write_my_dreams | A Soldier's Dream: 4/12

Title: A Soldier's Dream
Author:

write_my_dreams
Pairing: Gackt x Hyde (Dream only: ? x Hyde)
Genre: AU
Warning/Disclaimer: Nothing to warn about. All I own is the storyline.
Rating: PG
Chapters: 4/12
Summary: After guest starring for VAMPS on Halloween, the costumes Gackt and Hyde wore haunt Gackt in his sleep and inspire a vivid dream.
Author's Comment: Posting this was a nightmare. The format kept getting messed up, but I finally got it to work. This chapter has more humor than the others so far, I felt it needed a lighter tone in the beginning since Hyde's life is quite depressing in this dream. And even though there's no Hyde in this chapter, I'm sure you'll enjoy it anyway

“Do you think it’s edible?” Jun-ji prodded the lump of meat on his tray with his fork, wrinkling his nose as he studied the thoroughly unappetizing lunch.

Gackt snorted. “Of course it’s edible. Why else would they feed it to us?”

“Maybe a spy’s infiltrated the kitchen and is trying to poison us.” Jun-ji made a face as he poked the meat again.

Gackt rolled his eyes. “Don’t be absurd.”

“He’s probably right.” The soldier looked up, smiling as he saw You standing next to their table. His right arm was in a sling and he had to hold his lunch tray with his left hand, but he didn’t seem to be in as much pain as he had been when Gackt had first seen him in the hospital.

“Did you just get released?” Gackt asked.

“Finally.” You shuddered. “I thought I’d never get out of there. A nurse wanted me to stay one more night, but another soldier needed my cot so I was released early.” He sat down next to Gackt and placed his tray in front of him. “This stuff really does look terrible.”

Jun-ji shot Gackt a triumphant look. “That’s what I said.”

The soldier sighed. “Jun-ji, when have combat rations ever looked good?”

“Never,” the other man muttered.

“So stop complaining and eat your food.”

“Yes, Mom.”

Gackt chose not to respond and turned to You instead. He looked tired but happy now that he was out of the hospital tent. Everyone hated being trapped in there, surrounded by wounded and dying comrades and kept awake by the never-ending sounds of their pain. “How does your arm feel?”

“It’s a little better. The nurse said I should keep it in a sling for at least a week. If she thinks my arm has healed enough, I can take it off but otherwise I have to wear the sling until my arm’s healed.” You sighed. “I can’t shoot until it’s fully healed so I don’t know when I’ll be able to fight again.”

Gackt hoped that You’s injury would keep him out of combat for a long time. You’s presence in battle was a double edged sword. Having his best friend at his side was comforting, but also nerve-wracking since he was always watching out for You and constantly fearing that a bullet would strike and take his best friend away from him. “I’m happier when you’re not fighting. I like knowing you’re safe.”

“And I’m happier when I’m with you so I can keep an eye on you. You’re too reckless sometimes, Gackt. It makes me worry.”

“How many times have I told you to stop worrying about me so much and take care of yourself instead?”

You smiled. “I’ve lost track. You can tell me again, but you know I’m not going to listen.”

“You-”

Jun-ji interrupted Gackt. “Will you two stop? I don’t want to listen to you arguing about who has to watch out for each other while I’m trying to eat. You sound like an old married couple.”

You laughed as Gackt glared at Jun-ji. “I’m not arguing; Gackt just refuses to listen to reason.”

Jun-ji shook his head as he picked up his tray. “I give up. You’ve been having this argument ever since we joined the army. Bicker all you want, I’m going to eat with someone else.”

Gackt rolled his eyes. “Fine, you do that. I promise I won’t argue with You at dinner so you’ll be able to eat with us then.”

Jun-ji laughed. “I’ll have to see it to believe it. I'll leave you lovebirds alone now, I'm sure you have some catching up to do." They hadn't seen You much since he'd been in the hospital.

Again, Gackt chose not to respond and turned his attention to his tray. He wanted to eat his lunch before it got cold. It was as bad as Jun-ji and You had predicted – no surprise there.”

