X zone

Saturday, November 14, 1998, 4:00pm
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Author's notes: Yaoi, yaoi, yaoi. This is a X Japan fic...... Hide and Yoshiki as usual. Um, and it has MM too! Malice Mizer! ^^; Ah. And it includes Shoko Kitano… ^_~ heh heh. And Sugizo (luna Sea ^^;;)

hide... forever love. ^-^ / I wanted to write this long ago, when I was very very young... I saw this cartoon, rather, anime. It was very touching, the girl of the sorta aquatic race sacrificed to stop the people: Humans and her race from fighting. It was in the future, the Earth was all flooded with water... Just to share my thoughts.
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The rain pelts on little Hide's fathead as he happily played in the rain. It was very beautiful, to be in the rain, so much. He wished that his other spirit friends would play with him, too, but they were all hidden back in their comfy places where they would be sheltered from the rain. Spirits never liked rain, but Hide was different. So different that it hurt him. He sighed a heavy breath, and a cute smile rode his chubby face as he did a little dance.

After the rain was over he would be able to switch back to his normal form, and not stay in this SD form any more. But he loved the rain so.

He wandered about a bit, and the sky was getting gray. It was even more beautiful now. He proceeded to the great lakes, to watch as the rain pelted down onto the body of water. It would be so nice, so beautiful...

He stopped short. There was a person, out there, in the rain. She had long hair, beautiful curly long hair which reached her waists. Her hair was very beautiful, ginger colored, and shone with it's own light. She was wearing a red dress, and he thought it was very pretty.

Who would be out there in the rain? He wondered, as he proceeded closer to have a good look at her. He floated up to her front to look at her face.

"Who are you?" She smiled. "So small and cute."

"Nani?" Hide was surprised. "But... but... You humans cannot see us spirits!"

Her smile seemed warmer. "But, I can see you... So fat and cute!!"

Hide blushed a little, not comfortable with the thought of someone so fair saying he was fat *and* cute.

"Who are you...?" He asked.

"Yoshiki. Hayashi."

"... ... The beautiful tree of the forest..." Hide blushed.

"Erm... Excuse me? I didn't exactly hear you."

Hide shook his head, still blushing furiously. "Su... Suimasen!!"

Yoshiki laughed.

It finally hit Hide that Yoshiki sounded more like a BOY. He scolded himself silently for making the wee little mistake. Should have known, should have known... "What are you doing out here in the rain, Yoshiki?"

"Oh... The rain is so beautiful, don't you think...? Um... Hide, why are you the only spirit I've seen in the rain so far? Where have all the others gone?"

"Oh... You mean my friends? They are in their homes hiding from the rain." Hide said sadly. "None of them likes the rain."

"But... It is so beautiful!" Yoshiki shook his head. "Poor Hide, you must be very lonely."

Hide smiled, a place in his heart warming up. "But, I like it and that's it."

"That's good." Yoshiki gave him a thumbs up sign. "That explains why there are no spirits in the lakes."

Hide felt as if hit across the head by a sledgehammer. "No... Yoshiki. They are not here because... The lake is polluted and everything is dead. There are no fishes, no life... Not even the poor water spirits stay there anymore."

Yoshiki gasped. "That's... horrible... No wonder..."

"Um, um..." Hide tried to think of another topic. Yoshiki's expression was too sad for his bearings. "Umm..."

"Oh, little guy..." He smiled. "What's your name?"

Hide felt a bit cheered up. "I'm Einstein! Don't you know? I'm the inventor of the light bulbs!"

Yoshiki laughed. "Um, I think that's Edison you are referring to. But, seriously..."

Hide grinned foolishly and did a little dance. "Um, ya, I guess you saw through my whole facade!'

Yoshiki laughed again. "But, seriously, you must have a nicer name than that?"

Hide smiled. "Hide. I am Hide the spirit, nice to meet you." He stretched out his hand and did a little curtsey.

Yoshiki took his little fat hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you too, Hide... What a nice name."

Hide blushed, and Yoshiki asked him how he felt being a spirit, and they talked and laughed.

The sun was coming up.

***

The rain was over. The dragons in the sky had went back home.

Hide was talking to Yoshiki, when suddenly... *POOF*! A bright light radiated from the mini Hide. He seemed to stretch and twist, and suddenly emerged to form a solid figure. The mini Hide was no more, but a pretty pink haired person, fully grown, was in Yoshiki's arms. And poor Yoshiki, who could not bear the weight of the person, found himself falling.

"Woops." Hide blushed when he realized *what* a position he was with Yoshiki. Red as tomato he got up, his heart beating wildly, like a little horse on the run. "Um...Umumum.... Sumimasen~~~~~~! Waaa!!!!!!"

Yoshiki laughed, rubbing a little bruise he had on his butt. "Are you Hide? You must be right? But why is it that you suddenly... Grown so tall?"

Hide stopped bowing and said, "Yup... I am Hide."

Yoshiki laughed again, leaving Hide to wonder, and when the other person asked, he replied: "Hide... The look on your face... It's priceless!"

***

It was fun. Other than that, it was fun, fun and fun. "Woa…" Yoshiki screamed as the roller coaster zoomed it's way down. Hide clutched on to Yoshiki as they swooped up again.

"Wheeee!" Hide yelled as they zoomed down again, and Yoshiki laughed softly.

Finally, it came to a stop and back to the station.

Hide had specially, that day, changed form so that he would be visible to the human eye. He had skipped his duties, with Pata, his fairy friend, watching after his job for him. If the Balance of Nature found out, Hide would be severely punished. But he had wanted to come for so long, he had never been to places. And meeting Yoshiki was helping him to do just that.

"Isn't this *fun*, Yoshiki?" Hide grinned a carefree grin.

Yoshiki smiled back at him and took hold of Hide's hand and hoisted himself out of the empty seat with his help. "Sure it is, Hide-chan!" He laughed.

Hide grinned and gave a thumbs up sign. "Wanna go again?"

"Um… Hide-chan. I have a problem." Yoshiki held up his hand.

Hide looked back at him worriedly. "What's wrong?"

"I need some food… I'm hungry!"

Hide laughed. "Golly, you sure had me worried! Ya, sure. What do you want to eat?"

"Would fast food do with you?"

"No… Erm, I mean, I am a spirit, I do not need to eat."

"That's okay. Just watch me eat."

Hide made a face and dragged Yoshiki to the nearest Macdonald's.

*Slam!* the door went after they went in. Swing swing. "Where do you want to sit, Yoshi-chan?"

"Erm, here would be nice," He said, and put his backpack down on the table.

"Okay." Hide sat down too. "I'll watch over while you order," he said.

"Ya, sure."

Hide tapped his fingers a few times and looked around. Something, or rather, someone caught his eyes. It was some gangsters nearby giving Yoshiki a nasty look.

Hide was careful, to rise should Yoshiki be in any trouble. He was not strong, not physically, but had powers of a spirit. He could cast spells and he did not want Yoshiki to get hurt, although he knew he would be banished from his community if Balance knew about him hurting humans.

Yoshiki got his food on the tray and paid for the food. As he was walking back, someone went into his way and Yoshiki bumped into him.

"Sorry!" Yoshiki apologized, as his drinks had spilled all over, and the stranger's pants had not been spared.

"Watch your path, girl!" He growled, and began cursing at Yoshiki. Yoshiki was not very happy, but he was staying calm. The curses began to grow more and more absurd and Yoshiki was finally losing it.

"Just who do you think you are, Michael Jackson?! Why should I dodge *your* path when you came into the way of *mine*? Huh? You tell me! You have no rights to scold me like that, so fuck off loser! Get a life!"

Hide's eyes widened. Never had he seen Yoshiki lose his temper before. He had wanted to step up and help Yoshiki, but it seemed to be needless, after all. His feeling was mixed. Yoshiki was strong, and he liked that. But what if he crossed his path? He'd never be able to get out alive. Mentally he made a note to himself never to make Yoshiki angry.

The man was introducing a very wide variety of curses which even Hide had not known to the crowd. People were staring uncomfortably, but no one decided to interfere. Yoshiki's eyes narrowed and obviously was trying to contain himself. Hide gasped as he hurriedly went to step in between them in case anything happened.

He was too late. Yoshiki punched the guy, and the people whom Hide had been noticing came up and one of them wearing a scarf on his bald head began to hit Yoshiki. Hide was too late…

Yoshiki had punched the guy conveniently and sent him another kick.

Hide sweatdropped for a while but realized that he had to stop them before the fight got any bigger. People were leaving and getting out of the way. A man came up, and from a badge on his breast pocket Hide knew he was the manager.

"Please don't fight here, we have a business to run…"

*BAM*! Hide whimpered a bit and hurried over to help the guy who had slammed into the wall. They rushed at Yoshiki, and Hide yelled, "STOP!"

Everyone *did* stop at his sudden out burst, and began laughing. "Who are you to ask us to stop?"

Hide blushed a little. "Well, I er…"

They laughed again and Yoshiki conveniently beat them up. "Um, I think we'd better leave… Yoshiki, stop it!" Hide said, pulling Yoshiki away from the pile of swollen delinquents on the floor.

"I'm not really done yet…"

"Um, look if you continue they'd die okay?" Hide tried to open the door while pulling at Yoshiki.

"…" Yoshiki slapped Hide's hand off him. "… Okay."

***

Yoshiki was looking at some stuffed toys, and picked a small stuffed cat. He examined it for a moment, as if inquisitively, and held it out to Hide. "Hey, little guy, what do you think?"

Hide smiled. "This is cute!"

Yoshiki beamed and held it tightly. Hide blushed a little and began thinking what a hell of a temper this beauty could possibly have. He mused to himself, as Yoshiki put the toy cat back thoughtfully and began to walk away. He followed, and Yoshiki smiled at him and held out his hand to Hide.

"Come on! Hide, we have lots of places to go."

Hide nodded, and took Yoshiki's hand. They began into another stall and Hide stopped by. "Wait… Wait, Yoshiki!"

Yoshiki stopped and looked wide eyed at the store's merchandise. "What's up, Hide?"

Hide smiled. "Thank you for waiting for me, Yoshi-chan!" He looked at the gizmos and stuff that was there, nicely and neatly displayed. Something special caught hide's eye as he was looking around.

It was a handmade porcelain sunflower attached to a leather strap that made it look something like a necklace. He picked it up.

"It's made for couples, sir." The middle aged stall vendor said, grinning. "Here's the other one. Why don't you get a set? One for you and the other for your girlfriend over here," He gestured at Yoshiki. "I'm sure she will be very happy."

Hide blushed redder than a tomato. "Erm, no, you're mistaken!"

"No need to be shy, young man. Catch hold of beauty that comes along with youth while you're at it!" He laughed heartily.

"Hey, this is nice." Yoshiki peered at the necklaces. "Would you care to sell us a pair?"

"Ya, sure," The man said, and gave it to them. "No need for the paper bag, just put it on for each other."

He winked and Yoshiki blushed red carrot this time, as he handed it to him.

"Take care, young man!" He nudged Hide as Yoshiki pulled him along. "Remember what I said!"

Hide got redder.

***

They came to a park. The wind was nice and the spirits were harmonizing well. Everything made the scene totally beautiful. The flowers were blooming with life, and the spirits were healthy and happy. Hide greeted a few of his friends before sitting down with Yoshiki on a bench.

"Hey, look," Yoshiki said, pointing to the sky. "Look! Isn't that beautiful?"

"What?" Hide asked.

"The sunset!"

Hide looked up at the sky. It was crimson, as red as blood. "Yes, Yoshiki… It's very beautiful…"

Yoshiki smiled. Hide turned breathless at the split second. They looked up at the sky, as the blood red engulfed everything in its embrace, caressing every soul and spirit with its beauty.

Red, the color of both life and death…

Hide look at Yoshiki as he looked on, mesmerized. Yoshiki was indeed beautiful, more beautiful than the sunset which stole the hearts of many and replaced it with awe and youth. He had a sudden urge to hold him, this beauty more gorgeous than the sunset.

"Oh, Hide…" Yoshiki noticed Hide staring at him. "I almost forgot--"

"Huh?" Hide asked, still haven't really waken up from his daze.

"The sunflower! Here you go…" Yoshiki dug into his pockets and took out a pair of porcelain sunflower necklaces. "Remember? It's supposed to be a pair--"

Hide smiled as he took over the necklace Yoshiki handed him.

"Will you put it on for me, Hide?"

Hide's heart bloomed as the flowers did. Unsure of how he really felt, and his heart beating like drums in a rock concert, he took it, and as Yoshiki turned around, fastened it for him. The wind changed direction, so that it blew Yoshiki's hair into his face as Yoshiki turned around. A faint rose fragrance could be smelt, dissolving Hide's heart.

Something loomed in his heart, his tears coming to his eyes… Where had this sudden ache in the heart come from?

He found himself gazing into Yoshiki's endless depths of eyes, dyed red by the light. The lashes rimmed the elfish eyes, most alluring to the human eyes. Yoshiki's face seemed to be closer and closer, and Hide's right hand crept forward to cup Yoshiki's cheek. He closed his eyes, as Yoshiki closed his, and their lips touched. It was a brief moment, just a closed mouth kiss.

But it was sweet.

Hide felt Yoshiki's hands pressed against his back, still, as Yoshiki's eyes opened and drew away.

"Hide…" Yoshiki leaned against Hide's chest, so that his face was facing the sky, snug and comfort. Hide, in turn, held Yoshiki closer as they both looked at the red sky.

"Isn't it just so beautiful?"

"I agree…"

"… …"

"… … … …Don't you ever let go."

***

It was late. Hide saw Yoshiki home, his heart feeling a bit off the sky that day. Yoshiki was living with his foster parents, Yoshiki had explained, ever since he was found unconscious on the beach. Hide had noted, it was very much resembling a fairy tale. Yoshiki had forgotten the happenings before that, but that was okay with him because he was living very well.

"Golly!" He looked at the moon high up in the sky as soon as Yoshiki disappeared inside the house. "It's time!"

As he ran, his heart felt a sense of serenity and stability. He smiled, as he hurried his way to the conference by the great lakes.

***

Hide arrived just in time, as the spirits and fairies were seated down by the lake, gaily chatting and playing. Hide found his friend Pata.

"Yo man!" Hide shouted.

Pata grinned happily. "Hi Hide, how was your date with that galfriend of yours?"

Hide blushed. "Um, no you're mistaken!! I, er, she… he…"

Pata laughed. "Aa. Too shy to admit ne! The wind spirits told me! Lessee… You sure did a great job, Hide! Just one date and you got her kiss!"

Hide blushed further. "No, wait…"

"Aa! The authorities are here!" Pata said, and along with everyone else Hide and Pata quietened down. They watched silently as Heath the Obligator entered the circle made by the folks, his chains long and silvery, his body that of a slave, beautifully beaten and worn. His clothes were leather and metal studded, resembling that of a slave. Then, Yoru the Magnifier came in. Mighty with a sense of royalness his purple eyes reflected, his strong beauty echoing through the hearts of many. Everything he wore was black. Just as his name, "Night". Hide watched, fascinated, his first time of being a qualified spirit to go to an important conference as that.

Then came the most magnificent and most brilliant figure. It was Balance, Pata whispered to him. The most important man of all. He was beauty, as far as the eyes could see, wearing silver cloth that dazzled every mind, and black shiny leather. He was the master who maintained the balance. Gackt Camui the balance. Camui, literally meaning "Kamui", "representing God's power".

Hide wondered if it could mean "poaching God's power".

But it was just a thought, quickly dismissed. Hide watched on, trying to make the most of the moment, dazzled by the beauty of the highest people.

Gackt wove his hand, and Heath and Yoru sat down with him in their royal place.

"I'm sure you have all been aware of the humans polluting our great lake, people." Gackt began, and the fairies and spirits nodded vigorously. Various echoes sounded among the people. Hide's mind, however, was somewhere earlier in the day, as Pata beside him was talking to another spirit.

His heart was missing Yoshiki's smile, as flashes of the day dawned upon his heart, like a madly blooming black rose. The sunset, the flowers, Yoshiki's hair and it's fragrance, Yoshiki's anger, Yoshiki's lips… He could still feel it. Unconsciously his hand roamed onto his lip and he smiled.

