistake. He wasn’t careful enough and snuck into the wrong warehouse.
One that was full of guard dogs in training.
He froze when he saw them and tried to back out slowly and quietly to not make a sound.
One dog happened to look his way.
It all happened too fast for him to comprehend. First, he was standing there and then he was running, five dogs on his trail. They were faster than him, much faster and one of them got their teeth in his flank.
At that point, he knew it was over.
This was how he was going to die.
It was painful.
And he screamed.
God, did he scream, yowl, and shriek as he felt teeth tear chunks out of him and chew his bones. Dazai liked to think he had a pretty good pain tolerance considering how often he turned against his own skin, but he’d never felt anything like this.
There was a loud whistle and all the dogs stopped their attack and ran back to where they were originally standing. A man was standing there, grinning and petting his dogs, rewarding them for a successful recall back to him. As if they didn't just mutilate a cat to the point where it was on death's door.
Dazai wanted to shift back to a human, but he had too many injuries and was too weak to even attempt it.
There were things he knew.
He knew he had broken bones. He knew his skin was shredded. Everything burned. The condition of his body made the rest of the world fizzle out. There was no sound, no smell, and blurry sight at best.
It’s a mystery how the hell he managed to get to his feet. Even more difficult to comprehend how he limped out of there considering each step made his body sturdy as jelly and more blood drip out of him.
The walk from the warehouse to who knows where was long and arduous. His only goal was to get as far away from that nightmare as possible.
There were things he didn’t know.
He didn’t know how long he had been on his feet. He didn’t know how far he’d actually gotten from the warehouse. Miles? Feet? Registering anything and trying to think proved futile. It was all he could do to keep one foot in front of the other.
In a brief moment of vision, he happened to glance at one of his paws, which was mangled to a point where there was no clean fur to be seen, only gashes, blood-soaked fur, and a contorted shape due to the destroyed bones. He could’ve sworn he saw a peek of white as well that must have been his bone.
The image made him dizzy so he looked away and treaded on.
Footsteps echoed around him that sounded human, and he figured he must have made it back to the populated streets of the city. He wasn’t sure whether to be relieved by this or not. From a logical perspective, even in his half-delirious-due-to-the-pain state, he knew he needed help. But speaking from the experience he’d gathered over the course of his thirteen years living, people usually didn’t mean good news.
No, they were far more inclined to hurt.
He trudged on.
He didn’t have a home or a safe place to retreat to.
He trudged on.
He didn’t have friends, family, or anyone to rely on.
He trudged—
Right into a set of feet. The collision made him whine as his countless injuries were jostled and aggravated. A shadow befell Dazai as the person he ran into kneeled down in front of him. The person made a clicking sound, apparently dissatisfied with something, likely the disruptive kitten who'd walked into him.
Dazai brought his head up to look at the man. The man had shaggy hair and there was a little, blonde girl peeking over his shoulder. There was also a frown gracing the man’s face, and Dazai’s ears pinned to his head on instinct. He really couldn’t take another beating right now. The current pain he was in was enough to keep him fighting to stay on his feet.
“Are you hurt, kitten?” The man said in a low, soft voice. He reached out for Dazai, who flinched but didn’t have the strength to run, but stopped before he made contact and held his palm up for Dazai. “I won’t hurt you, it’s alright.”
Dazai hesitantly stepped closer and allowed the man’s knuckles to brush the side of his face. The girl hanging over the man’s back disappeared in an instant, making the man peer over his shoulder in wonder before turning back to Dazai.
The man hummed in understanding and carefully scooped Dazai up, murmuring a small apology and petting Dazai’s head when Dazai whimpered. “You’re an ability user then? And I’m guessing you’re stuck in this form.”
The man’s hands were warm and it felt nice to finally be off his feet. Dazai let his eyes close as he was cradled to the man’s chest.
“Don’t worry, little one. I’ll take care of you.”
That’s how he met Mori.
He learned Mori was a doctor and had enough experience with animals, specifically shifters, to heal him without taking him to a vet. The beginning of the healing process was a long couple days. Dazai couldn’t stand and could barely lift his head as an overwhelming feeling of throbbing and constantly fragility plagued him.
