Déjà vu - Chapter 9/11 [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: [9/11]
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 8]
[Chapter 7]
[Chapter 6]
[Chapter 5]
[Chapter 4]
[Chapter 3]
[Chapter 2]
[Chapter 1]
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Chapter 9: Sacrifice
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“I apologise for my rudeness previously in the afternoon,” Kouyou finally spoke when they arrived by the river bank, very close to where Takanori’s house had used to be, “I’m Takashima Kouyou.”
Takanori stared blankly at the hand the honey blonde extended. Apparently, handshakes hadn’t come in quite popular yet in the eighteenth century. Kouyou retracted his outstretched hand awkwardly.
“My name is Matsumoto Takanori.”
“I know; Akira talks quite a lot about you.”
“He does?” Takanori looked incredulous.
“That’s right. He did tell you about time travelling, didn’t he?”
“Yes… Bits and pieces of it, at the very least.”
“And you know why he did so?”
“He did mention it was because of me.”
“True enough, that foolish man risked his life just for you,” Kouyou nodded, “Apparently, from what he told me, you’ve been appearing in his dreams whenever he goes to sleep. He became so obsessed about you over a period of time that it started to really bother me. I told him this desire- this obsession, was unhealthy. But all that idiot did was fall in deeper in love with you until one day, when I foolishly decided to tell him about time travelling.”
“You knew time travelling was dangerous.”
Kouyou, if anything at all, seemed almost satisfied at Takanori’s knowledge of time travelling.
“I knew- and I warned him. But he didn’t listen. Back then, he was just like a teenage girl who’d found her first love; nothing could get through to him, and, being the fool that I was, I gave in. He wanted me to transport him back in time, and that I did, knowing the possible implications if Akira didn’t return before… before you were supposed to die.”
If Takanori was affected by the mention of his supposed death at all, he hid it well.
“He promised to return by then, didn’t he?”
“He broke the damn deal we had. I should have known,” Kouyou sighed, leaning against a tree and letting the rough bark rub against his clothes, “I was a bad friend.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“He was too in love with you.”
Kouyou continued when Takanori remained silent.
“Do you love him?”
“I do. With all my heart.” Takanori smiled as he answered, thinking about the memories he shared with Akira. His happiness didn’t last for long.
“Then you must want the best for him, don’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
Kouyou sighed.
“I can see that he loves you- and that you love him back too. I’m glad to see that he’s found love, but not at the expense of his life.”
Takanori felt his breath hitch.
“Come again?”
“Didn’t he tell you?” Kouyou frowned, “His organs are starting to function abnormally due to the extreme difference in the living environments of our time dimensions. The first signs may be small, but I can assure you it’ll definitely lead to larger- and possibly even fatal, health problems.”
“… No, he didn’t mention this…” Takanori’s mind drifted back to when Akira had passed out. To say that he was bewildered was an understatement.
“That’s why I need your help. I need to bring him back- fast.”
“… He’s happy here, Kouyou.”
“I know. I know he is- and I’m happy for him too. But this cannot go on, Takanori. You know that too,” Kouyou took a step forward and placed his hands on both Takanori’s shoulders, “You love him, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“So let him go… I’m sure it’ll hurt, but it’ll all pass…”
“What we have,” Takanori replied, fueled by Kouyou’s choice of words, “What Akira and I have, is special, Kouyou. It isn’t just a stage in life- it’ll never pass.”
The honey blonde looked taken aback by the fiery statement.
“Okay, I take back my words. But think about what I said, Takanori… If you love him, then let him live. You don’t want him dead, do you?”
Dead? Are you serious?
Takanori sighed and closed his eyes. His mind was in pandemonium now while his heart bled painfully. Fisting his hair in an attempt to distract himself from the pain, the small blonde replied.
“Let me think about it.”
“Okay,” Kouyou drew out a small envelope from his pocket, “Consider my request carefully, Takanori. Please. If you’ve made your decision to help me, then empty the contents into his drink. It’s just a simple anesthetic to make him sleep. It’ll last for at least two hours, so bring him here- to me, once you administer the drugs. From then, I’ll bring him back.”
