The Great Manipulator

by Lady7 ( runaluna )

Comments: Thank you so much for reading! Comments are highly appreciated ^^ It’s near the ending and I’m very excited, will be longer than chap 7 so I hope u all enjoy it.

Chapter 8


Now, Shinya. Go have lunch. After you eat, go to the practice room and sit on the couch.

Kaoru will always be there at two, so when you see him, you’re gonna say this ‘Kaoru, I can’t find Die’

And please, put up your best worried look.

It was 13.48 according to Shinya’s watch as he sat patiently, or impatiently, pondering over Die’s words. Put up a worried look? Oh he never felt so worried like this before. What the fuck was Die up to?! Shinya knew he should be very worried. But then again, he had hung out with Die for a decade, and he already had an idea of what exactly Die would do.

Shinya took a deep breath and checked his watch for the tenth billion times. It said : 14.00

Anxiously, the drummer turned toward a direction. And true enough, the door opened and Kaoru walked in. The guitarist saw him, “Hey Shinya, how’s lunch?” he greeted, and placed a pile of papers on the table.

Shinya blinked, and looked at the older man, amazed. Not at Kaoru, but at Die for being so accurate. He had never thought, really. For a moment, the young man sat there, thinking how true it was when people said you could never know a man too well. There’s always something that would surprise you. Especially when in a relationship, because Shinya could never have guessed when Die would come up with a surprise especially right now.

And that last thought brought him back to reality. Right. What exactly did Die plan this time? He had other questions in his head too but this wasn’t the time for them. This was the time to look very worried and told Kaoru he didn’t know where Die was. But first of all, Kaoru had to notice the expression on his face. So Shinya slumped his shoulders and sighed, aloud. Not so loud tho, because he wanted to be … subtle, as opposed to be dramatic.

Kaoru looked up from the papers, and turned his head to the drummer, with eyebrows joined he asked, “Shinya? You okay?”

Shinya said nothing, and hung his head down. Kaoru noticed how his fingers twisted until they were painfully tight. Starting to get worried, the older man approached him and bent down, trying to look at Shinya’s face. When he saw the face, Kaoru gasped and held Shinya’s shoulder.

“Shinya, you look so pale! Didn’t you eat something just now?”

The younger man closed his eyes. Couldn’t Kaoru come up with something more serious?! Food?!! WTF!

Scratching his head with a confused look on his face, Shinya looked up and opened his mouth. Kaoru was ready to listen but then Shinya closed his mouth and turned away. Kaoru titled his head to a side and shook Shinya’s shoulder a little, “What’s wrong?” he asked.

Shinya swallowed and opened his mouth again, “… Nothing’s wrong … just …” he whispered and bit his lower lip. Kaoru was getting impatient, “Well clearly something is wrong, because you look distraught! So tell me already cuz I can’t read your minds!”

Apparently there are other things you can’t read also Shinya thought, trying not to look at Kaoru’s eyes. Die did say the older man could tell the truth from the eyes, but Shinya reckoned that’s just something Die made up to piss him off. But he wasn’t about to take the risk.

“Shinya, look at me! Tell me!”

Hell no! Shinya ducked away and decided to cover his forehead, “Alright! Alright!” he yelled and brushed his hair carelessly, so Kaoru couldn’t see his face clearly, “I can’t find Die!”

“Huh?” Kaoru blinked

Shinya made no reply

“You can’t find Die?”

Only when the words were spoken thru Kaoru’s lips he realized how ridiculous they were.

He couldn’t find Die? So fucking what! Shinya covered his face, Oh fuck! So what if he couldn’t find Die! He made a mental note of smacking his lover on the head later on. He should’ve known better than to copy-paste Die’s words. He should’ve come up with something better! It’s just hysterical. What had he got himself into?!!! Shinya tried hard to calm down so he wouldn’t explode and shouted right there.

Kaoru started to laugh, “Why … Shinya, I don’t know what’s up … but maybe Die hasn’t come back from lunch? I thought like whoa! What happened!” the guitarist chuckled and shook his head, “What’s the pressing matter that you need to talk to him about? It looks like … some sort of emergency … or maybe it isn’t?” he asked, looking at Shinya’s face.

The drummer surprised himself when he found his eyes staring straight at Kaoru’s.

