Zone

Saturday, August 15, 19989:12:54 PM
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Notes: Thanks to the Quest For Glory One, I got the idea for this story! Yippee! ^o^ And all thanks to my damn sis I got only one hour on the net but I am still as desperate for comments, no, more than I was for the first fic I wrote! (o^_^o) But thanks to my beloved '97 word I can write this in style! \(^o^)/

Type: X Japan and Malice Mizzer crossover!

Warnings: Yaoi! (no lemon… Disappointment! Bwahaha…)

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==* | *== < HI!! Thanks for reading.  |
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Once there lived a wizard named Yoshiki. As he was a wizard who excelled in music powers, meaning that he could create magic through the music he composed or played, people respected him a lot. And because he was very pretty, what with blood red lips and golden hair that reached well down to his back, many people defined him as "sama", which meant that they took him as their master, because they loved him very much. However, though they went crazy over him, he was never wed, and they all married as time went by.

One day, he went out to get inspirations in the woods. As he walked between trees, he got lost in the colors and wondered what on earth was he existing for. He needed a reason to live, and he had not found it yet.

Just as he was thinking about the reason, he noticed a mountain with a huge rock which looked like a door. With careful examination, he saw that it could actually be moved to reveal a secret passage or something.

He took a script out and began taking a mini drum out of his pocket. He looked at the scores of the beat and began hitting the drums with mini chopsticks. After some time the rock began to glow and it hoisted itself up from the ground, revealing a hole in the mountain.

He decided that he wanted to see what the very huge, very very huge, HUGE hole contained, so he went in, after picking up a branch and lighting it with his magic drum's beat. He could barely view the cave with the illuminated dim light, but suddenly he caught a faint glow at the other side of the cave. Cautiously, hoping nothing would swallow him up, he crept towards the glow. As he came closer, he sawthat it was a magical book.

Taking the book in his hands, he tried his way out of the cave, but as he reached somewhere halfway near the opening, he felt nothing beneath his feet. It had been too late to rebalance his footing, and he fell right in.

***

It was pretty dark. Cautiously he tried to take his mini drum out from beneath his cloak, but it must have fallen out of his backpack. Sighing, his hand reached the other instrument, one which could produce great melodies but would not be considerable for war, and began to play what best he could remember to make the room bright.

After several phrases of sweet music his deft fingers set to play, the whole place lit up as if it was daylight. Wow, he had never realised that piano could be so powerful. He looked around the place a bit, wondering if his music had woken up any residents in the cave who might not welcome him, but he could see no one, nothing alive, that is. Shuddering, he treaded the bones, hearing them creak, and made his way to a shrine which somehow made his spine feel a chill.

As he reached it, he could see the distorted metal glowing and radiating heat. His backpack felt warm too, and he realised that it must have been the book, for other than that all he had was food rations. Taking the book out, he noticed that its glow had grown stronger than it was at the cave above and seemed to be echoing with the shrine.

He opened the book, and noticed that the book was of magic scores for piano users. The words that accompanied the scores looked ancient, so Yoshiki decided that it must have been an old book. He read through the words, realising how hard exactly it was to read old english, but he could make out, though barely, what it was saying. It was something about familiars, and he wondered what on earth it could be. Reading forward was not of any help, they were too faded. He looked at the shrine again and saw what had seemed like a pole protruding through the top of the shrine was actually a sword, and it was glowing brighter than any other parts.

A sense of mystique overcame his senses as he saw some engraving on the hilt of the sword. Peering closer, he decided that it was safe to actually touch it, but a force of energy kept him from doing so. Startled, he played the melody "see" to allow his vision to magnify. Once again his magic on the piano changed his vision and into his mind came the words.

:.The prophecy had predicted a ledgend to be accomplished in the midst of this new age, where miracles can be seen but not touched. The wheel of destiny shall turn the fates of time, and everything shall follow the Book where the prophecy had been written..:

Yoshiki wondered what prophecy it was, and since it said the Book it must have meant the Book in his hands. He wondered all the more what was it about, and touched the shrine carefully here and there, hoping to find plaques or things like that popping up somewhere, but to no avail. It felt warm at his touch, though, and strangely comfortable. After thoroughly searching through the whole place and finding nothing of interest, he settled down somewhere near the shrine and began looking through the faded words, wishing to decipher those symbolic characters.

After confirming with himself that he could not distinctively read them, he looked through the scores of magic. They were beautiful music, and Yoshiki felt in himself an urge to listen through his ears, to play and be one with the pitches and tones, to know the melody as himself, as a companion. He quickly reached out for his mini piano, which he wished could play some of the notes which the normal large pianos could. But that was all he had at that moment, and he was in no position to complain.

His fingers started their work as if they knew the melody already, and his eyes only made sure that they did not play the wrong thing. He felt the sounds carress his ears as each note touched his heart, sending a sad pitch which his heart could recognise. Then, the music slowly changed, until it seemed so happy, so thankful. He almost got drowned in the beautiful melody. Just as he was engrossed, his fingers hit an empty space. Disappointment came into his mind as he realised that the music had gone beyond is mini piano's reach. Suddenly, he felt a presence near him, and he looked up at the top of the shrine to see a man with beautiful pink hair and black leather wings.

Yoshiki's heart almost stopped beating as he forgot the scores and his hands desperately clutched at the mini piano on the floor.

"Don't be so uptight," The pink-haired figure said, gliding down with his wings. "You created me, didn't you?"

Yoshiki's muscles grew even more tense as he prepared to attack. The winged creature landed in front of him, and the rose got a clear look at who he was facing, and he was really mesmerised. In front of him was the most beautiful person he had ever seen, with dark devilish looks and bright yellow robe. He almost dropped his piano had the person not had black semi-transparant wings. With a grin he approached the cautious human being.

"Hi, I'm your Familiar. Don't tell me you actually created me without knowing that you did?"

Yoshiki dropped his piano this time, hearing it break as it slammed into the skeleton scattered floor. "F… Fa… Familiar?"

"Yeah!" He began to look at his creator curiously. "Oh, you must have not known what were the spells for, eh?"

Yoshiki realised that it was most probably true. Afterall, he DID read in the book about Familliars. What he had not anticipated was the scores to actually create a Familiar, whatever was standing in front of him.

The creature shook his head. "Should I explain it to you? Do you want explaining?"

Yoshiki nodded, still have not gotten over his shock.

He walked a full circle, then gestured for Yoshiki to sit down. "Are you going to stand there all day?"

Yoshiki sighed and sat down, hearing the bones crack under his weight. "Well, tell me about Familliars and about this shrine… I would like to know the mystery."

"So you don't reside here?"

"Of course I don't."

"Then why is it that you don't ask how to get out of here?"

"I'll come back again someday if I don't solve this mystery." Yoshiki replied tactlessly.

"I see." The Familliar looked at the beautiful blonde, his eyes twinkling with an inner light that Yoshiki could not quite catch was what. "But don't you want to know who I am?"

"You're a Familiar, right?"

"No, I have a name like you do, Yoshiki-chan."

"What." Yoshiki nodded, and he grinned.

"Hide."

"Not a bad name," Yoshiki commented, without much ego.

"Well, say it next time with more enthusiasm!" Hide shook his finger at Yoshiki. "Well, anyway Familliars can only be created by wizards once, to keep the wizard company and things like that. In any case, the Familiar will do anything the wizard wants it to do, and they shall be together till the end of their lives. But even if they die they cannot be seperated, as the Familiar will die without the wizard and the wizard will too die if the Familiar should come to any misfortune. The wizard can only have one Familiar in his life, although he may try the spell again, it does not work. As it is, to have a perfect Familiar the spell must be completely perfect."

