CHAPTER 2: THE SCHOOL PLAY
The next day Kiku waited excitedly for Alfred by the school bus stop. Yesterday after lunch, his day had begun to look up. His math teacher really seemed to have liked him, and math was one of Kiku's best subjects so he was going to look forward to that class every day. His other classes had been alright too, though he didn't like having to take P.E. this year. Kiku wasn't what you might call "sports oriented;" in fact he was quite the opposite. His knees had gotten rather weak after only a few minutes running and he knew then that this year would prove to be difficult. Today he turned in all of his signed forms in early, only Miss Arlovaskaya hadn't been impressed. Luckily for Kiku he'd sent his essays to Arthur last night for him to look at, he'd had made a considerable amount of corrections but in the end they were still Kiku's essays. Kiku hadn't thought that seeing the look on Miss Arlovaskaya's face would be so enjoyable after turning in two very well written essays, but it was. In first period Mr. Densen had made them do an improv exercise. Kiku tried his best though, he hadn't thought he did all that well and performing in such a small room wasn't usually his forte.
Alfred came from around the corner suddenly, Kiku jumped "oh Alfred! H-Hello!" he said nervously trying not to blush.
Alfred grinned widely, not noticing Kiku's tension "What's up?"
Kiku tried to relax "N-not much, the school days are shorter here than in Japan so…"
He trailed off as Alfred interrupted him "What?! Man to me the day seems to drag on, though I was looking forward to seeing you. How long are the school days in Japan?"
Kiku began to walk to his house, which was, luckily for him, near the school " In Japan the days start around 8:30 and end at 4, but most everyone stays until 6"
"Woah" Alfred's eyes widened "I could never stay at school that long."
Kiku shrugged "You get used to it after a while I guess."
Alfred shook his head "I don't think I could do that, when do you have time for video games and stuff?"
"I don't know, I guess we just play whenever we have the time." Kiku smiled "Japan is a great place though, don't let the school thing dampen your feeling toward it."
Alfred shook his head "No way man, I still want to go there some day."
"Maybe you could visit my hometown" Kiku looked away and blushed.
"Dude, that would be awesome!" Alfred pumped his fist in the air "I will definitely do that someday."
Kiku smiled secretly to himself "I think that would be fun."
For the rest of the walk Alfred talked about his interest in comic books and super heroes. Kiku couldn't help but think it was cute how Alfred would go off about his love of Super Man and Batman, though he loved Super Man more. Kiku learned that day of Super Man's weaknesses and strengths and all the villains he fought right up until they got up to Kiku's doorway. Kiku began to take out his keys.
"Why don't you just ring the bell?" Alfred questioned.
"Oh, my mom's not home." Kiku said somewhat quietly. He found the key he was looking for and slid it into the lock.
"Why doesn't your mom stay at home?" Alfred asked, cocking his head to the side again.
Kiku shook his head "Both my parents work, they won't be home until quite a bit later." He tried his best to hide a blush, knowing that his private thoughts would probably never come true.
"Oh, that's cool man, I wish I got some time alone at home but my mom stays at home all day. My dad works till pretty late but he keeps tabs on me being an ex-military man and all…" Alfred trailed off and looked down at his now shuffling feet.
Kiku ignored the awkwardness and went ahead and opened the door. He wasn't really sure what Alfred had meant on "tabs". He figured that since he'd just said his dad was ex-military that he didn't know Alfred was gay. But maybe he was beginning to suspect something if he ever went any further than holding hands with his girlfriend. He guessed that Alfred didn't want to discuss his sexuality in front of a complete stranger, if that was what Alfred had been referring to of course; he didn't know if Kiku was trustworthy or not. Come to think of it, why had Francis been so trusting with Kiku? Unfortunately he didn't have time to think it over because Alfred was busy ogling his house at a loud volume.
"Dude. Your house is wicked cool!"
Kiku blushed a little "You really think so?"
"Yah man! I've never seen any house like this before!" The outside of the house appeared to be like a normal American home, though the inside was what had amazed Alfred. Tatami mats covered the floors, a low table sat where the dining table would usually be, and cushions surrounded it. In another room were couches and a television, Japanese artwork decorated much of the house, and even bamboo was growing in the corner. It was a mix of modern and traditional eras.
Kiku slipped off his shoes and put his house shoes on, Alfred began to walk forward when Kiku grabbed his wrist, a light blush dusted both their faces "P-Please take your shoes off before you walk any farther! It's tradition, if you want a pair of house shoes we probably have a pair that would fit you."
Alfred looked down at his wrist that Kiku still had a firm grip on. Kiku, coming to the slow realization that he was still holding on to it, quickly let go when he caught on, deepening his own blush. Alfred laughed and took his shoes off, pretending as if it never happened. He also took off his bomber jacket and hung it up on a coat rack. "Naw my socks are fine, I have pretty big feet anyway so…"
"I see…" Kiku began to say, but Alfred continued to talk.
"And you know what they say about having big feet and hands don't you?"
Kiku shook his head, he really wasn't familiar with any American phrases or customs considering he'd spent most of his summer inside not knowing anyone.
"Dude, I have so much to teach you" Alfred chuckled "but they say it means you have a big dick, which is totally true!" Alfred laughed louder this time and began to march around as if he were a superhero. Kiku blushed and looked away, wondering if this was what American boys really talked about together, or if Alfred had been flirting with him.
Kiku quickly changed the topic. "H-how about we get some homework done before we make bento boxes and play video games?"
Alfred deflated almost immediately "Homework? Really? Do we have to?"
Kiku nodded his head "Yes, I like it to be the first thing I do before anything else."
Alfred sighed heavily and threw himself back onto some of the mats on the floor, near the table "fiiinnee"
Kiku smiled to himself and sat down on the other side of the table. He pulled his calculus book out first. Alfred sat up reluctantly and pulled his own out. Kiku raised his eyebrows in surprise "You're in calculus?"
Alfred paused before opening it. "Yeah, so?"
"Well I just thought…" Kiku blushed
"Thought what?" Alfred's face showed hurt, as if he knew what Kiku was going to say next. Perhaps it was something that had been said to him more than once before.
"Well I just thought…American students weren't all that smart"
Alfred blinked and looked extremely offended "Not all Americans are dumbasses you know."
"Yes I know but your te-"
"Don't even get started on that! I'm tired of hearing about how America is so low in schooling, we're not Kiku! Every other country just puts their highest scores together whereas we put all of our scores together. We're not stupid and in fact a lot of exchange students struggle when they get here so don't talk bad about this country!"
Kiku blinked in surprise "I had no idea Alfred…" He blushed and looked down "I'm sorry!"
Alfred frowned "I'm sorry I got so excited, but I just got brought up with a lot of different cultures. When I look at other countries and other cultures and compare it with our own…I mean, yes, we have our problems, but so do they. And we have just as many great things as other countries! Maybe more!" Alfred winked "And you mean to tell me that Japan is perfect in every way?"
Kiku sat back and thought for a moment "I guess…there are some things I don't like"
Alfred grinned "You see, man! No country is perfect. The grass is always greener on the other side."
