Aishiteru Chapter Three:
'You're just lost and wandering inside your sorrow, I will dedicate this prayer to you in your last moment.' ~Gackt Job-U+K~
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(Two Days Later)
Masa had rolled down the windows of his ancient car, to let the refreshing midday breeze blow away it's cobwebs and stuffiness. And as he drove Gackt towards his house, along a wide promenade road, that overlooked the glistening sea, he turned the radio on.
"Typical!" Gackt exclaimed with a smile.
The first bars of Mizerable, followed by Gackt's distinctive voice floated up into the air, causing the singer to blush slightly. It seemed work chased him wherever he went, reminding him to heal quickly and get back to his fans.
Masa simply hummed along, his eyes half closed as he traced the melodies, fixated on Gackt's words as if they'd been written only for him.
(But nobody knows who they're truly for.....)
"Hey....You'll crash if you're not careful." Gaku said worriedly, sometimes the young guitarist was too engrossed in their music for his own good.
Masa blinked and then glanced at him apologetically, gripping the steering wheel tighter and focusing back on the street, "Gomen Gaku...." He said embarrassedly.
"..........."
"........"
Gackt leant his arm against the sun warmed metal of the car door, letting the wind whip his hair back from his eyes, and watched as cars and people sped past quickly. Families were sat on benches at the edge of the prom wall, eating shaved ice and watching their dogs splashing in the surf below. Elderly couples walked by, admiring the views across the clear water, and street punks skated around them chatting loudly. Everyone looked so content.
(I wish Kami could see this......he loved.....)
Gackt sighed softly, willing those thoughts away with the gusts of salty air.
"We're here!" Masa grinned at him and carefully parked in his small driveway, turning off the radio just as Mizerable came to an end. He opened his door and jumped out, practically running round to Gaku's side of the car and pulling his door ajar.
Gackt waited patiently as Masa brought his wheelchair, that had been hastily supplied by the hospital and set it up next to him.
He paused for a moment, looking slightly awkward, "Um....I've never...."
Gackt nodded, wishing not for the first time that he'd broken another part of his body, it would have been so much more convenient. Masa approached him slowly, and undid his seatbelt.
He hesitated once more, not sure where to put his hands. Gackt smiled sympathetically and sat forward, wrapping his arms round the smaller man's neck. Masa followed his lead in silence, handling him like he was the most precious thing in the world. Finally after a few minutes of struggling and fussing Gackt leant back in his chair and released his grip from Masa's body.
"Right.....um..." Masa coughed and fumbled around in his pocket for his keys. He found them quickly and wheeled Gackt towards the front door of his whitewashed bungalow.
At the door Masa picked the right key from a bundle of bright key chains and unlocked it, pushing it open to reveal a large open-plan lounge, with patio-doors that overlooked the promenade and ocean beyond. Sunlight streamed into the room, illuminating the pale cream sofa and eggshell blue walls that were covered with posters and framed pictures of Masa flanked by the other members of the group. Practically every surface was loaded with trinkets from their many tours and presents from fans. On the floor several music magazines were scattered between bean bags on the deep pile carpet. Despite having never been here, Gackt felt strangely at home.
"Sorry bout the mess." Masa said brightly as he wheeled Gackt into the sitting room, moving back to lock the door behind them.
"You've seen my house? This is immaculate." He replied with a self-deprecating laugh.
Masa grinned again and disappeared into the kitchen for a second, returning with two cans of coke. He offered one to Gackt, who accepted gratefully and placed his own down on the glass table by the fireplace.
"I made up a room for you, out of my study.....it's not what you're used to but...."
Gackt shrugged, "Anything will be better than Chacha's house."
Masa chuckled at the thought of Gackt being constantly pestered throughout the night by an amorous Chacha, "I see your point."
"Would you like to see?" He asked almost nervously.
Gackt nodded and sipped his coke while Masa wheeled him into a room near the back of the lounge.
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The bedroom was as spotless as the rest of the house, perhaps more so even. A comfortable looking bed had been pushed up against the back wall and two small bedside cabinets sat at either side, one topped with a cordless phone and the other with a vase of sweet smelling lilies. There was a dresser with a large mirror and a television opposite.