Yoshiki froze when he realised that he had missed the last few phrases because of the lack of keys on his mini piano. So this Familiar is not perfect… What will it do then?

"Well, as it is, that's all I know. There's not much I know of this shrine though, I can't seem to find it in my memory bank."

Yoshiki sighed, knowing at last what is a non perfect Familiar. "So how do we get out of here? We can't stay here forever, we'll die."

"That's easy." Hide's hand glowed with a light and an electric guitar appeared in his hands. "Well, since you're a music wizard I'm gonna be a music familiar too!"

His hands began to do their work, playing some great rock music, making Yoshiki awe at the talent this Familiar had. Suddenly, Hide disappeared, leaving Yoshiki alone with the shrine. Just as Yoshiki was wondering if it had been a dream, Hide came flashing back and took hold of him, as he frantically grabbed his scores.

"Sorry, dude, I forgot you."

Yoshiki sighed as they appeared outside in the forest of wetness again. This was going to be a long life, obviously.

***

Hide went to the dry goods store to look for some rice to make sushi for his Yoshiki-sama. As he passed the people on the road, he noticed that many people was looking at him as if he was an ET. He decided to ignore them, and strode into the townsquare. People looked wide-eyed and backed away as Hide looked at them, wondering what was wrong with their brains. Suddenly, a person wearing leather armor and carrying a silver sword came in front of him, shouting, "Stop, you creature!"

Hide, without hesitant, grinned and took out his handy electric guitar, and began to play. Within moments the warrior was dancing like mad, against his will of course. Hide chuckled at the ugly dance the warrior was doing, and called, "Hey guy! You sure need a whole lot of practice before you go rockin' in the disco!"

The warrior could only, with tears in his eyes, keep on dancing as Hide walked past him carefreely, ignoring the scared looks on the townsfolks' faces.

Hide finally, without much hinderance as no one dared to challenge him anymore, reached the dry goods store. As soon as he stepped into the store, screams were heard.

"Please, take what you want, but please do not harm my family…" Came a small voice from behind the counter.

"Well, then," Hide grinned, not too sure why everyone was behaving worse than Yoshiki-sama was when they first met, he took hold of a sack of rice and began to heave it up over his shoulders. It would be enough for him to make enough sushi for a few meals, he concluded.

Suddenly, a shriek was heard and a gasp game from behind the counter. "Mimi!!"

A little girl paddled to him, and pulled at his yellow robe. "Hey big brother why you hair pink color one?"

Hide looked shocked as the little girl looked at him fearlessly. He had thought that all humans acted like freaks, but this girl was different. He put down the sack and again the shining black guitar came materialising in his hands. The family shivered, and a woman came running out towards him with a pillow, and slugged him right on the head. Hide felt all breath go out and he tried to regain composure, but the woman gave him no time to even gather his wits before she came after him with the pillow.

He got chased around the house, as the woman shrieked after him, thrusting the pillow again and again at him. In desperation he let his wings open and up he flew till his head was a few inches shy of reaching the ceiling, and began to play his handy guitar. Everyone in the house began dancing, and he noted which one made a great rocker. Musing, he played another round for the little girl and only she stopped dancing. She was exhausted by then, and he muttered an apology to everyone in the household and began to string another round. This time, a rose, a pink one, materialised in his hand and he handed it to the little girl. She looked at him in delight.

Winking at her, Hide took his sack and flew off as fast as he could before the spell wore off.

***

Yoshiki was looking at Hide the Familiar doing the sushi-- He had not expected Familliars to do cooking, but obviously it was included in their brain cells-- and wondering whether he should be happy or sad that Hide was his Familiar. Hide was certainly great company, he had to admit-- though he made his home so noisy that he desperate needed some peace. But then again, Hide's sense of housing was real special, to put it in a less offensive way, and his room, their room, was covered with colourful wallpaper and the furnitures became sprayed with some other paint which he did not even want to think about.

And of course, there was the cooking-- He was glad that he had actually survived it, but Hide looked so eager that he did not want to spoil Hide's moods. He wondered what it would be like to have Hide cry, but decided not to ever want to see him cry. It would be horrible.

"Tata!" Hide popped a huge dish of sushi in front of him. "Hey bud how does it taste like?"

Yoshiki felt a chill go up his spine. "Erm, let me try it first."

Hide watched intently as Yoshiki took a cautious small bite and a weird look appeared on his face. Suddenly, he burst out, "Hey! Hide! This tastes really GOOD!!"

Hide began to grow suspicious. "Why the weird look then?"

Yoshiki sheepishly smiled. "WELL…"

Hide smiled this time, warmly. "You know, this is the first time I see you smile. Do go on smiling…"

Yoshiki's face turned as red as the roses which he so loved.

"You know, thanks for enduring my cooking… You really are a good person."

Yoshiki's face turned redder as Hide looked at the beautiful blonde intently. Yoshiki began to look down at the sushi, and fiddled with the wasabe (omigosh!!) uncomfortably for a while. Hide continued to watch him, making Yoshiki squirm in true discomfort.

"Why do you seem so pretty?" Hide wondered, not knowing that he was making Yoshiki more and more uncomfortable.

Just as the steam was heating the room, voices of many townsfolk burst in. "YOSHIKI-SAMA!" It jerked both of them out of that romantic atmosphere and almost tore the whole house down.

Yoshiki jerked his head up and Hide shrugged his shoulders as Yoshiki quickly rushed to opened the door to prevent it from being broken down by villagers. "Yoshiki-sama!" An old man whom Yoshiki recognised as chief of the town burst in, frantically, and bowed once.

"What's the matter?" He asked, wondering if he should be happy or sad that they rescued him from facing Hide.

"We need your help! You're the most powerful wizard that we have around here! The demon! There's a demon going to town and making people dance!"

"Tell me how he looks like."

"He's got pink hair, dark wings, wears a yellow robe, up till this tall…" Yoshiki's blood froze as he realised that his Familiar was mistaken to be a demon. But he really froze when he heard a shout from somewhere in the doorway, "Look! That's the demon!"

"Yoshiki-sama!" Someone screamed, as Yoshiki turned around to look at Hide helplessly.

Hide only grinned. "Hey guys, you sure welcome me huh? Look! You have even come to visit me!"

"Hey, let's go!" the chief yelled. "Yoshiki-sama is the owner of the demon!"

Angry responses rose from the crowd as Hide, sensing that everyone had not welcomed him as he had thought, grabbed Yoshiki and flew away through the window as the villagers rushed into the house and pillowed it down.

***

When Yoshiki woke up from the shock, it was already sunset. He was lying under a big sakura tree, with his head propped on Hide's lap.

"Are you okay?" Hide asked, his brows furrowed in concern.

Yoshiki's eyelids allowed light to fill his vision as he saw Hide's dark face. "Hide…?"

"I'm sorry I caused so much trouble…"

"No…" Yoshiki did not try to get up, he felt so weak then, as if he had no energy in his limbs. It must have been the period of unconciousness, he decided, that was making him feel strengthless. It couldn't have been anything else, could it?

Hide looked at him, studying his beautiful face. "But I made you lose your home… I must have made you the enemy of the townspeople as well."

His heart began to hurt, wanting to tell Hide that it was NOT his fault, but Hide's sad eyes made his heart break further till he lost all thoughts of speech. The silence seemed so lonely…

Hide felt Yoshiki's hand grasp his, weakly, and Yoshiki's form trying to snuggle up to his form. "It's getting late, Yoshiki-sama…"

"Hai…" Yoshiki finally lay in Hide's arms. It felt warm… "Mind if I borrow some of your body heat?" He smiled weakly.

Hide's smile grew bigger till it almost seemed like his normal carefree grin. "No."

Yoshiki lay in Hide's arms as the night dawned upon the earth, soaking everything in its silent shadows.

