Heaven Only Knows
By:
Italicized words indicate thoughts.
//Blah// indicates flashback sequences.
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[Chapter Three: When I talk to You]
"Sakuya-san?" Aine said, timidly. The man in front of her stopped and turned around to face her.
"What is it?"
"It's nothing really just… Rui-san said breakfast is ready so…"
"Tell him I don't feel like eating." Sakuya turned around again to resume his interrupted stroll down the hall. Aine immediately rushed after him.
"Are you sick?"
"No."
"Ne, Sakuya-san… if something is troubling you, you can talk to me. I might not be a lot of help but…"
"Aa." Aine stopped in her tracks and allowed Sakuya to continue his way outside the hotel.
+++++
When did I become a love doctor and how come I didn't know about it? Miki let out a mental groan at the position she found herself in. It's not like I mind but really…
"What?" Miki blinked as she snapped out of her thoughts, realizing that Sakuya had started talking. "I'm sorry…"
"Iie," Sakuya shook his head. "I should be the one to say that. I shouldn't have bothered you so much with my problems…"
"No, no, it's fine. Really. I feel honored you'd come to me for help. But…why DID you come to me? I don't mean to eavesdrop but I was passing by when I heard Aine-san telling you that you can talk to her if something's troubling you. So…"
"Why didn't I go to her instead? I don't know. I just don't think she's the right person to talk to."
"And I am?" Sakuya nodded. "Well then, how can I help you out today?"
"For some reason…" Sakuya turned towards the ocean. "When I talk to you, I felt the same way I did when I talk to Aine that night…"
"Excuse me?" Miki blinked.
"Like I have no idea why I'm telling you all this either."
"I see…" A pause then, "Something's been on my mind the past day. Why does Aine-san still uses the -san suffix for you?"
"Nani?" Sakuya blinked at her. "I guess she has been using it a lot. I don't know why though."
"Aa…" Miki made a mental note to herself to ask Aine later. "Perhaps this question would be too personal but…"
"What is it?"
"You mentioned a person that you like last night. May I ask who this person is?" Sakuya considered the option of answering for a moment. He felt as though he COULD tell this girl who he has a soft spot for, even though the reason for feeling so is a big vague.
Finally, he opened his mouth to speak the name[1].
+++++
"Why is the bridge up?" Santa asked, as the small group peered outside the main entrance to the hotel.
"Well, there's a jet over there…" Yuki pointed. "Maybe someone is coming."
"But who?" Atsuro asked.
"What are you all standing here for?" came Miki's voice from behind them.
"The bridge is up and there's a jet in the opposite land," Towa explained as Miki made her way to see what the commotion was all about.
"I wonder who that is…" Miki said softly.
"You don't know?" Yuka asked, surprised.
"No. We aren't expecting any guests. Perhaps it's a relative but I would've heard about it if it was."
"They're coming back," Aine mentioned. The group squint their eyes trying to see who the newcomer was.
There was 2 figures walking back towards the hotel. One of them turned out to be Rui. No one recognized the other one, save for Miki and Akira.
"Hiroshi!" both siblings exclaimed excitedly, as they ran towards this 'Hiroshi' person. The others looked at each other, all wondering who he was exactly. As the stranger came closer and closer, they were able to make out a few distinct features.
Hiroshi had fairly long midnight-black hair, adorned with silver streaks, tied back into a neat ponytail. The color of his eyes were unknown as they were blocked by a pair of sunglasses. He wore a black T-shirt that had a rather bad phrase written on it, and a pair of worn blue jeans.
"Minna-san, please meet my younger brother, Hiroshi," Rui introduced when they finally reached the little group by the door. "Hiroshi, these are the guests I mentioned. That's Towa, Yuka, Santa, Aine, Sakuya, Atsuro and Yuki."
"Nice to meet you," Hiroshi bowed slightly.
"Nice to meet you, too," the others said in perfect unison.
"Ara?" Hiroshi blinked as he finally took on the strangers before him. "Aren't you the guys from that new band, Lucifer?" They nodded. "Cool!"
"Let's continue this conversation inside, shall we?" Rui shooed the entire group inside. "The heat is pretty strong today."
"Still so pushy, I see," Hiroshi chuckled.
"Hush you. Miki, go get a room ready for Hiro-chan, will you?"
"Understood," Miki mock saluted then rushed off to the second floor.
"So, what brings you here?" Akira asked, as the group headed down the corridor and into the lobby.
"Summer vacation," Hiroshi replied. "Besides, I got bored. And it only takes so long before I get completely sick and tired of 'baachan's annoying hobby."
"What she do now?" Akira snickered.
"You mean she has ANOTHER hobby aside from lighting up the entire place with incense?" Hiroshi grimaced. "God, I don't know how anyone can see anything what with all the smoke and all."
