--Chapter 06: “There is No Sign of You…I’m Alone…”--

The last fell with a strangled cry.

Masa watched, tears in his eyes, as the world collapsed around him.  They had been defeated, again.  Bodies were strewn everywhere, blood pooled knee-deep.  Fires burned as the flames ate through tattered cloth and the flesh of the fallen.  Smoke drifted across the plain.  Blood-stained feathers rained from the sky. 

Is this how it will be?

Is this how it will end?

Someone was crying. 

He waded through the carnage, treading on severed limbs and broken weapons. 

Where are you?

The earth under his feet shuddered.  His legs shook and he collapsed to the ground.  The terrain bent and rolled and heaved, sent into throws by some buried force. 

The horizon exploded; a fountain of blood plumed into the sky before falling, painting the landscape in gore.  Masa screamed as he was drenched, marked in crimson.  It was in his eyes, his mouth.  He sputtered, coughing, hacking, struggling to get to higher ground as wave after wave of blood overtook him, plunging him into the depths with the dead.

And still, someone was crying.

“IIE!” he screamed as he fought for life.  His cry was choked by the blood which flooded his mouth, drowning him…

“Masa!  MASA!  Snap out of it!  Come back!” 

His eyes snapped open.  Before him stood Aiji who cradled his face between his warm hands.  He could feel Shinya’s arms around him, brushing his matted hair back and rocking his shaking body.  “Oh, God, oh, God, oh, God…” he whimpered as he turned to cling to Shinya, sobbing into the other’s shoulder.  “We’re all going to die…”

Beyond his view, the two Seers exchanged glances before Aiji, with a nod, retreated to find Gackt.

*****

“…You’ll come from around here and -- ”

“Sir!”

Silence engulfed the tent as all eyes turned to the intruder.  “What is it Aiji?”

Quite out of breath, the other panted, “It’s Masa, sir.  He’s had another vision.”

“I thought I felt something…” muttered Tetsu under his breath.

“Another?” Gackt inquired.  The Seer nodded.  “Take me there.”  The younger man nodded and exited the tent.  To the others, he stated, “Carry on.  I’ll return soon.”  The others nodded and returned their attention to the map before them.

Mana watched Gackt’s back as the other man left.  Something’s not right…

*****

When Gackt reached the Seers’ tent, Masa was sobbing in Shinya’s arms.  When the smaller man looked up to see him, he gave a weak smile and promptly handed the hysterical youth over to his lover.  Gackt knelt on the floor as he stroked Masa’s hair and traced calming patterns into his back.  When the other man began to relax, Gackt whispered, “Koibito…what’s wrong?  What happened?”

After a long pause, Masa replied, “Put Mana on the right.”

“Nani?”

The youth pulled back to look up at his lover and commander.  “Put Mana on the right flank.”

“Why?  We already have Kaoru in charge of that sector.  And if I move Mana, it will weaken the left.”

Frustration evident, Masa lunged into Gackt’s arms again.  “They won’t attack on the left.”

“Demo --”

Masa commanded once again, “Put Mana on the right.”

“…And if I don’t…?”

“Everyone will die.”

Gackt turned to Shinya who sat, silent in the shadows.  “Have you seen this as well?”

Shinya seemed unsure, but nodded.

“Why haven’t you told me?”

The younger man bit his lip, thoughtful, before answering, “Because what I see makes no sense to me.  But…what Masa says…is true.  Everyone will die – unless you do something about it.”

*****

The battle lasted only an hour, which seemed a million years to the combatants.  Damages had been great, the number of injuries had been astonishing.  And yet…there had been no casualties.  Mana had been on the right.

Perhaps that was why he was currently being carried, head lulling, nearly unconscious to one of the stations in Inoran’s makeshift hospital.  “Oi, Kozi…” he croaked, wincing at the horrid sound his voice made, “Put me down…”

“Iie…you’re not strong enough to support yourself.”

“Put me down.”

Kozi reached one of the available cots and did so, albeit gently, being sure not to bump his comrade’s head on the poor structure of the bed.  Stripping Mana’s shirt from his pale chest, he surveyed the damage.  “Stabbed?” 

“Aa…some demon caught me off-guard.”

