L'Arc en Ciel Fanfiction .::. Angel and Demon

Chapter 14 ~The One Who Beholds the Power~

Tetsu woke up suddenly. He couldn’t remember accurately when he had fallen asleep, but it was evident that at some point in the middle of his ramblings he had. He opened a lazy eye and after pressing a tiny button at the side of his wristwatch he tried to focus his blurry sight on its lit up face. Man... Would his glasses come in handy now... He had left in a rush earlier that day and forgotten them at home. It was 11 PM, he could guess, and he thought he would have never woke up if it hadn’t been for the loud roar of his hungry stomach... Such an offensive noise... He felt really awkward being unable to control it. The sound came up for a second time, and much to his surprise, he realized it was actually Hyde’s stomach protesting.

He looked over his side and watched Hyde sleeping stretched, taking over the greatest part of the bed, hugging a pillow over his head. "He’s so funny when he sleeps." Tetsu thought to himself. He got up and walked smoothly towards the kitchen. Hyde had forgotten to put the food in the refrigerator. Most likely, it was all wasted. Yet, Tetsu grabbed a spoon and tasted a bit of it.

"Yukk! It is ruined!" He concluded, spitting it in the sink and opening the faucet to let the water run. He tossed the remaining food into the waste bin.

Suddenly he heard a loud thump, apparently coming from the bedroom.

"That baka... he sure fell off the bed!" He laughed to himself, then he heard heavy footsteps running towards the dining room, the light was switched on and he heard Hyde’s voice screaming out loud his name, with all the might of his lungs. He thought the window glasses would burst at the high pitch.

"TETSU!!!!!"

Hyde sounded desperate.

Tetsu decided to make him wait for a couple seconds. He didn’t want Hyde to think he had him for a pet.

"TETSU!!!! NO!!!! WHERE ARE YOU??" Hyde sounded unbelievably disturbed and about to cry. Tetsu walked out of the kitchen casually.

"What’s with the screaming?" He asked amused.

"You son of a bitch!!! I thought you were gone!!" Hyde protested still screaming, but his voice was a little more relieved. He was kneeling on the ground and crying.

"What’s the matter, Haido?"

Hyde cried and crawled over to hug Tetsu’s legs. He couldn’t speak and kept crying. For an instant he would have sworn he was re-living Sakura’s departure.

"Huh? Feeling insecure, my little friend?" Tetsu patted Hyde’s head.

"Sonuvabitch!"

"I can’t decide whether you are happy or mad to see me."

"I thought you were gone!"

"Well, I have to go home, you know, just thought I’d wait until you were up."

"Don’t go!"

"it’s Don’t-go-please, Tet-chan for you." Tetsu corrected him joking.

"Don’t go, please, Tet-chan!" Hyde repeated. Tetsu was unable to believe Hyde had promptly obeyed him... even if he was only kidding. Hyde had already started to run his plan. Tetsu would take Sakura’s place, without knowing it.

"I have a home to go to, Haido." Tetsu answered seriously. He felt sorry for him. Emotional had thrown over any remains of Rational’s years long dictatorship.

"Come to live with me!" Hyde supplicated.

"I can’t." Tetsu stared at him confused.

"For a month. Please? You said you wanted to clear out your feelings... well, this is your chance... you live with me for a month and you will find out... please..."

"I promise I’ll think about it, but now I gotta go home. I have matters to attend."

"Attend me!" Hyde started to cry.

"Uh... Haido... Please don’t cry..." Tetsu tried to calm him down.

"PLEASE!!" Hyde pleaded.

Tetsu couldn’t resist him. He felt his heart was about to jump out of his chest. He knelt down and hugged him patting his back. Hyde kept grabbing Tetsu’s pajama jacket like he was holding on to dear life.

"Uh... Say, Haido, why don’t you come over?" Tetsu whispered softly and pecked on Hyde’s cheek. Hyde raised his eyes and released Tetsu to rub his teary eyes.

"Yeah, yeah! I will! Yeah!"

Hyde got up and ran towards his bedroom sobbing, then he ran out of it again.

"I’ll get dressed and brush my teeth, you just wait." He rushed back in after saying this.

