Feliciano opened his eyes, gasping in surprise. "Are you alright, Feri-kun?" Kiku asked, looking away from his camera, confused. Feliciano stood in shock; w-wasn't Kiku dead? He looked around the room, trying to piece the puzzle together. Where had Ivan and Alfred gone? Kiku continued to look at the other in puzzlement before sighing and turning off his camera for the moment. "W-where are we?" Feliciano asked quietly. Kiku tilted his head before replying, "We're here to take photos of ghosts…that is if there were any…" He frowned before continuing, "Remember, for Gilbert's dare?" The Japanese man took a step closer to the Italian, concern evident on his face, "Are you arright?" Feliciano stood silent for a moment before finally nodding, "Y-yeah…vee….I-I want to be alone for a bit, Japan." Kiku nodded, understanding somewhat, "If you're sure you wirr be arright…" He then turned and left.
When Kiku had left hearing and seeing distance, Feliciano ran for a secluded room where he hoped no one would find him. His mind raced with thoughts, 'Why am I in the past? How is Japan alive again, wasn't he dead just moments ago? What….what am I supposed to do to keep them alive…..Heh….'
Kiku hurried downstairs, ashamed of himself for being afraid of being alone. He quietly hoped that his friend was and would be alright by himself. Truth be, he felt ashamed for leaving him behind and debated momentarily on turning back, but his camera changed his mind once it started to indicate it was nearly dead. "Prease don't die….I stirr want to take pictures…" He muttered, finally spotting a light up-ahead. Perhaps Italy would be alright, he thought to himself. Perhaps he didn't feel well, but why was he suddenly so shocked? Well, nonetheless, he was already this far, no reason to go back at this moment. The sounds of his other friends grew more louder and filled the air as he came closer to the room everyone had gathered in.
"Awesome! Did you get the pictures?" Gilbert asked, excitement evident in his crimson-colored eyes. Kiku shook his head, "I'm afraid we courdn't find any ghosts, arthough I did take some rearry nice pictures of the rooms." He smiled. Gilbert sighed and frowned, allowing his head to hang in disappointment some, "Aww, I was really looking forward to seeing ghosts! What good is a haunted mansion if there aren't any ghosts! This is no where near as awesome as me!" he declared. Ludwig sighed and looked around for the Italian before turning to Kiku, "Where's Italy?" he asked. Kiku blinked then sat down his camera and plugged it up before replying, "He said he wasn't feering werr, and said he wanted to be arone. I am worried he isn't doing arright…" He admitted. The German frowned and stood up, "Perhaps we should go find him….Who knows vhat he could be doing." Kiku nodded in agreement, "Hai, I think he is on the fourth froor, we shourd check there first." As the two began to walk into the darkness, Gilbert got up and rushed after them, "Wait! I want to go too! Don't leave me with these losers!"
Once they had reached the fourth floor, Ludwing gathered the other two into a circle. "Alvight, we should probably split up to search for Feliciano. Gilbert, you check over that corridor," he pointed to a corridor to the left of them, then turned to Kiku, "And you check down zhat one." He commanded, pointing down the one behind them. The two nodded in agreement and understanding, "And I vill check the one to the right of us. Now, let's go." With this, the three split up and began to search their appropriate corridors.
Kiku walked along the corridor, searching each room that he could enter and listening for any signs of the Italian's presence. He was about to give up and join the other two until he heard a soft whimper, a familiar one. He looked around, "Fericiano?" he quietly called out, not receiving an answer. He then noticed a small gap in the wall, just big enough for someone about the height of the Italian to fit through. The Japanese man kneeled down and listened, the whimpering indicating that the Italian was most certainly at the end of the tunnel that the gap began. Quietly thanking his ancestors for being short enough to fit through, he crawled into it and followed the tiny tunnel. Inside, it was pitch black and the sides seemed to be decaying; not long after he had began, he had found the exit of the tunnel. The exit room appeared to be completely devoid of any doors or windows, but in the corner, Kiku spotted his friend, huddled and whispering and whimpering to himself.
