Friday, August 06, 19996:32:40 PM

Hidoko Matsumoto
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Warnings: Yaoi or not, it's up to the reader to decide, since nothing is really done, just that they got closer, so close that… Hey, I'll be giving away the plot. Anyway, it depends -- It can be friendship, it can be love, the way you see it. I didn't hint! Not exactly ^^

Also, the ending is kinda sad. Don't say I didn't warn you. Think about the title, you'll know the plot anyway when you read on. I followed the theme.

Characters: Tetsu, Hyde, and Yukihiro of Larc~en~ciel.
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Tetsu was playing on his computer. His mom had told him to turn it off because it was nearly dinner time, but Tetsu was so busy concentrating on the game that he didn't hear. He was on the last level of his favorite game, and he was just about to kill the evil wizard Yukihiro so that he could move onto the next stage.

The screen flickered… It flickered again, and it started flashing strange colors. Suddenly, the whole ground shook, and Tetsu felt as if he was sucked into the screen.

When he awoke, he found himself outside the wizard's chambers. A thought struck him, a wholly silly thought. He was inside the game! He blinked hard, and blinked harder again. He was not dreaming. Tetsu drew in a breath, a feathery breath which told him that he was still alive, and not dead. He decided to charge into the wizard's chambers. He had all the equipment needed, the amount of Health Points, and full Mana Points to cast spells. Also, he had the secret codes to that level. Carefully, he proceeded to the door.

The doorknob flickered at his touch, and light, blinding light, flooded his vision. He was no longer outside the door-- There was luxurious golden and purple walls, and velvet curtains. The carpets were black too. He gaped, as a evil voice filled his mind, as in action RPG games should… He gasped involuntarily.

With a cloud of smoke, a the wizard Yukihiro-- a powerful figure clad in purple and red-- appeared. Charged bolts were fired at Tetsu, and he quickly dived to the floor to avoid being hit. It all seemed so real, yet so fake. Courage, lots of it, flooded his heart. Perhaps, it was because he still had the idea that it was only a game, only his imagination.

Aiming, he swiftly fired at the wizard. Smoke arose, dust kicked up into his eyes, invading his nostrils. Amidst the clouded vision, he saw a charged bolt of lightning flash towards him. He dodged, but was too late; it hit him on the arm. He groaned in pain, it suddenly seemed more than a game to him. The gun dropped to the floor.

'Never mind, I have the secret code,' He thought. Suddenly it struck him that without the controls, he simply could not put the code into use. The GAME OVER screen flashed up again in his mind. He had gotten so used to it, yet now that he was actually in the game, it held a deadly fear in his mind. He dived for the gun with a blind dive, and fumbled for its controls. 'I can't die,' He thought, and found the firing button. He aimed, and fired again blindly. The smoke cleared, and the wizard started to throw those bolts at him. Yet he managed to shoot those down, and aimed properly at the wizard. Shots rang loud in his ears, a bit too loud, yet he was afraid if it was too soft he would be dead.

The wizard fell to the ground after some futile attempts of defense. A door out of the chamber opened to a tunnel, flooding relief into his senses. He had gotten to the next stage. He practically jumped for joy, and ran through the door. There was a box where he found a magic charm, and a pack of recharging bullets for his gun.

Since it was an RPG game, the first thing which he did as he stepped through the doorway was to look for clues. The tunnel led to the town.

"I have to look for the healer…" He told himself, wincing at his wound. It was obvious that it was not just a game; one could get as hurt as in reality. If he was any more careless, he would have been dead. Trying to remember his way, he walked through the town, and came to a realization that someone was following him. He quickly turned around, and saw a hooded figure, dressed all in black, unshaven. Raising his voice and keeping his hand on the 'fire' control, "Who are you?"

"Are you the hero everyone's been talking about?" The person did not answer his questions. He had a quiet, childish voice, much unlike a villain's. "I need your help. Come with me."

Tetsu decided not to ask anymore; it was a game, and it had to be fake. Any questions would most probably be ignored. They came to a remote part of the town, and went into a shabby hut. Tetsu could see the rags hanging as curtains, and a certain emotion of compassion flashed across his heart. "What do you want?"

"I'm Hyde. My sister has been captured by the evil king to be his concubine, against her wishes. Please help me," Hyde took off his hood, unveiling a ragged, handsome face. Those large eyes were framed with long eyelashes, and his features were deeply chiseled. Tetsu was then sure that Hyde was not a villain; villains in RPG games were usually ugly, and this Hyde was far from ugly. "Do you agree to help me?"

Tetsu agreed without thought. Upon hearing that, Hyde treated him to curry rice. Tetsu was very surprised, for it actually tasted like real food, and not plastic or some strange nonexistent stuff.

"So, what do you think of it?" Hyde asked; his eyes were so warm.

"It's… Really good," Tetsu gulped it down. "Thank you!"

"Welcome," Hyde smiled gently, beautifully. Tetsu could not believe that this boy in front of him was fake, nor could he believe that Hyde was made up. He seemed so… Real. Later, Hyde healed the wound on his arm.

They did not talk much, and after a night's rest, Hyde took him to a tunnel. "This leads to the Evil King's chambers. We need to find him."

Tetsu nodded, and followed him wordlessly. There were many guards, more than what Tetsu had encountered in the previous level. Tetsu found himself unable to cope with them, especially trying to protect Hyde; it was practically raining arrows. He managed to shoot some guards dead, but it was not long before he got hit by an arrow. When one struck, the rest followed suit. Tetsu could hardly move.

