Déjà vu - Chapter 7/11 [The Gazette - Reita/Ruki]
Title: Déjà vu
Author: shir0ukun
Rating: PG15 (in this chapter)
Genre: AU | Romance | Fluff | Angst | Slight Humour | Science Fiction | Drama
Chapter: [7/11]
Warnings: MxM sex | Witch Hunts | Time Travelling
Band[s]: The GazettE
Pairing[s]: Reita/Ruki (Akira/Takanori)
Synopsis: Akira is a historian who has spent much of his life unraveling the many dark histories of Great Britain. The dirty secrets of the past have tainted his soul, and just as his senses are to become completely numbed, he sets sight upon a beautiful inventor that keeps appearing in his dreams. Things get a little more complicated when this stranger he falls in love with turns out to have died- no less than three centuries ago.
Comments: Enjoy. (:
Previous Chapters:
[Chapter 6]
[Chapter 5]
[Chapter 4]
[Chapter 3]
[Chapter 2]
[Chapter 1]
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Chapter 7: Arrival
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After Akira and Takanori had spent the night in their new shelter, the next few days passed by in a breeze. Together, they reconstructed their new home, fixing up holes in walls and moving in new furniture. Their tasks kept them at work and the makeover gave each of them time to clear their minds. Takanori’s trust for Akira grew as days passed, as did Akira’s adoration for his lover. Every bite of the same, stale bread pulled them closer towards each other; every share of the same drink sparked off passion within their souls. By the time the makeover was over and their new house, now one that looked as if it belonged to a pair of newly-wed, was complete, the pair of lovebirds almost seemed as if their 30th wedding anniversary was approaching.
Ever since they obtained shelter, Takanori had been safe from eyes of the mob, but there was no way they could continue living off meager forest supplies. Arriving at a decision- one that Takanori approved with much reluctance, the small blonde was to work on his inventions while Akira brought them out to the market place to sell. It wasn’t the part about inventing that Takanori disliked- in fact, he was extremely keen on restoring his invention collection. What made Takanori hesitate was the part of the deal where Akira would bring his inventions out to the marketplace. He was worried that Akira would be deemed as a witch- the mob could find him suspicious and capture him in broad daylight for all they knew; Takanori feared losing Akira. He was scared.
“Please, Taka?” Akira pulled his lover nearer, “We can’t go on living like this.”
There was a small sigh.
“And I’m supposed to risk your life for this?”
Akira smiled, tucking a strand of loose lock behind Takanori’s ear affectionately.
“We have no other choices. And you know I can’t let you go out there either.”
Takanori frowned and looked away.
“I… guess there’s no helping it,” He pursed his lips, “But promise me, Akira. That nothing will happen to you.”
“I promise, Taka,” Akira smiled, “For you.”
And so, they carried out their plan the very next day. Akira would set off at dawn and return in the evening. On the first day, Takanori got so anxious when Akira hadn’t returned on time that he’d paced the entire house for at least twice a dozen times. It was only until Akira’s shadow emerged in the sunset did Takanori heave a sigh of relief. Business had went unexpectedly well for Akira- so he couldn’t return home at once. Once assured that their plan was feasible, it eventually became a routine. For the next few days, Takanori would invent while Akira sold the quirky- but extremely useful, objects at the market. They would work for six days and take a day off on the seventh, just to explore the forest or to simply snuggle in bed in the warm afternoon. Once, Akira even brought Takanori down to the river where they’d first met. There, the two shared memories of the past and spent the afternoon with each other for company.
A long time passed. By now, Akira could not determine the number of days that had passed since he traveled back in time. Had it been a month? Could it have been a couple? There was no telling- he’d lost track of time. He wondered how long it had been since he was supposed to return- since Takanori was supposed to be dead. He wondered if Kouyou sensed something was wrong. Kouyou. The name felt unfamiliar. Akira willed the image of his best friend to surface within his mind. But even as he strained his memory, the best he could afford was the soft, blonde locks that Kouyou would always tuck behind his ear as he worked. There were no other memories of the man known as Takashima Kouyou- Akira frowned at this realization as he lay in bed beside Takanori one night. He’d forgotten his life from the future- he no longer knew how Kouyou looked like; he no longer knew how he himself looked like.