“Oh … or maybe … you just can’t stay apart from Die for song long huh?”

Shinya put a palm on his chest and took a deep breath. He had unconsciously looked up as Kaoru talked, and it’s not very good. So Die was right again. Kaoru could tell from the eyes.

“This … is no joke, Kaoru” he spoke in a low, serious tone, “Something’s wrong”

Kaoru shook his head and walked away, “Come on now Shinya, it’s probably nothing”

“But I’m feeling something” Shinya pushed, pointing at his chest, “He looked weird. The last time I saw him, he looked …” the younger man paused and sighed, “Remember this morning I told you he tried to act normal, and then he looked too excited over nothing?”

The older man nodded, and Shinya continued, “Well, I asked him if he wanted to join me for lunch. He refused and just … walked away. He seemed … confused, lost …”

Kaoru blinked and walked back to him, “Wait. You mean, this has something to do with …. the break up?” Kaoru said carefully.

Finally! Shinya thought, nodding his head, “I’m afraid it does”

Kaoru’s mouth parted in shock as he slowly rewinded Shinya’s words from earlier. Then he started to look worried, and suddenly, the door burst open and Toshiya walked in.

Great!

“Hey guys!” the lanky bassist greeted and walked toward them, “What’s up?” he looked at Kaoru, and widened his eyes, “What’s wrong with him?” he pointed at the older man, but his eyes looked at Shinya. The drummer got up from his seat and shook his head, “Erm …” he paused and scratched his face, “I just told him … that I couldn’t find Die”

“Huh?” Toshiya muttered confusedly and looked at Kaoru, who calmed down and explained, “Shinya told me, he sensed something weird about Die. And now, he can’t find Die anywhere”

Toshiya looked at Shinya for a while, and the drummer really put up his best worried look this time. It would work on Toshiya.

“I sense that this has something to do with the … breakup” Kaoru said, again, carefully. Assuming from now on, he would say the word carefully like Die was in the room.

Shinya wet his lips and waited for Toshiya’s reaction. God he really really wanted to see his reaction, hoping it wouldn’t disappoint him like Kaoru’s one. Kaoru started to mention every possible place that Die could be at, while Toshiya just stood in silence, obviously his brain working. Shinya was thinking also, thinking of what Die could possibly been planning.

“OHMYGODGUYS!!!!” Toshiya was the first to break the silence, gasping aloud, on top of his lungs, with his hands covering his mouth. Kaoru turned to him, startled, and Shinya looked up in surprise.

Toshiya had the look of shock and realization as his eyes fixed on Shinya.

“Oh. My. God!!!”

“What?” Kaoru asked in annoyance. Somehow he’s annoyed. He didn’t know what he’s annoyed of, but … he’s just really annoyed, and it was worse to see Toshiya’s reaction. He would like to think Shinya’s “hunch” was really nothing, for he didn’t feel anything bad at all about it. He was Kaoru, he knew things … and before Toshiya walked in, he felt nothing.

But now … Toshiya’s reaction had slipped something into his mind. He knew what the bassist was thinking of, and he didn’t want to think the same. He wished it wouldn’t turn out to be like that, he refused the idea, he simply wouldn’t believe in it. So Kaoru turned to Shinya, the sane one. Ah, but what did he get?

Shinya’s face paled, and his eyes, Kaoru saw the realization in Shinya’s eyes.

The drummer widened his eyes and stared at the floor, he got it! He knew what Die planned to do!!! It hit him when Toshiya shouted.

“Die’s trying to commit suicide!” Toshiya blurt out.

Kaoru rolled his eyes, “Oh come on!!!” he threw his hands up. Toshiya he could understand. But Shinya? That young man was seriously believing Toshiya’s idea! “We all know how Die is! He won’t do that! He’s not STUPID!”

Toshiya balked, “Oh COME ON!!” he stared at the older man, “Die? Not stupid?!”

Shinya blinked and looked at the bassist. Really? Toshiya thought Die’s stupid?

Kaoru sighed exasperatedly and shook his head more, “No!!! Die won’t do something like that!!! I know him too well!!!”