"Hey, Hide, Hide! Psssst!" Pata urged him back to reality.

"Huh? No, I'm not asleep, sir, I was listening!" Hide stood up, like he did in his childhood when he was caught dreaming of the rain, going away and his old flame, Taiji.

"Huh?" Gackt turned to look at him and Pata slapped his forehead. Hide, upon realising that he was no longer in class and ushered by Pata to wake up before the big old fairy guy thrashed him, blushed furiously and turned around so that his back was facing the crowd.

"SU!! SU!!!!!! SU SU SU SUIMASEN!!!!" He stammered, shaking like a leaf in the wind.

Gackt gave a look at him. "What's your name, spirit?"

"Er, he didn’t mean it! He's just a newly qualified spirit, that’s why…"

Gackt's look told Pata to shut up, and he did.

Hide shook worse as Gackt motioned for Heath to go and get him. Heath did, obligingly, and dragged Hide over to Gackt. Gackt's slim long finger, together with the long black nails, traced Hide's jaw. "I ask you, what's your name again?"

Hide stammered, "Hi…… Hide…"

"Hide, stay back after the conference."

Hide shook as he was led back to his place in the circle.

***

He sat there, too terrified to move. Gackt approached him, nearer, nearer…

"Come with me, Hide." Hide followed, as the spirits all looked back at him worriedly. Hide followed, Yoru and Heath trailing behind.

"Have you learnt to fly, Hide?" Gackt asked.

"Ha… Hai!" Hide replied, and he followed Gackt up into the night sky. He realized, that it was full moon that night. It was very very beautiful, as beautiful as Gackt's dark beauty itself. Somewhere in his heart shone Yoshiki's light as he flew on, with Gackt's lead.

They finally came to a beautiful place high above the clouds, dark, tall, and magnificent. Hide drew in a breath as his mind was filled with vampires, and it half scared him, half intrigued him. As if cautiously he followed Gackt and the other two as they entered the tall building, towering in his mind.

They walked along huge doorways and corridors, passing by huge unrevealed rooms, servants bustling about and humbly, graciously greeted Gackt the Balance. They came to a door, standing out from the others.

"Here is your room," Gackt told him. "Stay here till I am ready. My servant will attend to you." He said, and Yoru followed him out.

Heath stayed by his side, and said, "Aa. Obviously Gackt is going to have a new slave to be trained." He gave a small smile, and thrusted his arms around Hide. "What do you think of Gackt-sama?"

"The… the the the… balance?"

"Hai." Heath's movements began to get him more than a bit uneasy.

"Very very beautiful…" Hide shifted uneasily as Heath began to unravel his chest. "Like the night…"

"Um hmm." Heath's leather got over his chest and Hide's heart stopped.

"Whoa…"

"Gackt-sama wants me to get you ready, Hide. How could you meet him with this attire?"

"Whoa… Where's the clothes…? I'll get changed myself!" Hide blushed and struggled a bit.

"Ah, but he gave me permission," Heath sighed. "And you're very very beautiful, Hide."

Hide blushed redder, his heart pounding with both embarrassment and fear. "Um, I think, I will skip conference next time…"

Heath giggled softy as he snuggled closer and his hands wandered over Hide's chest to finish lifting his shirt. Hide got desperate and shoved Heath off the bed, and ended up on the bed facing the ceiling. Heath returned in a split second, laughing.

"But, wait! I have not done it before."

"Don't worry, you will get used to it," Heath began to wriggle Hide out of his pants. Hide tried to shove at him again but Heath caught hold of his hands and held him down, and kissed him as hard as he could.

*~*~*~*~*~Note: From now onwards begins the lemon part. Please skip it if you cannot bear lemon fics… So I guess this makes it not lemon. [coy grin] watch out for "end lemon" to continue reading.*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hide stopped struggling immediately, but did not kiss back. He found Heath's tongue probing into his mouth, and to his surprise he found it sweet and sensual. He responded a little bit, his fists going slack against Heath's hands, his whole body twingling with a sensation.

Heath smiled against Hide's lips and gazed into his eyes, the blazing dark depths. He had never seen one like him before, so beautifully blending into the darkness, so lovely to the eyes. Hide was mesmerized by the desires coursing through the pupils of Heath's deep black eyes and blushed a little bit, forgetting his fears.

Heath kissed him again, this time deeper, his tongue taking time to escape through Hide's teeth and probing into corners of his mouth. It was some time, before Hide's tongue finally learnt how to embrace his. Heath's hands wandered off Hide's hands and began to unbutton his pants, carefully taking every single movement into pleasure, his hands pretending to accidentally caress Hide's stomach in the process, making the spirit thrill with a new found sensation.

He moved to kiss his neck, not wanting to lose Hide's attention now that he had it. His tongue twirled, tasting the soft silky skin of the innocent spirit, savoring it, leaving wet trails along the way of his travels in the rhythm of their breaths and movements.

He sighed, happily, with a malicious glee that came from within, to have a spirit like this, so pure and sweet, to succumb to him.

His tongue found his way down the salty skin of Hide's following every curves of his body, his collarbone, down to his chest, the cleavage in between, sensual and salty sweet. It wandered to his nipples, as Hide gasped in pleasure his spine tingling and heat radiated from between his legs.

"Aa…"

Heath toyed with it for a while, as it swiftly erected, then abandoned it for the other one. Hide shook a bit, thrilled, his body getting a bit heated up. Heath did not waste a moment, and went on to his stomach, trailing, twirling, as all sense of thoughts began to crack and fall, in pieces, in Hide's mind. He reached Hide's tummy button and twirled his tongue into it, feeling the crevices in the hole, before playing around on his lower abdomen, sending Hide's breath away.

Sweat covered his brows as he tensed with a pleasure and pain unknown to him, so hurting and yet so alluring, as his mind burnt itself up. Heath's tongue reached his thighs, skipping his half erect length, and his hands drew Hide's legs apart. Hide felt more heat raising up, and Heath noted to himself that Hide sure was getting wet fast.

Hide let out a scream as Heath licked his length, stroking it gently with his tongue, his breath more and more ragged. Silently Heath took the moment in his mind and saved it for his memories. He licked it more and more vigorously, letting his tongue do the exploring, tasting his sweet warmth. Hide continued his cries, his hands grasping at the sheets, tearfully new to this treatment and pleasure. Heath continued, licking, then whispered, "I'll have to hurt you, Hide…"

He placed the length in his mouth, carefully, his tongue still playful, and carefully sucked as Hide's screams sounded. His concentration did not waver as Hide came in his mouth, sweet bitter and salty. Hide winced, his eyes seeing stars, his mind unable to think as he had went past climate for the short moments in Heath's damp mouth. It was hurting with such pleasure one moment… He lay gasping, as Heath withdrew him from his mouth, feeling so drained of strength.

Heath grinned to himself, as he watched Hide go slack in his arms. He smiled briefly, as his own length began to grow but he took no notice of it and watched as Hide fell asleep, his heart beating softly with its cries.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~End lemon~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Yet, as Hide fell into the dark chasms of sleep, he muttered…

"Yoshiki…"

***

Yoshiki stood by the lake. Hoping that Hide would come, as he always did. But still, as he waited, his heart knowing Hide would come, just *knowing* and believing… He watched as the sun went up and over. His heart began to waver, even as his mind did too… He choked back a cry. He would come, he would come not…

Had it been too soon? Had he scared Hide away by his sheer act of giving him the necklace? He was unsure of how he really felt, and hoped that Hide would not take it too serious. But still…

He heaved a sigh. He watched as the sun reflected off the waters, showing no promise of rain… He picked up a flower, and began plucking off the petals.

"He will come, he will come not. He will come, he will come not…" He continued…

And the flower, now deprived of its beauty, dropped to the waters.

"… …He will come not…"

Yoshiki buried his face in his arms and tried not to think of anything, tried to hide his tears. What if… What if… What if Hide and he would never meet again?

***

Hide's eyelids fluttered open as he struggled to get up. It was a horrible night. A dreamful night, scary, dark, yet he could not remember. His senses adjusted to reality, and he shook his head a little.

He was smelling funny, like soap, and he was feeling very very clean. A towel was spread over his body, like a blanket. He was indeed very very comfortable, but something was wrong. He yawned, and looked around. He always felt funny when sleeping over at someone else's, with a different ceiling and what not.

His eyes wandered to the pretty man sitting on the other side of the bed. The man, still clad in leather, all black. Foggy memories of last night crept into his mind, like a plagued dream, or maybe nightmare.

"Good morning, hide…"

Hide scrambled over to the other side of the bed till he toppled to the floor. His bearings still had not gotten straight, and he struggled a bit with it.

:.'Um hmm.' As Heath's hands roamed over his chest….:

He got up, prepared to run, when he realized he was not wearing anything. He blushed and ducked back into the protection of the towel..

:.'Whoa…?'.:

Heath smiled lusciously and in a flash, went over to his side of the room. "Are you ready or not? Gackt-sama is awaiting you for breakfast."

:.'Gackt-sama wants me to get you ready, Hide. How could you meet him with this attire?'.:

"Yes… No, wait… What is going to happen to me? What will you do? …What do you want? Why…?"

:.' Wha… Where's the clothes…? I'll get changed myself!' his hands struggling a bit against Heath's..:

"Just change, Hide… Gackt has noticed your beauty, above all others. And what else happens next, you should know."

:.'Ah, but he gave me permission. And you're very very beautiful, Hide.'.:

"No…" Hide backed in horror. He had regretted last night, he was sure of it. It just seemed… Wrong. It should never have happened.

"There is nothing to be afraid of. Didn't you enjoy last night?" Heath approached him. "Now, be a darling and don't get me late, okay?"

"No…" Hide backed some more, feeling the horror swell up in him. He did not want to do anything against his will, not anymore. He made a dash for the window at the other side of the room, but Heath grabbed him.

He was pressed close against Heath, his back against Heath's chest, feeling the warmth of the other man's body.

"You're still thinking of someone, aren't you?" Heath whispered into his ear. "Yoshiki, isn't it?"

"How… How did you know?" Hide muttered, shocked.

"So it is Yoshiki… What is he like?"

Hide blushed. "He… He is very beautiful… His beauty reminds me of the moonlight… So warm, so luscious… And when he smiles, it is as bright as the sunset… So red and fleeting, burning into my heart. There is nothing in this world that can match his beauty."

Heath's hand dropped. "Not even… Me…?"

Hide turned and looked into his eyes. "Not even you."

Heath sighed and, with a sudden urge facing him, he held Hide close. "I know…"

***

"Why are you so late?" Gackt said, looking at Heath fiercely.

"..I'm sorry, Balance." Heath bowed.

"Never mind…" Gackt replied, and forging a atmosphere, said, "Eat."

Yoru glanced at Heath, and then at Hide, with something that looked like jealousy in his eyes.

Hide caught the glance, which sent a chill down his spine. He dropped his spoon, splashing the soup onto the table. Wide eyed, he stammered, "I… I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"

Gackt motioned for a nearby servant to clear up the mall mess. Silently, a pretty young girl came and wiped the table. Her skin was white, like lily. She went away silently, and Hide realized he had caught a sudden look from her… A sad look in her eyes.

He faced his soup again, stunned a bit. He took a small spoon but its good taste did not register into his mind. He glanced around, wondering who everyone was. A clown was sitting silently, by a blue lonely-looking fairy lady. Hide's heart skipped a bit. Why were they so sad? Especially the lady, her presence spelt loneliness and sadness.

He sighed a little bit and watched as the servant took the bowl away. As a spirit he was never hungry, but now he got to enjoy the tastes of food. He was still brooding over how he was going to get out… Wouldn't Yoshiki miss him? He had to get out of there before the time for them to meet came.

***

Gackt looked at Heath. "How's everything?"

Heath smiled uneasily. "Fine, Hide's very nice."

Gackt gave a little smile. "I thought you might like him."

Heath's eyes widened. "Gackt-sama…"

Gackt smiled. "You have known my heart is only dedicated to one person." He leaned to kiss Heath lightly on the lips. "And Hide will not be her."

Heath nodded, after Gackt's lips parted from his. "Thank you, Gackt-sama."

The door closed lightly behind him. Gackt heaved a sigh and sat down, leaning against his chair. "Mana… Will you forgive me?"

***

Yoshiki sat down, buried his face in his hands an cried. It was the second day, and Hide had not shown up. He looked at his necklace, twirling it. Tears rolled down his cheek, and dropped into the deserted lake. Suddenly, he could feel someone tapping him against his shoulder.

He wheeled, shocked at the spirit's sudden presence. "Hide!" He cried, and hugged him.

"No, wait…"

It was not Hide. Yoshiki sighed and let go, his face red in embarrassment from making the mistake. "I… I, er… I'm sorry! I thought you were someone else."

"Never mind…"

"Aren't you a spirit? What are you doing here?"

The spirit's eyes grew as big as satellites and his mouth dropped. "Who are you?" He demanded.

"Errr… Yoshiki?"

"No…" He slapped his forehead. "No. Why can you see us spirits?"

"I don't know…" Yoshiki replied. "But I know you do exist, even though my parents say that I am lying…"

"… …" Pata smiled heartily, a bit sadly. "Well… Are you waiting for Hide?"

"Wha…" Yoshiki grabbed Pata. "What has happened to him?"

"He's taken away by Gackt The Balance." Pata said sadly. "Most likely he will never return."

"Why…"

"There is a 'sado' and 'maso' rule in Gackt's palace. He has the Obligator, Heath, and the Magnifier, Yoru. They are maso and sado respectively. Yoru is the master and Heath is the slave. There is the trinity between them. Nobody knows what Gackt does, he does not seem to play a part in the S&M." Pata explained. "Each time they see a spirit or fairy they like, they take them. No one knows what they do to them. Hide has been taken the night before yesterday. The time passing by there is one day each three days we pass here…"

Yoshiki broke up in sobs. "Will, will he be fine? I hope he is… Does… Does that mean I will never see him again?"

Pata gave him a squeeze on the shoulder. "Yea… I hope he is fine… I… I'm sure he will come here again… One day…" He sighed.

***

"Goooomen neee," Yoru said, as he opened the door suddenly.

"What the hell…" Heath dropped the cards he was holding and turned to face the intruder. "Oh hi Yoru. Next time, knock before you come in. I was winning! Hmm, now, where did the card go?"

Hide made a face at Heath, making him laugh. Yoru snorted, and sat down besides Heath, his hand travelling up his back. "Heath-koibito… What say we take some time away with the infinite toys we have there back in our rooms, and…"

Heath shook his hand away. "Aa! Found it! Double Ace!"

Hide sighed. "Guess you win, after all, I have no more cards to hold you back…"

Yoru glowered in anger. Never had Heath ignored him like that. "Heath, I ORDER you to go back with me NOW!"

"Later," Heath replied, stacking up the cards. Hide winced at the amount of noise Yoru radiated, and wondered how Heath could stand the guy. "You deal or me, Hide?"

"Go ahead…"

Yoru's lips quivered in fury as he grabbed Heath's body and hurled him towards the door, sending the cards he was holding flying in all directions.

"Yoru! What are you doing!" Hide shouted, watching as he picked Heath up and opened the door.

"I will get you, Hide, someday. Just you wait." Yoru snarled, as Heath struggled against his lean yet strong muscles. "Heath is MINE, don't you dare think about it."

"WAIT!" Hide reached out after them, sitting there, useless. He looked at the Ace which had fallen near him. "This must be a mistake…"

He looked out of the sky. It was near noon, and he had better get out of there soon. "Yoshiki… I gotta hurry to meet Yoshiki…" He scrambled onto his feet, and bolted towards the door, out into the corridor, and all the way down the spiral stairs, across the front hall, and out of the mansion, into the long porch, onto the long path which lay in the gardens that adorned the front of the mansion, and to the gates.

"Stop," said the guards. "No one is allowed to leave."

"Wait…" Hide said, trying to dodge the poking spear. "I, er… Gotta go for my date……Owch!"

"No one is allowed to leave. It's Gackt's orders."

Hide sighed, and with his head low, turned.