Kiku blinked "I don't know this phrase"
Alfred scratched his head "Uum it just means like, when things aren't going so great for you it seems like someone else's life might be a breeze and it looks really nice. Like better grass than your own I guess, and you want that grass but really the grass isn't as nice as it looks and neither is another person's life. Did I explain that okay?"
Kiku nodded "I think I understand now, I agree."
Alfred grinned "Great! I'm glad."
Kiku began to think that he had never seen a happier or upbeat kid in his life, Alfred never seemed to be too sore about anything. "Let's do our math" He said, finally opening his book.
Alfred nodded "Mhm! Good thing this isn't English or we might have to call Art!"
Kiku chuckled "You're not good at English? But it's your first language!"
Alfred chuckled a little "I know, but I just can't seem to grasp all the grammar and stuff all the time."
"Huh weird" Kiku shrugged and took his pencil out.
"Say, could I borrow one of those?" Alfred asked, eyes wide with hope.
"A pencil?" Kiku asked, holding his own up. Alfred nodded his head vehemently. "Um, sure, just try to return it"
"Of course!" Al grinned.
Kiku tossed him a pencil and began his own work as Alfred started his, Alfred also took a snack pack out of his bag and munched on that during the time. Kiku couldn't help but between each problem sneak peeks at Alfred working. His arm moving slowly as he worked, the way his shirt fell against his muscles in, what Kiku thought, was the most attractive way possible. His glasses kept slipping down his nose as he pushed them back up to his bright blue eyes. So blue, Kiku thought, that they looked like the sky on the clearest day. Though after he pushed them up, he would curse under his breath about how he didn't really want to wear them. His golden hair was somewhat shaggy, but straight except for one cowlick that just couldn't seem to stay down. Kiku thought he looked like he could be one of the boys drawn on the old Coca-Cola adds he'd seen in his history books. He thought maybe Alfred had been sneaking peeks back at him, but he was sure it was just his imagination.
The two boys worked hard on their math for an hour or so, then moved on to Current Events and other subjects they had homework in. Somehow in the end of all of it they had ended up next to one another, shoulders touching. "Are you almost finished?" Kiku asked, putting the last of this homework back in his backpack.
"Yeah, but whatever, I can finish this later" Alfred shrugged and shoved the papers into his messy bag. "Let's make some food man! I'm starving."
"You were eating almost the whole time we were doing work" Kiku smirked a little as he said this.
"Yeah I've always been an eater, why do you think I exercise so much? I do a good job keeping it off right?" He laughed and posed for Kiku, who blushed and looked away quickly.
"Ah yes! You do!" He began to walk into the kitchen. "Let's begin then, shall we?" He tried not to let his voice crack at the end, though he was sure it did.
Alfred bounded after him "alright! Food!"
"Agh stop shooting me Alfred!"
"I'm sorry I just can't get the controls for some reason!"
"Maybe if your hand was on the remote instead of in the chip bag you could navigate!"
"That is not the problem!" Alfred took another mouthful of chips.
"Sure it's not..." Kiku rolled his eyes as he dodged another one of Alfred's errant bullets.
The door opened behind the two boys and closed with a loud bang. "きくただいま！あなたと誰かか？"
"こんにちはママ！はい、私の新しい友人アルフレッドはこちら！"Kiku replied to his mother.
The older woman walked in, surprised to see how muscular the young American boy was. She spoke in broken English "Hello, I am Kiku's mother"
Alfred paused the game and turned around "Hi Mrs. Honda! I'm Alfred!" He grinned and waved. "It's nice to meet you."
She smiled wearily "Nice to meet you too." Alfred resumed the game after she didn't say anything else. Quietly she turned to Kiku "あなたの家事菊をやったことがありますか？私は、彼らが終了されていないことを表示したくない！" (have you done your chores? I don't want to see that they're not done!)
Kiku sighed as Alfred killed his character by mistake again. He turned to his mother "私はそれらを行っていないんママ、私は一日中アルフレッドとの宿題をやっていないしてきた."(No mom I haven't done them, I've been doing homework with Alfred all day)
Kiku's mother sighed heavily "あなたは、別の時間をかけてあなたの友人を持っている必要があるとしている、彼らが行われる必要がある。彼を家に送ってください。"(Well they need to be done! Send Alfred home, you have to finish)
Kiku whined "しかし、お母さん！" (but mom!)
"いいえ言い訳ん！今さあ！"(No buts!) She said, snappily. She walked into the kitchen and began to start dinner.
Kiku turned to Alfred and paused the game "My mom says you have to go home…"
Alfred looked at him, a little disappointed "What? Why?"
Kiku huffed "I have to do chores."
Alfred deflated "Oh man that's so lame! We didn't even get to watch any scary movies!"
Kiku chuckled "It's only Tuesday, you can come spend the night Friday if you want"
"Really?!" Alfred brightened "But I want you to see my house too!"
A light blush dusted Kiku's face. "R-really?"
Alfred nodded "In fact why don't you stop by my house on Friday, bring some movies!"
"U-Um okay!" Kiku said.
"You can just take the bus with me right after school."
Kiku nodded and stood up "That sounds like fun!"
Alfred stood with him "Great!" He walked to the door and put his bomber jacket back on,
then paused. "Um Kiku…"
"Yeah?" Kiku asked.
"How am I going to get home? The busses left like four hours ago…"
"I-I didn't think of that!" Kiku's face got slightly pale "Can't you call your parents over?"
Alfred shook his head "My phone died when we were doing homework."
Kiku blinked. He didn't want it to seem like he really wanted Alfred to leave but he didn't want his mother to get angry. He hesitated "Maybe you could use my phone."
"Could I?" Alfred asked, as he slung his backpack across his broad shoulders.
"Sure, but I have to start my chores while you wait."
"That's fine" Alfred commented.
Kiku nodded and went back to get his cell phone. His mom spoke to him from the kitchen "彼が去った？" (Has he left?)
"いいえ、彼は彼を来て、取得するために彼の両親に電話する必要がある。" (No, he needs to phone his parents to come and get him).
"大丈夫まあとにかくあなたの雑用を開始" (Oh, okay, well start your chores anyway).
"私はとにかく母親としていた..." (I was going to, mother…) Kiku found his phone and jogged back to Alfred before his mom could say anything more.
"Here you go!" He handed it to Alfred who immediately eyeballed Kiku's sushi phone charm.
"Dude, aren't these like for girls?" he chuckled and hit it with his finger.
Kiku blushed "It's from Yao, he was always a little girly"
"And Yao is…?"
"My brother, away at university"
"Ah, now I remember" Alfred smiled "I won't be long on the phone dude, don't worry." Alfred turned away from Kiku and dialed his parents.
Kiku nodded, though Alfred wasn't facing him anymore and watched him for a moment. Before he could ogle anymore he pulled his eyes away and began his chores.
Alfred went home about half an hour later. The two boys had discussed what horror movies Kiku was going to bring to Alfred's house on Friday. They had decided on two which Kiku was sure had subtitles. Kiku had tried not to look at Alfred too much, but he couldn't help himself. His eyes constantly flowed back up from the floor, looking over Alfred's body and face. He was hoping that Alfred hadn't been noticing, Kiku had been pretty obvious though he thought.