Takanori glared at the packet of drugs in his hands like it was poison. He wished his stare would be intense enough to burn it all up; he wished he could tear the envelope up and fling it towards the sea- but he couldn’t, not when he still had a logical decision to make. Mustering the remnants of his strength to nod, Takanori shoved the envelope into his sleeves and, without a look back at Kouyou, made his way back home. He hadn’t notice that the sun was rising soon, and he quickened his pace. He had to hurry back to Akira before it aroused his suspicions.
When Takanori arrived at their house, Akira was already waking up. Quickly shoving the envelope out of view, the small blonde snuggled in beside his lover and engaged him in a tight embrace. Normally, he wasn’t one for intimacy, but he had the sudden urge to hug the life out of Akira.
“Morning, sweetheart,” Akira chuckled, “I see you’re feeling pretty affectionate today.”
Even as he teased, the hazel blonde wrapped his arms around Takanori. If his lover wanted to snuggle, who was he to say no?
“Don’t speak,” Takanori screwed his eyes shut and hugged Akira’s torso even tighter, “Just… let me hug you.”
“… Is anything wrong?” Akira frowned.
Yes, sweetheart, everything’s wrong, was what Takanori wanted to reply. Instead, he remained silent and shook his head. There was no way he could let Akira know- if it was pain and loss he had to face, then it was his burden to bear alone.
“Heyy…” Akira caressed Takanori’s back and ran his fingers through the latter’s hair in reassurance, “Talk to me.”
Takanori felt his eyes sting at Akira’s gentleness. The latter always treated him so gingerly- he loved him so much. Tears started to well up, but Takanori blinked them away. He couldn’t cry- it would make him all the more suspicious.
“I love you, you know that?”
Akira smiled, but Takanori didn’t catch it.
“Of course I do. And I love you too, baby.”
Akira pulled himself away to place a kiss on Takanori’s forehead. The latter was acting strange. Something was definitely wrong- but he didn’t ask. If Takanori wanted to tell him, then he’d let him do the talking, no matter when is it that he’ll open up.
“You…” Takanori started, “Don’t go to work today.”
“Sure, but why?”
“We just got married, ‘Kira. It’s our honeymoon, remember?”
Takanori smiled, one that looked forced enough to break Akira’s heart. Still, the hazel blonde beamed and sat up from the chair.
“Right away, milady,” He chanted, “So, for breakfast, coffee, tea, or me?”
Akira knew his choice of words was overly modern, but he couldn’t care less while he attempted to cheer his lover up. The flirtatious statement seemed to work, for he witnessed a bright chuckle escape. If that was what Takanori wanted, then all he needed to do was to return to being the incorrigible flirt he used to be back in high school.
“I wouldn’t mind a kiss or two.” Takanori was playing along.
“Happy to oblige.” Akira leaned in to claim Takanori’s lips, sucking on his lower lip. The small blonde was more responsive than usual, wrapping his arms around Akira’s neck and pulling their bodies closer. It was a long while before they broke their slow but sensual kiss to breathe.
“You’re naughty.” Akira teased, getting off the couch and pulling an amused Takanori along.
“You don’t like it?” Takanori shot his lover a flirtatious wink.
“Hmm. I’m not complaining,” Akira wrapped an arm around Takanori’s slender waist, “As long as this service is for me and me alone.”
“I never knew you had a possessive streak in you, my dear.”
“Well, then, you’ve missed out a lot,” Akira whispered into Takanori’s ear, “Whatever’s mine’s mine.”
“Mhm. You’re being full of yourself again,” Takanori purred, “Whoever said I was yours?”
“Ho… getting’ a lil cocky over here, aren’t you?” Akira challenged, wrapping the other arm around Takanori and pulling him closer until their faces were barely an inch apart, “Then I guess I’ll just have to make you mine.”
“And… how will you do that?”
Takanori was goading him on.
If that’s the way you want it, then your wish is my command.