“Ano …” Shinya started, and the other guys turned to him. “There’s a saying that goes, you can never know a man too well” he said, looking at Kaoru. Toshiya nodded and jumped in, “Exactly! I agree with that” he pointed at Shinya, “Had it ever crossed your mind that Die wanted to marry this girl?!!!”

Kaoru fell silent

“Had it ever crossed your mind that Die wanted to get married at all?!!” Toshiya went on, “He’s so heartbroken, he probably doesn’t know what he’s doing right now! And he’s going to kill himself …. because he’s too depressed to even live!”

Shinya pursed his lips tightly at Toshiya’s ‘theory’ and looked at Kaoru. Oh, the words had slipped into his mind, and Kaoru started to pale.

“No”

“Come on Kaoru!”

“*ahem!* Guys …” Shinya cleared his throat and clasped his hands together, “I don’t think this is the right time to discuss about it. Let’s just search for Die, okay? Let’s find him” he suggested. Kaoru looked at him as if he was insane, “What?!!!! You think Tokyo’s like your backyard?”

Shinya resisted the urge to roll his eyes and replied, “No” he pointed at a direction, “Check out Die’s stuff on the floor. His acoustic guitar is here. He won’t ever go anywhere without it, and trust me” he looked at Toshiya, “If he’s about to die, or kill himself, that’s the one thing he wants there with him!”

Kaoru looked at the guitar.

Toshiya nodded knowingly, “Yeah … that’s’ true. That means he’s still here, in the building”

“I’ll check the bathrooms” Kaoru suddenly said, walking out the room, “Have your phones on!” he exclaimed and disappeared.

“I’ll ask the staffs if they see him” Toshiya said and walked out the room too. Shinya sighed and sat back on the couch, taking out his cellphone. He dialed a number and listened in.

“Moshi moshi … Kyo kun? Oh my god, something is happening!”

***

Thirty minutes later, Kaoru, Toshiya, Shinya and Kyo caught up with each other, looking tired and panting heavily. Shinya wouldn’t have ended up like that if he wasn’t searching with Kyo.

Kaoru : “He’s not in the bathrooms. I checked every singe cubicle!”
Toshiya : “No one saw him! That’s so weird!!”
Kyo : “I’m not buying this whole idea”

Shinya raised an eyebrow, thinking if Die really was gonna kill himself, he’d be dead by now. He dialed a number and immediately hang up, “His phone’s off”

Kaoru coughed and looked at his watch, “It’s been half an hour”

Toshiya wiped the sweats on his forehead, “OH where can he be?!!” he whined. Kyo pouted and said to Shinya, “He’s probably dying … lying somewhere … with blood spurting out of the wounds he cut on the wrists …”

Shinya made a face while Kaoru tried not to imagine that. Toshiya opened his mouth to say something, but suddenly remembered what he vowed to do earlier today, so he shut his mouth and sulked.

“Kyo kun … this isn’t some wrist cut show” Shinya said calmly, “We have to think hard … if he’s really gonna kill himself in this building … where will he do it? What kind of place in here will he be able to … do so?”

There was a long moment of silence between them, before everyone looked up and exclaimed in almost unison, “THE ROOF!!!!”

Shinya tailed behind Kaoru and Toshiya who ran full speed toward the elevator, while Kyo smacked himself on the head, “My bad. Been singing about wrist cutting it made us all thought that’s the only way to commit suicide!! I should’ve written more songs about jumping off the roof!!” he grumbled. Shinya looked at him in bewilderment, “Kyo kun … you’re just as bad as Toshiya!”

“Hey” Kyo muttered, “I’m not believing this shit. Die loves life too much to end it himself”

And that was the first thing Shinya agreed with for today … and judging by the turns of event, well, that would probably be the only thing he agreed with.

…

Snapping out of his own thoughts, the first thing he saw was Toshiya’s going-insane face. The bassist was pressing on the ‘up’ button on the wall so hard, his index finger had turn white. Kaoru nudged him to read a piece of paper taped to the wall. Kyo sighed and looked at Shinya, “Isn’t it ironic … we never have any problems with the elevator before”

“This is so stupid! Of all the days in a year, why pick this exact day to annual service these damn things!!!” Toshiya yelled frustratedly and kicked the elevator doors. Kaoru rubbed his pubed chin, standing quietly next to the bassist. Somehow he’s still not buying the whole idea. Shinya closed his eyes and leaned on the wall, “You know what Kyo?” he couldn’t resist and the vocalist turned to him, “You seem calm”

Kyo chuckled and shook his head, “I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes. Okay? When we get up there, we won’t find him” the blond stated calmly and pointed to a direction, “Let’s find out now, stairs?”