Tearing off a shirtsleeve, Kozi made a compress and held it to the other’s chest.  He took one of Mana’s limp hands.  “Hold this here.  I’m going to see if I can find any donors.”  He turned on his heel and bolted out the door.  However, in his haste, he missed the only available benefactor in the camp. 

Masa stood at the entrance to the room of canvas.  Walking forward, he brushed Mana’s hand away and began his ministration to the other’s wound. 

Mana’s eyes blinked open.  “What are you doing?”

Masa didn’t look up, “Helping you.”

“Why?”

“…Because I’m the one who told Gaku to put you on the right.  I’m the one who almost got you killed.”

“Indirectly of course…”

Masa didn’t answer.

The vampyre took the youth’s chin in his fingers and looked at him.  “You have a pretty face…No wonder Gackt favors you…”

The other blushed and lowered his eyes.

Mana let his head lull to the side so he could fully regard the youth.  He was so close…so very close…  He could hear the young blood pounding through the other’s veins…hot…sweet…Mana’s eyes drifted shut as he felt the blood lust grip him.  Iie…Yamete…don’t do this…  But he was so close…so deliciously close…

Masa took the elder man’s hand in his own.  “What do you need…?”

“I’m a vampyre…what do you think I need…?”  He turned his head away.  A sudden weight on the side of the bed turned his attention back to the youth beside him.  Masa had just finished loosening the top few buttons of his shirt, exposing his exquisite neck to the other.  Mana’s eyes widened.  “What are you doing?”

“…Offering up a neck.”

In spite of himself, Mana purred as he stretched forward a shaking hand to stroke the vein that resided under the youth’s skin.  Masa gasped, his eyes sliding shut, as he leaned into the touch.  Feeling the blood lust gain control of his actions again, Mana wrapped his hands around the boy’s neck, bringing him down on top of his wounded body. 

As his painted lips brushed the other’s neck, he felt Masa gasp and tense, the instincts of the prey kicking in.  Mana paused, licking the youth’s heated skin and nipping his ear, whispered, “Hush, child…relax…”  Masa groaned and collapsed into the arms of his predator. 

Mana struck, his fangs stabbing deep into the other’s neck, piercing the vein.  Blood flowed freely into his mouth.  Hot…sweet…  The youth writhed atop him in pained ecstasy, grinding his narrow hips against the vampyre’s thigh.  In the red haze, Mana noted how good it felt to have such a young body thrashing above him after such a long time…

As Masa’s struggles lessened, as he became dead weight, Mana pulled back, licking the wound to help it heal.  Rolling over, he lay atop his prey.  No…my savior, he thought as he looked down to where the wound in his chest had been. 

The youth groaned.  His head tossed side to side as he tried to regain consciousness.  “Mana…”  His voice was strained.

Pressing his fingers to the other’s lips, Mana murmured, “Hush…sleep now.”

Masa seemed to agree as he rolled over onto his side and nestle against the other’s body.  Such warmth… Mana brushed the matted locks from the youth’s face.  Such beauty…Such compassion…

“Is he dead?”

Mana turned to look over his shoulder at his companion who stood at the doorway, holding the flap open just enough for prying eyes to remain blind.

“Iie…just exhausted…he’ll be fine in a few hours…”  Kozi nodded and began to turn away.  “It’s amazing really…”

“Nani?”

“It’s amazing that there is still something left in this body to feel gratitude…”

Kozi smiled and closed the flap.

*****

Weeks passed.  The camp had grown weary of licking their wounds and were once again honing their skills.  Masa watched from the sidelines as the members of the southern force dueled, slept, fixed their weapons, sharpened their swords…

He glanced over at Gackt who was talking with Chachamaru and Kozi.  Gaku…The other had been acting so strange lately.  Pushing him away when he went to throw his arms around his neck.  Turning the other way when he called to him.  Their kisses held nothing anymore.  Masa could feel his heart slowly breaking as they lay together long into the night.  Gackt’s words of comfort seemed to be automatic, mechanical – nothing like they had been before.  They meant nothing.  Nothing.

His visions had been coming more and more frequently.  They pained him.  He would wake up screaming but recently…no one had come to him.  No one was there to snap him out of it.  Except…

His gaze drifted across the field to where Mana was sitting, contemplating his broadsword.  Mana…  Mana had been there when he had collapsed in a screaming fit as he watched the carnage and death in his mind.  He had been there to take his hand, to take his body in his arms…He felt…safe…

Why do I feel this way…?

