Mana gave a frustrated sigh as his mobile phone rang again. He reached into his purse about ready to-well, not yell-lecture the hell out of Kozi and Yu~ki for bugging him. AGAIN. And if it was about the damn toilet at the studio being out of whack again, he'd-- "Hai?"

"Is that how you answer people now, Mana-chan?"

Mana smiled and sighed, shaking his head as he made his way out of the studio and to the car waiting for him outside. "Gomenasai, Kazu-kun. I've just been having the strangest phone calls from my two most favorite people in the world."

"Who? Your mother and Gackt?"

Mana's hand clenched into a fist. He took a few deep breaths as Kozi and Yu~ki had coaxed him to, trying to calm himself. However, his normal walking pace turned into someone hell bent on destroying something and numerous staff members and musicians melted out of his way, easily. Mana pissed off was not a good thing. Mana pissed off without a Kazuhide there physically to calm him was also not a good thing. "No. Yu~ki and Kozi."

There was laughter on the other end, "Gomen ne? Only teasing. Now what have those two been up to?"

The door opened for Mana easily so he didn't have to pause on the way out to the car. His manager opened the car door for him and he slipped inside, making sure that nothing was flashed indecently or that he hadn't scuffed his shoes. As soon as the door closed, Mana began to whine. "We have a new album coming out and naturally, they're nervous. But you don't understand what it's like to have them nervous, Kazu-kun!! When they get nervous they start eating and drinking everything in sight. And they eat the strangest things!! And they don't like to eat normal things when they're like this!"

"Mana-chan, calm down. What do you mean by normal?"

"Well...the other day, Kozi was hungry and I offered him an apple. Actually, I wanted to shove it in his mouth but I was ladylike and I just offered him one. He didn't want it! He said he had an urge to eat chocolate grasshoppers. Chocolate grasshoppers!!! Kazu-kun!! They're going to be the death of me!!!" Mana wailed and glared at the driver when he stared at Mana too long through the rear view mirror. He grumbled to himself. Obviously someone doesn't understand. I may look like a doll but that doesn't bloody mean I don't have any fucking emotions. And you'd be the same way too if you had some strange bandmates driving you crazy... Sorely tempted as he was to wield his phone like a weapon at him and scream a Warrior Princess Xena warcry at him, Mana didn't. He looked like a lady so he might as well act like one. Well, as long as he could hang onto his temper.

"They won't be the death of you. You've been through worse, Mana. You and I have been through much much worse, ne?"

Mana smiled, "Hai. But not as worse as some couples we know. Speaking of which--were you watching the show today?"

"Hai. Strange things always happen to Dir en Grey, ne?"

"Ugh. Strange is their middle name."

"And if not their middle name, I'm sure it's their surname."

"Or something. But...but it was..." Mana hesitated a bit, then managed out in a low voice, "It was...rather...brave...of Kaoru to say those things on air in front of everyone."

There was a sound of approval on the other side of the line. "It was. It was kind of sweet."

"Mm."

And that was as close as Mana was ever going to get to admitting that he'd probably do the same if the need ever arose.


***********


"Heaven hates me, I'm sure." hide muttered as he reached for the envelope.

"Aww, now don't say that." Manami drained the last of her champagne, gestured at him with her glass then winked. "The Almighty thinks you're pretty cute."

"I didn't know She felt that way about me."

"It's God that has a problem with you." Manami laughed as his expression, "And I think it's because the Almighty has a crush on you."

"Are they fighting again?"

Manami shrugged, "Who knows? He says there is nothing wrong but things happen on the other side of the world that wouldn't happen if He was in a good mood. She's the same as always."

hide opened the envelope with a laugh. "You mean smiling strangely all the time and acting like a mother?"

"Of course."

"'By Wednesday, August 16, hide must have a woman hug him or Kaoru will die by 6:30 p.m.'" hide frowned and held out the envelope. "A woman hug me? Who wrote this?" He eyed Manami speculatively. The angel only whistled as she swung her legs back and forth against the railing.

"I didn't write it. The Almighty did. Notice how the gold writing doesn't fade away if you brush your hand against it? And how the calligraphy is immaculate?"

"Oh..I see." hide stared at it then put the envelope away by slipping it into his front jacket pocket. The Almighty thought he was cute. So it shouldn't be too hard, right? He gave a brilliant grin and turned to Manami. "Manami? Can I have a hug?"

The angel looked at him with a pretty expression of surprise and delight. "Why--of course, hide!! You didn't even have to ask!!" hide opened his arms for her and smiled happily as Manami embraced him easily, giving him an extra squeeze at the end. He held her for a minute then she chuckled. "hide..."

"Hai?"

"You do know that this isn't going to save Kaoru, right?"

hide groaned and let her go. "Then what was all that?!! Were you trying to cop a feel or something?!"

Manami snorted and tossed her braid over her shoulder. "Honey, if I were trying to cop a feel, you would know it. Now. Get to work and be a good little boy. I have to make sure my boys don't get hurt on the way home. Kaoru's waiting for you down below. Ja!" She smirked, as she turned then paused and gave him a quick slap on the ass. "Now, that's how I cop a feel."

hide squeaked, grinned and turned to do the same to her but she disappeared before he could. "Cheater." He grumbled and eyed Kaoru making his way back to the dressing room then took a look around. Good. No one looking. He disappeared with the usual pink smoke.

In the shadows, a figure watched him with a sadistic hateful grin and disappeared as well.


*********


Kaoru's eyes went wide as soon as he saw hide approaching him with the trademark envelope he had learned to hate. hide gave him an apologetic smile. "No worries, Kaoru-chan. This task is for me."

"What's it say, in any case?"

"Nothing. Just that I need to have a woman hug me by Wednesday or your life goes down the drain."

"You call that nothing?"

"Of course." hide grinned, as they followed Toshiya to his car in the television studio's parking lot. "The Almighty thinks I'm cute."

Kaoru glanced at hide with confusion written on his face. He remained silent as he opened the door to the car and climbed into the passenger seat. He continued to keep his silence even after Toshiya pulled out of the parking lot and was three blocks away from the television studio. hide could only smile as he waited for a response from Kaoru. Finally, Kaoru turned in his seat then asked, "What?!"

hide began laughing and Kaoru scowled. Toshiya turned around a corner, glancing at his lover before he patted him gently. "Don't scowl, Kaoru, you scare little kids when you do that."

Kaoru ignored him and continued to scowl at hide. "Explain."

hide shook his head, with a cheeky grin. "Can't. It's against the rules. You'll see when you're older."

"Maa...Kaoru's older than dirt. If he don't tell him soon, he might keel over and die." Toshiya giggled as Kaoru fixated his scowl on him. Toshiya composed himself with a cough but started giggling again five seconds later. Kaoru grumbled but turned back to hide.

"Well?"

hide cleared his throat, taking the message out of the envelope with a flourish and for added elegant emphasis (or...rather flakiness, he won't tell me which~Mat) tossed back his short pink hair. In a pompous voice, he read out, "'By Wednesday, August 16, hide must have a woman hug him or Kaoru will die by 6:30 pm.'"

"Manami must be crazy."

"That she is. But she didn't write it. This comes straight from the Almighty Herself." hide flashed the message to him before putting it back into the envelope and shoving the envelope into his jacket pocket. "So you know what this means--"

"We go home and pray for our lives?" Kaoru asked, in a deadpan voice.

hide glared, "Iya, baka!"

