Hisashi stood under the hot shower, trying to relieve his tiredness. Gah, Takuro had been in the very good mood to practice and so they had practiced longer that day. His back and his neck felt so stiff…

The hot shower helped though…

Last night had gone surprisingly, relievingly well, the date he had with Izumi. Jiro had gone the time before he had met Izumi. He didn't know whether to feel sad or happy.

Sad, yes, there was always that feeling, no matter how small, lingering there in his heart whenever Jiro disappeared. It felt like being left alone. No matter how annoying Jiro could be in some times, but these days, Jiro was the one he looked to whenever he felt lonely.

But last night, there had also been a feeling of relieve that Jiro had gone. Because he wouldn't have to have a spectator when he was dating Izumi. Because at least he wouldn't "talk to himself" in front of Izumi.

Having Teru, Takuro and Ryo suspected something was wrong with him was bad enough. He didn't want other people think so too. Not even Izumi, although these days, he didn't really care anymore what she thought about him.

Godness, how their relationship became so strained lately. Going out together was not like a date anymore. It only felt like formalities, a reminder that there was still a bond, no matter how fragile, between them. He dimly wondered why they held on so long. Wonder why *he* himself held on that long. Maybe it was because the length of the relationship between them. God, how many years had it been since the first time he told Izumi that he loved her? Maybe it was the naïve belief that if they held on long enough, the all things would be okay again.

He had never thought that he himself could be that naïve.

It was beginning to become like a torture for her, he knew that. Everytime they met, these days, he would see the distinct sign of the vanishing enthusiasm in her eyes, which he was so sure, was also mirrored in his own. But she didn't do anything.

She was waiting for him to make the first move.

Hisashi sighed. He didn't need this. He didn't want to think about this. Not now, not when he was drop dead tired like now.

Distantly, through the sound of the shower, he could hear Ayu playing with the dog on the other side of the door. He smiled a little to himself. Seeing, knowing that Ayu now had a playmate and that she loved playing with it always made him smile. He was glad that now, when he was away, Ayu wouldn't be alone in the apartment.

Hisashi stood under the shower, enjoying the heat of the water and the light massage it gave to his tired body.

It was four in the afternoon already. And he hadn't seen Jiro all day. Or rather, Jiro hadn't showed up since last night. He felt a slight pang in his heart. Usually Jiro would appear in the morning before he went to practice or when they were having lunch break and disappear late at night, with the exception of last night.

Hisashi reluctantly admitted to himself that he was worried. Was it because he got so angry to Jiro last night for talking to him in front of Teru and thus made Teru suspect something wrong with him? Was it the reason why he had disappeared so early last night and not showed up until now?

Just as Hisashi mulled over the possibilities, suddenly there was ripples in the air in front of him and… and there was Jiro.

Hisashi was so shocked, taken aback, down right surprised that his eyes practically jumped out of their place and his jaw dropped to the deepest layer of earth. He couldn't believe what happened. Sure, he just hoped that Jiro would appear soon, but… but in his fucking bathroom? No, scratch that… in his *shower*??!!! When he was taking bath?? When he was *naked*????!!!!!!!!! Hisashi stood still, freezing on spot, finding himself suddenly paralized.

Jiro opened his mouth to greet Hisashi but the word never left his lips as he became aware of his surrounding. Small cubicle. Running water. Hisashi. Wet. Under the shower. Shower. Bathroom. Naked. Oh. My. God…

Jiro's eyes slowly moved from Hisashi's stunned face down to his neck, then to his chest, then…

"A… ano…"

Jiro's voice threw Hisashi out of his stunned state. His jaw tightened, as his face turned beet red. And he exploded.

"@#^*(%##^*()__(&%$#@@!@!~%&*()(&%$&*HDS%&(HF#E#@Q***&^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" he yelled as one of his hands grabbed some random objects and hurled it wildly at the now surprised Jiro, while the other hand wildly, desperately trying to grab something, *anything*, to cover himself.

Jiro staggered back and, out of reflex, raised his hands to cover his head. "Hisa…"

"##64##56*)(8^4#57))&%^$%$#@!">?>:<>:*&^%$>.<|||||!!!!!!"

More things flying in the air. Unfortunately for Hisashi, none of them managed to hit the object of his wrath, since all of them went through Jiro and crashed the tiled wall behind him. But at least, it did make Jiro surprised and scared, especially when he looked at Hisashi's expression.

"Okay, okay, I'm outta here!!" Jiro said quickly and hurriedly ran throught the door.

"}]{_(5#!7)_=-_*53@/>;"{,##%^!!!!!"

More clattering sounds as more things crashed the wall. Hisashi leant on one wall, redfaced, breathless, humiliated and angry beyond belief. He couldn't believe what had happened. He couldn't fucking believe it.

Jiro had just seen him in the shower… naked.

He felt like crying.

* * *

Outside the bathroom, Jiro's condition was no better. He felt like he wanted to bang his head repeatedly to the wall. Heck, he would bang his head now, if he were able to do it.

