Heaven Cannot Wait
by Matrim
Part 2(b)
*************
“What the hell are they doing here?” Kyo asked. He was still a little upset that Jiro called him cutie. “Well…you know how Yoshiki fired his staff?” Shinya asked. “Yeah.” “Obviously five of us are not enough to make up his staff and so he recruited—“ “Glay…” Kyo answered in a monotone. He stared at them as Jiro made a face at him. Kyo took a threatening step forward as Toshiya held him back. “Not now, Kyo. Or do you want to face the eternal wrath that is Kaoru and Manami?” Kyo sighed as he entered the room and sat on the desk. Glay took up the other half of the room, mostly ignoring Dir en grey, except for Jiro who wanted to see how far he could push Kyo. Torturing him was getting to be as fun as torturing Takuro. Possibly even funner. “What are we supposed to be doing anyway?” Kyo asked. Shinya sat at the desk (the proper way—in a chair) and slapped Kyo’s butt to make him move out of the way. He grabbed the phone, dialed a number and took out a piece of paper. “We’re supposed to handle the press for him and figure out what he needs.” Toshiya picked Kyo up and moved him to another desk, ignoring the vocalist’s protests. He took out a clipboard and added, “We’re basically his servants.” Kyo frowned. “Since when did this happen? I don’t remember signing up for such a demeaning job!!!” Toshiya, Shinya, and Die directed Kyo’s gaze to Kaoru, who was sitting next to Manami. “You mean he put us up to this?!!!” Kyo asked. “Oi!! You’re very cute but could you shut up for a minute?” Jiro yelled at Kyo. The vocalist fumed and jumped off the desk as Hisashi and Teru began laughing. “No, Kyo,” Toshiya and Shinya said. Kyo rolled his eyes and sat in the desk the proper way. In a quieter voice, he asked, “Kaoru did this?” Die mimicked Kaoru’s voice, “Hai, Yoshiki-san, if you ever need anything, just call us. Don’t hesitate to ask for our help. We’ll be there. We’ll help you. As leader of this band, I’d do anything to screw my own band up so long as I get into my producer’s good graces.” He moved closer to Kaoru, who was ignoring him and having a private conversation with Manami. He practically yelled in his ear, “Ne, why don’t I just glue my lips to your butt, Yoshiki-san?!!!” Everyone in the room burst into laughter as Kaoru gave Die a death look. Die stuck his tongue out at him as he moved away and sat near Shinya to help him. Kaoru sighed. Do you know what this means? He thought. He had no telepathy to speak of so it was just him thinking with Manami eavesdropping. He handed the message to Manami who read it. Sorry, not a clue, Kaoru-san. She apologized and frowned. Did you ask hide? He should know…I mean…he’s your guardian angel. I can only be a surrogate since I’m charge of the rest of your bandmembers. She gave a sigh and looked back at the four of them. And I’m not even really good at that, either. I think you’re a good guardian angel…you got your wings. Plus, didn’t you say that gold tips meant you were pretty special? You said not every angel got that. Anyways, hide’s no help at all. I think he’s at home, sulking. Kaoru replied. He thought that since he was older and that he was the leader that doing these tasks would be easy since he rarely got into trouble. Plus he had a super kakkoii guardian angel. But it was harder than Shinya’s because his angel couldn’t be around all the time!! I am not sulking!!!!! Came an indignant thought. Manami and Kaoru instantly turned their heads toward the door five seconds before it slammed opened. Manami raised an eyebrow at hide’s embarrassed expression. Obviously he hadn’t expected the door to be that loud. You’ve underestimated your own strength again… she told him. Kaoru’s reaction was different. He raised a hand to his forehead. hide was still wearing the apron. I am not sulking!! And who said you could advise my human? hide asked, in a slightly hurt voice. You said you trusted me enough to let me do this on my own, Manami-sama. I do! But who else is going to take care of him when you’re somewhere else? I’ve got everything under control!! And you said that I wasn’t allowed to see Yoshiki so I took off! And then when I eavesdropped in Kaoru’s mind for a bit, I realized that he wasn’t here but he’s in the hospital!! No one tells me anything!!! hide— Kaoru was starting to get a headache. Angels fighting in his head was one thing he wouldn’t wish on anyone. YAMERU!!! Onegai? You’re making my head hurt. Both angels stared at him and hide’s expression softened. Manami moved over as hide took her space and leaned against the desk with Kaoru. “Gomenasai, Kaoru-chan.” Hide said, using his voice this time. “I tend to forget. You wanted to ask me something?” Manami gave the two a supporting smile and stepped away, while also preventing Kyo from going over to the Glay area of the office to choke Jiro. “Sweetie, if you’re not going to work, go to sleep. It’s easier to look after you that way. I don’t want to have to yell at you for getting in a fight.” Kaoru smiled then handed the message to hide. Hide read it and nodded. “It means what it says, you have to learn how to—“ “Sumimasen,” someone interrupted and hide and Kaoru looked up. Hisashi stood there, fidgeting and looking generally embarrassed. “Ano…you look a lot like…” Kaoru and hide looked at each other then replied simultaneously, “He’s/I’m a cosplayer.” Hisashi nodded, “Oh, yeah..I…I know that…but—you look so much like him…it’s scary.” hide frowned and sent a thought to Kaoru. Do I look that bad? Kaoru tried not to laugh. “Oh!! Gomen..I forgot to introduce myself. Namae wa Hisashi desu. Hajimemashite! Doozo yoroshiku. Onamae wa?” He gave a tiny bow. hide bowed back, “Hikaru desu,” he replied with obvious effort. He still couldn’t take to that name. “Hajimemashite.” “Ano…I have to go. Though, I’d really like to talk to you later.” Hisashi said, after looking over his shoulder at Takuro who gave him a look. “You were saying?” Kaoru asked. “Huh? Oh, yeah. You’re usually the leader of the group correct?” Kaoru nodded. “This isn’t going to be easy but the task is to not be leader.” “Nani?” “Gomen, Kaoru-chan…but you have to.” “But who can I trust to lead the group? If I don’t do it, it’ll be a disaster!” hide found a candy jar on the desk and began to pick through it looking for some chocolate. “Who says? It just might be the most fantastic thing that’s ever happened.” Kaoru frowned and tugged hide’s apron sleeve. “Mm? Nani?” Kaoru jerked his head toward his bandmembers. Kyo was sleeping on the desk. Die and Toshiya were arguing over the phone even though they were three feet away from each other and Shinya was trying to stop fight even though he was talking to someone else on the phone about Yoshiki’s accident among other things. “Now who would you have in charge of this band?” Kaoru asked, dryly and looked at hide, imagining an anime sweatdrop appearing near his head. “Hm. What makes you think it’s