"Ah, found you!" Heath was running down the porch. "Hide, come back with me…"

His hand was grabbed by Heath. "Wha…"

"Come with me. I have something to tell you."

***

His eyes widened as shock registered in his personal computer up there. "Yu… Yoru wants… to kill me…?"

"Yes!" Heath hissed, nodding his head. "He knew… How I felt for you… He was jealous."

"Jealous…? Why?" Hide asked, without even knowing what Heath had just said.

"Because I love you. And not him." Heath told him. "Hurry, he might find us some time now…"

"What… What can I do?"

"I'll hide you. Hide, don’t worry! I'll protect you!" He held Hide closer, and grasped Hide's hand. "Come on!"

He began to drag Hide away. "Wait… Where are we going?"

***

The maid's chambers opened. Shoko sat, on her bed, her small form leaning against the wall, a unhomely candle light burning, in the dark little unhomely room. She tried to gain what she could of the little light, cuddling herself against the candle, trying to make sense of the dim characters of the library book which Mana had sneaked out of her bedroom for her. She did, barely, and uttered aloud, "Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?"

"…Deny thy father and refuse thy name! If Romeo were, were he not Romeo call'd…"

A knock sounded on the bedroom door. "Shoko… Shoko!"

She went to open it, and saw Heath, the Obligator standing there, with the new spirit which the Balance had adopted.

"Yes, Heath-sama?" she said, her face looking at Heath's belt, not daring to look up.

"Can I come in?"

Shoko gasped, thinking of the what the other maids told her of what Yoru and Heath had done some nights before. "No… Please, no…"

Heath's eyes widened. "No, I'm not here to do this! Damnit, let me in first and I'll tell you."

She nodded, and humbly opened the door, still fearful. Heath and Hide entered, and Hide marveled at the loneliness of the chambers compared to his. He saw Shoko, and noticed that she was the one who had wiped his table that morning.

Silently he entered, and watched as Heath told Shoko a little bit of his encounters, and whatnot. "Yoru is still looking for him," Heath finished, obviously at a loss, "And he is my master, in my blood's orders, I can't defy him."

Shoko nodded, and said, "Don't worry, Heath-sama! I'll protect him all that I can…"

Hide's eyes wandered over to a book at the corner of the bed. "Hey Shoko-chan you read Shakespeare's too?"

Heath and Shoko both looked at the rudely interrupting spirit. "Er, yes, I do…"

"But, where did you get the book?" Heath eyed Shoko suspiciously. "I know no one but Gackt-sama and Mana have access to them."

"No… Er," She stammered. "I… Mana… She lent me the book…"

"Mana? You know Mana?" Heath pestered.

"Eh… Yes…"

"Good, Mana should be able to help. Bring Hide to Mana while I keep Yoru back! Hurry up… I know I will not be able to hold him back for long." Heath said, shaking Shoko at her shoulders.

"I… I promise."

Heath swung the door open and sprinted away.

"You're… You're Hide, right?" Shoko asked, a bit timidly.

"Hai." Hide replied. "You're Shoko? I also like Shakespeare. It's been around existant before I was born, but once I went into a classroom to explore around a bit, I heard the students having a small Shakespeare play. It was very romantic. Romeo And Juliet, the play's name. Same as the book you are reading."

Shoko smiled, tightly, and said, "Come on, Hide. I promised Heath-sama. I'll bring you to Mana-sama!"

Hide nodded, and Shoko ran towards the door. "Follow me!"

Hide followed, as they raced down the stairs, along the corridor, down another flight of stairs, turned around god-knows-how-many corners. Shoko collapsed onto the carpeted floor, panting.

***

Yoru was going near the maid chambers to have a look.

"Stop!" He turned, and saw that it was Heath.

"What the fuck, shouting at me like that," Yoru muttered. "One day, Heath! I will show you who to love!"

Heath shook his head. "You cannot compare with that spirit," He said, with tears in his eyes. "Even if he doesn't love me, I still love him."

"Heath!" Yoru cried out, "Why…"

"There is no why," Heath smiled sadly, and drew his energies.

Yoru took out his spiked club, and they fought. It was quite some time, and Heath finally, at the final blow, fell under Yoru's hands.

"Heath… Heath!" Yoru shouted, forgetting his madness, throwing away his club. "I… I..!"

"Yoru… Sa… Ma… …" Heath uttered, under his breath, drawing all that is left of his life force. "My… Mas… Ter…"

"Heath! Keep quiet! I will take you to Kozi the healer, and you will be fi…"

Heath's finger paused at his lips. "Sorry… Yoru-sa… Mmma… I am sorry… …"

The finger at Yoru's lips fell to the floor, and Yoru cried. It was the first time he had cried for anyone, any time. It was a single tear, but he had never felt for anyone before, not even when his blood was cursed by Gackt-sama, to be with Heath. Heath, too, had been cursed, they had been meant to be together. Forever…

He carried Heath, carefully, Heath's battered arm dangling from the support of Yoru's hands, and Yoru ran away, back to his chambers, to the place that they had share all his treasured times with.

"Heath… Heath!"

***

"Are you okay?" Hide rushed up to help Shoko.

"No… I'm fine." She stood up, and continued to run forward, limply. Hide followed, and soon they came to a beautiful grand door. No one was near, and Shoko knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

"Shoko…"

"Who is that spirit behind you?"

"I am Hide!" Hide shouted, knocking on the door. "Heath, he told Shoko to bring me here."

"Come on in." The liquidy voice replied, and Hide opened the door, and saw the fairy lady he had seen that morning. "I have been expecting you."

Hide entered, as if cautiously, and she… no, he gestured for them to sit down.

"Heath, he must have known since he last saw you at the lake…" Mana sighed. "Gackt-sama knew about it, and that was why when you were finally allowed at the conference he called for you."

Mana's lips quivered slightly. Hide sat there, unmoving, not sure of what to do. "When… Since when?"

"A long time ago." Mana looked at Hide directly. "Even before the lakes were polluted."

"Even… Before?" Hide gasped. "I was still a kid then!"

Mana nodded. "Love is regardless of age."

"But… Why…"

"Love is regardless of reason, status, anything. Love is regardless."

Shoko nodded. "Now, what should we do?"

"I will take care of Hide. Shoko, I propose you stay by my side for safety's measures. I will think of a way."

***

Yoru placed Heath down onto the soft carpet he had lain on the bed. "Heath…"

The pale man lay peacefully, on it, as beautiful as ever.

"Why… Why should this happen to you…" Another tear, the second for the day, rolled down his cheek, and fell onto Heath's lips. "I… My one and only love…"

He bent down, and kissed him one last time, on the lips, fully. He savored it for a moment, tasting it for eternity, remembering his lover for eternity.

"I love you." He got up, and wondered, to himself… Who should he hate? No… Not himself. One should never hate himself. Then, who to hate? He had killed Heath, with his own hands. No… Not himself… He should hate… "Hide."

***

This is before the time the lakes were polluted, and before Heath took on the role as the successing Obligator to fulfil the curse in his blood.

Heath was walking along a path in the forest, he was seldom free to be allowed to come out. He finally had the status to come out to the forest, to take a deep breath of the fresh forest air. Spirits shunned his way as he strolled by, and he wondered why. But, after all, he was the Obligator's successor. It made him feel kind of lonely, not just to be a regular spirit or fairy or even elf. But to be of a unknown blood.

He sighed. He wanted to be normal so much. But no matter what, he was not, and never would be.

It began raining. The spirits all went to dodge the rain, and it made him feel much better. The rain was beautiful, as lonely as he, except for the water spirits which danced about, making their day. He continued along the path, and came to the lake.

The fateful lake which had made his fate, molded it.

He saw a little spirit by the lake. Even human beings were not around, but the little thing had changed into super deformed version just to prevent people with extra psychic powers to see him. That way, spirits would be less detectable. If spirits in the rain did not turn super deformed, they would become less powerful during the time that they were wet, thus less "invisible".

He walked up to the lake, and watched as the rain pelted down onto the lake, expecting the little spirit to fly away at his presence. However, the little thing did not go away. He approached Heath, and asked, "Why are you out here in the rain?"

Heath looked at him, surprised. "I… What's wrong with the rain?"

"What…?Aren't you a spirit? Spirits don't like rains."

"Then why are you here?"

"I like the rain…"

"Well…" Heath thought for a while. "Why are you super deformed? There is no human beings around. Turn back to your old form, and let me see how you actually look like!"

"But…" Sighing, He nodded, and with a bright light visible only to Heath, turned back to his original form. He was only three and a half feet tall, but stunningly beautiful. To Heath.

"You… What's your name?"

"Hide!" Hide smiled. "What's yours?"

"Um, Taiji!"

"Taiji…" Hide uttered.

"Hide, what would you do if the successor of the Obligator likes rain?"

"Hmm… I think I learnt it since long ago. Lessee…" Hide recounted his years' learnings. "The Obligator is…"

Heath laughed. "No… Not asking you who is the Obligator. If, the person whom you are speaking to right now, likes the rain, and he is the person to succeed the original Obligator, what will you do?"

Hide thought for a moment. "Even so… He must be a very good person because he likes the rain." Hide smiled cutely at Heath. "I like the rain!"

Heath smiled, his heart warming up.

"Taiji, why are you out here?"

"Um? I like the rain too, Hide!"

"Why?"

"Because, it is beautiful and lonely."

The rain was fast to stop. They continued to talk, until Pata came to look for Hide. "Hide, the recess is over! Hurry up unless you want to stand in the corridor for another half an hour!"

"Oh, no!" He stood up and ran to Pata, as they ran away. He turned back, and waved, "Bye, Taiji!"

They were in the class, panting, glad to be in time for another long lecture. The old fairy guy droned on and on, and Hide found his mind wandering over to Taiji and the rain.

"Hide! Hiiiide!"

"Hey, Hide, Hide! Psssst!" Pata, who was sitting beside him, hissed at him as the old fairy guy stared at him.

"Huh? No, I'm not asleep, sir, I was listening!" Hide stood up, shaking.

The classmates sniggered a bit.

"How do you solve this problem?"

"Erm, erm…" Hide was starting to sound like a kettle.

"So you weren't listening! Take position eight!"

Hide groaned, went back to his seat and took the chair. He placed it on his table, got onto the chair, and held his books over his head. Pata slapped his forehead and sighed.

Meanwhile, outside the classroom, Heath was watching. What exactly was Hide thinking of? Him? He blushed a little. Someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind.

"Taiji!" Heath exclaimed, seeing his bigger brother.

"I saw you just now! You were talking with that little spirit… What's his name?"

"Hide… Kawaii little guy ne."

"Look you're blushing!"

Heath blushed redder. "Am not!"

"You must treat me tonight ah!" Taiji said. "You used my name just now."

Heath smiled and said nothing. 'I'd prefer him to remember me as someone else,' he thought, a pain growing in his heart.

***

"What is this?" Hide made a face, as he looked into the mirror. "This is… Inhuman!"

"Sorry! Please bear with it for a while," Shoko said, as she finally finished rubbing the dirt on.

"This is…" Hide looked carefully. He reminded himself of a GIRL! "Actually, pretty good…" He grinned.

Shoko sweatdropped and backed away as Mana stepped in. "How is it going?"

"Not bad." Hide said, fingering his chin. "I never knew I have the potential to be-- um…"

Mana's face lightened. "Nothing wrong, Hide. Come, let's go."

Hide nodded and followed as Mana lead them out of the room, beyond the corridors, and finally out of the gate. He took hold of Hide, and making sure that Shoko flew well, landed onto the ground. It was night on earth, as the spirits were peacefully gathered in small groups, doing their own things. Hide wondered why all of a sudden after it was day, it became night. He shrugged, carefully, pretending to be a servant.

***

Yoru searched all over for that bastard of a spirit, but found naught. He had made sure he combed every single chamber, every single corner. Every place that he was allowed, that is.

Fuming, he went out of the castle to have a walk in the gardens. He saw as Mana left with two servants. Mana usually did not even go out of the castle. Why and where would he go now? Something was wrong.

He ran back to look for Gackt.

"Gackt-sama--"

"Yes?"

"Why is Mana leaving the castle? I know that he has a high position, but no one is allowed unless--"

"I know. I agreed." Gackt said, looking into Yoru's eyes. "How are things?"

"Fine," Yoru replied gruffly. "May I have a leave too?"

"Why?"

"I have to look for someone," He said, knowing that there is a possibility, as his senses told him, that Hide could have already left. BESIDES, the servant following Mana was a wee bit too tall for the girls in the mansion, and the servants were girls.

Gackt smiled coldly. "Are you sure, it is not yourself whom you are looking for."

Yoru tensed, his blood seemingly froze.

"I allow."

***

Hide trudged on, behind Mana. Suddenly, he stopped, and turned to face them.

"Shoko, stay with him, protect him…" Something was not right with Mana. Sweat was beading down his face, and he was paler than usual. "I'll have to go back now…"

Without a word, Mana vanished, just like that, into thin air. Both of them were too stunned to move for a brief moment.

"What… What should we do now?" Shoko looked at Hide, who gave a brief shrug.

They took a few bothered paces, before Hide finally thought of someone… "Yoshiki…?"

Yoshiki's house was just nearby. If he could see Yoshiki one last time… He was the only bondage to the world. He wanted to tell him that he was sorry for not going to meet his appointment that day. Then, they could look for Pata, and Pata might be able to help.

He began to run, past trees and it was not long before he came to a small town. It was somewhere at the edge of the town, he remembered. He looked at a few houses, then finally remembered the door which he and Yoshiki had stopped by. He looked up, at the house, and wondered how he could reach Yoshiki. He could not just knock on the door and ask for Yoshiki, could he?

***

Yoshiki tossed and turned in bed, his tears still wet on his pillow. He was thinking of Hide, all that moments since the night started, and he missed him. Three days had seemed like three decades. Soon he would be getting white hair. He sighed, and wondered what Hide was doing right now. Was Hide even thinking of him? Would Hide miss him as much as he was missing him now?

His tears had been drained that his eyes were reminding himself of Sonic the Hedgehog's. The sunlight that illuminated the corners of the bedroom only illuminated loneliness and worry in him. A dull ache in his chest refused to retreat, and yet another tear rolled down, onto the pillow.

He slapped himself hard, leaving a slightly angry red mark against his pale cheek, but another tear wetted the pillow. He should have been worrying about whether Hide was alright! But all that he was thinking of were how much he himself was missing him. Weakly, he turned yet another time in bed, and finally got up. The moon was bright outside, even though he could not see the stars. Carefully so as not to knock over anything in the darkness, his hand touched the frosty window. It was getting warmer outside.

He opened the window, took a deep breath, still gazing at the moon. Pata had said that the Balance's home existed high up above. It must have been very beautiful then, and in his imagination stood a tall mighty castle among the clouds, the moonlight shining overhead.

He opened the window, feeling the warmth of the night air creep up into his face, surrounding all of himself that was not in the room. For a moment, he felt as if he was between two worlds.

Another tear dropped from his face, blown away by the wind.

"Hide… I love you!" He declared, knowing that no one would know of his heart beat. He looked at the necklace which he was wearing. "Hide…"

***

Mana appeared back in Gackt's room, sweat still dropping down his brow.

"I warned you, Mana, of the wards I have placed in your blood to prevent you from escaping." Gackt said, his face seemingly impassionate.

"Gackt-sama…" Mana whispered. "I am sorry… I wanted to help the little spirit, and Heath."

"So you knew all along, too."

"Gackt, there is nothing about you that I do not know."

Gackt smiled, this time a bit warmly, and took hold of Mana. He began kissing him, breathing one breath together. He made it last long, until both of them were breathless, and he, gasping, looked deep into Mana's eyes. "What is in your mind… Mana…"

Mana closed his eyes. "Take me, all that I have is yours. For now."