It wasn't just physical attraction to Alfred though for Kiku. He really enjoyed having conversations with Alfred as well, they always found things to talk about or discuss. Not to mention that Alfred was really interested in Japanese culture, Kiku was happy to talk about it too. There was nothing more he loved than Japan, though he had second thoughts on this now that Alfred had come into his life. Kiku was crushing on him pretty hard. Alfred not only liked to learn about Japanese culture but he also loved to talk about American culture. Kiku was happy to listen because he wanted to know as much as he could about American culture, almost just as much as Alfred wanted to know about Japanese culture. It made a good balance between them. More than anything though, it seemed like Alfred wanted to try out Japanese food, which came as no surprise to Kiku by now. He did promise to take Alfred out for it some time, but for now Alfred would just have to take the bento box he'd made that night to school the next day.
Over the next few days Kiku worked hard on his school work. He never turned in a late assignment and always kept on top of things as best he could. He really didn't want any homework for the weekend, especially since he'd be at Alfred's house. Mostly though, in his spare time, he would spend the day preparing for the school play audition that Mr. Densen was forcing him to do. It was also on Friday, which Kiku thought to be odd, being so early in the year. He thought it better not to argue with Mr. Densen though, so he kept his mouth shut.
It was Thursday and Kiku was going over his monologue. He'd chosen a woman's monologue and not known it though; because of his poor English and lack of people to go over it with no one had corrected him on this massive detail. It was of course from Catholic School Girls. Kiku hadn't known that all the monologues from that show were for women- he'd just assumed he'd found a male part. He practiced it in front of the mirror- adding in his hand motions and all. Of course being the overachiever he loved to be, he was going to put his all into this, in efforts to impress Mr. Densen and hopefully make him think better of him. After going over the monologue for what he thought must've been the thirtieth time, he sat down by the piano.
"Now" he said to himself "I'll practice my song" He sat there for a moment to take a short break and took a deep breath.
It had been a long week for Kiku. After Alfred had come over on Tuesday, school hadn't gotten any easier. Some uneducated students had asked him if he was a Kamikaze pilot and shot spit balls at him; he got called other names sometimes too. Other students had apologized for the behavior of the previous students but it didn't make him feel much better. He wondered if German exchange students went through the same sort of unusual torture. There was one in the school that Kiku sat next to in one of his classes- Ludwig, his name was. Kiku would have to befriend him and ask. The one thing he was thankful for was that no one besides Francis had caught on to the fact about Kiku's sexuality. He was sure that the bullying might get worse then. For now he could just ignore them and hope that it might pass. He dismissed these thoughts quickly and cracked his knuckles. As gracefully as he could, he put his fingers on the keys and began to play the opening to his audition song.
Kiku had been playing the piano for as long as he could remember. His fingers graced the keys as he touched each one lightly, causing a wonderful melody to come from the instrument. When lyrics came, he hesitated but began to sing. Surprisingly he possessed a very nice voice. Kiku didn't know, and was much better than he thought he was. He sang through his audition song a few times, feeling more confident each time he ran through it. After a while Kiku felt more than satisfied. He stood up from his piano bench and stretched. He looked at the clock. It wasn't late enough for his mom to be home, but it wasn't early enough to get a good start on his homework either. He glanced at his phone. It was showing that he had a message. He quickly picked his phone up to see who it was from. His heart skipped a beat it- Alfred had sent him the message.
"Are we still on for Friday night?" it read. Kiku smiled, wishing Alfred was talking about a date. A sleepover was good enough for him though.
"Yes, of course. I'm going to your house right?" He replied.
"Yepp, my house after school bro. See you then!"
With that, the conversation ended. Though a fluttering feeling was left in Kiku's heart for quite a while. Kiku had fallen hard for Alfred, and it would be difficult getting out of it.
During school on Friday Kiku found that he was more nervous than he thought he'd be. Not only for spending the night at Alfred's, but also for the auditions. Kiku felt very unprepared, though he was sure that no matter how much he prepared- be it months, weeks, or days- he'd still feel unprepared. His palms kept on sweating and he found that he kept daydreaming in his classes, thinking about how things were going to go later and hoping that they'd go well. Even in Miss Arovlaskia's class when he'd been called on, he hadn't been focused. Instead he'd been caught off guard and couldn't answer her question. This had been a bad move on Kiku's part – he got hit with a ruler. He walked to lunch, still rubbing his sore hands and back. He checked for bleeding but couldn't find any, he was sure he was close though; Kiku was sure being hit with a ruler was illegal in America now but he wasn't going to talk to the principal about it. Since Kiku had arrived at the school Mr. Barinski had been wandering through the main building occasionally, he would smile at Kiku whenever passing him- but that smile made Kiku want to break down and cry. He had tried, feebly, to smile back at him. There was no way he would have the courage to complain about Miss Arovlaskia though. He was sure that there must be some reason she hadn't been fired or jailed yet so he saw no point in filing a complaint. For now he'd just have to remember not to daydream in her class, which would be difficult because it was a rather dull class. As he entered the lunch room he quickly sat down in his now usual spot by the window. Francis was already there, alone though. Kiku sat down across from him and pulled his lunch out.
"Where's Arthur?" Kiku asked, truly wondering where the other half of Francis was.
Francis huffed. "Bastard is in the bathroom."
Kiku frowned a little. "Do you two ever get along?"
A long sigh came from the Frenchman "Let me put it like this- when I want to be friendly with him, he's mad at me. When he wants to be friendly with me, I'm mad at him. I could say though, I suppose, that I could not live without him."
"So you're saying you get along…?"
"Oui, more often than it appears anyway."
"You could have just said that to begin with…"
"Mmm" Francis mused "but it was more fun to give you a fuller answer."
Kiku was about to say something when Arthur stomped over and slammed himself down next to Francis, pulled his lunch out violently and smacked it down on the table. He was wearing a black turtle neck and dark jeans, Kiku thought this was odd considering it was still somewhat early September and the Weather was still fairly warm. Francis grinned. "Black sweater, I approve."
"Fucking French idiot!" He snapped at Francis.
"Is that really appropriate Arthur?" He asked, leaning into Arthur slightly.
"Yes it is!" He bit his sandwich and brushed Francis's hand away which had been fingering its way into the neck of the sweater "Get off me, Frog" he scooted away.
Francis frowned "We'll talk about this later…"
"Mmmm, yes, later." Arthur mused "This wouldn't be the same later that you might be flirting with some woman is it?"
"I was not flirting Arthur, that's just the way I talk…"
Arthur looked over at Kiku and hesitated a moment "…Fine we'll talk about it later, but only because I don't want to be rude. How are you Kiku?"
Kiku blinked, he hadn't suspected that the conversation would be directed to him. He took a moment to answer "I'm doing fine, thank you…" He paused, wondering if it would be appropriate to continue his sentence. He decided that since we was foreign they might not think it was odd anyway. "And you?"
Arthur looked over at Francis and then back at Kiku. "I'm mad at Frog over here."
Francis grunted "What else is new?"
Kiku sighed "if you want to talk it out now, you can."
"Non, it should be done in private, we don't want to drag you into this, Kiku." Francis answered, smiling.
Kiku nodded and mumbled a quiet thank you, he looked down at his bento box and picked at the food. The pause was long and quiet, only filled with the background sounds of the lunch room and the almost silent noises of the three boys eating their lunch. It wasn't much longer until the silence was broken, Alfred bounded over and practically slammed his lunch tray down, he sat down next to Kiku.