"'Baachan is weird," Akira shrugged when Yuka gave him a questioning glance.
"Don't speak so ill of your elders," Rui scolded.
"Yeah, yeah. Hey, where's the fox?" Hiroshi looked around the lobby, eyes lighting up when the said fox jumped down from the counter and into his arms. Aine, who was standing near the black-hair boy, jumped a few feet back.
"What's wrong?" Hiroshi blinked.
"He doesn't like me," Aine explained. Hiroshi's mouth dropped into an 'o' position.
+++++
Hiroshi hummed to himself as he walked through the 2nd floor east wing. Miki came by his room earlier to announce that dinner was ready. Dressing himself in a less vulgar (as that brother of his would like to call it) shirt, he ventured downstairs.
Noticing a figure up ahead, Hiroshi called out to the slowly fading back. The figure stopped walking and turned around.
"Hiroshi-san?" Yuki blinked.
"Hey," Hiroshi jogged forward to the guitarist. "Going down to the dining hall, I assume?"
"You assumed correctly. You, too?"
"Aa. Then let's walk together, na?"
"Sure." The pair fell into a comfortable silence as they resumed their walk downstairs. Hiroshi strained his ear when he thought he heard something distant.
"Is it just me or did I just hear someone scream out 'I'm going to kill you'?" Hiroshi asked his companion.
"I believe it's Miki."
"I see those two still love each other so much," Hiroshi stated, dryly, eliciting a soft chuckle from his companion. "So what's Lucifer doing on vacation?"
"Yuka thought we needed one."
"Yuka… That's the brunette right? Oh, wait, there's 2 of them… Atsuro's sister, was it?"
"Aa."
"Ne…is it true that your vocalist and the other girl -- Aine? -- are going out?"
"Where on earth did you hear that from?"
"Akira."
"I see. Honestly, I don't know. But they look like they are."
"Looks can be very deceiving."
"I agree."
"Are YOU dating anyone?" An innocent question from an equally innocent-looking boy.
"No. Why?"
"Just asking," Hiroshi hid a smile.
+++++
"You think you're what?" Rui blinked. His otouto didn't reply and only looked into space with an extremely dreamy expression on his face.
"I've always thought he looked good since I've heard about the band," Hiroshi stated.
"Can you stop him?" Akira asked Rui, hopeful. "If he gets any more dreamy, we're going to be under a pile of mush."
"No, we won't," Rui laughed.
"How can you be so sure?" Akira challenged. Then, without waiting for a response, the blond turned to his cousin. "Love at first sight? Who the hell are you kidding?"
"Wha~at?" Hiroshi turned wobbly eyes on him. "You don't believe me? How could you! I feel so hurt…"
"If you think I'm going to fall for that kind of crap, you may as well just give up."
"Ch'."
"What are you going to do?" Miki, who has been pretty silent up until this point, finally asked. "Ask him out?"
"I don't see why not. S'not like he's dating anyone."
"What makes you so sure he'll say yes?" Akira scoffed.
"Look at me, boy," Hiroshi grinned. "How can you say no to such a cutie?" His black eyes narrowed when Akira made a gagging sound.
"I could always try my seduction skills," Hiroshi shrugged.
"I'd rather you not," Miki mumbled.
"Huh? Why?" Hiroshi eyed his older cousin suspiciously.
"Just don't," Miki glared at him in warning. Hiroshi threw his hands up, defeated. The other forgotten pair looked at each other, confused.
+++++
"I love me!" Santa grinned broadly, holding up a plate of something.
"You would," Atsuro retorted. "What the hell IS that anyway? It smells…odd."
"It's a casserole," Santa looked at Atsuro, an implied 'duh' in his tone.
"It doesn't look like a casserole…"
"It's from my very own secret recipe!"
"Why do I have a feeling that your so-called 'secret recipe' should've stayed a secret?"
"Why, you…" Santa proceeded to chase the young redhead around the kitchen. The chase lasted for about five minutes before a shrill voice halted them both.
"My kitchen!" Miki wailed.
"Blame Santa!" Atsuro pointed, as he darted outside to safety.
"Santa-san…" was all Miki managed to get out before a spoon was shoved into her mouth forcefully. As Santa withdrew the spoon, the blue-hair girl immediately spat out its content. "What was THAT?!"
"My secret casserole…"
Miki eyed the drummer warily. "It should've remained a secret."
"Now lookie here…"
"In any case, please go to the dining hall and bring your…casserole with you. I'm sure the others would love it. Now, if you don't mind, I have to get dinner ready." Santa nodded and left the kitchen with the plate.
Hours later, there have been various cases reported for retching and having bad stomach problems.
+++++
Yuki splashed his face with ice-cold water, silently cursing Santa with every known curse in his vocabulary. As he made a move to grab a nearby hand towel, the door to the bathroom slammed open and a black-hair figure zoomed past him.
