(no subject)
The plot for the last few chapters was a little bit thin so I had to bulk this out a bit but you know, you can't tell it's a filler chapter at all and it's done nothing but add to the plot so i'm quite pleased with it. Especially as I've given Kozi's character a little more depth.
Title: 31 Trials from Hell
Rating: PG
This chapter: 18
Main Characters from: Gacktjob, Malice Mizer
Main Pairing: Gackt X Kami
Summary: When his lover dies Gackt will do anything it takes to get him back even if it means following him into the depths of hell.
Previous Trials
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Trial 26: Future Plans
Jun Ji was a bright cheerful man a few years younger that the music shops two managers. He tended the shop and helped make important decisions and it was because of him the store had kept running despite Kami's death and Gackt's complete inability to function afterwards. Gackt was beyond grateful for the younger man's hard work in his hour of need so that morning when Jun Ji arrived at work he wasn't just surprised to see Gackt had opened up before him, there was also a large bouquet of flowers waiting for him.
“Gackt? What's this?” Jun Ji asked as he stared at the lilies, the same bright orange as his hair.
“It's a thank you gift for keeping this place running so smoothly.” Gackt explained. “Off course you're getting a bonus, we'll discuss this later when Kami arrives.”
“Kami's back from his holiday? Does this mean you guys finally made up?” Jun Ji asked, his turn to surprise Gackt. Was this the story that Hizaki had spread around? That they'd argued and Kami had left for awhile?
“Yeah we made up.” Gackt agreed. “Everything is back to normal.”
“Thank god! You've been impossible to work with.” Jun Ji exclaimed giving Gackt a hug. “I'm so happy the two off you worked things out.”
“Don't we always?” Gackt asked hearing the bell chime above the door and knowing Kami had arrived, only delayed by parking his car.
“Yes but I’ve never seen you argue like this. For Kami to move out for almost a month and you to be heart broken. What on earth caused it?” Jun Ji questioned curious.
“We were arguing about if we should get married or not.” Kami explained. “We've argued about it before but this time it got out of hand. But we figured things out. You're going to propose soon right? Somewhere romantic?”
“Are you demanding I propose?” Gackt teased remembering his promise from before, if Kami asked then he would buy a ring and do as asked.
“I'm asking.” Kami replied giving Gackt a meaningful smile before turning to Jun Ji. “We're going to have a few changes it seems. I want to start giving lessons in drums and guitar which means both Gackt and I will be busy teaching and away from the store. We'll hire more staff off course but we need you to be our manager.”
“We haven't discussed this.” Gackt said frowning.
“I know, but you always wanted me to teach.” Kami pointed out. “I've finally found the confidence in myself to do so. Life's short so why waste it?”
“Sounds like your time apart was good for both of you.” Jun Ji declared. “And by a strange twist of fate myself included. Maybe you two should argue more often?”
“Oh no. I'm not going through that again!” Gackt exclaimed. “If you had any idea how hard I had to fight to get him back...”
“I'm glad you did.” Kami interrupted giving Gackt a light kiss on the lips. “But no more time to talk, let's get this place ready for opening.”
“He's got bossy.” Gackt stage whispered to Jun Ji who couldn't stop himself from laughing. It was so nice to see his bosses getting along again knowing everything was finally back to normal. From now on everything should be fine, better than fine in fact and he was looking forward to a bright future. Everything was just perfect. Nothing could go wrong.
“Hey, this looks like Közi.” Kami commented holding up a flyer that he had just found within the post.
“It is Közi!” Gackt exclaimed grabbing the leaflet and reading it with a dark expression on his face. “A life coach?”
“I take it you don't like this man.” Jun Ji commented reading over Gackt's shoulder. “He does seem kind of egotistical. 'A life changing experience, one meeting can change your world.'”
“This is how he's been getting so many new... clients so quickly.” Gackt realised.
“And he's going to get more if he's advertising like this.” Kami replied clearly worried.
“Want to fill me in?” Jun Ji interrupted not liking the fact he was being left out.
“Oh sorry.” Kami apologised. “Kozi is this guy who's been bugging Gackt recently. Neither of us want to see him do well.”
“Come on it's me, you know you can give me more information than that.” Jun Ji complained not realising that this was just another thing the couple couldn't tell him.
You had only just finished getting dressed after his long night with Chachamaru when he heard Gackt's summons and hastily bidding the demon goodbye he returned to earth only to have a single piece of paper thrown in his face.
“Look at it!” Gackt ordered. “Look at what he's doing!”
“I would but I can't read anything that's pushed against my nose.” You complained taking the leaflet away from Gackt so he could read it looking anything but amused. “Well he's smart, I give him that.”
