Bound by Blood
Track Nine: Pulse
Background for the Story: Yoshiki and Shinya are cousins. Shinya is present day 17 years old and Yoshiki is 19. ^__^
ummm... here:
"..." - dialogue, what is really said
~...~ - thoughts, what the people think
//...// - flashback, what they remember
**...** - what Shinya hears come out from people's mouths
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"Even though I have nearly nothing to live for..." Shinya was twirling his hair, talking to one of the stupid psychiatrists. "Even though I have a mother who wants me to be more like my cousin, a band who wants to be like my cousin's band, an aunt who hates me because of her son... Even though I could never be as great as him... I discovered something I have that he doesn't."
Kiyonobu-sensei looked up from the clipboard he was holding. Notes were scrabbled all over the patient report which was securely attached to the clipboard. He straightened his glasses and asked, "What would that be, Shinya-kun?" The drummer broke into hysterical giggling which eventually just burst into maniacal laughter. "Shinya-kun?"
"I have one very special person. I have that person and his heart. He's all mine and he doesn't love Yoshiki." Shinya nodded to himself. "Yeah, Die's mine. I've won his heart, Yoshiki didn't, I did... He loves me more than Yoshiki, unlike everyone else in the world. Ha ha... I finally have a precious thing that I can say Yoshiki didn't have first... I've beaten him... I've finally beaten him..."
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"That's why I'm leaving X," Toshi concluded. "I can't dedicate myself to X fully anymore, not with my upcoming wedding and the need to take care of a family. I won't leave my loved ones behind. To be in this band means you have to be completely dedicated and you have to put the band first, but I can't do that if I want to continue on with my life, my own life. I can't let you guys live my life for me anymore, I never wanted this sort of lifestyle to being with... So, I'm sorry, but maybe you can find a new vocalist."
Yoshiki sat on a plush couch, cradling his head in his arms. "But... there can't be any X without you Toshi. You're the voice of X so even if we tried with some other vocalist, it wouldn't be the same - it wouldn't be X. If you're going to leave then I'm calling for official disbandment." hide and Heath and Pata and Taiji all gasped in shock. Official disbandment? But didn't they all promise to remain X for the rest of their lives? "Is that what you want Toshi?"
Toshi shook his head, but then said, "What are you trying to get at by accusing me like that? Are you trying to make me feel guilty and not leave your band? I'll tell you right now Yoshiki, that's not going to work on me. I've thought long and hard on this and if you disband X then that's your decision. From me to your cousin, looks like you only know how to make enemies out of childhood friends."
hide interrupted before Yoshiki could say anything which would make the situation worsen. "The least we can do is have a last live together, ne?" He looked to Toshi. "Would you like to at least perform together as X one last time?" For a second, the quitting vocalist almost looked disgusted at the guitarist. But the look of horror quickly faded and instead he said, "Sure. I guess so. If you guys can pull it off too."
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"I have him on medications," Kiyonobu-sensei said to Dir en Grey's two guitarists. "The pills will stop the voices in his head a little and help him think straight and more positively. The injections are for stability purposes only. Those will keep him on the ground so he doesn't do anything to hurt himself."
"Thank you," Kaoru nodded and took the prescriptions from Inoran. "How much will this cost?" Kiyonobu-sensei named a couple numbers, Die nodded and Kaoru frowned. "We'll have enough, don't worry about it." Die assured him. "After all, we'll all make through with this and we'll be able to get his medications together, as Dir en Grey." Kaoru nodded. "You're right. All right then, we'll take him home when?"
"Tomorrow," Kiyonobu-sensei said. "So, you'll have to be sure to administer the pills every twelve hours and the shots every twenty-four hours. Just be sure to keep on schedule and all should be well. As soon as he's run out of something, just inform me and I'll set everything straight, ne?" The two nodded and bowed, "Domo arigatou gozaimashita!"
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Shinya heard a knock on the white door. "Shinya-san? Sakito desu. Ano, Yoshiki-san is here to visit you." The drummer looked shocked for a while, but recovered easily. //Why is he visiting me? Does he want me to talk about myself again?// "Sure, I'll see him."
Sakito opened the door. He was flushed a strawberry shade of red because of being near two famous people - he felt slightly intimidated and yet intrigued and honored at the same time. He shut the door behind Yoshiki, but made a point to watch them, after all - the doctors had warned him that Shinya still might get violent around his cousin.