“How is it?” You asked.

“The usual.”

“I figured.” Gackt watched You struggle to eat left-handed for a few moments. Part of him wanted to offer assistance, but the rest pushed that impulse down. You didn’t want his help and wouldn’t accept it, and Gackt knew he would only embarrass You if he offered.

“Jun-ji said you bought flowers for a grave yesterday.”

Gackt blinked at the sudden turn in the conversation. “I did.”

“What was so special about that one? You never leave flowers at a stranger’s grave.”

“This one is different.” Gackt explained how he’d found Hyde’s grave, lowering his voice to describe the ghost and Hyde’s story. His ability to see spirits was something he preferred to keep hidden from all but his closest friends. He didn’t want his comrades to overhear him and think he’d gone crazy – or simply refuse to believe him as his own family had done.

You looked worried as he listened to him. He’d never questioned Gackt’s ability to see the dead even though he’d never seen a spirit before, something Gackt was grateful for. He’d always been able to turn to You and tell him about the ghosts he saw. He could never do that with his family. His parents thought he was exercising his imagination and making up stories, but Gackt didn’t need them to believe him. All he needed was for his best friend to believe him.

“You’re going to help him rest in peace? That could be dangerous, Gackt. What if Hyde decides he likes your company too much and he’d rather kill you and keep you with him instead of moving on?”

Gackt shook his head. “Don’t be so paranoid. Hyde isn’t like that at all. He’s just glad he has someone to visit him and tend to his grave since he’s been alone for years.”

You didn’t look convinced. “You say that now, but what if he gets attached? You’re very likeable and I highly doubt that a lonely ghost will be immune to your charm.”

Gackt scoffed. “You sound like your mother. Hyde is still in love with his husband, You. He’d never try to keep me. I’ll be fine and I do wish you would stop fussing constantly. Jun-ji’s right about you, you sound like you’re my worried wife.”

“I do not! I’m just concerned about you.”

“I know you are, but you don’t need to worry so much.” Gackt got to his feet and picked up his tray. “Will you come to town with me on our next free day? I want to look at the records and see if I can found out anything about Hyde’s life.”

“I’ll help you as long as you promise to be careful,” You said.

Gackt sighed. “I promise I won’t do anything reckless. I just want to help Hyde.”

“Then I’ll help you find the records you’re looking for.”

* * *

Gackt turned another page in the records book that held all the births and deaths of the townspeople. He’d come to the records room to find Hyde’s obituary and hopefully an article about him. Surely the story of his violent murder would have found its way into the newspaper. He needed Hyde’s surname before he could look for the obituary though. Hyde had told him his first name and his story, but hadn’t given Gackt a last name or any hint as to the identity of his lover. All Gackt could do was look for a Hyde that had died sixty years ago at twenty-two.

“Have you found anything yet?” You asked, looking over his shoulder.

Gackt shook his head. “I’m still looking for the right year.” He flipped through more pages, pausing as he saw Hyde at the bottom of the page. A closer look showed it was the wrong one. This man had died at the age of seventy – certainly not his Hyde.

“All right. Let me know once you’ve found him and I’ll check the obituaries.”

“I will.” Gackt looked through a few more pages of names before he finally reached the entries from eighty-two years ago – the year Hyde had been born. He scanned the names and finally found the right one. Takarai Hyde who had died at twenty-two.

“I found him.”

“What’s his last name?”

“Takarai.” Gackt pulled a small notebook out of his pocket and wrote down the name, wondering why Takarai hadn’t been carved into Hyde’s gravestone. Had Hyde, having just been married, shed the name and wanted to take on his husband’s surname instead? His husband could have feared that his lover’s grave would be vandalized if he carved his own name into the grave, thus leaving no last name behind. Gackt added that to his list of questions to ask Hyde the next time he saw him.