Arthur grunted "Well, you're late today."
Alfred grinned cockily "I know, sorry. But I have to divide my lunch if I want to sit with you all."
"What do you mean?" Kiku asked.
"Well, I want to sit with my football friends and you guys, this way I can do both."
"I see… what about your lunch? You haven't started eating it?" Kiku looked down at
Alfred's almost full plate of food. The thought surprised Kiku.
Alfred only laughed "Naw, I just got seconds. All the working out really makes a difference in your appetite." he remarked, and took a bite of his food.
Kiku hid a smile; the thought of Alfred working out made him tingle with giddiness inside. "Oh…" Kiku trailed off, mostly because Alfred continued talking after swallowing his food.
"Speaking of working out, yesterday was a doozy! I mean, coach had us running a lot because the guys kept goofing off and I just haven't been out in the field for so long that…"
Alfred continued to talk as Francis leaned over and whispered to Kiku.
"If you want to be less obvious you might want to try looking at him more…in the eye so to say. Your eyes have definitely fallen to ahm…lower regions don't you think?" Francis smirked slightly as a slight blush tickled Kiku's face, he nodded and fixed his gaze more on Alfred's eyes.
"….And so anyway, that's why I'm so sore today! Hey that rhymed!" He laughed and Arthur just shook his head.
"Really Alfred, can't you tell a story with a little more depth?"
"Mmm" Alfred pretended to think about it as he munched absent mindedly on a few French fries. "I suppose I could retell that one, if you really want to hear it again…" he chuckled a little, mostly because he knew Arthur had no interest in hearing his story for a second time.
"No, no that's fine Al. Just something to keep in mind."
"Whatever you say Art."
"That's not my name." Arthur scolded.
"Yes it is."
"Maybe when we were going out," Arthur hissed "but I have no desire to be called under such a name any longer."
Alfred's eyes grew wide. "Shhh!" He ducked his head "Not so loud about that! Someone might hear!"
Arthur scoffed and sat back. "What that you're gay? Who cares?"
"I care!" Alfred practically shouted, then realizing that he might draw attention to himself, quieted down. "It could ruin my reputation here."
"Please." Arthur flouted
Alfred sneered a little. "Why are you being this way today? Did you have a fight with your French boyfriend again?"
Francis perked up at the mention of himself. "I have a name you know…!"
Both boys ignored him. "He's not my boyfriend!" Arthur scowled "I hate him!"
Kiku noted that Francis had not denied anything, only Arthur was sputtering as if it was something he didn't want to admit.
"Oh, yeah right, and you're not trying to hide the hickeys on your neck with that sweater!"
Arthur blushed heavily at Alfred's comment and tried pulling the turtle neck farther up his neck. Alfred continued. "Oh, and I'm sure you're thinking about how much you hate him while you're fucking…again! Am I right? Or how about the tender kisses I've had the privilege to witness, and you're always on top of one another with the hair stroking and those loving touches, sure that doesn't seem at all like a boyfriend Arthur."
"Shut up!" Arthur screeched. "He's an ugly frog that I want to punch in the face!"
"I'm right here, you know." Francis tried to comment, looking unamused that the two boys. The argument was too heated at this point though, for them to acknowledge any outside source.
"Oh sure, okay" Alfred said sarcastically. "Next time you're in bed with him say that."
"You're just jealous!" Arthur leaned forward. "I see now!"
"I'm not jealous, if I wanted to be in a relationship I could be in one."
"In private," Arthur grunted. "And I bet that drives you mad!"
"Tch, at least I'm not in denial!"
"I am not in denial."
"Then what do you call that then? Hm? Sounded like denial to me!"
"Shut up!"
"You shut up!"
The argument had become somewhat loud and Kiku shrunk down in his seat. Francis looked at him sympathetically.
"Sometimes they still fight pretty badly, this is not the worst I've seen it."
"Oh…" Kiku frowned, Arthur seemed to have an extremely strong personality that clashed with a lot of other people. Though now Kiku had just found out about Arthur and Francis being together thanks to the heated argument.
"I suppose," Francis started "that I ought break them up now."
He leaned forward and put a hand on each of them. "Hey both of you! You're scaring Kiku!" Both boys stopped talking and paused for a moment. "Haven't you seen him shrinking down in his seat? You're going to chase him away." Francis continued. "You can finish this argument later, but can we please have a peaceful lunch?"
Both boys glared a little at each other and nodded, Alfred then turned to Kiku and Arthur turned to Francis.
Alfred looked almost afraid, his face was slightly pale. He spoke but more hushed than usual. "Well I guess you know my secret now, I completely forgot that you'd been sitting there. Are you going to tell the whole school? I would do anything for you to keep it a secret."
Kiku paused, realizing that in argument Alfred had admitted to being gay. Alfred continued talking, taking Kiku's silence as a bad sign. "Look, please Kiku, it's really important for me to keep my reputation up and I can't let it get ruined over one silly argument…! I'm begging you…"
Kiku looked at him for a bit, staring at the desperation in Alfred's eyes. It was a look he wasn't unfamiliar with, from the days of when he was quite the tyrant. He'd beat kids and beat them until they would beg for mercy. The same eyes stared at him now, pleading for him to help. When he was a kid they used to say they would do anything for him to stop; they would cry and beg. Rarely he would- only if it would prove to benefit him in the end. Not wanting to dwell much on the past, Kiku spoke "You don't have to worry about me, I'm good at keeping secrets." He smiled a little. "Besides," he continued "I'm keeping the same one." Kiku didn't know why he'd felt like sharing his own secret but it had felt good.
Alfred's eyes widened. "Really?"
Kiku nodded, Alfred's shoulders relaxed and he grinned "Th-that's such a relief!"
"Oh, I'm glad." Kiku smiled a little. "Let's change the subject, you seem a little shaken up."
Alfred nodded vehemently. "Yeah, let's."
"Are you ready for the audition later today?" Kiku asked.
"Yeah, I can't afford to let my grades drop or I can't do sports."
"What do you mean?" Kiku cocked his head; he really didn't know much about sports- let alone school sports.
Alfred leaned back a little "Well it's school policy here that if I have anything below a C
I'm not allowed to play, so if I start to fail drama I'm gonna be cut from the team for a while."
"Oh..." Kiku said. Not really sure how else to go on about it. He hadn't realized how tough American schools could be on their students. He really had thought it was a free for all.
"'Oh' is right, I've been working really hard on it, the audition that is, I even asked my friend Elizabeta. She's in drama, and she was able to help me out. I want it to be perfect!"
"That's a lot to ask for…"
"Okay well maybe not perfect perfect, but as good as I can make it."
"Me too." Kiku pit his lunch box in his backpack and zipped it up. "I don't think Mr. Densen likes us very much right now, anyway."
"No kidding! I'm getting pretty tired of his nasty looks."
"I think he thinks I'm a girl…" Kiku scrunched his nose up and rested his head on his hands.
Alfred practically choked on his lunch as he started laughing. "What? Why? That's crazy!"
"Well whenever he motions to me he's saying she, or her. Those are girl things right? Do I look that…" Kiku searched for the word in his mind. "…feminine?"
