A/N : Here's the first chapter... Eh... Hope this is okay... (no matter how many times I already do this, it always felt like the first time).
I'd like to say thank you to : lunanigh282 and kunekomimi96 for putting this story in their Favorites list. To : lunanigh282, RandomWriter57, The Whomping Pillow (I love your pen name!), Zemno and Dawnstar10K for following this story. And to : Chayton who gave me review. Thank you guys!
Warnings: I think it'll be the same with the first chapter.
Please, read and review! Beware; grammatical errors! Feel free to point it out...
ACT. 1
Porcelain
"Arthur, are you okay?"
The quiet sound of Matthew Williams greeted his ears as Arthur Kirkland turned around. He looked at the taller boy with wavy blond hair and those blue-eyes with slight tint of violet. Arthur let out a small smile as he nodded.
"I am fine, Matthew," he said softly.
"But you look paler than usual," said Matthew.
He had lived with Arthur for two years now, along with eight other people. But mostly, it was only him and Arthur at the Manor on the day time. The others had their own work to do. In the afternoon though, there were more people in the Manor. That was why, the other guys entrusted Matthew to take care of Arthur.
But of course, it could raise a question. Who was Arthur Kirkland? Why did he live in a big house with so many people? Who were they?
First thing first, no one really knew who Arthur Kirkland was. They only knew that Arthur was the owner of a big Manor in the outskirt of the city among other things. Beside Matthew, the people who lived in the Manor were Alfred F. Jones, Matthew's twin brother (despite the different last name), Feliciano and Lovino Vargas, Ludwig Beilschmidt, Antonio Fernandez Carriedo, Francis Bonnefoy and Kiku Honda. All of them were being picked up by Arthur when they felt that they ready to throw away their life.
Arthur saved them, and they were grateful for that. Arthur was their brother, best-friend, family. Even in his current state, too pale skin, scrawny, and fragile body, they loved him in different ways. Arthur was like a porcelain. Beautiful, yet fragile.
"Are you fine with not going to work today, Matthew?" asked Arthur as he leaned into his chair.
"I'm fine. I can work from home," said Matthew. He was an editor for a small literature magazine. Arthur let him used the spare room on the first floor as an office for his works. Matthew was grateful for that. "Alfred said he would be home soon today. You want me to cook something?"
"I'll take care of the cooking," said Arthur.
"Let me help you!" said Matthew. He had to make sure that Arthur wouldn't destroy the kitchen. It was horrible when he had to face Ludwig's anger because he couldn't keep Arthur out of the kitchen.
When they were preparing the dinner, they heard the front door opened and heard two people chatting with each other. Matthew quickly recognized the voice as Francis' and Antonio's. He wiped his hands clean with a washcloth before greeted them.
"Matthieu!" Francis greeted him cheerfully. "Where's Arthur?"
"Errr… in the kitchen?" said Matthew.
"You let him in the kitchen?!" asked Francis angrily as he rushed to the kitchen. His eyes widened at the sight of Arthur, wearing his usual black apron. But what surprised Francis wasn't the apron, but the fact that Arthur was holding up his hand and there was a trickle of blood running down his finger. Apparently, he had cutting his fingers by accident.
"Arthur!" said Francis. "What are you doing here?" Francis quickly grabbed his hand and examined the wound. He let out a sigh. "I'm not sure you are permitted to enter the kitchen after what happened last time. Ludwig won't be happy if he knew."
"I'm with Matthew," said Arthur. "It should be fine."
"Whatever you say, Arthur," said Francis as he placed a small peck on Arthur's cheek.
"Y-you… you frog!" Arthur exclaimed while his face slightly blushed. He washed his wound and reached for band-aid in the first-aid kit box before wrapped it carefully on his wound. Antonio entered the kitchen and let out a small laugh as he gave Arthur a small hug.
"Now now, Arthur… We all know that you shouldn't be here…" said Antonio while pushing Arthur's back out of the kitchen. "Just leave the food with Matthew and Francis, okay? You can help me with the groceries."
"G-git! I want to make dinner!" said Arthur stubbornly.
"But we don't want the others have to be brought to the hospital because of food poisoning, right?"
Arthur gave him a small pout but left the kitchen nevertheless. Francis gave a small sighed as he glanced at Matthew. The two of them started to make dinner while Arthur and Antonio sorted the groceries. Antonio was working as a waiter in a café, the café which in fact was owned by The Vargas Brothers. Francis was a model. Arthur himself was a famous writer even if he kept his real identity as a secret. No one knew who he really was except for his 'family'.
