Heaven Only Knows

Heaven Only Knows

By: Raiha-chan

Italicized words indicate thoughts.

//Blah// indicates flashback sequences.

###Blah### indicates lyrics sung.

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[Chapter Five: It Only took a Minute]

"She died with a smile on her face," Miki said. "A couple of days later, their relatives came by to visit the still mourning family. But they couldn't find the couple anywhere. Then, one of the young men cried for help.

"The ground where the gravesite laid was dug open, but the casket securely closed. The father of the young man who had cried for help earlier ordered the others to help him list the casket up. Once it was placed onto the ground, the father picked at the lock, opening it with ease.

"What they saw inside surprised them beyond anything else. The entire family was laying there. The man on the left side, the woman on the right with the little girl nestled comfortably in the middle. The three all had wide smiles plastered on their faces."

"It was later discovered that," Rui continued. "The family had made a promise in the year before that no matter what, they will be together forever. When the little girl died, the promise was broken. The little girl came back to find her parents so they can be together again.

"Ever since then, rumors spread. One of them was that the little girl still come every year, on the same night as the mother's death, to collect families that were just like theirs.

"So, in the end, no families came to this island anymore. And soon, even those who are single doesn't come by anymore. That's why it's became so remote and no one has heard about it."

"And you said this happened exactly 50 years ago?" Yuka asked, shaking slightly.

"Yes," Miki nodded. "Like I said, tonight marks the 50th year. The night in which the little girl visits."

A small silence swept over the circle. Yuka and Aine were shaking, holding each other close for some comfort. Yuki was rather pale. Towa looked sad while Atsuro was on the verge of breaking down. Santa just kept staring straight ahead of him. Hiroshi was doing the same thing, but his eyes were unfocused where Santa's had been the opposite.

I can't believe they actually bought that story. Sakuya rolled his eyes mentally. And it wasn't even that scary.

Akira glanced at his sister and cousin, regarding them silently. With a slight tilt of his head, the question became obvious.

'What the hell was that?'

Miki mouthed the words, 'not now', to her younger brother. Rui had his hand over his mouth, trying to hide the smile that was forming. No one spoke for a very long moment. Finally, Miki stood.

"Well, it's getting late," Miki looked around her. "We should head back." The others grunt in response.

+++++

"Oneechan!" Akira pulled Miki aside, as the others made their way upstairs to their own rooms. "That was creepy!"

"Why, thank you," Miki grinned at him.

"Now, tell me what the heck you told that story for. And if you 'sore wa himitsu desu' me again one more time…"

"Fine, fine," Miki chuckled. "You said I was planning something evil earlier? I was just trying to get Yuki and Sakuya together. That's all."

"So what's with the story?"

"It adds plot and climax."

"No, it doesn't! And besides, wasn't Hiroshi trying to court Yuki? Did he even start his stupid operation yet?"

"No and he won't. Ever."

//I think I understood your point now//

//What do you mean?//

//When you asked me if I remembered Hikaru or not//

Akira eyed his sister suspiciously then gave a small shrug. "In any case, tell me what that story has to do with anything."

"Nosy little boy," Miki made a 'tsk' sound. "Soon. All will be revealed soon."

"Okay, now you're creeping me out," Akira shivered.

"Miki," Rui walked up to the pair still standing in the lobby. He looked at Akira, who nodded back at him. Rui turned to Miki and said, "I got the cameras up."

"Cameras?" Akira looked back and forth between his two older relatives. "You don't mean the security camera hidden in every room, do you?"

"Why, yes, of course," Miki chuckled softly.

+++++

"God, this is terrible," Akira said.

"Then you could leave," Rui suggested as he turned on the small screens in the room. Every room in the hotel has a security camera hidden inside the corner wall for various reasons. The control room was located in a normal guestroom, on the top floor.

"I said it was terrible. I didn't say that I didn't want to watch."

"Then shut up," Miki bopped her younger brother on the head and sat down on a chair on Rui's right side. Akira took a seat on his left side. Before them were various small screens and only seven of them were lit.

The trio watched gleefully for the impact the story made on the seven men and women. Yuka had hid herself under the covers, trying hard to sleep. The blankets covering her shook as the figure beneath trembled violently.

Hiroshi was already asleep in his room. Atsuro was listening to some music and completely ignoring everything else. Towa still looked rather sad but other than that, he didn't seem to be frightened or anything like that.

Aine was laying on her back, covers drawn up to her chin. Her eyes kept darting around the room, before they finally closed. Santa was drinking again. And Yuki…

"What the hell is that sound?" Akira asked, as he peered at the screen Yuki was on. "It sounds like laughing… and it's getting louder."