Alfred looked him over. "Well…not gonna lie dude, but you do look a little softer than most guys do."
Kiku blushed a little "I hadn't realized."
Alfred shrugged "He's probably just being racist."
"What, as in all Asian people look the same?"
"Exactly!"
"That's ridiculous, we do not!"
"Hey bro, I know you don't, but try telling it to some old man who's probably been brought up with racist views."
Kiku sighed, knowing he'd been defeated there. "Guess I'll just have to live my Drama life as a girl."
Alfred chuckled "That might not be so terrible."
Kiku punched him lightly. "Don't say things to make me feel better."
Alfred said something, but the bell rang and Kiku missed it.
"What?" He asked, but Alfred had already taken off and was meeting with his football teammates. Kiku sighed, he knew he would be going home with Alfred after the audition but he couldn't help but wonder just what Alfred had said.
3:00 came, and Kiku made his way into the choir room for auditions. Alfred was there, as well a bunch of kids from Drama class. There were a few Kiku didn't recognize. He figured they were either from another period or just not in Drama at school. There was one girl sitting next to Alfred whom Kiku did not recognize. She had long brown hair and was wearing a dress. Kiku tried to think if he'd seen her in the hallways during passing period. He was sure that he didn't have any classes with her. He thought maybe he had seen her once or twice and could only guess by the way she and Alfred were talking that he must be the girl he was talking about earlier- the one who was good at drama. Kiku wracked his head for her name, he knew it started with an E but it just wasn't coming to him. He'd only heard her name once after all. Suddenly Kiku's thoughts were interrupted by a loud man who barged in suddenly, surprising him and practically knocking him onto the ground.
"Kesesese! The awesome Gilbert is here to audition!" Kiku had thought the man had a funny laugh. Well, not only that, but he looked funny as well. Kiku had never seen a true albino before. He couldn't help but stare for a moment. His white, almost blond hair gleamed in the light and his bright red eyes shone with some strange determination. It was as if one hundred years of war and the excitement of a twelve year old shone behind those eyes at once. Kiku wondered how one man could seem so old, and so young at the same time. He glanced around the room, everyone was staring at Gilbert, except for the girl next to Alfred who had her head in her hand, she was blushing furiously and shaking her head.
Gilbert continued to talk. He spoke with a heavy accent. "I know you all thought I might not show up, but I wouldn't miss this! Especially because my little brother will be teaching!"
Suddenly a taller, blond-haired, blue-eyed man walked in and ushered Gilbert along. Kiku recognized him as Ludwig from class. "Komm jetzt." (Come now.) He said gruffly under his voice "du blamierst dich" (You're embarrassing.)
"Ich blamiere mich nicht!" (I am not embarrassing!) he shouted back causing the taller man to blush more.
"Ja, das tust du! Bitte setzt dich!" (Yes, you are! Now please sit down!) Ludwig ushered Gilbert into a seat, trying his hardest not to let his blushing face get any redder.
At this point Alfred directed his attention to Kiku, who had been standing next to Gilbert. It was now Kiku's turn to blush as Alfred waved with a dramatic wagging motion. "Hey, Kiku! Come sit by me and Elizabeta!"
Kiku hesitated for a moment. Finally he went over and sat down by Alfred. Elizabeta leaned forward, almost with a concerning look on her face. Somewhat creepy. "Hello." She smiled, and the creepiness disappeared in an instant. "I'm Elizabeta, you must be Kiku, Alfred's new friend. I've heard an awful lot about you." The way she said that made Kiku uneasy. Alfred frowned and gave Elizabeta a look. She just shrugged.
Kiku pursed his lips. "Hello, I'm sorry, I just learned about you today and…I don't know that much."
She looked almost insulted, and slapped Alfred in the shoulder "Al! You don't talk about me?!"
"Ow!" He rubbed his shoulder. "Man, Elizabeta, I'm a football player and that hurt! No, I don't really talk about you that much. No one asks about you. I don't know any more drama people besides Gilbert, and that's only because you're with him! …Well maybe Roderich too, but he's in band anyway, and you don't really talk about him much anymore…"
"Well, we broke up, so that makes sense! Seriously though, you never talk about me?"
"Well…" Kiku interjected, freezing as both heads stopped talking and turned to look at him
"He obviously doesn't never talk about you if I had heard of you before."
"Yeah!" Alfred jumped on with him "I do talk about you Elizabeta!"
"Humph!" She crossed her arms and closed her eyes, throwing herself against her seat. "Not enough, anyway!"
Suddenly Gilbert jumped over the seat and sat down next to Elizabeta. "Hallo, mein Schatz, stoeren diese Maenner dich? Ich kann sie verpruegeln…" (Hello my treasure/love, are these men bothering you? I can beat them up…) He nuzzled her neck and gently kissed it.
She pushed him away "Gil, nicht in der Öffentlichkeit…nein, diese Maenner sind meine Freunde… das sind Alfred und Kiku, aber du hast Alfred vor einer Weile kennengelernt." (Gil, not so public…no these men are my friends… That's Alfred and Kiku, but you met Alfred a while ago.)
Gilbert sat back "Ahhh ja, der Alfred, der amerikanische Fussballspieler… okay. Wie steht's mit dem kleinen Asiaten? Ein japanischer Austauschschueler?" (Ah yea, Alfred, the American football player. What about the little Asian? A Japanese exchange student?)
Elizabeta nodded "Ja, er kommt aus Japan. Koennen wir englisch sprechen? Ich denke, das ist ein bisschen unfair, wenn wir nur deustch sprechen." (Yes, he comes from Japan. Can we speak English? I think its unfair when we only speak German.)
"Aehm…okay…" Gilbert cleared his throat, leaned forward, and extended his hand almost civilly to Kiku. He spoke with his heavy accent. "Hallo Ich heiss…I mean my name is Gilbert Beilschmidt, I'm Ludwig's Bruder…I mean brother." That confirmed Kiku's suspicions.
Kiku extended his own hand to shake Gilbert's but Gilbert pulled his hand away and laughed "Kesesese! Psych!"
"That's his way of saying 'hello'" Elizabeta explained. "It means he likes you."
Gilbert pouted. "Not always!"
Elizabeta gave Kiku a look that said 'yes, always,' but thought it better not to argue with him and say so out loud.
"I see…" Kiku shrugged and introduced himself to Gilbert, though he wasn't listening at first and Elizabeta had to elbow him. "I'm Kiku Honda, a student from Japan."
"An exchange student?" Elizabeta asked and cocked her head to the side, Kiku supposed this was who Alfred got it from, or maybe she got it from him.
"No, my family moved here over the summer," Kiku responded.
"Why did you move?" Alfred turned to him and asked.
Kiku was surprised Alfred was the next person to ask him something. He thought he'd told Alfred or at least Alfred had picked it up earlier and thought it inappropriate to ask. He'd never thought that he just hadn't even known. A happy feeling surged through him, knowing that Alfred did, after all, take an interest in his life. "Well money was tight, it was kind of expensive to live in the city and we heard America was cheaper and easier to find a good job, so we moved."
"And you didn't want to come here?" Elizabeta asked, reading the look on Kiku's pained face as he discussed moving.
"No, I didn't, I really like Japan and there are quite a few things I miss about it."