"Well, what can we do? Other than eat? Remember, you're not allowed to drink, while you're on duty. Remember what happened when you tried to sneak a drink at Yuki's house?"

"I told you!! That was a fluke!!"

"hide, no way in hell can a lightning bolt from the wall socket headed straight toward the bottle in your hand could possibly count as a fluke!!!" Kaoru snapped. hide rolled his eyes and crossed his arms sullenly.

"It's cruelty....not allowing someone to drink. I'd bet if Pata were an angel looking after someone, he'd be allowed to drink."

"Pata isn't an angel. Even if he were, he'd be the same...like a cat. No one would care whether he drinks or not."

"Hidoi."

Kaoru snorted.


~*~


"Okaeri," Kazuhide greeted as Mana made his way through the door.

"Tadaima," Mana said just as quietly.

They stared at each other for a minute before Mana's arms wrapped around Kazuhide's waist and brought her close for a kiss. Her arms looped around his neck as she kissed him back. She stepped back, hitting the arm of the couch and stumbling backwards. Mana squeaked as they tumbled down onto the couch. Kazuhide chuckled as she looked up at him, letting Mana use her as a cushion. Mana grinned, stroking the hair back from her face. "I missed you."

"It was only a day, Mana-chan..."

"Since I've been home, yes, but this whole week I've been working without a break and I missed you." He said quietly, blushing and looking down, although he was sure that Kazuhide couldn't see it through his make up. He was startled however when a gentle hand cupped his cheek, drawing his eyes to look at her. She smiled, prompting a smile to appear on his face as well.

"You missed me, huh?"

"Yes."

"You want to prove that?" He recognized that tone of voice. Kazuhide grinned at him, drawing him close for another kiss. Mana submitted to the kiss before realizing that he was slowly falling off the couch. He wasn't going to let that stop them, though. He wrapped his arms around Kazuhide, holding her tight against him and gave into the law of gravity. They tumbled off of the couch and this time Kazuhide squeaked in startlement as they landed on the floor, Mana cushioning most of the fall.

"Itai...itai..."

Kazuhide laughed, pressing a soft kiss to his blue lips just as the phone rang. Two frustrated sighs broke the silence and the sound of Mana's fist hitting the floor repeatedly formed a nice duet with the phone. "Bloody hell."

"Don't you think we should answer it?" Kazuhide asked, shifting over Mana expertly. Mana groaned, glaring at the plastic offensive noisy thing, and curled an arm around her waist. "It could be important."

"Yes, and that's why I won't answer it," Mana replied, instantly.

"I like your judgement..."

Whatever Mana was about to say in response was muffled as Kazuhide kissed Mana again, her hand's brushing against his thighs and sneaking up his dress. All annoying sounds were placed in the background when Kazuhide's hands found their way to the front of Mana's dress, teasing Mana. The guitarist squeaked under her, shooting a look of entreaty her way.

And as the Almighty had a very plucky sense of humor, the answering machine picked up the phone call and this is what it had to say:

“Hi, this is the home of Mana and Kazuhide. We’re not able to answer the phone right now…we’re probably having sex. We’ll get back to you in a few hours…” There was a beep and on the other end of the line, Yu~ki's voice could be heard. "Mana-chan!! Please call me back!! It's very very important!!!" Mana frowned, noting a certain wailing tone to the bassist's voice that could mean three things:

1) Kozi was too scared to call Mana himself.
2) Yu~ki was also too scared to have called Mana himself but was scared by Kozi into doing so.
3) Something had gone very wrong.

The guitarist groaned, bringing Kazu close and burying his face in her shoulder. "I don't want to know what it is, I don't want to even call him back but I have to and then...and then it'll all fall apart, it's not real, tell me it isn't real, Kazu-kun, please tell me it isn't real?"

"It isn't real, Mana-chan."

"Oh...." Then Mana whimpered, "But if it isn't real then you're not really here holding a sexually frustrated me...." There were a few sobs and Kazuhide chuckled, shifting to hold Mana's head more comfortably on her shoulder.

"It can wait, Mana-chan, besides this album is very important to you, ne?"

"I don't want to wait!! I've waited two weeks! I'm about to explode!!!" The guitarist said petulantly and if he were standing upright, he would've stamped a foot. Instead, he settled on pulling back and pouting at her. Kazuhide placed another kiss on his lips just as the phone rang once again and both of them growled then sighed. "I'll kill him." Mana replied, as Kazuhide moved off of his lap, allowing him to stand. "I'll kill him then grind his bones into dust. Then I'll mix it into flour, make bread out of it and feed it to Gackt. Then watch Camui cry when he realizes he's eating Yu~ki. And then for Kozi, I'll kidnap his cats. Then grind their bones into dust and before killing Yu~ki, I'll mix that into chocolate and feed it to him. And then...and then...wait, no! I'll feed Yu~ki bread to Kozi and he'll sob when he realizes that he's eating Yu~ki and his cats!!"

It was a good thing Mana's back was turned when he said that or he would've seen the strange face Kazu made at those statements. She sighed and shook her head, because she was used to it--after all, Mana was actually calm right now. When he started flinging shoes, that's when someone had to worry.

Mana grumbled under his breath as he picked up the phone, punching in the numbers as if they personally offended him. He waited patiently for Yu~ki to pick up and pounced on him when he did. "This better be daaaamn good, Yu~ki. And when I mean good, I mean..."

"Mana-chan!!"

"Don't you Mana-chan me, Yu~ki!!!"

"But...but Mana-chan!!!" Yu~ki was actually whining into the phone. "Kozi..he said...that...well, the unthinkable happened."

Mana resisted the urge to bash the phone against the wall and calmly held onto his temper. "What happened, Yu~ki?" He said in an overly sweet tone that implied death if not answered immediately.

Yu~ki gave an audible gulp and spit out in a rush, "Kozisaysallourmixesgotlostandsomethathefoundthatwerelabelledgoterasedandthatwemighthavetodoitalloveragain."

For ten full seconds, silence reigned over the phone lines and throughout Mana and Kazuhide's apartment.

The phone dropped from Mana's hand.

His heavily made up eyes widened, there was a strange roaring sound in his ears before he heard Kazuhide call his name faintly. He felt sick.

"Mana-chan!!!"

The beautiful guitarist crumpled gracefully to the ground, blue curls spread across the carpet.

He was out for a good two hours.


~*~


Kyo stared down at the guitarist sprawled out across the couch. He crossed his arms over his lean muscled chest before shuffling closer. Mana, now rather makeupless, except for some light lip gloss and a bit of eyeliner, didn't even stir. Kyo glanced up at Kazuhide in the kitchen before peering in closer.

Two blue eyes opened, then narrowed before a hand around Kyo's throat warned him back. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Kyo chuckled, despite the danger and placed a hand on Mana's wrist gently. "Kazuhide called. She said you fainted. I told her what to do over the phone to wake you but that didn't work. We were thinking of taking you to the hospital but we couldn't find anything on you that wasn't working properly."

Mana looked around the room before sniffing, removing his hand from Kyo, giving the small vocalist a tiny shove in the process. Kyo resisted the urge to snarl as an invisible calming hand touched his shoulder. Not now...it whispered. Kyo snorted but did as it said, his eyes going to Kazuhide, who had just entered the room. "Mana-chan! Good, you're awake!!"

"How could someone stay asleep when this," Mana waved a hand to Kyo, "Is in the room?"