"You said that." Gackt said, his eyes betraying his sadness. He kissed him again, this time less vigorously, gently, even perhaps lovingly. His lips moved to Mana's jawline, his tongue teasing the sharp edge of it. Mana's hand pressed close to his chest, and for all he knew, Mana could have killed him to get his freedom back. But he did not care. He had waited for long, so long…

*~*~*~*~*~Note: From now onwards begins the lemon part. Please skip it if you cannot bear lemon fics… Watch out for "end lemon" to continue reading.*~*~*~*~*~*~

His lips traced down Mana's neck, his tongue savoring the salty sweetness of his skin. He traced it down, his mouth exploring the sexy crevices of Mana, his mind filling itself with the task of his own desire. Tasting, twirling, his tongue worked itself with its own will.

Mana's hand rested at the back of his neck, as he proceeded, down, moans extracted from his loved one. 'Kill me, Mana, if you want…' he thought feverishly as his tongue twirled and teased Mana's skin. Mana's hands moved, so that he could have broken his neck, just by a single move. 'Nothing is better than to die in your hands.'

Mana's hands slipped so that his arm was embracing Gackt's head.

"I don't want to kill you, Gackt-sama."

Gackt stopped kissing him for a moment, as tears formed in his eyes. They were a little, and refusing to drop or even be seen. Afterall, he was the Balance. Feelingless.

But Mana, he saw that. "What's in your mind?"

Gackt closed his eyes, escaping from Mana's gaze. "Nothing."

Mana's hands, silky and smooth, cupped Gackt's face, his long fingers caressing his cheek. "Nothing?"

Gackt refused to open his eyes. Mana bent down and savored his lips, tasting his sweet lover.

"Your heart is bleeding."

"Shut up," Gackt said, and held Mana closer. Mana's eyes opened wider in shock, and he nuzzled his face against Gackt's head. The soft hair, brown and smooth, embraced his lonely skin. Gackt began to lift Mana up, hoisting him by his slim waist, and carried him over to the space in front of the piano. He began to kiss him again, on the lips, his tongue forcing his ways in to Mana's mouth, so that both of their tongues embraced each other.

They kissed deeper, and Mana's back slammed into the piano keys, much to their surprise. Wild music played and Gackt leaned forward, causing Mana to lie against the piano, and Gackt stopped kissing him. His deft fingers began to undo Mana's laces and silk, exposing more and more of his smooth flawless skin to the air. He kissed his chest, softly, hungrily, as his hands continued to undo Mana's suit.

Mana lay back against the piano, writhing with pleasure under Gackt's touch, under Gackt's devouring. 'love… what is love?'

Finally Mana's top was undone, and Gackt moved to undo his skirt. His tongue played against the small of his stomach, into his mind… Mana gasped again, his body tenser and tenser.

'He is feelingless. Yet I love him.'

His skirt dropped to the floor, and now Gackt began to nudge exposure to Mana's whole body, and he kissed lower, lower…

'But, now, just one time, let me dream.'

Gackt was done with his undressing, and he moved down, more and more, avoiding Mana's half erection, tasting the places around it, his mind nothing but of Mana.

Mana, quivering with pleasure, gasped music into Gackt's ears as piano sounds became more and more peaceful. His legs shook.

Gackt left him wanting. He stood up, and removed his own clothes. Soon, he was standing in front of Mana, his pale body shining with its own light as Mana felt his length grow.

He kissed, took hold of Mana, and hurled him over so that his own back was facing the piano. He kissed, more and more, on the Mana's back., while Mana gasped again and again.

'Gackt, I am all yours even if you do not want to be mine. I will be nobody else's.'

Gackt took hold of Mana, his tongue finding its way along Mana's spinal cord. His finger caressed Mana's butt, which made Mana shiver more, and then his finger went in, his sharp nails scratching Mana. Mana cried out, pain shooting from his hole, his knees buckling. Gackt continued to kiss Mana's neck, and nibbled his ears, while another finger went in, drawing blood. Mana cried out again, this time more in pain, and fell down while Gackt withdrew his fingers. Gackt's other hand held on to Mana so that he would not land too hard, and Mana went on all fours.

Gackt kissed his back again, another more finger, developing his own rhythm, as Mana's breaths grew more and more ragged. Mana cried out again, as, finally, Gackt drew in another finger. Gackt moved so that his other hand held Mana's semi erection, and began to fondle it, his hand working deftly to make Mana come. He stroked himself for a moment, so that he was fully erect, as he thrusted it in, one, two, three, one, two, three…

He was losing his rhythm as he finally became fully penetrated in Mana, his heat close to his body, his hands working on Mana's length, as he came in Mana. After his few minutes of estacy, Mana came, too, in his hands, wetting his hands and the carpet with his fluid. He could not hear Mana's cries of both agony and seduction, as he withdrew, and Mana fell, onto the floor, lying sideways.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~End lemon~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Gackt picked Mana up, his own form tired, as he lay Mana down on the bed, and pulled the sheets over Mana's frail body.

***

Hide walked around the house one round, his mind still full of question marks, while Shoko tagged along. He stopped, his hand frustratedly scratching his head, still unable to think of what to do. Suddenly, a drop of water dropped on his hand.

He looked up, hoping that he could ask the water spirits to not rain on him just as he was on the run. Before he could yell aloud at them, he saw Yoshiki in the window in front of him. His heart skipped a beat as he remembered what he did with Heath. It was a regret!

Suddenly…

"Hide… I love you! Hide…" Yoshiki was looking at the necklace that he was wearing.

"Yoshiki?" Hide's heart beat furiously against his chest.

Yoshiki looked from his necklace to Hide. "Hide…?" He blushed furiously, and turned around. "No, I…"

"Yoshiki…? You really mean that?"

"NO! I…! I…" Yoshiki shook his head, his mind blank, fearful that Hide would not accept him. It had been too fast. His hands clasped the sunflower at his chest.

"I love you too." Hide yelled, not at the top of his lungs, gently, wishing for Yoshiki to hear. "I really… I… I didn't mean to stand you up today. I was not allowed to go out of the castle."

Yoshiki turned around, joy registering on his lips, his heart like a fetish cat on the run, his mind reeling, looking at Hide. "I know. Pata told me that. I… I am sorry… I missed you so much… But I thought more about that than your safety… I am selfish…"

"Can I come up?" Hide asked.

Yoshiki nodded, not facing Hide. Hide flew up, much to the surprise of Yoshiki, and a hand took Yoshiki's chin.

Shoko remained on the ground and looked away.

"I missed you too. You missed me because you loved me. There is nothing wrong with that. I love you too. And I missed you."

"Hide…"

Yoshiki "Yoshiki…" Hide's eyes looked deep into Yoshiki's and closed his eyes. Yoshiki closed his too, and they kissed, deeply, before Hide broke away and turned to look at Shoko.

She was walking away, and Hide smiled softly.

"What are you looking at?"

"Nothing." Hide smiled, a bit mischievously. Yoshiki looked so beautiful tonight that his heart ached to remember the night he had with Heath. He regretted it. But it was quite an experience. He reminded himself of hentai, and softly smiled a bit.

He had to admit, he was nervous. But. He pushed Yoshiki onto the bed, his eyes gazing into Yoshiki's beautiful ones.

He realized what he was doing.

'I loved him. And I want to remember him, all that he is, before I have to depart…'

He was shaking, but he leaned down to kiss Yoshiki. His heart pounding like a old coughing engine, and still shaking, his face red with some embarrassment, he took Yoshiki in a deep kiss. Or, at least as deep as he could. He was just a beginner.

*~*~*~*~*~Note: From now onwards begins the lemon part. Please skip it if you cannot bear lemon fics… Watch out for "end lemon" to continue reading.*~*~*~*~*~*~

They gasped for breath as their lips connected, the kiss still deep, passionate, as Hide's tongue played over Yoshiki's. Hide began to kiss out of his mouth, trailing from his lips to his ears, carefully. He was not very skilled with his tongue, and felt sort of weird about it so he just sucked and lipped Yoshiki's face, on his forehead, feeling the delicate contours of his face with his mouth.

Everything that he had thought about before. Every little detail, intricately thought out, was also carried out. He went over to Yoshiki's ears, feeling less shy now, more aroused, and he licked Yoshiki's ears, wetting the ear thoroughly.

"Hide…?"

"Yoshiki…" he whispered into his ears, softly, and traced his way down to his neck

"No, Hide, stop…"

"Why…?"

"Why do you do this…?"

"I…" Hide shrugged, as he went back to kissing Yoshiki. His trembling hands undid the belt of the soft thin kimono he was wearing, his hands feeling the body heat of Yoshiki in the air conditioned room.

"I…" Yoshiki began, but Hide shut him up with a kiss.

"I know what I am doing."

He unveiled the kimono, gently, revealing the silky smooth skin which most probably had not seen the sun for at least a decade (hide: "I bet you ten bucks!" hidoko: ^^; Ignore the guy and continue w/ your story!) or so. His heart skipped a bit, and he realized that Yoshiki was not wearing anything underneath. The delicateness of Yoshiki's aura overwhelmed him with such beauty that he would have sworn he was right to reject Heath, much as the guy had done for him.

He kissed the skin, his lips drawing freshness to the paleness. He was unsure of what to really do next, so he nudged Yoshiki over so that he was now fully lying on the bed, and he got onto the bed and kissed Yoshiki again on the lips, and to gaze into Yoshiki's eyes.

He found tears falling from Yoshiki's eyes. 'Damn! I had gone too fast!' His thoughts raced as he realized that Yoshiki would not be ready for him yet, just as he had not been for Heath for the first time. And Yoshiki was not getting submitted too fast.

"Yoshiki…?"

Yoshiki broke out in tears, as he turned so that he was not facing Hide.

"I… I'm sorry! I…. I…" Hide stammered, his hands shaking.

"Why…"

"Because I want you. And only you." Hide replied, earnestly, and placed a hand on Yoshiki's forehead, brushing away stray hair. "Forgive me, I will take it slower."

He leaned down to kiss him again, on the cheek, as Yoshiki closed his eyes, choking back sobs.

He kissed him some more, and nervously he got up. His hands moved to stroke Yoshiki's flawless muscles, with a new sense of fascination that he had. He wondered, how come Yoshiki's body heat felt so good against his hands, and his shape? He stroked him lightly, his slim fingers playing with Yoshiki's nipples for a while, making Yoshiki gasp, before he left it erected for the other one. Yoshiki gasped again, his body on fire despite himself.

Hide smiled softly as he watched Yoshiki stiffen under his hands. Yoshiki was even more fragile than he had been. His mind began to smile, too, as he allowed his hands to travel further, to the sides of Yoshiki's, tickling him. Yoshiki choked and gasp for a moment, both with pleasure and ticklishness which he had been tortured with.

Hide laughed softly, and moved down to finger Yoshiki's belly button, feeling the crevices. Yoshiki gave a tiny startled gasp, as Hide got amazed by Yoshiki's reactions. He was learning fast! He smiled to himself, as his hands roamed up again, lovingly and more in a dizzy trance, making their marks, leaving moist pleasure running from Yoshiki's brows, as his hot body tensed under Hide's hands.

Their minds began to burn, as Hide grew more ecstatic and Yoshiki began to grow less reluctant. Yoshiki had not been ready. It was close to being seduced to a rape. But, did he love him? He had been thinking about him each day that he was gone, been to the lake each day hoping that he would see him again. He thought of himself, trying to forget the selfishness that made him feel so unworthy. With tears in his eyes, he finally gazed at Hide, with a sense of lost in his eyes, yet so full of love for Hide and only for him.

Hide did not notice it.

Yoshiki moaned again, as Hide's hands roamed down again, caressing each and every inch of his fragile perfect soul. Hide's expression was unreadable, as he found himself sweating.

Finally, he stopped, and looked up at Yoshiki, his sweat dripping down his brow, his heart pounding softly against his chest, with the love pounding softly within it.

"Hide--" Yoshiki whispered, his tears streaming down, his sweat mixing with it. "Hide--"

Hide began to get more and more worried. "Why are you crying?"

"I love you--" Yoshiki choked, as he shook against his grasp. Hide took hold of Yoshiki, hugging him, as they sat there for a moment, their hearts beating in one beat of their own.

"I love you too."

Yoshiki smiled tensely, happily, his tears now reassured. "Hide…"

Hide looked at Yoshiki, a bit puzzled. "Eh?"

"Please let me have a chance to return you the pleasure you gave me…" Yoshiki said earnestly, and Hide was overwhelmed by the genuity of his love. Hide nodded, closing his eyes, leaning forward to kiss Yoshiki on the lips once again, and both of them lay down on the queen-sized bed. Yoshiki closed his eyes, nervously, swallowing, and opened them again. He began to undo Hide's servant robe, his hands trembling, yet determined. The soft robe slid down, off Hide's chest once it was set free, and Yoshiki blushed deeper as Hide raised his arms a bit to aid his undressing.

Hide was so carelessly sexy. Even as he lay there, Yoshiki could feel the heat building up between them. He wanted to tell him that he loved him, wanted to tell him more than he could. Yet telling him of his love was so minor compared to how much he felt. His heart pained more and more at the sheer colorful beauty of Hide's presence, and his hands hesitated a little. Hide opened his eyes and smiled as he stared lovingly at him, his heart beating with glee.

This made Yoshiki blush more, as he pulled it down and down, and soon Hide was finally rid of all his clothes. Yoshiki blushed at the thought of caressing Hide's body, but was calmed down as Hide leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. Yoshiki smiled sweetly, his heart warming up and calming down. His shivering hand reached forward, and touched Hide's nose, making Hide's eyebrow arch in surprise. His hands traced down to his lips, and then to his jaws, as if seeing with his hands. Hide smiled as Yoshiki's trembling hand traced down to his chest, softly, fingering the contours.

Yoshiki stopped and then looked up again, as Hide lay there purring like a cat, and their eyes caught. Yoshiki blushed further, but Hide said, "You're doing just well, Yoshiki…"

Hide leaned over and kissed him on the forehead, and Yoshiki's mind calmed down more, reassured. Of everything, of whatever it is…

He le his hands roam down some more, his hands feeling every sense of Hide, his mind trying to register that presence of his. His hands roamed down more, and Hide's purr grew louder, Yoshiki's heart beating faster. Yoshiki stole a glance at Hide's length, and blushed more. Hide noticed Yoshiki's discomfort, and smiled at him, getting up and holding Yoshiki by his shoulders.

He kissed him on the forehead, then planted another in between his brows, onto his nose, his mouth, his left cheek… He stopped short, and remembered as Heath did him. He slid himself down the mattress, rustling the sheets a little, and began to let his fingers roam around Yoshiki's lower stomach, and more and more down. His heart began to beat more and more, he was not really sure he could handle that anymore… Thinking had been easier than doing.

His mind reeled when Yoshiki began to gasp with pleasure, louder and more. He sighed to himself and his hands began to rub Yoshiki's thigh. He realized that he himself was blushing, but he continued, his hands going in between his legs, tracing the curve of the body up to his butt… He stopped short, hearing Yoshiki's gasps again and again, his crying out in his ears. Yoshiki was slick with sweat already, which made him all the more sexy, and his expression looked like it was of pain.

"Yoshiki… Am I hurting you…?"

Yoshiki looked at him, nervously. "No… Don't stop…"

Hide, still a bit unsure, began to stroke his length, faster and faster, till its effect grew to near peak. Hide himself was sweating, both of desire and seduction, pain and pleasure, as he realized that all he had was the present. He realized that Yoshiki was getting wet, and just out of curiosity he cupped his hands around Yoshiki's length, his fingers embracing his tip.

In that moment, his mind began to fill with pleasure and pain, bitterness and sweetness, tragic and miracle. It was all in that moment… Hide's hands began to let go as his mind began to clear, and he felt foggy, so foggy… Hide gave him a nudge, and Yoshiki realized that the guy had the same need. Groggily, he pulled himself up, cleared his mind a bit. He… it had felt so good… What was the magic that Hide had cast on him?

He let his hands roam about Hide again, this time his mind taking on a clearer angle, feeling Hide's hip bone, his smooth skin. He blushed deeper, as he reached his erection, but he needed to let Hide experience the same magic. There was the want… No, the need…

Silently, he caught hold of Hide's length, and began to stroke it. Hide moaned with pleasure as Yoshiki's touch went, surely and steadily, but nervously. He wondered how Hide had did him, and the thought made him blush some more. He ran his fingers around, about, and, in hope that he was doing it right, wrapped his hands around Hide's erection, looking at Hide as he arched in pleasure. Yoshiki realized, that something was surging into his hands… And it was getting all wet. What was it? He wondered, and looked at Hide's hands, which were clutching the sheets.

