Another World Part 4

[lotus_beauty]

Fic description and first two parts can be found here

Part 4

The taller man waited in anticipation as Gackt stopped and opened the doors, leading You into the library slowly. He caught the brunette as he was about to walk into a table, his eyes staring up at the multitude of books on the walls.

“Sorry,” You apologized as he moved, a little embarrassed.

“It’s alright.” Gackt took his hand and tugged him off to the right. “Come here.” The prince took him over to a group of large cabinets holding many tiny drawers. “This is a card catalogue. It has all the information on every book in this library. This cabinet categorizes by title, this one by author and this one by subject.” Gackt looked up at the taller. “You’ll probably use this one the most.” Still holding You’s had, he led him over to the cabinet and pointed out some papers posted on the side. “This tells you what the information on each card is and this one shows you how to find the books in the library. Ours isn’t as big as the government library, but I’m sure you’ll find everything you’re looking for here.”

“This…” You stood speechless for a moment, just taking the moment to look around himself. He’d never been in such a great place before. “This is perfect. Thank you so much, Gackt.”

The smile that appeared on Gackt’s lips lit up his face, making even his eyes sparkle. “I’m glad to see that you’re pleased.”

“I don’t know where to begin!” He laughed happily.

“Well, you don’t have to start looking for things tonight. Why don’t you write down things that you want to learn about? Then you’ll have a list,” Gackt offered.

“Good idea!” You grinned and looked around. “Got anything I can write with?” he asked sheepishly. That was when the brunette realized that the prince was still holding his hand and tugged him of to a few desks near the middle of the part they were in. You found that even though there was a chance they shouldn’t be holding hands, he didn’t want to let go.

When Gackt pulled out a piece of paper and a pencil, he quickly explained the objects, letting You test the pencil curiously before he started doodling words on the paper. It was then that You realized that there were books on the table and the words on the books were completely unreadable to him. He stopped and stared at one and opened it. For a moment, he couldn’t believe that they spoke the same language, but they didn’t have the same writing system.

“What’s wrong?” Gackt asked, obviously taking note of the brunette’s alarm.

“I can’t read this.” You turned to him. “I don’t know how to read your language.” He sighed as the blonde’s face fell to disappointment. “Don’t worry! There’s a remedy to this situation!”

“What? Have one of my servants teach you to read? Or read the books to you?” Gackt asked. “They would have to know about you.”

“No.” The merman shook his head with a smile. “We had a researcher come up with a spell to take information from other people’s minds, but he could only get the spell to work for languages and words. He’s been trying to come up with one that can also transfer concepts and such, but he was still working on it when I left,” You explained. “Now, it’s a tricky spell, and I’m one of very few who got special training to learn it. You have to completely trust me when I do this okay?”

Gackt nodded. “Will it hurt?”

“It shouldn’t. “

“Okay. What do I do?”

You looked around and pulled the prince over to a chair and sat him down, kneeling in front of him. “You need to relax your mind and seriously, I need your complete trust for this,” the brunette told him, worried that if Gackt panicked, something might go wrong. He wouldn’t want to get in trouble for killing the prince by accident, so he was just being cautious.

Gackt looked up into You’s eyes, letting him see a sudden multitude of undecipherable depth before it disappeared and he nodded. “I trust you.”

You nodded in return and told the prince to close his eyes. The merman took a deep breath to clear his mind of the nervousness, closing his eyes to concentrate on the spell as he leaned closer to the prince. He murmured a few words of incantation, his voice echoing deeply as he leaned closer and touched their foreheads. For a moment, there was a blinding flash of light and You felt like his mind was being squished and then, it was all gone. He opened his eyes just as Gackt did and they gazed at each other for a moment.

“Did it work?” the prince asked, his breath playing over You’s cheeks, distracting him from what he was doing.

“I… don’t know…” the brunette murmured, realizing that he’d taken both of Gackt’s hands into his when he started the spell, and that neither of them had let go yet. “I should go check.”

Gackt smiled and squeezed his hands. “Do it.”