Mori was by his side often, only parting when he had other patients and at night, however, he always came when he heard Dazai’s cries and whimpers. The man was gentle with him in a way no one else had ever been and was attentive.
Sometimes, when Mori had other business to tend to, the little girl would stay with him. She often watched him with a pout on her face.
“It’s not fair that I can’t touch you, Shadow,” she whined. He mewed in confusion at the nickname.
“That’s what my darling Elise has decided to call you until you can tell us your name,” Mori said as he walked over to them. “I think your injuries are healed enough for you to shift back.”
There was no doubt this would be a painful shift, but he was more than eager to get out of his cat form. Dazai took a breath. The extra pain from the shift was instantaneous, and Dazai bit his lip to avoid crying out as the injuries transferred to his human body.
“There you are, little one,” Mori said with a pleased smile as he gave Dazai’s head an affectionate pat, causing Dazai’s cheeks to warm at the nickname and the physical contact. “What’s your name?”
“Dazai,” he mumbled. When Mori asked if there was anyone he could call for Dazai, the shifter shook his head. Mori didn’t seem surprised by this revelation, only continued to smile on as if he was happy about this turn of events.
“Alright then. It’d be irresponsible to leave you alone when you are still recovering. Would you like to stay with me?”
Dazai nodded without hesitation.
Anywhere was better than the streets. And he liked Mori. While he could tell there was more to Mori than the nice doctor act he had going on, Mori was kind to him and safe. At the moment, that was something Dazai needed and couldn’t provide for himself.
One day together turned into one week. A week into a month and a month into several until Dazai had no plans of leaving nor did Mori plan to kick him out.
As time went on, Dazai started to see a different side of the doctor. A little darker. A little more sadistic. It didn’t scare him though, it actually fit well with Dazai’s own morose demeanor. Then came the day when Dazai was standing by Mori’s side, watching as he murdered the Port Mafia boss. On the same day, Dazai realized Mori never intended to let him go.
Mori became the boss of the Port Mafia, and in turn, more strict with Dazai and colder. But Dazai understood. For one, a mafia boss couldn’t afford to show such kindness, and two, Mori was just reverting to his true nature. He was not a caretaker, although he had played the part well for Dazai.
Mori was a manipulator and Dazai had fallen right into his hands. Yet Dazai couldn’t find it in himself to mind.
Not when he knew Mori would murder to protect him. Not when he had food and a bed every night. Not when he was finally safe after a lifetime of fear and desolate resignation. Dazai was using Mori just as much as Mori was using him.
When Dazai showed a knack for murder and heartlessness at the age of fifteen, Mori allowed him to start leading mafia missions. It was also at fifteen Dazai learned that Mori was a shifter.
A black mamba snake.
He walked into Mori’s office on a random day only to run into the sight of a snake on Mori’s desk in front of two trembling men. The snake looked Dazai’s way and every instinct in him told him to run. Dazai stepped back but before he could get a hand on the door, the snake shifted into Mori. The cat shifter barely suppressed a flinch in surprise. When he walked in, he knew the snake must have been Mori, but seeing the shift from snake to the doctor was still a shock to his system.
He’d known Mori for over a year now, how was he only just finding this out?
“Dazai-kun, give me one moment, won’t you?” Dazai nodded awkwardly as Mori turned to glare cooly at the men. “You are lucky there isn’t venom running through your blood at the moment. Disappoint me again and that will be the least of your problems.”
With a flick of Mori’s hand, the men were dismissed and practically ran out of the room. He and Dazai were alone, and Dazai had never been more aware of this fact than now.
“Is there something you need, Dazai-kun?” Mori asked as he sat down on his chair. Dazai swallowed thickly and shook his head. “Are you uncomfortable with my shifter form, little Shadow?”
“No, Mori-san,” Dazai said quietly. He frankly didn’t want to spend any additional time around a snake-shifter. Mori raised an eyebrow at him, not believing those words for a moment. “There must have been a reason you came in here. Are you here for a cat nap, little one?”