The horror struck him slowly as his mind worked. The memories of the present- or rather, his past, was fading away. Akira had been so engrossed in his life now that reality no longer meant anything to him.
Rolling over on his side, Akira faced away from Takanori.
Akira was losing his identity. He was erasing his very own existence.
Fear. He’d never been so afraid. He feared the consequences- he feared losing Takanori, even more so than facing death. He was scared.
The first signs of his impending consequence paid a visit when Akira was finishing up for a day.
The sweltering heat of the sun shone menacingly on his back as Akira kept the remnants of his goods. The day’s sale was better than before, and he made a mental note to retrieve more of Takanori’s inventions the next day. Wiping a bead of perspiration from his eyes, the hazel blonde lifted his make-shift luggage and bid his neighboring stall goodbye. The townsmen were fairly friendly, and Akira was really starting to get on good terms with some of them. They’d invite him downtown for drinks after work, but he’d always return home on time- he’d always return to Takanori like the faithful lover he was. Peering down at the heavy box of earnings in the case, he wondered what was for dinner.
And then it happened all too suddenly.
Akira dropped to the floor as hyperventilation struck out of nowhere. Hands supporting himself from the dirty ground, he could barely scream even though his lungs felt like it was collapsing. The pain could not be compared to what he had experienced during time travelling itself, but it was excruciating enough to even make a wild elephant docile. Feeling the last of the air leave him, Akira heard voices around him before he completely blacked out.
How?
Akira wondered how it happened. His mind was conscious, but his eyes refused to open. Drifting in darkness, he asked himself another question.
Why?
It struck out of nowhere; there were no previous symptoms to warn him beforehand. As far as he could remember, he’d spent the previous evening healthily with Takanori as they watched the sunset by the river.
Maybe it was something he ate.
But then, again, it wasn’t possible that food poisoning could cause lungs failure.
He thought of all the possible causes of lungs failure. Had he smoked too much?
But that wasn’t right- Akira never smoked.
Am I dead?
He sighed. It’d be a pity.
A pity?
Was that all?
His heart wrenched at the image of Takanori weeping by the side of his bed.
Something struck him.
Maybe destiny was claiming him. Mother Nature made a deal with him. He’d committed a felony- and he would pay for it with his life. Nature was taking him away from Takanori; it was taking Takanori away from him.
Memories of the short period of time he’d spent with his lover came to mind. He remembered the times they chased each other downstream, no matter how rowdy the playful struggle would get afterwards. He remembered the times they slept and ate together under the same roof, no matter how shabby their shelter was. Many images followed right after- but one of them stood out from the rest.
Akira watched silently as the scene from a few months back played out before his eyes.
The background was dark, with only a couple of make-shift bulbs for company. Behind the two shadows were rows and rows of inventions.
They were in the shed.
Takanori’s hands were cradling Akira’s cheeks, before the latter brought it down to set upon his heart. The Akira now grasped at the thin clothing before his chest; he could still feel the warmth of Takanori’s hand like it had been there just moments ago. The cameras continued rolling- then came the conversation.
“My heart hurts. It’s bleeding- can you tell?”
It has never stopped bleeding.
“I can hear it. And it beats for me.” Takanori whispered his last words for the night, “Ever thine, ever mine, ever ours.”
Ever thine, ever mine, ever ours.
Akira whispered the few words to himself. A drop of tear forced its way down his cheeks.
The screen switched to their next memory- the earliest one, when Takanori first found him by the river.
Akira slowly shut his eyes.
A smile graced his face- it was a sad one; one that was small, but enough to speak of the entire time he’d spent with his lover.
That’s right.
Take me away, Mother Nature.
But let me keep my smile.
Akira woke.
He came to to a ceiling. It wasn’t the same one he’d seen when he first woke up after he’d time traveled- weird.
His arms were numb where Takanori’s head was resting on. The latter stirred.
“Heyy.”
“You’re awake,” Takanori beamed, “How’re you feeling?”
“… Am I dead?” Akira could feel pain in his chest, but he wasn’t convinced.
