Yurameki

By: Kurara

 ***

 Shinya sat in the living room of his apato, Puppy in his lap, and they were lazily relaxing in the cool summer day.   The silence pierced only once in a while by Shinya’s coughing, which lately had been more frequent, and painful.  Puppy would whimper and look up in worry to his owner.  Shinya would weakly smile and stroke Puppy’s soft fur.   “Daijoubu ne… daijoubu…” But even the raspiness of Shinya’s voice was enough to make him worry, so he picked up the phone and made an appointment to see the doctor.

 ***

 -At Practice-

 Kaoru looked worriedly to Shinya.  The recent practices had proven his drumming to get weaker and he was determined to figure out why, but Shinya would always shrug it off and go back to his reserved self.  Shinya had just asked to leave early today and Kaoru had a distinct feeling that the reason was linked to his drumming, or vise versa. 

“It’s just an appointment.” Shinya said. “But I need to go today, it’s important.”

 Die grinned. “So, Shin-chan has a girlfriend!”

 Shinya’s eyebrows narrowed.   “No!  That’s not it!”

 Toshiya pouted at the thought and started to tune his bass, leading Kaoru to another bandmate to be worried about.

 Kyo wrapped his arms around Shinya’s waist playfully, declaring, “Why would Shin-chan need a girlfriend when he has us for?” Then he giggled and kissed Shinya’s cheek, causing the drummer to get angry.

 “I need to go now.  Ja…” and he pulled away from Kyo and walked out of the studio.

 Toshiya stared at the door as it closed, only to have Die run out of the drummer.  “Oi!  Shin-chan!” He ran after the drummer and caught up quickly.  “You know Kyo is only joking!  How come you get so pissy about it?”

 Shinya glared at Die.  “What’s it to you?”

 Die grabbed Shinya’s arm and they both stopped, Shinya’s glaring softened a bit as he saw Die’s concerned face.   Die opened his mouth slightly, about to say something, but ended up bringing his other hand up to cup Shinya’s cheek.  He moved his thumb over the skin.

 “Die, what are you doing?” Shinya asked softly.

 Die snapped back into reality.   “Uh…” he pulled his hand away.   “I… uh… there was an eyelash, I was just getting it off you know no big deal I was just…”

 Shinya turned away from the rambling man and left.

 ***

 -A Week Later-

 The phone’s ringing pierced through Shinya’s dreams, and he lazily picked it up.  “Moshi moshi, Shinya desu… oh, doctor, hi… they’re in?  What’ the results…” Shinya nodded as the information came.  “Uh huh… yeah… really?… you sure?… oh, I see… how long?… is there any—oh… yeah, okay… yeah, I understand… thank you… I will, bye…” Shinya didn’t even bother placing the phone back on the receiver, just let it slide down to the bed as the tears slid down his face.

 ***

 -Practice-

 Die and Toshiya stood outside smoking as usual between set, laughing about how Kyo had finally screamed loud enough to hear in the other side of the studio when Shinya came out.  Die and Toshiya turned to face the anti-smoking jrocker and smiled.  “Hey!  Shin-chan has grown up!  He wants to smoke with us Die-chan!”

 Die stubbed out his cigarette and walked over to the drummer.  “Shin-chan, what’s up?”

 Shinya bit his lip a little before taking a breath, “Die, I need to ask you something.”

 “Sure, what?”

 Shinya’s eyes shifted momentarily to Toshiya and then back to Die.  “Not here, in private.  Can you come over, to my place, tonight?”

 “Sure, but, I don’t know where you live.”  Die smiled.

 Shinya nodded and took out a pen and a gum wrapper, jotting down the apartment building, number, and cross streets.   “Here.”

 Die looked at it for a while.   “Yeah, I know where this is.  What time should I…”

 “At six, and… and don’t eat before you come over…” And Shinya turned and left.

 As the door closed, Toshiya began to cry.  Die turned around.   “Totchi?  What’s wrong?”  But Toshiya just buried his face into Die’s shoulder and sobbed.