The guitarist watched, slightly amused, as Hiroshi dumped his entire dinner into the toilet below. When the younger man sat back on his heels, panting softly, Yuki handed him a hand towel.
"Feeling better?" the guitarist asked.
"No," Hiroshi replied, sulkily. "God, what on God's green earth was in that thing?!"
"More of Santa's secret ingredients, I presume."
"Get out of my way!" came Atsuro's voice from behind, as he abruptly entered the bathroom, very much in the same way Hiroshi did.
"You guys act as if this is the only bathroom in the entire hotel," Yuki shook his head, chuckling.
"It's the only one on this floor!" Hiroshi objected. "We could go to the other floors' bathrooms but I highly doubt Miki will appreciate us throwing up even BEFORE we make it one step ahead."
"How true."
"You know, it's an odd picture when you have three guys sharing a bathroom, as big as it is," a voice piped up. Yuki whirled around to find Sakuya standing there, hands in pockets.
"How come you're not sick?" Hiroshi asked.
"I didn't eat it."
"Lucky bastard."
"I think I'm going to have to go to the hospital," Atsuro stated, weakly.
"I think we all do," Hiroshi corrected. He stood up shakily and promptly fell over. "Ow, dammit! This is hell! Aren't there some sort of cure for this?"
"Ah, you guys are here!" Miki's head popped into the bathroom. "Why you guys are all in the same bathroom, I don't know. But in any case, take one of these pills." The blue-hair girl held out a white label-less bottle.
"They help the stomach settle down," Miki explained as the three sick men immediately popped one pill each into their mouths. "If you guys need medical help, Akira studied medicine for about a year or so…"
"I think we'd all rather die first," Hiroshi responded. "Last time he insisted on fixing up my paper cut, days later, it was infected. And it was just a damn PAPER CUT!"
"Was that the time he bandaged your entire arm, from fingers to elbow, up?" Miki pondered.
"No, that was when he was just plain stupid. I wasn't even hurt then. Of course, try telling HIM that…"
"You guys are a strange family," Sakuya commented, before turning and leaving.
"It's hereditary," Hiroshi shrugged. "I think it all started with our Great-great-great-great-great-"
"Oh, shut it," Miki rolled her eyes, then rushed off to follow Sakuya.
+++++
//When I talk to you, I felt the same way I did when I talk to Aine that night…//
//Like I have no idea why I'm telling you all this either//
"Sakuya?" Miki rushed after the retreating man. Sakuya stopped and turned to regard the girl with his piercing blue eyes.
"Hmm?"
"Let's talk."
"Sure," Sakuya shrugged. Miki smiled then led the two outside to the beach. The girl flopped onto the sand immediately. The boy followed suit shortly.
"You said something last night that had the gears in my head all tied up and short-circuited," Miki began.
"What?" Sakuya asked.
"You said that when you talk to me, you felt the same way you did when you talked with Aine that night about your birth origins."
"I do."
"She asked you why did you tell her all those things."
"Aa. I don't think I understand your point."
"Ah, sorry. I guess I'll just go straight to the heart of the matter. You're wondering if you love her or not, aren't you?" A nod from the vocalist. "From what I can tell, from the words you said last night alone, my guess is that you don't love her in the sexual sense."
"What makes you come to that conclusion?"
"Easy. If you were falling in love with her and that's why you told her your birth origins, then you'd be falling in love with ME."
"What? I'm sorry…you lost me there."
Boys… Miki shook her head mentally. "You felt the same way when talking with me as you did with Aine. So, if that feeling was 'love' or anything bordering that, then wouldn't the feeling you have with me be the same?"
Sakuya was silent as he consider the words carefully.
"I don't know why you chose me to dish out your personal problems to either. We've only known each other for barely a week. But perhaps, all you seek in me was someone who will listen to you…truly listen to you and not judge you in any way. Maybe that's what you felt for Aine as well that night, but I can be wrong.
"You're not the type to easily trust a person, I can tell. One would have to try hard if they want to win your trust. I didn't try at all nor was I planning to. I am merely the assistant to the hotel manager and you our guests. For you to confide so greatly in someone, who probably won't be too close of a friend to you in any circumstances, is strange in itself. Perhaps you saw something in me that made you trust me so much."
Sakuya suddenly stood and turned back towards the direction of the hotel. He looked at Miki over his left shoulder and gave her a genuine smile.
"Thank you."
"It was my pleasure," Miki stood as well. "Hope I was a bit helpful. May I ask a question though?"
"Go ahead."
"You spoke with Yuki on the matter, have you not?"
"Yes."
"What did you feel towards him?"
[End Chapter Three]
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A/N: I still think it's horrible… ;_;
[1] Like you can't guess.