“I’ll see if I can find him.” You turned to the filing cabinets that lined the wall as Gackt put the records book away. He found the one labeled “obituaries” and opened the drawers, searching for the folder marked with the correct year. He pulled the folder out and set it down on the table, flipping through obituaries until he reached the T’s. Gackt helped him look through the obituaries until he saw Takarai Hyde. He pulled the obituary out of the folder, starting as he saw the picture under the name. Hyde wore a suit instead of the dress he’d died in and the dark hair he’d hidden beneath his wig framed his smiling face. Hyde looked full of life in his picture and clearly had no idea that his life would be cut short far too soon.

Takarai Hyde left the world far too early at the young age of twenty-two. Hyde was shy, but he was a warm and cheerful person who could always bring a smile to your face. Hyde loved music and had an angel’s voice. He had a great future ahead of him and would have taken over the family business, but never had the chance to see his dreams fulfilled. He was cruelly murdered and the community reels from his loss. Hyde is survived by his loving parents and friends who will never forget him and the gifts that his life brought to the community.

Gackt copied down the text in his notebook, sighing since the obituary only told him things he already knew. He’d known there was little chance of finding the name of Hyde’s lover in his obituary, but he’d still hoped.

“His lover isn’t mentioned in this at all.” Gackt tucked the obituary back into the folder and put the folder in the filing cabinet. “I want to look through newspapers from the year he died and see if there’s an article about him so I can find details on his murder.”

“Did Hyde tell you when he died? If we know the month it’ll be easier to find an article about him.”

Gackt shook his head. “No, all he told me was that he’d died sixty years ago.”

You sighed. “It won’t be easy finding an article then.”

“I know, but he needs to find peace.” Gackt opened another filing cabinet that contained newspapers and checked the dates on the folders, finally finding one filled with old newspapers from sixty years ago. He opened the folder and set half the stack in front of You, grateful that he had another person to help him look through the articles. It would have taken forever to find everything by himself.

“I wish Hyde had told you all the details so we wouldn’t have to sort through all this papers,” You said, setting a newspaper aside.

“I do too, but he didn’t so all we can do is solve some of the mystery ourselves,” Gackt replied as he picked up a newspaper and looked through it. There was nothing about Hyde inside. Gackt set it down and reached for another. It was slow going and Gackt skimmed through article, waiting for a name or a headline to jump at him, but there was nothing. He and You had gone through most of the papers before You finally found something.

“I found it! Here, read this.” You gave him the newspaper and pointed to the article. The headline read “Town Stricken over Cruel Murder” and beneath it was a photograph of Hyde’s gravestone with a grieving couple next to it. Gackt recognized them as Hyde’s parents instantly. A younger man stood next to Mr. and Mrs. Takarai, holding flowers and looking just as heartbroken as them. Was he looking at a picture of Hyde’s husband?

For the first time in years, a murder was committed in town. Takarai Hyde was murdered last night while he was in the forest with his closest friend, Ogawa Tetsu. The two had gone to church and then into the forest where they were attacked. Both were injured, but Tetsu survived his injuries. Hyde was less fortunate. He was stabbed and slashed with knives and died of blood loss before Tetsu could bring him to a doctor. Hyde was twenty-two years old when he died and lost a bright future. He and Tetsu would have inherited their fathers’ companies and gone into business together had it not been for Hyde’s untimely death. The mayor’s two sons and a gang of their friends are responsible for Hyde’s murder and will be brought to trial for their crimes. The photograph shows Tetsu as he grieves with Hyde’s parents for their only son who was taken from the world far too soon.

“So his name is Tetsu[1].” Gackt studied the man in the picture, wondering what had happened to him and why he’d ceased to come to Hyde’s grave. Judging by the picture and what Hyde had told him, Tetsu wouldn’t have gotten over Hyde’s loss and abandoned the grave. Something must have happened to make him stop. But what? Had he moved or died young like Hyde had? Gackt took the records book off the shelf again and looked for Tetsu’s name, but the entry had no date of death. He must have moved then.

“Should we look for anything else?” You asked.

Gackt replaced the book. “I don’t think we’re going to find anything else here. There’s no date of death in the records for Tetsu.”

“He could still be alive.”