He realized what had happened, and blushed more. Hide began to go slack on the sheets, but got up after he gathered the strength to do it. He kissed Yoshiki again, hugging him, and laid both their tired forms to sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~End lemon~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

***

Shoko was sitting under the tree, shivering from coldness. She thought of Yoshiki, as he had told Hide that he loved him, and smiled to herself. It was so sweet! She sighed for a moment, and wished that she had her Romeo And Juliet book with her. She wondered what would happen to the pair next, as she curled herself under the tree, and closed her eyes.

Finally, she was asleep, under the moonlight. Blissfully…

A hand covered her mouth, as she opened her eyes in shock, but it was too late. Someone carried her away, despite her struggles.

***

Hide woke up, groggily, and saw Yoshiki beside him, sleeping, the sunlight reflecting off his beautiful curls. He smiled peacefully, enjoying the eye in the middle of the hurricane which was circling his life at that moment. He closed his eyes again, wishing that the moment would not go, but opened them again. He knew that he had to get going if he did not want to get Yoshiki into trouble as well.

He got up, trying not to rustle the sheets, but Yoshiki opened his beautiful eyes. "Hide…"

"Yoshiki…" He sighed, feeling his own heart break and fall away, as he kissed Yoshiki one last time. "Sleep, Yoshiki, I am here… Not going anywhere…"

Yoshiki nodded slightly and closed his eyes again, drifting back into sleep.

Hide closed his eyes, shook his head, and picked up his clothes. He opened the window, looked back one last time at Yoshiki's peaceful sleeping form, and flew out of the window.

***

Pata nodded anxiously. "I… I'll try to help."

"But… Whatever I do and go, please don't tell Yoshiki, okay…?"

Pata rested his hand on Hide's shoulder. "Why?"

"I…"

"But, Wouldn't Yoshiki be left in the dark? Don't you think it is not fair to him?"

"I…"

"He loves you! Do you know how much he had missed you while you were gone, and how he cried? Do you want him to cry some more? Have a heart, Hide!"

Hide shook his head. "I can't… I don't want Yoshiki to cry anymore… That's why!"

Pata shook his head, his brows ceased in distress. "I fail to see the logic of it."

"You will, someday…" Hide looked sad enough to break his friend's heart. "I…"

Pata sighed. "Fine, you idiot. But, if you make him cry again, I will kill you."

Hide smiled wryly. "Fine! Kill me! Where's the M16?"

Pata smiled, too, and patted his shoulder. "You are my best friend, Hide. I don't want to see you hurt."

"Yea, neither do I." Hide replied, in good nature.

They chatted some more, joking and laughing, as they went over to the lakes. "Stay here," Pata told him. "He will never look here."

"But…?"

"Yea, I know, you grew up here. But come with me, here's a very good hide out." Pata said, and led him to a thick dense growth. Hide gasped as Pata shoved the greenery which obscured the opening of the cave, and Hide followed. The growth swung back into their original places easily, concealing any trail of track.

Hide realized, as they walked in some more, that there was a passage leading somewhere at the back. It was a passage leading to a river inside the mountain, the luminous algae growing at the sides, lighting the entire place up in magic. Pata smiled, as he watched as Hide's aura lit up in delight. Hide caught Pata's eyes, and smiled at Pata.

"This is beautiful!"

Pata smiled, as he watched the waterfall on one side flow to become a straight river for a few meters, and then disappear down the edge as another waterfall. The water itself was luminous green, beautifully illustrated. A log would flow down from the waterfall once every now and then, and the other side had some stone steps and a rock door.

"What's there?" Hide asked Pata, pointing to the entrance, but Pata shook his head.

"I've never been there either. This place is devoid of spirits… Have you not noticed?"

Hide's eyes grew in shock as he realized how spooky it was despite the beauty of it. "Why… What happened…? It's not polluted or anything… Is it?"

"No… A nuclear power station nearby had an accident some time ago, and the spirits here could not survive or did not want to live here anymore. This mountain is totally deserted."

Hide nodded, sadly. Humans have done so many things to the Earth, their own home! Even the spirits would not want to stay anymore… But it was all their home. Why would the humans ruin the earth like this? Tears loomed his eyes, as he gazed at the beautiful water.

"That's also why the algae here is unlike what we have seen times ago… It's been mutated because of the nuclear explosion."

Hide closed his eyes, wondering about Yoshiki. What would he do…? If he had realized what he was doing as a human… He thought of the time when they first met, when Yoshiki said that he was fat *and* cute… He smiled. He was sure, Yoshiki's heart would be beautiful. But…

When would they meet again…?

He opened his eyes to see Pata looking worried at him. "Don't worry, you'll be fine."

Hide nodded, and, something lighted up at the back of his head. "Shoko!!"

"Shoko?"

"The… The girl who came with me…"

"Girl? What girl?" Pata was looking confused.

"What if… What if anything happened to her?" Hide looked at Pata worriedly.

"How does she look like?"

"She's this tall, about.. .Very pretty, and very pale…" Hide said, while demonstrating with his hands.

Pata shook his head. "This won't do. Are you sure she hasn't gone back?"

Hide thought for a while. "Come to think of it…"

"Don't worry too much."

Hide nodded, and Pata gave him a thumbs up sign and went away.

***

"Mana…" Gackt woke up to find Mana's eyes looking into his in a dream he had never known. Had always existed, but had never known.

"N…?"

Gackt shook his head slightly, not wanting to move. He gazed some more into Mana's eyes, his heart throbbing in a hidden desire.

Just because he was the Balance, he was supposed to have no feeling. But, if he had no feeling, what was the pain in his heart? What was it he had seen while looking at Mana? He asked himself, without knowing what to answer. Just because he was Balance, he could not love. Love was a forbid in his blood.

Mana got up, rustling the sheets. Gackt's pain was indescribable as the weight of Mana lifted from the mattress.

Mana spoke.

"I wonder how is Hide doing now?"

***

Hide paced up and down the damp dank place. His mind was racing, too. "How is Yoshiki? Where is Shoko now? Gods, I miss Yoshiki. I hope…"

Silence. He stopped pacing for a moment and sat down.

"ARRGH!!!" He screamed, letting out his boredness all in one breath. "Damn, must I live like this forever?"

***

Pata had been looking all around for Shoko, but seen no one who fit her description, nor had anyone whom he asked. His head was feeling so achy and that was not the only thing bothering him. In fact, he was wondering how Hide was in that dank place. Hide was not the type to want to stay in a concealed damp nuclear-reacted place. After all, he grew up with that guy. Frustrated, he pounded his foot onto a rock.

"Yeow!" said the rock spirit. "What's the matter with ya, fella?"

Pata got his foot off the rock. "Sorry! Have you seen a girl, this tall, very fair, quite pretty…"

"Girl? What girl? Yesterday, There was this girl, very pretty, she came to sleep by that old pal tree!" The rock spirit beamed. "Does that help?"

"Uh huh," Pata said, not too sure.

"She got carried away by someone though." The rock spirit continued, not looking too happy. "It was Yoru. I'm sure of it. I have been to the meetings…"

"Yoru…" Pata's face paled a wee bit. "Hide!"

He ran, as fast as he could, back to the old cave. "Hide! Hide! Shoko, she's been kidnapped by Yoru!"

Hide immediately woke up from his sleep. "What?!"

"That's true. The rock spirit told me. But I guess even if Yoru wanted to know where you are, he wouldn't be able to know because…"

"What are you talking about! I can't stay here forever, I'd go crazy! And Shoko! I cant leave her in the lurch like that! I've got to save her!"

Pata looked at Hide mildly, knowing that his best friend was angry. "Hide…"

"Come on Pata. Have a heart. She went through all these for me."

Pata hesitated. "Fine."

***

Yoshiki woke up. And the first thing he noticed was that Hide was gone. He was not beside him, not on the bed, there was no trace what so ever. Groggily he crawled out from under the blanket, and saw his kimono somewhere at the end of the bed. He picked it up, and slid into it. He walked around the room a bit, hoping that he would *notice* hide somewhere in the room.

He sat down heavily on the floor, feeling like a little baby ready to bawl. Hide was gone. Maybe, last night had been a hallucination, or it was just for fun. He shook his head, his pain getting more and more obvious. 'No… someone tell me that it was just a dream… I don't want to think and know that Hide didn't love me at all…'

A tear rolled down his cheek, and he wiped it away. Was it his own wishful thinking for Hide to love him, or what? After all, both of them were *men*, and it was against the law of nature to that, and maybe Hide would not want him. Maybe it was just for nothing meaningful.

Awkwardly he got up and went into the bath room for a wash up. He was sure he was late for breakfast, even though they had breakfast pretty late. He went out of the bathroom after he was done, not even caring to look once at the mirror. He did not want to be reminded of himself.

He went down the stairs and greeted his mother. Wearily, he smiled.

"Hi, Yoshiki," she said cheerfully, as her head emerged from the kitchen work. "Breakfast is on the table. Why are you so late today? Oh, look, the food is getting cold."

Yoshiki shook his head. "It looks delicious," He commented without much enthusiasm.

"Why, what's wrong, Yoshiki?"

"If… If I am in love with someone, and that someone does not like me, what should I do?"

"Oh, you're in love!" She gushed. "That's nice. Youth should never be without love… What's her name?"

"Hide."

"Hide. Funny name." She commented. "Hmm. If she's really that good, I'd say go after her, Yoshiki, no matter what! Ah! Youth!"

"Thanks, Mom…" He took a bite of the bacon.

***

'What should we do now?" Hide complained.

"Save Shoko," Pata replied.

"Duh! Like, how?" Hide yelled.

"Quit yellin, Hide, yer givin me a headache."

Hide sighed. He wished he had a trace of where to start about how to rescue Shoko. But, there was none as far as he could think of. And he was still sitting in that old nuclear-reacted place, doing nothing. It was to the death of him. "Grr…"

"We could ask the fellow spirits as we pass by," Pata suggested. "Spirits are everywhere."

"Cept for lousy places like here," Hide muttered. "Okay… What other options are there?"

"Um…" Pata thought for a while. "I don’t think…"

"FINE!" Hide threw his hands up. "FINE!!"

"Where do we start?"

"The old rock place where you said you met the rock spirit."

Pata stood up, and began to walk. Hide followed, and it was soon that they came to the "rock place" as Hide called it.

"Are you sure this is it?"

"Uh…" Pata looked around. "Pretty sure. I'll ask the rock over there."

"Hi fella!" Greeted the rock spirit. "So, did you find the girl?"

Pata sighed. "Nope. In which direction did Yoru leave?"

"That way," The spirit replied, pointing in another direction. "Why are you looking for her? You're spirits too, ain't you?"

"Shoko came with me because I was escaping from Yoru," Hide said. "It was all my fault."

"Oh," the rock spirit replied, and all of a sudden emerged from the rock. It was no longer a cute little rock appearance, but a handsome cowboy-like man of a spirit. "Mind if I join you guys?"

"But…" Pata said.

"I'm sorry to trouble you," Started Hide, but Pata nudged him quiet.

"Don't you *ever* suspect that he might be an acquaintance of Yoru's?" He hissed into Hide's ear.

"Uh," Hide replied, "Nope."

Pata groaned. "Now you get what I mean!"

"What are you whispering about?"

"Nothing," Hide replied.

"Yea, I don't think it's a good idea for you to come."

"Yes," Hide nodded. "Me too. It's very dangerous. Yoru's after me."

"For Heath's and his pleasure? Ah, I remember, weren't you the one who was called by Gackt at the last meeting?"

"NO!" Hide yelled, a wee bit irritated, remembering the night which he shared with Heath.

"Yoru's after his life," Pata explained patiently.

"Not his body," The cowboy-lookalike spirit remarked. "Surprise!"

"Who knows," Pata said good naturedly, but Hide's look kept him from saying more.

"Come on," He begged. "Please, please, please, please, please, please please…"

"Shut up," Hide remarked, "It's very, very, VERY irritating."

"Please, please, please, please, please…"

Pata poked his fingers into his ears. "Leave us alone."

"Please, please, please, please, please, please, please…"

"ARRGH! FINE! FINE!!" Hide yelled at the guy who was trying to look pathetic. "COME ALONG!"

"Thank you," The guy replied. "Hey what's your name?"

"Hide! He's Pata. You?"

"I'm Taiji!"

"Taiji…?" Hide muttered. "Taiji?"

"Aren't you…" Pata blinked. "Hey, Hide, isn't Taiji your old flame?"

"Are you sure you're Taiji?" Hide muttered. "I don't remember your face at all."

"I don't remember you either."

"The Taiji I remember was much younger, but I suppose so because I'm already grown older… Um… Looks a bit like Heath, come to think of it."

"Heath..?" Taiji said. "The Obligator…"

"… … …"

"So… You're that spirit whom my brother was in love with…" He said softly, so that Hide would not hear. "Never mind! Where do we start?"

"Let's start off in that direction," He pointed to where Taiji had pointed to before. "We'll ask the spirits along the way."

***

"Come on, Yoshiki!" The girl said, pulling Yoshiki into the water.

"Uh huh."

"Come on, don't be that glum!"

"Shut up, Komaiko. I didn't ask to come out in the first place had my mother not agreed hastily--"

"Come on! Hey Mum, I'm going out with Yoshiki in that paddling thing, is that okay with you?"

"Yeah, go ahead. Kids," The middle aged lady muttered and went on chatting with Yoshiki's mother.

"Let's go!"

Yoshiki let himself be pulled to the paddling machine. They began pedalling out to the deep sea, all the while Yoshiki thinking about Hide at the back of his mind.

"Don't you think we have come a bit too far out, Komaiko?"

"Come on, Yoshiki it can't--"

A big cruise ship came sailing by, causing the pedaling machine to flip over. Komaiko surfaced easily, but Yoshiki was nowhere to be seen.

"Sorry! We didn't notice you. Stop the ship immediately! There's someone down there--"

"Yoshiki? Yoshiki!"

***

Yoshiki continued sinking, sinking… He should be endangered, yet he was breathing easily. He wondered why? He swam for a few meters under water, going deeper, deeper, enjoying the new found freedom in the waters. It was indeed beautiful, to be down there, swimming carefreely.

Who are you, A voice echoed in his head.

"Wha?" he exclaimed, looking around.

I'm of the same kind as you, the voice continued. Turn around. I am here.

Yoshiki turned around and saw a man clad in robes. He was… Sexy-looking. Yoshiki asked, "Who are you? Why are you here?"

Because I live here.

"But…"

What's your name?

"Yoshiki. Yours?"

Sugizo.

"Sugizo, you've gotta explain this to me. Why is your voice sounding so funny, can't you talk to me the normal way? I'm getting a headache."

I use telepathy, Sugizo replied. You can hear me because we are of the same kind. That is also why you can breathe in the water.

"Oh, I see," He said, smiling freely. "I suppose this is all a dream, RIGHT?"

Nope, this is not a dream, Sugizo was negative about it. I'm really here.

"But… Me? In water, breathing freely and talking to some one as beautiful as you, and moving freely around?" Yoshiki exclaimed, "You're kiddin!"

Like I said, that's because you're of my kind. Listen, you've got to help us. We're going to emerge from the sea and fight with the humans. They are polluting our homes a wee bit too much. Even the spirits are going to help.

"But, wait! If not for those 'humans' as you call them, I would not be here! I'm just a human--"

How can you consider yourself one of them? You're of our kind and our homes are being polluted by them!

Yoshiki sighed. "Well, they've taken me in since I was found by the beach, with my memory lost."

Listen, you're of our kind, the fact that you breathe in the waters tell me that. And it should tell you too. I'll meet you tomorrow, by that wreck over there, okay?

"……Okay. This must be a dream anyway." Yoshiki decided. "By the hull."

***

"The spirits say that Yoru is here," Taiji said, professionally looking at coconut tree. "We'd have to cross the sea though."

"That's no problem," Hide said, "But I'm worried about the fact that Yoru might have gone back."