“No, you aren’t, silly,” Takanori chuckled nervously, “Now don’t you go and say such things again.”
It was only when his lover sniffled that Akira realized Takanori had been crying. His eyes were swollen and puffy, tear-stained cheeks flushed from anxiousness. Dark eye circles were made prominent against his pale features.
“Okay,” Akira smiled weakly, “I won’t.”
“You were in a coma for the entire night.”
You cried yourself to sleep, didn’t you?
“You were worried?”
Takanori’s eyes widened.
“Of course I was, idiot!” Tears threatened to well up in his eyes, but Takanori blinked them back, “How could I not…?”
His voice broke, as did Akira’s heart.
“You promised you’d come back safely, didn’t you?”
“I’m sorry,” Akira paused, wondering if an apology would ever be enough, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
Akira opened his arms, and that was when Takanori broke. Tearing apart his calm façade, the small blonde held onto Akira’s torso tightly and sobbed uncontrollably into the firm, welcoming chest he knew so well. Akira smiled, gently running his fingers through his lover’s hair in an attempt to calm him down. A tear dropped from his own eyes- he didn’t let Takanori see it.
“What happened to you?” Takanori asked when he calmed down, “You were out and… not breathing… when someone sent you back.”
Not breathing.
Was I dead?
“I don’t know,” Akira frowned, “I was finishing up for the day when all of a sudden, I stopped breathing. All I could remember was… pain and the cluttering of crowds around me.”
Takanori pursed his lips.
“The doc couldn’t diagnose what had happened- ‘An extraordinary phenomenon’, that was what he said when you came… alive.”
“What do you mean? I lost my pulse?”
“That you did, alright. I was so scared. The doc was getting ready to announce your death when he found your pulse again,” Takanori whispered against his lover’s chest, “Akira. The doc couldn’t explain what happened to your lungs- I told him you didn’t smoke or take drugs. Any hunches?”
“No. I find it weird, too.” Akira didn’t share with Takanori the dreadful possibilities he’d thought of.
“… Do you think it’ll happen again?”
“What will happen?”
“This. Your death,” Takanori looked up into Akira’s eyes, “What if you really die next time, Akira? What if you never come back?”
“I won’t, Taka,” Akira whispered, “I won’t. I promise.”
“You’ve broken your promise once.”
“You told me this, Taka,” Akira remembered the entire sentence by heart, “That my heart beats for you. And as long as the earth continues revolving, my heart- my everything, is yours to command.”
Akira’s reassurance worked, for Takanori chuckled. Out of bitterness or of amusement, he couldn’t tell. Right then, Akira was troubled- he didn’t know how, but he knew he had to keep to his promise. If dying would break Takanori’s heart, then he’ll continue living; he will keep himself alive, regardless of what it takes.
A tall figure stood among the flower bed by the river. His dark eyes, weathered with years of anxiety, searched. The journey tired him out, and he grimaced when he heard his stomach growl with hunger. He’d taken his last meal almost a day ago ever since he arrived in town. He had been too preoccupied by the search to fend for himself- even less so about his meals. So far, he’d scouted the forest and covered the marketplace, but in none of these places did whom he was searching for appear. He was starting to doubt his information- but there was nowhere else to go. Night was approaching soon, and he decided he’d have to stop for the night and continue early next morning.
He set to setting up his make-shift tent, a simple two-person shelter with a security alarm specially installed. It would be much simpler if it was thieves he needed to be careful of- instead, it was the wild animals he feared. Learning not to challenge Mother Nature, the tall man heaved the heavy fabric over the poles and secured them with stakes. It took him a good while to construct his shelter, and he was beat when the stubborn tent finally agreed to stand. Flopping himself onto the brilliant flower bed, the man drew his lunch- now soggy and unpleasant, out of his haversack. There was a sigh of satisfaction as he chewed his bread and hydrated himself after the long day.
He felt slightly lonely after awhile, without as much as a passing villager or townsmen by the river. He looked into the distant, across bank and over the river.
The waters were sparkling under the slowly setting sun, a sight breathtaking to behold.
It’s really beautiful, the man thought as he finished the last of his lunch.
Just like how Akira described it to be.