“Too smart.” Gackt complained. “Weak minded people will be queuing up at his door step and with some clever phrasing he could claim their souls without them even realising.”
“It explains how he got so powerful so fast.” You agreed. “I don't know how to stop this either. He's not breaking any rules, humans are still seeking him out when they call the number. It's the equivalent of summoning him to make a deal.”
“So what do we do?” Gackt complained. “He's already powerful enough to have overthrown Chachamaru and we already know he isn't predictable. He'll create a reason for me to need to make a deal with him. What if he attacks my family? My friends?”
“Right now he's only gathering power.” You replied confident in this conclusion after his time hanging around the castle. All the servants were talking about how Közi was determined never to lose his throne the way Chachamaru had and how he swore nobody would even dare to challenge his might. “We have time.”
“Until he becomes so strong nobody can stop him.” Gackt complained. “We need to go after him now! We need to stop him in his tracks! How do you kill a demon? Hyde said something about beheading him and then using salt?”
“Nice and messy.” You agreed. “Not necessarily a bad thing. Salt is a demon's poison, but a nice drowning will send them straight back to whatever hell dimension they came from for awhile.”
“So what's the easiest way to kill one?” Gackt demanded. “What's the easiest way for me to destroy Közi for good?”
“Force him to eat at least a mug full of salt or behead him and rub salt in the wounds so he can never heal and then he will die.” You explained. “A demon is just a soul that's lost all the good it ever had and twisted into a creature of evil, it's hard to kill the dead.”
“Cerberus can do it and so can I.” Gackt replied forcefully. “ Közi will be stopped. I don't want to have to live in fear of what he might do.”
“You're just a mortal. I don't know how you're going to find the strength to defeat a demon who's already strong enough to challenge almost everyone who's beneath the level of a god.” You commented, his words the exact opposite of what Gackt wanted to hear.
“There will be a way, there always is.” Gackt replied stubbornly. “I just need to figure it out.”
Közi sat behind a desk grinning as he watched the man leave having just sold his soul for a promotion at work. Such stupid little things people were asking his help with and every time he gave them the same advice, 'Just be more confident, stop doubting yourself!' before cleverly tricking them into making a deal. He was even being paid by the hour to do this and as word got around that he could make peoples dreams come true he was only getting increasingly popular. He could feel the new strength coursing through his veins and he felt like he could do anything. It was such a shame that his power also increased Lucifer's own or he'd be planning the day he stole the fallen angel's place.
Forever Lucifer's second was annoying but unavoidable and Közi had to admit that he couldn't have everything. Still he craved power, craved strength and most off all he desired to rule. He had his hell and now he would claim the earth as his own just like he had always longed for.
Once, centuries ago, Közi had been just a man, poor and starving on the streets he was the bottom off society. Even the poor turned their noses up at him calling him names and mocking his depravity. He had been half blind and unable to fend for himself. Then Lucifer had appeared before him, a kind man who had taken him in and shared his own story off his brothers betrayal that led to his father disowning him. They were comrades in arms and when Lucifer had offered him a deal he had accepted it quickly. There was a thousand things Közi could have wished for but what he choose was his sight. It cost him his soul but he didn't care, he just wanted too see the man who had been so kind.
It was then that he had seen Lucifer for the devil he was and strangely he wasn't afraid. Awe struck he had sworn his loyalty again and with his new gained sight managed to get a job and earn his way. But it wasn't enough, he was barely beginning to live when his time was up and he was forced to pay his debt.
Next came unbearable pain, he was tortured, twisted, broken and finally reborn as a demon. He was truly one of Lucifer's own and had gladly accepted the offer to torture other souls only relieved he was no longer the one on the receiving end.
Over time Lucifer grew greedy, the souls he harvested himself simply weren't increasing his strength fast enough. He wanted to be stronger than his brother Michael, stronger than the father he only ever refereed to as god. He had appointed his favourite four demons to make bargains on his behalf and Közi had found he was one of them. Chachamaru too had been promoted at that time and for every soul they bargained with half the strength channelled into the fallen angel. They all grew stronger and Lucifer's hell grew until it had to be accepted as the fourth hell dimension by all.
He should have ruled then, he should have sat by Lucifer's side as his Queen but Chachamaru could charm the scales of a snake and Kozi had always been one step behind. Well not any more. He was finally where he always deserved to be, on top, and now he would show it too the mortals who had mocked him when he had been so young. Humans would tremble beneath his might and he would rule them all as Emperor, Prime Minister and as King. Just as soon as he had the power to crush all those who dared stand in his way.