"Hi, Shinya." Yoshiki waved and smiled at the younger man and was answered by a replying wave. "How have you been doing?" There was a slight pause for Shinya to think and finally he answered, "I'm good. I'll be let out tomorrow. They're going to let Die-kun and Kaoru take care of me from now on." Yoshiki looked relieved. //That's good, at least I know he'll be in good hands...//
"So then, you'll be debuting as Dir en Grey's big return, won't you guys?" Shinya nodded. "That's great! I'll be there to support you all the time Shinya." Shinya looked confused, "Why are you saying that now when you've never supported me before?" The more skilled pianist looked shocked. "Of course I've always tried my best to take care of you, I've always wanted the best for you. Because you're the one relative who I consider to be close to my heart. You're really important to me, Shinya." The patient looked shocked as if he hadn't realized how much Yoshiki tried to help.
"You... you really mean it?" Shinya inquired. He felt his cheeks heating up and his eyes filling with water. Yoshiki nodded and added, "Do you remember that time when you were four? Probably not, it's been quite a long time back. But do you remember that promise we made that we'd cut our hair before we turned twenty? Well, mine's cut already, but I made that promise with you. We both decided to grow out our hair. Hair has always been your pride Shinya, and you've always been my pride. Those painful years when you wouldn't talk not only hurt you, but they hurt me as well. I felt as if a part of me was being torn away, just like now. Shinya, Toshi's been my best friend ever since before I can remember. And now, we're separating ways, leaving X." Shinya looked surprised.
"But you see, I want to continue to support you, even if X does disappear. As long as the people around me are happy, that includes you, Toshi, the fans, and whoever else, as long as your all happy with life, then I'll be happy too. Even if it takes X away from me, I'll make everyone happy. No matter what Shinya, I've always wanted the best for my loved ones and you're included."
Shinya ran over to Yoshiki and they hugged. Years of 'fighting', years of jealousy, everything. It only hurt the two of them. Now they would have to help each other pick up the scraps of the other's life and put them back together again. They couldn't do it alone, they'd need Die's help and Kaoru's help and Toshi's help and hide's help and everyone! All together, Dir en Grey or no Dir en Grey; X or no X, if they could feel each other's hearts, they'd make it through the bad times and good times.
As they held each other in tight embrace they felt each other's heart beating. The same blood coursed through their veins - the same right to live was in each of their souls. Whether one was more skilled, more loved, more popular, it didn't matter. They were one and the same. Always together and dear in their hearts.
Outside the white room, Sakito watched with teary eyes. //It's just too beautiful!//
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"Are you sure this is right?" Toshi asked his girlfriend. She stood beside him at the alter of the cult gathering. The ex-vocalist was holding a candle over it, letting the wax drip down. "Yes, I'm very sure this will work." Kaori smiled. "I wasn't asking if it'll work, Kaori," Toshi answered, a worry expression gracing his features. "I wanted to know if this is morally correct." She looked him in the eyes and declared, "Of course! He's the bad one after all! He stole away Yoshiki from you and they forced you to be in X! You should show him who's the one with power - you are."
"Okay..." There was still slight worry in Toshi's high, yet husky voice, but he continued to pour the wax as Kaori began chanting some strange alien words which he couldn't understand. //I hope nothing too bad happens and that whatever she's doing doesn't hurt Yoshiki... Even though he did use me, I don't want to hurt him.//
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Rushing down the halls of the hospital, nurses and doctors yelled at him, "No running! Watch where you're going! Slow down! Stop there!" and other such calls. The short vocalist paid them no attention. He quickly arrived at the room in which Shinya and Yoshiki still held each other. Kyo turned to the indies vocalist and demanded, "Is Yoshiki in there!?" He nodded in shock and wonder. "Open the damn door! I need to talk to him!"
"H-hai!" Sakito opened the door and Kyo burst in, breaking the happy reunion type atmosphere. "K-kyo!?" The two relatives split away from each other as soon as possible. "What's wrong?" Shinya nearly yelled.
"Yoshiki...-san... it's... an... emer...gency..." Kyo stammered, tired from all the running. Yoshiki stood up, "What's wrong? What happened?" Kyo pointed in the direction of the main hospital. "It's... hide...-san..." X's leader jumped up and grabbed Kyo crying, "Take me to him you little imp!" They ran off together, leaving Shinya with a Sakito who was scared out of his wits.
To Be Continued
To the next part