your band that you have to stop leading?” hide asked, unwrapping a chocolate and putting it into his mouth. “Nani?” hide directed Kaoru’s eyes forward so that they stared at Glay. Jiro was now bugging Teru, who was whining to Takuro about it and Hisashi was trying to get Takuro’s attention about something. Kaoru bit his lip. The leader of Glay looked like he was about to explode. “You looked like that, too, you know.” “Nani?” “In the hallway when your band mates were having fun. You looked like that.” Kaoru frowned, “And how do you know this?” hide smiled and gave Kaoru a wink. “I have my ways. Anyways—keep it up and you might end up like Yoshiki.” “I don’t intend to end up smashing into a tree any time soon when I’m bike riding with my girlfriend…and—wait a minute, why do I have to do all these tasks?! I’m a good guy—I take care of myself!! I’m responsible!!” hide popped another chocolate into his mouth, “Mm…that’s the problem.” Kaoru stared at him, “How is it a problem?” “You don’t remember what Manami said? God sent you Toshiya so that you’d lighten up.” He poked Kaoru in the ribs and the guitarist doubled over, “Obviously it didn’t work.” “So he sent you?” hide stopped eating, “Is there something wrong with that? And what makes you think that the Almighty’s a he?” “He’s a she?” “Actually—no…but…well—I can’t talk about that.” hide said quickly, “But—back to the original subject, you’re just going to have to stop leading. That’s all.” “Kaoru,” Shinya interrupted. “Yoshiki wants to talk to you.” He nodded and took the phone from him. He motioned hide to be quiet, “Moshi moshi?” “Kaoru-kun, what is going on in there?” “Ano…Die and Toshiya are arguing, Kyo’s sleeping, Shinya’s answering the phone, Jiro was teasing Kyo but now he’s…” Kaoru trailed off as he watched Jiro cartwheel around the room. “He’s pretending to train for the Olympics, Hisashi’s staring at—uhm…me,” He amended when in actuality Hisashi was staring at hide, “Teru is trying to get Jiro to stop and Takuro is…well…” “Nani?” “He’s about to lose it in few seconds.” “Three…two…one,” hide counted after putting the candy jar back onto the desk. “Jiro!!!!” Takuro yelled and angel and human winced. Die and Toshiya stopped arguing to see what was up, Kyo woke up and Shinya jumped. “Sit down before I have Kyo take my Gibson and shove it up your ass!!!!” Kyo smiled ferally at Jiro who gulped and sat. “Hisashi!! Get back to work!! Teru—I’ll deal with you later!!!” “Did you get all that, Yoshiki-san?” Kaoru asked. “Kaoru-kun, please get everything under control! Relieve Takuro of his duties, he might get a heart attack too soon if we’re not careful and besides, my reputation is on the line.” “Never changes, does he?” hide asked fondly and Kaoru’s tried to hush him. “Eto…Yoshiki-san…I’m not sure I can do that.” “I can’t trust anyone else, Kaoru-kun. Just this once, okay?” “Don’t do it.” “hide, hush!!” “Nani?” Yoshiki asked. “Nothing!!” Kaoru replied, a little too late. Shit!!! You blew his cover!! hide shook his head at Kaoru. “Nothing at all, Yoshiki-san. Everything’s under control!!” He gave a nervous laugh, “Ja ne!!” Kaoru tossed the receiver to Shinya who hung it up. “Brilliant, Mr.-let’s-give-hide-another-name-so-he-will-be-safe!!!!!” hide said, “Now how are you going to explain yourself to Yoshiki?” “Simple I won’t!!!” Kaoru said, “It’s all Takuro’s problem now!! I’m not in charge.” He smiled at hide and made like Kyo. In other words, he fell asleep.
*******
Kaoru woke up an hour later to see that things hadn’t improved.
“Ohayo, Kaoru-san,” Die said in a hotel room wake up call voice (they’re
annoyingly cheerful). He moved into the other guitarist’s view, “Thank you
for doing nothing!!”
“What’s going on?”
“Eto…Yoshiki’s called about three more times and he’s getting very angry at
you, Takuro is on the rampage, hide is where you left him except now he’s
starting to get hungry, Manami has vanished, Toshiya is eating something
from this morning and he won’t say what it is except that it’s special,
Shinya is currently having a nervous breakdown, Kyo is sleeping, Jiro has
been banished to the corner of the room, Teru has lost it and is missing and
Hisashi is apparently missing with him.” Die filled him in and sat on the
desk with Kaoru. “And I’m about to yell at you in minute for making me
listen to Yoshiki yell about you.”
“Gomen, Die…”
“Oh, it’s not that bad…me and hide had quite a laugh listening to the
nurses and Shizuka try to calm him down.”
hide smiled, “We had him on speaker phone.”
Die shook his head, “He found out about that, though. Let’s just say he
didn’t like that one bit.”
“That’s it!!!” Shinya exploded and yanked the phone out of its jack and
threw it across the room, smashing it against the wall. Die, Kaoru, and
hide turned around to stare at him. Toshiya stopped eating. Kyo woke up.
Everybody else wasn’t paying attention. “Stupid fucking press!! I keep the
saying the same thing over and over—how many times do I have to repeat it?
Yoshiki got into a bike accident, he’s fine, he doesn’t intend to do it
again, no, I will not tell you what hospital he’s in—how hard is it to
understand something so simple?!!”
Die sighed and moved over to Shinya and gave him a hug.
“How hard is it? How hard is it?” Shinya repeated, trying not to cry
frustrated tears.
“I know…I know…” Die said, trying to calm the irate drummer.
Kaoru turned to hide, “Is that true? Has everything really gotten that
bad?”
“Not really. They feel the same to me. But…Yoshiki wants to talk to you.
Personally. Actually, you and Takuro. And you’re supposed to meet him in
two hours at the hospital. Meaning you’re doing this one alone.” hide gave
a him a strange smile.
“Gomen, hide-san.”
“What are you sorry for? It’s not your fault that we know the same people.
It’s not your fault I can’t see all the people I’d like to see.” Hide
replied. He shrugged, “What cannot kill us makes us stronger. And as you
can see…” hide let the sentence trail off.
“You’re not alive…”
“But I’m not dead either,” hide replied. Kaoru gave him a strange look.
“Okay…how do I explain this? Manami—she exists. Let’s leave it at that.
Me? I’m mostly dead.” He was quiet until he gave a laugh, “Ne…it’s easy to
tell between a dead person and mostly dead person.”
“How?”
“Mostly dead people don’t give up so easily. They have something to live
for or they have someone who wants them to live. Dead people—well, there’s
only one thing you can do with dead people.”
“Nani?” Kaoru asked, carefully.
hide gave him a smile, “You go through their clothes and look for loose
change.”
“hide…”
“Nani? Manami taught me that joke!! Well, she got it from Kami but…it is
kind of funny…” Kaoru shook his head, “Unless of course you’re living.” He
started laughing, “You take things too seriously, Kaoru-chan.”
“It’s just…most people wouldn’t laugh at that joke.”
hide shrugged. “Once you die, you’ll find out a lot of things.”
“Is it okay for me to ask what?”
“No.”
