Title: Malicious Misery

Author: YumeNeko

Genre: Angst, Mystery, Seinen-ai, AU

Rating: R-13

Summary: The sequel to "Allure". The search for "S" begins! But several unfortunate events divert Hakkai's attention from finding the alluring, purple-eyed man.

Note: Unlike "Allure", this fic is written in alternating third-person and Hakkai's POV.

Disclaimer: All characters from Gensomaden Saiyuki belong to Minekura Kazuya-sensei. "S" (the song) and "Cage" (another song) belong to Dir En Grey. The characters Hiro, Karasu, Themis, Ren and Mitsu belong to me. Amida Toki belongs to Yuriko Uesugi. Mr. Fanboy is anyone's character. Feel free to abuse him.

And to think all these unfortunate events had happened as soon as I began my search for "S".

Several nights ago, my brother came home earlier than I had expected from his trip with Karasu, a guitarist for a band called Larmes De Noir who we had close ties with. His shirt had some of the buttons undone when I met him in the living area of our apartment. Tired and worn-out, he collapsed into my arms, weeping and whispering repeatedly that he killed him.

He killed Karasu.

More on Karasu before my story continues. Karasu was a lithe bodied guitarist for Larmes. Hiro, which now I would tell, the name of my brother, wanted him for our band on account that he was more than just "a well-built body". True, Karasu was a skilled guitarist but I turned him down from our band, Distorca, since his skills weren't suited for our mix of heavy metal and milder semi-renaissance tunes. Hiro recommended him Larmes, though. The music of Larmes was more on Karasu's side. It was melodic, melancholy and haunting. Thanks to my brother's advice, Karasu was a fan favorite there. It also did seem that he was Hiro's favorite, too.

The two spent a lot of time together as buddies while our parents were still alive. Sometimes, Hiro would think of the older man as some sort of an older brother to him. There were some things Karasu knew about my brother that I never knew. I slightly felt quite jealous every time Hiro would leave me to read books or practice my guitar while he would go off hanging out with the raven-haired guitarist.

It was because of our parent's death that the two became lovers. Usually, when I look back at that day, it seems as if that day marked my greatest losses. One of them being the loss of my brother to a man I was partly jealous of.

But that night when my brother whispered his horrifying truth, I knew he was wishing for the same thing I had wished all those times when he was away from me.

"I wish… I wish we never met him…"

The day was Wednesday when Larmes heard the news that Karasu was found dead in his car with three bullet wounds in his upper torso. Their vocalist, Themis, was furious. She cursed the newspaper and the killer who was unknown to her.

"Fuck whoever who killed Karasu-kun!" She yelled at the other two band members. "How the fuck can we get a new guitarist at this point in time?"

Mitsu, their keyboardist, piped up, "Why don't we ask Distorca? I know the twins have noses for talent."

"Not to mention Hiro-kun does have a way with men…" Ren, their percussionist, snickered. "But it's worth a try. They are reliable."

"Have you ever taken to consideration Hiro-kun's feelings right now?" Themis lightly bopped the percussionist, "He must be having emotional fits after losing Karasu-kun…"

"Okay then. So we'll have to hold the audition ourselves, ne?" Mitsu smiled, "It's the only way we can heal this band up. Ren, go post up an advertisement up on the BBS."

Meanwhile, the brunette vocalist for Distorca laid in bed, haunted by what he had done to the man he used to consider as an older brother and a lover. He remembered the night clearly: The little "detour" from their original route, the haunting loneliness of a certain place, Karasu's hand moving towards him, trying to capture him, trying to take him. In that moment, tears of horror rolled down Hiro's face. He never expected Karasu could do such a thing. He tried to take him. He tried to take him before he could even consent to it. In the memory, he remembered clutching a gun from underneath the passenger seat and shooting his lover thrice in the chest before he could unbutton the brunette's shirt further. In horror, he ran out of the car and hailed a nearby taxi to take him back home where he wept in his real "onii-chan's" arms.

Maybe love wasn't meant for him. Hiro pondered on those words, trying to forget whatever memory he had of his dead lover. Tears slowly ran down his cheeks.