Kyo gave an ecchi smile but Kazuhide shot him a look that told him to behave himself. Not like he needed the encouragement when he had something invisible tugging painfully on his hair. He winced a bit and watched as Kazuhide handed Mana some water. "Here, Mana-chan. I tried calling Yu~ki back on the phone but it seems he disconnected it." She looked annoyed for a brief moment. "What did he say to you on the phone that made you so upset?"

Kyo watched with interest as the normally calm and composed guitarist's eyes narrowed and his hands clenched over the glass of water, making the ice in the water rattle against the glass. Kazu, who was used to this, reached out to stroke Mana's curls with an amused sigh. "What did he say, Mana-chan?"

"The mixes...they were lost...and the ones they found were ruined...we will have to r-r-record....all over again...." Mana dropped the glass, Kazuhide caught it and set it on the coffee table as Mana stomped off to their bedroom. "Death! An execution wouldn't be good enough for him!! THEM!!! ALL OF THEM!!!"

The vocalist sighed as she straightened then called after her boyfriend. "Manachan!! What about the other things? Did Klaha lay down his vocals?"

"NOO!!" Came a cry from the other room and a few minutes later, the lolita was back sans platforms but stomping around. Kyo's eyebrows rose. Mana's rage was almost as frightening as his own. "He did not, but he was going to come in tomorrow and start on them." The guitarist snatched up his platforms and hurried over to give Kazuhide a long kiss. "I know that it's late, Kazu-kun, but I can't change the album's due date."

"I understand," Kazuhide replied, softly, stroking Mana's face. Kyo clucked his tongue to himself, as he saw the cheated look on Kazuhide's face. Mana saw it too for he laid another kiss on her lips, this one more delicate than the one previous. "You owe me," she whispered.

"I know. By the time this all ends, I'll owe you a month of quality time."

"Schedules are overrated, Mana-chan."

"I know..." he murmured sadly, "I keep telling myself that but...well..."

Kazuhide shook her head, gave him another kiss and began pushing him to the door. "C'mon, let's go. Time to be Mana-sama and kick some ass."

Mana let himself be pushed along willingly before he dug his feet in and leaned against the vocalist. "Mm. What if I don't want to?" He looked up at Kazuhide imploringly. She shook her head, looking up at the ceiling as if asking a certain someone, "WHY?" then gave him another push.

"It doesn't matter if you don't want to. You have to, Mana-chan."

"Nn."

Kazuhide laughed, deciding to get a little bit rougher and 'gently' shoved the guitarist toward the door. Kyo snickered just as Mana managed to catch himself before falling. He glared at Kyo and with great dignity placed both shoes on his feet before standing tall, cool, confident and well...

Mana-like.

"Now get going, you asshole..." Kyo snickered and if looks could kill, he'd have been frozen then shattered into tiny little pieces. Then Mana turned with a toss of immaculate blue curls and sashayed out of the door with a black bag thrown over his shoulder. The door closed before Kazuhide turned to Kyo.

"Why do you do that?"

Kyo snorted, searching among his pockets for a cigarette. "He takes himself too seriously. And because I can. I am probably the only one who stands a chance against getting killed by him."

"It's only because you're my best friend, Kyo." Then Kazuhide grinned and despite himself, Kyo took a step back. He knew that grin. That grin was usually associated with people who knew something and wasn't above blackmail to get it out of you...or torture. She reached over and pulled him closer, the same grin on her face. "Now, what's this I hear about a girlfiend?"

Kyo gulped.


~elsewhere~


"How in the hell are we supposed to get you hugged?" Kaoru looked back at hide, who was calmly smoking a cigarette. "After all, cute as you are--" hide snickered and Kaoru glowered, which only served to have the older man lean over and pat him on the head. "--You're not exactly....you're not supposed to be here."

hide slid forward, beckoning Kaoru to come closer. As soon as the guitarist got within good range, hide reached out, his hand on the back of Kaoru's neck and pulled him close so that their cheeks touched. Kaoru grumbled a bit but hide ignored him. "It's amazing what splendid qualities the human mind possess, Kaoru-kun. People who believe wholly within their hearts that I am dead and that in no way should I be walking around, will see me for a split second before their mind convinces them that I can't possibly be there and they look away from me as if I'm not there. It's a defense mechanism. Their minds can't possibly handle such a thing. You, however, including Toshiya, Kyo, Die and Shinya, see me because you can see Manami. She proved to you that angels and all that stuff," hide waved his cigarette around vaguely to represent that other 'stuff', "Actually exists. The fact that your minds know this and register it and can look upon Manami in full angel form and look upon me whenever I vanish and reappear in pink smoke--why that says, that you're just a little bit more advanced than some people, but also a little more vulnerable."

Kaoru blinked at hide incredulously. "What do you mean vulnerable?"

"I don't know...but let's just say if a passing zombie noticed you noticing it, you're in big trouble." hide made a nondescript noise, "But then again, zombies are totally unreliable and the chances of seeing one still walking around after five minutes means the zombie is lucky."

Kaoru shook his head, not wanting to talk about zombies anymore and went on, "So what about the others that can see you? Like Sugizo and the others?"

"Ah. Them." hide sat up on the couch, letting Kaoru go and took a drag from the cigarette. "They couldn't see me either. Hisashi could always see me. Never could fool him. The others started to see me when you mentioned me as a cosplayer. It was easier for them to accept but a part of them still believes differently. Which is why they're always staring at me. I'm sure, one day, they'll say, 'Hey! That really was hide!'" hide shook his head, "But by then, I'm sure I'll be gone."

"Oh. Okay. But about the hugging?"

"Just drop me off in Harajuku and we'll see what happens. I'm the famous cosplayer that's friends with Kaoru-sama from Dir en Grey!" hide said with a strange twinkle in his eyes. Kaoru made a strange self-deprecating sound when he realized hide was teasing and glanced up at his angel. hide snickered then he perked, "You know, I bet there's fanfics of us on the net, let's go look!!!"

"WAH!" Kaoru shook his head furiously, serving only to make hide laugh louder. "No!! Let's stay away from that."

"Why? I find it rather entertaining."

"You read that stuff?!!!"

"Occasionally. When I was alive and when I was bumming around heaven. Only the nicely written ones. People who can't spell my name right don't deserve my attention, no matter how good the fic is." (Mat: *cowers* Gomen, gomen...I fixed your name afterwards!!! hide: Hn. Mat: GAH!) hide flicked the ash off into the ashtray before bringing the cigarette to his lips once again and crossed his legs. "It was pretty cool." His eyes narrowed slightly, "The only problem I had with it is when somebody would pair me with Toshi."

Kaoru snickered and hide shot him a dirty look.

"Shut up. Would you want to be paired up with him? Forget that he was the vocalist for X. Forget that he's Yoshiki's ex-best friend. Nevermind all that. Just look at him and tell me. Do you want to be paired up with that?" hide asked and Kaoru couldn't help but laugh louder as he shook his head. "Hn. I thought not." Then hide thought for a bit before blowing some smoke into the air, "Well....no offense to Toshi...but he's not my type, you understand?" Kaoru nodded, continuing to chuckle before hide went on, "He doesn't seem to be most people's type..." he mused, his dark eyes narrowing in thought. He murmured to himself a bit before he shrugged and Kaoru decided to gain his attention once again.

"Alright, enough about Toshi. You're supposed to be hugged. Isn't the person supposed to know who she's hugging? She's supposed to know that you're hide and still hug you anyway, right?"

hide shook his head then shrugged. "It didn't say. Sometimes, the Almighty can be bloody vague when She wants to be. Actually, She's always vague."