 ***

 When Die got to the apartment, the door was slightly ajar, so Die walked in and closed the door softly.  He was early, but he was bored and decided to come over.   Puppy took no notice of him and stayed on the couch lazily as Die sat on a chair.  Then Shinya came out, short now-blonde hair wet and clinging to his head and neck, and he was dressed in only a towel.  Shinya didn’t notice Die, as his eyes were closed, and rested sexily on the door frame, tired from the day and the steam of the shower.

 Die starred at the drummer, watching every intake of breath as it filled the small, flat chest, and sighed, causing Shinya’s eyes to snap open and focus on the guitarist.  “Die!  What are you doing here already?  How’d you get in?”

 “I came early and your door was already open.”

 Shinya’s face was red and Die couldn’t tell if it was due to anger, embarrassment, or his shower.  “Well… um… let me get dressed…” he pointed to his room and backed into it, closing the door softly and slowly.

 Shinya pressed his back against the door and gathered himself before drying his hair and putting on his clothes which consisted of fitting black pants and a long fitting dark red shirt.

 He walked out and smiled for Die and checked on the food he had cooking, and it was ready, so he turned off the heat and dished out the dinner.  Then he put out the plates onto the table and called Die in.  Die walked in and took a deep breath.  “Mmm!  Sugoi!  I didn’t know you could cook Shin-chan!”

 Shinya lowered his eyes and put a plate on the floor for Puppy.  “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Die-chan…” he said softly.

 “Nani?”

 “Eh?”  Shinya shook his head.  “Nothing…” He sat down.  “I hope you like it.”

 Die nodded.  “I hope so too!” He smiled.  “Itadekimasu!”

 “Itadekimasu…” Shinya sipped his wine a bit before eating.

 They ate in silence until Die spoke out.  “Mmm, Shin-chan, this is good.  I should move in and have you cook for me all the time!”

 Shinya smiled and said nothing.

 “Ne, Shin-chan?”

 “Hai?”  Shinya’s eyes lifted to the other man’s.

 “What was it you wanted to ask me?”

 “Eto…” Shinya’s gaze lowered.  Come on Shinya!   This is the time!  You have to know, otherwise…  “Well, I uh…”  Come on!  Get it out!  “Wanted to know if you…” I… I can’t…  “liked my cooking!” He smiled.  Ooo!  We crashed and burned on that one, didn’t we?  Real great Shinya!

“Oh…” disappointment dully clung to that syllable.

“Well?”

“I already told you it’s good.  I’m gonna come over more often now for this!” He ate faster.

Shinya smiled.  “That’s good.  I never have anyone other than Puppy to eat with me.”

“Hounto?  A pretty thing like you?  Don’t you have girls falling all over you?”

"Uh… yeah, but… I really don’t… like girls…”  Shinya muttered.

“Hounto?  You like…”

 “Guys…” Shinya’s gaze was full on his food, not willing to let himself look at Die.

 “Anyone… in particular, Shinya?”

 “Hai…”

 Die leaned back.  “Lucky…”

 “Huh?”  Shinya looked up.

 “He’s lucky to have caught your attention.”  Die looked into Shinya’s eyes.  “Does he know?”

 Shinya closed his eyes momentarily.  “No.”

 “Why not?”

 “I’m… afraid that if I tell him, he wouldn’t want to be my friend anymore, and his friendship is too important for me to wreak.” Shinya’s eyes glistened.  “I love him too much…”

 “But, how will you know if he loves you back?  And if your friendship abolishes due to your confession, then maybe he’s not as good a friend you think he is!” Shinya’s eyes overflowed and he ran to the couch, crying.  “Oi!  Shinya!” Die quickly got up and saw Shinya curled up in the corner of the couch, crying into his arm.   “Shinya…” Die sat on the couch and pulled Shinya onto him.  “Shin-chan…” He stroked Shinya’s hair and held Shinya protectively.  “I’m sorry Shinya!  Don’t cry!  I didn’t mean to make you cry…” He kissed Shinya’s forehead.  “I’d never do anything to hurt you…”

 Shinya wrapped his arms around Die, feeling incredible joy at being held by the older man, and eventually his crying subsided.  He stayed there, taking in the scent of the guitarist and making himself comfortable.  Die continued running his hand through Shinya’s hair and Shinya sighed, wishing it could last forever.  “Shinya?”

