On this day Yoshiki was driving his Lexus, usually he assigned this to his driver or secretary, and stayed on the back seat. Too many business phone calls made an atmosphere of tension during the ride, but this day everything was different. There was plenty of time for the recording scheduled that evening so there was no need to hurry.
It takes only half an hour of riding the speedway to get to the studio located in North Hollywood, but this time Yoshiki took a turn onto the usual road.
It was the beginning of the evening of May the 1st 1998, but the sky over Los Angeles was still light and warm sun rays were flowing on the ground. Watching the blue sky spreading behind the windshield Yoshiki was enjoying the short ride.
Suddenly a phone call came in, this number was known to a very limited number of people, so Yoshiki understood immediately who was calling. This must be Amy, his American secretary.
- ` Hello, Yoshiki! `
The voice was not Amy’s but some young firm employee’s.
- ` What happened? `
Answering the question, the employee started talking quickly:
- ` I got this number from Amy, there was a call from Japan which said that there is an emergency, and you were asked to call this number. `
This was the number of a close acquaintance.
When Yoshiki heard the girl’s words, the blue sky faded before his eyes.
“ An emergency…..”
Something happened to the members of the family or to someone from the staff? Someone had a car accident or its just troubles at work? On finishing the call, Yoshiki dialed the familiar number, without delaying it until coming to the studio.
The call was answered nearly immediately.
- ` What happened?` - Asked Yoshiki trying to stay calm.
- The voice of a friend sounded distant . Yoshiki heard only one phrase:
- ` Hide died this morning…..`
Maybe the familiar voice was saying something else, but Yoshiki had not heard anything already. He did not remember how he had finished the talk.
Hide died?
There was a complete mix-up in his head. He didn’t understand where to go or what to do.
Hide died…..
In that very moment Yoshiki had heard these words, pronounced by a quiet voice, his thoughts switched off. Later he could not recall what he was thinking about in these minutes. His hands on the wheel got cold; glitter from sun rays were striking his eyes. Wearing a handy black t-shirt and training trousers, Yoshiki felt like his entire body numbed and went to the bottom of the sea.
Gasping for breath, he opened the window. The hundred times watched view behind the window seemed strange and unfamiliar.
In some time he realized that he had lost his way. Having made couple of turns, he saw that it was impossible to drive out to the highway, and proceeded his way along an unknown road.
After ten minutes of such driving he had to stop the car, sighing deeply Yoshiki, for the first time thought about the trustworthiness of this information.
What had happened to hide? Maybe he was in a car accident? Is it possible to say “died” without possessing the whole lot of information? Maybe circumstances haven’t been cleared up yet? Maybe everything is just not as it seems?
But on the other hand, Yoshiki knew that the man who told him the news was not lying. Still, something has just happened.
Clutching with his cold hands he ordered himself to drive towards the studio urgently.
Starting the engine for the second time and clenching the wheel he managed to drive out to the highway, but he was not able to stop the quiver shaking his body.
Within half an hour he saw the familiar studio parking lot. Having jumped out of the car, he flew up the stairs and announced his arrival via intercom. As soon a member of staff opened the heavy wooden door he passed the wide corridor and disappeared in his office.
Without sitting he dialed the number of X-Japan Head office in Tokyo, It must of been
10 a.m on the 2nd of March in Japan.
Waiting for connection Yoshiki kept on hoping that truth would be discovered and he calmed down. He will be able to return to his recording, scheduled for today.
Soon he heard the familiar voice of the manager. He was sounded so clear as if coming from the next room.
Yoshiki started to talk rapidly:
- ` I’ve just been notified about hide, but I don`t understand what has happened.
- ` Right! We’ve just received a message, Hide died this morning.
The manager proceeded to talk calmly.
` On the 2nd of March, at approximately half past seven in his own apartment in Minatoka Minami-adzabu Hide was found sitting with a towel around his neck which was fixed to the door knob. Hide was found unconscious by a girl who lived with him.`
- ` That’s how it is…. `
Yoshiki wasn’t able to pronounce a word, he had known this girl very well for ages.