"Switch on that screen," Rui pointed to one above Akira, on the left. Akira did as he was told. The black screen came to life and their little pet flickered on.

Kitsune was carrying a small black, rectangular-shaped object in his mouth, slowly walking up the third floor hallway.

"So that's where the laughing came from…"

As the fox neared room 407, the trio in the control room turned to look at the screen where Yuki was. The man was extremely pale, as he listened to the laughing sounds coming from outside the room.

Like he was told to do, Kitsune stopped right outside room 407 and placed the cassette player onto the carpeted ground softly. His tail waved back and forth, as he waited.

By then, Yuki was trembling and mumbling 'it's a dream' over and over again. After a good 3 minutes worth of wait, Kitsune poked at the Stop button with one of his claw, picked up the discarded player and resumed his walk down the hallway.

"What was the point of that?" Akira asked.

"You're slow, aren't you?" Miki retorted. "Who has the closest room to Yuki and must have heard the laughter?"

"Er…"

"Never mind you! It's Sakuya! The others' room are either located on the floor above, or all the way across on the East wing. Only Sakuya's room is close enough to have heard that."

"Oh. So now what?"

"We wait," Rui concluded.

+++++

The laughter recorded on tape had already died down more than 10 minutes ago, but Yuki was still frightened. When Miki had been telling the story, it didn't seem very scary to him then. But now…

Yuki burrowed deeper into his comforter. I did not just hear that, I did not just hear that, I did NOT just hear that…

The guitarist wondered how the others handled the story. He would be willing to bet that Santa's probably drinking in his room again.

Wait a minute…I can just go over to his room and drink with him! Oh, but dammit…he's all the way on the 4th floor South wing.

The black comforter was pulled down abruptly as Yuki suddenly remembered Sakuya was in a room closest to him. He had began debating on whether or not he should bother the man when the sounds came again.

Laughter.

Aw, shit…

Finally deciding that he would first make sure the vocalist isn't asleep yet then bother him, Yuki dragged himself out of bed. Leaning his ear against the cold brass door, he waited for the laughter to quiet. Then, he slipped outside and darted down the hall and bumped right into something hard but soft.

"Oomph!" Yuki fell back and nearly landed on his bottom when a pair of hands shot out to catch him.

"Yuki?" Sakuya blinked at the guitarist. "What are you doing out here?"

"Sakuya!" Yuki sounded extremely glad and relieved. "Er…well, I kind of heard something… Did you hear it?"

"Hear what?"

"Laughter."

//If he asks you, say no//

"What?" The vocalist blinked incredulously at the older man. "I didn't hear anything. You're probably just imagining things."

"I guess I was…" Yuki chuckled nervously. Then, realizing for the first time that he was still in Sakuya's arms, he flushed brightly. "Anou…"

Either he didn't notice Yuki's sudden uncomfort or he simply didn't care, Sakuya didn't budge from his current position at all. "You still didn't answer my question."

"What?"

"What are you doing out here?"

"Er…well, I was going to see if you were still awake and whether or not you've heard it. But I guess I got my answers, ne? So I'll just uh…go back to my room." Yuki extracted himself gently from Sakuya's arms and made his way back to his room again.

"Wait," Sakuya halted the guitarist in his tracks. Turning around, Yuki regarded the man with questioning eyes. "Need company?"

"Uh…" Yuki blinked several times before finally registering the question asked. "No, it's okay."

"You sure?" Yuki thought the vocalist sounded strangely disappointed but dismissed it as a mere mind trick.

"Yeah. Thanks for the offer, though," Yuki gave Sakuya a smile then continued his way back to the room. The vocalist stood where he was for a moment, watching the older man close the door silently to his room then turned and trotted back to his own room.

Kitsune, who had been previously hiding behind Sakuya's long legs, watched the vocalist return to his room with silent eyes. His tail laid limp on the floor.

+++++

"That was crap," Akira fumed.

"Patience, boy," Miki clicked her tongue. "Did you truly expect the final result to occur right now?"

"It's nice to hope!"

"You two…" Rui interrupted, as he stared intently at one screen in particular. "What's Kitsune doing, sitting there like that?"

"Huh?" Akira and Miki both said, in unison then turned towards the screen. It showed Kitsune's backside. The little fox was very still and his tail was limp on the floor.

"Is he sick?" Akira asked, worried.

"I doubt it," Miki shook her head. "He seemed fine just moments ago." Quickly, Kitsune whirled around and stood on all four legs. His tail continued its previous excited wagging as the young fox bounced down the hall.