 “Mm?” He was falling asleep.

 “No matter… no matter what happens, I’m here for you.”

 ***

 Shinya woke up the next morning, still in Die’s arms.  He smiled and listened to the heartbeat and Die’s breathing.  He looked up to gaze into the older man’s face.  Kya… Die is so kawaii when he sleeps!  His eyes fell onto the guitarist’s parted lips.  Without knowing it, his finger had touched the soft lips and he was running his finger along the contours.  Then, he couldn’t resist and lifted himself up to lightly kiss Die’s lips before resting his head on Die’s chest.  It was another ten minutes before Die woke up. 

He tried to move, but made a surprised noise when he realized that there was something on him.  He looked down and beamed.  “Ohayo, Shin-chan!” He ruffled Shinya’s hair.  “Don’t you look cute this morning?”

 Shinya stuck out his tongue.   “I probably look awful.”

 “Nah…” He smiled.   “You always look adorable!  Even when you’re screaming at me.”

 “Scream?” He looked up.  “Do I really scream all that much?”

 Die shrugged.  “I guess.”

Shinya hit Die’s chest softly.  “Meanie!”

 Die pretended to be hurt and held Shinya as he fell sideways on the couch.  Shinya struggled half heartedly to get away.  “Iie!  You stay here until you apologize!” He tightened his arm’s hold on Shinya and wrapped his leg around his as well.  “Apologize, Shin-chan!”

 Shinya still struggled until he realized that rubbing his hips against Die’s like that was doing things to both their bodies.  Shinya stopped and looked up to the guitarist.  “Die?” 

“Hai?” 

“I…” Shinya took a deep breath, but turned away as he started to violently cough again.

 Die detangled himself from the drummer and sat them both up.  “Shin-chan?”

 One of Shinya’s hands covered his mouth while the other found Die’s hand and tightly gripped it.  Puppy ran in and barked at his owner worriedly.  When the coughing subsided, Shinya stared blankly at the floor.

 “Shinya!  Daijoubu?” 

“Mizu…”

“Hai…” Die jumped up and poured Shinya a glass of water, and turned to see Shinya taking pills out of some bottles.  Die handed the water to Shinya and watched him drink it while taking the pills.

 “Arigato.” Shinya said after he was finished. 

“Hai.”

 Shinya coughed a couple more times before putting the glass down.

 “Shinya… is there something wrong?  Why’d you start coughing like that?”

 “Health problems…”

 “Are you sick?” 

“Kind of… nothing contagious…” 

“Have you seen a doctor?”

 “Hai…” 

“And?  When will you be better?” 

Shinya cast his eyes down.  “The coughing should stop in about three months.” 

“Souka…” 

“Die?”

 “Hai?”

 “Will you… stay with me?  Until I’m better?  There’s room and you complain about your apartment so much…”

 “Hai.”

 “Hounto?” Die nodded.   “Sugoi!” Shinya went into the living room.  “Puppy!   Die’s moving in!”  Puppy barked excitedly.  “Hee hee!  Now I have two animals to take care of!”

 *** 

“Eh?  You two?  Living TOGETHER?” Kyo spat out his ramen.  “How the hell?   You’d KILL each other!”

 Toshiya remained silent.

 “Die?” Kaoru spoke out finally.

”Hai?”

 “Don’t kill Shinya.” Kyo laughed and fell asleep.

 Shinya got a pained look.   “Kaoru… I… need to talk to you…”

 “Sure.  What’s up?”

 “In private.” He pointed to a booth.

 “Ah, sure.” He walked in, Shinya following, closing the door behind them.

 “Kaoru…”

 *** 

“So, he loves Kaoru…” 

Toshiya perked up.  “What?” 