Gackt smiled with unconcealed surprise as he took in his new home for the next few months,
"You did all this for me?" He asked, gazing up at Masa appreciatively.
The bouncy guitarist nodded excitedly, "I hope it's okay."
Gackt glanced back around the room and then to Masa, "Arigato Masa-kun, it's perfect."
He held his friend's eyes for a moment too long and Masa began to busy himself with the futon, fluffing the pillows and readying the sheets.
"And if you need anything, any time just call me okay...I think You and the others are coming over this evening to see if you're settled."
Gackt clumsily wheeled himself closer to the futon, placing the can on the cabinet and still feeling frustrated by his incapacitation. He hated to depend on others, but Masa was being so kind....
Masa stood up, "I'll help you." He said softly, trying not to think about being so close to Gackt again.
Gackt smiled and reached out to him, slipping his arms around his shoulders and leaning forward into Masa's waiting embrace as they half fell on to the futon.
(He's in my arms.... so warm and I....don't want to........)
Masa blushed as he laid Gackt down, snatching his hands away quickly, any longer and he might never have been able to let go. Gackt blinked at him for a second, something in his stare seeming almost disappointed, but Masa passed it off as a figment of his imagination.
"R-right, I'll make some dinner now....is Ramen and cashew okay?" He stammered, backing off toward the lounge.
"Yes, thank you Masa-kun." Gackt replied, glancing down at his hands.
Masa retreated to the safe haven of his kitchen and sank against the cool metal of the fridge door, letting the pounding of his heart slow and the flutter in his belly dissolve.
(How does he do this to me?.......I can barely concentrate......)
With a light sigh he opened the fridge and selected the right ingredients, hoping that he could cope with having someone so dear and forbidden this close.
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'My exceeded loved one you are smiling gracefully beyond the wall. Falling down deeper and deeper, inside of my dream that I can barely remember, I am Les Miserables.' ~Gackt Job- Mizerable~
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** Kami stirred the wooden spoon round, the basin tucked in the crook of his arm snugly. He spun round on his heel as Gackt peeked round the doorframe a mischievous smile blossoming on his lips.
"Kami-chan...."
Kami rolled his eyes and moved back to the counter's edge, pouring a little of the smooth mixture into each hollow of the baking tray.
"Kami-chan........"
He felt a single finger slide down the back of his bare arm, from the top of the torn off sleeve of his t-shirt to his elbow, raising a shiver that made every hair stand on end. The basin slipped slightly and he managed to spill muffin mix all over the tray.
"Baka! Look what you made me do Gaku!!" With a heaved sigh he put the tray down and turned to face his lover angrily.
Gackt pouted and leant against him, dipping one slender digit into the faintly spiced mix, his hand moved to spot it onto Kami's nose. He laughed and gave Kami his sweetest apology smile.
"Ah well....I can think of better things to do with it anyway....." He purred, sliding his hands round Kami's hips and drawing them close.
"Gaku...." The drummer muttered darkly.
"Kami...." Gackt brushed the long, sleek hair from his neck and planted his lips on the sensitive skin below his ear.
"Muffins can wait......." His voice was muffled, as he peppered tiny kisses all over his love's exposed body, persuasion seeming so easy under his delicate touch.
Kami took this second to coat his fingers in cake mix and drip it over Gackt's hair, laughing wickedly. Gackt pulled back , his eyes wide in mock horror, he knew how much Kami adored their little play acts.
"Kami-chan!!!! Now I'm all dirty!!" He grabbed a handful of mix and darted back, flinging it at the taller man, watching with glee as it ruined his pristine top. Kami's face lit up and he threw another handful, the sticky ingredients hitting Gackt in the face.
After a few minutes they both sat, breathless and covered in cake mix on the lino. There was silence and then Kami burst into a fit of laughter, his shoulders shaking.
Gackt grinned, not remembering how long it was since they'd had the time to just be alone with each other and have fun.
(Too long......)
"Kami-chan.....we're disgusting." He gasped between giggles.
