Heaven Cannot Wait
by Matrim
Part 1: Monday, Feb. 28
Manami woke on her back, in a field nearby. She could tell by the taste of
the air that it was early morning and wasn't surprised to see that she was
right. God, I feel like crap, she thought and finally opened her eyes. She
sat up and brushed dark red hair out of her vision and looked at the
envelope in her hand then took out the following message:
-Your mission, should you choose to accept it--
No, I'd rather have hot tea and some crackers, she thought to herself
--is to guide the mortal Shinya of Dir en Grey. He will be assigned 7 tasks
to prove the worthiness of his life. If he does not complete these tasks,
he will die and you shall be terminated as an angel.
Manami gulped. She stood as the rational part of her consoled the
gibbering panicky half. It's okay, it said, others worse than you have done
this. It can't be that hard, can it? She walked away to the place where
she felt he was.
********
Shinya finished preparing his breakfast and sat down to eat it like usual
but instead this time, his hand crept toward the kitchen knife that he had
left on the table and called out, "I know you're there. you might as well
come out and face me, now. I'll call the police and you can turn yourself
in. That way, you won't get hurt and I won't get my clothes bloody."
A girl with dark red hair stepped into the light. "Ne, Shinya-san, you
must be pretty strong to say those kind of things."
"Who are you and what are you doing in my apartment?" The drummer asked
bluntly. He hoped he wouldn't have to use the knife. It wouldn't do to
stab girls. . .
"I'm an angel."
Shinya stared at her (you know, the kind of look you give someone to see
if they're insane), "Nani?"
"You heard me."
"Nonsense." Shinya's hand crept to his phone.
"Say what you wand. But, today," she said, pacing around in his kitchen,
"You will receive one of seven messages, telling you what to do. If you do
not do it, you will die." Shinya nodded, distractedly as he began to punch
in the numbers for the police department. The girl stopped pacing, "Are you
listening to me?"
"Hai, hai..."
"Nani o suru?" (What are you doing?)
"Calling the police."
"Dooshite?"
"Why do you think?"
The--angel--draped herself across one of Shinya's dining room chairs. He
ran a hand through his short hair and stared warily at her. "It won't work,
you know." Shinya didn't reply. C'mon, pick up, pick up. . .he thought at
it. "I have angelic immunity over these things."
Shinya stared at the phone. "You did something to my phone, didn't you?"
He tried not to slam the phone down as he hung up.
The girl stared at the door, "You have mail." She said and closed her
eyes. Shinya peered toward the door (as if he could see--hey, it's the
apartment of my imagination and if I say he can't see the door, he can't see
the door--okay, sorry) then decided to go to the door to check. Sure enough
there was a message there. He picked up the envelope. "So, what's it say?"
asked a voice near his ear.
He jumped. "I thought you were asleep? And where's my knife?"
"You don't need a knife--letter's already open."
It's not for that, Shinya thought, then opened the envelope. In
beautiful gold handwriting, there was a message that read:
--By Friday, March 3, if Shinya does not stand up to Die of Dir en Grey by
6:30 p.m., he will die.--
Shinya turned, "Nani sore?"
"I told you already." The girl looked at the clock--"you better get
going--you'll be late for practice."
*****
He was lost in the music. Floating. He was the music. He was the one who
establishes the beat. He kept it together. It was strange. It was
elating. Funny, how he could pick out individuals and then blend it all
together to form one song--Shinya came back to himself just as the song
ended.
Toshiya smiled at him, "That was good, Shin-chan."
"Arigatou."
Kyo took a sip of water and Die grinned at Kaoru. They took out a their
cigarettes and their lighters, smiled mischievously at Shinya and lit up as
one. Shinya gritted his teeth and felt his face turn red with anger. He
stood up, about to say something until someone said, "Excuse me,
Shinya-kun."
Everyone turned even though it was supposed to be for Shinya. (what can
I say. . .curiosity killed the cat.) "Yes, can I help you?"
"There's a girl outside who wants to see you. She said you knew who she
was." The secretary said.
"Does she have dark red hair?" He asked, "In a braid?"
"Hai."
"I'm coming." Shinya placed his drumsticks down and followed her out
ignoring the taunts of his bandmates especially Die.
"Koibito, ne?" Die asked in a girly voice, fluttering his eyelashes at
Kaoru. "Oh, Shin-chan!!"
"But I can't speak of love. I am much too--"
Shinya shot them both a look of pure maliciousness before heading out the
door. Toshiya's eyes widened, "I've never seen him so angry before. . ."
