First time writing for the Vocaloid fandom (don't shoot, I'm bulletproof. Though, constructive criticism is always welcomed! Help a newbie? x)). Gakupo's my favorite and I've always found Gackt's claims to see ghosts… interesting. So that kinda gave birth to this.


Disclaim: all the Vocaloids featured in this fic belong to their respective owners/makers. I only borrow their awesomeness.


"Instinctively people fear any possible irregularity, anything that sets one person apart from another in a way so apparently drastic that individual A no longer views individual B as a fellow human being with equal rights and duties but a mere divergence within humanity's complicated data system; like some sort of virus which ought to be eradicated or better yet twisted and remodeled into an obedient subordinate bound to oblige to the higher-ups' commands."

It's only natural, those moving the chess pieces say. Ranking, judging, ruling so as not to be ruled it was all programmed into peoples' mentalities. The merciless chase after ultimate dominance fed by stereotypes and oppressing insecurities; it's either crush or be crushed, such a jungle-like law.

Whether breaking down sophisticated war schemes set by modern world's rulers to subtly alter billions of citizens' lives without the poor pawns ever noticing the invisible strings leading them on into their miserable monochromic lives, or merely dealing with a local small town high school bully beating to a pulp some unlucky freak who couldn't fit popularity's criteria, elites were sure to rise and grasp leadership upon the least fit.

It was necessary, for people were both terrified from and drawn to utter chaos, the abolishment of all codes that would easily turn the world as now knowen into a living hell, progressively chewing it apart and down to unholy pits.

Lawless communities were noting more than mad, baboonish, savages and, even then, when the public were left to follow their free whims, the ranking procedure would still go on, morphing into a crueler, only-the-strong-left-standing, survival system. For those reasons and numerous others, leaders were essential.

A capable charismatic few could attract the lost masses in a similar fashion to how moths linger, fluttering toward deadly fires. They had the power, but most of all, the responsibility to ascertain the appropriate grounds for a suitable "reality" where the unbreakable circle of ruling and being ruled would sustain a stable pace, thus reinforcing the world's basic laws that not only maintain mankind's fragile balance but also define the rather metaphoric line which separates the concrete possible from the make-believe impossible.

This was it. Social intricacies, laws, everyday struggles, the unsure cadence carrying the boring slideshow-like routine that conserved earthly peace in all its dreadful fragility. Theoretically, It would've all been…convenient. Not quite perfect but anyone who claimed even a tad bit of wisdom would know that perfection was merely an inaccessible fabrication, life was never perfect. However, convenience had always been slightly more flexible; if only the theory hadn't been so flat.

Some had arose, those left to rot from the inside out. Code-breakers, normal people going out of the paths they had been born to follow. A small lie, a gruesome crime, eccentric hearts, bad apples, freedom chasers, everyone on their different scales poked the fair daylight façade endorsing the convenient world formed to serve humanity's best interests. For money, status, friendship, love, science, vengeance, selfishness and whatever else there was for them to purchase, those who hadn't been able to successfully blend in found their greatest quest in going against the common flow.

As if their angry ungratified and usually desperate gestures could change destiny or even the cored nature that united all living beings. It didn't and never will. Rebels were a predictable outcome to any organism. A riot could either fail or succeed, in the later case it would only result in building new governments, legislating new laws only for the play to eventually start all over again.

Revolt was normal and in no way frizzed reality's given theory. Those who did prove it to be vain were the ones standing on the edge which separated materiality from a concomitant hidden universe. They were the ones whose mere existence made the impossible quite simply possible.


"You shouldn't have been born; you should've never seen the light! You're a cursed child just like my mother before you… you'll only bring misery to my son's family, why not die and join your imaginary friends? Something as ugly as you isn't worth the oxygen you breathe…"

Breathe…breathe…"Come on Gakupo, breathe!"

Blue eyes, clearer than the purest topaz gemstones, shot open to meet darker, worried, ones. The child, Gakupo, looked about six years old- six and a half, he would argue. Straitening himself, his tiny fists clutched desperately to his chest, crumpling his eggplants-patterned Pyjs' half-buttoned top. His heart jumped to a critical beat, as if ready to blow out of his ribcage at any given moment. Lucent droplets slid down his puffy cheeks. All he could see was blood. All he could hear were his grandfather's harsh words, "You shouldn't have been born! You should've never seen the light!"

He was drowning in tick sticky crimson liquid, feeling it submerge his senses; tickle his taste buds with its sickening copper tang, he wanted to throw up. His lungs heaved; so much hatred, it was suffocating.

A weight dropped to his side; young yet strong arms wrapping around his shaking frame.

"Hey, it's okay. Don't cry otoutou. I'm here, you're safe".