Dazai scoffed as his cheeks went slightly pink. Mori didn’t have to put it like that, he wasn’t a kitten anymore. The boss hid a smile as he beckoned Dazai over to him, and the younger reluctantly came slinking over before shifting to his cat form, jumping onto Mori’s desk, and curling up on the corner of it.
“I knew you’d be uncomfortable around me if you knew I was a snake shifter, it’s in your nature as a cat shifter,” Mori explained after a few moments of silence. Dazai lifted his head to look at Mori, purring when the doctor reached out to pat his head. “I do not want the fact that I am a snake shifter to negatively impact your opinion of me, Dazai-kun.”
Dazai headbutted Mori’s hand. He doubted that would happen. His opinion of Mori was already shaky at best, but due to the man’s nature, not his shifter form. Dazai was sure this new information wouldn’t change the way he already saw Mori.
He should have known Mori would be right.
As Mori predicted, their relationship slowly digressed.
Dazai grew more suspicious of Mori, questioning every action he did and the true intent behind them. The cat shifter acted ruder toward his guardian and didn’t come to him as often. Shortly following Dazai’s newfound avoidance, they started arguing more. Mori’s patience with Dazai’s growing standoffish attitude was short, resulting in his own temper shortening with Dazai. It became a cycle of the two feeding off each other in the worst of ways.
Then Dazai met Chuuya, and the gravity manipulator joined the mafia. While Chuuya was a great employee for Mori, hard-working and loyal, he also encouraged Dazai’s new rebelliousness. Mori and Dazai drifted apart until their strained relationship was practically just boss and employee. However, when Dazai was just a few weeks shy of seventeen, he needed help that only Mori could provide.
Dazai and Chuuya had been on a mission. Dazai was in his cat form, snooping around while Chuuya did the same. Chuuya was on the opposite side of the building when he heard a loud, aggressive snarl found by a panicky yowl.
“Dazai?” He yelled out before running in that direction. The sounds of an animal brawl only got louder until the cat quieted down which did nothing but make Chuuya’s nerves spike in dread.
When he reached the door, Chuuya’s heart was in his throat. There was a dog on top of Dazai, mouth red and locked around a small bloody figure. Chuuya snapped the dog’s neck with his ability without a thought, resulting in a thud as Dazai hit the floor with a small whine, then kicked the dog away from his partner.
“Dazai?” He whispered semi-frantically as he carefully picked his limp partner up and held him close. Dazai meowed weakly, breathing in short huffs as his neck and stomach bled. “I’ve gotcha, Mackerel. I’m gonna getcha to Mori.”
He ran out of the building and to his motorcycle, slipping Dazai securely in his jacket before speeding to headquarters. He grit his teeth as he forced the vehicle to go faster. Dazai’s distressed sounds spurred him on.
Chuuya burst into Mori’s office without any grace, the door slamming open due to his ability. Mori frowned, a reprimand on his tongue but paused when Chuuya ran up to him and unzipped his jacket to reveal Dazai.
“He got attacked by a dog,” Chuuya explained as he gently as possible extracted Dazai from the temporary cocoon of his clothing and transferred him to Mori’s already outstretched hands. Dazai cried out as he was jostled during the switch, but quieted when Mori stroked under his chin.
“Again, little Shadow? You have quite unfortunate luck with dogs,” Mori said before he stood up. Dazai gave him a pathetic glare in return for the comment. “Thank you, Chuuya, I will take care of him. You are dismissed.”
“Can I stay?” Chuuya blurted out. “Please, Mori-san.”
Mori thought for a moment before sighing and walking toward his medical room. “Come along then, Chuuya-kun. I expect you to stay out of my way.”
“Of course, Mori-san!”
Chuuya was at his heels the second permission was given, determined to stay with his partner who had gotten so badly injured on his watch. Mori set Dazai on the table and hushed him in a low, soothing note when Dazai began to mewl.
“Chuuya-kun, please go get the extra bandages from the bathroom.” Chuuya nodded, and, once he was out of the room, Mori prepared the IV. Dazai, never one to make anything easy along with his unease around anything medical, shifted away which only resulted in more pain. He went limp almost immediately to lessen the flaring agony.
