Gackt blinked his eyes open and came face-to-face with two wide-eyed little boys, one of whom was just barely eye level with the top of the mattress. “Yes?” he asked, wincing at the sound of his own voices. It was as if he hadn’t spoken for days.

But he thought for a moment, and realized that wasn’t entirely implausible.

“Are you okay?”

“Are you gonna make it to the New Year?”

“Are you feeling okay to jump when it comes?”

“If you don’t jump tonight, will the New Year knock you over and you’ll fall off the bed?”

Gackt closed his eyes at his nephews’ rush of questions and rolled onto his back before sitting up on the bed. He realized that wasn’t a good idea when the room spun and he lay back down, propping himself up with his elbows. “I’ll be alright, don’t worry.”

“What are you two doing in here?” The three looked up to find the oldest of the Okabe siblings standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips. “Your uncle needs his rest, he’s been sick.”

“Is he gonna make it to the New Year?”

“Is he gonna die?”

“I’m not going to die,” Gackt reassured them, laughing as he tried to sit up again, without much success. He huffed and blew his dark bangs out of his eyes. “I would like something to eat though…”

“Dumplings?”

“Cake?”

“I was thinking something more along the lines of toast and juice if that’s okay with you two,” Gackt added and resented his stomach for the summersault brought on by the thought of eating anything heavier.

“Okay Uncle Gaku!” answered the oldest of the two, echoed quickly by his younger brother, before the two of them fled the room, apparently off to fix up some potent home remedies for whatever it was that was ailing the singer.

He glanced up at his sister and she nodded, making a mental note not to let the little boys make up a care package for their uncle on their own. Falling back into the pillows, Gackt closed his eyes and groaned, rolling over onto his side and pulling his legs up towards his chest. Cool fingers brushed his temple and he smiled. “I’ll make sure they don’t come up with something too crazy,” his sister whispered, brushing a few dark strands of hair out of his face.

“Thank you,” Gackt whispered, already feeling himself slip back into sleep’s gentle embrace.