Shinya tiredly nodded

“YOU seem awfully calm” Kyo noted suddenly, and the drummer held his breath, “I’m too shocked … to even react” he muttered carefully. Kyo narrowed his eyes at Shinya, then he shrugged and walked toward the emergency door. Toshiya had run passed them with Kaoru behind him.

…

The door burst open and immediately a strong gush of wind greeted them. Toshiya blinked and squinted his eyes, while Kaoru panted, holding his knees. Kyo reached the opened door and paused to catch his breath while Shinya sighed and looked around the surroundings.

“Oh. My. God” Toshiya gasped, fearfully looking at a direction, and they all turned around to see Die, sitting on the railings, at a corner of the building, with his back resting on the wall. There were cigarette stubs and a few cans of beer on the floor, in which Shinya fumed at. So apparently the red head took this as a chance to self indulge, he thought murderously.

“Ohh …” Kaoru caught his breath and calmed himself down. At least Die’s still there. Kyo, on the other hand, was too shock to even utter a word. He couldn’t believe his eyes, Die was really there!

“For fuck’s sake!” Shinya muttered under his breath, not realizing he’s standing right next to Kyo. The vocalist joined his eyebrows and glanced at Shinya, who didn’t notice.

“Die!!!” Toshiya shrieked, and Kyo gasped, turning his head abruptly to the red head, thinking maybe Die had jumped. But no, the guitarist was still there, in the same position. Kaoru nudged Toshiya’s arm and told him to calm down while Shinya rubbed his face tiredly and decided to say something to Kyo, “You know what … Kyo kun, I think that bitch really means something to him” he whispered. Kyo shook his head sadly, “It can’t be real”

But it was real. And the red head slowly turned his head around, “Ohh …. hey you guys” he greeted weakly to them. “I thought I heard voices … it’s you” he lifted his hand up to his eye level and looked at the beer can, “I’m just …. chilling” he muttered and started laughing humorlessly.

Shinya was now staring at his lover in horror! He hoped Die wasn’t too drunk to actually reveal everything in front of them. That would be pathetic! And stupid! The drummer took a deep breath and crossed his arms together on the chest. He was not sure what to do next. Was he supposed to approach Die? Or should he let the other guys do it? He couldn’t make the decision. He didn’t know whether Die really drank all those cans of beer, because if he did, then he must be too drunk to even talk, let alone lie.

“Come … come here guys … join me! I’ve got …. beer” Die slurred, and patted on the metal railing, causing it to shake. Everyone gasped, even Shinya did, as Die’s body jolted forward.

“Whoops!” the red head gasped and stretched his arms wide, trying to balance himself, the can on his hand fell as he did so, “Ohhh!!!” he shouted, then squinted his eyes to see if the can landed on the street below. “I hope it doesn’t hit … anyone” he muttered and laughed more.

Shinya shut his eyes, and swore. Okay it looked like Die really was drunk.

Fuck

“What should we do?” Kyo was heard whispering, presumably to everyone but he wasn’t supposed to be talking to Kaoru and Toshiya. The guitarist shook his head, “I … I can’t go there… it’s …” he stuttered. It’s eleven storey high, he’s not going there. So he looked at Shinya, who pretended to swallow and shook his head, “Me neither” then he looked at Kyo. The blond head raised his hands up, “I’ll pass man, I mean it’s Die … but …”

“PFFFT”

Everyone turned to Toshiya

“I’ll go” the bassist narrowed his eyes at them and walked toward Die, to everyone’s surprise. He coolly tapped the red head on the shoulder, while the older man gave him a thumb up, and climbed on the railing, sitting next to Die. The thin metal pipes shook at the sudden weight and Kaoru covered his eyes.

“Hey Die!” Toshiya greeted the red head, “How’s it up here?” he casually opened a can of beer and took a sip.