"Hiro," He heard his brother's voice calling from the door, "Themis called."

"What about?"

"They're holding up auditions for a new guitarist. She's asking if you'd like to go see how things are going once in a while."

"I'll go tomorrow. I don't feel too well…" The younger twin sighed, his emotions already taking their toll on his body.

Hakkai sighed and replied, "Well then, I'll come back later. We'll have dinner together in your room."

As Hakkai entered the living area, Jien got up and shoved a cellphone into the brunette's face.

"Eh?" Hakkai took the phone and read the SMS.

Gojyo sighed and moaned, "Gig coming up… If Hiro doesn't get out of his slump, we don't get the gig…"

"Gomen ne, minna… I think I'll have to turn down all gigs until Hiro's all better again. I don't want to disappoint our fans by giving them less than what they deserve." Hakkai sighed and looked out the window. "The gig will be next week, right? Hopefully, Hiro should recover after going to the auditions tomorrow. Maybe after listening to all those hopeful guitarists he'll lose his blues."

"Heh. Nothing gets Hiro-kun up other than good guitar solos and perhaps a good challenge to a game of Bloody Roar?" Jien laughed. "Is the console working? I think I'd like to go beat up a pesky peep-squeak to a game of Tekken Tag…"

"Try to beat me if you can, broom-head!" Goku taunted back.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah!"

"Maa, maa… Don't try to cause a fuss here… You wouldn't like the console to break again. I just got it back from the shop three days ago." Hakkai sighed as he set the console up for the two to play on.

Time passed and the next day came around. The twins parked their car in front of the building where Larmes were holding their auditions for guitarist.

"Hiro, you sure you're okay?" Hakkai asked before switching off the engine.

"Don't worry. I'm just fine. I've put my past behind me. I think I'd like to switch my name to get rid of that past once and for all." Hiro smiled gently as he put on his sunglasses. "I'll announce it during our next gig. Saa… Which floor was it again?"

"Fourth."

"Okay! Let's go see how our buddies separate the wannabes from the musicians…"

Up on the fourth floor of the building, Themis yawned as a man overdoing it with his visuals played a long, overdone distortion on his guitar. Mitsu and Ren, on the other hand, were playing a game of chess using a pack of Lifesavers Themis brought along.

"Mwahahahahaha! I've eaten your pawn!" Mitsu laughed sarcastically as he took the Lifesaver from the paper chessboard and popped it into his mouth.

"Ne, Themis-chan… How long will this guy keep on going? Do you think his feet hurt from wearing those 8-inch platforms?" Ren asked innocently.

"Don't ask me… I'm wondering how long he can keep on humping his guitar without hurting his balls…" Themis said out of boredom as the guitarist did the said action.

"Oi! Oi! What's this racket?" A familiar voice sounded from the door. Everyone's actions stopped.

"Distorca?" Mitsu said puzzled.

"Distorca!" Ren chirped happily.

"Hiro-kun!" Themis gleefully exclaimed.

The overdone guitarist threw his guitar on the ground and scrambled at the twins feet, kissing their shoes alternatively.

"Erm… I wasn't expecting this kind of welcome…" Hakkai chuckled.

"I think we've hit a fanboy." Hiro sighed.

"He's the source of the noise…" Mitsu groaned.

"Really? I think he was trying to pull off one of my distortions." Hakkai laughed.

"Humping the guitar wasn't in it." Themis grumbled.

"Then I guess Mr. Fanboy here is pretty…" Ren looked at the fanboy who watched Hakkai with a dream-like gaze in his eyes as the brunette bent over and picked up his guitar. At that moment, the said fanboy shrieked and faked a faint. "It's official. He's after your balls, Hak-kun."

"Tell him to wake up if he'd like me to sign his guitar and play a little something on it." Hakkai said with a sweet-looking smile on his face.

Themis took a plastic cup, filled it with water and splashed it on the fanboy's face. He woke up immediately and tried to tackle the brunette guitarist, but thankfully, Mitsu and Ren were able to keep him off. Hakkai took a deep breath and started with his distortion. Compared to the fanboy's earlier and overdone attempt, Hakkai's was well executed, melodic and well timed. Applauds were heard from the other musicians while the fanboy shrieked, "Take meeeeee!"