Paying the cat’s struggles no mind, Mori carefully inserted the IV. Once completed, Mori smiled and ran a finger over the cat’s head as he waited for the drugs to take effect. “Don’t worry, little one. I’ll take care of you.”
Dazai blinked wearily at him and allowed his eyes to shut.
Mori started tending to Dazai’s wounds just as Chuuya came back in the room with a few rolls of bandages and set them on the counter near Mori. Once it became clear, Mori wasn’t going to give him another task, Chuuya pulled up a chair next to Dazai’s bed and watched the doctor work. He shook off his own discomfort at seeing Dazai’s blood being wiped away.
“Mori-san, you said again… has this happened before?” Chuuya asked quietly so as to not disturb him or Dazai.
“That is correct. It’s how Dazai-kun and I met.”
Chuuya stayed silent, listening and waiting for Mori to continue. When he didn’t, Chuuya pressed on. “Do you know what exactly happened?”
Mori hummed, thinking as he concentrated on the shifter in front of him.
“Dazai-kun doesn’t remember much from that night. From my understanding, he remembers walking into a warehouse looking for shelter and remembers seeing a group of dogs. His memory is foggy after that. He barely remembers meeting me, only glimpses."Mori words faltered for a moment. "But I believe he remembers more than he is disclosing to me. He was in a horrible state the night I found him, Chuuya-kun. I wasn't even entirely sure I'd be able to save him. I understand if he doesn't want to think about such a traumatic event further."
Mori finished cleaning his protégé up and shut off the IV pumping drugs into him.
“Chuuya-kun, I believe it is time for you to head home. Dazai-kun will likely stay the night, but you will see him tomorrow,” Mori said firmly, leaving no room for argument.
Chuuya reluctantly nodded, bowing and saying goodnight before taking his leave. Dazai’s eyes cracked open and he peered sleepily at Mori, having to crane his head up to see the doctor's face.
“Hello, Dazai-kun. Can you understand me?” Dazai meowed as a confirmation. “I would like you to try to shift back to your human form. It will be easier for me to treat you that way.”
Dazai made an unhappy noise and rested his head on his paws. Mori poorly concealed an amused yet sympathetic smile. “I know you don’t like pain. This will be quick and save you from more pain later.”
Mori waited a few moments before Dazai was sitting in front of him in his human form, face scrunched up and wincing with every movement. Shifting with injuries was always an adjustment in both the pain level and the sensation as the wound stretched and became accustomed to the other form.
Mori eased Dazai into a lying down position and swiftly inserted a new IV then once again started working on the wounds he could not quickly fix in Dazai’s cat form. Dazai wasn’t coherent enough to hold a conversation or say anything really, instead settling on uncomfortable breaths and tensing sporadically when the pain sparked, so a comfortable silence filled the air. It took another half hour of careful handling to get everything properly taken care of.
As he cleaned up and lowered the dosage of the pain medication, Mori waited for Dazai to come back around, having a few questions he needed to ask. It quickly became apparent that Dazai was very unwilling and tired.
“Dazai-kun.” Dazai’s eyes sluggishly looked over to Mori. “Do you remember what happened?”
Dazai’s face went slightly pale but he nodded.
“Please, report the events.”
Dazai shook his head, curling up in a ball with his back facing the mafia boss, and closed his eyes once more. He wasn’t willing to discuss it at the moment. Mori frowned but allowed it, knowing no amount of pushing Dazai would make him talk and would only make him withdraw farther into himself.
“You are to stay here tonight. I will be in my personal quarters if you need me.”
Dazai nodded, so Mori grabbed one of his thicker blankets from the cabinet and draped it over Dazai. The cat shifter was asleep before the light turned off.
Dazai’s fear of dogs started making itself known after that, much more than before. Not only was Dazai afraid of dogs, but he refused to shift unless he absolutely had to or was hidden on the top shelf of his closet, and he wouldn’t acknowledge what happened to him on the mission with Chuuya. Every time Chuuya tried to bring it up, Dazai snapped at him and walked away or quickly changed the topic.
Mori ended up having to move all of his dog shifter guards to a different station because Dazai wouldn’t go near them and, as a result, Mori either. By the time Dazai was eighteen, his status as a shifter had been forgotten by many and known by few. It was another thing Mori and him fought about.