"Fericiano?" Kiku called. The Italian instantly looked up at him, a smirk evident on his face and his eyes gleaming with a strange and cruel light to them, "Hello, Japan~" He greeted, Kiku looked at him with concern, staying where he was. Feliciano stood up slowly, "The others will die….they….will…..die…." Kiku's eyes widened in surprise at the statement and he took a step back, making sure the tunnel was close enough in case he needed to hurry. "W-what do you mean by that, Feri-kun?" The Italian grinned and looked directly into his eyes, "THEY have been cruel to us Japan! THEY deserve it! I will kill THEM!" he laughed for a few seconds, before Kiku interrupted. "No, that's not right! They do not deserve that Fericiano… I don't think you are feering werr." He hesitantly stepped closer to the other. In his mind, he quietly begged that the other just felt sick and that that was the reason why he was being so delusional. "But I am…I want to play a game~…Won't YOU help me, vee~?" Kiku shook his head furiously, "NO! I wirr not herlp you!" he yelled, stepping back again. "You don't feer werr! P-prease….ret's just go back to the others….and prease, forget these thoughts." Feliciano only laughed, "Just wait~….Alright, vee~! I want to see mister Germany and the others! Vee~!" Kiku looked at him with surprise at the sudden change in personality, and nodded, "A-arright then…." He turned and crawled into the hole. "But….can we stay here?...I don't want to go home….just yet…."
[Downstairs]
Alfred gleamed with excitement as everyone began to gather into a circle. "Yo! Dudes! We should play truth or dare! Germany goes first!" Ludwig sighed and crossed his arms, "fine…I choose dare." The American grinned, "I dare you to…..kiss Italy!" Ludwig turned red slightly and shook his head, "Nein, I refuse to, give me another."
Kiku looked over at Feliciano, worried as to what the other could possibly thinking at the moment. The Italian sat, emotionless with his arms crossed and his hands clenched into fists. "Yes, prease Amerika-san, give him another dare." Alfred tilted his head, "But-" Yao interrupted, "Aiyaa, just give him other dare-aru." The American sighed, "Fine…" Feliciano suddenly stood up, "I'm going to bed…." He muttered. The others stared at him for a moment before getting up as well. "Yeah..It's getting late dudes. Let's get some sleep!" Kiku watched as the others headed off to their sleeping bags, but he stayed where he was. Yao noticed and came over, "I can stay up with you-aru." Kiku blinked and looked up at him before nodding, "Arigatou, I wourd be honored to have your company." He slowly got up and looked at the others, "Me and Yao wirr keep rook out, go ahead and sreep." The others barely noticed and just continued to prepare to go to sleep.
Kiku glanced at Feliciano before sighing, "Ret's go upstairs to the roof…..I sort of want some fresh air…."
Japan….you know what I'm planning…But just wait, no matter what you do, and no matter where any of you hide, you all WILL die….
The others….they are finally asleep. What idiots….It would be easy, but it's not time…yet. I will start with the others….Why not you?
Kiku frowned and gazed up at the moon, "The night sky seems so much nicer….." Yao looked over at him, "What is it, Kiku?" Without turning away, he replied, "I'm sorry for hurting you arr that time ago….Gomen Nasai, I hope for you to forgive me….But I wourdn't even do it for myserf." He looked down at his hands, and frowned more, "I was so infruenced by the prospect of war and of the possibirity of my own freedom….I wanted it so much….It just….brinded me….." He took a deep breath and, to his surprise, felt the warmth of his brother's arms around him. "It's okay, aru. I forgive you." He whispered, smiling weakly. Kiku looked at him for a moment before returning the hug, burying his face into the other's shoulder. "This means so much to me, I'm so grad you don't hate me…." Yao smiled, "I could never hate my little brother."
Kiku finally pulled away from the hug and wiped away the few tears that had began to pool around his eyes. "So..what was wrong with Italy? He seemed so scary-aru!" Kiku nodded and sighed, "I'm not sure….He just started to say strange things….Is it common for westerners to say such things?" Yao tilted his head, "What sort of strange things?" Kiku sighed again, "Werr, he said that everyone shourd d-"
"China~ you can go to sleep now, vee~"
Kiku looked up in horror at the Italian standing behind them. "Oniisama! Run!" he begged. The Chinese man looked at his brother in confusion, "You alright, aru? You look pale like westerner!" He reached a hand out and placed it on his forehead, "You seem alright." Kiku smacked his hand away and glared up at the Italian. Feliciano smiled, "I think you should go to the doctor when we get home, vee~ It's alright though, China. I will stay up with him~" Yao looked at the two with confusion before sighing and getting up. Kiku's eyes widened in fear, "No! Prease! Don't reave me with him!" he begged. Yao only shook his head, "It's alright-aru. Italy, take good care of Japan or I will kill you." He smiled and yawned before leaving.