Alfred looked a little hurt, he asked his question, though he asked hesitantly. "So you hate America and don't want to be here at all?"
Kiku felt shocked that Alfred would ask such a question. "N-no, that's not true. Well, at first it was, but not anymore. I met nice people and I'm slowly adjusting. Of course there are things I miss about Japan, but I'll always have that with me." He was careful not to let on that Alfred had been a big reason of his coming to like America.
"Oh, I'm glad then." Alfred relaxed a bit.
Mr. Densen then walked out on stage, grabbing everyone's attention. "Okay everybody, auditions are starting now" He stopped for a moment and looked at Ludwig. "Ludwig, what are you doing here? You're in tech."
Ludwig sunk down in his seat a bit, a light blush dusted his face. "Well… Feliciano is auditioning and so is mein Bruder so…."
"Ah…Feliciano I see, and where is he?"
"He's coming. He's running a little late because he was fighting with his Bruder again…"
"Well, he won't have to go first then, I guess… He had better impress me for being late!"
Kiku leaned over to Alfred and whispered, "Who's Feliciano?"
Before Alfred could answer, Gilbert leaned over Elizabeta with a stupid grin on his face. "Mein Bruders Freund…I mean, my brothers boyfriend." The look on Gilbert's face was a mix of disgust and pride for his brother. Disgust, Kiku guessed, was the thought of his own little brother liking men- possibly sleeping with men over other women, pride because he loved his brother very much and he was very happy for him.
Though, based on Gilbert's attitude since Kiku had met him, he couldn't be entirely sure that what he was saying was the complete truth. He looked to Elizabeta to confirm. There was that creepy look on her face again. "Is that true?" He asked her.
She looked at him and nodded. "Yep, it is," she whispered. "They've been together for about a year now."
"A year? Really? I thought Ludwig was an exchange student!"
Elizabeta shook her head. "No, he and Gil moved here three years ago, Feliciano and his brother got here about two years ago."
"I'm sitting right here you know!" Gilbert protested in a louder whisper.
"Yeah, so am I! Kiku, you're practically laying on me!" Alfred said the loudest. Kiku blushed deeply as Alfred pushed him off. Before Kiku could see that Alfred was blushing as well, Mr. Densen cleared his throat loudly in front of them.
"Ah-hem, to the whispering group in the front, is there something you'd like to share with the rest of your audition peers?"
Kiku fell silent, his voice lost by fear, Alfred was about to say something but Gilbert stood up instead. Kiku had a sinking feeling in his stomach "Nein He-, I mean, No Mr. Densen we were only discussing my great little brother!"
Ludwig blushed and Mr. Densen put his head in his hands. "I think I can say we've wasted enough time now… How about we-"
"I'm heeeerrreee!" was suddenly heard from down the hall. A short, brown-haired boy burst into the room abruptly. He had a long curl coming off of his head and he looked as happy as a kid that just got a piece of candy. He huffed, "Ve" and looked around the room. "I'm not late am I?"
"Well actually…" Mr. Densen started.
But Feliciano wasn't paying attention, he saw Ludwig across the room, and began to bound toward him. "Ludwig you came!"
Ludwig blushed heavily "ah nein Feliciano!" It was too late, however, because Feliciano tackled him into a large hug that could have knocked anyone down. It didn't seem to have phased the muscular German though.
"Feliciano please sit down."
"Aww but Luddy…"
"Sit!"
Feliciano deflated and sat down next to him. Though he still made it a point to snuggle up next to Ludwig, making him blush as red as a tomato.
Mr. Densen, now looking thoroughly annoyed, cleared his throat loudly. "Can we begin now?" Everyone was quiet. "Alright then…" he relaxed a bit. "Let's get started shall we?"
"Boy what an audition!"
"I'm so embarrassed."
"Why?" Alfred turned to Kiku and smirked, Kiku knew that he knew why, but he just wanted to hear him say it out loud.
"Because of my monologue."
"I thought you did great!"
"Everyone laughed! How was I supposed to know it was for a woman?" Kiku whined and kicked a rock. Alfred tried to hide a few chuckles and stayed silent. Kiku sighed "I have a bad feeling about this…"
"Hey, you couldn't have been any worse than Gilbert!"
Kiku smirked. That was very true. The German man had successfully embarrassed his brother and Elizabeta. The only person who had been impressed was Feliciano. It must not have taken much to impress him. "He sure… will be unforgettable though." Kiku said, searching for the right word.
"Did you see Mr. Densen's face when he was finished?"
"No, I didn't. How did he look?"
Alfred laughed and imitated a look of disgust, over exaggerated of course, but it made Kiku laugh pretty hard. Alfred mimicked his voice "Errmm Gilbert…are you…are you finished? Excuse me while I swallow my throw up…"
Kiku lost it at that. "It really was that bad though!"
"So see" Alfred grinned "your audition looked great compared to that!"
Kiku nodded, "Okay I see your point. I guess it wasn't like that."
"Not even close…" Alfred smirked and bumped Kiku playfully.
Kiku cleared his throat and tried not to think about how close Alfred was to him. "S-So where is your bus?"
"It's the one after this one" Alfred grunted and pointed to the bus coming up, they were walking down the edge of the school where all the busses lined up. "It's the last bus of the day so, it's the only one we can catch. My usual bus is down at the end." He pointed down there even though Kiku could see it clearly down the end of the way.
"Oh…Will it be a long ride then?"
Alfred scrunched up his nose. "Yeah, but on the bright side it'll just be you and me so we'll have a lot of room to stretch out. Usually I stand on my regular bus."
"Oh? Why?"
"Well…I just like as many people to have seats as possible, if that means I gotta stand then I stand."
"That's nice of you."
"I like to think of myself as a nice guy."
Kiku smiled. To him, Alfred was a dream, anyway; a dream that never ended. Every time he found something out about Alfred, it was something to be proud of or to like about him. Kiku really loved that. Sure, Alfred had secrets, but it was nothing Kiku couldn't handle. It got quiet after Alfred made that comment. Both the boys got onto the bus, and after Alfred had a small discussion with the driver he was allowed on without a bus pass.
"Will I need one for other rides?" Kiku asked him.
"Uhh nah probably not, I'm pretty close with this driver… Well, all the drivers, so it shouldn't be an issue."
"Oh? Why are you so close with them all?" Kiku narrowed his eyes a bit, afraid that Alfred might say that he deals drugs or did sexual things for them.
Instead Kiku was, once again, pleasantly surprised. "My mom has me give them Christmas gifts every year."
"Wow, your parents sound really nice."
"They are!" Alfred grinned cockily. "I know it's odd, but I like them a lot! They're great and I definitely wouldn't trade them for any other parents, I know how lucky I am, dude."
Kiku smiled weakly, thinking of his own home life. "Maybe my mom could learn some lessons from yours." He chuckled at the thought of his stubborn mother, learning anything from another mother.
Alfred chuckled as well. "That's funny, but I think my mom would be like, the worst teacher ever."
Kiku just smiled and stretched his legs out in the seat. It was cool to have so much room to sit in, not to mention Kiku had never been on a real American bus before. He'd only really seen them in movies. He took a moment to awe at everything around him, seeing the worn, green leather on the seats, the high metallic ceilings, and various signs around. Windows clouded over next to him. A surge of disappointment hit him. It was just a regular bus. Kiku didn't know why he'd been excited at all, the only difference he could consciously think of was that it was colder than a regular bus because there was no heat. He frowned, this was not like the movies. Alfred leaned over and took his ipod out.