` Connected to a volume ventilator Hide was rushed to the Hiro Hospital, but they failed to save his life. He was pronounced dead at 8:52 a.m. After consulting his next of kin, the preparation for his funeral has been started. Such unexpected news has also received wide response in media.`
Yoshiki had been listening to manager’s talk in complete silence and only forced himself to speak:
- ` I’m returning to Japan immediately.`
Yoshiki hung up he leaned with both hands on the black polished table as if he suddenly lost all his strength and then sat down in his black leather chair with high back and thought deeply.
First of all, it is necessary to let the engineers go gathered in the studio for the evenings recording. It was he who commissioned it to the staff members. He then called Amy.
- ` I urgently need to book a ticket for the next flight to Narita.`
The ticket was booked for the 1 a.m. flight on the 2nd of May.
Later Yoshiki traveled back home from studio, he sat down on the sofa in his spacious living-room and remained motionless for the whole evening, and then aghast, as if lost a sense of reality, he exclaimed:
- ` Hide died….This can’t be true`
Yoshiki remembered an international telephone call when he talked to Hide about a month ago, and his cheerful voice.
- `Yoshiki! How is it going?`
As always, hide’s happy voice greeted him and started the talk about life.
- `What are you doing now?`
Yoshiki said that he was finishing working with the disc of Takeshi Kitano’s daughter Syoko, which he was producing.
- `Excellent work!`
- `It’s very good!`
There was nothing strange about the talk, and he didn’t say anything about his matters.
- `Bye!`
And the conversation finished.
That’s why Yoshiki couldn’t understand the reason for his sudden death.
The figure of fun-loving Hide, laughing, with slightly narrowed eyes, vividly appeared before his eyes. In the time of X Yoshiki and Hide often hit people with their childish antics. During the national tour it often happened that they behaved like schoolboys, fooling around together, throwing pillows in the hotel room, making people around them frustrated.
Maybe now hide started another prank? Making people around scared, and then appearing before us with such a clever look on his face. When it comes to Hide even more is possible.
After that, Yoshiki’s mood slightly improved, but he started to get angry. If he decided to trick me, he will not get away with it! When I’ll see him, I’ll make him pay and a heavy price.
So alternately feeling sorry and angry for a friend Yoshiki spent all night without closing his eyes.
Taking a shower, putting on a white shirt and a black suit Yoshiki looked in the mirror and was not surprised at his pale looks.
Not having had breakfast he went to the airport in Los Angeles as though he was afraid to lose a minute.
Upon arriving at the airport he immediately checked in at the ANA counter and went into the waiting room.
Suddenly he saw his friend’s figure evidently waiting for a flight to Tokyo.
- `Hide, wait!`
Praying that all this was just a bad joke Yoshiki sank into the nearest free seat, but the figure of Hide boarding the plane was still before his eyes.
When Yoshiki finally entered the plane he saw that on the contrary to his expectations first-class seats were empty. That’s it! No more excuses. I’m going to kill him, when we meet. No one will stop me.
The plane took off. Yoshiki felt pressure on his back, but the smiling face of Hide stood before his eyes.
Soon the aircraft gained height and passengers were offered drinks. Yoshiki ordered a mineral water. He had no appetite. It’s OK the water will be enough to survive the twenty - hours flight.
The next minute he saw the NHK news on the front screen and his gaze was fixed upon this. It was the seven o’clock news on the 3rd of May.
`The suicide of the former X –JAPAN member HIDE.`
Now it was impossible not to recognize that all that happened was true. On hearing the news, Yoshiki cried out weakly and covered his face with his hands. Hide’s smile and his jolly laughing slowly faded in his mind’s eye.
Hugging himself with his arms Yoshiki bit his lip painfully trying hard to keep away sobs rushing from his throat, but under the dark glasses tears visible to no one ran down his cheeks.
No comments:
Post a Comment