by VanillaMint

part 6

The house was dark, the way he left it. His footsteps echoed as he
walked up the stairs. Gackt sighed wearily. It was already late in the
evening. But the dying sun rays managed to filter through the blocks of
clear glass that walled the stairwell, creating a lovely warm
atmosphere. His mind ran to Mana, making him quicken his pace. 

The chrome handle twisted easily in his hand. An empty room greeted
him. His heart skipped a beat.

-Where was Mana?-

He turned abruptly towards the toilet. Mana stood there, in a pair of
leather pants and white blouse, with long sleeves and cuffs. His hair
was neatly pulled away from his face which seemed clean of all
cosmetics. Actually Gackt had never got used to Mana without make-up.he
looked totally different! Maybe even innocent. But there was something
Gackt has really never seen in all the years of knowing Mana. He was
smiling! Not sadistically or sarcastically even, it was a simple smile.

" Mana."

" You're home!" the guitarist flung his arms around Gackt's neck.
Smiling sweetly, he kissed the man's lips. Gackt didn't know whether he
should be shocked, happy, suspicious.The blouse hung loosely from
Mana's thin torso. Gackt ran a hand down the material, realising it was
his.

" Mana, are you okay?" 

" Of course I am! Hey, I made some dinner too! Let's go downstairs!"
Mana exclaimed, happily. He pulled the vocalist's hand and practically
dragged him downstairs. The tiles of the kitchen felt cold against his
bare feet but Mana's sublime mood warmed him up.

-Maybe Mana has realised his love for me.-

Tendrils of steam escaped the pot when Mana opened the lid. Almost
instantly, Gackt could smell the herbs and spices. " Where did you get
the cooking stuff?" He peered at the stew Mana had prepared.

" I found nothing in your fridge so I went out to buy."

" You went out.and came back?" A pair of arms wrapped Mana from behind.

Gackt thought he heard a giggle. "Of course I came back! If not, you
won't have home-cooked dinner to eat!"

" But you're not angry?"

" Angry?" Gackt could not see Mana's expression.

" Because.last night." he faltered in his speech.

Mana didn't answer. He merely stirred and ladled the gooey soup into a
big porcelain bowl. The sun seemed to have lost its fight to shine,
allowing the night to settle in. Gackt switched on the light as Mana
placed the bowl on the table. "Please sit. Is rice okay for you?" Mana
didn't wait for him to answer and proceeded to fill out two bowls of
white rice and place chopsticks before Gackt.  

-Like a housewife.Mana would make a great housewife but...is this Mana?- 

Gackt stared at the other man who was humming as he took a seat in
front of him. His eyes were intent on the food as he picked up his
chopsticks and poked them at the pickled radish. 

" Aren't you going to eat?" Mana asked but Gackt remained stoic,
staring at him as if.as if what?

" Are you afraid that I'll poison you?"

Gackt raised his eyes to meet Mana's accusing ones. But he saw tears
looming at the rims.

" You really thought so, didn't you?!" Mana sobbed. "I'm not trying to
poison you!" As if to prove it, Mana took a spoon and fed the stew into
his own mouth. " See?!"

Then he angrily stood up and went away from the dining area. Gackt
didn't know how to react.

" Mana!" He chased after the man, into the hall. Mana had situated
himself at one corner of the couch, hiding his face from Gackt. His
shoulders were shaking. "Mana, I'm sorry. I don't mean that." Mana
looked up at him as his arms went around him in an act of comfort. His
eyes were glazed with apparent sadness, regarding the vocalist
dolefully. Then the corners of his lips curved up slightly. 

" Camui..." Mana stroked his cheek. The cuffs slid down half an inch,
just enough for Gackt to catch the white slits on his wrists. He placed
a weightless kiss on his lips.

" What happened?" The blonde vocalist grabbed at the cut wrists.

" Nothing...just hold me, Camui," Mana said softly, his eyelids fell
halfway close. 

Gackt frowned, worry evident on his angelic face. Somehow, this all
felt wrong. Nevertheless, he enveloped Mana in a lover's embrace,
hoping to wash away everything but their love for each other. He felt
Mana's hands on the plane of his back, gently caressing his skin
through the shirt. 

" I love you, Mana," he whispered, letting his eyes take a rest. 

The other man remained still, except for his hands which were now at
his waist. Gackt felt wetness of Mana's face.

Why was he crying?

" I'm sorry, Camui." Gackt managed to open his eyes before his breath
got caught in his throat as Mana slid the cold metal into his abdomen.
He fell back, away from Mana, his left hand clutching at the wounded
spot. Bright red blood seeped through the cloth, forming an permanent,
irremovable stain.

He didn't know if he felt his the pain of his tearing flesh but there
was pain. There was pain as he looked at the face of the man he loved
most and the bloody knife in his hands.

*** 
to be continued

back to MM fics page~