***

"I'm glad that you made Yoshiki's life miserable, chief…" A wicked laugh came sounding through the woods, sending chills down his spine. He looked around, trying to find whoever was spooking him, but saw no one. His wife was soundly sleeping, and his kids were not screaming. Slowly he lay down again and tried to go back to sleep. Suddenly, another series of laughter was heard and his brains seemed to come blasting out of his skull…

***

Hide was waken by the birds' morning songs and the sunlight which the sakura tree let through with its canopy. Hide watched as Yoshiki's innocent face was locked in sleep, his brows raised in careless dreams, his face seemingly so heavenly… Almost godlike.

A smile crept across his face as Yoshiki slept on, until the light began to pierce into Yoshiki's closed sight. His eyelids fluttered open, and he was left staring at the welcoming face of Hide's.

"Good morning, Yoshiki-sama."

Yoshiki smiled, happily, and got up from Hide's embrace.

"What are we going to do?" He asked, with a sense of forlornness and sadness.

Hide smiled, not happily, and said, "Well, maybe I can go and tell them that it's not your fault…"

"…do you think they'll listen?" Yoshiki's back made him feel even heavier, as if he was going to sink into the ground.

"No…"

"Maybe…" Yoshiki looked at Hide, "We can stay here by ourselves?"

Hide's smile became a genuine grin. "Yoshiki-sama!"

***

After a breakfast of fruits which Hide materialised from his magic guitar, the work for a new home began. It was almost all Hide's work as Yoshiki had no instruments and was drawing a plan of their home. Hide was playing a magic melody with a-- surprisingly-- classical guitar, to make a piano for Yoshiki.

After totally insane concentrations, Hide finally came up with a Crystal Kawai piano, one which could play all the best melodies, all the notes which his mini piano could never do. Of course, there was one weakness-- It was too big and heavy to take on one of his inspiration trips.

When Yoshiki looked up and the first thing which caught his eyes was the shiny Crystal Kawai piano, he almost shouted in delight. It looked as if it was made of rosewood, and what's more it was a grand piano, not just a standing piano, of course far more than his mini piano.

Finally, having gotten over his shock, he began to close his gaping mouth and gushed, "Oh Hide!"

Hide grinned his insane grin and gave a thumbs-up sign. "Hey, dude, try it!"

Yoshiki smiled, with tears in his eyes, and sat down on the bench which Hide provided-- he was so considerate! He began playing on it some melody which he had never heard of, and laughed. Hide's grin grew wider till it almost covered his whole face, and wrapped his arms around Yoshiki's neck in a lock.

"Cool, huh?"

Yoshiki, laughing, took hold of his arms and squeezed them, making Hide yelp in pain. "Thanks!"

"So you can't have a reason for not helping to make the house!"

"Hey, no, wait… I haven't designed a room to hold this piano!"

***

After careful designs and playing, they finally constructed a beautiful house with white walls and blue roof. The windows had purple ledges and yellow pots. There were crazy looking plants, all of which no one has seen before, but among them were two rose bushes, one with red roses and one with black roses.

When Yoshiki looked at Hide, the constructor of those crazy plants, Hide only grinned, and shouted, "Hey! Isn't this house simply GOOD?"

Yoshiki could only sigh at how easily Hide ignored topics which he did not want to touch on.

***

Exhausted, they went to the insides and Yoshiki supervised on where to lay the beds, for it was already night. It would take another day of quarreling and debating to lay out the furnishing, but Hide was happy enough to have a roof over him.

Then there was the idea of Yoshiki putting the Crystal Kawai piano in the living room, for everyplace else was rather small and homely. Even Hide had to agree with Yoshiki, for sometimes, Yoshiki was wilful.

But everyone was happy as the night went into its depth, and Yoshiki and Hide each was sound asleep in their own rooms.

***

"Kill!" The townspeople went marching into the tranquil forest. "Kill them!"

That was the first thing Yoshiki heard before he was waken up by Hide. "Hurry! Yoshiki, they've come here!"

"We have the piano, don't we?" Yoshiki gave a small smile. "If they call you a monster just for making them dance, I'm going to be a monster too!"

"But this has to do with your life!"

Yoshiki only gave a brief smile. "Trust me."

***

Music of piano came out of the little house which sat in the middle of what used to be a part of the forest. The townspeople began to shiver and suddenly began to dance ballet. With tears in their eyes, they danced and danced away until they danced themselves into a lake nearby.

The chief sat in the middle of the lake, looking pissed off. "That damn wizard is just too powerful! We've gotta think of a way!"

"Ah! I got it!" A woman shouted, snapping her fingers. "What if we stuff our ears with cotton? We won't be harmed that way, would we?"

The chief laughed wickedly. "That's the best idea I've had for days!"

They picked themselves out of the pond and went back to town to look for a few things to stuff in their ears.

***

Hide heard the chaos again. Looking at Yoshiki worriedly, he got a guitar in his hands and got ready for battle. Yoshiki sat by his piano, playing a melody called "Amethyst" on his piano.

Yoshiki looked at Hide, with a gleam in his eyes. Hide gave a thumbsup sign and both of them laughed. Music sounded out of the small house again, but suddenly townspeople broke down the door and began to catch hold of Hide and Yoshiki.

All they saw was black as they were carried to the dungeons.

***

The first thing he noticed was his pain. His whole body felt as if on fire, and his mouth tasted of dilluted blood. The air smelt of death, and his wrists and ankles were hurting. Opening his eyes, he tried to focus.

There was darkness all around, save for a glimspe of light coming from a small barred window by the wall, with moonlight illuminating every chain and every torture weapon by the other wall. There was a few chains more in front of him, now unused, was in front of him. Beside him was Hide, he could see his scarred face in the dim light, and his heart ached when he saw Hide's wounds, though not bleeding.

Hide was awake, but he was looking helplessly in front of him. Yoshiki wondered if Hide would be able to break the locks or anything, but if he could he would have in the first place. "Hide," He whispered. "What's wrong?"

Hide turned his red eyes at Yoshiki. "There's… wards…"

Yoshiki looked at Hide's chains, and noted that there were colorful papers all around Hide, forming a kekkai. Obviously the power of the kekkai was no joke, having hurt Hide so much. Hide's face looked charred, and his body, where the wards had touched, were smoking. He wished that he knew of a method to stop Hide's pain, even if it meant sacrificing himself, he would.

"Hi…De…" He choked, not knowing what to say, not wanting to say anything in case he said any wrong thing.

Hide only looked at him again and gave a grim smile before resuming to concentrate his mind against those wards. Yoshiki's eyes brimmed just looking at Hide in pain, but still decided that silence was golden. So what if he felt pain for Hide? It would not lessen Hide's pain any.

He had fallen asleep again, and his mind walked in dreams and nightmares. One moment he was a greek god with little muse Hide by his left, the next he was a soul waiting for the deathlord to grab him into a cauldron and be cooked. Just as he was a kitten with lasagne in front of him, cold water splashed his face and woke him up.

He opened his eyes and saw the chief in front of him, his same old face twisted in malicious glee. Yoshiki sensed something was wrong with the chief, and this chief was not the old chief who had called him "sama" as well. No, this one was much too evil. His heart froze as he saw the chief grin, his rotten teeth brewing bad breath in his face. No… He did not remember the previous chief having bad breath either. This was a fake! He almost felt his whole body instead of just his heart when he thought of what might have happened to the real chief.

Hide looked at him worriedly, and Yoshiki really did froze when he saw the fake chief approach Hide.

"He's your Familiar, huh?" He laughed wickedly. "Well he'll join you pretty soon, not to worry."

With that, inhuman laughter that sent a chill running through spines echoed throughout the dungeons.