He cursed whatever angel responsible for making him appear in front of Hisashi in his *shower* to the deepest hell. God, how would he ever face Hisashi from now on??

No, rather, how would he ever survive with the image of the naked Hisashi planted firmly in his mind?? God, it would haunt him wherever, whenever, forever!!

The bathroom door creaked open, and Jiro didn't dare to imagine the wrath he was upon. He tried to steel himself as hard as possible.

Hisashi stepped out of the bathroom, in a dark green bathrobe, water still dripping from his wet hair. It would've been a pretty image, had there been no promising wrath radiated from him.

At the sight of Jiro, Hisashi felt like exploding again. "!(&#$^$)($>?<<*(*_*$^%#$%$@(@)#??!!!!" he yelled.

"Ano… can you repeat…?" Jiro said sheepishly.

Hisashi growled. "I asked what you were doing, appearing in my bathroom like that??"

"Uh… appearing? Materializing…?"

"But why in my bathroom, of all places in this fucking world, why in shower??"

Shit, shit, Jiro cursed inwardly. He was soooo dead right now…"C'mon," Jiro finally said. "We're both male, it isn't as if I saw something…" he stopped. "Uh… something…"

Hisashi glared at him. "What?"

"Well, uh… come on!!! I've seen you changing clothes before!!" Jiro stammered, trying desperately to hide his blush.

"And those times, I was wearing *underwear*!!" Hisashi hissed.

"Well, uh yeah… but it isn't much different ne? So I saw your… uh… your… *stuff*," Jiro babbled, trying hard to calm himself and control his blush. "It's not a big thing…"

Hisashi felt himself under fire. Not a big thing?? Jiro just said that his 'stuff' wasn't a big thing?? That was an ultimate humiliation! He felt like exploding again.

"!(*&#R#~%!&@()#_""?????@@$%@^&@**(****(()(@)*!@&!%^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" he screamed, throwing *anything* he can grabbed to the transparent figure in front of him.

"~ACK!!! " Jiro yelped. "Hey, I wasn't talking about your stuff!! I was talking that it wasn't a big deal! Hey!!"

Hisashi managed to restrain himself in time before hurling his expensive table lamp towards Jiro. He put back the lamp on the table, gritting his teeth, trying desperately to grab a hold of himself. He was Hisashi. He was the cool, calm, collected Hisashi. He wouldn't lose control just because things like this. He repeated the mantra in his head, but none of them succeeded.

"I don't wanna see your face for the rest of the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" he yelled and stormed to his bedroom, slamming the door real hard.

Jiro stood alone in the livingroom, sighing. Things couldn't get any worse than this. He just wished Hisashi's madness wouldn't make him go as far as pulling off his life support to kill him…

* * *
Hisashi walked along the silent hospital corridor, bringing a bouquet of flowers in his hand. He was on his usual visit to the hospital, visiting Jiro. He stopped in front of Jiro's door and sighed. Whenever it came about Jiro, his thought always riverted back to *the* event two days ago.

He opened the door quietly. "Konnichiwa," he said softly to the person that was sitting beside Jiro's bed.
The person looked up, those brown orbs that were very similar to Jiro's, and smiled at the sight of him.

"Konnichiwa, Hisashi-san"

The person was Sawamura Mizuki - previously known as Wayama Mizuki - Jiro's older sister. She was Jiro's only relative that lived in Tokyo, while the rest of his relatives were in Hokkaido and areas around it. She was the one to take care of Jiro ever since the accident happened. Their parents couldn't come since their father's health condition was dropping and need a good rest, while other siblings lived too far away.

"Is there any change…?" Hisashi asked.

Mizuki shook her head sadly. "No… he's still like usual… deep in his coma…," she whispered, her hands softly stroking her brother's hair.

"…Oh…"

"Sometimes…," she spoke after a light silence. "I can't help but wondering… will he ever wake up? Will he be okay again? I mean… it's been days and he is still like that and I… I…"

"He will be okay," Hisashi said comfortingly. He somehow liked Jiro's sister since the first time he met her and he didn't like to see those brown eyes clouded with sadness. It was like… it was like seeing Jiro sad. "This little bastard just need time to wake up, but he will, so don't worry"

She smiled at him gratefully. "Thanks. I'm really grateful you know… when I first saw you I thought you were a cold person. I'm glad I was wrong. Jiro has such wonderful friends like you and Teru-san and Takuro-san…"

Hisashi found himself blushing lightly at her words. "A-ano… I put these flowers in the vase, okay?' he quickly said.

"Ah, let me do it," she said and took the flowers from his hand. "You just sit there"

Hisashi nodded and pulled a chair.

"You come everyday here," she smiled. "Bringing flowers everyday too… you must be his best friend, ne?"

Hisashi was slightly caught off guards by her words. Best friends…? He shook his head slightly. None of them who knew GLAY well would say that Hisashi and Jiro were best friends, but…

//…You must be his bestfriend… ne? //

"Yeah… sort of…" he finally said. He saw her smiled and then she took her bag. "Switch shifts?"