*****

Masa had awaken from a nightmare.  He lay sobbing in Mana’s lap as the elder man ran his hands along his back, smoothing the tattered edges of his tired psyche.

“It’s so real…” the younger cried.  “I…I can’t tell what’s a dream and what’s a prophecy anymore.  They’re all nightmares…”

“Hush…It’s over now.  You can sleep: the nightmares won’t come while I’m here…”

Soothed, Masa’s harsh breathing slowly, ever so slowly, evened out and he fell into the comforting abyss of sleep.  Mana sighed, continuing to lace his fingers through the other’s hair.

“No nightmares?  That’s a bold statement.”

Turning, Mana glared at Yu~ki, who stood at the entrance.  “You and Kozi are getting better at that sneaking-around bit.  What is it, Yu~ki?”

“We’re not getting better at it – you’re just preoccupied…” the other stated as he took a seat by the bed.  “Why are you doing all this for him?”

“Why…?”  He paused to look down at Masa who slept soundly in his lap.  “Because…Because I understand him, I think.  His pain…why he’s so sad all the time…”

“I see…”  They lapsed into silence.  Yu~ki stood to leave.

“Yu~ki?”

“Hai?”

“Do you…do you disapprove?” Mana asked, looking up at his friend.

“Iie…” Yu~ki smiled, turning to the door.  As he exited, he whispered, “Take care of him.”

With a sigh, Mana lay down next to Masa who continued to sleep uninterrupted.  Running a finger along the other’s cheek, he murmured, “I’ll die before I let anything hurt you…you’ve suffered enough already…”  And with a tender kiss, he slipped into sleep, following his beloved.

*****

The secluded tent was filled with gasps.  Clothes flew from bodies of their own accord, leaving the two naked before each other, their lips locked, hungry, starving…

The vampyre pushed his prey to his back, demanding submission from the dark-haired youth, who was all too willing to give it, gasping and writhing as the other’s lips trailed down his neck to his collar bone, long fingers tracing dizzying patterns down the man’s chest…hips…the pale skin of his thighs…

Too much…so much…motto…don’t stop.

The youth cried out as fangs pierced soft flesh. 

Spinning…vertigo…dear God.

Their lips collided again, fighting for dominance. 

Blood.

They rolled, the youth gaining leverage, pinning the vampyre down.  He slid down the other’s body, his fingers and lips leaving red marks. 

Taste.

Soft lips encircled the vampyre’s swollen flesh.  A whimper slipped between the sharpened fangs.  With a knowing smile, the youth took it deeper…

Touch.

The vampyre tangled his long fingers in the other’s dark hair, struggling to bring him back to him.  They rolled once again, their lips meeting again in a fevered kiss.  Pulling back, they stared into each others’ eyes.

Sight.

Catching the other’s swollen lips with his own, the vampyre thrust into the young man.    The youth broke the kiss, crying out the other’s name as he arched off the bed.

Hear.

Their rhythm hastened.  The youth thrashed upon the bed under his lover. 

Yielding…give more.  Faster.  Deeper.  Taken.  Stolen.  Claimed.

With a final cry they climaxed into and upon each other, gasping for breath, in a tangle of arms and legs.

Afterglow.

Rolling to the side, the lovers cradled each other and each others’ hearts until sleep in turned cradled them both.

*****

“He's an angel?”

Mana sighed.  Only hours before all they said were their names, all they saw were each other, all they thought of was their love.  Then Mana had to open his mouth as soon as the afterglow abated and ask why Masa sought comfort from him and Masa just had to respond that Gackt’s love was empty and Mana just had to come out and tell him something which none should have known.  “Anou…sort of, yes.  A long time ago, he pissed off the Higher Ups by falling in love, which Angels -- by code -- aren't supposed to do.  In the end, God didn't want him but Lucifer was afraid he'd take over, hence him being sent to Earth as a mortal.  I don't think they'd realized their mistake until he got down here.  Gods can make fatal errors too, you know…”

“So you found him as a schizophrenic, suicidal psychopath, and took pity on him, being what you thought a mere mortal, and made him a Halfling.”