***

"Mum!" Mimi walked up to the woman who was cooking by the stove. She was holding the pink rose which that demon had given her, and she still did not understand why her townspeople was shouting at him he was such a nice demon. And they had no reason to yell at Yoshiki-sama for living with a friendly demon, too. Yoshiki-sama had never done anything to harm her people.

Her mother looked down at her. "What is it, Mimi?"

She held out the rose. Her mother looked at it before shaking her head. "Told you to throw it away, Mimi, what its' still doing here?"

She held it closer, till its thorns cut into her small hands. She shook her head. Her mother sighed, and went back to stirring the porridge. She looked at her hands, watching as the blood came flowing out of her wounds. Her mother gasped, and quickly picked her up. Frightened, she began to scream and kick, her hands still holding on to the pink rose.

Her mother quickly put her down, and she calmed down immediately. She sighed, rubbing a sore arm, before going back into the kitchen to take the first aid. Mimi looked at the rose, and unconciously smiled. Her mother appeared in front of her again, and took a tube out of the box. "Come, Mimi. Mother is going to put some medicine on your wounds. It's going to hurt, but it will be good for Mimi, okay?"

"Good." Mimi murmered, and went out to her mother. She took her hand and began applying a yellowish substance onto her hand. Mimi withdrew her hand the moment the goo touched her skin, but her mother held it tightly and soon she was done.

"Now Mother will put a bandage over your wound, okay, Mimi? It will not hurt."

Mimi nodded and her mother pasted plasters over her hands. She looked up at her mother, asked, "Ma…"

She looked at her, an arm stretched out for her hand, and nodded. Mimi shook her head, and continued, "Why did you chase big brother away?"

"He is not big brother, Mimi." Her mother said, still holding out for the other hand. Mimi gave it to her unwillingly, and transferred the rose into her pocket in the apron. "He is a demon who will only bring harm to others."

Mimi looked at the rose protruding out of her apron pocket. "He gave me this flower, ma…"

Her mother sighed, knowing that no one had ever been that nice to Mimi before. They only called her stupid, retarded and all sorts of things. And she had looked at everyone with hatred. "Are you saying that he is not bad?"

Mimi nodded.

Her mother sighed, remembering that day when she had to dance for a whole day. But, now that she had come to think of it, she realised that Mimi was right. If that demon was so bad, then why would he make everyone dance instead of just killing people? And if he was so bad, why would he have given Mimi the rose? Why had he looked so happy that Mimi was not afraid of him? That demon must have been pretty innocent. Only innocent, innocent enough to grin like that when everyone looked at him that way.

And Yoshiki-sama… He had always spared the demons which showed kindness, though he had never lived with one before. He had always catered to the town's needs, and he had never done anyhing bad before. If this was the case, then the pink-haired couldn't be of any harm. Could he? No… Yoshiki-sama would have slain him in the first place. But if that little demon was good, then it would mean that they had wronged the duo. But then, what could they do to help?

"I'll talk to your father."

***

Yoshiki's vision blurred with pain as the hot iron scalded his chest again and again. He had never thought conciousness could ever hurt so much. His body felt as if it could not take anymore, and his vision was begginning to dim. All the better, he thought. Conciousness would only make him have so much pain…

Hide's screams still sounded in a distance. But he could barely hear it anymore… His heart ached, not because of all the torture that his body and mind was going through. But because of himself that Hide should scream, as if it was his own soul which was being torn into pieces…

He stole a look at Hide, wishing to tell Hide to survive… Not to die when he did.

But Hide just looked at him, tears in his eyes, shouting his name… His own tears fell before he disappeared into dark bliss…

Hide watched at the chief continued to scar his master. If he was a perfect Familiar, he would be able to rescue his master… But he was not. He was bounded by wards. Perfect Familliars would not be bounded by wards. Not when their masters were being hurt…

Yoshiki… Sama…" He whispered as Yoshiki seemed to take it no more. The chief laughed, wickedly, and turned to Hide.

"Now the ledgend will be no more!" Insane laughter crept through every molecule of air in the dungeon again.

***

Yoshiki was in a beautiful place. It was a shining little plain with a tree in front of him among the rocks, with shiny fruits and colorful flowers under his feet. There was a stone with some inscribed lettering, but he could not understand the words. He decided to take a nap there.

When he woke up, he saw a girl with blue hair in front of him. He wondered who she was, he had never seen her before. She was rather pretty, though. She had blue feathers on her cloak and her dress was blue. Everything about her was blue.

"Who are you?" Yoshiki asked.

"Mana," She replied. "Welcome, Yoshiki."

Yoshiki smiled grimly, looking around. There was a sense of peace in that place and hell could not be detected in his mind. He looked around, wondering where in myths and ledgends did the little heaven come from. "Hi, Mana. How come--"

Mana looked at him, and stood up. Yoshiki noticed that he was shorter than her. "You're in my dream," She told him. "It's my dreamscape you're in now. I called you, I sensed something special, so I called you."

Yoshiki wondered what was she talking about. But somewhere in his mind he could remember the chief, Hide's screams, and the blackness before he came to this place. He wondered if he was dreaming about her as well. Things were getting confusing. "What do you want?"

Mana smiled. "Yoshiki… I just want to help."

Yoshiki raised an eyebrow.

"You see… Have you heard of the ledgend of dream weavers?" Mana's smile disappeared. "And by the way, I'm a man."

Yoshiki blushed a little. "Dreamweavers… Little folk who weave dreams."

"Exactly. But there was one specific ledgend which I am in."

Yoshiki's eyebrow raised again. "Are you a dream weaver?"

"Yes. There's one on a dream weaver meeting with a human. He began to weave dreams for the human just so that they could meet. The dream weaver had fallen in love with the human." Mana's eye shone with a tear, as he continued, "But the human was sick with a disease. The dream weaver was supposed to heal the human… Using his life and freedom as a sacrifice. But the human died, too, in the end."

"Yeah," Yoshiki nodded. "I remember hearing of it. There was a piano interlude specially written for it. They were seperated in the end as the dream weaver had commited a crime and was locked in a golden palace in hell. The human had went to heaven after he died and enjoyed eternal happiness, forgetting about the dream weaver. I liked it. It was rather sad."

Mana smiled sadly. "Yes. He was a good piano player."

Yoshiki was at a loss for words as he heard him say that. "You're that dream weaver."

Mana's tear rolled down his cheek. He said nothing for a moment, and then looked up into Yoshiki's endless depths. "I want to see a change of fate."

For a moment no one said anything, as Yoshiki's heart began to beat faster. He wondered what was his fate. To die with Hide? In that damp dark dungeon in that wicked monster's hands? Or was it to get saved?

Then another thought struck him. Or was it as the Book said? What had the book said?

Mana shook his head. "I want to see someone be happy… These prophecies always come true. They hurt everyone. Those change of fate had always been for the crueler part. Had you heard of the ledgend of the Lake of Blood? Many, many people had died in it. Many people did die, as the prophecies had said before it had happened. The prophecies of Dream Weavers will always come true."

Yoshiki still did not know what to say. Did that mean he and his Familiar would die? Would they? He wanted to see Hide cook again, be in that kitchen eagerly holding the burnt pan, wanted to see Hide sitting in front of him waiting to see his reaction, wanted most to see that genuine happy smile that he had whenever he said that the cooking was good. Just these simple things… He wanted to see them each day, wanted to hear Hide's voice light up the house. He had never wanted to see Hide hurt like that before. He wanted to wake up and know that Hide will be there for him.

He began to shake, and whispered, "I… I want to see Hide happy, that's all…"

Mana smiled, wiping his teartrack away. "I am a dream weaver, so I know. But I want to help you."