Nodding dumbly, he buried his face into his brother's chest, silently sobbing an odd mixture of frustration, fear and pain out while a small hand repeatedly made its way up and down his back generating a much needed comforting heat. His muscles loosened, shoulders slumping as the sobs escaping his lips finally came to a halt. It's safe. He was home with a brother who'd protect him from those bad guys in his mind. There was nothing to be afraid of, his oniichan was a brave and powerful samurai after all; he wouldn't let him drawn.

After a moment he attempted to pull away, suddenly very self-conscious of the snot and tears drenching the other boy's expensive nightwear, only for caring arms to tighten their hold around his thin body binding him into the soothing embrace; though he couldn't complain.

"It was another one of those nightmares, right?" the question's tone was pained, slightly frustrated. This situation had only happened so many times.

Nodding once more, he tiled his head upward trying his best to see beyond the smooth lavender bangs blurring his vision. Long silky tresses a shade lighter than his, darker blue eyes which lacked his owns' unnatural soft glow, it was all there yet his brother's usually disdainful I-don't-need-anybody expression was twisted with concern, pearly teethes biting on his lower lip as the one year older Kamui cursed his inability to rescue his only sibling from those night terrors plumbing his sleep.

" K-Kagura-nii… I-I…" Kagura forced a smile to grace his lips, trying at all coasts to cheer his little brother up after such a start; though smiling had never been a hobby of his; especially not after waking up to his otoutou nearly choking less than a meter away from him…again.

"I…wet the bed." Gakupo gulped a lump in his throat, head lowered in utter shame. His mother had said he was a big boy, big boys weren't supposed to wet their beds. That kind of 'accidents' was for babies only. No wonder he was such a lousy samurai whenever he and Kagura played duel, not that he ever dreamed of beating his aniki. That would be like wishing to finger the far glittering stars. Really, the kids in their neighborhood were right; he was such a stupid goofy girly-looking weirdo.

He sniffled threatening to burst into a renewed fit of tears when Kagura playfully ruffled his soft purple bangs, gaining his full attention back.

"We'll just have to share mine for the rest of the night then." smiling kindly he hopped out of his younger sibling's wet sheets, skipping toward their over-sized collective wardrobe; disappearing inside it only to reappear with a fresh clean set of pajamas which he casually tossed beside the still sniffing Gakupo. "Get changed and don't cry anymore, K? You look like a big snotty humanized eggplant; it's creepy." he laughed lightly at his interlocutor's pout.

"I can't believe you called eggplants creepy," the darker-purple-haired toddler sulked bringing his knees underneath his chin. How could his big brother insult their favorite food out of everything else? Eggplants weren't creepy, they were a delicacy! Much better of a treat to the palate than all those sophisticated dishes the Kamui's private chef purred his heart and soul into making anyway.

"I didn't call eggplants creepy, I called you creepy! Learn to take a joke otouto!" Kagura burst pointing an accusing finger toward the now panicking Gakupo. "shhh, you'll wake everybody up!"

Rolling his eyes at the pleading whisper, Kagura sighed feeling his annoyance gradually bubble up. It wasn't like their parents -or anyone at that- could actually hear them. Even if it was a little past three in the morning, no one would hear. Their rather spacious room was to the furthest of the ancestral estate's east wing; as far as possible from their grandfather's personal quarters.

Being a deeply traditional Japanese family, the Kamuis were very much attached to their conventional life-style and had genuine pride in their infamous samurai lineage. This was especially accurate concerning the family's head, Mr. Tamayashi Kamui, the boys' stoic never-satisfied parental grandfather who commanded respect both within and outside their household. He was by far one of the most brilliant names of Japan's high society and was even a dear friend of the emperor. All around his name echoed, a dignified man who saved his family from bankruptcy by creating one of the world's biggest and wealthiest technological development corporations which was somewhat ironic considering he barely allowed any modern device anywhere within his stuck-in-time realm.

At that fact, it was no unordinary occurrence for people strolling by the Kamuis' residence to pause their schedules only to stare in awe at the huge intimidating structure. The usually-opened main gate reached high into the sky and appeared to belong to some ancient shrine rather than a mansion in the middle of Tokyo. Behind it koi ponds, verandas, multiple different-sized buildings linked as if to form an impenetrable maze and magnificent cherry trees painted a breathtaking panorama morphing with each passing season. It would've looked abandoned, a ghost town from a dead era, if it weren't for the young longhaired men regularly practicing their swordsmanship like true warriors guarding the habitants, prying any curious eyes who'd try to roam a bit too far into their masters' privacy. The public had never met any member of the Kamui family; they were barely even spotted on TV.