“You need to shift, little Shadow. It’s a part of your biology,” Mori said for the umpteenth time during their umpteenth argument over the topic. Dazai slouched in one of the chairs in front of Mori’s desk.
“I refuse to be a shifter anymore,” Dazai grumbled before crossing his arms protectively over his chest. Mori threaded his fingers together and rested his chin on them before giving Dazai a doubtful look. His mentee was acting like a child and he knew, as well did Dazai, that this was not a matter to take lightly.
“Really now, Dazai-kun? You cannot deny this part of yourself, no matter how much you desire to.” For his part, Dazai huffed and stood. It was obvious he had the intention to start walking to the door. Cool fury dripped into Mori, covering his rationality and patience. “This conversation is not finished, Dazai-kun.”
“Yes, it is,” the younger shot back before having the audacity to turn his back to Mori. He crossed the room and reached for the door, but before he could open it, Mori slammed his hand against it. Dazai flinched at the sound and unexpected movement but didn’t let go of the handle.
“You will listen to me,” Mori said lowly. Dazai must have heard the anger lacing each word because he didn’t attempt to open the door again, just stared at the ground with stubbornness painted on his face.
“If you refuse to shift, you will feel physical symptoms. You will become ill and fatigued until you are forced to shift against your own will. You will then get stuck in that form, and it could be months before you are able to shift back depending on how great the backlash is. Your cat form will become weak as well and you will be more vulnerable. Do you want that, Dazai-kun? Do you want to be more vulnerable to attacks?”
Dazai didn’t respond but Mori could see the anxiety that was manifesting in Dazai’s mind. He plowed on.
“You will be defenseless and won’t be able to run due to your weakened state. A dog—”
“Enough,” Dazai demanded, voice barely holding down a tremor. He still wouldn’t look at Mori.
“At least an hour a week. Am I understood, Dazai-kun? I will not let you waste away due to fear,” Mori said in a stern tone. He would lock Dazai in his office if he had to and wasn’t above using drugs to force Dazai to shift.
Dazai nodded tightly and exited the room, slamming the door hard behind him.
Two weeks later, Mori was doing paperwork when the door slipped open and a cat ran into the room and towards him. It jumped on his lap without a moment’s delay and curled in a ball, shivering and shaking.
“Are you hurt?” Mori asked as he carefully moved Dazai around so he could get a look at him and assess the situation. Dazai curled up tighter. There were no injuries that Mori could see, so Mori stopped the examination and ran his hand along Dazai’s back. “Did something frighten you?”
Dazai didn’t make a sound to answer him, but Mori knew it must have had to do with a dog. They were the only thing that could get his fearless executive like this. He reached up to his own neck and took the scarf in his hands before using it to cover his mentee as a blanket before going back to what he was working on, one hand stroking Dazai’s fur and the other signing papers. Dazai didn’t move for hours.
By the time Mori finished the work he had to do, it was late into the night.
He glanced down.
Dazai was long asleep by now, no longer trembling and breathing lightly. He picked the cat up and stood before heading down to Chuuya’s office. Thankfully, Chuuya was still there working on his own paperwork.
“Chuuya-kun.”
Chuuya looked up in confusion. The boss rarely if ever came to him when he needed something of Chuuya. His eyes landed on the animal in his arms, and before he could voice his concerns, Mori put Dazai on Chuuya’s desk and said, “Take Dazai-kun home with you, would you?”
Chuuya bit his tongue on plaguing the doctor with questions and instead nodded and started putting away his things. “Yes, boss.”
The boys lived together, so it would be more convenient for Chuuya to take him than Mori. Besides, Dazai would not be pleased if he woke up and realized he was at Mori’s residence. Mori walked out of Chuuya’s office, leaving the boys alone.
When Chuuya looked at Dazai, amber eyes were looking back at him. “Hey, mackerel. We’re gonna go home, okay?”
Dazai let his head rest on the table as a response. Clearly, he wasn’t planning on shifting back to human, so Chuuya gingerly grabbed him from the table. His concern only grew when Dazai did nothing but nuzzle closer to him.