Once the Chinese man had left down the stairs, Feliciano turned to Kiku, smirking, his eyes gleaming evilly again. "Scared of something, Japan~?" Kiku backed away from him, soon feeling the edge of the building. "Y-you know what I'm afraid of…." He replied, stealing a glance at the height….they were six stories high. Feliciano laughed, "Not going to jump are you~? Vee~ Well, I want to play~" He suddenly grabbed the other's arm and began to drag him away from the edge and into the building, all with ease. Kiku thrashed and tried to free himself, "Herlp! Prease!" he cried, fear heavy in his voice. He continued to struggle, but all in vain. Finally Feliciano stopped dragging him and pulled the other's head up by the hair to show him the room before them.
The room was a completely white room with only a white piano in the center and a bookshelf in both of the corners. "Boring isn't it?" Feliciano grinned and dragged the other inside before easily tossing him against the piano. He then locked the door behind him.
Kiku did his best to pull himself up off of the floor, but had been injured by the impact against the piano; he frantically looked around the room for another escape, but was disappointed to see that the only one was blocked by Feliciano. "I want to paint~ vee~" He stepped closer, pulling out a butcher knife that he had gotten from the kitchen. "P-paint?" Kiku questioned, using every ounce of his strength now to not show the fear he felt. Feliciano nodded, "Si, I want to paint with your blood~" Kiku stepped away from the piano, "I-it doesn't have to be rike this." The Italian shrugged and laughed, "Oh but Si, It does!" Kiku shook his head, then noticing how the Italian was moving away from the door and that if careful and fast, then he could have a chance to escape. "No, it does not have to be….Prease….my….friend." Feliciano stopped and stared at him for a moment. "F-friend?" Kiku nodded, offering a small smile as he made sure to place his steps carefully. "Hai, friend."
Feliciano shook his head, "N-no! You're not my friend! He tells me so!" The Italian came closer. Kiku shook his head, "Who? Who terrs you? I-I've known you for a rong time, this isn't you!" Feliciano grinned, "It…IS….ME…" Kiku suddenly spotted his perfect chance and ran towards the door, only to be caught by his arm and forced onto the ground. Feliciano grinned and walked over. "H-how?" Kiku whispered in both fear and awe. "HE helps me~ HE would've have helped you too~ but you were stupid like them…."
"Ret go of me!" Kiku demanded, trying to pull away from the unseen force. Feliciano grinned and lifted the blade before stabbing it into the other's arm. Kiku tried not to scream but instead thrashed despite the throbbing pain the blade caused as it went deeper. He knew that he had to escape, for not only his life, but the others' lives depended on it. "I'm going to paint the room red with you~" he grinned. Kiku's eyes widened as the other pulled the knife out, "Prease…no…" The Italian grinned, "Don't be so afraid~ Now! For the fun!" he lifted the blade again and began to repeatedly stab the blade into Kiku's chest. The Japanese man yelled with pain, trying to beg for his life through the broken gasps for breath. "Mhm~I hope the other's are just as fun~" Feliciano laughed.
Finally, Kiku fell limp and stopped thrashing as blood left the corners of his lips in small streams. Feliciano grinned more and stopped stabbing him; he sat the knife to the side. "Dead already? What a pity…." He muttered and poked the other's face, "Red really would have suited you well, vee~" The Italian then dipped his hand into the open gash in the other's chest and into the blood. He smiled with pleasure and stood up, seeing no reaction from the other, and turned to the wall. "What to paint~" he hummed as he began to write on the wall with the blood.
A Broken SaMuRaI took his blade and plunged it deep into the dark, A PeRfEcT sAcRiFiCe for this FaLLeNKnIGhT…..