"Uh... Haido..."

"Yeah? Yeah?"

"Didn’t you notice my clothes are still in your bedroom?"

"Uh..." Hyde looked at Tetsu’s clothes carefully folded on a chair. "You are right..."

"You thought I was going to leave in pajamas?"

"Uh... uh... now that you mention it... it’s not such a fashion statement..."

"Absolutely." Tetsu nodded. Especially since those pajamas were the cheap kind of ones.

"So... uh... we could take a bath before we go."

"Yeah, OK. Go take a bath." Tetsu smiled.

"I mean together."

"No. I’ll take a bath at home, Haido. Don’t start again."

"What’s wrong with my bathroom?"

"Nothing. Just that you’ll try to get it there... again."

"No, I promise I won’t."

"I don’t believe you Haido."

"I swear. Over my heart!" Hyde said solemnly.

"No. I still don’t believe you."

"OK, then. You don’t have a romantic bone in your body, Tet-chan no baka..."

"Whatever. Now go change your clothes."

"Hai! Err... Come with me!"

"Huh?"

"You still gotta change your clothes, ne? Tet-chan." Hyde said smiling, and grabbed Tetsu’s right hand pulling him from it.

"You try anything, and I’ll push you down the stairs, Haido..."

"I’ll be a good boy..." Hyde smiled one of his irresistible smiles at Tetsu. And Tetsu followed him, helpless.

Strange enough, Hyde didn’t try anything. He changed his clothes humming and picked a big bag from his closet, then started to drop stuff into it while Tetsu changed from pajamas to his T-shirt, jeans and sweater.

"What’s that stuff for, Haido?"

"Uh... stuff..."

"What kind of stuff, Haido?"

"Just stuff..."

"You are not moving in with me..."

"Chigau yo! I’m just packing some stuff for the weekend."

"Weekend?"

"Today is Friday, Tet-chan."

"What are you gonna do on the weekend?" Tetsu sat on the bed and watched Hyde packing.

"I’ll stay at your place, and I’ll take care of you." Hyde announced, still focusing on the diverse stuff he was dropping carelessly in his bag, and thinking how he would love to take care of Sakura.

"You don’t have to..."

"I want to." Hyde turned his face to look at Tetsu and smile at him. His smile was so radiant, Tetsu couldn’t help but agree.

"I’ll do everything for you!"

"Uh... that’s gonna cost me... what?"

"Hehehe... we’ll see..."

"I remember you used to be the type to never carry much along..."

"Oh, I still am. But tonight I’m kinda hyper..." Hyde added naturally, while fumbling inside his messy closet.

Tetsu couldn’t help noticing Hyde was dropping a box of condoms inside the bag.

"Oe! Oe! What’s that for!?"

"Uh? You wanna get me pregnant?"

"Stop speaking like such a pathetic fag!" Tetsu groaned.

"OK. I just knew you would be mad if you saw it... hehehe... you are so predictable!" Hyde said and tried to push the box inside a drawer. It was stuck. He tried a second drawer... too full. He finally squeezed it among other clothes, and taking care that Tetsu wouldn’t see him, he hid a tube of lubricant inside his bag.

"Uh... my CD’s... CD player... uh... cigarettes... lighter... medicine... vitamins... uh..." Hyde was re-going his list aloud. "Sketch book, pencils... uh...uh... toothpaste... toothbrush... handkerchiefs..."

Tetsu was amused to watch Hyde pack.

"You put so much energy into it, ne Haido..."

"Uh? Hai!"

"Keys... wallet..." Tetsu suggested.

"Hai, hai... wallet... keys. I seem to always forget my keys, ne?"

Finally, after Hyde finished packing, the bag was incredibly heavy and stuffed to the limit.

"We’ll get a cab." Tetsu pointed out.

"Oh, you didn’t come in your car? Then, we’ll use mine."

"Nah. You drive too slow."

"No, I don’t." Hyde commented while putting on one of his furry coats and scarf.

"I’ll be the driver." Tetsu grabbed the car keys from Hyde’s hands.

"OK. Anything for MY Tet-chan."