Chuuya had a feeling Dazai had gotten stuck in his cat form. Not that his partner had ever mentioned it, but Chuuya had caught onto the fact that Dazai got stuck when he was scared, likely as a trauma response, and sometimes, it took a while for him to be able to shift back. Chuuya was sure Dazai would deny it till the day he died, and there was no reason to bring it up, so Chuuya kept that tidbit of information to himself.
Chuuya knew if he could have, Dazai would have shifted the moment they got home, but he didn’t. Only meowed pathetically and hid on Chuuya’s bed.
“I’ll be right back, needy bastard,” Chuuya yelled to the loud, annoying cat sitting on his bed like he owned it. He was only in the kitchen for a minute before he felt something brush against his legs.
He looked down to see Dazai weaving through them and head-butting him. Chuuya gave him an unimpressed look to hide his worry. Dazai must have truly been shaken by whatever happened if he was not only stuck but didn’t want to leave the safety of being around Chuuya either.
“Alright, Alright. Chill out,” Chuuya said before quickly eating what he had made. He offered some to the cat, but Dazai looked offended at the mere suggestion, hissing at him and butting his head against Chuuya’s chin in response.
Once the bowl was empty, Chuuya headed back to his room, Dazai on his heels. They laid down on his bed. It wasn’t a surprise when he felt a ball of fluff crawl into his arms, close to the warmth of his neck. He scoffed at his clingy partner and closed his eyes, falling asleep to the sound of Dazai’s low purrs and the softness of his fur brushing against his skin.
Chuuya woke up struggling to breathe due to the demon that had moved to lay on top of his face overnight. He shoved Dazai off him, getting an indignant hiss as a result. After he sat up as quickly as he could to avoid Dazai's attempt to crawl on his face again, he glared at the cat, who had already turned around and made himself comfortable on Chuuya's pillow.
Chuuya scowled, got off the bed, and headed out of the room only to stomp back a moment later at the dramatic, noisy meows the cat was releasing due to being abandoned for seconds and snatched the cat up, making Dazai yelp.
“You’re such an ass,” Chuuya muttered at the cat now purring in satisfied victory in his arms. He put Dazai on his shoulder as he walked into the kitchen and turned on the stove to start making breakfast.
“If you fall, I’m not catching you,” he warned.
He started cooking and the weight and warmth of Dazai resting on his shoulder was comforting and welcome. It’d been a while since Dazai had spent so long in this form, even longer since Chuuya had witnessed it. Usually, Dazai shifting consisted of him cursing at Mori’s existence then hiding once he was in cat form before returning exactly an hour later. Chuuya rarely managed to coax him to shift outside of these circumstances, but when he did, Dazai was glued to him as he was now.
“Wanna tell me what happened yesterday?” Chuuya asked casually. Unsurprisingly, Dazai ignored him. Chuuya sighed. “Well, when are you planning to shift back? Unless you’re stuck that is.”
Dazai made a sound of disagreement.
“Oh, yea? Shift back then.”
He waited in silence before Dazai’s cheek rubbed against his head. Chuuya rolled his eyes. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
Chuuya spent the day lazing around and doing paperwork at home. It was early night when Chuuya was working at the table and looked up to check on Dazai, who had been sleeping on the couch, only to find him in his human form, still groggy and sleepy. Once it was clear Dazai was planning to continue his nap, Chuuya turned his attention away from the shifter but did feel relief flutter in his stomach. At least Dazai wasn’t stuck for too long.
That was the last time Chuuya saw him shifted.
Four months later, Mori obtained the skilled business permit, killing Oda in the process and driving Dazai out of the mafia. Mori underestimated how close Dazai and this low-level underling were. He knew Dazai would be upset, furious even, but didn’t think he would leave.
Yet the mafia was without their demon prodigy for the first time in four years. Mori considered looking for Dazai but quickly discarded the idea. If he found Dazai and Dazai refused to come back, which Mori was absolutely sure he would, Mori would have to kill him.
But Mori still had plans for his little Shadow.
So he left him alone. He knew Dazai wouldn’t be able to avoid the mafia forever. It was ingrained in him after all and his blood was mafia black.
They would meet again.