"Yeah," she smiled. "Like usual. I need to do the houseworks and prepare dinner for my family. Gomen, ne? For bothering you again, as always… I'll come back as soon as possible…"

"Iie, it's okay. Take your time, I'm okay here. I've got no practice today anyway"

"Arigatou" she said and bowed a little before leaving the room, leaving Hisashi alone with Jiro.

Hisashi stared at the closed door for a while before shifting his gaze to the unconscious figure on the bed. The respirator pipe was still there, attached firmly covering his mouth and nose, the stiff neck brace was still there too, and so were the long, thin plastic pipes of the IV saline and the nutrition plastic bottles and some other things that Hisashi had no idea what, but… despite all of that, Jiro looked peaceful. He looked like he was only sleeping and if he didn't know better, Hisashi would expect him to wake up anytime soon.

But of course… he knew better.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the clear window glass, pooling on the floor, and a little portion of it fell softly on the bed, on Jiro. He hadn't really noticed it before but he just noticed that suddenly Jiro… Jiro looked so bright, so blinding. Maybe it was because the sunlight but… but he looked so beautiful.

Despite the life support machines that were hooked onto him, Jiro looked so beautiful. That time, suddenly Hisashi saw clearer… Jiro's face. The pale creamy skin of his, the perfect eyebrows, big eyes, the slightly chubby cheeks, the cute nose and the adorable pouty lips. Too pretty. Too pretty to be a man.
He looked almost… angelic.

The thought crashed though, when a memory of the shameful event two days ago popped out in his mind. That little devil. Goodness, he had been freaked out of his mind over the whole things.

He had tried to think about it carefully. To think about it again, it wasn't as if no one had seen him when he was bathing. He had once or twice gone to the public bathroom when his own bathroom had been broken. People saw him, he saw people, it wasn't a big deal. All of them were male anyway.

But when it was Jiro… when it was Jiro who saw him when he was taking a bath… God, why wouldn't this blush go away? What was it about Jiro that made him react so differently?

//… you must be his best friends… ne?//

No, he wasn't. But if that was true, then why did he care too much? Why did he care too much? About Jiro's condition, about Jiro's feeling, about what Jiro thought about him…

Deep down, he actually knew why. Or at least a little part of the reason why. It was Jiro's ghost. Eversince the accident, eversince the ghost Jiro appeared in front of him, eversince Jiro entered his life - his *real* life not the band life - his feeling for Jiro had started to change.

//… because you need me, Hisa-chan, that's why…//

He heard Jiro's voice in his head, an answer to his question when he had asked him why he kept haunting him.

…Maybe that wasn't entirely wrong. Maybe, in one way to another, he did need Jiro…

Jiro with his cheeky grin and free laughters. Jiro who had unconsciously livened up his apartment, who had unconsciously given more colors into his life. He realized that lately, he always looked forward to meet the ghost Jiro.

He brushed those golden locks lightly, suddenly feeling a wave of fondness overcame him.

There was a soft clicked as the door was opened and Hisashi hastily pulled back his hand. A nurse stepped in, smiling at him. "Konnichiwa, Hisashi-san" she greeted.

Hisashi smiled back a little, nodding lightly in reply. He stared at the trolley the nurse was pushing into the room, at the neatly folded clothes, towels and washbasins that were filled with water.

The nurse noticed the stare and grinned. "It's time to bath Jiro-san," she said. "And I'm the one who has the honor to do it"

"You are the one who will bath him?" Hisashi asked as the nurse pulled the huge curtain around Jiro's bed.

"Yeah," she said, and smiled amusedly as she noticed Hisashi's expression. "What?"

"Isn't it supposed to be a male nurse to bath him?"

"Nope," she said a matter of factly as she started to take off Jiro's curren't hospital gown.

"…Don't you feel… uh… uneasy?"

She laughed. "Seeing him undressed? Fully naked? No, Hisashi-san, because it is my duty. I've done this many times before. Though yes, knowing that this is the famous person that I will be undressing does make it a bit special"

Hisashi couldn't help but blushed as she pulled off Jiro's cloth and pulled off the blanket and the sight of Jiro's bare lower part came to view. "A-ano," he stood up abruptly. "I think I will just wait outside". With that, he stormed out of the room with the nurse staring at his retreating form amusedly.

Hisashi sat on the chair in the corridor, mentally kicking himself. What was it with the blush? Why did he have to go outside? He could just stay inside, watching as the nurse undressed Jiro. Dammit, it was a chance to see Jiro naked! It would be a good payoff to Jiro for showing up in his shower two days ago!
He gritted his teeth. Well, he could just walked into there again, but then the nurse would laugh at him and he didn't like it. He settled back on his seat, deciding to take on his revenge later.

Yeah, later… maybe once Jiro - the *real* Jiro - was fit again, maybe he should place a camcorder in Jiro's bathroom…

He blushed again.

part 6