"I didn't know foxes has mood swings…" Akira blinked as Kitsune disappeared from the screen.

"I should go check on him," Rui stood. "Make sure he's really not sick." With a slight nod to the others, the oldest sibling departed from the room.

"We should go, too," Miki said, turning off the screens as she did so. "No sense in keeping watch right now. And it's time for you to sleep, too."

"I don't have curfews and I'm NOT gonna get one anytime soon!" Akira fumed.

"Ototo-chan," Miki smiled broadly. "Do you know what the biggest screw-up in your life is?"

"What?" Akira rose an eyebrow questioningly.

"Being born AFTER me," Miki pat her younger brother's head softly. "I will always be your older sister, until the day I die and therefore, whatever I says…goes."

"I hate you."

+++++

Sakuya turned in his bed causing the bedside clock to come into view. The big red letters read 3:12.

Perhaps I can just knock myself unconscious… Problem solved then.

Mind made up, the vocalist flipped back onto his back and raised a pale hand, palm held tight in a fist. Sakuya was about to connect fist with face when a low scream rang out through the halls.

Who the -- Yuki! Bolting from bed, the dark-haired boy threw open his bedroom door and ran hurriedly down the hall, towards the guitarist's room.

"Yuki!" Sakuya called, as he knocked impatiently on the door. When no answer came, the young man tried the knob and found it unlocked. Opening the door slowly and as softly as possible, Sakuya entered the dark room.

Closing the door behind him, Sakuya was thrown into complete darkness. Fumbling for a light switch, a lamp -- anything -- the vocalist jammed his foot against a wooden table leg.

Rubbing his sore toes with one hand, Sakuya used the other hand to continue his search. Finally, his fingers fell on a lamp nearby. Switching it on, Sakuya tried to see where he was standing while the light flooded the room partially. It turned out that he somehow made it towards the far end of the room, where a TV and a coffee table were located.

Turning his head towards the bed and its occupant, the pair of blue orbs met a pair of black orbs. The latter blinked, causing Sakuya to jump slightly in surprise.

"Sakuya?" Yuki tilted his head to a side, voice full of tiredness and sleepiness. "What are you doing in my room?"

"I heard a scream," Sakuya scratched the back of his head lightly. "Since you're the only one on this side of the floor, I figured it must be you. So I ah…came to check on you." A pause then, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Yuki nodded. "I'm fine."

"So why did you scream?" Sakuya turned his head away from that piercing gaze and fell on something he failed to notice earlier.

"It's nothing. Just a silly dream."

"Why do you have the curtains drawn?" the vocalist turned back, jerking a finger towards the window.

"Er…" Yuki looked down, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Well…" The guitarist looked back up, just in time to catch Sakuya opening the curtains. "Whoa, what are you doing?"

Was the story really that creepy? Sakuya let out a mental groan as he took on the watery front shown before him. Turning back to the figure on the bed, the younger man looked at him questioningly.

"Was the story that creepy?" Sakuya voiced his question.

"Uh…well…" Yuki stammered, feeling his cheeks grow warm. His head whirled up when he felt the bed dip under a new weight.

"Look," Sakuya stared him straight in the eye. "I'll stay here for the night, to keep you company. If you get anymore dreams again, I'll be here."

"It's okay, honestly…" Yuki protested.

"Stubborn man, aren't you?" Sakuya chuckled softly, then pat the other's cheeks softly. "I'll sleep on the couch over there and if you need anything, just call on me okay?" Getting up, the younger man padded softly over to the couch sitting by the window. He settled himself into a comfortable position and slid his eyes shut, willing himself to sleep yet again.

"Why?" came the soft-spoken question. Sakuya cracked one eye open and regarded the older man, who was still staring at him, startled.

"Because you needed it."

+++++

Growling softly so the other man couldn't hear, Sakuya cursed inwardly again for his insomniac. It wasn't as if he drank a lot of coffee or anything earlier so why was he having so much trouble sleeping?

Sighing softly, the young vocalist attempted sleep again. When he finally could feel sleep tugging at his mind, soft moans awoke him yet again.

ARG! Sakuya was about to scream at whoever just interrupted his precious rest when he suddenly remembered he was still in Yuki's room.

Swinging his legs down, Sakuya padded quickly over to the bed. He flicked the bedside lamp on and studied the older man.

Yuki seemed to be still deep in sleep. His mouth drops every now and then to let out several pained moans. The dark purple tresses laid in a mess on the pillow, caused by the shaking head motions the guitarist was making.