“Shinya said… he loves someone… it has to be Kaoru.” Die started shaking.  “That must be why…” He laid down on the couch.  “I was so blind…” Why is this affecting me so much? 

“Kaoru?  He… then… what if Kaoru loves him?” Toshiya’s voice trembled with worry.  “Kaoru… I’m too late, Kaoru won’t want me…” 

“Eh?  I thought you were in love with Shinya?”

 “Iie!  Why would you think that?”

 “You always get sad with Shinya around, and yesterday you were crying--”

 “Because I see myself in your shoes!  You’re just like me!  You love Shinya and he doesn’t even realize it!  It looked like he loved you too and it made me sad that Kaoru didn’t…”

 “Shinya?  I don’t love Shinya!  He’s like a little brother to me!”

 “Yes you do.  I can see it.  Every time he walks in the room, your eyes brighten, you come alive.  And I don’t know what happened at Shinya’s place, but you seem so much closer to him now…” Toshiya wiped away tears that were threatening to fall. 

“I…”

 “And why are you shaking like that?  Why did that tear just fall?” 

“Be… because…” Toshiya knelt down beside Die and wiped the tear away as Kaoru and Shinya came out, and they both gasped seeing Toshiya touching Die’s face affectionately.

 Toshiya quickly turned to see Kaoru and he stood up, hugging the guitarist.  “Kaoru-baby, gone so long, ne?”

 Kaoru stood, emotionless for a moment, before shrugging the bassist off and grabbing his guitar.  “Practice is over for today.” Before he left he put his hand on Shinya’s shoulder and they looked at each other, Kaoru concerned, Shinya in loss, and walked away.

“I’ll see you tonight.” Shinya said softly to Die as he left.

 *** 

Die flopped down on the extra bed and sighed.  Shinya had not said more than directions to him since the incident in the studio.  He had told Shinya two hours ago that he was going to sleep, but instead he just stayed in the dark thinking over the day, what Toshiya said, and what Shinya saw, and what Shinya might have said to Kaoru.  He decided it was probably about time to go to sleep, they had practice again tomorrow and he didn’t want to be tired for it, so he pulled the covers over himself and closed his eyes.

 A soft knock was heard at the door and Die ignored it, keeping his eyes closed, even as Shinya cracked open the door and whispered in.  “Die… are you awake?” 

Die didn’t respond, and kept his eyes closed.

 “Hmm…” Shinya knelt down beside the bed and brushed Die’s bangs out of his face.  “Die-chan… what’s going on with you and Toshiya?  I never saw it before… I didn’t even know you liked men… if I did…” Shinya rested his head on the bed.  “Oh Die!  Why didn’t I see it earlier?  Why is it so late now?  There’s so much… but…” Shinya started to cry softly.  “I wish so much that you could just see what you do to me… but… you’re with Toshiya… if you’re happy, I don’t want to screw you up… even if it’s not me that’s making you happy…” 

Die felt soft lips press against his cheek and heard Shinya quickly walking out.  When the door closed, Die raised his hand to his cheek in shock.  “Shinya…  kimi…” Die threw off the blanket and followed Shinya, but saw that Shinya’s door was closed.  He knocked, no answer.  “Shinya?” He knocked again, still no answer.  Die grabbed the door handle and tried to open the door, but realized it was locked.  “Shinya?”  He called out louder.  “Shinya?   I need to talk to you!  Open up!”  Still no answer.   “Shinya!” Die said louder.  “Shinya!  At least tell me you’re alright!  You’re scaring me!”

 Shinya answered the door finally.  “Gomen…”

 Die hugged Shinya, pulling him against his body and stroking his hair.  “Shinya…”

 “Die?”

 “Shinya… I… I need to tell you something…”

 “Can’t it wait… until morning?  I’m really tired.”  Shinya held onto Die’s shirt.

 “Iie.” Die picked Shinya up and placed him on the bed, sitting down next to him.  “Shinya, I’ve waited for so long… years… this can’t wait any longer.” 