"Wanna listen?"
Kiku blinked as Alfred handed him one of his headphones. "S-Sure…" Kiku hesitantly put the headphone in as Alfred began to play some music. "What kind of music on here?" Kiku asked, as a rock song came on loudly into the headphone, Kiku jumped but Alfred didn't notice.
"Ah I got all kinds, country, classic, rock, techno, pop you name it I got it!"
"Wow so you really do listen to everything then."
"You got that right! How about you what do you listen to?"
Kiku shrugged "mostly Japanese stuff, I like Asian Kung-Fu Generation, but they're not really that popular in Japan. I'm kind of a nerd because I watch anime and stuff, but I don't limit myself to it."
"You like anime? I've seen a few!"
Kiku nodded "Like I said, it's not my life though."
"Gotta have a balance, bro."
Kiku smiled. "I agree"
The rest of the bus ride was fairly quiet. Occasionally Alfred would point out the window and explain something that he thought Kiku might find interesting, which he usually did. America had a lot of things that Japan didn't have, so when Alfred explained something Kiku was happy to listen and glad to have acquired new knowledge. It was always good to get to know one's surroundings. Though it was long, Kiku found he'd thoroughly enjoyed himself. He breathed the fresh air as he stepped from the bus in a fairly suburban neighborhood. White, grey, and brick houses decorated each sidewalk. Each was large, and had a long driveway. Kiku awed at the sight of it- all the grass was mowed and almost every house had a garden.
"The grass… Why did they cut it?" Kiku turned to Alfred and asked him.
"Eh?" Alfred scratched the back of his head. "Oh, well… We always cut it, don't you?"
"No… Actually, in Japan we usually do not."
Alfred laughed "Oh, that's kinda weird…!"
"Well, I think it's weird that you cut yours!"
Alfred scoffed. "Let's just get to my place. I'm starving!"
"When are you not hungry?" Kiku chuckled and followed Alfred down the block. "Is it a long walk to your house?"
"No, not at all! Actually, I'm just the third house from this one…" Alfred grinned and pointed to it. "See? It's the big grey and brick one."
"Wow," Kiku commented. "It's…really big!"
"Nah, it's just like the rest of the houses around here right?"
Kiku looked around, now really looking at the size of the other houses, then making a point to compare it to Alfred's house. "Well…I guess you're right." But he realized that he had stopped walking and was talking to no one. Alfred kept going ahead and was about two houses ahead of Kiku. It was almost as if he hadn't realized that Kiku had left his side.
Suddenly he stopped and turned around. "Hey!" he waved. "Catch up! Or I might just not let you in!"
Kiku frowned, then when he realized when Alfred was joking he smirked and quickly ran to catch up to him, though Alfred ran ahead. By the time Kiku caught up to him on Alfred's front stoop he'd lost quite a bit of his breath. He pounded his chest a bit and breathed heavily.
"You know if you were Arthur you would have called me 'asshole' back there…" Alfred looked down at Kiku. "Woah, man. Someone's really out of shape."
Kiku smiled wearily and straightened up. "If I was Arthur what would I have said to you after that comment?"
Alfred smirked. "Fuck off"
Kiku raised his eyebrows. "Fuck off, then…!"
Alfred looked surprised for a moment, but then burst out laughing. "Dude, you're so funny! Somehow it doesn't come off the same when you say it."
Kiku blushed a little. "Is that good or bad…?"
Alfred froze for a moment. "I don't know…"
Kiku shook his head. "It's against my better judgment to say something so rude, but, don't you think we have better things to do than talk about your ex-boyfriend?"
Alfred frowned. "Well… He's my friend now."
Kiku sighed. "Yes, but- actually, never mind. Just forget I said anything. Weren't you hungry?"
Alfred pursed his lips. "No, what were you going to say?"
Kiku rocked back on his feet, feeling that he should have just held his tongue. He'd really just wanted to fit in, but really in Japan he never would have allowed himself to say such a thing. "Well… um… It just didn't really sound like in that context you were referring to friend Arthur but, more like boyfriend Arthur…"
Alfred looked away from him for a moment, almost seeming ashamed. He looked like he was thinking about his answer. First he looked to the left, then down, and then to the right. Finally he looked Kiku directly in the eye. "Arthur and I are not together anymore."
"Yes, I know that."
"And I wasn't referring to when we were together. I don't really- well I mean- he doesn't really like to talk about those days so I don't."
I-I understand, and I sincerely apologize." Kiku said, with a slight bow, it's not my business to get into such affairs.
"No, it's not. That was the past, and we will never be like that with one another again. I want you to understand that Kiku. Do you?"
Kiku nodded very quickly. "Y-yes I do!"
Alfred's expression relaxed a bit, but his scary demeanor didn't really go away. "Okay, you had better…"
Alfred took out his key and unlocked the door. "Isn't your mom home?" Kiku asked, trying to bring lightheartedness back into context. He remembered that Alfred had asked a similar question, perhaps the very same one, when Kiku had brought him to his house.
A slight, very slight, smile played on Alfred's lips. "Yes she is as a matter of fact. But I just have a house key like any normal boy."
"Well, you asked me the same question when I pulled my key out."
"I must have just been looking for something to say then."
Kiku smirked. "You're full of shit."
Alfred smiled a bit. "Shut up and get in my house!" He quickly shoved Kiku in who laughed, though relieved that Alfred was being his usual friendly self with him again.
"What do I do with my shoes?" he asked as Alfred dropped his school bag onto the floor and threw his jacket onto the floor.
"Alfred. F. Jones don't you tell me the sound I just heard was your jacket hitting the floor again!" sounded a woman's voice from the kitchen. Something was cooking and Kiku figured it must be dinner. Whatever it was, though, it smelled really good.
"Aw, mom I;ve got a friend over. Besides it's just a jacket."
"Friend or no friend I don't want to see that thing on the floor."
"But maaaa!"
"I will throw it away…! Pick it up!"
"Fiiinneeee" Alfred whined and picked it up and put it away in the coat closet. He looked at Kiku who was holding back snickers. "What were you saying about shoes?"
"Oh," Kiku looked down at his feet. "I was wondering if I should take them off or keep them on."
"Well you're spending the night right? So why don't you take them off."
"Alright." Kiku gently took his shoes off and lined them up by the door. Alfred haphazardly took his own off and threw them at the door.
A woman with blonde hair the same color as Alfred's and bright green eyes walked in. This, Kiku thought, must be Alfred's mother. He must've gotten his blue eyes from his dad though, because this woman's were as green as an evergreen tree in the middle of spring. "Hello" she said, and wiped her hands off with the towel in her hands. She quickly stuck it down her apron and extended her hand out to Kiku. He hesitantly took it and she shook it. "I'm Alfred's mother, you can call me Mrs. Jones. You must be…Kiku?"
"Yes, that's me!"
She grinned. "Oh, then I've heard a lot about you…"
Alfred whined in the background, "Mom, don't embarrass me!"