Sakuya ran his index finger down one pale cheek, silently wondering what the other man was dreaming about. Then, moving his hands to Yuki's shoulders, the vocalist proceeded to shake the man to awareness.

When Yuki's eyes finally snapped open, they were unfocused. Sakuya's face hovered above his worriedly.

"Yuki?" Sakuya called, softly. "Oi, Yuki?" He waved a hand over the other's face slowly. "Yu~ki… Do you hear me at all?"

Finally, the older man's eyes focused slowly on him. "Sakuya? What are you--?" Yuki sat up rather quickly in bed, only to fall back, fighting the sudden nauseous feeling.

"Are you okay?" Sakuya's voice was ringing in his ears. Then, it hit him. Throwing himself off the bed as quickly as possible, Yuki barely made a step forward before he found the small trash bin located conveniently close to the bed.

Sakuya moved over to the other side of the room to where Yuki was. Worry and concern was etched all over his features as he waited for the older man to finish emptying his stomach.

Realizing that the man wasn't going to be satisfied until all three meals had been thrown up, Sakuya trotted to the bathroom. He flipped the light on, looking around for the towels. Finding them in the cabinet right beside the sink, the half-American made a grab for it.

He then turned back to the sink to turn the water on. Placing the small hand towel under the running water, Sakuya let it get soaked through thoroughly before turning the water off and wringing the towel dry.

When he made it outside again, Yuki was sitting on the floor, against the bed. His body was shaking slightly.

"Yuki," Sakuya called the name again. The older man didn't look up as Sakuya approached him. Kneeling so he was face-to-face with Yuki, Sakuya turned the other man's face towards him and proceeded to wipe away the dry flakes of vomit. Yuki simply stared blankly up at him.

"Are you okay?" the vocalist asked, once he was done.

"Y-yeah…" Yuki swallowed with a slight difficulty.

"Look, it's just a stupid story Miki told as entertainment. You don't have to get so worked up over it."

"I-it's not…" the older man trailed off, sighing softly.

"It's not what?"

"Nothing. Never mind. I'm fine, in all honesty."

The black-haired man studied him carefully for a long moment before letting out a sigh of his own. "Alright…if you say so. Come on." Sakuya stood swiftly, putting a hand out and helping Yuki to his feet.

"Sleep," Sakuya said in a stern voice, tucking the older man into bed as he did so. "You know where I'll be tonight."

As he made a move towards the couch, Sakuya caught a glimpse of the clock sitting by the TV.

4:49

Letting out a groan mentally, the vocalist wondered whether or not he will be able to get any sleep at all, in the remainder of the night.

"Sakuya?" came Yuki's soft-spoken voice.

"Hmm?" The younger man turned back to the bed.

"Is it okay if…" the guitarist trailed off again, a small blush creeping up onto his face. "If…"

"What is it?" Sakuya asked, worried.

"Is it okay if you sleep on the bed? With me?"

"Uh…" the vocalist blinked, trying to process the request still.

"If you're…never mind. Forget I asked," Yuki gave an uneasy smile before he settled back into his bed.

"Wait, no," Sakuya said quickly. A pair of black eyes looked up at him, glints of hope obvious in their depths. "I don't mind."

"Really?"

"Really." Yuki scooted over in the bed, allowing the younger man climbed onto it. Getting himself as comfortable as possible, Sakuya turned to Yuki, giving him a very readable look.

The older man blushed immediately and shook his head. "It's okay."

"I don't mind," Sakuya said softly. Yuki looked at him for quite a long time before finally settling down right beside him. When he made no further move, Sakuya blew at his bangs impatiently then proceeded to turn Yuki onto his side, allowing him to use the younger man's chest as pillow.

"S-sakuya!" Yuki let out a small yelp.

"I said I don't mind," Sakuya repeated, wrapping one hand around the older man's shoulder and the other around his waist.

Yuki thought his face was going to explode, what with all the blood rushing to it. But he made no further protests and accepted the given warmth.

//It only took a minute, to let you in my life. It only took a minute…//

//What are you singing?//

//A song. S'called 'It only took a minute'. American pop, y'know?//

Sakuya smiled, as he remembered the song he heard Miki sang once. Rubbing Yuki's back in soothing circles, the vocalist sang a song he heard only once, lulling the older man to a peaceful slumber.

###It only took a minute, to let you in my life
It only took a minute, for me to realize
It only took a minute, and I knew just what to do
It only to a minute to fall in love with you###

[End Chapter Five]

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A/N: In case anyone wants to know, the song "It only took a minute" is sang by Mandy Moore.