“Oh.”
"Why not?"
"It'd ruin the surprise!" hide grinned.
*********
Kaoru and Takuro made their way to Yoshiki’s room in silence. That was the way it was on the way to the hospital and it didn’t look like it was about to change any time soon. They paused in front of the door. Takuro took a deep breath went in. Kaoru did the same but sent a tiny prayer to hide, who only laughed gently in his mind. It’s going to take more than that to save you. Thanks for the support. hide laughed again. Kaoru peeked in to see Takuro with a relieved look on his face. “He’s asleep.” The other man explained. Kaoru looked at Yoshiki and winced. Oo…he’s not gonna like that at all…Kaoru thought. Yoshiki’s face was covered with bandages and bruised. His arms were wrapped in gauze. “God, how fast was he going when he hit that tree?” Takuro shook his head, “He doesn’t look like he knew how to ride a bike at all.” “I heard that.” Came a voice and Kaoru and Takuro froze. Yoshiki’s eyes opened. “Glad to see that you’ve joined the living, Kaoru-kun.” And what’s wrong with hanging out with the dead? hide wondered. Kaoru tried not to laugh. “What is going on at that office? I thought I put you in charge? I thought I could count on you for anything?” Yoshiki demanded. “Eto…I just thought Takuro would do a better job than I would.” Kaoru said. Takuro and Yoshiki flashed him a glare. Finally, Yoshiki replied, “Alright, then. Takuro, you’re in charge.” Takuro’s jaw dropped, “And Kaoru, I do not want to hear any complaints of you telling Takuro how to do his job and I don’t want to hear any complaints about Dir en grey either. Do you understand me?” “Hai.” Kaoru gave a short bow, “Wakarimasu.” “Your first task is to discharge me out of the hospital, Takuro,” Kaoru began to inch away towards the door. “Kaoru-kun, you are to go to my mansion and get my stuff. I’m going to LA.” Why me? Why can’t he ask Shizuka? What-he’s still going out with her? Hide asked. Last time I checked. “D-demo…” “Nani?” “Nothing.” Kaoru moved toward the door and left as Yoshiki began to give Takuro some more instructions. Kaoru frowned, lost in his thoughts as he headed toward the exit so it took him awhile to notice hide walking with him. “Kaoru-kun, explain the current situation to me…I’m a little out of it.” Kaoru jumped. “Oh…okay…what do you need explained?” “The whole shebang. You know, like…Shizuka and Yoshiki?” “They were going out.” “Hai.” “They broke up.” “Yeah, I got it.” “And then they went out again.” “Oh.” Kaoru hailed a taxi and both of them got in. hide gave the driver the directions and off they went.
Yoshiki’s servants let them in with some problems (most of them were a little freaked with hide’s appearance but as soon as Kaoru explained that he was a cosplayer they let him go.) They disappeared and let them alone, apparently the cosplayer looked too much like the real thing and it disturbed them. “Well, his house is as he left it.” hide said, poking around. Kaoru sighed and grabbed a suitcase and began to look around in Yoshiki’s closet. Hide looked with him. “I don’t know what to pack for him…” hide reached in, “Lessee, this shirt, these pants, these two shirts,” he began to take them off the hangers and carelessly threw them in the direction of the suitcase. Kaoru caught them as some of them began to flutter to the ground nowhere near the suitcase. “Wonder how long he’s going to stay there…and why he’s going so soon after staying here. Can’t make up his mind, can he?” hide began to mutter, tossing more clothes out of the closet. “Ne, Kaoru,” hide straightened and grabbed Kaoru’s hand. “Let’s go to the kitchen, I think he’d look pretty decent in an apron.” Kaoru began laughing, “No. No. I don’t think so.” The mental image of Yoshiki in an apron with a Santa hat and sunglasses, dancing, popped up in his mind and he laughed harder, “No. Let’s not. He can’t look good in it. Not as good as you do.” “Hounto ni?” “Yes,” Kaoru managed to stop laughing. Hide smiled at him, “Great. You pack his underwear. I’ll get his papers.” “I’m not touching his underwear.” hide pushed him towards Yoshiki’s dresser, “Oh, c’mon, they’re just silk undies.” They stared down at the drawer that held it. Kaoru looked at him, “I’m not touching it.” “It’s all yours, man.” “No, absolutely not.” “Jan ken pon you for it.” “Two out of three.” “You’re on. Loser gets to pack his underwear.” “Jan ken pon!!” hide held up a finger and Kaoru bit his lip. They went again. Kaoru held up a finger. And again. Kaoru grinned. Hide sighed, then suddenly laughed, “Oh, yeah, I forgot. Yoshiki doesn’t wear underwear.” “Nani? You’re only saying that to get out of doing it!!” Kaoru protested. “I am not!! He doesn’t wear underwear!!” “An old guy like that should wear some!!” “Hey, I’m almost as old as he is—do you think I’m old?” “No.” “And I wear underwear!” hide paused, thought about this and looked down his pants, “Yeah, I wear underwear.” He smoothed down his apron. He stared at the stuff on Yoshiki’s dresser then reached forward suddenly and snatched something up. “I was looking for that.” “Hm?” hide fastened the necklace around his neck and smiled. “There. Now I feel complete.” He looked around and smiled. He reached forward and placed the earring in. ”I am complete.” “Don’t do that. Yoshiki’s going to notice it’s missing and he’s going to yell at me for it!!!” “He won’t yell at you if you told him that I took it.” “Yes, he will. He’ll yell at me for trying to be disrespectful or something!!” “They’re my stuff. Why don’t I just jot down a note for him and then he’ll have no choice but to accept it!!” “No, he’ll think it’s a cruel joke. And isn’t that against the rules?” “Nonsense. It’s not against the rules unless someone tells Manami.” Hide began to write down a note. “ And besides my handwriting looks nothing like yours.” He slapped it down on the dresser and grinned. “To the bathroom!!!” “What for?” “His hair may be short but he still has a lot of hair care products lying around…” he began to drag Kaoru toward the bathroom but Kaoru stopped him. “Nani?” “There’s a message on the machine. Maybe he wants us to check it?” They pressed it. “Yoshiki, this is Shizuka.” Kaoru and hide’s eyebrows rose. “It’s over, do you understand me? I can’t take it anymore!!! I don’t want you calling me, I don’t want you writing to me, I don’t even want to see you again. I want all of my stuff back. Your stuff is being dropped off as I speak. Kimura-san’s taking me to a private island next week so I want all the things I gave you back by then. Oh, and Yoshiki—try not to be to jealous when I say this. At least, he knows how to ride a bike.” hide and Kaoru winced. “Kimura Takuya from Smap?” hide asked. “Yeah.” “How could she step from Yoshiki…to that?” hide asked. Kaoru shrugged. “Thankyou and goodbye!!!” The phone slammed down and hide and Kaoru winced again. “Do you think he knows about this?” Kaoru asked. hide shrugged but smiled like he knew. Kaoru ignored him. “Good God, what am I going to tell him?” “I have no idea.” Hide said as they went to pack up the rest of Yoshiki’s things.