Mrs. Jones rolled her eyes, and went to glance over at him. Though instead her eyes caught his shoes which were still sloppily thrown by the door. She dropped Kiku's hand and went over to them. "Now really, Alfie, what kind of person takes their shoes off like this?"
"I do!" He said and began to march around as his mother fixed them.
"My son, the sloppiest boy on earth, how on earth are you going to get married like this?"
Alfred huffed "I'll figure something out."
"And look at this, look at how nicely Kiku put his shoes here!" She set Alfred's shoes down next to Kiku's. "You could learn a thing or two from him you know."
Alfred scoffed. "Whatever."
Kiku blushed a little bit but didn't say much. Really his thoughts were on the fact that Alfred's mother had known about him. That meant that Alfred had talked about him when he came home from school. He was really happy after finding such a fact out. He looked at Alfred and scooted over to him. "Didn't you say you were hungry?"
Alfred grunted, "I am hungry. Mom do we have any snacks?"
"Snacks? Oh yes, I prepared a whole bunch of things for you boys since I knew you were having a friend over tonight, " Mrs. Jones said as she made her way into the kitchen.
"Alright!" Alfred said as he pumped an arm into the air.
"Alfie, why don't you show Kiku up to your bedroom and I'll bring the snacks up."
"Okay." Alfred looked at Kiku and grinned. "It's right upstairs. I hope you don't mind sharing a bed! We haven't got an air one and well… You don't want to sleep on the floor, do you?"
Kiku couldn't hide his grin. "That's fine, often in Asia families share beds to save space, so it's not something I'm unfamiliar with."
"Cool!" Alfred turned when he got to the top of the stairs and began to walk down a large hallway. Kiku followed him quickly with his knapsack that had all his things in it. He'd sort of rushed this morning throwing everything in there along with his other school books. Normally he'd bring a separate bag but he was already getting enough hate at school. He didn't need any of the antagonists trying to take it from him. Alfred opened the last door to the right at the end of the hallway. "The bathroom is the door right across from here."
Kiku looked behind him as he entered Alfred's room. "Ah, okay. Thank you, I'll remember that."
"What movies did you bring?" Alfred laid down on his bed and Kiku finally really entered his bedroom. He looked around it and couldn't help but grin. The walls were sort of a rich blue, and tilted up in some areas that ultimately led to a skylight. There were posters on the walls, mostly of Superman and a whole bunch of bands Alfred liked. There was a cowboy hat on his dresser, as well as a plastic fireman's cap from when he was little. There was an assortment of action figures on a shelf way up high that also seemed to be stacked with comic books. There was a lamp, some porn magazines poorly hidden, and various other trinkets that clued Kiku in to Alfred's interests. On the wall facing the bed was a television and dvd player. Alfred's bed was neatly made, though the clothing had been carelessly thrown by an old laundry basket. Kiku figured that Alfred's mother must've made him tidy up before Kiku arrived, but had made Alfred's bed.
"I brought the two we decided on at my house. You know, the ones with subtitles?"
"Oh yeah! I'm excited to see them tonight!"
"Yeah, me too." Kiku set his knapsack on the floor by the edge of the bed and pulled them out.
Alfred snatched them from his hands and looked at the title. "What does it say?"
Kiku looked over his shoulder to read the bold Japanese that the two titles were written in. "Well, the top one says 'The Bloody Card' and the second one says 'Whatever happened to Miss Mami?'"
"Oh, creepy sounding." Alfred said, and got up to put them by the DVD player.
"We'll save those for the evening."
Mrs. Jones came upstairs and had her hands full of plates and bags. "Okay, boys, here are your snacks for the night. I hope you enjoy them."
Kiku quickly came over and helped her carry the things to the bed, Alfred, when he saw Kiku helping also helped his mother carry some things over to the bed. "Wow, thanks mom. This all looks really good."
"Yeah, it does. Thanks Mrs. Jones"
"Oh, boys like everything," Mrs. Jones said bashfully.
Alfred rolled his eyes. "That's not true…"
Mrs. Jones smiled tiredly as if she'd had this conversation with Alfred a few times. "Just don't make a mess or get any food on the bed."
"Okay mom, we won't." Alfred said as he pushed her out of his room kindly.
"A-And stack up all the garbage in one spot! I don't want to come in tomorrow to find trash everywhere!"
"You won't, mom!" Alfred said. "Thank you!"He quickly pushed her the rest of the way out and shut the door. "Let's eat!"
The rest of the night commenced, Kiku having a very fun time. He and Alfred ended up getting into a bit of a food fight in his bedroom, which they had to clean up frantically when they thought they heard his mother coming upstairs to check on them. They played video games as Alfred revealed he also had a PSP in his room. Around six o'clock, Alfred's father came home. He was tall and muscular just like Alfred was, his piercing blue eyes had proven Kiku's theory right about where Alfred got his from. The ex-military man had brown hair that was shaven very close to his head. Kiku was glad Alfred didn't cut his hair like his father though, he liked it better longer and shaggier as it was now. Alfred's dad had given Alfred a bit of a hard time about all the junk food he had eaten, but Alfred had just brushed it off knowing that he'd be exercising later anyway.
At dinner the whole family ate together. Alfred's mother had cooked corned beef, with carrots and mashed potatoes. Kiku had never had it before but had thought it was delicious. Alfred and his father both had second helpings, which was no surprise to Kiku. Though he knew that Alfred would stay in shape, not only because he was a little self-centered but because Alfred's father seemed like a pretty tough guy when it came to those matters. In other words, Kiku didn't worry about Alfred's amount of food consumption because of his great build. When dinner was over Kiku helped Mrs. Jones clean up while Alfred and his dad talked about the latest sports. Afterwards Kiku and Alfred went back up into Alfred's room to watch the movies. Kiku hadn't been scared in the least bit, whereas Alfred had been trembling for almost all of the two movies. He constantly yelped or grabbed on to Kiku when he thought something scary was about to happen, or when something did happen. Kiku didn't mind one bit and really thought Alfred was being cute. He did constantly put up such a macho attitude at school- now to see him reduced to so little from two movies was really adorable to Kiku. When the movies were over and the boys got ready for bed, Kiku had made it a point to ask Alfred if he'd been scared. To which Alfred replied no, he'd not been scared, though when both the boys climbed in bed together Alfred was awfully close to Kiku and jumped and screamed when the cat got on the bed. Kiku chuckled and had to calm him down, once again asking Alfred if he was sure he hadn't been scared. To which Alfred once again replied with the fact that no, he was not scared because he was a hero and heroes don't get scared.
Kiku would only smile and say okay even if he knew Alfred was terrified. And even if he wouldn't admit it, he wouldn't let go of Kiku as he fell asleep that night. Both boys fell asleep in one another's arms. Sure, it was odd for two boys to be doing such a thing- it wasn't like boys, especially American boys to sleep in beds with one another. Let alone clinging to one another, but to them it seemed natural. Neither boy had gotten such a peaceful night sleep in their lives.
Hey guys! I just want to say thank you for the wonderful comments and reviews right off the bat! I really appreciate it and I'm happy to hear you like it! I wan't to apologize for the Japanese in this chapter. I had to use google translate because I take German. Other than that I hope you enjoyed it and I'll post another one next Sunday. Have a nice week!