"Your momma would be so happy..."

"Cuz I’m a good boy, right?"

"Yeah. Only you look like a good GIRL..."

"Huh?"

"Didn’t you once say your mother wanted a girl?"

"Oh, that... yeah... yeah, she’d be pleased..." Hyde answered casually.

"I thought it bothered you."

"It does."

"You don’t seem upset, ne, Doiha-chan"

"Yeah, I’ll deal with your bitter comments later, let’s go now." Hyde headed for the door. Turned off the lights and signaled towards Tetsu to follow him.

"What exactly do you mean, Doiha-chan?" Tetsu protested.

"Uh... you gotta make yourself responsible for your own words, Tet-chan..." Hyde answered casually as he closed the door behind them and locked it.

Both men walked along the corridor towards the elevator.

"No, no... you just tell me what you meant!"

"I don’t know yet! I’ll think of it, and come up with something wicked..." Hyde said while struggling with his bag and pushing the elevator down button.

"I’ll kick you out of my house if you do anything wicked... or hentai!"

"Hehehe... No, you won’t..." Hyde laughed sheepishly. The metallic doors opened with a soft swoosh and both men entered.

"I will!" Tetsu protested.

"You’ll beg for more..." Hyde kept grinning as the doors closed back.

"You are such a hentai!!" Tetsu followed Hyde out of the elevator and into the parking lot.

"No, I’m not, Tet-chan. You are asking for it. I just cater for you."

"Hentai!"

Hyde smiled, snatched the car keys from Tetsu, de-activated the alarm, and unlocked the car, then threw the keys back to Tetsu who caught them in mid air. They both got into the car.

"Let’s go, Tet-chan!" Hyde prompted as he arranged his bag on the back seat. "What are you waiting for?"

"Security belt."

"Aww! Right!" Hyde snapped annoyed. "Why are you such a security freak?"

"I’m not a security freak, that’s the right thing to do!"

"And you always do the right thing, ne?"

"Yeah."

"Sure?" Hyde smirked maliciously at Tetsu, bringing his face close to the bassist’s.

"Uh... at least I try."

"And I make you fail... ne?"

"Yeah." Tetsu started the engine.

"Ha ha ha! That’s fine by me."

"You are such a devil..." Tetsu engaged first gear.

"Oh, yeah..."

"I’ll exorcise you..." He drove outside the parking lot.

"Oh, good, I’m looking forward to it!" Hyde said in a deep voice, smiling maliciously at him.

His overly beautiful smile did a great job at hiding his true feelings. Hyde was devastated. He had lost the love of his life, the man who had rocked his world so hard, the only one whom he was ever able to say "I love you" to, only not at the right time. He was used to getting his whim all the time. To being pleased always. Sakura was the only one who had put him into place. He would spoil him like everyone else, but also stop him. Sakura had controlled him like a toy. And he had controlled Sakura. But Sakura had left. He had left him forever. His empty promises of watching over him meant nothing to Hyde.

And on the other hand... Tetsu. He couldn’t decide yet, if Tetsu was acting or not. But one thing he knew for sure: Tetsu made him feel protected, cared for, liked. He let Hyde have the upper hand, except in band matters, of course. Tetsu was loving and caring, he worried about Hyde more than anyone did. But Hyde knew he didn’t love Tetsu... not like he had loved Sakura. Tetsu was his friend. Why was he doing this to Tetsu? Out of loneliness? Revenge for caring about the band more than about him? Was he so afraid to be alone that he had to drag Tetsu into a relationship that was meant to be with someone else?

An inner voice accused Hyde of being selfish... but Hyde had long stopped paying attention to his inner voice. He only wondered what Tetsu could be thinking about. He was not stupid, he wouldn’t believe Hyde could forget Sakura so fast... Why was he going for this...? Was it really for the band?

Tetsu drove without saying a word, regoing everything that had happened that day inside his head. He knew Hyde did not love him. He knew Hyde was only scared to be lonely, and he couldn’t believe Hyde could stoop so low to engage himself in a relationship with someone just out of fear to be lonely. Yet, he had set up his mind, to teach Hyde a lesson... a lesson of a lifetime... He would teach him what it meant to love someone; he would teach him to deserve love. He would slowly earn Hyde’s love.