Kami crawled over to him and kissed his lips firmly, taking time to lick the delicious liquid from them with his warm tongue.
"I think we need to get a shower." He replied with a smile and stood slowly, offering Gackt his hand. The brunette took it thankfully and let himself be led, through their rooms and into the bathroom.
So consumed by love that he wanted this time to never end.
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(But it did......all too soon.......)
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*Ring Ring*
The sound of a door being unlocked and footsteps, several voices mingling as the noise filtered through the thin wall to Gackt's ears.
A moment later Masa's head peered round the doorframe and he smiled sunnily, "I've got visitors!" He said cheerfully and turned back to beckon the others into Gackt's room.
They filed in, each holding a package of some sort and Ren was dragging a beanbag behind him.
"GAKU!!!" Chacha exclaimed with a flourish and flopped down onto the bed next to him, flinging his arms round the duvet covered singer.
"How you feeling?" He whispered loudly, squeezing the air from Gackt's lungs with his tight bear hug.
Gackt's lips curved into a tiny smile and he gently pushed his friend back, to look him in the eyes, "Okay, but I think you just broke my ribs."
Chacha bent over, laughing deeply, "Aww...gomen, but I'm getting too little action as it is!" He shot Ren a meaningful look and the redhead sat down on his beanbag blushing furiously.
You and Masa rolled their eyes simultaneously and the younger brunette hopped up onto the dresser, watching as the others found places to sit around Gackt.
You settled himself at Gackt's other side and offered him a brown paper bag. Gackt took it and unfolded the top, his eyes lighting up as he plucked a grape from the stem and popped it into his mouth.
"Mm....Arigato You-kun..."
Chacha grabbed the bag and pulled another grape off, holding it out to Gackt, while raking Ren with his narrow gaze, "I'll feed you Gaku." He said huskily. Gackt glanced at You and Masa realising that Ren was about to erupt as the little guitarist's hands tightened on the beanbag.
"CHACHA...maru....I need to speak with you."
You looked up and pointed to himself, Masa shook his head and everyone's eyes returned to Chacha as he put the bag down and ate the grape himself, standing up to follow Ren, who had stalked off into the kitchen.
"Later everyone..." He said with a wave and disappeared.
After the two men had left Masa looked at Gackt, his eyes bright with mirth and shut the door quickly as they all fell about laughing.
And through their laughter, each was wishing that they could have what Chacha and Ren shared.....no matter how turbulent.
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"Pay up!! You owe me one hundred for staying at my hotel." Chacha reluctantly counted out a wad of bills onto the carpet that were snatched by Masa, a money hungry glint in his eyes. Ren slipped his arm round Chacha's shoulder and patted his arm sympathetically, "You're just not made for these games, you have to be greedy like Masa-kun."
Masa pulled a tongue at him and went back to throwing his notes in the air, celebrating his monopoly victory with modesty and tact.....
"Yayy! Beatubeatu!" He chanted in a lilting voice and grinned wickedly at poor Chacha, who took solace in Ren's arms.
Gackt watched them, smiling softly to himself.
"Gaku....um..." You's voice dispelled his musing and he looked at the stoic man, "Yes?"
You held his gaze for a second and then glanced away, seeming quite embarrassed.
"Is something wrong You-kun?" Gackt asked worriedly, You didn't usually act this unnerved around him.
"I asked Masa-kun if I could stay over......is that alright with you?" He asked meekly.
Gackt shook his head, finding You's anxiousness a little amusing, "You-kun, why are you so worried? Of course I want you to stay. We can do the sleepover thing."
Gackt had heard of a practice from abroad where friends slept over at each other’s houses and talked all night, eating and drinking while they listened to music and stuff.
You looked up again, the light returning to his eyes, "Good." He said quietly and caught Masa's eyes signalling Gackt's consent.
Masa grinned and went back to gloating, but Chacha was too busy teasing Ren to notice.
Gackt turned on the television by remote and settled back to watch Utaban, silently pleased as You swung his shoeless feet up onto the bed and moved alittle closer.
(Masa and You-kun.......they both look after me so well.....I can almost forget Kami is gone.......almost......)
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