“Die…”

 Die looked into Shinya’s eyes.  “Shinya, ever since… before the days of La:Sadies… I never really knew what my reason for music was, why I could do it.  Everyone said you have to have love, and I never did, but… I met you… and I fell in love.” Die’s hand reached up and he cupped Shinya’s check with his hand.  “I don’t know who you were talking about when you said you were in love with someone, but… I hoped… maybe it’d be me…”

 “Die…” 

“And, even if it isn’t me, then, I still love you, but I love you too much to try to hold any feelings you have for anyone else against you.” Die sighed.  “As the saying goes, ‘you don’t choose who you fall in love with.’”

 Shinya placed his hand over Die’s lovingly, closing his eyes and resting into the palm.  He then took his other hand and reached behind Die, tangling his hand into the red hair and pulled him down to his own lips, the combination of the lips and his hand putting Shinya into a dreamlike state of happiness and he wanted more, so he parted his lips, allowing Die’s tongue entry.  Die gladly accepted, wrapping his other arm around Shinya’s waist.

 When they finally broke apart, Shinya slowly opened his eyes and smiled at Die.  “Die-chan… ai shiteru…”

 “Hounto?”

 Shinya nodded.  “Zutto.”

 Die hugged Shinya tightly.   “Yokatta…” he breathed before kissing Shinya’s cheek.

 Shinya tightened his hold on Die.  “Stay here…”

 “Nani?”

 “Tonight.  I don’t want to be alone…”

 “Of course.” Die and Shinya went under the covers and Die and Shinya fell asleep in each other’s arms.

 ***

 “Shinya, I need to talk to you.” Kaoru pulled Shinya to the other room for privacy, but forgot the speaker was on and Die, Toshiya, and Kyo could hear everything.  “Shinya, have you told him?”

 They could see Shinya nod.

 “Does he know… everything?”

 “No…”

 “Why not?”

 “Because… he confessed to me last night and… and I just couldn’t tell him.”

 Die tensed.  “What?  What’s going on?”

 “You confessed?” Toshiya asked.

 Die nodded.

 “You have to!  The longer this goes on, the harder it’ll be!  Time is valuable.” Kaoru instructed.

 “Kaoru…”

 “Tonight, okay?”

 Shinya nodded.  “Kaoru… tell him too.”

 “Eh?”

 “I can see it.  Tell him.  Yesterday was a misunderstanding.”

 “Misunderstanding?”   Die shook his head.  “They’re being too vague!  This is hard!”

 “Maybe you shouldn’t listen in.” Kyo commented.

 Toshiya turned off the speaker.   “It may be for the best.”

 Shinya came out followed by Kaoru and practice started.

 ***

 Shinya and Die laid on the bed quietly, Die stroking Shinya’s hair as Shinya laid facing opposite of him, starring at the wall.  “Die…”

 Die’s heart skipped a beat, hearing the sad tone in the voice.  “Hai?”

 “I… I need to tell you something.”

 “Okay.”

 “My… coughing… it’s not going to stop because I’m going to be better… it’ll stop because… I’ll stop living.”

 Die stopped stroking Shinya’s hair.  “Nani?”

 Shinya turned around.  “I’m… sick Die… It’s cancer, very rare type…”

 “Caused by…”

 “Second hand smoking.   It’s lung cancer… the longest estimated time from this stage is now two and a half months.”

 “Smoking… you mean… us?  Dir en grey?   Me?  I’m killing you?”

 “Iie!  It’s not your fault!  I hung around you all even while you smoked and if you guys didn’t, I spent all that time with Yoshiki and just being in music exposes me to this stuff!”

 “Shinya… I… my god…” He touched Shinya’s face delicately.  “Is that what you told Kaoru that day?”

 Shinya nodded.  “And it’s why I really wanted you to stay here so that… even if you didn’t have the same feelings, at least I could be near you until the last moment.” Tears were threatening to fall, but Shinya was sick of crying and wanted to keep from it as much as possible.

 “Why didn’t you… say earlier… Shinya…” Die took Shinya’s hands and kissed them.