Akira looked his lover in the eyes, conveying whatever lust he had in the past few months through eye contact. Takanori seemed to have sensed it as well- Akira’s silent exasperation and sexual tension, and he licked his lips in an attempt to seduce the latter. To his surprise, Akira pulled back after awhile and waved the awkward atmosphere off with a laugh.
He didn’t want to push it. Akira was fine with sex, but until Takanori asks, he would never do anything to sabotage their relationship as of now.
“Come on, that’s enough of playing,” Akira gestured for Takanori to follow him, “I’m famished. What’s for breakfast?”
The sight of the sun setting over the horizon was a sight to behold. But even with such a breathtaking scene playing out before him, Takanori couldn’t help but sigh.
“Hey…”
“Hmm?”
“You’ve been acting weird the entire day…” Akira brought up the topic they both avoided finally as they rested upon the bank. He laid sideways, supporting his head with his elbows lazily, “What’s wrong?”
Takanori worried his lips.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“… Would you return to the future if I asked you to?”
Takanori grimaced when he witnessed his lover’s face darken.
“No.”
“Even if I beg you to?”
Akira stared, wide-eyed, at Takanori, before breaking into a series of nervous chuckles.
“What’s gotten into you?’ And then, something struck him, “Is this what you’ve been worried about the entire day?”
Takanori didn’t reply.
“Listen to me, Taka,” Akira sat up, bringing his hand up to cradle Takanori’s cheek, “For as long as I live, I will stay by your side, come what may. This is my promise to you- don’t you remember?”
“But… not at the expense of your health, ‘Kira…” Takanori’s voice faded into a soft whisper, “Not at the expense of your life…”
“Taka…?”
“I know, Akira. Your organs are functioning abnormally. That was what happened when you passed out, wasn’t it? Your lungs… You’ll die, Akira. If this continues on…” Takanori cleared his throat, “I don’t want that to happen…”
“Sweetheart…” Akira wanted to embrace Takanori, but more than heartbroken, he was unhappy, “Was it Kouyou? He told you about it, didn’t he?”
“It’s not his fault,” Takanori raised his voice, “Were you planning to hide it from me all the while? I would never have known about your condition if Kouyou hadn’t told me about it, would I?”
“Well…”
“It pains me, Akira… to know that you can’t trust me even with your health.”
“It’s not that, Taka. I just don’t want you to worry.”
“Worry?” Takanori couldn’t comprehend the sudden wave of emotions overwhelming him. He was angry; in anger, he was hurt; in his wound, he felt sadness, “Of course I’ll worry! What would happen if I never knew? You’d continue staying here, won’t you? Continue to stay by me like the fool you are, regardless that you’re dealing with death itself. You’ll die- just to spend more time with me?”
“Yes, I will.” Akira ignored the relentless accusations Takanori spat at him, “I’ll die to stay by your side- just to make sure that you won’t wake up alone in the mornings. I’ll die to stay by your side, Just to make sure that the mob no longer harasses you and that everything from your shelter to meals are taken care of. I’ll do anything, Takanori, to ensure your comfort.”
A moment of silence passed as Takanori simply stared at Akira. His anger dissipated as easily as it came, now replaced by guilt and exasperation.
“You stupid, stupid man,” Unconsciously, tears started to stream down his cheeks. He sniffled like an infant when Akira brought him into his arms, rubbing circles on his back to sooth his cries, “I won’t let you die.”
Akira chuckled.
“You and Kouyou are really alike.”
Takanori pulled away. He didn’t like being compared to Akira’s friend, but what he’d said wasn’t completely incorrect.
“We- both Kouyou and I, care for you,” Takanori sighed, placing a hand on Akira’s chest, “We want you to live.”
“I’m happy here.”
“I know. I know you are…”
“Do you not want me?”
“No, silly!” Takanori swallowed, a huge lump suddenly forming in his throat. The longer time he spent with Akira, the harder it was for him to make a solid decision, “… Let’s… not talk about this.”
“Okay,” Akira beamed, turning to watch the sunset. Unbeknownst to him, Takanori’s eyes never once left the side of his face, drawing ever little small detail into his memory.
I wish you knew, Akira.
I wish you knew it might be the last time I might ever see you.