Kagura sighed; just like his father he hated this damn golden prison. However, he despised his grandfather the most. He was cruel to Gakupo and treated him like trash whilst pampering his older grandson like some kind of royalty. It made him feel guilty. No matter how disobedient he was or how rude he'd get, he would still get a pat on the head when Gakupo was yelled at and verbally abused for no reason. It was neither fair nor logical. He was the trouble-maker, the rebel while his otoutou was so heartbreakingly polite, following the rules to the letter, never complaining… not even when he was exiled to the east wing. So why, just why did his cute goofy little brother had to suffer being tossed around like this?

Of course, the answer was simple. Gakupo wasn't normal; normal people couldn't see the dead or re-experience others' final moments throughout visions and dreams. His brother's existence was an irregularity.

Why was Gakupo different? Why did it even matter? He had no idea. Nevertheless, he wasn't about to leave him alone. Not now, not in a million years. Whether exiled in a deserted part of their lonesome home or to the end of the earth, he'd stick beside him, forever. As a good big brother that was his greatest duty, to stand up for his baby bro.

" Kagura-nii…Kagura-nii, anyone in there?~"

Blinking at the hand waving in front of him, his cheeks flushed; spacing out was his brother's thing not his. "Y-Yeah…"

Gakupo beamed, all changed into neat wears. "I'm done, let's sleep; It's already hours past our curfew, you know?"

How could he not?

Without further words spoken Kagura plumped under his bed's warm covers patting the spot next to him for Gakupo to join which he did a bit too enthusiastically, only sparing a single last frown down his stained mattresses.

The boys lay on their sides silently staring into each other's eyes as they began to doze back into dreamland. Gakupo yawned, eyelashes fluttering as if to resist slumber's irresistible call. It wasn't that he feared going back to sleep, he knew no atrocious sights would ruin what was left of his night as long as Kagura was at his side. His oniisan's presence seemed to instantly appease the voices reaching out, groaning in agony as they cramped his consciousness. It was the reason why Kagura joined him into his exile though he didn't have to and for that, he was extremely grateful. Some of the voices were nice, they wanted him to sing goodbye songs for them but he couldn't imagine being left alone with them twenty-four seven.

Still, he was kind of anxious; a question –that would most likely irritate his brother- burned the tip of his tongue. "Oniichan?"

Shoving his face into the soft pillow the seven years old grunted a muffled "what?" desperate to finally rest. At times, Gakupo's inquiring nature really got to his nerves; three forty-five am was one of those peculiar moments.

"Do you think what grandpa said was true? I mean if the kids at our school knew about what I am then they'd hate me a lot more, right?"

Gakupo bit the inside of his cheeks both eager and afraid of the answer coming ahead. His classmates -particularly Shion Kaito and his crew- in the prestigious private school his father assured would be a good place to make some friends, didn't like him that much. They'd pull his ponytail, call him names, steel his cloths during swim class then snicker asking him to come out naked so as to make sure he was a boy and not in fact a girl. They enjoyed humiliating him when Kagura wasn't around since none had the guts to bully him whilst their cool senpai was watching. Kagura was a born leader, popular and charismatic, being related to him was Gakupo's biggest pride. It was even more awesome than having samurai blood pumping through his veins.

Not bothering to glance up, the before mentioned leader brought the warm sheets over his shoulders tiered as if he'd been running a marathon. "Don't listen to the old frog, K?"

"Don't call grandpa a frog; He's family!"

"Whatever, and don't bother with those stuck up brats; I won't allow any of them to bully you any longer, I swear on bushi honor." To think he only took interest in samurai culture to impress his bushi-obsessed otoutou, since when did he start swearing on their honor? That sounded like something their grandfather would say if he ever went woozy and all his teeth fell out.

Good God... that's what my nightmares will be made of. He shuddered at the unappealing mental image, praying it wouldn't keep him from rejoicing his nap. "Can we sleep now?"

"Yeah, thank you aniki."

Gakupo allowed his eyelids to slowly skim close, shyly taking Kagura's hand into his own. It wasn't being bullied he feared. A lot of children were bullied and the majority of his visitors had been put through much worst during their lifetime. Bullying was unfortunately 'natural'. What haunted him was the thought that He didn't know what to expect if his bullies ever realized he wasn't.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips; he felt so warm. As long as his big brother was with him he could really care less what everyone else thought of him.

"Good night."

Life was beautiful.


Eleven and a half years later_/Tokyo international airport_/15:56 PM/.