 “Because… because I knew that I had to tell you that I loved you before I left, and I wanted to know if you loved me back.  I didn’t want you to say you loved me too just because I was dying.” He put his head to Die’s chest.  “And… I was such a baka… not to tell you earlier… I love you so much, and now, to lose you because of this… right after we found each other…” Shinya couldn’t hold it in any longer and cried hard.  “Why?!  Why is Fate so damned cruel?!”

 Die held Shinya tightly, softly crying himself.  Why?  Why must you take my angel away?  What has he ever done?

 *** 

-Two Months Later-

 “Well, Shinya… that’s the final cut.” Kaoru stopped the tape player.

 “Sounds beautiful.  You’ll play it… then?” Shinya started coughing again.   When he finished he looked up to Kaoru.

 “Hai.”

 “And… the other… give it to him, don’t let anyone else see it.”

 “Hai.”

 “And…” Shinya hugged the guitarist.  “Thank you, Kaoru.  This means a lot to me.”

 “Hai.” Kaoru bit his lip.  “Shinya, we’ll miss you so much, but, Die will be affected the most.  Stay with him now.”

 Shinya nodded.  “I’ll miss you all too.  I’ll watch over you all, I promise.”

 They walked out of the studio to see the others.  Toshiya was crying and threw himself at Shinya, hugging him.  “Shinya!”

 Kyo came and joined in on the hug, beginning to cry himself.

 “Minna…”

 Die touched Shinya’s shoulder.  “It’s time.”

 Shinya nodded.  “Sayonara, minna.”

 Kyo retained his composure and got out of the hug.  Toshiya continued crying, but went onto Kaoru instead.  Kaoru held him closely.  “Sayonara, Shin-chan.”

 Shinya smiled.  “Don’t ever let him go, Kaoru.”

 Kaoru nodded.  “I’d never.”

 Kyo hugged Shinya one last time before Shinya walked out with Die to the airport.

 ***

 “Kya!  Long flight as usual.” Yoshiki commented as he got off the plane.  He greeted Die with a handshake and Shinya with a hug.  “Long time no see, ne?”

 “Hai.” Shinya smiled.   “But, I had to see you again before I left.”

 “Well, I’m glad you care!”

 “Thank you for coming all the way out here.”

 “Well, I was going to Japan anyway, but not this part.” He smiled.  “And I wouldn’t want to miss out on seeing a friend.”

 Shinya nodded and they went off for a day together.  At the end, Yoshiki pulled him to the side.  “Shinya, I need to tell you this.”

 “Eh?”

 “It’s about hide.”

 “hide?”

 “Hai.  hide and I were together.  After hide died, he… he visits me.”

 “Visits?”

 “Hai.”  Yoshiki looked to make sure Die wasn’t listening.  “He comes to me, talks to me.  I can’t feel him physically.  I don’t dream, and that’s the only place that it’s possible to ‘feel’ the dead.”

 “So, you’re saying--”

 “hide didn’t say it was easy, but it is possible.  Do whatever you can.  Lead Die.  He may not admit it, but he’s scared to death.  Your death, although he’s trying his best to prepare, will do a lot to him.”

 Shinya nodded and started coughing.  When he finished he felt dizzy and fell into Yoshiki.

 “Shinya?  Daijoubu ka?”

 Die came over.  “Shinya?”

 “Daijoubu…” he weakly said and coughed again.

 Yoshiki handed Shinya to Die.   “You’d better get him home.”

 Die nodded.  “Yoshiki-san, nice seeing you again.”

 “You too Die.”  He brushed Shinya’s hair to the side and kissed his check.  “Sayonara, Shin-chan.  Remember what I told you.”

 “Hai.  Arigato, Yoshiki-san.” He coughed.  “Sayonara.”

 ***

 -A Week Later-

 Shinya couldn’t do much of anything physical, so he basically stayed in bed while Die brought everything to him.  Die would also feed him, must to the protest of the drummer.  “Die! * cough * I can do this myself!  * cough cough*”

 Die smiled.  “Say ‘ah!’”