"Must be some girl he's seeing if he gets that pissed off," Die said,
taking a long drag from his cigarette.
******
Shinya caught her sitting on the steps outside, reading a magazine. He
sat next to her in the cold air. "So, did you do it, yet?"
"No--what does it matter to you?"
The--angel--glared at him, "Baka! Can't you think of anyone than
yourself!? If you die, I die!"
Shinya jumped up and stood in front of her, "Wait--aren't you an angel?
You can't die!" She looked angrily away. "Is there something you're not
telling me?"
"Of course not. Listen, if you fail--you die. Which means I fail because
I'm supposed to guide you. And if I fail--I cease to exist. worse than
dying. It's as if everything I've done was never done, everyone I've known
think I'm a dream--I'm not there." She shivered than glared at him angrily.
He met it fearlessly. He had dealt with worse. "I WILL NOT BE AN
UNFORTUNATE EXAMPLE FOR OTHER ANGELS. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"
"Don't try threatening me. I've dealt with worse."
"Not yet, you haven't," she sneered. "They're still inside. You've got
4 more days to live."
"I've stood up to him!"
She crossed her arms, "Oh, sure. If you call glaring at him standing up
to him. Say something, idiot. Or this'll continue and I don't care if
you're a quiet person--this could kill you!!"
Shinya stood, "Yeah, sure." He disappeared through the door as he said,
"Abazureon'na. . ." (Bitch)
The angel snarled, jumped up and threw the magazine at the door, "Jerk!"
******
Shinya sighed and walked back to the rehearsal space, back to his drums. He
wrinkled his nose, distastefully, at the lingering smell of smoke and picked
up his sticks. The presence of someone made him look up to see Toshiya's
mischievous crooked smile. "So--what's her name?"
"Dare?"
Kyo pounced on Toshiya, hoping for a piggy back ride, making the bassist
grunt and sag under his weight. "Dare?! Dare?! He says--as if he doesn't
know what we're talking about?!" Toshiya threw him off. "Itai! Toshiya!"
Kyo pouted.
Die leaned casually against the drum rack, "Is she pretty?" Shinya
ignored him, "Does she have nice legs?" Shinya's hands tightened on his
drumsticks. Why me, he thought.
Kaoru laughed, "Ne, Die, maybe he hasn't looked. Too shy to, maybe?"
"No worries, Shin-chan," Die said, loudly. "I can help you there--I am
older than you--"
But not smarter. . .thought Shinya
"Don't believe him, Shin-chan." Toshiya said, dryly. "When Die starts
teaching you, he'll make sure you concentrate only the teacher."
Die stuck his tongue out at Toshiya as Kaoru asked suspiciously, "And how
would you know?"
Toshiya smiled and cuddled up next to Kaoru, "I wouldn't. You're the only
one for me." <Everyone sweadrops>
Kyo stood and touched Shinya's tense arm, "No, really, Shinya." He said,
softly, so the others could barely hear, "Toshiya's right. Don't listen to
Die." Shinya looked up at the petite singer, confused as Kyo continued, "If
you really love this girl, stay away from Die."
Shinya turned to glance at Die who turned away with a strange look in his
eyes. What? "But, Kyo--I don't have a girlfriend."
Kyo smiled, as if promising to keep Shinya's "secret". "Sure, Shin-chan.
Whatever you say."
"Alright, back to work--" Kaoru reminded them.
Practice was over and everyone packed up. As they came out the door, Die
grabbed Shinya's arm. "Do you wanna ride home?" Shinya stared at Die,
confused. There was something different about the guitarist tonight.
Shinya's eyes swept his surroundings until he saw the girl leaning against
the wall.
"Thanks but someone's waiting for me."
"Oh."
Kyo ran up to Die's side away from Toshiya and Kaoru, "I want to see
Shinya's koi!"
Shinya rolled his eyes as he came toward the angel. He took her arm,
"Quick, let's get out of here," he hissed.
"Did you tell him?" He hissed back.
"Of course not--"
Toshiya turned at Kyo's shout and ran up next to him, "Where?" The
bassist asked and Kyo pointed to the retreating backs of Shinya and Manami.
Kaoru joined them, "Why won't he introduce us?"
"Yeah, we're a band--we're friends. We should know," Kyo answered
indignantly. Then he noticed Die's silence. "What's up with you?"
Die glared at the disappearing Shinya, "What if she's not his koi, huh?