Kaoru threw up his hands in frustration, "What is it with this Almighty?!"

hide shrugged and chuckled, taking another slow drag from his cigarette, "She's the Almighty and what She says goes, and if it doesn't go, it's probably God's fault. Critisize on how it goes, and She makes sure it goes hellish for you."

Kaoru was about to reply before the phone rang, effectively distracting him. He looked to hide. The angel blinked back at him. "I'll get right back to you," Kaoru told him before picking up the phone. "Hai?"

"Kaoru-kun, I need your help."

"Kazuhide?" Kaoru blinked in confusion then watched as hide began forming smoke rings. "Sure--what's up? Got another mystery for us to solve while Mana goes shopping?"

"No, it's not that," Kazu replied with an amused tone of voice, "No...it's in fact, completely different." She cleared her throat, "Your vocalist is lying unconscious on my floor."

Kaoru groaned, "Oh, gods, don't tell me his ass got friendly with the bottom of Mana's platform."

"No no!" Kazuhide laughed, making Kaoru grin. "I managed to distract Mana and I saved Kyo but thats not why he's a nice heap on the floor. It seems...I think I asked him a few questions that were a bit too personal and he kind of keeled over." She admitted sheepishly.

"Hmm...He probably fainted because he ran out of lies and tried to think of new ones in the span of five seconds. His brain overheated and decided to shut down." Kaoru mused, as both his angel and Kazuhide snickered. He wasn't going to even ask how or why hide was listening to the conversation. It seemed like hide couldn't avoid it. "Well, Kazu-kun, leave him there for a few more hours and try not to trip on him. It takes him longer to wake up. And cover him with a blanket if he's not up by the time you go to bed."

Kazuhide laughed and Kaoru didn't have the heart to tell her that he was telling the truth. "Kaoru, he's hell to move."

"That's why I told you to leave him."

"That's mean."

"It's the truth."

* "Look -- why did he fall flat on his back as soon as I hit too close to home?"

"Kyos prefer keeping on their back." hide replied and Kaoru turned to give him an odd stare. He pressed a finger to his lips but hide went out, "Lovely vocalist, i'dnt squire? Lovely plumage!"

"Who's that? That doesn't sound like Toshiya--is that that cosplayer friend of yours?"

"Yes...but nevermind--as he was trying to say, Kyos operate differently from the rest of us. He's actually very sensitive and shy about these things. No wonder he keeled over. He was shocked."

Kazuhide made a thoughtful noise, "You sure he's gonna be okay?"

Kaoru wandered back to where hide was, grabbing hold of the angel's long legs and shoving it off the couch so he could sit. "Are you prodding him with your toe?"

"Err...no..."

He snorted, "Kazu-kun, everybody prods Kyo with their toe when he's like this. It's all part of the curiousity. Do you want me to pick him up and take him home for you?"

"Sure, it'll allow me to ask you the questions he avoided."

Kaoru chuckled, "Fine. But I allow only three questions."

There was a pause before Kazuhide asked, "What are you--? A bloody genie now?"

Kaoru and hide snickered. Kaoru paused to eye hide funny before the angel winked and blew him a kiss. Kaoru rolled his eyes and sighed before answering Kazuhide, "We'll be there in a second, Kazu-kun."

"Are you bringing Toshiya?"

"Eh? No, Totchi's taking a long deserved nap." Kaoru glanced to the bedroom fondly and a goofy little smile began to appear on his face. Yep, Totchi was taking a nap. In his bed. Their bed. Sprawled over all the pillows, half-naked, with a beautiful look of contentment on his face. He was almost tempted to march in there, nip the back of Totchi's neck and growl like a caveman and say, "Mine."

But he didn't.

Because he couldn't.

He was on the phone. ^^;;

"Kaoru!!!" Kazuhide's voice dragged his attention away from his lover and he blushed even though she wasn't there. "You okay?"

"Gomen ne, Kazu-kun?" He coughed, "Where was I?"

"Totchi sleeping."

Kaoru's face pinked once again and he shook his head, "No no no! Before that!"

"You were coming over?" Kazuhide reminded, the faintest traces of held back laughter in her voice.

"Ah, yes! Okay...um, we'll be there in a second, Kazu-kun." Kaoru told her, trying to ignore the deja vu he was experiencing. "I'm bringing Hikaru with me. Is that okay?"

"Considering that it'll probably take three people to load Kyo into the car--it's perfectly fine with me, Kaoru." Kazuhide replied in an amused tone. "I'll see you later then."

"Hai. Ja." Kaoru stood and hung up the phone then turned, expecting to meet the mischievous eyes of hide but blinked when there was no sign of the angel anywhere. He turned around again and squeaked when hide popped up in front of his vision, holding up the car keys. Kaoru reached out for them but hide held it out of his touch. "hide!! What do you think you're gonna do with those?"

hide didn't say anything. Instead, he brought his hands in front of his mouth--in an almost prayer like fashion (or a squirrel like fashion--depends on your point of view) and beamed at Kaoru. The guitarist blinked in disbelief for a few minutes and stared at hide. "Oh no...no, hide...no!!!"

hide pouted.

Kaoru squirmed, shaking his head pleadingly. "No! hide, c'mon--it's the only car we have and it's not even mine really--it's Totchi's!!"

hide sniffled.

"No! hide!!!!"


~*~


**"Clap your hands!! You're my heaven!"

Kaoru winced, shooting a glare to the right of him. He knew it was a mistake to let hide drive. And what was with that wierd song anyway? It didn't even sound like anything hide would come up with. At least, he hoped not. He had forgotten that the man/angel could drive! He was almost tempted to ask the other man if his license was up to date, but he could barely keep his teeth from chattering in fear.

hide, on the other hand, was having the time of his life and steadfastly ignoring the looks that his human was giving him. He hummed a few more bars before zooming through a few traffic lights and barely slowing down when he turned a corner. Kaoru was sure that the angel didn't know where Kazuhide lived but figured that hide must've stolen the information from his head.

Kaoru looked up before his eyes widened and he screamed out, "Red light! Red light! Red light means stop!!!! Uwaahh~!" The brakes screeched and Kaoru felt himself being tugged forward by gravity just as the car came to a rather abrupt halt. When he was sure that his heart was still beating and he could still hear the radio playing, Kaoru's eyes opened slowly. He blinked incredulously then realized that hide was staring at him. Slowly, he turned to catch hide's eyes.

"I knew that, you know. Hn. You okay?"

Kaoru shakingly nodded, "Ne, hide?"

"Mm?"

"Who taught you how to drive?" "Chirolyn. And Ina-chan. Ryu-kun taught me how to speed though."

Kaoru nodded again, trying to persuade his heart to come out of his throat. "Ah...sou ka. Who taught you how to brake?"

hide snickered. Kaoru decided that, at the moment, he couldn't think of a more evil sound. In a different voice than what Kaoru was used to hearing, hide replied, "Yoshiki taught me how to break, Kaoru and I taught him how to bend. Why, you ask?" He gave Kaoru a look, "It's because I don't bend."

Kaoru shook his head franticaly, "No no no!! That's not what I meant!"

"I know..." hide grinned before reaching for a cigarette. "Sugizo taught me how to brake. He was as jumpy as you were whenever we went on drive. Insisted on doing the driving himself. He was no fun." hide licked his lips then placed the cigarette between them and reached for the lighter. He lit it, tossed the lighter to Kaoru and took a drag, before letting it out.

