A/N: An interesting chapter, I think. Finally, we get to know more about Gakupo :)


Chapter Eleven – Gakupo's Past

He was sitting in the kitchen late that night, just staring out the large window and into the darkness of the garden. His violet hair was draped messily over one shoulder and looked a little wet from the shower he had a while ago. His dressing gown was falling off the other shoulder, and revealed more of his chest that what people would consider acceptable, but it was clear he didn't really care much about it.

For a moment, Kaito wondered what was on Gakupo's mind. Of course, it would have been rude of him to ask, but still, he couldn't help but wonder,

Gakupo must have noticed his presence and turned to face him, but his dim face barely recognized Kaito. After a moment, however, he sighed and spoke out. "What are you doing up?"

"I couldn't sleep so I came to get a drink of water and noticed the faint light in the kitchen," Kaito replied, referring to the candle burning in the middle of the table. "Is something bothering you?"

"No, I was just thinking," Gakupo replied before turning his eyes back to the window. "Have the girls told you anything…?"

"Tell me what…?"

"About whom I am and who I was before I escaped?"

"They said it was better you explain to me, rather than have them tell the story."

"How kind of them," Gakupo said with a sigh before standing up. He took the candle off the table and moved into the small living room. Kaito assumed he was meant to follow and trailed after him. Gakupo placed the candle on the small coffee table and sat in his designated arm chair. Sitting across him, he watched the others face vigilantly. It was the first time he ever seen Gakupo look at the flames of the candle so intensely. "Where I come from, Genacea, they refer to me as the Queen Killer. It was a name that caught on and became a known name in the Slave Trading halls."

"The Queen Killer… but, why were you called that?"

"Because I killed the Queen I served, who was also the Queen of Genacea," Gakupo was now staring at Kaito intensely. It was a heavy look, one that made Kaito weak all over. "I was never meant to hurt her, however."

"What do you mean?"

"I'd be lying if I said my Queen wasn't a nice woman. In fact, I never had any issues with her. It was her daughter I detested. Where as the Queen treated everyone alike – no matter if they were servant, slave, working class or noble – her daughter treated those who were lower than her as scum. No one dare say anything to her just in case the Queen did something. Though she was all about equal treatment, it wasn't beyond her to punish anyone for any reason. I was supposed to serve the Queen more than her daughter, but it didn't prevent the Princess from trying to have her way.

"In all honesty, I've come to realise that the Princess was actually in love with me," Gakupo laughed bitterly and shook his head. "In love with a slave, impossible to believe but it's the truth. Of course, I was blind to this because of the foul treatment I received from her. I would never have realised it if I hadn't been with these girls, who kept telling me what the Princess may have been thinking. Anyways, something broke in me the night I got this name."

"Something… broke? What do you mean by that?"

"I don't know, a mental link in my head, maybe a switch that changed me completely. I was with my Queen at the time, you know, doing what pleasure slaves are used for when… when I killed her."

"You murdered her while you two were having… um…"

"Yes," Gakupo said quickly, not wanting the word spoken out. "All I saw was red and then it was over… I was in such a haze, a bloody haze at that which lead me from the Queen's room to the Princess's, who was in the bathroom. I don't remember things clearly, but I tried drowning her in the bathroom when everything went back to normal and I ran away. No one gave chase, the Princess ordered the Queens men not to follow me, and before I knew it, my name was no longer on the records. I didn't understand, but by then, I was already here in Bythatus. I'd crossed the ocean to escape everything and by the time everything began making sense, I was here… and I was no longer on records. It was as If I was never a slave. A part of me wanted to go back, to question why the Princess would do that… but I'm too afraid to do so."

"Because what you did to the Queen."

Gakupo nodded and closed his eyes. "Actually, there was a bit of a struggle before the Princess called off her men. By then, half the castle was on fire."

That explained Gakupo's severe dislike to fire. It related back to that day. "Is the Princess… alive?"

"Yeah, she survived, but the Queen didn't. That was when I got this damned name. It was suppressed to prevent an uprising with the slaves in captivity, but everyone who takes on a slave is aware that there is a dangerous man who was once a slave on the loose. The name is murmured, but only around the prestigious."

Kaito sat there for a moment, watching Gakupo who leaned back in the chair. He most likely wasn't a dangerous man, but his people were known for their violent out bursts every now and then. It was why many people steered clear, but in all honestly, the Gakupo he'd come to know this past few months was not the kind of person to get angry… unless someone he loved was hurt.

He'd seen it, in the square when Miku was approached by those men who were determined to kidnap her and force her back into the slave trades. If Gakupo hadn't heard her scream, hadn't been anywhere nearby, then he would never have known. However, both of them had been there, and that was when Gakupo lost his mind, drew a knife and slashed one of the men and broke the arm of another. This was probably what Gakupo meant when he just lost it. He didn't even remember attacking anyone yet Miku and Kaito saw the attack, saw how wild he'd gone, how dangerous he was. The minute those men left, Gakupo stood there unsure of what he'd done until Kaito had rushed to Miku's aid.

Honestly, Kaito never had been so scared in his life, but now that he watched Gakupo's face, watched the way his eyes seemed clouded, he realised why. No one expect the friend to be the foe.