I don't believe it." He shook his head and began to laugh humorlessly.
"Die-chan--" Toshiya began.
"I wont believe it!" he snapped as he got into his car then drove off.
*******
Shinya sneezed.
"You know," the angel said, "That's the fourth time you sneezed tonight.
I think someone's talking about you."
He shook his head. Then sneezed again.
"Why didn't you tell him?"
"It's not easy, y'know--it's not my nature--"
"I was like you once," she said, conversationally.
"Oh?"
"Look. Die back there. He looked really angry. Are you sure you didn't
stand up to him?"
Much as Shinya wanted to say yes so she'd leave him alone, her eyes made
him tell the truth. "No. He looked angry? Why was he angry?"
"I don't know. He's your problem, not mine."
Shinya sneezed.
"Maybe you should get that checked out." She observed.
"I'm fine," he said, as he sneezed again. "Say--I don't really know
you're name. I can't keep calling you--you."
"Manami. Gomen." At his confused glance, she explained, "For being
impolite."
"Ah-choo! You're forgiven."
"Somebody has to be talking about you--"
******
-somewhere else, going about 90-110 miles an hour--
"I don't believe it!" Die raged alone in his car. "No, he can't have a
girlfriend! He's incapable of having a girlfriend." He checked his rear
view mirror as he switched lanes and looked at himself. He shook his head.
"I won't let him have a girlfriend! No! I would've known about this before
hand! I would've!" he slammed his hand against the steering wheel. "Fuck!
I knew this would happen. Aishiteru, Shinya. Ai. Shite. Ru. So easy to
say when you're not around, but when you are--I can't say it. I hate you.
The only way to get your attention is to tease you. But you hate me. And
now you've got a girlfriend. . .Fuck!!" The guitarist swore again.
*******
"Done?"
"Yes."
Manami shut the magazine. "Bless you. Now, imagine that 57 times."
"It wasn't 57," Shinya protested.
"Either someone really hates you or they're deeply in love with you."
Shinya sighed. "I'm going to bed."
Friday, March 3 (because I'm a lazy ass writer and I don't feel like
describing the whole week)
"You wouldn't believe the tension in there," Shinya said, rather
absently.
"Really." Manami asked, archly.
"I-nevermind." He sighed.
"You're mad at me, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Then why don't you say so?"
"I just did!"
"No, I said it for you. Maybe this is why you can't stand up to Die.
You don't like conflicts, do you?" Manami asked then looked at her watch.
"You have 2 hours to go."
"I know."
"Well?"
"I still don't believe you."
"Then why haven't you gotten rid of me yet?"
Silence. Manami sighed again. "You're mad again."
"Aren't you cold?" Shinya asked, changing the subject. Manami only wore
a t-shirt and vinyl pants in this spring cold.
"Yes, very."
"Why don't you come in?"
"Thoughtful of you."
"Abazu--"
"Don't even start. You say that again and I'll show you just how much of
me isn't an angel."
The rest of Dir en Grey turned as Shinya returned with a girl whose dark
red hair rivalled Die's. "What do I tell them?" Shinya asked Manami.
"I'm your favorite cousin?" She shrugged.
Kyo pulled himself away from the rest of the smokers. He bowed and
introduced himself. "Hi, I'm Kyo."
"I'm Manami." She said, bowing. "You know, Shinya really hates smoking.
.. ."
"Yeah, well. . ." Kyo said, waving the offending cigarette around. The
drummer fumed at this and Manami smiled at his expression. Shinya pulled
Manami close so he could speak to her.
"Are you trying to stand up for me?"
"Why?"
"Because I can do it myself."
"Yeah, fine job you've done so far." Manami told him. She looked at her
watch. "So good in fact that you get killed in--an hour and 55 minutes."
"I bet you it's because of the smoke."
"Don't joke about something like this."
"I'm Toshiya. The pretty one," said the bassist interrupting their
private conversation by pushing Kyo out of the way. Kyo glared at him.
"Bratty more like. . ." Kyo grumbled.
"I'm Kaoru."
"He's mine," Toshiya warned. (Everyone sweatdrops again)
"So, you're the one. . ."
"Huh?"
"Nothing." Manami leaned over and elbowed Shinya gently. The drummer
bent down a little to hear her. "Told you there's something wrong with him.
He's glaring at you."
"Dare?"
"Die, you idiot! Who else?" She shook her head with exasperation then
looked at her watch. "An hour and 50 minutes to go--ganbare, Shin-chan."
