Chapter One: I Need You:
Disclaimer: I don't own Camui Gakuto or any of his dears. Although if I go to Japan I plan to stalk all of them *bwahaahahahahaha* *cough* I mean only kidding *heh*
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The sky's pallid expanse had not been broken by sunshine during the first week of their confinement within the studios. On Gackt's strict orders, every member of his family was present, milling round and performing their duties with the utmost professionalism. It was the least Gakuto expected. After all blood was not thicker than water, no matter how much he seemed to adore his dears.
The most special of whom currently sat in a spacious communal dressing room together, waiting for the next appearance of their stoic leader.
*click...click click, tap tap......bleep....*
"Ren?......REN?" You's exasperated voice cut through the quiet, and he stared intently at the back of a certain redhead who was curled up on the dressing table counter around a small silver laptop, his eyes locked to the humming screen,
".......uh?" He replied softly, not even sparing the younger man a glance.
"Could you please stop that for just a minute, I'm trying to concentrate." A vague frown of annoyance clouded his face, but Ren continued tapping away obliviously, muttering something about fanmail and chatrooms.
You rolled his eyes, shooting him a final glare, before returning to his notepad, the dark blue fountain pen in his hand resuming its fluid scrawl.
The only other member of Gackt Job stood and sashayed over to where the silent violinist sat, a buttery blonde wave of hair floating out behind him. Chachamaru's slender arms wrapped themselves round You's shoulders and it was all he could do not to jump off the chair in surprise.
"Awww....I know something we can do to make you forget baka Ren-kun...." He purred, hands already slipping further down You's chest, his attentions staining You's cheeks a vivid shade of scarlet.
"C-chachmaru-san?!" He whispered back in embarrasment.
Chacha's expressive lips, curled up into a wicked smile, "How many times have I told you? Chacha-kun...you know me well enough for that......and more..." He trailed off, leaving an open invitation in his wake as he gave You one last mischievous wink before strutting off to the door and announcing loudly that he was going for an early lunch.
You just blinked, and buried himself back in his diligent work.
*CRASH*
The door was flung open and a heaving mess stumbled awkwardly inside, falling over in a heap the second it's feet crossed the threshold.
*huff* *huff* *huff*
Ren looked up for less than a millisecond and raised his hand to wave, the other already poised over the keyboard.
"Is-Gaku-here-yet-is-he-mad-at-me-I'm-sorry-I'm-late-oh-god-oh-god-I-lost-my-shoes-and-the-door- wouldn't-lock-and-then-my-cat-"
You raised a tapered eyebrow, placing his pen back onto the half -empty page and giving up completely on work for the time being.
"Masa, you're babbling again." He replied dryly.
The petite brunette's head lifted from the floor and he gazed back endearingly from under a tangle of dark locks. After a long moment of drawn out gasps for air he levered up to his feet and dumped his bag on the table.
"Is Gaku here?" He repeated slowly.
You nodded, his expression faintly disinterested, "Since five, he hasn't noticed you're missing though."
"Oh..." Masa's eyes dulled slightly, a hint of disappointment reflected on his pretty face. Sighing softly, he leant down to adjust the Velcro on his platforms and noted with a tiny smile that as usual his socks were totally mismatched.
"Where's everyone else?" He asked You absently, brushing down the legs of his black cords.
The violinist shrugged, "Toshi is practising, Igao is doing a sound-check or something with Gackt....and Chacha's gone to lunch."
Masa's nose wrinkled in frustration, and he flopped into the chair opposite Yoh. He toyed boredly with the Sanrio tag on his rucksack and rummaged around inside, pulling out the latest copy of Pati Pati. Already the magazine was dog-eared and torn, all apart from the pages with Gaku and themselves on, he kept them pristine, tucked away in a box at home.
After a few minutes of flicking through, he looked up, eyeing You warily. The other man was hunched over his pad, scribbling furiously, a look of stern determination fixed on his face, eyes obscured by a few pale brown bangs.
"You-kuuuun??" He said, a slightly whiny tone infused into the name. And with a badly concealed sniff of displeasure You let his pen drop once more.
"What is it?"
Masa pouted, digging his hands deep into his orange hoodie's pockets, "Um....dya think Gaku would mind if I went to help him and Igao?" The question was so full with bright hope that You couldn't help but smile, enjoying the shock and delight that lit up the little guitarist before him.
"Of course not, try and get him to have some food too...Gaku's so intense about this album.... he'll probably forget to do anything for himself."