They were silent before Gakupo spoke again. "Is… is Miku alright?"

"Yeah, I took her to Gumi-sensei. She said it was shock that made her faint, and the wound wasn't deep."

"That's good…"

Kaito gave it a moment to sink before he decided to ask a question. "You hurt Miku in the past, haven't you?" Gakupo only nodded. "What… what happened?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but one minute I was in bed sleeping, the next I had Miku pinned against the wall. I don't remember what happened, and Miku later told me I did nothing, but I just can't remember what made me lose it. I got angry with myself afterwards because she ran away and I destroyed my room… but once again, that's only because Miku told me. I don't remember any of this at all."

"Is it… nor to forget these things?"

"My people are very violent from time to time, but we normally do remember yet…"

"Yet you remember nothing."

"Well… I do remember things that worry me, but they're hard to make out or organize." He stared at his hands for a moment. "I remember hearing a bone snap," he suddenly said, looking at Kaito. "I don't know why, but I remember hearing a bone snap when I went blood thirsty this morning. I just keep hearing this sickening crack in my head, but…"

"You broke the guards arm," Kaito replied cautiously. "The one who had Miku. You came up behind him, grabbed his arm and… well, I'm not sure how you did it, but you did break his arm."

"How much did you see?"

"Bits and pieces," Kaito shrugged.

"And… and do you know why I was holding the bloody knife?"

Unfortunately, Kaito couldn't tell him. "Gumi assured me it wasn't you who stabbed Miku. She doesn't think you'd hurt her."

That didn't make either of them feel better. They sat there for a long moment before Kaito realised Gakupo had buried his face in his hands, trying to take deep breaths. "I-I can't shake it, Kaito. What if… what if I did stab her? I'd never forgive myself if I did."

"I don't think you would do that."

"Kaito, I killed my Queen, a woman I respected. I could have…"

Shifting from his seat, he came towards Gakupo, crouching in front of him. "You didn't stab her, Gakupo." He tried to sound firm, but even he wasn't convinced. When Gakupo didn't reply, Kaito stood up and took him by the shoulders. "Come with me," he said calmly before walking away.

"Where are we going?"

"We're going for a walk in the backyard."


Coolness of the air made Kaito shiver as he wandered down the garden path, Gakupo following slowly behind him. Somehow, the gardens felt unreasonably welcoming despite its strange eeriness. He sat down by the pond, though Gakupo remained standing. They didn't speak, but listened to the small walk feature at the edge of the pond, which felt like the only sound. In the darkness, it was hard to make out the fish, but sometimes he saw the water ripple, knowing it was caused by a fish who'd swam too close to the top.

Kaito finally dared himself enough to look back at Gakupo, who was watching him closely. "I don't know why, but somehow, you've calmed down."

"This gardens a very special place to me," Gakupo replied softly.

"Because Miku did the garden?"

"Well… not quite."

Kaito looked interested, Gakupo felt worried.

"You see, when I first rescued Miku from enslavement, she stayed with Kiyoteru. Because he lived in a more secluded area, it kept her in the shadows while I worked on getting her names off the book. After a while, Miku fell into depression and Kiyoteru decided to buy her a pot plant to have in her room. He quickly realised her delight to this and informed me. I'd just recently finished fixing this place up on the inside when Kiyoteru told me this and I decided to work on the garden. I only did so much in here, like the fish pond, which I dug it out with only a small shovel at first. I made the beds up, grew the grass again around it and such. Once Miku came here to stay, she did the rest. She didn't plant everything since I helped her out. I guess it's what brought us together in the end."

"How did she react to the garden?"

"How do you think?"

"She cried."

"Yes, cried for hours. It scared me, but Kiyoteru told me it was just a natural way women expressed deep gratitude. I just trusted his judgement."

"What about the other girls?"

"Well, Luka was hard to deal with, but she likes dress making, so one of the spare rooms was convert into a room where she could make dresses. Miku and I repainted the room and laid new carpet. Miku made the arrangements on paper and I moved everything into position. We worked out quickly Meiko liked cooking so we re-did the kitchen with Kiyoteru's help. In the end, I think it welcomed the girls enough to make them want to stay here."

"You gave them a gift, Gakupo, a gift that meant something to them, and allowed them in. It's something that will stay with them for the rest of their life."

Gakupo smiled for the first time that night. "I guess I did."

They stayed in the garden for a few moments longer before Kaito decided it was time to head in. "Let's go back. I think a good night's sleep is in order. It'll at least help you clear your mind before you sort things out tomorrow morning."

Suddenly, Gakupo became uneasy.

Taking a slow breath, Kaito held his hand out to him. "Do you…" he began but felt a little unsure if he should continue. However, since Gakupo was watching him with a curious look, Kaito felt he needed to continue. "Do you want to stay with me tonight?"

Gakupo gave it a long thought. "The girls might take it in the wrong manner."

Kaito just rolled his eyes. "I'm just offering. You don't have to-"

"…Please…" Gakupo's voice was very quiet that Kaito barely heard it.

"Alright then, let's get inside before our balls shrivel up."

It was probably the first time that night Gakupo had laughed as well.


Next chapter will probably hint more at Kaito's past, but I plan to keep that a secret for as long as I can.