“Yeah…pretty much…”

The youth wrapped his arms tighter about his lover and, pensive, inquired, “…Do you regret it?”

“How can I not?  He's incomplete, and he always will be if I have any say in it.”  The vampyre sighed.  “Beautiful and hideous all at the same time…How could I have done this to him?” As soon as he said the words, Mana wondered who he spoke of – Masa, or Gackt.

Moments passed.  Then, Masa murmured as sleep again took him, “…I think you loved him.”

“…Perhaps that's it…”  Mana stared off into nothingness before sleep captured him as well, his immortal eyes slipping shut.

*****

I can feel the chains pulling at my arms, the collar around my neck chafes my throat.  The barbed wire that has been wrapped around my arms tears my pale flesh, opening old wounds and creating new ones.

His winged brothers led him kicking and screaming down the glistening hallway as robed bystanders stared in awe and horror.  Damnation?  No…Not him, couldn’t be him.  In dumb terror, they followed the growing mob.

They tossed him at the foot of the altar. 

Broken and bleeding, I lie here. 

Tears brimmed behind his eyes as they propped him up on his knees and drew their glittering swords. 

Angels are not supposed to love.  Angels are not supposed to love. Angels are not supposed to love angels are not supposed toloveangelsarenotsupposedtoloveangelsarenotsupposedto—

Grabbing his pristine wings, they tore them from his back.  He screamed, blood pooling about him, marring the marble floor.  Almost in disgust, the guards tossed the wings to the floor before their prisoner. 

Someone screamed.  Sorrow.  Pain.  He looked up.

…Cassandra…

She reached for him, fighting the guards that held her back, demanding they take her wings as well.  Demanding they make this painless.  Begging them to let them be…

Her dark eyes delivered the world to him.  Her lips formed the forbidden words.

He forced a smile and murmured them back.

…I will ignore the pain…I will ignore it…and I will be vicarious…I will be the sacrificial lamb to satiate the blood-thirsty monsters who haunt you…

He spoke.  “You’re not finished with me…?” A voice. 

The celestial, the madman, and the mortal formed by both…fated to lead the armies of men to victory or damnation…

Alone?

Yes.

No.  Not alone.  Go mad alone.

Alone.

Tears.  His.  Hers.  Separate – one to Hell, one to Earth – which was worse?  One last goodbye?  A request from a mortal.

…yes…

A kiss.  An embrace.  Thrown apart.

“Goodbye…”

*****

Gackt clung to the last vestige of the dream as sleep slowly slipped between the cracks of his mind.  Sitting up, a name came to his lips.  “Cassandra…”

His back hurt.  His arms hurt.  His neck hurt.  His heart ached.  Phantom pain. 

Swinging his legs over the side of the cot, he stood and went outside to contemplate the stars.  It was time.

*****

Gackt stood watching the sun slowly climb over the horizon.  Night refused to lift her blanket of blues and violets, and as such, the stars glittered down happily from the Heavens. 

He hated them.

Who, exactly “they” were, his mortal mind and memory couldn’t quite remember.  All he knew was that they resided up with those stars…and they had taken away everything he loved…

“You called for me?”

Gackt turned to regard Mana who stood unveiled, unmasked, exhausted.  If he didn’t know better, he would have thought Mana looked…human.  More human than he felt in any case. 

“Yes, I did.”  He turned back to look at the horizon…and the mountains.  Pointing, he asked, “You see those?”

Mana seemed insulted.  “Of course,” he sighed, wrapping his arms about his small frame as he walked up beside him. 

It seemed to Gackt, the closer the petit man came, the more nervous the latter appeared.  What are you hiding…?  “We have to cross those.”

“Cross them?”

“Yes, we have to cross those,” he repeated.  “I’ve already sent Kyo ahead of us to give word to Taka that we’ll be on our way tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

Gackt sighed and turned to regard his second-in-command.  “Why do you seem so shocked?  This force alone cannot combat what’s coming.  That’s why we have to cross the mountains.”

“It’s just…the entire force has never made that trek…We don’t know if they can handle it…”

“I know…” Gackt confirmed, turning to stare at the rising sun.  “That’s why it has to work.”