Kaoru caught the lighter, shakily, just as the light turned green.

hide let go of the brake and pressed on the gas like an entire troop of fangirls from hell were on their heels.

Poor Kaoru could do nothing but hang onto the seatbelt with all of his might and pray for a merciful death.


~*~


"Mou, Kaoru-chan, you're such a wimp. It was only a short drive," hide chuckled, dragging a half prone Kaoru out of the elevator. "It makes me wonder how you ever managed to survive death four times before." Kaoru moaned weakly, feeling that the previous shooting, food poisoning, height plunging and random kitchen knife attack were nothing compared to this. His knees wobbled at every step and it felt like his bones were trying to seperate themselves from his body and run away. "Mou," hide murmured again. "Gomen, Kaoru-chan, come here." hide pulled Kaoru closer easily and placed his hands on either side of the shorter man's purple head.

"hide--what--?"

"Nevermind--just be a good boy and stay still for a second." hide advised, "Oh, and close your eyes while you're at it."

Kaoru grunted out a weary reply, then closed his eyes. There was a feeling of static and electricity building, very akin to the type that one would notice right before a thunderstorm. Something crackled slightly around them before light flashed behind his eyes in a color that could not possibly be described in words.

Then that bright something decided to yank on him.

It didn't hurt so much as startle him and Kaoru yelped as he felt himself falling. He landed painfully on his rump then found himself staring at a groaning heap of an angel across from him. "Argh."

Kaoru crawled over to hide and patted him worriedly. "hide--daijyoubu?"

"Argh."

"Eh?" Kaoru rolled hide over. The angel blinked dazedly at him, then smiled sheepishly.

"How are you feeling?"

"Me?!" Kaoru asked, incredulously. How was he feeling? What kind of question was that to ask when hide was lying on the floor, almost smoking? (Literally smoking ^^; ) "I'm fine! What about you?"

"I feel like shit." hide replied bluntly with a bemused smile. "Now, I remember why I was told not to do that."

Kaoru blinked then patted confusedly at the places on his head where hide had touched him. Wait, he told himself and began to mentally back track. I feel fine. I feel more than fine--I feel perfect.

hide groaned and rolled onto his side. "Why does it feel like my bones want to seperate from my body?"

Kaoru blinked in surprise. "Y-you--you took my--" He would've danced around with glee and thanked hide before taunting him until he remembered that hide wasn't supposed to have done that. "What is it with you and breaking all the rules?! You just can't go around and make up your own rules! Do you want to send us to hell or what?"

hide groaned and slapped Kaoru's hands away from irritably. "I do this for him and all he can do is lecture me? Not even a thank you?! You're just like Yoshiki," he mourned dramatically. "My human is done for! There's no tomorrow for us! He's failed already!" He stopped after Kaoru shot him the Death stare and snorted. "Don't try that on me, young 'un. I've survived whimpering, whining, crying, dramatics, yelling, threatening and all that. It means nothing to me." He smirked before he grimaced in pain. "But I'm not above bribery." He winked.

Kaoru took a deep breath before letting it out. "hide--"

"Besides, it wasn't a rule anyway--it was a guideline. And there is no hell, just the Almighty's as well as God's rage that makes you wish there was a hell."

Kaoru shook his head, "If what you're telling me about the Almighty is right, that 'guideline' wasn't a guideline at all. It was a command."

The angel snorted and pulled himself upright with the help of the nearest handy wall. "Oh, Kaoru, you worry too much. It's not as if She can do anything more to us. Even She's got to draw the line somewhere."

Kaoru went to hide's side and slung the angel's arm around his neck to help prop him up some. "What about Him?"

"What about--oh. Him." hide grumbled slightly as he was half dragged down the hall. "Nevermind. Just keep quiet and we're all good."

Kaoru sighed and shook his head, continuing to help the angel down the hall. He gave an occasional glance to the apartment numbers to see if they were there yet. When he felt that he was at the appropriate apartment, he stopped and knocked on the door. He stepped back as the door swung open to reveal Kazuhide and a prone Kyo on the floor behind her with a blanket over him. "Hi, we're here," said Kaoru, Master of Stating the Obvious.

"So I see...and this, I assume, is hide?" Kazu asked, looking to the dazed angel hanging onto Kaoru.

hide stiffened in surprise before grinning and relaxing. Kaoru rolled his eyes secretly. Duh, hide. Of course, someone would refer to a cosplayer by the name of the person they're cosplaying.

Oh, shut up, came the quick reply. hide gave a funny sort of bow to Kazu, considering how he was hanging off of Kaoru. (Just imagine Wesley hanging off of Fezzik from the Princess Bride when Inigo went tearing after Count Rugen--that kind of hanging..sorta ^^; ~ Mat) "Hajimemashite."

"Douzo yoroshiku." she replied, smoothly. "Well, come on in and marvel at the unconscious beauty that is known as Kyo." She stepped back and let them in, chuckling as Kaoru and hide shuffled over to Kyo and peered down at him. "What's the diagnosis, doctors?"

hide and Kaoru blinked down at Kyo. hide prodded him gently with a toe and made a noise of discontent.

But Kaoru merely smiled and said, "Aw, no worries! He's fine!"

"What?!" Both hide and Kazu blurted out.

"What?" Kaoru ginned sheepishly. He kneeled next to Kyo and patted him. "He's fine!"

(Kyo: *twitchtwitch*)

"He hasn't revived in three hours, Kaoru!"

"Oh...well, then, if you put it like that," Kaoru said as he stood. He maneuvered hide onto the couch before making his way back to Kyo and sat next to him. He cleared his throat, centered his chi, and pitched his voice higher than it normally was. "Alright, Kyo-chan! Time to wake up and get ready for school and make mommy proud! I made you your favorite breakfast!!!" He ignored the looks that hide and Kazu were giving him. He knew this was the only way to get Kyo up.

The vocalist growled softly, "No school, okaasan. Gave up school, 'member? Am famous now..." the growl lengthened out into a whine before he fell silent.

"But, Kyo-chan, don't you wanna make mommy proud?" Kaoru simpered, doing his very best not to snicker. Kazuhide held back her laughter and hide barely managed the same.

Kyo gave another growl that somehow ended up in a whine. "Okaasan, you said you liked me singing!"

"Kyo-chan, I don't ask for much, do I?"

"Okaasan...why do you sound kind of like Kaoru?"

Kaoru grinned as the opportunity presented itself and leaned over to breathe huskily into Kyo's ear. "Because I am Kaoru, baby."

Kyo's eyes shot open wide and he screamed as he scrambled away from Kaoru. "What'd you do to my mom?!!!"

Kaoru, Kazuhide and hide snickered, barely able to keep from rolling on the floor laughing. "I didn't do anything to your mom. Don't worry about it." Kaoru said with a smirk.

Kyo grumbled for a bit and scowled at Kaoru. "I hate when you do that."

"I'll stop when you stop fainting in random places," Kaoru returned. Kyo blinked up at him in confusion then took a look at his surroundings. "Oh...I've...done that thing again, haven't i?" Kyo asked in a small sheepish voice. Kaoru nodded. "Um..." Kyo looked up at Kazuhide and actually blushed. "Sorry. I--don't--it's...it hasn't happened as often lately. I guess I was long overdue for one."

Kazuhide nodded but then gave Kaoru a curious look. Kyo grabbed the blanket that had been covering him and climbed onto the couch. Kazuhide touched Kaoru's arm. "Ne, Kaoru-kun...doesn't he know or remember what caused him to faint?"