"Tetsu!" Hyde suddenly screamed. Tetsu had never known a RPG to have characters to call the player's name. Hyde picked up his gun, and fired at the guards, killing them instantaneously. "Are… Are you okay?"

"I… I'm fine…" Tetsu smiled gently, despite his own pain. Hyde's brows were furrowed in concern, and his eyes, those dark unpredictable eyes were seemingly pained. A warm glow surrounded them. Tetsu could feel those arrows melting away into nothingness, the warmth engulfing him. He suddenly felt so blessed.

"Dajoubu da!" Hyde smiled happily, and hugged Tetsu.

'Atsui…' To Tetsu, Hyde was as real as could be. "Un…"

They continued along the way. The tunnel lead to a dead way, and Hyde brought Tetsu out of the ground to a forest. There was no guards, but there were plenty of demons. Tetsu and Hyde fought alongside each other, and to Tetsu, Hyde was an indispensable companion.

The unforgettable moments were when they sat down, and ate together under the trees, the sunlight seeping through the thick canopy. They still hardly talked, yet Tetsu began to enjoy the silence; it seemed to make their bond thicker.

They finally reached the castle grounds. They broke in, disguised as guards, and finally made their way to the chamber of the king's. The king was scared stiff.

"The… The Great Devil! Don't come near me!" He cringed in fear.

"The… Great Devil?" Tetsu parroted, suddenly feeling scared himself. "Hyde--"

"I suppose there's no need to disguise anymore, nee…" Hyde laughed, throwing aside the guard's armor, pulling his cloak away, and, two black wings unfurled themselves. He was wearing black leather breeches, with thick heeled boots, and a black and golden shiny armor. Suddenly, he looked like the perfect villain.

Tetsu did not say a word, nor did he move. Those moments which he spent with Hyde, those days of happiness suddenly shattered into pieces right in front of him. He let the gun clatter to the tiled floor, as tears flooded his eyes, blurring his vision. "Why…?"

Hyde seemed surprised that Tetsu would react like that. A gloom clouded his eyes, and he turned away, hesitating, suddenly vulnerable. He decided to speak. Tetsu realized that he could have picked up the gun and shot him right then. He knew it; and he knew that Hyde was not stupid. All the more he could not do it. "I was locked up in this game. Do you know how much it hurts to be the ultimate target of the game, to be killed over and over again? I managed to break the bond which bonded me to the actual story of the game, and, after killing 1000 souls, I will be free again. After you… I'll be free."

"Sou ka…" Tetsu smiled, closing his eyes for a brief moment. Not another word was said. The fear suddenly dissolved in his heart, together with that betrayal. He did not resist as the sword impaled his weak body, and he felt his own body sag against Hyde's sword heavily, lifelessly. Everything suddenly got tinted red. And Hyde…

Those black wings were still there, that beautiful face was as beautiful as ever. Yet the expression Tetsu saw was not of a Great Devil's, it was the Hyde who accompanied him through the journey to save his sister. There was sadness, and tremendous regret.

'Perhaps,' thought Tetsu, 'it's just another optical illusion…'

He smiled subconsciously; even if it was an illusion, that expression was worth it. Everything faded into darkness, pitch black darkness… Even Hyde's face.

***

"Tetsu! Dinnertime! How many times must I tell you--" Tetsu's mother knocked on the door, and when there was no response, she opened it. She almost fainted when she saw a strange boy clad all in black, with black wings, with her son in his arms. Tears, blood red tears, were flowing down the smooth rise of his cheeks. His expression hardened as soon as he saw her, from that of a helpless child to a cold glee.

"Who are you?" She gasped, retreating.

The creature did not reply, but raised his free arm, still holding on to Tetsu in the other. A bright light grew, and it was not long after everything simply fell to pieces, the buildings, the people… They disappeared without suffering.

***

Hyde surveyed the blackened earth. It was lifeless. He still held onto Tetsu's sleeping form; he preferred to think of that unmoving body as that way, as he paused the effects of time on Tetsu's body. Hyde created a portal, to enter into another world, to destroy it…

After all, such was his destiny.
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Author's notes: *stretch* *yawn* *sigh* Sad nee! T_T Poor Hyde… Poor Tet-chan! I know, I was inspired by people's narrating of the PIECES MTV… All the more I want to watch it! T_T Wu! Wu! Also, the first rough copy was done in the airport viewing mall, for composition, and it was crap, so I rewrote it. All in a day. *yawn* Cyber cafe rulz! … as long as they lower their prices… T_T

Explanation: Hyde could have been touched by the sincerity of Tetsu, that was why he realized that when he had killed Tetsu there was no bringing the beauty back, yet he chose to. Why? He's a demon. That's why. Yet Hyde held on to Tetsu's body, because he wanted that momento of innocence to accompany him for eternity, to remind him that Tetsu once existed, and to remember that Tetsu touched his heart.

Oh. Anyway, I hope this illustrates it well enough. Firstly, I think writing too much on their encounters messes up the whole thing, second, it's always nice to have a short sweet story, though sad. I tried my best to illustrate the character's feelings, especially through their actions, and through Tetsu's views. So, now you know why I call it "Cursed Moments".

Tell me your comments

Hidoko Matsumoto

10:51:26 PM Friday, August 06, 1999

http://xz0ne.cjb.net
voidmatsumoto@yahoo.co.uk