Yoshiki nodded, knowing that he was saying that it would be of no use, wishing that there was.

Suddenly, Yoshiki felt himself being drawn back. Strong winds blew and he could see Mana fading away into a distance. He was shouting something, but he could not hear it…

***

Hide looked as the chief heat his metal sticks up again, watching as they reddened with heat. Man, was this human inhuman. How could he do that to Yoshiki? How could anyone?

He heard a moan from the blonde beside him and stole a glance at him. He was shaking his head feebly, as if protesting in his disturbed sleep, and he wanted to know what he was dreaming about. He could if those damn wards weren't there. He was a Familiar, afterall. A shadow of his creator, of the wizard.

He began to sob, thinking of how imperfect he was, how he would have been able to save Yoshiki if he had been more perfect. He wanted to share Yoshiki's pain, if he could lessen it anyhow. He could still think of Yoshiki's smile, when he had said that his sushi was good. He wanted to remember, if it would lessen anyone's pain anyhow. But it made it worse. Yet still he felt his pain, wished his wishes. If only Yoshiki would get out of this alright… It would not matter if he himself was reduced to ashes. He just wanted to see Yoshiki smile again.

***

The trader looked at his wife dubiously. "You mean, that demon who made us dance like crazy was actually good?"

"Exactly!"

"I don't think so… Maria. And you know our Mimi isn't normal…"

She shot a look at her husband. "She's not retarded! She may not be normal, but she definitely isn't less than any other kids. And you, as a father, should know that!" She looked worriedly at Mimi, who just stood by a corner watching them with big eyes, holding the thorny rose in her hands still. "Please, Edward, I really…"

He shook his head. "I'll tell my contacts."

***

Yoshiki woke up as the cold water hit his face. He blinked, the little plain fading away into the reality of the cold wet dungeon. He could see, the horror of the chief's face, the wickedness in his eyes. He wanted to run away from that wicked heartless gleam. It was burning his mind, tearing his soul… He wished that he would stop it.

All he knew was pain as the iron rod struck his nipple. He screamed, feeling as if the whole thing was being severed down into little atoms, then disintegrated into nothingness. If only it did. The pain left lingering on his chest was there, he could feel it fraying his nerves. Hide's screams could be heard faintly from a side, and he bit his lip to keep from screaming anymore.

If he screamed, Hide would know that he was suffering greatly. He did not want Hide to worry for him. If only… If only he was stronger. He would have been able to live if he were, and Hide's life would go on as well. Hide… His name was the only thing filling his mind amidst the pain, soothing his insane mind a bit.

The chief laughed insanely, and put the iron rod aside. "Do you think your people will still want you now? You're just a broken broom compared to that 'Yoshiki-sama' you once were."

Yoshiki shivered, but uttered no response. It did not hurt him particularly, all he had cared about was Hide. Would Hide still remain faithful? He wondered faintly. Would Hide still see him as 'sama'? Would Hide care to cook for him now?

"Do you want to be freed? If you want, 'Yoshiki-sama', I'll let go of you and set you free. And Hide will go alone to the execution stage. Would you want that?"

Yoshiki smiled feebly at him, and shook his head defiantly. "If you want, let go of him."

"Loving, huh? Too bad I don't want to." He laughed again, causing Yoshiki's heart to burn in flames with hatred at this unknown monster. He had robbed the chief of his righteous place and took advantage of the people. Yoshiki wished that he could do something, but he could not.

Then he remembered the dream weaver Mana, wished that he was back in subconciousness again. He had many many things to ask Mana… Besides, it would get him out of that living hell.

An idea came into his mind. Maybe if he could get Hide out of there Hide would be saved. He grinned madly and said, "You know that he can't live without my life, you irritating bastard! You know it! That's why you torture me only and leave him alone… Cause when I die he'll die. Go on and torture him! Go on!"

"Yoshiki…" Hide's whisper sounded in the still air. Yoshiki's heart almost broke when he heard the amount of hurt in it, but he kept silent.

"Haha… Finally showed your true colours, huh? Quit pretending that you're high and mighty, you freak! Hahaha! But all I want is you… Yoshiki-sama. I want to see you scream in pain… Bwahahahahaha!"

Yoshiki began to wonder if he was crazy or not, but he kept silent. All he wanted to and needed to was to get Hide out of there. It would not matter if he himself died… He did not care anymore.

"Well, you, winged creature, you may go. All the more I shall torture Yoshiki-sama… Mentally and physically. Hahahahaha! Guards!" He shouted. "Take this pink haired monster out!"

Two guards appeared and looked at the "chief" uncertainly. "Are you sure?" One of them asked.

"Quit asking and get him out! Use the wards in case he tries to come back."

Yoshiki looked at the "chief" with hate. But he needed to think of someway. He knew that Hide would die if he died, and he did not want that. He found his heart lying then, to himself… To say goodbye to Hide…

***

Hide was thrown outside the castle, his breath in rags, his heart flooding with tears… he looked back at the castle, but it was restricted by wards. He tried to reach out for it, but it burned his hand, numbing it. Desperately he looked around a bit, wishing that there was something he could do. Even if Yoshiki-sama did not want him anymore… His tears came and went, almost flooding his very soul, broken…

He hugged himself and began to look around, helplessly, but there was not a single person in sight who would help him. They were looking with hatred, and some with sneering looks, but none with symphathy. He knew that he had better think of a way out himself, but how? Maybe if he could get his guitar back, but none of the magic came back to his fingers… The wards had drained more than that from him.

With resignation he opened his wings, ready to fly around to look for a way, maybe so he could see what was in sight to help him, but a creak sounded and as pain ran across his back he knew it was broken. Silently he sat there, looking forlornly at the wards, the kekkai which was formed because of the wards.

His conciousness began to waver and the people only went by him, the guards standing by the gate making sure that he never did go near the gates.

A warm hand was placed on his shoulder, and he looked up. It was the woman who had come after him with a pillow, he remembered, through the foggy image. Maybe she was back to make him suffer for making the whole family to dance…

"Come, " She whicpered, looking at the guards fearlessly.

Hide found himself obeying, he felt tired, so tired…

***

The plain was back again. He looked down at himself, still clad in his normal laces. None of the scars were there, as if they were healed. He looked around a bit, and found Mana standing on top of a boulder, with a somewhat familiar sword in his hands.

"Hi, Yoshiki." He smiled, holding a hand out. Yoshiki smiled back, but did nothing in return. He was hurting too much to acknowledge anything. Sighing, Mana jumped down from the boulder, and a crystal formed from his hands. "Come into my dream scape, Yoshiki."

Yoshiki felt magic surround him, in a magical melody, colouring everything with its special hue, weaving the dreams in perfect colours. There were crystals surrounding him, dancing, floating… Little lights danced about him, as his smile grew, his heart brightening up for that moment. A ghostly voice filled his mind.

"Enter the world of the magic of Dream Weavers, Yoshiki-sama." It was Mana, he could tell distinctively. Sweet tinkles of laughter was heard and a swirl of music wrapped itself around him, dancing. Yoshiki gasped at the sheer transparent beauty, Dream Weavers have so much power!

Mana's laughter sounded again as Yoshiki began to giggle, dizzy as the twinkles of stars filled the dreamscape. Somehow, Yoshiki's Crystal Kawai began to appear in the translucent sphere which it was in. Yoshiki gasped happily, he had not seen it for such a long time. He began to sit down and play it, his very own melody. Mana raised an eyebrow as the sweet music entered the dreamscape, enchanting the very magic which the dreamscape lived on.

When he finished, he discovered that the dreamscape had changed back into that normal sparkling little plain. Mana was sitting atop a boulder, his back facing Yoshiki. Yoshiki stopped playing and the piano disintergrated. He blinked, as Mana's form seemed to waver.