Kaoru shook his head and quietly replied. "No, and it's best not to remind him unless you want to see him on your floor again for another three hours."

Kazuhide frowned and shook her head. "I don't want that...I just wanted a few answers."

He nodded then tilted his head at her. "What did you ask him anyway?"

"Oh, things about his rumored girlfriend. You know how those can get around and I just wanted to see if it was true and if it was, why didn't he tell me? I just wanted to know..."

Kaoru thought about Manami and gave a sheepish grin. "No wonder he fainted..." He muttered. One couldn't lie very well when their girlfriend was an angel.

"Eh?"

"Nothing," he quickly replied, moving away from her to sit next to Kyo. He patted at the vocalist's head, narrowling avoiding getting bitten in the process, just to see if the other man was okay.

Kazuhide gave Kaoru a suspicious glance but decided to say nothing more about the subject. "Does he need water or anything?" She asked instead.

Kaoru shook his head and yelped when Kyo's teeth sunk into his hand. He glared at the vocalist and used a Shinya tactic and pulled on an earring to persuade Kyo to release his hand. The vocalist growled for a bit and let go at the same time Kaoru released his earring. "Sorry for the trouble, Kazu-kun." Kaoru said earnestly.

Kyo just cuddled his blanket and scowled.

"He's just grouchy whenever this happens...you'll have to let him keep the blanket if you don't want him to tear up your furniture."

"I'm not a cat, Kaoru," Kyo growled out.

"Never said you were, Kyo," Kaoru replied smoothly. "I'm just telling Kazuhide how you operate."

"Hn."

(Kazuhide: ^^;; )

She tilted her head, slightly at the request. "Well...the blanket I suppose he could borrow for awhile as long as he gave it back after a few days. It's one of Mana's favorites--Kami made and gave it to him." Three pairs of eyes shifted to Kyo then blinked in surprise when the vocalist didn't cry out and throw the blanket to the floor at the sound of Mana's name.

Kyo noticed their gaze and snorted derisively. "Oh, even I know better than to treat a loved one's gift in that fashion." He rested his head on the blanket, then shifted to get more comfortable until he heard a crinkling noise. "Nani sore?"

"Eh?"

Kyo peeked his head under the blanket and began to read out loud.


~tasogare no naka ukabu kage
itsuka mita kono koukei

C'est une imagination capricieuse comme la nuit
Elle est douce, la rencontre fatale

sasayaki sameta toiki shinobiyoru kaze yo
watashi wa kohaku no urei hikisakarete yuku

mayonaka ni kawashita yakusoku
nageki yami no kanata
kyoukai no kane narihibiku toki
awai hikari no naka~


"Dark, flowery, poetic..." He continued to read out lines, occasionally murmuring to himself that he should remember a certain line and then whining in envy at another. There was another crinkle that sounded vaguely like paper to Kaoru. The guitarist frowned before he tried to peek over.

"Kyo, what are you looking at?"

"Ooh....music notes..."

"Kyo?"

"What the fuck is this?! Arrangements for winds? What in the world--? Hmm...hey, finally-something I understand! Guitar!"

"Kyo, what is that?"

Kazuhide came over, tugging at the blanket with alarm. "Kyo, please don't tell me that Mana forgot the sheet music at home and that you're sitting on it--please?"

"Yep!" Kyo popped his head up from the blanket cheerfully, waving the semi-crumpled sheet music and lyrics around. "But, hey, hey--no worries. Just call the drag queen up and tell him that we have his music."

"That's what I was about to do," Kazuhide picked up the phone, dialed Mana's number and waited. A few seconds later, a distinct ring came from the bedroom. Kazuhide blinked in bewilderment and hide stood, walking slowly in that direction. The ring became louder as hide came back in the room, holding a metallic light blue phone with a skeleton and Malice Mizer cellphone accessories stuck to it.

"I thought he took his phone with him!!"

"Must've forgotten it when he was getting that dress of his on." Kyo remarked smoothly, then cuddled the soft blanket.

"Okay, alright. No one panic," Kaoru advised.

"Who's panicking?" Kyo asked but Kaoru wisely ignored him.

"Just call Kozi or Yu~ki." Kazuhide and Kaoru said at the same time and grinned. Kyo growl-grumbled at the stupidity of it all but behaved. Kazuhide dialed the number and waited patiently. She frowned and after thirty seconds hung up.

"What's up?" Kaoru asked.

"I think maybe Yu~ki forgot to pay his bill." Kazuhide replied then began dialing another number. Again, the same routine was repeated, except Kazuhide made a face of disgust. "And apparently, Kozi's service provider is down for the next twelve hours. Why the sudden case of bad luck?"

"Can't be bad luck. It must be a conspiracy." Kyo piped up.

"What?"

"Once is chance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is a conspiracy." Kyo held up three fingers for each of the reasons and wiggled them at her. "Maybe he forgot the music on purpose so he'd have a reason to come back and spend a little more time with you."

"He left awhile ago and I know Mana has his control streaks within him when dealing with his band, but having the other two do something to their phones? And besides, he'd be back by now if he did it on purpose, wouldn't he?"

"Maybe he got tied up in traffic somewhere." Kaoru suggested.

"Maybe he's busy tying up Kozi and Yu~ki when his temper snapped and is torturing them by making them listen to Smap." suggested Kazuhide, before she looked at the music and sighed. "I've seen how he's reacted to the lost mixes but if he finds out that he misplaced his music...Mana's gonna have a heart attack," she breathed out, slumping onto the couch between Kaoru and Kyo.

hide blinked before carefully phrasing the next question so as not to offend Kazuhide when he said it. "Why don't you just call the studio?"

"Phone's broken."

hide frowned. "Somebody must have a real issue with the phone."

It was quiet in the apartment until all four of them nodded and said, "Mana."

"Well, can't you just drive over to the studio and give it to him?" hide suggested, as he played with all the options on Mana's phone.

Kazuhide shook her head again. "It's a two hour drive there. He's very particular about which studio they record in. And I've got an interview appointment and photoshoot scheduled in the next hour."

"Why so late at night, Kazu-kun?"

"The photographer's obsessed with lighting and ambience and all that." Kazuhide replied, with a shrug.

Kyo blinked in surprise, "And I thought Dir en Grey had it bad."

Kazuhide shook her head with a weary sigh. "It usually isn't so bad but lately, everything's been going so fast and just now, decided that this was the perfect moment to plague us. Mana and I haven't had a moment to ourselves lately."

Kaoru nodded sympathetically and an idea flashed into his head. "Hey, if you gave us the directions to his top secret studio, we could drop off the music for you."

"We?" Kyo voiced, blankly.

Kazuhide looked up at Kaoru. "You'd do that for me? I mean, not like I'd mind, but Kaoru, you don't have to."

"We'll do it, don't worry." Kaoru beamed.

"We?" Kyo voiced again.

Kaoru reached over and grasped the very same piercing he had pulled on before. "Yes, of course--we , Kyo-chan. Don't you want to do this for Kazuhide--the person who's allowing you to borrow Mana's Kami blanket, use her floor as a bed and general sweetheart? You don't want to be *ungrateful*," There was a tug on the earring to emphasize the word, "Do you?"

"No, no--of course not, Kaoru," squeaked Kyo painfully.

"Good." Kaoru smiled as hide snickered at the look on Kyo's face. "No worries, Kazu-kun. Just leave it to us."


