Welcome to Gaia! ::

*Note: It's a bit Gackt-biased, this chapter. sweatdrop I'm sorry! The next chapter or so would be from Gackt's POV, and you're going to hear a lot of poetry praising Hyde's looks. So don't think I play favorites. I don't.

Prologue: Nymphetamine
Evanescent like the scent of decay
I was fading from the race
When in despair, my darkest days
Ran amok and forged her face
From the fairest of handmaidens to
A slick perverted wraith
-Nymphetamine by Cradle of Filth

The club was loud and noisy, flashing with neon-green lights and racuous music. Crowds of people, differing each other in such little details like appearance and dance partners, thought little of reality and tried to enjoy theirselves as much as they could. Nobody took notice of the man in the corner, the one that watched them with such empathic eyes.

Hyde heaved a sigh.

It had been two months and twelve days since his divorce with Megumi. The odd thing about it, he realized while stirring his drink with a straw, was that he wasn't shaken up or dismayed over it at all. Her blatant fury, her tears, her loud insults of "******** son of a b***h" and "damn b*****d" didn't move him to rage, nor sympathy as of yet. It was harsh, it was cold, but he didn't feel the least bit terrible about their fight.

"Be serious here, Hideto! When was the last time you ever looked at me?"

"We don't even talk anymore! What's your problem?"

"Don't you even want to be a family anymore?"

No, Hyde thought bitterly as he drowned the rest of the Coke in one swallow, I ******** don't. But what I -did- want was for you to shut the hell up about it! And now we're divorced. Just what I always wanted. He chuckled, but there was no mirth in it.

What a shame.

Why, in the darkest corner of the bar, was he now thinking of his divorce with such casualty? It was a bewildering though and Hyde wished that he could have something to distract him, if only for a little while. He scanned the dancing crowds, half-hoping to find a familiar face, to spot one person who would look up and smile broadly when seen.

Being near the bar, where it was farthest from the crowds, wasn't going to help him find that familiar person. With another sigh, Hyde stretched and strolled away from the bar, walking towards the groups of smiling and laughing people; he pushed aside ("Excuse me...sorry, just let me by") as something called to him. He wasn't sure what, but in the middle of the dance floor, three meters from the stage, he was sure that something was there.

Something familiar.

Finally, he came to the center of the stage, where more people (mainly women and flamboyantly-dressed men) were dancing. Whether alone or with partners, they seemed content, but Hyde sure as hell was not. He stood there, much like a fool, trying to find what called him here. Now that he thought of it, he wasn't too sure if it had been real or imagined. His shoulders slumped in defeat, he swore under his breath (damn it ******** hell) and scowled at the blissfully unaware dancers.

Well, isn't this surprising? Didn't even find what called me-

"Hyde!"

He spun around at that, face to face with a taller, seemingly older man. He studied the grinning creature for a second or two before (oh my god, this can't seriously be) his eyes bugged out and he gaped.

"Gackt?!"

Surely, it could not have been! But it was Gackt, it was the same brunette who greeted him with an embrace or kiss on the cheek (don't care if you're gay or not just don't kiss me on the mouth i'm married, damn it). It was the same brunette that followed him everywhere he went, just like a puppy (you're just like your dog i'm sure you know that)-loyal, innocent and gentle. His ex-costar, his friend-why was he so surprised to see him?

Idiot. Did you forget that he lives in Kyoto? It's home to him.

They slipped away, closer to the fluorescent lights above the bar where Hyde could see his face better. Gackt looked better than he did-hell, that was a shock, seeing as how he was thirty-two (not 465 idiot he's not a vampire) and hadn't quit smoking. That much was obvious; with a cigerette dangling between two limp and well-manicured fingers, he blew a cloud of smoking away from Hyde and away from everybody else. Surprisingly enough, he didn't even wear his trademark unglasses and Hyde knew that the lights had to be hurting his eyes.

He leapt off the stool and moved closer to Gackt's face, where he could study the unlined mouth, the blue eyes, undisturbed by contacts, the short, fluffy brown hair and unwrinkled skin. He looked youthful and healthy (like a perverted wraith or fangless vampire), much more than he used to and Hyde was confused by it. Obviously, magic wasn't at work, because quite frankly, magic didn't exist, or at least, Hyde didn't think so. Finally, after a moment of observation and silence, he said,

"You look...well." Yeah, well. Pretty well attractive. Hell, let me just admit it-he looks ********, never mind that we're both guys and not gay, though I'm not too sure on him. Hyde studied his friend's face a little longer before continuing his train of thought. "Really. You look...pretty." I've always told you that and I've always meant it. Now...I really mean it.

Gackt seemed surprised, as though he had been given compliments far more flattering than that and Hyde knew that he had. He smiled shyly and responded with an oddly high-pitched, "So do you, actually."

Hyde grinned at him, trying to not display his not-so blatant curiosity. "How the hell did you get so damn pretty? Don't tell me that you sold your soul to the Devil or the like!"

"Naaah," Gackt shook his head. "Wasn't plastic surgery either." He looked down at his hands, now folded upon his lap, and blinked once. "You wouldn't believe me anyway."

"Try me."

"I'll tell you later," the younger brunette muttered nervously. "Not now. People would be listening."

"You're paranoid, you know that right?" Hyde raised an eyebrow.

Gackt nodded.

Uwaaaah! Thank you so much, Misha! blaugh

I'm planning to be a famous writer. I'm currently working on a book right now. I just need to finish writing the first chapter. crying ninja

Oh, I'll write more. 3nodding I will. ninja

Hmm...name your uke.....Izumi. I have read a manga (CoughLoveModeCough) where there were two ukes named Izumi. xd

Thank you! ^^ *Hands you, Moriko and Misha a cookie* I'll continue, I'll continue.

Thank you. ^^ Do you guys know any good J-Rock fanfiction sites I can post this on?

*gasp* i love it!! write more! write more!!! dammit ill kick me if you dont! twisted

okays!! ^o^