Ringtones blaring randomly among the ant-like gushing to and fro crowds, children screaming atop their lungs demanding their parents' attention while the miserable adults had nervous breakdowns trying to deal with the exhausting paperwork procedures, attendants roaming around the organized chaos, speakers booming announcing the next flight to take off or plane to touch land, alleys and numbers; relatives, friends and lovers happily reuniting, hugging and kissing along with all those little sounds that wouldn't usually stand out but when added to the mess could compete a good old Chinese water torture session.

A busy airport was definitely hell. Or at least, so thought Lily as she checked her golden wrist-watch for what felt like the hundredth time in the past two hours.

Her fists balled regaining the sides of her hips, an annoyed expression plastered on her pretty visage. She flicked her long gold-colored locks over her left shoulder briefly straightening her clothes, making sure her abundant accessories were all in place. "It's already been two hours; does this guy plan on showing up or what? I have better things to do than waiting here for him all day."

"Better than meeting a cousin you haven't seen in nearly six years?" curiously inquired the green-haired emerald-eyed girl standing cheerfully at her right looking stunning in her plain orange summer-dress which happened to end just above her scratched knees. Gumi had managed to stumble on a piece of luggage -which, as she insisted, had appeared out of the blue- and injure herself after less than a minute within the airport's grounds.

Lily smirked winking at her cousin and friend. "Yup, I'm a busy person Gumi-chan'".

The couple of them had been sent to welcome their cousin, Kamui Gakupo, home after he'd been living abroad for several years. Well, Lily was asked –more like forced- to go. As for Gumi, she instinctively volunteered to tag along; far too excited to stay foot while her tsundare cousin got all the fun.

Lily was glad for her presence, though. Kamui had always been bizarre and she –like many kids back then- used to enjoy teasing and pulling pranks on him when they were younger. Not that she was proud of it. Anyway, point is, Gumi welcoming him might be… preferable. She had always been closer to the Kamui siblings and could as well be considered his baby sister; not a mean girl who'd scare the living daylight out of him.

Now that she remembered, he was quite the scaredy-cat. Abruptly crying or screaming at nothing as if he was frightened of his own shadow. Was he still the same?

"Aren't you excited to see how he looks like?" she shook her head "No" but that wasn't wholly truthful. The boy used to have an incredibly beautiful face, more beautiful than any of the girls around him. It was –as cliché as it may sound- angelic and awfully androgynous which continued to polish his reputation as a suitable target. The sole person who stood against him turning into a public punching-bag was Kagura; at least until it happened.

Gumi tilted her head downward exhaling softly, brows furrowing in uncharacteristic seriousness. "You think he got over it?"

The blonde flicked her eyes shot scratching her neck in perceptible contemplation. "The kidnapping, Kagura's murder, his mother's suicide, everything… I don't know; didn't the rumors say he went completely crazy or something?"

"Never mind, we'll soon find out. If he ever does show up…"

As if on cue a harmonious voice called out above the moving swarm of travelers going about. "Gakupo! Here, I found them!"

Seconds later a blond strikingly handsome crimson-eyed guy ran toward the dumbstruck pair, stroller case in hand. He stopped before the two flashing a warm friendly grin -that Lily was sure could probably give any girl a lethal heart-attack. Well, any girl except herself and Gumi since neither of them was having a seizure at the moment - then courteously planted a kiss atop each of their left hands.

"I'm Yohioloid, your cousin's best friend. Can't wait to get to know you girls." he winked at their flustered faces then spun around waving his arms around in all directions. The guy sure attracted a lot of attention; Lily pointlessly noted finding it hard to utter a word.

"Oi, Gakupo! Come on, I'm ageing here man!"

Even when yelling his voice remained voluptuous, fascinating.

"Could you be a bit quieter?" a deep alluring voice mumbled sounding utterly bored by his companion's bright demeanor. "My head's killing me."

Lily's eyes widened to the size of extra-large dinner plates forgetting the handsome foreigner to focus on the perfectly built, remarkably tall young man leisurely walking up to the trio. His smooth silky lavender hair was held in a high pony-tail swinging at his steps' tempo just above knee level. His eyes were a glowing topaz, almost translucent, dead. He gave her the chills, and not in a positive way.

'Impossible!' her mind screamed.

His lips curved upward at the sight of them. "Long time no see."

"Ga-Gakupo?" the blonde was starting to doubt her own vision.

"Oniisan!"

The next thing they knew, Gumi tackled the boy into a bear hug knocking the air out of him, attracting random passerbyers intrigued gazes upon the four teens; although she didn't seem too bothered by it.

Lily massaged her temples managing to get over her initial shock whilst Yohiloid chuckled at his buddy's slightly flushing face.

The cursed child was back.


Reviews would be greatly appreciated since I'm not sure where this is heading exactly but I never get any so…yeah, I'll be taking my leave.