 Shinya narrowed his eyebrows.   “I’m not sa--” Die shoved the food in Shinya’s mouth.

 “Eat up!”

 Shinya chewed with mock irritation.  He ate like that the whole time and laughed as Die tried to give him a drink, resulting in the juice going down the sides of his face.  “Die!”

 Die giggled.  “Well, now I’m thirsty!” He started to lick off the juice, and Shinya giggled, lowering down to lay down on the bed.

 “Die…” Shinya sighed as Die cleaned him.  He pulled Die’s shirt over his head and pressed their bare chests to each other, relishing in the warm feel.  “It’s late… let’s sleep, ne?”

 “Mmm… I have to get out of these then.” Die placed Shinya’s hands onto the top of his pants.

 Shinya pulled the pants down and kissed Die’s nose.  “No matter what has to be done, if it can be interpreted sexually, you leave it to me.”

 Die smiled.  “Of course.  Why do I have to take off my own pants when there’s someone I love that’s willing to do it for me?”

 Shinya stuck out his tongue.   “Using me to dress and undress you, how cruel!”

 Die ruffled Shinya’s hair.   “Cruel?  Nah!  We both get our fun out of it, ne?” Shinya nodded while blushing.  “Well, then we both benefit!  Can’t be so bad if you think about it that way!”

 Shinya coughed.  “Yeah, sure…” He hugged Die’s body and pulled the covers over them, humming a song that Die never heard before.

 “Ne, that’s a pretty song Shinya… what is it?”  Die trailed his hand through Shinya’s hair and down his face.

 “It’s just something I made up.”

 “Oh… it’s pretty.”

 “Thanks.”  Silence for a while.  Shinya almost fell asleep, but a thought crossed his mind.  “Die?”

 “Hm?”

 “Never stop dreaming.”

 “Huh?”

 “Always dream when you sleep, okay?”

 “What are you--”

 “Just… do it, okay?” Shinya interrupted, placing a finger on Die’s lips.

 Die nodded and took Shinya’s hand.  Shinya gripped it firmly.  “Oyasumi, Shinya.”

 “Oyasumi.”

 “Ai shiteru.”

 “Ai shiteru.” He kissed Die’s lips.  “Forever.”

 “Forever.” Die fell asleep shortly after, Shinya still possessing his hand.  About twenty minutes later, Shinya’s hold went limp.

 ***

 Die woke up, feeling empty.   He opened his eyes and saw Shinya, but something didn’t seem right.  Shinya’s skin was very cool, and Die didn’t feel any breath coming out.  “Shinya?” Die bit his lip and placed a hand over Shinya’s face, and felt nothing.  Then he put his palm on Shinya’s chest, finding no heartbeat.  “No…” You knew this was going to happen… But... why?  Why so soon?  Die embraced his Shinya while sitting up and rocked back and forth, sobbing endlessly, kissing the flesh of the face for the last time.

 ***

 The tape that Shinya recorded before he died had on a song he composed for everyone, a melody that was sad, and yet, cheerful at the same time, and Kaoru had played it at the funeral, as requested, but also as requested, he gave another tape to Die.  Die was starring at the tape in his hands before placing it into the tape player.  The song Shinya had hummed was on there, and Die sat down, with Puppy, crying as the last song Shinya composed filling his ears and heart.

 ***

Shinya:             “Waaaa!”  Cries.  “Everyone hates me!”

Die:                   “No one hates you!”

Shinya:              “Then how come they all try to kill me?”

Kurara:              “I’m SORRY!  But this is a good plot and would only work with you, Shinya!”

Shinya:              Pouts

Die:                   “I still love you Shinya!”

Shinya:              Sniffle.  “At least someone does… unlike SOME people!” Glares at Kurara

Kurara:              Pouts.  “Kyo!!!”

Kyo:                  Is “busy” with Yoshiki at the moment.

Kurara:              “Mou!  I give up!”

END

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VM: kurara is so bad! she bullied shinya!