~*~


"'No worries, Kazu-kun...leave it to us.'" Kaoru muttered under his breath as he stepped out of the car and looked up at the studio. He tried to ignore the way stormclouds were gathering behind it and tried to stop imagining what it would look like with lightning forked behind it. Probably like a Frankenstein movie. "What the hell was I thinking?"

"I don't know," Kyo said, bouncing demonically over to his side. "But next single, can we record here?"

hide stepped next to Kaoru's other side. "It's not so bad. It does seem to keep out unwanted people, but I think that's the idea."

Kaoru nodded, glanced around to see that everyone and everything was out of the car then began the harrowing trek to the studio's door. They stopped at the door then looked to the security camera expectantly.

"Hello, how may I help you?" came a cheerful greeting from the secretary on the intercom. What a contrast to the setting ... Kaoru thought, then shook it away.

He reached over, pressed the button of the intercom. "Hi, we're Kaoru and Kyo from Dir en grey with our professional cosplayer friend--we've come to see Mana."

There was a silence for a space of five minutes until the secretary replied (just as cheerfully from before), "Sorry, Mana-sama does not wish to see anyone tonight. You could try again tomorrow. Thank you."

Kyo snorted peevishly and Kaoru sighed, somehow expecting this. Mana didn't always get along with Dir en grey and the main reason was Kyo. But what could he do when Kyo was Kazuhide's best friend?

For one thing, he did this whenever he was too irritated to think straight.

hide, however, had no qualms with the guitarist and probably only knew him as the guy who had more of an obsession with blue and roses than Yoshiki ever did, but looked better in a dress. He hit the intercom button again and tried a tactic that has worked with the human race since the beginning of time. "We come bearing gifts--oh, Mana-sama!"

There was no answering reply, only the sound of frantic running and the punching of security buttons. There were three muffled curses and a collective squeak of fear when a whip cracked.

Silence.

A second crack of a whip and there was another vague sound of someone(s) shuffling away from the door.

Silence again.

A third whip crack made Kaoru step back from the door in alarm and hide grinned. There were a few beeps before the door opened, revealing a harried looking Mana (evident only if you looked at his eyes real close and knew him well). He coiled a whip carefully in his hands and smiled, trying to be the perfect gentleman in a dress, "Presents?"

hide nodded and Mana gestured for them all to come inside. He closed the door behind them, the electric lock resetting itself and locking the door instantly. Kaoru took a look around the studio.

It was cozy, dim and rather quiet with the sound of classic music in the background. Kaoru frowned, as it sounded vaguely familiar, but after five minutes of not being able to place a name to the tune, he gave up. They followed Mana deeper into the studio, noting how quiet and devoid of other human life it seemed. "They're working," Mana replied to the unspoken question. He led them into a conference room and shut the door. "What's up?" He asked, finally taking an actual look at them. He blinked a few times at the blanket around Kyo then gave a very un-Manalike squeal and snatched it off of him like it was nothing. He twirled, wrapping the blanket around him. "Kami~!" He snuggled it and even gave a tiny purr.

The other three men stared at him a bit with shock but knew better than to say anything. What a difference on person can make, Kaoru thought, until hide nudged him. Kaoru glanced up and hide gave him a meaningful look. "Oh! Oh, yeah...Mana, you left this at home." Kaoru held out the music.

Mana stopped cuddling the blanket to take the music from Kaoru's hands. "Hm...so that's where it went. I guess I punished Kozi and Yu~ki for no good reason, then. Ah, well--that'll just take care of anything they'd think of doing while I'm away."

"Smap music?" Kyo asked, curiously.

"No, bad Enka," came the smooth reply. "If you play the same thing long enough one of them's going to start liking it and singing it too much." Mana began to smooth the music sheets out as best as he could then looked to the three of them suspiciously. "What were you doing at my apaato?"

Kaoru spoke up just as Kyo opened his mouth for a smart reply. "Kyo-kun fainted."

"Kaoru!"

Mana blinked. "Where? In my apaato and why?"

"Well--" Kaoru began but Kyo interrupted.

"Nevermind. It's just some unknown medical condition I have." Kyo said, defensively, daring Mana with his eyes to make some sort of comment or gesture. However, Mana's blue eyes weren't on him.

"Why did you bring it to me?"

"Oh, it's because Kazu-kun couldn't."

Mana began to cuddle the blanket again, giving the slight impression of a little girl except for that concerned boyfriend look in his eyes. They closed for a second in thought before they opened once again and he nodded. "Right. That would make sense." His eyes flitted to hide as he said, "He has a photoshoot and an interview tonight."

hide scratched his head curiously then said, "Wait....isn't Kazuhide a--?"

"Yes/No." Said Kaoru, Kyo and Mana at the same time.

"It's okay, Mana. Hikaru knows Kazu-kun's a girl."

Mana nodded and looked to hide. "You will, of course, keep this a secret right? If it gets out, Kazu-kun's career will collapse. And I don't think I could witness her heartbreak."

hide nodded. "Don't worry about it. I know a lot about secrets." He winked slyly at Kyo and Kaoru, who only groaned and shook their heads. How could they trust hide to keep Kazu-kun's secret when he could barely keep his own secret of being alive and an angel from the ones who once knew him?

Mana's head tilted to the side. "Do you know how to keep secrets?"

"Of course."

"Indeed," someone hissed and hide eyed the two present members of Dir en grey like a vulture would eye a potential meal. Kyo whistled a bit and Kaoru decided to find the floor under his feet interesting.

Visual rockers were known for their death stare to the camera that could make many others shiver, squeal with delight or run in fear.

hide may be fun to be around and had an infectious laugh and good humor, but he was one of the pioneers of death stares. Kaoru scooted away from him and tried to hide behind Kyo but Kyo was also trying to hide behind him so it wasn't quite working. hide shook his head and looked to Mana to see if he had been paying attention.

The guitarist looked distant as if he was trying to figure out a problem in his head. Then he shook it and straightened out the music sheets. "Thank you again, Kaoru-kun. Kyo-kun." He turned to leave but hide stopped him.

"What's wrong, Mana-san?"

The other man froze and his back stiffened. Kaoru stopped fighting with Kyo for a moment and looked between hide and Mana. Mana turned to look at hide, biting his bottom lip. Kaoru wanted to tell hide that Mana didn't trust people very well and that it took a long time to get on his good side. He would've told him this if hide hadn't smiled reassuringly at Mana. The blue guitarist took a step forward to hide then stopped as if warring with himself. "I...well, it's just that...listen, it's none of your business and I don't want to trouble you."

Kaoru opened his mouth to say that it was okay and that they were leaving but again, hide surprised him. "You wouldn't trouble me, Mana-san. I don't think you're the type to trouble anyone but I think that's part of the problem. I like Kazuhide. She's really friendly. I know you don't trust people all too well--"

Kaoru's eyes almost bugged out of his head. How in the heck did hide know that?

"--but I know that Kazuhide cares for you a lot."

Mana stared at hide. His lips parted before he shut them then they parted again. "I..."

The angel gave him another smile, "Sometimes it helps to talk about concerns with you friends, ne?"

"But....." Mana seemed torn for a second before he sighed and twisted the whip in his grasp uncomfortably. He looked at hide for a long while before he adjusted Kami's blanket around him and nodded to himself. "I...well, it's just that....Kazu-kun and I have....." He bit his lip, "Our anniversary's coming up this Wednesday and I wanted to do something special for her but we have no time. I don't want to celebrate it on the Friday after because I dislike postponed events."

hide nodded sympathetically and it would've been fine if Kyo had not said, "So what does that have to do with us?!"

