Authors' Note: As you might notice, the "Authors'" in "Authors' Note" is plural. That is not a typo, it is intentional. This is a collaborative project between SeraSearaSpin and A Field of Starlight.

Hi! A Field of Starlight here. My friend and I have decided to write a story together! This underlined/italicized script means I'm the one talking. Or, rather, typing.

And then there's me, SeraSearaSpin! *waves* I get to be bold because bold is just awesome like that. (Hey!)Woo! So, enough of us, onwards, young chilliblain!

I actually don't know what a chilliblain is. I don't think it's a word. I don't even know if any of you are young or not. OLD PEOPLE EVERYWHERE HIDE YOUR KIDS HIDE - *ahem* So.

Um... Anywho... On to the story!

Prologue: Before we fall

Autumn 1929

"Hey, who are you?"

The 7-year old Japanese boy turned, startled by the sudden intrusion into his corner of the playground.

"K-Kiku..."

"Hi Kiku! I'm Alfred! Wanna be friends?"

"A-ano... hai?"

"Hi? But I said hi already. I asked if you wanted to be friends! Do you?" Alfred jumped up and down excitedly.

"Hai... hai mean yes."

"Huh? 'Hi' means 'yes'? Well, if you say so... Come on, let's go play on the swings!"

The jubilant young American ran off, dragging Kiku along behind him.

After that first day, their friendship bloomed. After finding out that his friend's English wasn't very good, Alfred took it on himself to teach Kiku. This was made easier by the fact that they lived only a street away from each other. Soon they were sharing everything together.

When they were 10, Alfred officially introduced Kiku to his twin, Matthew, their older brother and caretaker, Arthur, and their cousin, Francis.

"Hey, Arthur, Mattie, I'm home! I brought my friend Kiku!"

"The one you always talk about at dinner?" Arthur replied huffily, emerging from the living room.

"Hello Kiku. I'm Arthur. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Kiku smiled and took the offered hand. "Konnichiwa. Are you Alfred's father?"

Arthur burst out laughing. "No, no! I'm his older brother. Matthew!" he called up the stairs. "Come greet the guest!"

Kiku used the distraction to turn quizzically to Alfred. He didn't even have to ask the question before the American boy replied.

"It's... complicated. See, Arthur is actually me and Mattie's half brother. He's 15 years older than us. Mom divorced his dad when he was 10, and they moved here from England. Me and Mattie, our dad was in an accident when we were 3, and Mom died giving birth to us."

"Oh... I'm so sorry, Alfred-kun..." Kiku said, slightly shocked.

"Oh, it's fine. So anyways, we just live with Arthur. Oh, and Francis. He's our cousin from France. Here he comes now! Hey, Francis!"

"Ohonhonhon~! Ah, so this is Kiku! Very pleased to meet you, mon cher! Francis Bonnefoy, at your service!" He tried to offer his hand for a handshake, but couldn't as he was carrying Matthew over his shoulder. The boy was squirming.

"F-Francis!" he protested. "Put me down!"

"OK!"

"Maple- Ow! Francis!" Francis had dropped Matthew on the ground unceremoniously.

"Francis! What have I said about throwing the boys around? Bloody frog..." Arthur scolded as he dragged Francis towards the kitchen. "And we need to cook our supper!"

Faint sounds of arguing were heard as they disappeared into another part of the house.

Kiku blinked.

"Um... hi... I'm Matthew..." Matthew said shyly after his brother and cousin left.

"Oh! Konnichiwa, Matthew-kun. I'm Kiku."

"Mattie here is actually Canadian!" Alfred decided to randomly exclaim. "That's why he says maple all the time. And is addicted to maple syrup."

"A-Al! I'm not addicted!"

"Suuuurreee," Alfred said, rolling his eyes and laughing. Matthew frowned and pushed him.

"Hey!"

"Um... Matthew-kun? Why-"

"Why am I Canadian? Uh... well, our mom was, and she... she kinda wanted one of us to have her nationality and last name... It was one of the things she insisted on before having us."

"So... you're last name isn't Jones?" Kiku asked.

"Nope. It's Williams." Matthew smiled. "Arthur has a different last name, too, since he has a different father."

By the end of the night, Kiku's head was spinning. As they settled down for their sleepover, Kiku sighed.

"You have a complicated family, Alfred-kun."

"Yep!"

Kiku, in turn, introduced him to his adopted family. They found that their brothers, Arthur and Yao, worked together, and Alfred immediately became friends with Kiku's younger brother, Yong Soo. Kaoru and Mei, only 6 and 7 years of age, soon regarded Alfred in the same way they regarded Kiku: as a beloved big brother.

"Nii-san! I'm home! This is Alfred."

"Ah, Alfred! I'm Kiku's older brother, Wang Yao, aru. Come, come, make yourself at home. Would you like some tea, aru?"

"Yes please, Mr. Yao!" He took a sip from the cup he was handed. "Hey, this is the same tea that Arthur drinks!"

"Just call me Yao, aru. And did you say Arthur?"

"Yep! Arthur Kirkland, my older brother!" Alfred smiled, slurping at the tea.

Yao looked bewildered. "Arthur is your brother, aru? I... He's my co-worker."

"Really? That's so cool!" Alfred exclaimed. "Kiku, that's awesome, isn't it!"

"Uh... hai..."

Then someone slammed into the couch they were sitting on.

"ANIKI!"

Said person was followed by two other giggling children, who both jumped on Kiku. "Ge ge! Ge ge!"

"Ah... Alfred-kun, meet my siblings. Yong-Soo-" He gestured at the hyperactive child with a random hair curl.

"Annyeonghaseyo, da ze!" Yong Soo said, a giant grin on his face.

"-Kaoru-"

"Ni hao," the boy deadpanned.

"-and Mei."

"Ni hao!" Mei smiled brightly at Alfred.

"Hi!" he replied, smiling back. Then he frowned. "Wait... Isn't 'ni hao' Chinese?"

"Yes," Kaoru says simply.

"We're Chinese! Well, I'm Taiwanese... But I still speak Chinese!" Mei piped up.

"But... Kiku is Japanese... Right?" Alfred turns to his friend, who sighed.

"Hai. Yao, Mei, and Kaoru are family, but Yong Soo and I are adopted, him from Korea and me from Japan. Yao's family also moved around a lot before coming here, so the three of them were all born in different places."

"Cool! And you said my family was complicated!" Alfred laughed, nudging Kiku in the ribs. The Japanese boy cracked a small smile.

"I suppose that wasn't very fair of me, was it?"

The two boys stuck together, always, never separating for more than a month at a time, and that was only when they went on vacations. They shared almost all of their memories of growing up, and lived in happiness for a few more years. Then, 1941 rolled around.

And that is where our story begins.

Authors' Note: WAAAAVE AT THE PEOPLE! :D

So, I hope you enjoyed this prologue! This is probably the most cheerful this story will ever get, so be warned! The good stuff (read: angst) shall come soon!

Greetings, humanoids! So, yeah, that was the cheerful part, probably. No icky ships, because evil romance, and enjoy the story! Don't forget to review! :D