"Then it would have made our hard work nothing," Pata said, thoughtfully.

"We can't give up! Let's go. Besides, if he went back to the castle, he would not have gone all the way round."

"Fine!" Taiji grinned. "Hurry up, slow coaches! Shoko might have already been dead when you arrive!"

Hide pouted. "Shut up!"

They flew near the beach. The sun was shining overhead and everything was happy for the people on the beach. Suddenly, Hide noticed a particular person. The long wet blonde hair shone in the sunlight, but that was something wrong with the person.

"Yoshiki!" He gasped, as he flew down. As he watched, Yoshiki collapsed onto the beach. Quickly Hide swooped down, as people crowded over Yoshiki. Passing through the people, he quickly became visible to the humans, those who did take notice of his "sudden appearance" were shocked, but they were few and soon forgotten as he squeezed through.

"Yoshiki~! Yoshiki!!" A girl's voice was heard. She was obviously upset, as Hide finally reached the unconscious Yoshiki in the middle of the crowd.

"Yoshiki!" He put his finger by Yoshiki's nostrils and felt air coming out. The breathing was shallow, but yes, he was alive, and that was all that mattered. On the verge of death, Hide noted. He was damned scared that Yoshiki would leave him… Then, for eternity. He immediately pressed his forehead against Yoshiki's letting his spirit into Yoshiki's mind, hoping to catch his soul before he was gone, just like that.

***

Pata looked at Taiji nervously from above and then glanced worriedly at Hide. "Ruthless!" He muttered, but still felt very anxious for the lovers. There was something wrong with Yoshiki, and it was stating the obvious to simply talk about it.

"Who's that person?"

"Yoshiki. He's Hide's lover."

"Hide… In love with a mere human?" Taiji looked seriously angry. "Maybe not exactly human, but who cares… And a guy at that! Gackt-sama will freak out when he knows about this!"

Pata stared at Taiji, this time more than angry. "Love is beyond anything, Taiji! I don't see anything wrong."

Taiji shook his head. "This love is impossible… Love beyond will always turn out impossible…"

"What are you trying to say?" Pata shook with anger and punched Taiji. Then, he swooped down. Hide was pressing his forehead against Yoshiki's…Even Hide himself would be at risk! "Oh god…"

He became visible as he reached the ground, and saw Hide's unconscious form on top of Yoshiki's, and some people deciding to pry Hide off the blonde, but Yoshiki was glowing with a golden light. And it was not very healthy to touch someone who were glowing.

He ushered the people back, especially a girl who was screaming Yoshiki's name and could not seem to shut up. A woman at the other side of the beach had fainted, and someone was fanning her.

He decided to stand up and defend the duo.

To his surprise, Taiji came down and joined him.

"Taiji!"

With a grim smile, he replied, "I have a brother, who lived for love, despite of the fact that he was going to be engaged to one person forever… I think I know how it feels to be a brother or similar to that, of the person in love."

Pata smiled warmly.

***

Yoshiki was underwater again. He was drifting, aimlessly, his breathing shallow but steady.

He was all alone. The underwater float kept him amused, as he saw blackness in the bottom of the sea.

It was deep.

He began swimming downwards, away from the light, as images of Hide, Sugizo, his mother, Komaiko, his father, his friends in the town, passed him by.

He did not stop swimming. As if someone was looking for him, waiting for him there.

A sense of insecurity and sacredness passed his mind, as he continued to swim down. He began to feel afraid, but he was going deeper. As he looked back, he could see no light.

He continued swimming, remembering his ties to the human world.

He did not stop.

Flashes of his friends and family flashed into his mind. His family was not most important to him, nor was he most important to them, or his friends, for that matter, but they treated him well and he treated them politely. Everything was in peace with him in the human world, but something was missing.

He continued swimming.

Sugizo appeared at the back of his head. Sugizo telling him that their races could not do without him, against their battles.

He did not look back.

Then, he remembered Hide. The rain and Hide's cute smile merged towards sunshine. It was everything to him, right then, as he wanted to look at Hide once more, and feel his presence.

He looked back, startled, and saw a hand reaching out for him. It was Hide. He was smiling warmly, his eyes spoke of sadness.

He found himself responding.

Hide lead him to swim up, higher and higher.

Soon, they saw the sunshine.

"Together, Yoshiki, let us walk towards sunrise."

And he found himself engaged in the blinding light, as they surfaced.

***

Hide lead Yoshiki up to the light, as he felt his conscious form awaiting him, the physical burden. Yet, he was happy. He would have accompanied Yoshiki down, if not for the fact that he knew he would have regretted not living on and doing the things he had decided to do.

There must be something, after all these, that was waiting for him to do.

If not, why would he be existant at all? If not, why did he feel an ache in his chest, as if something was being suppressed?

He needed to find himself. That was the least he could do as yet.

Wandering for so many years, and finding no answer, it was being frustrating.

But, now he had found a loved one, someone to cuddle close against in the winter, someone to share the life of the spring, someone to contemplate the death of autumn and to enjoy the summer with.

Together, they would walk towards sunrise, from the darkness of the night.

That was all he knew.

***

Yoshiki opened his eyes, and saw a face, on top of him. As he focused, he realized that it looked familiar. Carefully he pushed the figure on top of him away, as the sunlight shone on top of him, the people backing back, and Pata was worriedly glancing at Hide.

It was Hide who had saved him, he realized.

When he remembered Hide, he had begun his way back.

Otherwise, he would have gone on, to the deep chasms of Death.

The pink-haired spirit opened his eyes and smiled at him, looking as if he had a burden off his shoulders. He called out, "Hide--"

"Yoshiki…"

They embraced, knowing that they had chosen their path to be alive, just so they could find their way of life together, to be together, no matter what it took. With tears in his eyes, he silently prayed for Hide and him never to be separated again, no matter what it takes to keep them together.

"Thank you…" he muttered, as Pata and a stranger knelt close to them and smiled. He smiled back, releasing Hide for a moment, too happy to be shy.

Hide only grinned, sweat dripping off his brows, as his eyes slid close and he fell into deep slumber, exhausted.

***

Yoshiki set Hide down on his bed, worriedly wondering what might happen to Hide. Would he become a vegetable, or something, for saving him? Yoshiki shook his head. Gawds, he hoped not.

Pata and Taiji had went away to save Shoko, whoever she was. Pata had explained that she was the one to help Hide run away from Yoru or something, whoever he was. Yoshiki had wanted to go along, but Taiji had pointed out that he had better take care of Hide. So it was.

He sighed, knowing of nothing real and fake. No one believed that Hide had saved him, of course, and he did not even try. But he had gotten permission to let Hide into his house, and his mother was still in the state of shock after seeing them embrace, and fainted again. He had to explain to his mother that it was just a brotherly gesture, because he was happy and grateful that Hide saved his life. Fortunately she believed him. She was a trusting mother, Yoshiki reflected, and he was glad that she was the one to find him when he collapsed by the beach like he did that day.

He found himself staring into Hide's face. His sleeping features looked so innocent, so sweet… He smiled.

As he began to lose sense of time and space, Hide's red eyes began to open, and he was gazing into his eyes once more. He was trapped, and could not move.

"I'm okay, Yoshiki… I'm glad…" Hide smiled.

Yoshiki's eyes began to brim with tears as he shook his head. Hide's smiling face was too much for him. All of a sudden he felt weird, as if for all he knew, he would suddenly wake up and find that he was only dreaming.

"What's the matter, Yoshiki?"

"I…" He shook his head, more furiously this time.

"… …" Hide looked into Yoshiki's face, as tears streamed down Yoshiki's cheeks. "Is there anything wrong?"

He shook his head more furiously. "I… Hide, I was so scared… I don’t know… I feel so confused."

"But Yoshiki, I'm fine… And so are you."

"Hide--" Yoshiki looked up, eyes wide, tears still running freely. "I…"

Hide leaned over and kissed him on the lips, fully, taking both of their breaths away. Yoshiki found his eyes closing, as tears continued to run down, as all thoughts abandoned him.

Hide's tongue came in, while they gasped for breath, and teased Yoshiki's lips. He had not been thinking, not freely, but he remembered how Heath had done him… He wanted to be better each time, and add excitement to their relationship.

Yoshiki was surprised, but decided to accept it. In fact, he was liking it. But he was still… *surprised. He was not very used to it. He was too lost in his thoughts to care, in the first place, he was too lost, in the presence of truth and lies, dreams and reality. He was too lost in the labyrinth of love.

He was too lost in himself.

All Hide knew was that he wanted to breathe as one, with Yoshiki again, like they did before, like they did before. He could not care less, at the moment, though he was still guilty. He was sure Pata and Taiji would think of something.

But Shoko's face flashed in his mind again, reminding him that there was no more time, Shoko would be killed any moment. And He could not help but think of how she helped him.

Guilt flooding him, he released Yoshiki, and told him, "I'm sorry. I'll be back soon. Please wait for me…"

"Where are you going?"

"To save a friend."

Yoshiki understood that Hide had to save Shoko, because she was his friend and helped him, but he could not help but feel a bit jealous. He nodded, and his heart began to beat faster, as he remembered that Yoru was one of the most powerful ones in the spiritual world.

"Wait! I'll go with you!"

"No, Yoshiki! It would be too dangerous."

"But--" Tears began to brim in his eyes. "Do you know how much I missed you when you were away? Do you know that I was worried that I would never see you again, because you may be dead without me knowing?"

"Yoshiki…"

"Please, let me come with you. Even if I cannot do anything, I might be able to help you."

"……Thank you…"

Yoshiki smiled happily.

"Oh yeah, where's Pata and Taiji?"

***

Deciding that they had lost Pata and Taiji, Hide and Yoshiki walked together. Since Yoshiki could not fly like spirits could, they were hurrying as fast as possible. But, Yoshiki was panting very hard soon after some miles.

"Yoshiki. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine…" He gave a tiny smile. "Where are we going?"

"I don’t know. I'll have to ask the wind spirits soon."

"They are blowing west this season."

"Huh?"

"So if you're heading west, too, they would not know because they have not reached the west side. If you're going east, well, they will know."

"Yoshiki… You're a genius!" Hide exclaimed, a light bulb flashing on top of his head. He changed into spirit form and got into a car. He plugged a few wires here and there, with some picks where ever he found them, and soon the car's engine was blooming. He changed back into the "human" form and said, "Er, now the question is… Do you know how to drive?"

"Yeah." Yoshiki replied, startled. "Are you sure this is ok?"

"Sure! Come on, get in and drive." Hide urged.

Yoshiki got in onto the driver's seat, and started the car.

ZOOM!

"Yoshiki… AHHH! Are you su……WA! You know…. Ouch! How to drive?"

"Uh, quite sure… Well, I only saw my dad drive." Yoshiki said cheerfully, glad that he did not have to walk anymore.

"No wonder… YAaaaaaaaaaAAAAHH!!

***

"Well?" Yoshiki looked at Hide uncertainly.

"The spirits say that Yoru has gone to… That…mountain." Hide's eyes turned wide. "He… What is he up to?"

"That mountain?" Yoshiki was puzzled.

"The mountain I was hiding in. Which means we were turning in a circle all along!"

"Where's the mountain?"

"It's somewhere by the lakes. There, you cannot go by car. You'll have to go by foot."

Yoshiki shook his head. "But I don't know the way!"

"Uh, me neither. But since we were turning the big round…" He fumbled around the car for a map or something, and found one. "Lessee... Yup, we're very near to the lake itself. Just that we are at another entrance."

"Uh, Hide… I think the map is upside-down. North should be facing up."

"Never mind about the direction!" Hide blushed and turned the map. "Well, uh… At least I can figure out the direction when the map is upside-down. So, we just have to turn left at the junction…"

ZOOM!

"YAAAAA!!!!!!"

***

Meanwhile, Gackt was shocked. But he decided to say nothing. Were Mana's mind on Hide all along, as they made love… Even then?

He shook his head, but still did nothing.

Mana picked up his clothes, and began to put them on. "I have to go back to my chamber now."

Gackt watched as Mana dressed and walked away. "Mana--"

"Yes, my master?"

"…Take care."

"Thank you. I will… You too."

"One more thing… Do you really want to save that Hide from Yoru?"

"I don't know. But it is Heath's wish, and I treat him as I would my own child. Kozi does the same to Yoru, and I know Kozi will be heartbroken when told about this. But… I feel that it isn't right. Heath has the right to love others even though he was a slave, and yet he was bonded to Yoru. He could not deny both the curses of his blood, nor could he deny the truth of his heart."

"Do you mean it?"

"…" Mana looked away. "Yoru was not wrong, either. He was brought up to be the Magnifier. And he got all he wanted. He knew what he wanted, too, and would get at whatever he wanted. But, because of that, when he wanted Heath's love, because he loved him, and found that Heath could not return him the love for a measly spirit, he lost himself and killed Heath as Heath defended Hide. It was love's fault."

Gackt lowered his head, yet kept his gaze level at Mana's form. "……."

"I pity Yoru. But Hide has someone waiting for him to come home to. Even though I know love that is regardless is impossible, I still hope, for once, even though it will never come true for me, at least to come true for someone else."

"What should I do?" Gackt asked, for once, sounding like a lost child with a broken toy.

"Nothing. It is between them. You have the right not to do anything. Besides, we have to fight the humans in two hours' time. You will have to have the strength then. Without Yoru and Heath, the fight will be chaos." He began walking away again, and opened the door. "Good bye, master."

***

When Mana returned, Kozi was gone.

"Oh no… Kozi must have found out about Yoru…"

***

They hopped off the car, and began walking cautiously beside the lakes, to thicker undergrowth, and to the forest where the mountain stood.

"I think it should be somewhere around here…" Hide nodded cautiously as he walked through the treacherous (?!) undergrowth. "We should be careful. Yoru must have something planned out for us before we even reach there."

"As if we would know," Yoshiki muttered, huddling close to Hide. "I hope this ends soon."

"Me too, duh," Hide replied. "I don't think it is, somehow… I can feel it in my bones. I swear, if we get out alive, I'll look at the sunset more often."

"Don't you always look at the sunset?"

"I never really did until the day we went out… Remember?"

Yoshiki smiled, and nodded. Suddenly, he pulled Hide close, and kissed him. "I'm scared, Hide…"

"Why?"

"I think… Maybe we will die or something?"

"Well…" Hide sheepishly grinned. He had just been talking about it a moment later just out of context. "Don't worry. We won't. And I swear, when we get out of here I will visit you more often."

Yoshiki blushed, and smiled. "I don't know. Well, we should be okay, I think… If we stick together and believe in each other."

"Do you believe in me, Yoshiki?"

"Very much, I do."

Hide grinned and took hold of Yoshiki's hand. "Now, I have the energy and courage!"

Together, we will be invincible…

Soon, Hide found the entrance to the cave. As usual, it lay concealed, and if not for the fact that he had exceptional good memory about the broken pine there, he would have lost it.

"Hide…"

"…" Grimly, they stepped in, ready to face a blast or something any moment. Nothing happened, much to their comfort and surprise. Tiptoeing, breaths held, they crept in the luminous-fungi-lit light. Yoshiki briefly held his breath; he had never seen anything as beautiful as that light before. He wondered what was it that made the neon light glow in the darkness of the cave, and was sure that Hide knew, somehow. He made up his mind to ask Hide about it later.

The came to the place where Hide had hidden before, but were soon stuck there. There was no route across the rushing waterfall, and it was far too wide for them to jump across. There was a door on the other side, with stone steps, but Yoshiki could not reach there. Hide could, if he flew over, but he had to think of a way to bring Yoshiki over. He had tried carrying him, but could not lift him for half an inch off the ground. They were trapped, in the middle of nowhere. Suddenly, a log came rushing by, and Yoshiki had an idea. Since it was not going too fast, nor was it too slow (is this good or bad? Hah!) he wondered if he could, somehow, get the log to cross over to the other side. Hide shook his head; it was too dangerous.

"You go without me, Hide! I'll figure a way out by myself!" Yoshiki shouted at Hide.

"I wouldn't leave you here…What if something happens to you? We've gotta try! Yoshiki." Hide urged on.