He's got all the nerve, Die thought. He watched as Manami went to the rest
area after Shinya said something to her. Kaoru signalled everyone back to
work.
There was something wrong with the music again. It was tense, angry,
and jealous. It wasn't Kyo. It wasn't him. It wasn't Kaoru. It wasn't
Toshiya. It was--Die? Why would he be--? What's wrong? The song ended
and Shinya glanced at his watch. 6:00. He had 30 minutes. But did he
really have to do this? Would he really die at 6:30 sharp? Was Manami
really an angel or an obsessed fan? Or did--
"Shin-chan," came a sweet voice. He looked up and saw Die and Kaoru
leaning over his drum set. "You looked a bit distracted. Thinking about
someone else?"
"Nani?"
"We've been trying to talk to you for minutes. . ." Kaoru put in.
"Thinking about Manami. . ." Die said.
"Not in the way you think. . ." Shinya muttered.
"What was that?" Kaoru asked.
"Nothing."
"Ne, Die-chan. Manami kind of looks like you, doesn't she?"
"No, she doesn't." Shinya said. He had to save his cousin from slander.
"I think she does."
Die moved around the drum set to Shinya's left and winked. "Why, Shinya.
I'm flattered. But why settle for an imitation, when you're so close to
the original. . ." He moved closer so that he spoke in Shinya's ear. "But
with endowments, she'll never possess." Shinya's eyes widened, his hand
trembled--25 minutes to go--Damn Die.
WHAP!! Shinya glared at Die, hand upraised, patience gone to all hell.
Die stared at Shinya transfixed. (Oh, just imagine Shinya--who's so
very beautiful--angry--that makes him even more beautiful, ne?
Angry=strength. Beautiful and strong. . .whoops, sorry, anyways. . .)
Kaoru's jaw dropped.
Kyo slept.
Toshiya stared.
"Don't ever speak about my cousin that way ever again," Shinya said,
slowly. He lowered his hand but didn't take his gaze off Die, "I don't know
what's gotten into you lately but I'd really wish you'd stop it." He stood
from his drumset and brushed passed him to stand in the middle of the
rehearsal space. "What I was trying to say to all of you, is that she isn't
my girlfriend." They all turned to follow Shinya (except Kyo, who didn't
know what was going on but woke himself up long enough to go to the rest
area for a snack. How this is in any way relevant will be revealed later.)
"Gomenasai, Shinya," Die even bowed with this. There was shock in his
eyes, respect, sorrow and something else?
"G-gomenasai, Shinya," Kaoru and Toshiya stammered out. Manami ran in
and almost collided with Shinya.
"CUT!!" She called out, looked at her watch and beamed. "And you had
ten minutes to go!! Good job, Shinya!!"
Shinya gave a small smile. This was strange. To actually say
something. It felt almost good. Kyo ran back in with some food and a
kitchen knife before Kaoru could call them back to practice. "Hey,
what's--oops!" He tripped over the carpet, sending both the plate and knife
in the air. Toshiya ducked from the flying food, Kaoru narrowly avoided the
plate but the knife arced in the air, heading straight for Shinya. Manami
gasped. I might have spoken too soon, she thought. Die saw this, too.
"Shinya!!" He dove and tackled the drummer to the ground, out of harm's
way. Shinya gave a grunt of pain as the older man fell on him. The knife
quivered a few inches away from Shinya's head. Manami and the drummer let
out a sigh of relief. It was silent until--
"Daijyoubuka? Shinya?" Manami called out.
"I'm still alive. . ."
"Does Shinya make a nice pillow, Die?" Kyo called out, standing up.
"Die, get off."
"Dammit, Kyo! You could've killed him!" Die snapped, turning to glare
at the smirking singer.
"Well, I didn't. You saved him."
"GET OFF!! DIE!" Shinya grunted, trying to push the guitarist off. Die
stared at him, strangely--awkwardly--like--Shinya blushed. He has seen that
look before. On girls staring at him and some of his bandmembers. On Kaoru
and Toshiya when they looked at each other. Die brushed some of Shinya's
hair away from his face, causing the drummer to blush even more deeply.
"Sorry, Shin-chan." he said, softly and got up.
Manami crossed her arms, a little apart from everyone and chuckled. This
assignment might not be as hard or as boring as she thought. She sang a bit
of Oh! Heaven from Tokio and laughed again when she thought of Shinya's
face.
End of Part 1
email Matrim
to Part 2