Suddenly, You’s drive for knowledge was back and he grinned, letting go of Gackt’s hands to rush to the desk again and pick up a book, his eyes recognizing the letters and words as understandable material this time. “It worked.” He stared at the page and then looked up at Gackt. “It worked!” He jumped around and ran back over to the prince, kneeling in front of him again. “Thank you, again. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you. Knowledge of my world could never be enough.”

“It’s rewarding enough just to be able to see you so happy,” the prince said, reaching up to squeeze You’s shoulder. “You know, I’ve only known you for a day, and it feels like I’ve trusted you for a lifetime.” Gackt looked at the brunette thoughtfully. “It seems kind of weird, doesn’t it?”

You smiled. “I’m just really glad that I met you today. If I hadn’t been there to save you, I don’t know where we both would be.”

Gackt blinked in surprise. “That’s right! I forgot to properly thank you for saving me.” He smacked his forehead. “I can’t believe that I forgot.” An embarrassed smile overtook his face and he ran a hand through his blonde hair. “Maybe that’s why I trust you so much. You saved my life today.”

“Gackt, you don’t have to thank me.” You shook his head. “It could have been anyone that fell off that ship. Besides, you’ve already thanked me by letting me share some of your own personal knowledge, and just by letting me be here.”

The prince laughed. “Are you going to deny me the right to thank you?”

“If I have to, yes!” You laughed as well. He stopped when the prince’s face was suddenly very close to his, those bright blue eyes staring straight into his own.

“Just… just let me do this…” Gackt murmured before pressing his lips against You’s. It was a surprise to You, but he gave in to the kiss, his eyes sliding closed as prince’s soft lips moved against his, their warmth making him want more.

When their lips finally parted, You found their hands together again, those blue eyes staring into his soul, though he halfway wished that they were brown like before. He took the breath that he’d needed during that lightheaded kiss and found that he couldn’t move.

“That was my thank you.” Gackt smiled.

You finally found his voice, though his eyes fell to look at the floor. “Did… did you do that because of what Megumi said earlier? About me not liking girls?”

Gackt put a finger under You’s chin and tilted it up. “It was my thank you. No ulterior motives other than a thank you.” He smiled. “You’re a very good kisser.”

The merman blushed. “Th-thank you.”

“We should probably rest,” the prince said as he stood, offering a hand to You. “We’ve both had a pretty busy day.”

You nodded and took his friend’s hand, standing slowly. It took him a moment to realize that he was staring into Gackt’s eyes again, centimeters from his face. He could feel the blood rush to his face as he blushed, stepping back as he tried desperately to think of a subject for them to talk about that would keep him from ending up with his lips on the prince’s. He had to think, think, thinkthinkthinkaha!

“So, um,” You started as Gackt smiled and lead him to the library doors. “When will I meet your parents?” The blonde stopped with his hand on the door handle. You froze; it must have been a touchy subject.

Gackt sighed quietly and rested his head against the door. “You won’t.”

The taller took a step forward and raised his arm, hesitating as he reached out to touch Gackt’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

“They’re dead.”

For the third time that day, You’s stomach dropped. He swore it was somewhere in the middle of the earth by now. It took him a moment to recover and squeeze Gackt’s shoulder. “I didn’t know.”

“I know.” Gackt put a hand on top of You’s and squeezed it. “It was a storm. They were returning home on a ship and…” he hesitated, sniffling. “There hasn’t been a storm since that’s claimed anyone’s life.” The prince turned to You, tears streaming down his face. “Until today.”

It was then that the merman realized how much of an impact his actions had taken on Gackt’s life. Not only did he save the prince from drowning, but he’d saved the man from the same fate that his parents had met. If he hadn’t come to the surface when he did, the prince would most probably be dead, and You could have been wandering the streets with no one to trust.

“You… you’re…” Gackt bit his lip, trying to hold back. It was clear to You that he couldn’t and the taller man pulled the blonde into his arms, hugging him tightly.

He glanced up when the door opened and Hyde poked his head in, followed by Megumi and Cha. You put a finger to his lips as Hyde frowned and stepped in. The merman whispered to the prince who had come in and let the man wipe his eyes quickly before letting go, watching him turn to everyone, red eyed yet composed.

“What is it?” he asked quietly, his voice bitter from the tears.