Without a word, Yoshiki nodded, and jumped onto a log without warning. He was swift, but so was the log, and he barely caught it. As he prepared to jump to the other shore, he lost his footing on the damp log and fell into the luminous rushing water.

"Yoshiki!!!" Hide echoed, as he, without thought, jumped in after him to save him. In desperation, he grabbed on to Yoshiki's wrist, and the other hand found a rock jutting by the side. "Hold on, Yoshiki…"

And what should come then but a log. It came at them, a sharp point scratching Hide's arm. In pain, he gritted his teeth, but the currents washed him away, and so his fingers lost place on the rock.

All was black as they were washed away, as they lost the sense of breathing, being alive…

***

Sugizo sighed. "These two bakas… No one would have ever tried to go by that way! Well, if they asked, they would have gotten my help! *sigh*… What has happened to Prince Yoshiki's powers? Maybe, he has not waken up yet… Not fully? Talk about stifling one's own talents. Aaaaanyway, we haven't got much time left. And what are they doing here?"

He pursed his lips, as he emerged from the water, muttering to himself, carrying both Yoshiki and Hide on each of his shoulders, the light illuminating his half naked body, which would make anyone, sane or not, lust for it. Just what anyone would call "the Walking Porn". His short pink hair hung wet into his face, as he watched Hide and Yoshiki's unconscious forms.

"What the hell is Yoshiki-sama doing with this spirit anyway. He's just nothing but a normal spirit… And obviously out for trouble. Well, no one would have come to this place," He smiled to himself, "Since I am here, I might as well have some fun… Who cares what Ryuichi-sama will say?"

Smiling softly, he took hold of Yoshiki and emerged into the water. It was not some time before they came to the seabed, and landed. They walked into a small opening in the steep walls; it was just large enough for two people to squeeze through. What Sugizo did not notice was that a piece of sharp rock ripped a tear in Yoshiki's skirt, and a piece of fabric got stuck by the rock.

They emerged, again, out of water. There was a small land surrounded by a round moat, which, in turn, was hidden by steep, steep walls that reached the ceiling. In the middle of the round piece of land was a long and wide cylinder, transparent, made up of just a mass of water, supported by nothing, moulded by nothing, but by the will of Sugizo's and the power of destiny and fate.

Sugizo grinned, and levitated from the water, and landed gracefully on the land. Still carrying Yoshiki, He emerged into the large cylinder of water. From there, it seemed as if they had a large amount of space, as if they were in the sea, without all the fishes, without the sand on the seabed, without all the marine life and wastes that went into the sea. The water was clear, and bubbles could be seen dancing their way up like fairies. In fact, They were in another place, another dimension.

Sugizo grinned, and began to unbutton Yoshiki's shirt. Slowly, carefully, he began to unravel Yoshiki's chest. He licked his lips in anticipation as he studied the sexy contours of Yoshiki's chest, and let the shirt drop to the ground. Slowly, he unzipped Yoshiki's skirt, and let it drop to the ground as well. He then wriggled Yoshiki out of his underwear, and leaned over and kissed Yoshiki, hard, on the lips. Yoshiki was still unconscious. He wanted Yoshiki to be awake. His fingers taking hold of his nipple, he pinched, hard. Yoshiki gasped, in pain, but still could not wake up.

"Baka," Sugizo muttered. "And to think you're the prince of our kind. You can't even survive a waterfall. So, don't blame me when you wake up."

***

All Hide could see was black. As he emerged from the darkness, he realized that he was lying on land by the side of the bottom of the waterfall. Someone must have saved him. He looked around, hoping to locate Yoshiki somewhere near him, but could find no one.

Sighing, he sat there, glumly, wondering where would Yoshiki be. What if he was dead? What if something happened to him? He would not be by Yoshiki's side to help him. He would not even know if Yoshiki died. He wandered around a bit, but saw no Yoshiki. He wondered if Yoshiki could be trapped down in the water, by some rock or something that caught his clothes… He jumped into the water without thought and desperately swam to look for Yoshiki. Just as he thought his lung was going to burst, and the water pressure was getting a tad hard on his ears, he saw a piece of fabric by a piece of rock. It looked like it came from Yoshiki's skirt. He dared not swim up again because he was scared that he would lose the exact position of the fabric, so he swam closer, and closer.

Even as a spirit, he needed to breathe.

He swam closer, and saw that there was a opening from where the fabric lay. He decided to enter, in hopes of finding Yoshiki.

***

*~*~*~*~*~Note: From now onwards begins the lemon part. Please skip it if you cannot bear lemon fics… So I guess this makes it not lemon. [coy grin] watch out for "end lemon" to continue reading.*~*~*~*~*~*~

He leaned down again, and kissed him, some more. His forehead began to burn, and light began to radiate from it. He was generating heat into Yoshiki, generating power so that he could wake Yoshiki, the prince of the aquatic race, up. The real Yoshiki.

Being a prince he had to be heartless, to be able to fight well against the enemy, to be able to be fair and just.

He did not wait, and did not want to wait. But to wake the prince up, he had to be one with the prince. He let go of Yoshiki and left him to stay in the water. He stroked his length rapidly, skillfully, and it erected fast. With expert skill he swam close to Yoshiki, and pressed both of his feet against Yoshiki's thighs, and took hold of Yoshiki's shoulders. With buoyancy of the water, he pressed close to Yoshiki, roughly, and in sync with the water currents, he began to thrust himself in.

Yoshiki let out a gasp, his eyes beginning to open at the pain that it was bringing him. With a jolt, he realized that he was in water, and someone was probing something into his asshole. He began to realize that someone had clung to him like a chimpanzee, and then realized that he was being raped, and saw that it was Sugizo. Sugizo smiled, seductively, and, as he went in deeper, pressed his body close and kissed Yoshiki on the lips.

Yoshiki found Sugizo's kiss tantalizing, and even though he felt that something was wrong in his heart, he let himself relax as he felt, at the same time, a sudden surge of warmness in his insides. It felt so good, and it made him curious. He let himself succumb to Sugizo's touch and kiss.

It was different from Hide's touch, and there was some sort of warmth that Sugizo lacked. But Yoshiki could feel the magnet of Sugizo, and the power of his magnetic feel.

Despite the pain, he felt himself melting, and Sugizo held Yoshiki close, for a moment. He began to pull away from Yoshiki, and with a silent laugh he knew Yoshiki's power had returned. Yoshiki was the woken prince.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~End lemon~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As if he felt his other half had returned to him, he was surprised to see that Sugizo looked translucent. Sugizo smiled, at him, now sadly, knowing that his destiny had been fulfilled.

Sugizo…?

Goodbye…

Yoshiki found Sugizo's touch disappear, and Sugizo began to vanish. Yoshiki realized that Sugizo was only there as an apparition to wake him up. Yoshiki felt invincible, and his hand balled into a fist. He clutched it tight, with a small smile on his face, he let the water explode into little separate drops.

***

Hide swam through the little tunnel, and came to a light. He quickly swam up for a bit of air.

As he exploded through the surface of the water, breathing deep. Then, to his surprise, drops of water rain down hard over him, as if they had flown off at ultimate velocity from the same point. It hurt, a lot, and he quickly ducked back into the water, his body with wisps of blood because of the impact of the water.

Suddenly, he heard a strange voice in his head.

Come up, little spirit, show your face.

It sounded weird. With a gasp Hide quickly swam away from the place, realising that it might have been Yoru, or his apprentice. As he swam through the tunnel, he felt a hand grabbing his ankle. He kicked and thrashed, but was dragged back into the place. He was pulled up; swiftly, and it was obvious that the person was very skilful in water.

They landed on a piece of land in the middle of the water, and Hide was dropped onto the floor. With a thump he landed onto the hard damp ground, and gasped in pain. He looked up, and to his surprise, he saw a person dressed in flowing long robe, with some sort of hard armor on the torso. He was hovering in the air, had long blonde hair and very beautiful features.

It was Yoshiki's face he saw.

"Yoshiki…? Yoshiki!"

Hn. What's the matter, little spirit? Yoshiki said coolly, looking down from a majestic angle.

"What's happened…?" Hide said, feeling his heart jolt. It no longer felt like Yoshiki, it was someone else. He knew it was someone else.

I woke up, Yoshiki replied, with a small smile. It feels so good to be myself again.

"Yourself…" Hide uttered, his heart beginning to feel very heavy. "But…? The Yoshiki that I met, that warm Yoshiki… He was only a fake…?"

He was only a mask, a split personality to be vanished when the real me woke up. Yoshiki smiled seductively. I'll tell you something. I'll kill all the spirits, and our race will flood the Earth, and we will take over.

"Yoshiki…!" Hide was shocked. "Why…?"

Hn! Don't you think our race have suffered enough? The mermaids, they used to be sold to those rich people, and you know how many of them died out, just because they were rare, and different? And have you seen how many fishes and sea creatures had died because of pollution? It's time for revenge, Hide. It's time for us to speak out. The Earth had been protesting about it, that was how El Nina and El Nino started. Hn. Those dumb humans… Don't they realize that despite their futile effort, the earth is dying? If we don't take over, we will all perish.

"But…" Hide started, and shook his head sadly. "Yoshiki…"

I don't know what is wrong with you. With that, Yoshiki jumped into the water and disappeared, from there.

***

Gackt had been dressed properly, in an attire of hard amour and soft cloth. It was an attire for battle; the time had come.

With a grim and serious look he opened the door, and was surprised to see Mana collapse. Quickly he dashed to catch him.

"Mana? What's wrong?" He asked, yet calmly.

"Kozi… He found out about Yoru." Mana whispered. "I need permission to go away and stop him, please, Gackt-sama."

Gackt nodded reluctantly. With a finger to his forehead, light began to glow from that point, and then to his finger. He placed his finger on Mana's forehead, and Mana's forehead began to glow.

"You may go now," Gackt said, softly.

"Thank you…" Mana began, and Gackt helped him up. He began, in small steps, hurrying out of the castle.

Gackt sighed in grief. I know one day I'll have to let him go… I cannot bear…

He stepped towards the Grand Court, where the army of spirits, fairies, elves, and all spiritual beings stood. It was a grand sight, but the atmosphere was a heavy as lead. They were out for battle, and there was going to be bloodshed.

"Gackt-sama," A general hurriedly said, "I couldn't find the spirits Taiji, Pata, and Hide."

Gackt wove his hand. "I don't think that shall be much of a problem."

"Where's Yoru and Heath?" Someone asked.

'They will only be coming out to battle if you guys were losing. I don't think you have need for them as yet."

"……"

It was going to be a battle, the water races, the spirituals of nature, against the humans.

"The time has come. Forward!" Gackt yelled, waving his hand.

***

Hide stood there, stunned. He then remembered his sole purpose for coming here. But he knew he had to stop Yoshiki. If he found Yoru, he would kill Yoru, as well as Shoko, Pata and Taiji.

Quickly he jumped into the water, and swam out of the cave, and up onto the shore by the bottom of the waterfalls. He flew up, and ran into the opening which he saw just now. He ran blindly forward, as soon as he saw a path. He reached a cave, and Taiji's voice could be heard in his head.

"Hide! Hurry!"

Hide ran faster, nearly bursting a blood vessel, saw that Yoru had beaten all of them badly. "Let go of them, Yoru! The prince of water race has awoken… He… He's going to kill us all!"

"Do you think I care?" Yoru asked, his tears looming in his eyes. "You made me lose all that I had… All that I cared for. Why should I care?"

"But…!" Hide cried, as Yoru hurtled a black sphere of spikes at him. He dodged, and it smashed into the wall behind him, leaving an indent. It was hurled back to Yoru by a chain, and Yoru threw yet another attack at him.

"Hide…." Shoko started.

"Shut up!" Yoru shouted, and threw his sphere at her. It hit her right on the forehead and it was an instant death before she could continue on what she had said. Hide stood, as he saw Shoko die right in front of him, just like that, without any trace. Just like a breathing lily squeezed by the underwater vines.

Suddenly he felt the urge to strangle Yoru.

"Yoru!" A red figure stood by the entrance of the cave, clothed in a clown's suit. He was the one whom Hide had seen at the Palace, Hide realized.

"…Kozi?"

"Why do you have to do this…?" Kozi asked.

"Hide… This mere spirit appeared in front of me and stole my love right under my eyes… He made me kill my love…" Yoru trembled as he spoke, hatred flooding him.

Hide realized, right then, that Heath had been killed by Yoru. And it made him want to strangle the bastard more. Heath could not have died… Hide refused to remember Heath anymore, he knew pain when he felt it, and wanted no more.

"Come, my little child… It was Heath's wish… Yet he remained faithful to you despite yearning for freedom, do you know that?"

Yoru shook his head, and a tear finally rolled down his cheek. Hide was shocked, he had never realize that Yoru would -could- cry. But he must have loved Heath a lot. He could picture himself in Yoru's shoes, and he knew he would be devastated, too. But who to blame? Is there any right or wrong?

"Let me heal your heart's wounds, Yoru…" Kozi let ready an embrace. "I am a healer, I should heal…"

Yoru shook his head, but went close anyway. He let Kozi hug him, and the stood there embracing. Kozi opened his eyes and motioned for Hide to set his friends loose, which he obligingly did.

"Let's go back to Gackt-sama. He needs you." Kozi started, and Yoru shook his head.

"He was the one to bring this curse upon me," He began.

"But, would you go through this again if you were given the chance?"

"I would."

"Come with me. Gackt-sama is the balance."

"… …" Yoru held Kozi's hands and they vanished.

***

Mana could feel her most beloved servant leaving her. She closed her eyes and wished her a silent journey to her next life as she hurried on for Kozi.

"Hey Mana-sama, what is this book?" Shoko pointed wide-eyed at a particular book in her shelf.

"It's Romeo And Juliet. Why?"

"What is it about?"

"It's about a love between this couple whose families were enemies."

"Wow." Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm yet despair.

"Here," Mana took hold of the book and handed it to her.

::::::

"Mana-sama! This book is great! Even though I cannot really understand it…"

"If you read it more and more, someday, you will be able to grasp its true meaning."

"I see!"

::::::

"I like Romeo. I think… I'm just like a Juliet before she met her Romeo, waiting for her Romeo to steal her heart away…"

::::::

"Why had you chosen to help Hide?"

"He shared the same enthusiasm as Romeo. And he knows about the play of the humans. I don't know. But there is something so special about him. But I wish it will bring me happiness, and maybe we can leave together, like Romeo and Juliet did."

::::::

Mana sighed, but soon felt Kozi and Yoru went. She was not sure where, all she knew was that she was hurrying for Kozi and suddenly they went away. It would take her some time to relocate Kozi.

***

"Is it true what you said about the prince of underwater world?" Pata asked, as they rushed through the caves.

"Yes…. I saw…."

"How is Yoshiki?"

"He's still alive."

"You sound so weird, Hide." Taiji remarked.

"I do? Well, maybe because we all are in grave danger…"

"No kidding."

***

Gackt gathered his energy to destroy the fort of the soldiers. The humans had panicked, and it was a good sign of winning. The Underwater races had all started their forces, too, but he still had not seen the Prince.

And it was obvious that the humans did not know how to win. Spirits had the advantage of being supernatural, who could only be destroyed by supernatural things. The humans, too had realized Gackt as being the head, and he got more charges than usual. The good soldiers helped him to fend off some of the attacks, but the environment was getting a bit too reactive for some of the spirits. They had to kill the humans soon, or else a huge portion of his troops would perish.

Suddenly, from afar, came a golden haired figure in a huge rush of waves. He was expressionless, dressed in beautiful golden armor and silver flowing cloth (hide: typical CLAMP style! Hidoko: I agree… Isn't it so nice? Hide: no, it's just copy cat. Hidoko: You won't live till the end of the fic… grr…). He rode the air and with him floated a whirlwind of sparkling water.

"Hi, Ryuichi, Gackt-sama, I have arrived late." The golden haired figure began. "I'm the Prince of the underwater races."

General Ryuichi was remained expressionless, but Gackt was shocked. He had never expected the prince to be such a… Dashing figure who radiated so much power. Maybe even more than Yoru… No, definitely much more than Yoru.

"There are more flying the their rescue," Gackt shouted. "Obviously the spirits and water races all over the world ain't holding out easily."