Arthur yawned and stood up, tiredly rubbing the back of his neck. Everyone else appeared to be asleep. He sighed and walked to the kitchen to make some tea, knowing that if anyone were awake, he would be forbidden from going in there. Once the tea had finished, he went up to the roof, not wanting to sit in the dark for hours, although he did muse over scaring the others with a spell or two. Outside, the stars shone brightly and all seemed as it should and peaceful. The British-man sighed and looked up at the shining night sky, "I hate you stars…..Always mocking my failures…." He took a sip of tea and frowned, "Cold already? How terrible…." He sat the cup down and paced the roof for a moment before looking back up at the stars, "Do you never stop? Just go AWAY!" he yelled before sinking to his knees. "Am I truly good for nothing? All the other's hate me….I'm sure of it….I'm just a failure, I can't even have a family! Oh why can't there just be one chance? One chance to relive my former glory…..One chance to have a family, have Alfred see me as a brother again. Just one….." He looked down at the ground below the house, "A nation can't die….All that result from this is a few broken bones, a mad queen, and even worse, that bloody frog taking care of me again….blegh, French food."
Suddenly, a familiar tune seemed to float from inside the building, "Huh? Isn't that…that one song Kiku is always humming? I forgot he was awake…..I guess Yao must have went to bed….Well maybe he will want to talk, I'm sure he must be bored." Arthur smiled some and went inside, following the familiar melody down the stairs to the fifth floor and down a corridor before noticing something. "Could that be….Blood! Japan!" he quickly burst into a run, still following the melody until he came to a door that seemed to house the strange song. "J-japan? Are you in there? Are you alright?" he asked, hesitantly opening the door.
He instantly froze at the gruesome sight before him. Inside, Kiku lay against what should have been a pure white piano, he and just about the entire room, were covered in blood. Arthur ran over to the other and gingerly picked the corpse of his friend up, gathering him into his arms. The Japanese man was cold to the very touch, but his blood still seemed to be somewhat warm. "What….happened to you?" Arthur whispered before noticing two severe wounds on one of his arms and the other, a deep gash, in his chest, bad enough to see the other's dead heart.
Tears rushed to the Englishman's eyes for his fallen comrade, they had been friends, something rare for Arthur. It was now apparent to him that Kiku had been murdered, but the question remained as to who had done it, nonetheless, Arthur vowed to kill the culprit in both vengeance and in hopes of saving the others. All of a sudden, an idea came to his mind. "I hope I'm not too late…"
Arthur dipped his hand into Kiku's blood and lightly put some of it on the Asian's lips and around his eyes. "Yfamir, necrodendrun crilia…." He began to chant, a greenish-glow enveloping the two as he continued, "Africialia lumenus witrian…" Slowly the wounds on Kiku began to heal; his heart returned to normal, no longer bearing the stab wounds, and the wounds sealed without a single scar. "Necroseimasu!"
Arthur sat his friend down and stepped away from the body. Kiku wearily opened his eyes and rubbed at them in confusion, "W-where's Itary?" His eyes widened and he jumped up, frantically looking around, "The o-other's! Where are they!? I-I have to warn the-aagh!" He suddenly fell to the ground, clenching his chest. "Calm down, Kiku. You'll hurt yourself." Kiku looked at him with fear, before realizing it was just Arthur. "W-what happened?" he panted, trying to calm down. "I'd….rather not discuss that…." Kiku looked at him with confusion before sighing then becoming confused again, "What's this awfur taste!" Arthur laughed a little and sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, "Erm…blood…." Kiku looked up at him, "B-brood? What the herr were you doing with brood!? You weren't doing some weird experimentar sperr on me were you?!" Arthur shook his head, "N-no! T-this isn't important…What did you mean by you have to warn the others?"
Kiku blinked and looked around, "Is everyone aright? I-Itary hasn't done anything yet?" Arthur nodded, still confused, "Yeah…Everyone's fine….Wait…..Italy did this!?" Kiku nodded, "Hai….Something's wrong with him…I'm not sure what though…" Arthur sighed, "It must have been someone that looked like him, Japan. Italy would never do such a thing, you of all nations should know this." Kiku growled and shook his head, "I'm not rying! We have to get to the others!" He then pulled himself up and ran to the stairs. "Hey! Wait for me! I said to be careful!"
Arthur followed after him, still confused. What was he talking about? And why was he so terrified of Feliciano, he couldn't have possibly of done this….
Japan is dead…Next is stupid GERMANY! The bastard always sees me as weak and pathetic! USELESS! I'll show him and Prussia who's the weak ones! No….WE will~