"Mana…?"

Mana did not look back. "He used to play the piano so well, too…" Sighing, he leaped down, his teartracks gone in the wind.

Yoshiki said nothing, he had nothing to say. Gackt must have been very important to Mana, he sensed. If only he knew of what to say… A single word would be fitting if it was right. Mana smiled, and said, "Well, I'd better talk about the more important things first."

Yoshiki nodded, looking away.

"You see, your story was seen in my prophecy… Like I said before, things were for the worse. I want to defy fate… Just this once. Cause I know how painful it can be…" Mana looked at Yoshiki unwaveringly. "Even if you say no, I want to. Many prophecies come true, but miracles do happen. Even though I am no one to change the fates, it will take someone greater to do so, I still want to try, Yoshiki. You know what I mean?"

Yoshiki nodded again, and Mana smiled. The wind began to blow again, suddenly, and Mana shouted, this time he could hear, "Live on bravely, Yoshiki!"

***

The pink haired figure lay on the bed in disturbed sleep as Mimi looked at him worriedly from a corner. She sighed, wondering what was the whole thing about, wondered why Mimi had thought of him as special. She fished the cloth out of the cold water, and placed it on the demon's forehead. The poor thing was definitely not in top shape. A wing was broken, she had made sure that he lay on his sides as not to break it further. She wondered how Edward was doing, her motherly instincts telling her to take care of this kid. She wondered how to bandage the wing, but had no experience on it.

A resigned breath escaped her lips as she took the cloth and soaked it back in water again. Mimi came closer, and she nodded at her. "What is it, dear?"

Mimi held out the rose and Maria took it. Mimi looked at the pink-haired winged guy on the bed and she asked, "Do you want me to give it to him?" Mimi nodded, and Maria carefully avoided the thorns, put it into her apron pocket. "Later, Mimi."

***

Yoshiki found himself in a cold room this time. Well, that was the first thing he noticed as he opened his eyes in the darkness. He was lying down, soft sheets underneath. He was not wearing anything, he noted, but let the thought slip from his mind. His whole body was aching too much for him to think. Softly he let out a moan, and closed his eyes and prepared to go back to sleep.

"Ahh, Yoshiki, I see you have awaken." A sneering voice echoed into his ears, making his heart freeze in terror. That inhuman voice… He squeezed his eyes shut, but a hand took his hair and held him up from the sheets. Yoshiki gasped as his scalp went on a major riot.

The bad breath filled his conciousness again as he was held close to heat, his face feeling polluted simply by the presence of the man, or whatever it was. The evilness… Adorned with that tingling fear that ran down his spine.

He was thrown back onto the bed, and his head rang. Or whatever sort of feeling it was, it sure was not happy. Silently he prayed that whatever torture it was would end soon, it was taking too much out of him. "You're the last one now… Adding to my collection of a unfinished ledgends…"

Yoshiki jerked as he heard that. He opened his eyes and saw a golden book in front of an altar, unfamiliar inscriptions on the surface. A statue stood by its side, with an evil aura which he could not know was what.

"Now's the last step." A grin whipped the evil face as he began to change form, from that old man to…

Bright light filled the dark room and a red figure stood in front of him. Yoshiki choked as he recognised it to be the Angel of Fire. The most powerful angel, yet the most rebellious one. And… The most seductive one. His flaming hair hung down over his tall yet slender form in curtains, his crimson eyes most alluring to the human mind. Desperately Yoshiki turned his eyes away, telling himself that he was an enemy, but the Angel spread his red wings and flew towards Yoshiki, gently pushing the curtains that he had let obscured Yoshiki.

"Now here's the last ritual… heh heh…" His voice had changed from that old man's to a soft, strong magnetic whisper. "I like sad tales… I like to see unfulfilment… I like to hear the cries of people's hearts… And I want their fire to burn…"

"No," Yoshiki choked. That was all he could get out of him throat with his amount of energy available. "Why…?"

"After this… After I get you… I will have the power to break my curse." He looked sad, for a moment, but his eyes quickly returned back to the blazing depths. "I need to break the curse in my blood… I need fulfilment…"

He bothered no longer to explain further. With a glance into Yoshiki's eyes, his lips met his.

***

Hide was in a shimmering place. A tower with golden bricks and silver linings stood in front of him. He wondered, for a moment where he was. It was a beautiful tower, but it seemed so… Lonely.

He flew towards a window, and looked inside. It was isolated, so he went in. There were only steps in front of him, so he climbed up. Up and up and up he went, passing by windows occasionally. He stopped short. At the back of his mind he heard someone calling, "Hurry, Hide! Hurry!"

Almost in a dreamlike trance, he ran up, almost stumbling over his own feet. There was something in the air, something in his heart that he could not quite fathom.

He came to a golden door soon, and turned the knob.

***

Mana stood by the globe. His hand was shaking already; it was taking too much out of him to weave three dreams at one go. If something went wrong with a dream, he would most probably be doomed. Worriedly he glanced at the dream scape in the globe. The ledgend would end in chaos if he did not act fast.

Looking into his left, he saw Yoshiki and a old man. There was something wrong with the man, he was glowing with red light. Mana looked on and saw a red figure standing there instead. The red wings… Red eyes… He seemed rather familiar though he was sure he had never seen him somewhere before.

Silently he urged Hide to hurry up, it might be too late before their souls could meet. He looked back at the crystal globe again. The dream… He gasped. The current ledgend overlay a ledgend… His ledgend!

***

Hide gasped as he saw a golden room with silken drapes. A person with blue hair, blue makeup and blue dress stood there, looking worriedly at a transparent globe in front of him. Her lip quivered, as if she was scared. It was a dream weaver! He tried to find it in his memory who it was, but found none. Dream weavers were powerful, he knew, and could see future ledgends in crystal globes.

She looked away from the globe, finally realised his presence.

She ran towards him. "Hide! Hurry… You need to find me! Get me out of this tower… So that I can weave a dream powerful enough to save Yoshiki! Hurry…!"

Before her hand touched him, strong winds blew. Hide opened his mouth to ask what was it all about, but everything was fading. All he could hear was a word "South" and that was all.

***

Maria looked as the demon stirred. Mimi continued to watch from her corner. Edward was not back yet, she wished him good luck. An eye opened, followed by another as he tried to get up, but failed miserably.

"Lie down," Maria said.

"No…" He muttered. "I…"

She looked worriedly as he tried to flap his wings, but ended up wincing in pain. "You'd better stop… Your wing's broken."

Hide sighed, his brows furrowed. "I…"

"Here…" Maria poured a cup of warm water and handed it to the demon. Wordlessly he took it and began to sip. "May I know what's you name?"

He put the cup down on his chest. "Hide…"

"Why is Yoshiki keeping you? He has never kept a demon before…"

"I'm not a demon," Hide said, his voice still raspy. "I'm a familiar… Familiar of the wizard who created me. My job is to help the wizard… But now…"

His voice trailed off sadly. "I'm useless! I can't do a single thing…"

Maria sighed sadly. "My husband is getting people to help you now… Is there any other way you need help?"

Hide pondered for a moment. "I need to go to the golden tower to rescue the dream weaver… She told me if I rescued her she would weave a dream powerful enough to save Yoshiki-sama…"

"Golden Tower? Dream Weaver?" Maria echoed. "That's from the ledgend of the Dream Weaver… Everyone knew about it! But… Where is he?"

"He?"

"Mana, the bluish Dream Weaver. He's renounced for his beauty among dream weavers…" Maria sighed. "The tower is supposed to be somewhere at the edge of this world over at the bridge linking to hell… That's all I know."

"Then… I need to go there."

