“An End, A Beginning”

Author’s Notes: This chapter fic started out in one direction and, as you will see, ended in a completely different one. I wrote it for the New Years Countdown at the LiveJournal community, Gackt JOB Fics.

Gackt blinked lazily up at the ceiling from where he lay on the examining table in his younger brother’s clinic. He hated seeing doctors, had for years, until his sibling got himself certified. He still hated the feeling of being poked and prodded, but knowing that the guy in the white jacket honestly had his best interests in mind made him feel a bit better.

“You are very, very lucky, bro,” the younger of the two men said, shining his miniature flashlight into Gackt’s eyes. The man winced and turned away with a groan. “The EMT was right in that it appears that your injuries are pretty minor, and your hearing should come back pretty quickly, too.”

“I can hear that really high-pitched ‘eeeeeeeeeeeee,’” Gackt muttered, turning back to his brother after he was sure the latter had put away the flashlight. “It’s really annoying,” he added, glancing across the room at You, who smiled in that tired, concerned way. Gackt smiled back. The fact that his eyes could focus enough to see the other man was an improvement. “Does this mean I can go home now, Doc?”

His younger brother sighed and shook his head. “I’d rather you didn’t, even if you are alright. In case we’ve missed something that needs immediate medical attention, I’d like to know that you’re somewhere where you could receive immediate medical attention.”

“I’m not going to one of the hospitals.”

“I know, I didn’t say I was going to send you to one. I want to keep you here overnight in one of the spare rooms.”

“But why?” Gackt asked with a huff. He sat up, but fell back to his elbows when his head spun. Blinking quickly to clear his head he continued, “Everyone’s said that I should be fine. Why do I need to stay?”

“Bro,” the younger sibling began, leaning in to look into his prone brother’s eyes, “you took on a cement pillar head-first.”

“…I bounced back.”

“You bounced alright. And because of that, you’re staying put.” That didn’t make Gackt any happier and he glared up at the younger man. Unfortunately for him, the younger man had had several decades under his belt of dealing with his older sibling’s deathglares. “I don’t care how pissy you’re going to be with me tonight, or how arrogant you’re going to be tomorrow, but humor me, alright? I’ll get you something really nice for your birthday.”

“Yeah,” Gackt snorted, “Two tickets to St. Bart’s.” He lay back on the cot and pulled an arm over his eyes. From underneath, he made eyes at You. “For two weeks.”

“Done,” the younger man said and excused himself from the room so that the two men could say their ‘goodnight’s.

*****

As You pulled out of the clinic’s drive and headed back onto the road, his cell phone rang in the seat beside him. Reaching over, he glanced at the caller ID and answered it. “Hey. I take it rehearsals are cancelled till further notice?”

Well, considering our front man’s down for the count, yes. There was a pause before Cha continued, How is he?

“He flew all but head first into a wall of cement. How do you think he feels?”

I bet he feels just great, knowing him, Cha replied with a snort. How are you doing? Don’t let the adrenaline rush get the best of you – get home safely.

He probably wouldn’t have noticed had the older man not said anything, but now that he’d taken notice of the impending crash, You sighed. “I will don’t worry.”

Call me when you get home.

“Why all the mother hen-ing, Cha? Gaku’s the one with the concussion, not me.”

I’m taking over my duties as second runner-up band Mom, seeing as the first runner up is incapacitated.

“Gackt would resent that comment.”

I didn’t mean Gackt, I meant you. You worry yourself sick when he’s out for the count. Now hang up the phone and pay attention to the road.

“Yes, Mom.” But as snide as a comment it was, You did as he was told and put both hands back on the wheel.

*****

You sighed and pushed himself closer to the yielding warmth that was in his bed. It smelled of expensive cologne, laundry detergent, and something dark and masculine. He felt long arms wrap around him and he sighed. Then thought for a moment and snapped his eyes open to find himself staring at his lover.

“Gaku, what the hell are you doing here?”

“What?” Gackt tilted his head to the side, obviously confused by the very concept of being anywhere but there in bed, with You still in his arms.

“You were supposed to stay with your brother,” he glanced quickly at the clock. 6:00am. “You did stay with your brother, right?”

“Of course I did.”

“How’d you get home? You didn’t sneak out when he wasn’t looking, did you?” Gackt had better answer that question correctly, because You was of the mind to haul his ass back to the clinic if he had snuck out that night and called a cab.

Gackt thought for a moment. It appeared to You that it required some serious concentration, which to him was not a good sign. “He had…business to attend to in the city…or something. I got checked out and he dropped me off.”

“He didn’t want to come in?” Gackt shrugged, noncommittal. You sighed. “Well, so long as you’re okay, I guess…” he said, still uncertain.

Gackt smiled, leaning in to give You a kiss. It was sweet, gentle, and You relaxed into the embrace again, enjoying the feel of the other’s body pressed against his, their feet tangled in the sheets. But all too soon, Gackt pulled away. “I need to take a shower – I feel so disgusting. I’ll be out in a few minutes though, okay?” He smiled again and gave You a wink before easily sliding off the bed and walking towards the attached master bath.

It struck You to see the older man walk with such grace, considering he was still recovering from the horrors of the subway the day before.

Speaking of… Rolling over onto his stomach, You grabbed a remote from the bedside table and flipped on the flat screen that was tucked away into the opposing wall. The news was still covering the explosions from the other morning. Apparently some splinter apocalypse cult had planned it. Thankfully, most of the explosives they’d rigged had been duds. Unfortunately, the ones that weren’t had caused numerous casualties.

You sighed and turned off the television before the bad news affected him too deeply. Hearing about the event tore at his heart and made it ache. But he’s okay, he reminded himself. He could have been one of the many grieving today for the loss of a loved one, but miraculously the man had survived. He was alright.

You sighed again, and rubbed at his eyes, hoping to ease the prickling sensation behind them. Sitting up the bed, he stretched and ran a hand through his short dark hair. He stood and was about to head into the closet when the doorbell rang from downstairs. He groaned in spite of himself and turned to head downstairs. For once, he was thankful that he’d fallen asleep in some semblance of “clothing,” his pajama pants riding low on his hips. Stopping by the dresser, he quickly pulled out a t-shirt and pulled it over his head. The doorbell rang again and he shouted down, “Be there in a minute!”

He finally made it downstairs to find Hikari*, Gackt’s sister, already letting herself in. Her face was flushed and her eyes were red and irritated, as if she’d been crying. She held her cell phone clutched in her hand and she trembled head-to-toe when she saw him.

“Oh, You, thank God,” the woman gasped, nearly leaping into his arms. She sniffled several times before she pulled away, her voice frantic when she continued, “I tried to reach you on your cell, but it wouldn’t ring through. I called Cha looking for you and told him about what…what happened, and he said I should be the one to tell you.”

“Hikari, hold on. What is it? What’s wrong?”

“It’s…it’s Gaku, You.”

You blinked in confusion and turned to look back up the stairs which he’d just descended. He could still faintly hear the hot water running through the pipes and the man inside the shower singing sporadically against the spray. “What about Gaku?”

“Gaku’s dead, You.”