Tetsu smiled at Hyde as he drove into the parking lot under the building where he lived. He pulled up, stopped the car engine, and gathered his stuff humming.

"Ne... Tet-chan... You look happy..." Hyde smiled. "...You are happy cuz you have me... I know!"

"Huh? No, actually I’m happy because you will cook. I’m starving."

"Oh?" Hyde was surprised. "I didn’t say I would. All I seem to do lately is cook!"

"Oh... but you will, ‘honey’, since you said you would take care of me..." Tetsu grinned one lovely grin at Hyde.

Hyde smiled back and unfastened the seat belt, then he turned to grab his bag. "OK, Tet-chan. Anything for my Tet-chan..." A sudden pull took the bag out of his hands. Tetsu, standing outside the car, had it. Hyde looked at him from the passenger’s seat.

"Ohhhh!! What a gentleman!" Hyde joked.

"Come on, hurry. I’ve stuff to do Haido, don’t be silly."

"Tet-chan..." Hyde got out of the car, and walked around it to be beside Tetsu, who was locking the doors. "... I love you Tet-chan..."

"What’s with you saying ‘I love you’ all the time? I thought you couldn’t gather yourself to say that."

"I can now. It’s easy with you."

"Anou... sou ka... Ya... Go, go, go! Move it."

"Why the hurry? You wanna pin me down to your bed this time? Hehehe..."

"No, Haido... I’ve to call someone."

"Girl or boy?"

"That’s not important Haido." They were standing in front of the elevator door, waiting for it to open.

"It is important to me!"

"It’s none of your business, Haido!"

"If you are gonna call other boyfriends or girlfriends it IS my business!!" Hyde bellowed furious, and Tetsu hit him lightly on the back of his head.

"Urusai! Baka!" Tetsu admonished him.

They got into the elevator without saying a word. Hyde was stubbornly looking at the elevator walls, his arms crossed over his chest.

Finally, after walking along the hallway, they went into Tetsu’s apartment.

"Ah... looks like I’ve been here only yesterday..." Hyde muffled a laughter.

"You’ve been here just yesterday, dummy..."

Hyde laughed, he knew Tetsu would say something like that.

"I’ve forgotten everything about yesterday, Tet-chan..." He smiled at Tetsu, lying.

"Uhm... that’s bad... You should remember the events of your life, in order to learn from your past errors..." Tetsu replied and leaving Hyde’s bag on a chair, he walked over to his studio. Noticing that Hyde followed him, he locked the door behind him, leaving Hyde outside.

"Ne... Tet-chan! Let me in! I’ll be good! Let me in!"

"Haido... go to the kitchen... and cook something for us, please? I’m starving..."

"No... please... I wanna listen!"

"You won’t. Just go to the kitchen!"

"No! No! NO!" Hyde banged on the door, until it was opened suddenly. Hyde stepped back shocked at the sight of an angry Tetsu glaring at him.

"I... I’m going... to... the kitchen... uh... what... do you... wanna... eat... Tet-chan...? Hehehe..." Hyde stepped back again.

"I told you not to put up scenes!"

"W-w-won’t happen again...T-T-Tet-chan..." Hyde was still walking backwards.

Tetsu closed the door slamming it hard, and locked it. He walked a few steps and heard a faint knock behind his back, on the studio door. He was fuming. He opened it furiously and he found there was nobody standing there. Then he looked down and saw Hyde crouching on the floor looking up at him.

"I thought you would hit me, Tet-chan..."

"I might!"

"I only want to know... where is Blue-chan?"

"At Ken’s place."

"Can I call Ken and ask him about my cat?"

"No, because I’m gonna use the phone."

"Can I use your cell phone?"

"Ne... Use yours!"

"I didn’t bring it along!" Hyde protested.

"OK, use my cell phone... and just stay away from the studio." Tetsu closed the door again.

It was important that Hyde didn’t hear the conversation he was about to have with Yukihiro... the drummer that was going to replace Sakura. Tetsu was certain that Hyde would break down and cry if he did.