Akutagawa Ryuunosuke/Nakajima Atsushi

Pairing
Pairing:	Akutagawa Ryuunosuke/Nakajima Atsushi
Alternative name(s):	Shin Soukoku (literally "New Double Black"), SSKK
Gender category:	BL, mlm,yaoi, slash
Fandom:	Bungou Stray Dogs
Canonical?:	No, though considered canon by some fans
Prevalence:	Popular
Archives:	AO3 tag
Other:
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Akutagawa Ryuunosuke/Nakajima Atsushi, or Shin Soukoku, is a pairing in Bungou Stray Dogs fandom. Their relationship begins with hostility and evolves into one of contention but often mutual benefit and eventually genuine care for each other; although they are in opposing organizations, they are often brought together to face threats that endanger their city and the world.

History

Shin Soukoku became a popular pairing after Chapter 37 of the manga, in which Dazai Osamu revealed that, in order to protect Yokohama from the Guild and other outsider attacks, a new partnership between Atsushi and Akutagawa was necessary. This partnership, called "Shin Soukoku," involves utilizing Atsushi and Akutagawa's complementary strengths and covering for each other's weaknesses. It was also revealed that Dazai had been planning this partnership from the moment he met Atsushi in Chapter 1, perhaps giving the pairing a fated sense.

Another reason for its popularity in fandom may be its direct succession from the juggernaut ship Soukoku, which Dazai himself was a member of. The alternative ship name for the pairing, "Shin Sokoku," literally means "New Sokoku."

The ship has risen further in popularity, attracting some who previously disapproved of the ship, following chapter 87 and then again during the current Resurrection arc starting with 119. In 87, Akutagawa sacrifices his life to save Atsushi. He is later resurrected as a mind-controlled vampire and fights Atsushi while Atsushi tries to talk him back to himself, convinced that Akutagawa's consciousness is trying to emerge and his vow to Atsushi stopped him from killing Aya. In the Resurrection arc, Akutagawa comes to Atsushi's defense against Fyodor, Atsushi sacrifices his life to save Akutagawa—while saying what the latter had said to Atsushi as Akutagawa died—but is actually absorbed by Ame-no-Gozen, and Akutagawa regains his memory, realizes he now cares more about Atsushi than about Dazai, calls Atsushi his ordeal, and demands that Ame-no-Gozen give Atsushi back to him. The page with knight Akutagawa in 119 and the page in "A Mysterious Thing Called the Heart" (121.5) in which Atsushi says, "Away with you, you fool" have been blog posted many times and redrawn by many fan artists. In the wake of 123, many fans have begun referring to the ship as "canon" with varying degrees of seriousness, saying that Asagiri ships it, and saying that the current arc reads like fanfiction with varying but mostly favorable opinions on whether that is a good thing.

They are sometimes shipped as a poly ship with Lucy Maude Montgomery (Akuatsulucy) or one or both members of Soukoku.

There have been ship wars between SSKK shippers and Atsulucy shippers. Other criticisms of the ship have been that it is toxic and held to lower standards for toxicity than het ships, a criticism which may have become less common as their canon dynamic changed, or that its shippers focus on the ship to the exclusion of other motivations for the characters and other events, a criticism which may have become more common.

Common Tropes in Fanworks

• Enemies to lovers/Rivals to Lovers: Atsushi and Akutagawa have a tenuous relationship, and are often depicted as competing for Dazai's approval. This is especially true for Akutagawa, who has often said that his sole purpose in life is to gain recognition from Dazai. The two of them were originally on opposite sides, but as more villains have been introduced, it has become more common for Atsushi and Akutagawa to team up against a greater threat, such as in the final battles of seasons 2 and 3 of the anime.
• Narrative foils: The two serve as narrative foils in canon, both in terms of abilities and outlook on life, and so many fanworks explore this complementary dynamic. They have opposing color schemes (black/white, based on a Yin Yang) and opposing animal motifs (tiger/dragon). The two also have heavily differing relationships to Dazai Osamu. Akutagawa always wanted Dazai's affection but never got it, while Atsushi does naturally get Dazai's affection and mentorship.
• Hurt/comfort: Because both had traumatic childhoods and are abuse survivors (Atsushi grew up in an abusive orphanage, Akutagawa lived on the streets before joining the mafia), they are often depicted as confronting their pasts through and with each other. As of April 2022, Hurt/Comfort is the third most popular Additional Tag on Archive of Our Own for the pairing, with 331 uses.
• Grief and Mourning: Generally, this is Atsushi mourning for Akutagawa after the latter's temporary death or sometimes in an AU in which he dies of his terminal lung condition.
• Vampire Akutagawa drinking Atsushi's blood, whether for the first time out of desperation or as a regular thing, sometimes with a Blood Kink involved but sometimes as unconventional fluff.
• Rashomon Bondage and the rarer Improper Use of Rashomon: While uncommon, these tags, almost exclusively found in SSKK smut fics, have been wrangled, and these tropes are not always tagged for.
• Atsushi being catlike and Akutagawa finding it endearing and/or clandestinely experimenting to figure out how catlike he is. This usually includes Atsushi purring.
• Mission Fics in which Dazai forces them to work together to apprehend an ability user, sometimes at a warehouse but often at a party or Christmas market, where they do datelike activities and may realize and/or confess their feelings for each other.
  • These sometimes involve Fake Dating at Dazai's insistence but very seldom involve Crossdressing, unlike Soukoku undercover fake dating fics.
• Nicknames: Akutagawa calling Atsushi "Jinko"/"Weretiger," to Atsushi's annoyance, until Atsushi finally gets him to call him Atsushi, possibly on accident. Atsushi nicknaming Akutagawa Ryuu.
• Income Difference: Akutagawa using his higher Mafia salary to buy Atsushi food, often with the result that other ADA members joke about Atsushi's "sugar daddy," usually starting while they're still on mildly hostile terms.

Example Fanworks

Fanfic

• extraordinary by setosdarkness
• what a catch by sockcats
• The Canary Sings A Cradle Song by hybridempress

Fanart

• i'll live my life by chasing you, my human heart in hand by @thornedarrow
• pull me into the light by imparrr. (Tumblr)
• away with you fool by @c7arisse, a two-part linked art piece (Tumblr)
• ok i may be on a bit of a shin soukoku kick lol by @lilbelev
• Bedtime Story by @sskk-squared
• Whispering sweet things by lainekkq (Instagram)

Vids

• shin soukoku canon (Government Hooker) edit by @wlppwls
• One More Night edit by @atsusbf

Meta

• Shin soukoku and the philosophy of “meaning” by gold-pavilion
• Who Are You, Who Who, Who Who? by hamliet

Miscellaneous

• Chapter 121.5 as told by people's reactions from the activity page. by @kyouka-supremacy
• Sanrio/Hot Topic

Archives and Communities

• AO3 tag

Other Fannish Resources

• Shipping Wiki page