Masa nodded enthusiastically, already nearly out of the door, his platforms slamming down on the tiles as he ran the length of the long hall, past bewildered looking technicians and press crews that tried to snatch a second of his time in vain.
"Sorry, can't stop! Gaku's waitin!" He called back cheerily, waving for the cameras as a troupe of burly security guards began to escort the photographers and reporters outside.
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The door at the end of the winding passageway had a large pane of glass set into it's centre and as Masa skidded to a halt, hitting the far wall with a dull thud he gazed inside, spotting Gackt almost immediately. The Vampire Prince turned clean angel was stood with Igao, leaning alittle over his fellow musician's shoulder as they pondered a lyric sheet. Gackt wore a strangely simple attire that never ceased to surprise Masa.....After all he was so used to seeing Gaku in all his finery, seducing his beautiful princess Mana and singing such haunting, dark songs that disturbed his heart.
But no longer, he was just a young man, in tight leather pants and a plain black T-shirt, chatting away to his colleague.
Maybe to everyone else.
Masa didn't bother to knock, barging into the cramped studio, a wide grin on his lips, directed solely at Gackt.
"Ohayo! I came to help you." He chirped, waiting impatiently for an acknowledgement . A pair of icy blue eyes, hidden partially behind rose coloured lenses glanced up at him.
"Where have you been?" Gackt demanded, and in an instant Masa knew he had been missed.
"Um....well you see I got up in time and everything, but I couldn't find my shoes and then the door-"
"Whatever. Just go away okay? I'll call for you later." He snapped, cutting Masa's explanation dead and ignoring the sweep of disbelief that washed over the room. Even Igao shot him a disapproving look that was met with yet more ignorance.
"B-but...I.."
"But nothing, go on." Gackt's voice was utterly dry, and his eyes never wandered from the piece of paper in-front of him, his mouth set into a thin line.
Masa gaped back, the panes of his secure little world, crashing down around his ears as Gaku's words cut deep enough to draw blood.
"I'm so-I'm s-sorry..." He stuttered, the telltale shimmer of tears, welling up in his wide hazel eyes. Never had Gackt spoken to him so harshly and despite how immature he knew it must seem to everyone he couldn't help the rush of anxiety that burst within his chest.
"......" The rose tinted eyes were on him once more, but their silent scrutiny proved too much and with a desperate patter of padded heels, Masa ran from the room, hands firmly planted over his mouth.
"Kuso, Gakuto-san?" Igao frowned, scruffing his goatee worriedly as the last sounds of Masa's departure echoed through the silent room.
Gackt sighed heavily and handed the sheet back to him, stalking out the door, and stopping only once to enquire as to where his guitarist had fled to.
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A dull grey light filtered down weakly from between the clouds above the squat recording studios, and all around passing business people and civilians alike clutched their umbrellas in anticipation of a storm.
As Masa slammed into the glass doors and sprinted down the main steps he could barely see through a haze of tears, his head rang with the coldness of Gackt's voice and each breath was a tight choke that echoed his sadness.
(Irrational....stop yourself.....)
His head had been totally eclipsed by the scream of his heart and he tripped on the final step, hitting the tarmac with a sickening crack, his knees skinning in an instant and another cry of pain escaping his lips.
Somebody was shouting behind him, but the words faded into nothingness as he scrambled up, continuing his staggered path across the concrete field.
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"Masa??" Gackt swung round the corner, his hand scraping along the brick wall as he clattered down the corridor, retracing Masa's steps toward the entrance of the building. A guard held the main doors open for him and as he emerged onto the darkened street, the first droplets of an April shower caressed his cheeks.
"Masa?" He called again, scanning the urban jungle below him. A surge of fear rising up, as he realised what he'd done. Masa was a fragile person, sweet and optimistic, but so touched by his reactions that Gackt was sure he had hurt the little half American deeply.
Then he picked his dear from the meandering trail of people, just as he ran straight out into the road, oblivious and limping, his ankle twisted to a distorted angle.
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The rain was pelting down now, a curtain of water where once there had just been pale, washed out skies. Masa dragged his leg along, knowing instinctively that there was something wrong. Very wrong, but not caring.
He drove onward, just wanting to be far away and gather his control once more. Everything would be fine in a few hours when he'd calmed down.
Masa looked up, shielding his eyes as a blinding light rushed upon him, the wail of brakes, screeching like a banshee and then there was nothing.
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~TBC~