“Fucking hell” Kaoru swore, and the bassist turned to him. Kaoru slowly, very slowly walking up to the wall Die had previously leaned on. And slowly, still very slowly, he pressed his chest on the wall and moved forward, “Fucking hell” he repeated and closed his eyes. Kaoru could feel the wind blowing his hair, and each step he took felt like he’s walking on a slope, and it seemed like he would fall any minute.

Shinya tried his best not to laugh watching Kaoru, while Kyo blinked and stared in disbelief.

“Geez…” Toshiya said, gulping more beer quickly as Shinya noticed, “Are you scared Kaoru?” he asked teasingly. Kaoru glowered at him, “Aren’t you?” the older man snapped back.

Toshiya shrugged and lifted up his chin, “I’m Toshiya! I’m fearless!” he grinned and did a high-five with Die, who then took the bassist’s beer.

Kaoru rolled his eyes and stretched his arm out, until it touched the railing, “Fearless? More like reckless!” he hissed.

Shinya and Kyo watched with wide eyes as Kaoru, with a hand gripping the railing tightly, moved his other hand to hold on Die’s arm, “What’s going on?” he asked. Die shook his head, looking up at the sky, “I’m just … feeling a little … sensitive right now” he whispered. Kaoru threw Toshiya a knowing look.

“And …” Die continued, “I feel … I don’t know. I’m really depressed”

Kyo sighed worriedly and looked at Shinya. The drummer blinked and shook his head, “Kaoru’s holding his arm and Toshiya’s there too, it should be okay” he whispered to the vocalist, who bit his lower lip and turned back to the other three. Toshiya had taken the beer can from Die.

“What happened?” Toshiya asked, passing the can to Kaoru, who placed it next to his feet. Die smiled bitterly, “A lot of things … you know” he shifted and the railing shook. Toshiya widened his eyes and gripped on the metal while Kaoru held Die’s arm even tighter. The red head went on, “When life throws a curveball at you … what will you do?” he turned to look at Toshiya.

Hearing that, Shinya raised his eyebrows and scratched the area behind his ear. Great, the ‘curveball’ theory. Die could be so gay at times, he wondered why no one had noticed yet.

Toshiya blinked in surprise, and confusion at the same time. He didn’t expect to be asked such question. “Cur- curve… ball?” he repeated uncertainly. Die nodded. Kaoru joined his eyebrows and mouthed silently, “Just say anything!!!”

“Well …” Toshiya cleared his throat, “I’ll …”

“You’ll dodge??” Die asked, his voice louder. Toshiya threw a look at Kaoru, not sure of what to say.

“No” Kaoru answered, and the red head turned to him. “When life throws you a curveball, you’re not supposed to dodge” he said wisely, “You’re supposed to take it, to face it, Die”

Shinya nodded

Kyo widened his eyes, “Where’s this going? Die‘s drunk!” he asked and Shinya shook his head, “I don’t know, trust me!”

Die looked at Kaoru as if he was God or something, “Really?” he asked, amazed.

Kaoru gave him a confident smile, “Whatever the problem is Die, you have to face it. You have to deal with it, find a solution to it!” he convinced. Toshiya pouted, obviously pissed not understanding the question.

Die thought for a while, before nodding slowly, “You’re right. We have to face the problems, and talk about it … and find a solution!” the red head exclaimed, “God Kaoru! You’re a genius!!!” he smiled and Kaoru smiled back, patting his chest. Shinya wasn’t sure if he should be crying or laughing. Maybe Die wasn’t drunk after all. And he didn’t know if he should be hating his lover of loving him right now.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Toshiya jumped in and asked carefully, and everyone waited for Die.

The red head nodded.

Kaoru sighed in relief, “Okay. Why don’t’ we find … somewhere appropriate? Like … maybe … a room downstairs?” he said, pulling on Die’s arm. The red head smiled and nodded strongly, “Yeah, that’d be great!” he replied.

Kyo exhaled loudly and started to smile, “Okay” he said to himself. Shinya smiled a little to him and patted his shoulder, “See? Nothing’s wrong. Die’s all safe”

And just as he finished the sentence, Toshiya, who was probably too excited, slid off the railing carelessly and stood next to Kaoru, which caused the railing to shake greatly. Everyone watched as Die yelped, stretched out his hands as he lost balance and tumble forward, slipping off the railing.

“Die!!!!!”
 

************