"That's okay," The prince smiled. "I can deal with them."

"What's your name?" Ryuichi asked, in his eyes sadness, knowing that Sugizo was gone.

"I am Yoshiki."

"……" They battled on, Yoshiki floating in the air, looking as Gackt and Ryuichi fought on.

"Why aren't you fighting?" Ryuichi shouted. "We were waiting for you!"

"Just to see how well you'd fare," Yoshiki smiled. "But since you want me to fight… Heh."

Yoshiki raised his hand and water droplets flew from the sea and hit the human soldiers and the buildings. In a flash blood splattered all over the place and the buildings crumbled. Yoshiki gave yet another cold smile. "I could have done without any of you."

Gackt felt shivers down his spine.

***
"Mana!" Hide exclaimed. What are you doing here?"

"I'm looking for Yoru and Kozi, have you seen them?" She asked.

"I found Yoru. But Shoko… " Hide clutched his fists.

"……I know."

"And this red-figure came out suddenly and Yoru cried into his arms… Strange…"

Mana smiled, reassured. Yoru would be saved, after all. And she thought that Kozi would kill Yoru so that he could, like he wished, be with Heath.

"But we must hurry, Mana! The prince… The prince of underwater races… He awoke… And he told me that he will kill everyone…"

"Really? Who is he?"

"……"

"… Then we must hurry… Take hold of me."

Hide nodded, and took hold of her silky smooth hand. It felt cold, but he wondered if it had always been like that. He nodded to Pata and Taiji, and they formed a ring.

"Let's go."

***

"Where is Mana?" Kozi asked, opening yet another door.

"I… I think she went out, sir."

"Where?"

"…There's a big fight against the humans and the heavenly bodies. Let's go and help them."

***

"……You're…" Gackt whispered, but was unable to comprehend what he was going to say.

Yoshiki only smiled. "Let's go and kill all the humans."

"…" Gackt nodded.

Ryuichi looked at Yoshiki nervously. Indeed, he was the most powerful of the prince…

***

Flashback of Ryuichi.

"Ryuichi-sama." The door parted slightly, letting a somber light into the dim room. A shadow of a child could be seen at the doorway.

"Yes, Sugizo?"

"…Why… What is this sign on my hand?" He pointed to the back of his right hand, and held it out. There was a blood red circle, with intricate details inside. Between the symbols of Heaven and Earth were unknown words of myth and legend.

"It is a sign of your destiny, Sugizo." Ryuichi whispered.

"…But……What is my destiny?"

Ryuichi only smiled. Come here, Sugizo, see what I have."

Sugizo gasped as he saw a deck of cards with beautiful dark illustration. At the back there were five roses among the green leaves, one red, one blue, one yellow, one white, and a rose of cosmic. On the other side, there was a picture of a young person, with a grin on his face and one foot stepping into the cosmos, saying "The Fool". "This is beautiful! What is this?"

"This is the Sacred Rose Tarot Deck. Remember that tarot originates from the spiritual."

"Wow."

"But the humans, the fools, found them one day, and they resumed the power of tarots. They never fully grasped the meaning, though some have come far into nearing us." Ryuichi smiled. "What is the question you have in mind?"

"I want to know my destiny."

Ryuichi nodded, and handed the cards over. "Shuffle them, and focus on your question."

Sugizo took the cards in his small hands and shuffled them as if with great care. "Here," He said, passing the tarots back.

Ryuichi took the cards and lay a card on the table. "This is your final destiny."

On the table was a card saying, "XX Judgement". On the card was a yellow-haired person blowing the trumpet. At the sides of his trumpet were one man and one woman.

"What does it mean?"

"Physical and spiritual nature joining together forming a new beginning and a new energy. The is the angel," He pointed to the big head with the trumpet. "He possesses all encompassing power."

"And?" Sugizo hardly breathed at all.

"He has gained to help the humans. These two are Adam and Eve. Eve faces her judgement, and Adam prays for forgiveness. They were facing a new beginning amidst their sins, and a child that is born receives divine energy."

"Wow."

"Do you really understand?"

"Uh, no. But is it only one card? It's that simple?"

"It is the simplest and most powerful spread. ……Never mind, now run along." Ryuichi smiled and kissed Sugizo on his forehead. "I'll see you later."

The door closed, and Ryuichi turned another card. "Let this card represent the outcome of Sugizo's destiny."

It was a reversed King Of Wands.

End of flashback.

***

Gackt gasped when Kozi and Yoru appeared by his side.

"Gackt-sama!" Yoru shouted. "I'm here to help you!"

Gackt smiled.

"Gackt-sama… You're bleeding. Come, let me heal you."

Gackt closed his eyes as Kozi's hands came near to his face, and he felt more revitalized than ever. "Thank you."

Kozi smiled.

"Wow… What a success…" Yoru muttered.

"The prince of underwater races killed them." Gackt told him. "He is Yoshiki."

Yoru nodded at the golden haired figure, and saluted. Kozi did likewise, and Gackt introduced them. Yoshiki only smiled and nodded. Ryuichi brought them to another place, where their troops were suffering greatly.

"Gackt-sama!" A blue figure could be seen coming from the far end of horizon, with three spirits following behind.

"Mana!" Gackt was surprised. "Go back to the palace!"

"But, Gackt-sama… I want to help… The… The prince…" She was stopped by Hide's hand covering her mouth.

***

"But, Gackt-sama… I want to help… The… The prince…"

Hide immediately grabbed Mana and clasped his hand over her mouth.

"Yoshiki…! What are you doing here?"

Yoshiki smiled. "Ask Hide."

Hide shook his head, his heart beating faster than ever with a dull ache that throbbed within.

"What happened, Hide? Yoshiki…?" Pata looked at his friend, who only shook his head as he let go of Mana.

"You… You are the prince of Underwater world?" Taiji exclaimed.

"Shut up, Taiji!" Gackt boomed. "Tell me what is going on!"

"…" Hide shook his head. Yoshiki smiled.

Pata shivered. Hide obviously knew it from the beginning… Yoshiki was going to kill everyone. Yoshiki was that prince.

"Gackt-sama…" Mana flew over to his side. "Kozi…?"

Kozi smiled. "I am fine, Mana."

She pressed her face close to Gackt and whispered something into his ear. Gackt froze for a moment, and beckoned for Yoru to come near.

Seeing the frightened and realising look on their faces, Yoshiki smiled evilly and said, "Since it is now known, I shall kill all of you."

"No!" Gackt weaned a spiritual barrier over all of them other than Yoshiki and Ryuichi.

"What do you think?" Yoshiki held up a hand, and those fast and powerful water droplets came again. But they all dripped off the barrier. Snarling, he called forward a dragon of water, and it spiraled towards the barrier, but upon reaching the barrier it faltered and faded away.

"Yoshiki--" Hide yelled. "Yoshiki, stop it!"

Yoshiki shook his head. "I told you, didn't I?"

Ryuichi smiled and held his prince's hand. Together they created a whirlpool of water towards the barrier, and a crack formed in the barrier. Yoshiki summoned yet another dragon, and it burst in on the spirits.

Gackt fell, holding Mana in his arms, his eyes closed in pain. "Mana…"

Then Mana opened her eyes, as she saw Gackt's face so near, so much in pain that it hurt her. "Gackt-sama…?"

Gackt smiled at her. "Call me… Gackt…"

Yoshiki fired yet another series of water pellets, and Gackt was pierced in all directions. Yet he clung on to Mana, who was also badly hurt.

"Gackt… You are just another pitiful human." Yoshiki told him.

"I…"

"Gackt…!" Mana broke free of his grasp. "Gackt!" She shook him, but he was hurt much too deeply to move. He was going to die.

Kozi immediately dashed downwards to heal Gackt, but another dragon made Kozi fall.

"Kozi!" Mana shouted, but Yoshiki only smiled cruelly at her.

"You have a destiny. To die."

Ryuichi said nothing as he watched on the scene of destruction.

***

Flashback of Ryuichi's

The reversed King Of Wands had represented a severe dogmatic individual with a violent temper, and a situation of cruelty and sadism.

The prince would only bring about hell to the world. Yet why? Was this fate, or what?

He picked yet another card. "Let this represent the outcome of the appearance of this individual."

He turned a reversed Five Of Swords.

"Empty victory…"

End of flashback.

***

"No!" Hide shouted as Yoshiki raised his hand. "I cannot let you do this… Please, Yoshiki, return to yourself! You are not the prince…!"

Yoshiki shook his head. "I am the prince. This is my true self."

"No…" Hide was near tears. "I… I refuse to believe! That lovely Yoshiki who is so caring and warm… He is not you!"

"But it is me, we are one and the same. Now, if you will please step out of the way…" Yoshiki smiled. "I will not kill you. Not as yet."

Hide shook his head stubbornly.

"Step out of the way, Hide!" Mana shouted from beneath, tears running down her face. "Gackt… Gackt…"

Hide reluctantly stepped aside, and Yoshiki killed her.

Blood splattered everywhere as she collapsed next to Gackt. "Gackt-sama… I love you always…"

"……" Gackt could not say a word. He had wanted to live longer, to be with Mana for a longer period of time. Yet he had never knew about Mana's feelings. Suddenly he needed to tell Mana, with his last breath. "I love… You…. Too, Mana… I always… Did… That was… wh… why I… I locked you up in the… Palace… I… I wanted to be with… You… No matter…. Matter… Whether……. You………. Were ha…. Happy……….. I…"

Mana smiled contentedly as she lay in Gackt's presence and both of them fell into eternal sleep.

"What a dumb couple." Yoshiki grinned to himself. "Feelings… And I thought the Balance was feelingless. What a weakling."

"Yoshiki!!" Yoru yelled, throwing his spheres at Yoshiki. "What kind of prince are you!? Why did you have to kill them…!"

Yoshiki smiled and a gust of water threw him back, and those pellets of water struck again. "I am the prince of underwater races and destruction.

"Heath…" Yoru uttered as he fell to the ground.

Hide looked at Yoshiki helplessly. "I…"

Yoshiki shook his head. "Shut up, Hide. Be glad I am letting you live."

"I do not want to live without the Yoshiki I once loved! Give me back that Yoshiki!"

"Once…" Yoshiki muttered. "I told you, this is the true me."

"No! That Yoshiki! He must still be there…!"

Yoshiki belted him in the face. "Watch, spirit. I will kill everyone here."

"…… No…"

***

Taiji heard Yoru's voice. He loved Heath after all. It was not just a bondage of blood like Heath had been to Yoru. Yet… He felt a sudden urge of confusion. Who was in the right and wrong? Who could be branded as bad and good? Love… Love was the culprit of everything. Heath loved Hide all along, yet he was bonded to a master whom he could never love. Yet that master loved him for all he never knew.

And Gackt. He died wanting to protect Mana… Kozi, he died wanting to heal Gackt. Mana died of her own will because Gackt was dying.

Love's fault. He looked at Yoshiki, and wondered what could it be. Who was going to die next? Him, or Pata?

"You're hopeless…" Pata muttered. "Why do you have to appear in front of my friend, and make him fall in love? Why did you have to be that prince of destruction!? Have you ever wondered who was suffering more?"

"Physical pain," Yoshiki started, "Is nothing compared to emotional pain. A perfect prince cannot have emotions to be strong. And I had never planned to meet him."

Pata shook his head. "What are you going to do once you killed everyone?"

Yoshiki smiled. "I will just live on. Destruction is only a new beginning. This earth… It needs a rebirth in order to recuperate, and I will see through its process."

"……"

"I will kill you and that spirit now." Yoshiki said, as he summoned a dragon.

Pata fell.

"Pata!" Hide shouted, now his tears fully dropping down. "Yoshiki!!!!"

Yoshiki shook his head and smiled. "Watch."

"Before I die… Can I ask you one thing?" Taiji said, sweat dripping off his brows. "Do you love Hide?"

Yoshiki shook his head, now his smile has gone. "No!"

Taiji sneered, as Yoshiki called upon the water to engulf the spirit.

:. Heath, quit crying. You are not alone, and never will be. .:

So, who is at fault? Yoshiki is not to be blamed either… It is not his fault that he had to be supposedly feelingless, nor was it that it was his destiny or that he was feeling the way he did. Taiji just hoped that everything would be alright for Hide.

Yoshiki turned around, and shot Ryuichi. Hide watched, as all of a sudden all of them became no one, nothing.

***

Flashback of Ryuichi.

"Ryuichi-sama!" Sugizo was now older. He had grown fast. He sure was the child of destiny.

"Yes?"

"I have a thing to ask you…"

"What?"

Sugizo blushed. "Never mind. I have this weird feeling at times…"

"Like?"

"I… I don’t know!"

Ryuichi smiled, and thought for awhile. "Go figure."

"Here." Sugizo blushed again. Yet he looked so grown-up that Ryuichi always forgot that he was just born the month before. Underwater races mature slower than humans, maybe not as slow as spirits, but definitely not within a month could you get someone like Sugizo.

Ryuichi stifled a laughter. Wordlessly he held Sugizo closer. "Let me tell you why."

***

They lay in bed, their breaths exhausted. Ryuichi could not resist thinking that so far that was the only thing that Sugizo learnt, and he learnt it well. Yet he knew he was not supposed to do this with Sugizo either. Yet Sugizo had to look so sexy that he could think about sex with him just watching him walk.

"Do you think a kind of energy entwines between us when we are one?" Sugizo asked, his arm over Ryuichi's naked body, drawing up the sheets.

"Yes." Ryuichi muttered, feeling more and more sleepy.

"I don't know. But I think I have a clue to my fate. I have been dreaming about it recently…"

Amidst the mist of dreams, Ryuichi could feel Sugizo biting his ear. He woke up immediately. "Sugizo?"

"Why do I have a special feeling towards you? It is wonderful."

Ryuichi smiled, and kissed Sugizo's neck. "I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way, Sugizo… I'm glad it's something more… Let's sleep…"

Sugizo agreed.

End of flashback.

***

"Why did you kill him?" Hide asked, now his face a tear-field.

"I just felt like doing so." Yoshiki muttered. And he summoned the water…They fell through himself.

"Yoshiki?! Yoshiki!!!" Hide shouted, as he dashed forward… Anything to keep him from falling down…

"Hide… I figure… You will not… Be… Happy if…. If I killed everyone…" Yoshiki smiled at him. It was the same smile that Hide had seen when Yoshiki greeted him when they met. "I love… you…"

"Yoshiki!! Yoshiki!!!!!" Hide shouted, he screamed, but Yoshiki faded slowly. Soon, his presence just left him like that, his aura… And he could feel himself cry softly. "Yoshiki…"

Yet that smile was locked on that beautiful face.

Hide looked around, and, carrying Yoshiki's body, he flew towards the waterfall. The Earth would not undergo a revolution; it would continue to be destroyed. And he would stay there, with Yoshiki, until he could finally be freed of the loneliness… Let the humans do whatever they want to the earth, let the spirits fight on… The Earth would be a ruin anyway.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

9:45:16 PM Thursday, February 18, 1999

X zone

Author's notes:

Once again, I completed everything in a rush… I wanna discuss Sugizo… OK: He is only months old so don't blame me if he is out of character (Heard of innocence?) and obviously, in a different setting, even with the same character, you would act differently, because it is in a different setting. A setting is what that makes the person, my dear reader (doh, I'm talking about real life also… So never say "If I were you" because if you were him, you'd still be him, because you'd be born with the same family, same chromosomes, same everything as he. ^_~

Oh, and I said I wanna discuss Sugizo… He is an interesting character (In the story). He did it because he knew it was his fate and accepted it. He knew that he would die, and it would be his last enjoyment. He loved Ryuichi, and vice versa, and his act of "ritual" is NOT betrayal to Ryuichi. Go figure…

Also, I put in tarots because, unlike what most people think, even though it is a thing of mystique, it is NOT a thing of devil or evil. Trust me. Also, I illustrated my point of view that no one is right or wrong. You may say I'm wrong, it's from your point of view, but hey, from mine it's correct ^_~

Anyway gotta rush my math homework, my emails -_-; , my art my oh yes got test tomorrow… Got this… Got that… Oro?

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