Friday (because I’m lazy and this is taking way too
long!!)
9:00 am
“I have to tell him.” Kaoru said. hide watched him as he paced in the office hallway. Kaoru decided to take refuge out in the hall. Takuro’s decisions were driving him crazy and his bossiness had almost made him want to bite something. He knew that violence was not the answer, although Kyo was egging him on. And he also knew that most of the decisions that Takuro made was pretty good. But it caused all kinds of trouble. For one: He didn’t exactly help you. He just kind of dumped it into your lap and expected you to do it, no questions asked. And the second was that he didn’t listen. It’s your own fault, he thought to himself, You couldn’t have fun and now you have to let someone else be in charge or you’ll die. “I have to tell him why Shizuka hasn’t visited him in the hospital. And why she hasn’t returned his phone calls.” Kaoru continued to pace in the hallway. “But how do I do that?” “Think about what you’re going to say, open your mouth and wait for something to happen,” hide suggested. He wore his Adidas jacket and pants this time but he still wore the apron, as he had been for the past week. Kaoru didn’t know where angels got their clothes from, but he knew they didn’t pay for it. Kaoru shook his head. “Do you think I should tell Takuro?” hide shrugged, “If you like.” Kaoru stopped pacing and stood in front of hide. “I know you know something.” hide looked up at him, “Nani?” “I know you know something.” Kaoru repeated. “A few things.” hide admitted with an innocent face. “Care to share it with me?” “Not at the moment, no.” Kaoru sighed with frustration. “Okay, say I tell Takuro,” he was talking to himself now, hide didn’t even look like he cared. “He’ll probably tell me to tell Yoshiki. But I don’t want to do that because I value my life. But it shouldn’t really matter, because he’s going to LA and he’s drop dead gorgeous and could get any woman or man he wants. So, what am I worrying for? But then, he got dumped for that guy from Smap and…that’s not cool at all, is it?” Kaoru continued to talk. “But he did ask me if there was any messages on his machine and I told him no. I should’ve said yes. I should Takuro. And he can tell Yoshiki.” “Tell Yoshiki what?” Kaoru looked up to see Takuro standing in the hallway. hide was nowhere to be found. “Ano…there was a message for him on Monday.” If Kaoru thought that he was good at making his band members feel guilty with a stare, then Takuro was the master at it. Kaoru felt like taking a dive out of the office window just to save his ass for the minute but he knew hide would save him and then put him back in the same hallway after giving him a lecture. Wherever the hell hide was. He wasn’t even talking to him in his mind. “You said that he had no messages.” “Eto..” Kaoru tried not to stare at the floor in guilt. “Was it important?” “Kind of.” “What was the message, Kaoru?” What do I say? What do I say? Kaoru thought about it, opened his mouth and waited for something to happen. “Shizuka dumped Yoshiki for that guy from Smap.” “Which guy?” “Kimura Takuya. The one that starred in the television show, A Beautiful Life.” Takuro winced. “That is pretty important. And pretty pathetic. How could she step from Yoshiki to him? And that show’s not even that good!!” (Hey!! That show is pretty damn good!!—Matrim) Kaoru shrugged. “Kaoru…why did you have to wait until today? He was going to buy Shizuka a huge bouquet of roses again after he left to make it up to her!!!” Kaoru shrugged again. Takuro’s glare was getting to him. “You know he leaves today, right?” “Nani?” “Hai.” Great job, Kaoru, he thought to himself, Slack off until the last minute. Oh, well, I don’t think I’ll die this week. I’ve been really good. “There’s only one thing we can do. We have to cancel the order and we have to tell Yoshiki before he leaves.” “Okay.” “It’s not that simple, Kaoru.” “Really?” Takuro shot him a different look. Kaoru rolled his eyes. He flexed his fingers, wondering if he would be charged for assault if he wrapped his hands around Takuro’s neck and squeezed. He doesn’t have to talk to me like I’m an idiot. “Yes, really. Six hours before he boards his flight, he sends two roses every hour to her home or wherever she happens to be. As soon as he boards that plane, he makes a call to the florist and two dozen roses are delivered to her with a note saying how much he loves her and how sorry he is for going away!! Now, we have to stop the delivery process!!” “What’s with this we shit?” Kaoru said before he could stop the words from coming out of his mouth. “Yes, we! This is your mistake, baka!!” “Tell me, Takuro, do you think your fans will miss you if I just…I don’t know…accidentally threw you out the window right about now?” Kaoru asked. He’d had enough with this guy’s behavior. They were starting to shout now and the office door opened. Jiro, Kyo, Toshiya, Die, Hisashi, Teru and Shinya’s head popped out to peek at them. “Stop being an ass, Kaoru. This is your fault not mine.” “You fix it. You seem to know everything about Yoshiki.” Kaoru tried to move past him and out the door, to spend his day in the apartment where he didn’t have to worry about being killed in the afternoon. It’s just one bad dream. I don’t have a guardian angel. It’s just been one bad dream. Takuro stopped him, just as an angry voice made itself known in Kaoru’s head. Oh, I’m a bad dream now, am I? “Maybe if you hadn’t been off with that cosplayer of yours, this wouldn’t have happened. You know Yoshiki as well as I do, why didn’t you know about that?” Great, I have two people yelling at me now. “Because I’m not his lover.” Takuro punched him just as hide yelled, How do you explain last week? You don’t think that could’ve been a dream, could it? And how do you explain this? Takuro would not be beating you up if this was a bad dream!! Kaoru fell to the ground, with a hand to his jaw. Toshiya cried out and ran to Kaoru. Now maybe if you were a little nicer, Takuro wouldn’t have used Sugi’s boxing lesson on you!!! “Daijyoubu, Totchi, daijyoubu.” He accepted Toshiya helping him up and jerked his head to Die—to take Toshiya away before he did some damage. “If you had a problem, Kaoru, why didn’t you just say so in the first place?” Takuro asked with a deadly tone of voice. “Like it would make a difference.” This was for both hide (who was now telling him that if he had asked the right questions, he would’ve helped Kaoru) and for Takuro. “I’m about ready to die, now.” They had to be kidding him. Dying in the afternoon wouldn’t happen. It just wasn’t possible. It made no sense. URUSAI!!!!! Came a very painful mental scream and Kaoru fell to the ground, with a migraine. hide strode in past the shocked Dir en grey and Glay members and past Takuro and grabbed Kaoru. He slapped him as lightly as he could (because he couldn’t afford to underestimate his own strength) which made Kaoru fall against the wall again. “Have you no brains!!? Don’t you ever say that again!!!” Kaoru winced as hide picked him up from the floor by his shirt. “Takuro-san, gomenasai. We’ll help you with Yoshiki.” He turned to Toshiya, who didn’t know what to think. “Toshiya-kun, gomenasai. Your boyfriend’s most stubborn.” Takuro nodded. “We’ll have to go the florist.” “Alright, to the car!!” “No.” Kaoru moaned. That mind scream had hurt… “Shut up,” hide told him and dragged him physically after Takuro. “Sometimes, Kaoru, I don’t know how Toshiya puts up with you.”