Hakkai could only fake a smile as he hid his shock and signed the guitar for the fanboy. After handing the guitar back to him, the fanboy was too eager to comply with the simple command his idol gave him.

"Please, go out and have a smoothie."

"Okay! Since that's over, let's go check out who else is on our dinner plate. Let's see how well the next one does." Themis smiled. "Ren, please do call for the next one."

The boy with his pink and blue dyed hair walked over to the waiting room and called for the next. He popped back into the audition room again with someone who was a far cry from the fanboy who tried to assault Hakkai earlier. The performer was a blonde around Ren's height with piercing blue eyes wearing a turquoise blue turtleneck and black pants. His guitar was also of a bluish hue. He stood in the center of the room as everyone settled into their seats anticipating the first notes that would judge whether the performer was a wannabe or a true-blue musician. Hakkai looked over at his brother sitting right beside him. Strangely, he saw the gaze Hiro rarely had in his eyes. It was the same one that he had remembered seeing twice. First was during their audition for their band members. Second was during their first appearance onstage. Perhaps this gaze was something that marks things that would lead to something remarkable. Perhaps the guitarist Hiro's eyes focused on was to be the next guitarist for Larmes. The performer bowed and introduced himself as Amida Toki. It was his first time auditioning for a band and hoped to hear good judgment after his piece, which was "S" by Dir En Grey.

"Interesting…" Hiro said as he propped his head on his hands. "It's a piece for two guitars. Which one are you going to play?"

"Go listen." The blonde smirked as he took a pick from his pocket and started playing the piece. Ren smiled gleefully and tapped the table in rhythm to the song. Themis smiled as she watched how easily Toki could move his fingers from one fret to another.

"He's good…" Hiro smiled, his head still propped on his hands. "His skill with the guitar can match with yours."

Hakkai smiled in reply, "He's quick and very accurate, too. I wonder if he can slow down his pace to one of Larmes' songs."

"Sounds like a good challenge…" Hiro smirked and gestured for the blonde to stop playing. "You're real good, Toki-san… But I ask you, can you play something slower like the chorus of "Cage"?"

Toki smirked and played the "Cage" piece for one of the guitars.

"Well done!" Themis smiled, "Good at fast pieces and slow ones, too. You're just about perfect."

"Perfect…" Hiro leaned back into his chair and whispered to his twin. "Do you think his playing could fill in the hole Karasu had left?"

"In the band or somewhere else?" Hakkai replied.

"Both…" Hiro sighed, his fist pressed against his heart.

At this point, I believe that history was about to repeat itself once more. Toki-san was recruited into Larmes and we were invited to see their introduction show the next week. Luckily, we found out that he was able to play most of Larmes songs. Themis found it wonderful that he was a lot more daring than Karasu with his way of modifying Karasu's old solos to become his own. If he could turn something like a simple melodic solo into a melodic yet complex one, would my brother haunt him? Or more importantly, would Toki-san accept him and become his special someone?

Hopefully, the past won't come back again but I kinda noticed: Toki-san kinda resembles "S"…

Meanwhile, Gojyo was out on the streets with a pack of freshly bought cigarettes. While he walked towards the nearest pub for a little shot, he bumped into a certain blonde man.

"Oi! Watch where you're going!" He yelled at the man but he didn't respond at all.

"Damn blondes."

The blonde had heard the threat of the redhead but he didn't want him to notice him.

"Shit. That was close." He mumbled as he took out a cigarette and poised it upon his lips. "I hate doing this goddamned job but it's the only way I can get the cash back from them. Lousy good-for-nothing cousin-in-law. Now for part two of the plan: Another letter from "S". They don't know it but I want him for myself. I know it will be selfish but I'll make him go for my sake and not for that rotten bitch I have for a cousin-in-law. Just one night without him and then I'll have him. I'll kill that bitch straight away after she gets her fill. Hopefully Hakkai hasn't told anyone else in his band about his mysterious admirer."