Author's Notes:  Okay, this is my FIRST JRock fic so...No, no, no, no, no!  Don't run away just yet!  I've been doing A LOT of research on each JRocker featured to see what they're personality is like and all so hopefully this will be at least RELATIVELY in character.  If not, forgive any and all OOC-ness.  As you can kind of guess from the summary, this is another one of those (in)famous good-vs.-evil-apocalypse-now-demons-wings-and-vampires-oh-my fics.  I love these things, no matter how many times the plotline is used.  The two major bands are Gackt's Job and ex-Malice Mizer (no Klaha, MM fans.  Gomen nasai - I just couldn't fit him anywhere!  ...Will you ever forgive me?  O.o;;), but the fic also features members of Dir en Grey, GLAY, L'Arc~en~Ciel, Pierrot, J and Inoran of ex-LUNA SEA and Youjeen with some others such as Penicillin, La'Cryma Christi, and Maschera thrown in later.  ^_^  There will be candid appearances by other JRockers in later chapters but for now, it's just the people listed above.  Now, another thing I might want to mention - this fic is fucked up, lemmee tell ya.  And I'M the one who wrote it!  It HAD to have had something to do with the narcotics the oral surgeon gave me after pulling my wisdom teeth.  *sighs*  Anyway, I hope you enjoy the fic.  If you get confused at any time during your reading (well, and after you've checked out the footnote if there is one), DON'T hesitate to email me ask what the HELL I'm talking about - I have it all written out and the explanations are pretty in-depth.  But just remember: this is the PROLOGUE!  You're not SUPPOSED to understand this part!  Shall I end my ranting now and let you read the fic?  I guess I've rambled on enough, ne?  So...ONWARD!

 

 

 

 

 

 

--Prologue: “Don’t be Afraid”--

 

 

 

 

Gackt sat staring at the solitary candle that rested upon the coffee table.  Wax dripped in languid trails down its alabaster pilaster as the orange flame flickered in the stillness, dancing in the midst of his lover's exhalations.  The young guitarist's head was pillowed in the vocalist's lap, his dark hair pooling on the latter's thigh.

 

A small smile crossed Gackt's face.  Koibito...Lover...  It felt so good to think in those terms.  It had been so long since he'd felt this way for anyone.  He'd worked so hard to build up the walls, keep everyone away, but somehow the events in Lyons had cracked those walls, made him vulnerable, and broke him several times over.

 

Looking down Gackt stroked the younger man's face.  The ivory skin was soft under his hand.  You were there...to pick up the pieces and put them together again...  He ran his hands through the guitarist's raven locks , intrigued as the fibers cascaded between his fingertips.  The man muttered in his sleep and nuzzled closer to the other's warmth.

 

"Ano...Masa...?"  The other's chocolate eyes fluttered open and gazed up at him under dark lashes.  "Bed."

 

"I am 'n bed...'Nywhere wi' you is a' good a place t' sleep a' 'nywhere else..." Masa muttered, his words slurring together as he pressed his body closer to the other's lithe frame.

 

This earned the guitarist a low chuckle and Masa smiled, but his bliss was short-lived as Gackt leaned forward to blow out the candle's dwindling flame, and the lovers were plunged into inky blackness.  The younger watched his lover's silhouette turn and offer him a hand.  Taking it, Masa stood up but paused as something eerie caught his weary eye.

 

Noticing the other's hesitation, Gackt inquired, "What is it?"

 

"I don't know..." Masa stated, squinting in the dark.  Turning Gackt around to look at the opposite wall, he continued, pointing, "You tell me."  Masa's grip on his lover tightened as he peered over the other's shoulder while Gackt stumbled backward in shock. 

 

A pair of red eyes gleamed at them from the shadows, flicking from one to the other, the slitted irises glittering in the moonlight.  "Gaku...what is that...?"

 

"I'm not sure..."  His pulse roared in his ears, his breath came in short gasps as the eyes blinked a few times and moved forward.  The...thing edged toward them but stopped and sat back on its haunches when it reached the light of the bay window.

 

It licked an enormous paw and rubbed its eye before extending a glittering talon to scratch its flat nose.  It's leathery bat wings flapped lazily in the darkness.  Tilting its head from side to side, the creature blinked at them some more before its tail began to flick left and right indicating its impatience.  What caused this irritation was beyond either occupants of the room.  Once again the creature inched forward, blending into the shadows save for its fearsome scarlet eyes.

 

Then the phone rang.  Gackt and Masa jumped at the loud outburst.  "Kami-sama..." the guitarist muttered before his eyes once again fixated on their dark visitor.  The thing paused in its stalking to listen to the obnoxious clamor.  Its eyes locked with its prey and they stared at each other, daring the other to move before the message was recorded.  A silken voice cut through the darkness, the familiarity a comfort, no matter how unnerving the cold tone was.

 

"Good evening, Gakuto-san.  It's me as you've probably guessed..."

 

"Mana..." Gackt's hushed whisper pierced the silence.  The creature, seeing no immediate danger, continued its pursuit of the humans through the living room and around the bend towards the kitchen, its eyes glittering in the moonlight.

 

"...You're not answering.  This could only mean one of two things..."

 

Gackt quickly backed himself and Masa into the kitchen, closing and locking the door, hoping to stall the creature's quest.

 

"You could already be gone, but I doubt this...you never did arrive first.  The second possibility is that you've met our guests..."

 

"What?!"

 

Without warning, the creature smashed through the closed door, the hinges crying out against such abuse.  It snarled, weaving its head from side to side as two other creatures followed it into the room. 

 

"...Do you remember Gakuto...?  It's a prerequisite that you do.  Tell your lover not to fear them, they won't harm us...They're just here to get us to where we need to be.  With that much said, I will see you soon my friend..."

 

The phone went dead just as Masa felt his back press up against the wall.  The hideous beasts continued to bob their heads as they wove their way through the shadows across the room.  Closer...closer...

 

Squeezing Gackt's shoulder, Masa whispered into his ear, "Great strategy Napoleon.  Now we're trapped against a wall and not only does your cross dressing buddy know about all this but he seems to be perfectly fine with our present situation, the sadistic bastard..."  The nervous tension in his voice betrayed his true fear.

 

Gackt whirled to look down at him.  Masa was shaking.  "This is going to sound crazy..." he stated as he wrapped his arms around the younger man, "...but do as he says - don't fear them."

 

"...You're right - that is crazy..."

 

"We don't have much of a choice...Close your eyes love..." he murmured against Masa's temple as he clung to him.  Gackt watched as the three creatures crept closer and one by one reared up on their hind legs.  He closed his eyes as the darkness took him.