********
Kaoru sat in the back of Takuro’s car, relatively sulking. Hide wasn’t talking to him. Neither was Takuro. And what role was he playing in all of this? He wasn’t going to die, he wasn’t Shinya—he couldn’t make people that angry at him to try to kill him…What a stupid task, he thought, lay on the backseat and turned over. He treated me like an idiot, he told hide, knowing that the angel probably couldn’t hear it because of his silent treatment. What did you want me to do, take it? And it’s not as if I’m opposing him!!! “Stop complaining, Kaoru.” hide said. Just remember whose apron you’re wearing. You were opposing him. Kaoru jumped. And it would’ve progressed if I hadn’t stepped in. Don’t ever say things like that again, Kaoru. There was a note of sadness in his voice. You didn’t even think about the effect that kind of thing had on me or Toshiya or the rest of you band, did you? Gomenasai… hide sighed, And don’t act like that. I am not some kind of god, you know. It’s only me. We all make mistakes. And Kaoru, don’t call me hide-sama anymore. It kind of…makes me uncomfortable. We’re not only angel and human…we’re supposed to be partners… Kaoru felt worse than before. Stop it. Kaoru sighed. I told you couldn’t get out of this one so easily. The car stopped and they got out of the car. Kaoru remained in the back seat. The door opened and hide pulled at Kaoru’s pant leg. C’mon. Just do what Takuro says. You can’t break any more rules, this time. Kaoru got up and followed the two into the florist. But what if he’s wrong? It doesn’t matter, just do it. You won’t have to listen to him after 3:30 anyway…Kaoru…you’ve been taking care of everybody else for so long that you forgot what it’s like to be taken care of. “Kaoru.” Takuro turned back toward him. Kaoru paused. “I’ve been thinking and I have to apologize for that punch I landed on you at the office. That and maybe I haven’t really given you a chance. Now, I’m going to ask you to do something and you can refuse if you like…” “What is it?” “I know you are the leader of your band and it may seem a little hard for you to accept orders from someone else, especially from other bands,” Takuro looked away diplomatically, “And I trust that you know what you’re doing. So…can you handle this all by yourself?” “Nani?” “Can you cancel all of the rose orders that Yoshiki hands in and then can you meet Yoshiki at the airport to tell him?” “Ano…” hide gave him a look and Kaoru nodded. “Yeah, I can, but what are you going to do?” “Go back to the office and keep our bands from killing each other.” Takuro said and headed back toward the car. Kaoru stood there speechless and was still speechless when the leader of Glay drove away. He turned back to hide, “Did you influence him in this?” “I gave him some ideas.” “Where are we?” hide pointed at the sign. It was the florists. “You’d better hurry, he’d probably be sending in the order about now.” Kaoru’s eyebrows rose and he and hide ran into the flower shop. “If I cancel every order, how am I going to run to Yoshiki and tell him that Shizuka broke up with him?” “Do you have your mobile?” Kaoru felt his pockets, “No…I think I left it at the office.” “Baka!!!” “Your fault!! You screamed at me then hit me so hard, that I couldn’t think!!” “Do you ever think?” “I’m not going to argue with you now.” Kaoru returned and made his way to the counter. “Sumimasen.” “Hai?” The young girl asked without raising her head. She was reading a magazine on her lap with her long red black hair tied up rather messily. “Did someone by the name of Hayashi Yoshiki make a special order of roses here?” “Just a couple of minutes ago, why?” She finally lifted her head and when she saw who she was talking to, her jaw dropped. Kaoru gave a weak smile as hide poked around some sunflowers, trying to be inconspicuous. Which was really ridiculous, Kaoru reflected, how inconspicuous can one be with bright pink hair, bright green clothing and an apron? “Oh, my God…” “Ano…” Kaoru began. “You’re Kaoru from Dir en Grey, right?” He bit his lip, “Yeah, kind of…” “Oh, my God…and…” She stared at hide, who was now kneeling behind a bunch of lilies. Kaoru sighed and shook his head. It would’ve worked except hide was too tall and his hair was poking out. “He…” “He’s a cosplayer.” “Oh…well, I figured,” she said, haltingly. “He looks exactly like him.” “Eerie, isn’t it? Ah!! About those roses!!!” The girl looked at him as if she didn’t know what he was talking about and then shook her head to stop staring at hide, who had finally come out of hiding and looked like he wanted to buy some flowers. “Oh!!! Yeah, he always orders roses here. Is there something wrong with them?” “Yeah, can you cancel that order?” She stared at Kaoru, who looked a little nervous. “I—I can’t do that.” “N-nani? Why not?” “Because he’s a very loyal customer and…and…he’s really nice and…and…he’s Yoshiki.” She stammered out. Kaoru stared at her, “He’s Yoshiki, not God. You didn’t already send those roses out, did you?” The panic in his voice made her gulp. “Eto…” “That’s it! I’m dead!!” Kaoru squeaked out and the girl stared at him, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “Do you know the address he sends it to?” “Hai…it’s this one.” She gave him a card and Kaoru held it out. Hide took it. “Yep. Same address. I’ll go and handle this one and you take care of the rest.” hide ran out of the door just as Kaoru stopped him. “Nani?” “Aren’t you going to do that—thing?” “What thing?” “With the pink smoke and the--?” hide gave an embarrassed smile, “I don’t have enough energy for that. Didn’t eat as much today. Mata ne, Kaoru-chan!” With that he ran out of the door and to Shizuka’s house. “Now about the roses…” Kaoru turned back to the girl, “Can you cancel the rest of the order?” “Hai…demo—I don’t think I can do that, without Yoshiki’s permission.” “Well, he’s in a really tight spot right now and he can’t do that.” “Why do you want me not to send the roses?” Kaoru squirmed and then took a deep breath, “Shizuka broke up with Yoshiki and is now going out with Kimura Takuya from Smap.” The girl’s eyes widened. “I know it’s not believable but Yoshiki doesn’t know yet. I forgot to tell him. I was over his house the day that I got the message and I didn’t want to tell him because I was afraid he’d rip my heart out.” After a long moment of silence, the girl managed, “He’s Yoshiki not God.” Kaoru gave a weak laugh and the girl joined in with him, “So, can you cancel the rest of that order?” She nodded, “I’ll just pretend to send them out so he won’t yell at me. I’ve heard about his temper tantrums and I don’t want to experience it.” Kaoru heaved a sigh of relief, “Arigato gozaimasu!” He told her and bowed. “Dooitashimashite. Eto…” “Nani?” “Can I have your autograph?” Kaoru chuckled, “Sure.”