“Yes, but if he lives here then why did he stop coming to the grave? He was in agony over Hyde’s death and came to the grave every day for five years. I think he moved and that’s why Hyde hasn’t seen him.” Maybe Tetsu, unable to take the pain of living without Hyde, had remarried and moved to another town to start a new life.

“I wonder if they have any living relatives in this town,” You mused. “Hyde was an only child, but what about Tetsu? Or Hyde’s parents? They could have had siblings.”

“I don’t know.” That depended on whether the family line had stayed in the town or if they’d moved on as well.

You looked at the mountain of books and cabinets. “I guess we could look and see if we can find anything,” he said, not sounding thrilled at the prospect of looking through more books and articles.”

Gackt shook his head. “No, we don’t even know what we’re looking for. I’d rather just ask Hyde about his family.” He copied the murder article in his notebook then replaced the newspapers in the folder and put them back in the filing cabinet. He tucked his notebook back into his pocket, satisfied that he’d found the information he’d been looking for - Hyde’s surname, his obituary, and the article about his murder that had given him Tetsu’s name. Hyde would have to overcome his painful memories and tell Gackt more about his life so he could help him find his peace.

“I think that would be easier. We’ll know what to look for if we decide we need to come back.” You adjusted his sling and got up. “Let’s go outside, I want to breathe fresh air instead of smelling dusty old books and papers.”

Gackt was only too happy to agree. Once outside, he glanced up at the sky and wondered if he would have enough time to see Hyde tonight. He’d have to return to base and get his gun though. Only a fool would go into the forest unarmed.

“What are you thinking about?” You asked.

“Seeing Hyde.” He wanted to ask his questions tonight, but he didn’t want to risk being in the forest at night.

You frowned. “Tonight? It’s too late for that. It’s going to be dark in another hour and we still need to return to base. You’ll run out of daylight before you can get to Hyde, and you know it’s too dangerous to be in the forest at night. You could trip over a tree root and break your neck or get shot by enemy soldiers.”

For once, Gackt didn’t tease You about his fussing since he was right. “I’ll go see him tomorrow then.”

You was silent for a few moments as they walked to the bus that would take them back to base. “Gackt… what if you can’t help Hyde?”

“I may not be able to help him rest in peace, but I’ve at least given him company and tended to his grave.” Gackt remembered how shocked Hyde had been when he’d seen the flowers and incense Gackt had left at his grave. He hoped that when he died he would never be stunned that people were still tending to his grave years after his death.

Notes
[1] When I first thought of the idea for this fic, I had Sakura as Hyde's lover. Writing Chapter 2 changed my mind though and I wanted Tetsu to be Hyde's lover instead. He seemed to be a better fit for Hyde in this story. So technically, everyone was right since Hyde's lover was origin
2. I kept forgetting to add this note in, but if anyone hasn't guessed the time period it's set during World War II.
3. The articles were originally centered, but I'm pretty sure that's why the format was so messed up so I formatted the articles in the usual style

Current Music: L'Arc~en~Ciel - Niji

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

dohai-love.livejournal.com

YES!!!! IT'S TETSU!!!! *jumps into the air* I KNEW IT!! XDD Though, it's nice that everybody wins technically. :D Poor Sakura, so rejected. XD

I found this chapter short, and don't really have much to comment on, except:

1. That was kind of mean, Jun-ji ditching them in the beginning, I mean, the "argument" was only like a few seconds. O.o Nothing to get all annoyed about! Geez.

2. That's nice You accepts Gackt's story so easily! Even I would like "What? You want to help a ghost? That you just met?!"

Also, don't you need some type of permission to look into a town's files? XD It's just something that stood out to me, lol. I guess as soldiers they have more permission than normal citizens, yes? Also, I think Hyde's obituary should have been like, an entire page long. XD HE'S AN AMAZING MAN. Anyway, besides LJ giving you a hard time, I only found ONE typo- wasted instead of was, somewhere in the 1st scene! :3 Great job!

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A Soldier's Dream: 4/12

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