"You shouldn't… Hide. It's rather dangerous there. Our town is already near the bridge… That's why we have so many demons. On the bridge, there's many demons which eat meat… And you're not in top condition."

"But… Yoshiki…"

"We need to think of a alternative solution," Maria replied. "We need to rescue Yoshiki… That's for sure… But you can't go to the tower."

"But…" Hide sighed. "What can I do?"

***

Yoshiki's heart was ripping into pieces. The Red Angel of Fire… Each kiss that landed on him burnt his heart to cinders. He wished… But there was no stopping the Angel. There was no stopping himself, too… His body was already covered with sweat.

The Angel did not stop. Not even as he wished he would, it was hell for him. Silently he choked back his tears and and tried to calm his mind. The pleasures of the mind was overwhelming his soul, and he knew what it meant by "See people's fire burn"…

***

He decided not to listen to Maria. He could think of no other ways, though he knew that it was for his good that she suggested it. His wing felt much better already, after Maria's husband arrived with a healer. He was pretty sure he could fly, and his magical abilities had replenished at least three quarters.

"Sorry, I have to go."

Maria sighed. "Is there is anyway we can help?"

Hide thought for a while. "Sure." A plan had begun to form in his head. If Mana needed to weave a dream, he would need a place to stay while he weaved the dream, without disturbances. And whatever Mana could do it was not really much… He was pretty sure of it. He knew the abilities of Dream Weavers and he believed that perhaps all Mana could do was break the kekkai. "Get a place ready for Mana to weave his dream… And make sure no one goes in. Gather up whoever's on my side--" He looked at Edward and the number of people who flooded the room, namely, practically, half the town. "And prepare weapons."

"What are we going to do?" A maiden asked.

"We need to save the chief… He's in danger. And… Yoshiki…"

"We'll save them!" A man shouted. "There's kekkai all over the castle… The chief would never put kekkai all around!"

"Yeah…" A gentle looking girl stood by the front. "Yoshiki-sama…"

Hide smiled gently. "I guess I'd better go."

"Wait," Maria said, taking a rose from her pocket. It was a pink rose, protected by magic so that it would not wilt. "Mimi wants me to give this to you."

Hide studied it. It was the rose he gave to the little girl… He searched the crowd for her but found nothing. "Thanks."

"Be careful," Maria said.

Hide stood up from his seat and began flapping his wings. "No prob!"

***

Mana looked into his dream scape of Hide. Finally Hide was coming… He had given up looking at the dream to Yoshiki. The Angel was raping him, and Mana was sick. What was the fulfilment that the Angel wanted? What curse was there on him? He looked back at the globe. The courses were branching out… But all for the worse. Was there no hope? His ledgend coninued to underlie the ledgend.

He began to sit down and wait.

He sighed. Hide was approaching, more or less-- he was fighting the demons at the bridge. Or rather, leaving the demons dancing at the bridge. Mana had to suppress a smile as he watched the Familiar go about, he was the only one who could do that.

In no time, Hide reached the castle. He began running up the stairs, and Mana began to hope. But Hide was rather tired by then. Mana wrapped his fingers around his hands and wished and wished. Definitely he was going to have to weave a dream to rest Hide later and bring them back to town. His power had been perfected all those years.

The golden door opened to reveal a pink haired figure in a black leather jacket and bright yellow T-shirt with dark blue jeans. His eyes were wide and his jaws reached the ground, but he realised that he was acting like an idiot and shut his mouth tight. "Mana…?"

Mana nodded. Hide had been as beautiful as he had been in his dreamscape. Flashes of both Yoshiki and Gackt came into his mind and he nodded. "Get me to the bridge, Hide! I'll take us there…"

Hide nodded and wrapped his arms around Mana's slim waist. He came under the realisation that he was actually blushing. Shaking his head, he took hold of him and began to fly out of the window, surprised that he was not electrocuted or something. Mana was taller than he, plus the inches he wore on his feet, and suddenly Hide had a weird thought, as if they were dancing to "My Heart Will Go On". His heart almost fell out of his mouth as a layer of kekkai surrounded him and Mana. It was Mana, he concluded. Dream weavers were powerful indeed, as the ledgend had mentioned.

It was enough to withstand any attacks the demons attacking were capable of. In no time, Hide reached the edge of the bridge, and they settled down beside the waterfalls. No demons were seen, and Mana began to weave a dream to take both of them back to town. "Close your eyes, Hide."

As Hide opened his eyes, he saw Maria in front of him, with some fellow housewives holding brooms and knives and all sorts of things that looked dangerous on them.

"Hide, who's that?"

"Mana," Mana stepped forward, onto Hide's toe, and Hide yelped.

"Oops, sorry… I forgot you are in the way."

Hide nodded, tears in his eyes, wondering how many times his toes would be crushed if he did have to dance with Mana to "My Heart Will Go On".

The housewives decided to safeguard Mana in a room while they watched over him, after some confirmations of his gender. Hide flew off in a rush, now more serious as he thought of Yoshiki.

***

The men soon stood in front of the castle, trampling the poor guards. Alarm sounded all over and Hide realised that Mana had actually weaved a dream to put the kekkai out of use and the guards in the guardhouse to sleep. He knew that Mana could break kekkai, but had never contemplated him to put people to sleep and such, and from his heart he left a humble space for him.

Hide managed to slip into the dungeouns in the chaos. As he took his first step down the damp steps leading down, he could not feel Yoshiki's presence, but his call in his mind was getting more and more desperate. Hide winced, and wondered where could Yoshiki be. For all he knew Yoshiki could have been crucified up in the attic and he might had been too late. He flew up, and suddenly entered into a dark room with candle light. It was Mana, a thought edged into his mind.

He saw a silk veiled bed and heard some muffled moans and sobs inside. Two figures were moving, the upper one more vigorously, the one at the bottom shaking.

Hide's eyebrows furrowed as he pushed at the veils. Fog emerged, and Hide could not see anything. A fist flew out at him and Hide found himself being bashed into the shrine at the back.A magnetic laughter rose in rhythm. "Do you really want to see, Hide?"

Hide growled, his wings feeling like crap. Laughter sounded again and Hide winced. Suddenly, something, no, someone landed on him, someone who was bruised and scarred and whipped… "Yoshiki-sama!"

The laughter never seemed to end. "That's right, Hide! You've come as a bonus offering to my little dedication… Yoshiki is going to die, and his soul will be devoured by my curse as he wanted to save you. You were supposed to marry that retarded girl by default and both of you will live miserably ever since… But now you've come for a *better* fate, huh?"

Hide looked at the unconcious figure in his arm, so broken and vulnerable that he no longer recognised him. The tender pale skin was riddled with scars and stained with a certain red hue-- Was it blood? He was bloody all over, just one big mass of beaten flesh. Silently Hide grieved, praying that Yoshiki would not die, but his own lifeforce was slipping away as well. Desperately he tried to call Mana at the back of his mind, but felt blocked on all sides.

Yoshiki began to stir. Hide looked at him, no longer watching out for the unseen enemy, now all his attention focused on the beautiful fading beauty which lay in his arms.

"Hide…"

That was all he heard. Yoshiki groped around the shrine, and his fingers slipped over a sharp blade. Before Hide could contemplate that he had actually did that, Yoshiki had stabbed himself. Disbelief crept across his life, over his soul and flooded his senses, but it was reality. He was too shocked to even begin to cry then.

The shrine began to shine and fade, and a cry was heard. Hide felt his life coming all at once, as if he was rejuvenated. His vision chanced upon a red figure in front of him, his aura in leaping flames of fury. "You… You… What have you done?!"

Yoshiki's eyelids did not lift, but his lips mouthed, "The curse of my blood."

Hide held Yoshiki tighter, but his mouth closed and he went lifeless. Each single breath he had taken was let out in that final breath, as Hide felt like leaving as well.