********
9:25 am -elsewhere-
hide ignored the strange looks from the taxi driver as he dropped him off on the street outside of Shizuka’s mansion. He gave some money to the driver and stepped out and stared at the gates. He smiled at his foresight and hurriedly began to eat the two bowls of ramen that he had brought just before he hailed the taxi. “I have to eat this before that delivery guy comes…” He ate it as fast as he could (and if he was still alive, he’d get a stomach ache) but it wasn’t fast enough. The delivery guy came speeding around the corner on a moped and up to the gate. He ignored the pink haired angel trying not to choke down ramen while swearing and spoke into the intercom. The gates opened and it let him in. hide stood and went over to the gates to see if he could try to get in without having to use his powers but it was too late. The gates shut and hide growled. He finished the second bowl of ramen, snatched up the rubbish and threw it away. He waited for a few seconds anxiously and then— A puff of pink smoke went up and he was gone.
The delivery boy knocked on the door and waited patiently, making sure that he didn’t mess up the roses as he did so. Everything was fine— Until there was sound like a gunshot and pink smoke went up next to him. The delivery boy screamed, “AAAGGH!!!” Likewise there was an echoing, “AAGGH!!!” hide calmed himself faster than the delivery boy did then snatched the roses away from him. “Delivery’s been canceled. Go home.” “D-demo—k-k-kowai yo…“ hide rolled his eyes, “Yeah, yeah…go away!!!” The delivery boy nodded numbly and got on his moped and left. hide breathed a sigh of relief and let his head fall forward. Just then the door opened and hide turned around. “Hai?” Shizuka opened the door and when she saw hide with the roses her jaw dropped and her eyes widened. “Ohaiyo…” hide said, sheepishly. Shizuka squeaked and then fainted. Hide caught her as she fell. “Shizuka-san? Dare desu ka?” Kimura called out. Hide looked at Shizuka in his arms and toward the direction of the other man’s voice but he couldn’t see him yet. “Oh, shit.” He said in English.
*********
12:00 am
Kaoru stared at his watch as he called Takuro. hide hadn’t come back from Shizuka’s house yet but he figured that the angel would know where he was. He was still worried, though. He could’ve at least called the flower shop or something… “Moshi moshi?” “Hai, Takuro-san?” “Kaoru-san?” “Hai.” “What do you want to talk to me about?” “Which airport is Yoshiki departing from?” “The Tokyo International airport, of course,” Takuro replied, as if it should’ve been obvious. Kaoru throttled down irritation, said his thanks and in revenge, slammed the payphone down. He stuck his tongue out at it and headed back into the flower shop. The flower girl looked up at him as he came in. She was on her lunch break. “Do you want something to eat?” “No…” Kaoru said, as he paced the shop and then on second thought said, “Okay…yeah, what the hell…” She offered him the rest of her lunch and he thanked her. “Where’s your friend?” “I have no idea.” Kaoru said and worried a little more. “If it makes you feel any better…” “Nani?” “At least the rose thing is taken care of.” “Yeah.” But my death at the hands of a jilted Yoshiki isn’t. And where the hell is hide?
********
“Eee….” hide moaned. He stared at his watch and then moaned again. This wasn’t supposed to happen!! But it did and Shizuka saw him and he had to temporarily knock out Kimura for a few hours while he got Shizuka to a hospital. She woke a few minutes ago but she was talking gibberish and he was afraid that it was his fault. The hospital staff wouldn’t let him get away because they thought Shizuka was his girlfriend! As if. But he couldn’t leave even if he could. He still had to make sure she was okay and that she wasn’t going to tell anyone that she saw him. Hopefully, the doctors were good enough to convince her that she hadn’t seen a mostly dead person. But then, they were going to make him see her and tell her that her boyfriend was here to see her. And instead of Kimura walking in, he’d walk in and she’d scream and faint all over again. If he had a little more energy, he could convince her that he was Kimura but then he’d have to kiss her. Not something he really wanted to do at this point. “Eee…” hide said again. “Kaoru-chan, I’m really really sorry.” He said as if Kaoru were there, “ I finally found out why there was the rule of me not allowing to see the people I once knew again. I could tell her that I’m a cosplayer…but it’s too late. Maybe if she was a little more stable, she’d believe me.” “Hikaru-san?” hide looked up at the doctor, “Hai?” “She’s a little distraught right now,” The doctor began to explain. “I was afraid of that.” Hide said and the doctor gave him a kind smile. “She will be fine in a moment. I think that it is okay for you to see her. I think a familiar face will calm her down.” Not this familiar face. “Do you know what’s upsetting her?” “Iie…she just keeps saying something about seeing a ghost. Saying that he wants revenge for what she did to one of his closest friends.” hide winced. It must’ve hit her harder than I thought… “But she’s just settling down now and you can see her any time you feel fit. She can leave the hospital in a few hours.” The doctor told him and hide nodded. He sat in the waiting room for a few minutes, debating whether he should go see her or not. It’s only right. I did scare her. And I feel pretty bad about it. I should go see if she’s alright but then…she’d freak out again. He looked at his watch. 12:30. He should be returning to Kaoru now, but he needed to do something first. He went over to the payphone and called Shizuka’s number. Her machine came on, “Kimura-san…Shizuka’s in the hospital. She fainted. She wants to see you. Eto..ja!” Hide hung up and went to meet up with Kaoru.