Cha stepped forward as Megumi went to You. “They’ve decided that the ceremony will be tomorrow morning. We thought that you’d like to know so you could get to bed early.”

“Yes, thank you.” Gackt nodded and turned to You. “Well, I guess this is goodnight. I hope your first night here will be pleasant.” He smiled at the taller man, then at Megumi. “You too.”

The two merfolk nodded and said goodnight to the prince as Cha led him out, the two speaking back and forth quietly. Hyde watched them leave, then closed the door behind them, turning to the remaining two.

“He hasn’t cried since his parents passed,” Hyde said quietly.

Megumi’s hand touched her lips in surprise. “When?”

“A little over a year ago,” he told them and stepped closer. “It took him a long time to even smile.”

You looked down as Megumi sat down on one of the chairs. “I think my saving him triggered the memories,” he admitted. “The storm as well.”

Hyde nodded and crossed his arms in thought before uncrossing them again to snap his fingers. “I’m sorry, I haven’t told you anything about myself.” He chuckled sheepishly.

You smiled a little. “Yes, that would be nice, though I’m sure Megumi could tell me a lot.” He smirked when the girl turned red.

Hyde laughed and mock bowed. “Well, I’m Hyde, but you already know that. I’m the first and only son in my family, though my mother always wished I was a girl.”

“You didn’t tell me that!” Megumi teased.

“My father had a different opinion.” He winked at her.

“A noble family then?” You asked curiously as Hyde nodded. “Me too. I’m like a third or fifth cousin to the royals.”

Hyde blinked. “What family are you from?”

The brunette’s breath caught in his throat as his hand went to his face. How could he have been so careless to say that!?

“I-in our country, he means!” Megumi replied quickly. You sighed quietly and sent her a thankful look, very relieved.

“Ah.” The short man nodded. “Well, I suppose you two will be attending the funeral service tomorrow then?”

“Funeral service?” You asked. “You mean…”

Hyde nodded. “Some of the men on Gackt’s ship didn’t make it, so we’re having a formal service for them.”

“Oh.” The brunette’s face fell. He wished he could have saved them all.

“You seem to have arrived at a bad time,” the other man commented then strolled over to clap You on the back. “Cheer up. There will be more fun times ahead.” He smiled.

“I sure hope so.” Megumi smiled.

“Don’t you worry,” Hyde moved away from You to tap her nose, making her giggle quietly. “Well, I best be off to bed too then, since I’ll be there of course.”

“Wait.” You grabbed the shorter’s arm as he was about to leave. “Could you show us the way back to our rooms?”

Hyde frowned. “You know, I wouldn’t be surprised if—” He was cut off as the door opened and Ren poked his head in.

“His highness said you two would probably need directions back to your rooms?” he asked quietly.

“…they sent a servant for you.” Hyde grinned as he finished.

You chuckled. “Thanks anyway,” he told the other noble and turned to Ren. “That would be most appreciated.”

“Come this way then, sir, miss.” Ren bowed as he stepped back to let them out.

“I guess we’ll see you tomorrow, Hyde.” You held out his hand to the man, who shook it with a smile. “It was great talking to you.”

“However short the talk may have been,” Hyde grinned. “I hope to bump into you again soon.”

Megumi popped up and hugged the noble and whispered something in his ear, for which Hyde smiled and nodded, saying goodnight as she let go replying the same. You couldn’t help but smirk. He had a feeling that Megumi had set her sights on learning about one specific human instead of all of them, like You had planned. He smiled to himself as they followed Ren. What she did didn’t matter to him, as long as she was happy. No, as long as they were all happy.

~*~*~

Comments, Questions? Corrections? >.>;

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/mikachan_/]

When I saw your icon on my friends page I was all 'yayy~! waii!' XDXD

This part is my favourite so far. ^^ The first half especially~ Yay for gakuyuu! <33

[lotus-beauty.livejournal.com]

lol, there will be lots more parts ;D i'm really glad you like it though~

[gacktyougirl.livejournal.com]

You know what I think. It's wonderful. Can't wait for more!

[lotus-beauty.livejournal.com]

lol, ;D

[legxleg.livejournal.com]

and I continue with the liking. GacktxYou is so cute :-)

[lotus-beauty.livejournal.com]

^_^ yay~