The cicadas buzzed, ringing like soft chorus in the background of the warm summer day. A figure stepped up the small wooden steps to the small traditional japanese dwelling far up in the isolated mountains. He slipped quietly inside the sliding paper doors and padded over to the futon spread out over the tatami mat, tucking the yukata underneath his knees as he knelt down.
"Hey, hao are yuu duing'?" he said softly, his American accent awkward and unpracticed in the Japanese tongue.
The elderly Japanese man underneath the thin blanket glanced up to meet his dear friend's eye. "You did not need to come Alfred-san," he spoke, his voice rough with the grain of chronic illness. "But thank you. It means a lot to me."
"Uf coarse," the vampire replied, trying hard to mask the heartbreak that was pooling in his bright blue eyes with a wide smile. He reached out, taking Kiku's frail, wrinkled hand in his own. "It is leest I can do." His fingers squeezed gently. "I wish..." he said in his own English, his throat tightening.
Kiku seemed to understand and nodded faintly. He closed his eyes, content to merely soak in the vampire's presence, even though his fingers were turning cool now that he was out of the sunlight. He could feel the bone ring around the vampire's finger, a constant for nearly a century.
"Have you considered," the elderly man said after a long moment of peace, "going back to Kirkland-dono?"
Immediately, the vampire grew tense, his body seeming to grow even colder as his blue eyes turned glacial. "Never," he hissed softly, feeling his teeth sharpen between his lips. He only just managed to keep his eyes from flashing in defense. "I will never go back."
Then he turned apologetic as his flared temper cooled as abruptly as a hot stoke being plunged into water. "I... sorry. I'm sorry, Kiku. I know you two are friends."
"I have been your friend first," the elderly man replied softly. "And I worry. I worry about you being left all alone. And... and I worry about him. I worry about what he is turning into..." His frail body suddenly heaved with a raspy cough and made Alfred hover over him in worry. However, as he recovered, he spoke in a graveled voice, "Alfred-san... I do not know why you decided to leave. But he has been different without you. Please, to honor the memory of what you once were. Please go and try to at least put your differences to bed."
"Kiku... Kiku, I..." Alfred spoke, his determination failing him. How was he supposed to say no to a dying man's last wish. To Kiku's last wish? "Kiku, c-can't you give me a different... What you're asking..."
Kiku didn't know. Nobody knew. And if they knew, no one would understand or care. What was the word of their infallible general as opposed to a stray vampire who should have been slated for execution?
Toris, Ludwig, Eduard... they were all gone. Kiku was the last one...
Kiku, however, only gave his old friend an understanding smile and patted the top of his hand. "I think... I am tired. Let me sleep for a little while. Perhaps we will have some tea later..."
Alfred nodded, even though after all his years with Arthur, he still hated the stuff. Now, he only hated it even more. "Yes, saonds gud," he said, switching back to Japanese to make it easier on his old friend. "I be close bai." Pulling away reluctantly, he pushed himself up off the floor and headed over to room with the hearth. He closed the door behind him with a heavy sigh, feeling his chest ache with loss.
Then he felt a hand touch his shoulder.
"Alfred," a soft and devastatingly familiar voice called into his ear, like the memory of a nightmare.
The vampire reacted violently, throwing his hand up and shoving hard at the nothingness next to him. His punch met with flesh, sending the leader of the Watchers flying and sliding painfully across tatami. The smaller figure let out a sharp wheeze, the full impact of the blow sending him into a bloody coughing fit. It didn't get any sympathy from Alfred. He'd heal up soon enough.
"I told you to never do that," he snarled, baring his sharp teeth and claws. "What the hell are you doing here? Did you follow me?!"
"I, no," the immortal replied, pushing himself up to his feet as he looked his former lover square in the eye, his hand nursing the place where Alfred had crushed his bones with his strength. Arthur Kirkland hadn't changed much in the fifty years since Alfred last saw him. His hair was going that strange grey-blond that Ivan's did, but otherwise, he looked much the same as the young writer that Alfred fell so hard for.
But this man was nothing like him. Not anymore.
"I am here because my friend is dying," Arthur replied shortly, folding his arms over his chest even though he was still in a good amount of pain. Then his gaze seemed to soften as he looked the vampire over. "But... it is nice to see you, Alfred," he added quietly. His eyes landed on the bone ring still upon Alfred's finger and he smiled sadly. "Still have that I see..."
Alfred cradled the ring against himself, his nerves racing at the mention of it. It was his key to freedom. He needed that freedom, especially after having it nearly all taken away. As the Watcher took a step forward, Alfred stepped back, feeling like a cornered animal. "Alfred," Arthur chided sharply, before he changed his tone to something more entreating. "Alfred, please. I miss you so much. Please, just stay. I want to talk to you."
Even as a request, Alfred could feel his throat begin to tighten, the aged old Collar doing its nasty work in case the request became command. God, how stupid and naive he'd been to agree to that spell.
"No," the vampire snapped back, watching the flash of pain in Arthur's face. Instead of relishing it, it only made him feel sick. "I am only here for Kiku. I don't have to listen to you. I don't have to talk to you. And I don't want to see you. If I hear so much as a peep from you directed at me, I'm going to rip your throat out even if it burns me. And you remember how much it hurt like a bitch last time, don't you?"
Arthur stood there in stony silence, his beautiful green eyes welled with incredulity. He opened his mouth, but wisely shut it. He ducked away, heading through the sliding doors into Kiku's bedroom and leaving Alfred alone to his own thoughts.
His entire body seemed to heave with a long silent sigh, using breath his lungs didn't need. He sank down to the ground, trying to steady his quaking nerves from Arthur's close proximity. His unbeating heart was wrecking the rest of him with a swath of emotions and he realized with horror that he still did care about Arthur, amidst the hatred and the bile. How else could the other man have such a hold over him like this?
Fine. Fine. He would stay here. Only just as long as it took Kiku to pass. And he would stay calm and collected, even with Arthur close, just to show how much Alfred didn't give a shit about him anymore.
Then he would leave and never speak to Arthur again, Kiku's last wish be damned.