********
1:00 pm
“He hasn’t come back yet.” “I hope he isn’t lost.” Kaoru stared at the clock. The girl, whose name he had found out was Midori, stared with him. “Looking at it is not going to make him come here faster.” She said in a sympathetic tone. Kaoru sighed and turned away from it. “How can you be so calm? Just a few hours ago, you were star struck with me.” Midori gave a shy smile and ran a hand through her red black hair. “It helps if your friends with a rock star.” “Hounto ni? Dare?” She gave another shy smile, “Hiro from Raphael. Actually, I know all of them but Hiro and I are really close.” “I toured with them…” “Yeah, I know.” She blushed. “I wanted to meet you but Hiro was going through some problems then and I didn’t want to bug him about stuff like that. Plus I kind of forgot since I was helping him with those problems. But that’s another story.” (Yeah, it is. I’m fic dropping—read Kinyoubi no Koibito-Matrim) Kaoru nodded and stared at the clock again. “Where could he be?” Midori shrugged as she began to go around the room, putting in new flowers in vases. There was currently no one in the flower shop and whenever Midori spotted someone coming near it, she made Kaoru hide in the back so he wouldn’t be bothered. She was considering shoving him behind the counter though because he was starting to play with the flowers. “How’d he get here with you?” “Takuro dropped us off.” “Oh.” Kaoru sighed and watched the second hand drift around the nine on the clock. He stared at all the flowers around the shop. “Ne, Midori-san..” “Hai?” She called out from the refridgerator. “Are you good at flower arranging?” “Hai. Dooshite?” “Just asking…” She stared at him strangely, “Ne…Midori-san?” “Hai?” “Can I—order something?” “Sure. Like what?” “Two dozen roses. Red and white mixed together, please?” “Sure, Kaoru-san—“ hide ran up, opened the door and heaved a sigh of relief as he leaned against it. Kaoru jumped up. “There you are!! What happened?” hide opened his eyes. “Gomen. Shizuka accidentally saw me and fainted. I had to take her to the hospital since she didn’t wake up after a few hours. I know she wasn’t supposed to see me but she opened the door and—thing just happened!! I’m sure she thinks it’s just a dream or something now but…oh, God, just don’t tell Manami or anyone who looks oddly inhuman, okay?” He nodded as Midori stared on in confusion. “So how’s the rose interception doing?” “We’re pretending to send them.” Kaoru replied. hide nodded. “There’s only one thing left to do. And that’s tell him.” hide and Kaoru looked at each other, made the sign of the cross and ran out the flower shop door. “Mata ne, Midori-san!!!” Midori ran to the door and called after them, “Kaoru-san!!! Where do you want your roses sent!!!?” “I’ll call and tell you later!!!!” She leaned against the door and shook her head. “You don’t even have the number to the shop…”
*******
2:00 pm
“Okay, where the hell is he?” Kaoru asked bluntly. A few people stared at him as if he had gone insane and when he looked at his side, he found out that hide was nowhere to be found. He sighed. Three planes departing to LA and they were very far apart from each other. Kaoru stared at his watch. There was no way in hell he was going to make it to all three gates in time. “Hey.” Said a voice near his ear and Kaoru jumped. He spun around to see Kamijo, standing there looking faintly amused at Kaoru’s expression. Kamijo wore a simple suit and sunglasses. “God, Kamijo…you scared me.” “Obviously. Who would’ve thought that the great Kaoru of Dir en Grey would be scared of little old me?” Kamijo said, teasingly. “You’re not wearing your hat.” “Well, neither are you.” Kamijo returned easily. “Besides, do you know how easily recognizable I’d be if I was wearing my hat? I try to keep a low profile, you know. What are you doing here and does Toshiya know you’re here?” “I’m looking for Yoshiki and yes, Toshiya knows I’m here. Yoshiki just broke up with Shizuka but the problem is that he doesn’t know about it. He’ll board his plane at 3:30 for Los Angeles but another problem is that I don’t know which gate he’s leaving at and—what are you doing here?” Kaoru said in a rush. Kamijo smiled sympathetically at Kaoru’s frantic words, “So, Yoshiki got dumped, huh? “ “Not really. And why are you here?” “I’m here to see Mayu’s parents off at the airport.” Kaoru nodded, wearily, “Oh. So, where’s Mayu?” Kamijo shrugged, “Somewhere. I’m only kidding!! He’s in the bathroom.” “Oh. I’d like to stay and talk but I’ve got track down Yoshiki.” “Why the rush?” “If I don’t rush, I’m going to die at 3:30.” Kaoru replied, truthfully. “I’m sure you’re exaggerating. And if you’re in such a hurry, Mayu and I will help you.” “Are you sure that Mayu would—“ “Konnichiwa, Kaoru-san,” Mayu said as he came up near Kamijo. Kaoru grinned and bowed and Mayu did the same. “Mayu, Kaoru is having a problem. Is it okay if we help him?” Mayu stared at Kaoru and for a second he looked oddly like Shinya. “That depends what it is.” “He needs to find Yoshiki. He’s leaving for LA today and Kaoru has to tell Yoshiki that he got dumped before he leaves or else he’s going to get killed. The problem is that there are three different planes leaving for LA today and Kaoru doesn’t know which one it is. And he doesn’t think he’ll make it in time.” “So what does he want us to do?” “It’s okay—I don’t want you to—“ Kamijo went on as if Kaoru hadn’t said anything, “He wants us to check the other gates while he checks on one of them.” Mayu looked at Kaoru, who didn’t know whether to look upset that Kamijo had just said that he wanted help (when he didn’t) or grateful that someone was trying to help him. “Okay, I guess.” “Good. Nothing to worry about, Kaoru. You won’t die. If anyone’s going to kill you, it’s gonna be me.” Kamijo teased and Kaoru rolled his eyes. “Idle threats, Kamijo.” Kamijo smirked and ignored Kaoru as he took out his mobile phone. “Here. Take this. If we find the gate that Yoshiki is at, we’ll call you.” He took out a pen and wrote a number on a card and handed it to Kaoru. “That’s Mayu’s mobile phone number. We’ll be together, of course, so if you find Yoshiki first, tell us so that we can go home. And dispose of that wisely after you’re done with it. I don’t want you calling Mayu after this. You have enough boyfriends, already.” Kaoru took it and only then did he understand what Kamijo was saying, “Nani?! I only have one!!!” “Which one?” Kamijo asked, innocently. “Toshiya, of course!!!” “Then why do you hang out with Hikaru all the time?” “I’ll argue with you later. I have to find Yoshiki.” Kaoru replied, “I’m going to Gate 33. Ja!” He ran off in that direction. “You really shouldn’t tease him like that.” Mayu said, quietly. “But it’s so funny to see him angry.” Kamijo replied as they walked off to the other two gates.
********
2:30 pm
Kaoru sagged against the pillar. This wasn’t the gate that Yoshiki was at. He slowly made his way to the other side of the airport and began to worry that he hadn’t gotten a phone call yet. And hide was still nowhere to be found. Alright, calm down, Kaoru, he told himself. You have an hour. That’s enough time to get anything done. He tried not to think the thought that it wasn’t. He took out the card that Kamijo gave him and began to dial Mayu’s number until— “Kaoru-san?” Came two incredulous voices and Kaoru instinctively turned around while still dialing Mayu’s number and looked. Which was a mistake. A group of girls stood there and the two that spoke stood in the front. When he turned, they gaped and began to scream. Kaoru took a step back with the mobile to his ear and began to run to the other gate, praying for his life or for a bathroom to duck into, hoping that they would have some girlish decency and stay out of it. “Moshi moshi?” came a voice on the other side of the line. “Mayu-san?” He yelled as he began to ready himself to break a track record. The girls were still kind of screaming and they were beginning to collect more people. “Kaoru-san? What’s going on over there?” “Oh, nothing. Just a few fans running after me and me running for my life.” Mayu fell quiet for a second and Kaoru managed to miss the fact that on the other line, Kamijo and Mayu were laughing at him. “Kaoru-san, don’t bring them over here. And Kamijo says not to drop his phone either.” “I don’t know even know where you are so I can’t bring them over there. And I’ll try not to drop Kamijo’s phone but there’s no guarantees!!!” Kaoru looked frantically around and almost died with relief. There was bathroom just a couple of meters down the way. Kaoru stretched his legs to get there, pushed a man out of the way and ran into the bathroom, locking it behind him. Thankfully, no other men was in there at that point. “Where are you, anyway?” He asked, breathlessly. “We’re at the second gate that was posted. Gate 45?” “54.” “Whatever.” Mayu replied. “And we have to say that Yoshiki isn’t here.” “Oh, okay.” “Don’t sound so bad. You still have about an hour left.” “Yeah, right. I think those girls are still hanging around outside of the bathroom. It doesn’t look like they’ll move any time soon. How the hell am I going to get out?” He asked, as he sagged against the wall. “I don’t know.” Mayu replied, truthfully. “Ja.” “Ja.” Kaoru sighed and hung up and closed his eyes. A toilet flushed and someone walked out of the bathroom stall. Kaoru ignored him. The person washed his hands and walked over to the paper towel dispenser, wiped his hands and threw it away. Then he walked over to stand in front of Kaoru. “You’re being really lazy today.” Kaoru opened his eyes and stared at hide who stared down at him. “I’m not sitting here because I want to be.” He replied. He stood up and motioned hide over to the door. hide frowned. Kaoru unlocked the door and opened it. Kaoru and hide peeked out of it and screams and a rushing crowd of girls greeted them. Kaoru slammed it and locked it as quick as he could. “That’s why I’m here.” hide looked at his watch. “There’s a bathroom that’s not far from where the gate that Yoshiki is at. There’s just one problem.” “What?” hide began to laugh, “I only have a little energy left so…we’re going bathroom hopping.” Kaoru stared at him, “Nani?” hide didn’t respond. Only grabbed Kaoru’s hand and said, “Hold on.”