Mana's blue eyes turned cold as quickly as they had turned trusting and he glanced to the small vocalist as a thin smile began to spread across Mana's face. "I'm glad you asked, Kyo. It really had nothing to do with you until I remembered that I had no time to pick up the gift that I wanted to give her. And that's where you come in."

"Oh, no. Hell no. You can do your own stuff by yourself--"

"As you are her best friend, Kyo and your band is currently not doing anything--"

"Hey, that's not true--we've got recording too!" Kyo protested, "Right, Kaoru?"

"Of course!" Kaoru replied, slightly peeved. "I don't give two weeks off in the middle of recording unless it's an emergency!"

"But this is an emergency!" Mana insisted.

"Why can't you get Kozi and Yu~ki to do it?" Kyo sulked. Mana rolled his eyes and shot him another ice blue glare.

"Oh, sure. You want me to trust those two. At a time like this? Kyo, I assure you they're much safer to the public and to Kazuhide's gift if they're kept in this studio for the next week." Mana tightened the whip coiled in his hands, smiling a bit as it tightened nicely in his grasp. Kaoru looked away, refusing to be scared by this, no matter if Mana wasn't trying to scare him. "Besides," Mana went on, capturing their attention once again. "Kazu-kun trusts you. And if she gets my present from you, she'll think we're finally getting along for once. It's our anniversary, Kyo-kun, you'll make her happy or--"

"Okay, okay, I'll do it! The last thing I need is your drag queen ass--"

"--executive transvestite."

"What?!"

"There's a crowbar seperation, Kyo-kun. Please remember that I'm an executive transvestite."

"Which means basically shit to--"

hide sighed, getting weary with the argument and interrupted, "--it means that he can run about in heels and not fall over. He travels the world--it's much more executive. Now, can you please just swallow your pride and say you'll do it?! It's not gonna kill you or anything."

A strange chill went through the air. Mana snorted and glared at the thermostat. "Dammit, I thought that I fixed that."

Kaoru coughed, hoping that was really the temperature and not just the Almighty's bloody sense of humor. He shook it off. "Listen, Mana, really--we can't! It's a busy schedule for us too!"

Mana sniffled and Kaoru stopped abruptly. The other guitarist looked at him, with a slightly pouty expression and sniffled again. "I--I know that I'm not very nice to you guys and all but ... but this...this is really important to me. I've never really had a girlfriend in such a long time and ...and...I wanted to do something special for her. She deserves so much for putting up with my rumored strangeness." He gave a tiny cough but another sniffle was heard. "And I thought...that if I asked you, it'd be okay because...well, because you were able to go up in front of everyone and say you loved Totchi--damn the consequences, you know? I thought it'd be good if I came to you for help. You're brave. I want to be brave in that aspect too."

Kaoru coughed and blushed, but couldn't help but feel flattered at those words. He ran a hand through his purple hair and tried to remain humble and keep a leash on his little ego. It was hard, though, when everything someone said was true and you had just stood up in front of the world and proclaimed your love for the one man that mattered in your life. "Well...I mean...Mana...."

Mana took out his Moi Meme Moitie handkerchief and instead of delicately wiping at his eyes like most thought he would, he blew his nose into it (completely like a man) and folded it over many many times carefully and held it. "Everyone deserves love, Kaoru. And everyone deserves things that prove that."

It could be a hoax.

A trick to get him to do whatever Mana wanted him to do.

Was he going to say no and get on with his life?

Or was he going to be like all those from before who had fallen to the great Mana-sama's trap?

Kaoru took a deep breath--

--and fell for it.

Hook, line and sinker.

"Sure, Mana, I mean...it's the least we can do for you and Kazuhide, right? You helped us find Shinya that one time."

Kyo rolled his eyes and grumbled under his breath, "Nevermind that it was actually Die and Kazuhide who found that out."

Kaoru elbowed him sharply in the ribs and smiled at Mana. Kyo coughed and growled in pain, but did nothing and actually behaved for once. Mana beamed, all traces of fake tears and what-have-you gone from his face. Kaoru wondered if the man had even really blew his nose or what. "Thank you, Kaoru!! You're so sweet!!!" He strode forward and smiled a scary smile. "Directions will be given to you tomorrow on what to do. I need her to get her present by Wednesday or I'll know you failed and that my relationship is over. And if that happens, my dear sweet Kaoru, you'll wish that knife on tv killed you."

"Is that a threat?" Kaoru and Kyo demanded. hide smirked, possibly because he knew that Mana could do nothing without going through him first and that Kaoru and he had been through much worse.

"No, just a warning." Mana patted Kaoru's head easily, his heels giving him a nice height advantage over him. He took a look at his hand for a second then smirked and wiped it on the other guitarist's shirt. "Well...anyways...I have recording to get back to." He picked up his sheet music and began to walk out of the room. "Thank you!" He said over his shoulder and smiled a true smile that almost took their breaths away. "Please don't let Kazuhide down, okay?"

The guitarist disappeared, closing the door to the conference room behind him gently. hide looked to Kyo. Kyo looked to Kaoru. Kaoru stood there for a few seconds, murmuring something to himself. He counted mentally back on one hand, frowned then seemed to go back. He nibbled on a lip before shaking his head and looked to both his angel and vocalist. "Did...I....just do, what I think I did?"

Kyo looked at him and blinked lazily. "Depends on what you think you did."

"I think I just agreed to go gallivanting about town to get a present for Kazuhide, which, knowing Mana, sounds pretty big when we have to start recording like mad next week. Did I just agree to do that?"

hide and Kyo pretended to ponder this for a moment before nodding. "Yes, yes, Kaoru, you did."

"I did something wrong....didn't I?" Kaoru's voice dropped an octave, as if he were afraid of hearing the truth but needed it confirmed.

"Yes, Kaoru, I think you did." Kyo said although hide was strangely silent. Kaoru noticed this and turned to look at the angel.

Then an idea began to creep in his head.

It would solve everything! It would take care of his problem with recording, get in Mana's good graces so that he didn't have to worry about taking Kyo to the hospital just in case he went too far with the drag queen references and it would also solve the mission!

"hide?"

"I know what you're thinking, Kaoru," the angel said immediately.

"Please? You know you want to! And it's Kazuhide! She's like the best person to hug you and not get suspicious or anything!"

"Kaoru--"

"I have recording.." Kaoru pouted.

"Kaoru--"

"You have a task..." The guitarist whined. Hey, once you learned Mana's trick to influence others who had empathetic sides to them, you were set for life!

Apparently he forgot that hide didn't work that way. "Kaoru, stop the whining. You knew I'd do it. If only to get you to act normal and stop play-sobbing like Mana. Besides, you can't pull it off quite like he can."

"YES!" Kyo cheered and slightly wiggled, "No dirty work for Mana!"

"Thank you, hide!" Kaoru beamed and hide sighed and shook his head.

"Celebrate later. Let's hope that this does not come back to bite us in the ass."

And right on cue, another cold chill blew through the room.


+++++++++++


Eh?!

The end already?!


Yes.


*cackles*


Oh, don't look at me that way. =p It's not the end end! There's more and yes, I promise not to be stupid and release it five months from now. It's just that the fic is so long @_@ that I have to stop it in the middle somewhere. I know it's a shitty place to stop at but if I reveal it all too soon, it'll be no fun.


*Wiggles*

Have fun ^.~