But he was not leaving, he was still there, his soul torn in shreds, holding his master… His beloved.

The Red Angel froze in fury, then fear as a dreamscape came over them. A dreamscape with leaping waves and seabirds overhead, flooding the fire of the Red Angel, melting the beautiful red flames…

Soon he was gone. Hide was back at Maria's home, Mana with his eyes closed, sitting on a bed. He opened his eyes and looked into Hide's eyes. Hide began to sob, softly. Mana sighed, his own soul reminded himself of Gackt, his only love…

"He gave his life to save you," Mana said.

Hide did not face Mana.

"He was brave enough to do that-- sacrifice himself for you. He had never planned to do that, not before you came."

Silence.

Mana sighed and said, "I can't help any more… Sorry."

Hide nodded. "Thank you," He said hoarsely, before burying his face into Yoshiki's chest. Wishing that Yoshiki would stirr and wake up, say good morning in his arms… All of a sudden Yoshiki's wounds faded and they were in a sunlight room, Yoshiki's eyes opening and his lips curling to form a smile… Fat hope. His eyes registered the dark small room, as real as reality would allow.

Mana looked at him. "Where do you want to go now?"

Hide thought for a moment, looking into Yoshiki's face. He looked as if he was satisfied… But lonely as well. He thought back, to the point where they met in time and the shrine, the sword, the bones… How Yoshiki reacted. "Back to the caves where we met…"

Mana looked worriedly at him. "Are you sure?"

"I want to be with him." Determination set firm footed and looked as if there was no chance of turning. Mana nodded sadly, and soon Hide was alone with Yoshiki… In that dark cave, they the only alive people in the region. "We're together, Yoshiki… Just like a wizard and a familiar should be…"

Tears rolled down his cheeks as his lower lip trembled.

"Forever…"

He let out a cry, and held Yoshiki closer, as if it would bring Yoshiki back to life. As if it would help, as if it would take him back in time. As if Yoshiki would wake up and smile at him. Familliars could do many things, but like Dream Weavers, they never had the right to regain what lives were lost.

"Yoshiki-sama… …"

He let his grip go loose, and began to heal Yoshiki's wounds, so that he would rest properly… A familiar was supposed to take care of his master, he knew. Yet him, the imperfect familiar, could do nothing to protect even someone he loved.

He began to set Yoshiki down, who now looked like he was only sleeping, and kissed him softly on the cheek. As he lifted his head, something caught his eye. Looking up, he realised the only source of light, the shrine, was shimmering, getting brighter and brighter. His tears dried and a ghostly voice filled his mind.

"This I must first do: The sacrifice life for a loved one. One life for one death, and one death for one life."

Realisation struck Hide as he contemplated life without Yoshiki. He was selfish-- He would rather Yoshiki live on by himself than live on without Yoshiki's smile.

He dragged his heavy feet over to the shrine, feeling the heaviness of the decision. He loved life, had always been doing so. He had to give up one of the most treasured things… But, no beauty could compare with his master's.

He said, "Yes…" And kneeled down in front of the shrine.

The sword on top of the shrine glowed brighter and brighter till it engulfed the whole cave, illuminating every single bone on the floor, breathing life into the darkness of the death.

Hide fell.

***

Maria and the other women returned to the room as the Dream Weaver told them to.

"But we hadn't seen Hide and Yoshiki-sama," She told Mana.

"Nor had the men, they say," A woman added.

"Hide's gone for his choice…" Mana replied, his tears looming in his eyes. "With Yoshiki. How's the chief?"

"He's rescued… Hide's gone? Yoshiki-sama?"

"They've gone to be together…"

***

Yoshiki's eyes cracked the darkness of his sleep slightly as he tried to adjust to the new amount of light. Blinking away the blots appearing in his vision, he saw whiteness… And lying beside him was Hide, his beautiful pale face taken in sleep.

Yoshiki wondered why he had not died, and shuddered slightly. All his pain was gone, there was not even a scar on his skin, he noted. Hide… He looked tired and so peaceful. Lonely, hopeful, and… Sad. Realising that something was wrong, He moved towards Hide and shook him slightly, but he did not budge. He listened to Hide's heartbeat and found silence.

Tears drove tracks on his face as he held Hide closer, crying softly, wishing he could bring Hide back to life again-- That was all he wanted to do. That was all he knew when he had groped and slit his chest. He wanted Hide to find happiness… Even if he had to be alone. But Hide… He was a good Familiar, had always been.

He wished he had a instrument somewhere nearby, so that maybe he could try to revive Hide, to at least do something.

The shrine glowed brighter.

"My destiny has not yet been fulfiled. One love for one life, and one life for one love." A soft warm voice filled his head as his aching heart found surprise. Gasping, he watched as the sword on the shrine seemed to explode with white light, and all of them disappeared, melting to form a ghostly apparitation standing in front of him. It was a beautiful youth, with brown hair and eyes. He smiled, and the image dissipated.

Hide was soon the only thing which emitted light in the cave. Yoshiki watched with pue joy and fascination as Hide's beautiful eyes opened and he smiled at him.

"What are you doing in my room this early Sunday morning, Yoshiki-sama?" He joked weakly.

Yoshiki forsaken all words as he hugged him tightly and vowed never to leave him again.

***

Mana looked at the dream scape and smile contentedly to himself. It was Gackt… He had never been happy in Heaven as well, and set the shrine there, he figured, till his destiny was fulfiled. To see a love in his life, a love enough for someone to have the courage to give up living.

He wove a dream one last time. For himself… To leave the world. He had all of eternity, but his beloved was not there for him.

"Good luck, Hide, Yoshiki."

***

They talked for a moment, with tears and smiles, and Yoshiki ended up crying into Hide's shoulder. Now both their hearts were clear, the transparent beauty of love was rewritten and rephrased again in their hearts.

They stood up, preparing to leave the dark place. Something white and square on the ground caught Hide's eye as they prepared to leave.

Hide picked up the paper, and both he and Yoshiki read, "Wish you happiness… and live your life to the fullest… Here was the piano interlude written for my loved one, may it be the song of love for you. Gackt."

Yoshiki gasped as he looked at Hide. It was Mana's beloved, Gackt! Gackt had died to fulfil his wish… No, he rememebered Gackt having an incurable disease, so he must have set up the shrine and sacrificed himself for the shrine… Not as the ledgends had said afterall.

Where miracles could only be seen but not touched, they touched and felt it.

***

He was in a garden, with the brown eyed Gackt beside him, playing the piano. Everything seemed so beautiful then… The love after a storm of hopelessness.

He had thought Gackt died by default, but Gackt had sacrificed his life for a wish. It was wholly different, he understood. He himself was a Dream Weaver and was never meant to be with Gackt. But they lived through… …

The globe in his hand wavered and Hide was looking at Yoshiki intently while Yoshiki was very uptight about the food which he was going to sample. Mana laughed, and sent a thought to them.

"Arigatou."

***

The flowers in the garden were growing well, but the red rose bush and the black rose bush. There was also a blue rose bush and a yellow one, and they were growing well, too. They were blooming like mad, as if it was spring all year round and getting more and more festive each year.

He still wondered what they were for, but Hide never told him.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Notes…

12:27:34 PM 19/9/98, Saturday

Darn my dad. I could have finished this two days go and now I'm finishing the last sentence+ author's notes cause he pausesd th PC's electricity for some stupid dumb reason. I HATE HIM!! Huh!

^-^ anyway. Thatnks for finishing everything! Jya~ Ne! And I wrote a pink spider lil story to be added in… Though my chinese can never be that good, and… But I hope you will like it cause it's about me… I want freedom… ^-^

~X zone

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