********
--a few minutes later (in various bathrooms)—
“UWAA!!” “Gomen!!!” Kaoru called out as hide laughed and took a deep breath. They disappeared again.
“ACK!” “Ai!” “I’m so sorry!!”
“Itai!” “Gomen ne, Kaoru-chan? I forgot about the reconstruction here!” hide grabbed a paper towel, wetted it and handed it to Kaoru. They disappeared again.
“AARGH!!” “AARGH!!” “Kaoru!! Stop screaming!” “This is making me dizzy.” “Just a couple of more stops, I promise.” hide said, and leaned against the bathroom wall as everyone else ran out of the bathroom. He closed his eyes to catch his breath. “Just a couple of more stops,” he repeated, but he sounded like he was encouraging himself. “We can walk if you—“ hide shook his head, “No, no good. Too far away and we don’t have that much time left if we walked it.” “Daijyoubu?” “Yeah. Just need to rest a little.” He grabbed Kaoru’s hand and they were off again.
-finally-
hide and Kaoru collapsed against the wall of the bathroom, with a sick expression on their faces. “Ugh…” “Promise me…never to travel…with you again.” “Promise.” hide said. “We’re here, right?” “Yes.” “Right.” Kaoru weakly made his way toward the door. “Ganbare!” “Nnn…” Kaoru moaned in response.
*******
Kaoru glanced at his watch and then stared at it. Wait a minute. He thought. That can’t be right. He tapped a man on the shoulder and asked, “Nanji desu ka?” He made sure to hide his own watch from view. “3:25, sir.” I guess it was right. How long did we take, hopping from bathroom to bathroom? Kaoru shook his head, Nevermind that, baka, you have a life to think about!! He began to frantically look for Yoshiki, time ticking away in his head. He couldn’t find him so he ran to one of the airport workers and asked, “Uhm…can you page someone for me?” “Hai. Name, please?” “Hayashi Yoshiki desu.” “Who may I say is calling for him?” “Kaoru.” The airport worker nodded and began to call Yoshiki. Kaoru stared at his watch. Four minutes. A few seconds later, Yoshiki appeared and Kaoru still felt bad from all the traveling he did with hide. “Kaoru..what is it?” “I have to tell you something.” “Quick…we’re about to board. And you don’t look so good either.” “I don’t feel so well either.” Kaoru replied, truthfully. “It’s about Shizuka.” “What about her?” “Uhm…me and…” He couldn’t say hide, “A friend, were packing your stuff the other day and…” Kaoru tried not to think of dying but he felt like it. The world was spinning around him and strange colors were…he tried not think about it, “There was a message on your answering machine. We listened to it, just in case you wanted to know about your messages.” “But you said I had no messages, Kaoru.” “I know…but…” Kaoru swallowed. It was getting worse, “But…it was because I was afraid to tell you and Takuro didn’t ask.” “You’re supposed to tell him, not have him guess. So what did she say?” Kaoru looked at his watch. One minute and he knew he had done something wrong because it didn’t look like anything would save him any time soon. “She said that she was breaking up with you and she was going to go out with that guy from Smap. Don’t worry about the roses though. Me and…hi…” He almost forgot about hide’s alias, he was so out of it, “Me and Hikaru…we fixed that. She didn’t get any roses.” 3:30 Yoshiki nodded just as blackness greeted Kaoru.
Kaoru!!! A faint familiar voice called him. No… Kaoru-chan…come on, okite kudasai!!! Came another faint familiar voice. I’m dead… A sharp pain made him sit up from the bed and his eyes flew open and Toshiya’s grinning face greeted him. He sat on Kaoru’s lap and gave him a kiss on the lips. “You’re not dead, baka-chan.” Kaoru looked around to see that he was home. “What happened?” “Food poisoning. ” hide said, grinning at him from the foot of the bed. “It’s just all that transporting stuff kind of…upset it. Sped it up faster than usual.” “You’re smiling at my food poisoning?” Kaoru asked. “I’m smiling that you’re still alive. You gave Yoshiki quite a scare. Too bad Die’s not here. He’d do a very funny impression of him running around like a chicken with his head off. ‘Quick!! Get a doctor!!’” hide chuckled. Toshiya stared at him, “How did you get food poisoning? Whose food were you eating?” Kaoru frowned, “The last time I remember eating was when I was in the flower shop waiting for hide. The girl there, Midori, she gave me some food to eat.” (Matrim: *laughs* That kid’ll kill me when she finds out) Toshiya’s eyes narrowed, “That’s it. You’re not eating anything unless I cook it!!!” “But she was really nice…” Kaoru protested. Toshiya shook his head. “hide, give me the apron.” “No. It’s mine. You said I could have it.” “The other apron’s in the wash. You’re not using your apron for anything. Hand it over.” Toshiya replied. “But…Kaoru’s not even hungry!” “To tell you the truth…” Kaoru began. “Give me the apron.” “It’s my color.” “It’s my apron.” “But I look better in it!” “hide—Totchi..” Kaoru said, trying to keep the peace. “You’ll have to rip it off.” Kaoru winced, “Wrong thing to say.” Toshiya looked at hide over his shoulder, gave a slow smile and pounced. “Stop being so selfish!!” “Aack!! It’s my apron!!” Kaoru lay back against the pillows and closed his eyes and laughed. My life…has just gone so off track… “How dare you double knot it!!” “I told you!!” hide stood tall and vanished. His voice remained behind to say, “It’s _my_ apron!!”
********
*giggle* Never thought it’d end like that!!!
email Matrim