After they sorted the groceries, Antonio decided to help Arthur with their laundries. They chatted for a bit, but mostly about Arthur's condition. Lately, he often was being sick like sudden dizziness and so on. It worried them so much, and they all knew what was happening.
You see, there was a reason why Arthur chose these people. They were all the same.
They were all magic users.
But, magic required a certain amount of payment, depended on the strength of it. Some of these obeisances were pretty easy, but some of them were dangerous. Like Arthur's.
"ARTIE, I'm HOOOMMMEEE!"
"Alfred, please, not the loud voice!"
"Ve~! Ludwig has come home!"
"Potato bastard!"
"Ah, konbanwa, minna-san… Tadaima!"
Arthur could hear the loud step of a certain American when he suddenly greeted by two pairs of arms which quickly engulfed him in a bone-crushing hug. Alfred F. Jones was a tall man, with dirty blond hair with a cowlick that refused to go down and a pair of sky blue eyes. Behind him, there was a tall blond man with icy blue eyes and almost stoic expression; Ludwig Beilschmidt. There were also a pair of Italian twins Feliciano and Lovino Vargas, along with a quiet Japanese man, Honda Kiku.
Arthur smiled at them.
"Welcome home," he said. "Ah, Ludwig… It was so rare to see you coming home along with the others."
"I'm leaving earlier," said Ludwig as he ruffled Arthur's hair (even though the Brit was three years older than him). "What happened to your hand?" asked Ludwig as he reached for Arthur's band-aided hand and examine it. "You're not doing something dangerous, are you?"
"I'm not doing anything," said Arthur. "I just accidentally cut it when I prepared the dinner."
"You cook?" asked Ludwig. He could see from the corner of his eyes that Feliciano and Lovino shuddered in fear.
"No. Francis and Matthew take over the kitchen," said Antonio.
"Yokatta," mumbled Kiku.
"Artie, you shouldn't move too much," said Alfred, hadn't let Arthur go from his arms. "You look paler than usual. Does Matthew take care of you alright?"
"He does, Alfred! And my name is Arthur, not Artie," said Arthur.
After Ludwig and Alfred left to take a bath and change their clothes, Francis announced that dinner was ready. They stepped into the huge kitchen and sat around the table. Even though they had a big dining room, no one liked to eat there. Everyone told about their day during the dinner while Arthur would listen to them. A small smile never left his lips.
Feliciano praised the food. He was a chef in a small café where Antonio worked as the waiter and Lovino worked as the manager. The Vargas Brothers own the café. Kiku was an owner of an otaku shop. Both Ludwig and Alfred worked at the police force. And that was them, a one big happy family.
"And so, I asked Lars to bring his wife in our next drinking party!" said Alfred excitedly. "And he was blushing like a school girl. I've seen his wife before; she's very small compared to Lars, but when you look at him, you'll see how much he loves her."
Ludwig gave a small comment about Alfred story, but no one really heard him talk. Arthur stood up from his seat to get some water when suddenly his hand stopped as a splitting headache attack him. Arthur could feel his knee buckled as he fell onto the floor before no one could catch him.
"Arthur-san!"
Kiku, the closest one to him rushed to his side as the quiet man helped Arthur. Arthur could feel the throbbing pain attack his head. He felt something. A presence of someone.
Magic user.
"Arthur! Are you okay?" asked Alfred.
"Magic user…" said Arthur quietly. "I can feel them…"
"Potato bastard! Bring those guys to check on the front door!" said Lovino pointed at Francis and Antonio.
Ludwig hated it when Lovino ordered him around, but he said nothing. He knew that right now, the safety of the manor is more important. So, he led Francis and Antonio to the front door. Carefully, Ludwig pulled out his Luger while Francis grabbed a baseball bat in the hallway. They reached the front door while the knocking sound still could be heard.
Antonio stood up to reach the handle and he opened the door.
There was a young girl, with dark brown hair tied with red ribbons, tanned skin and blue dress. She looked up at Ludwig who had his Luger pointed out to the girl's face as she spoke in a firm voice.
"I need to talk to Arthur."
Eehhh... review? Please? No flames, though. Flames are only for summoning the devil.
*Russia appears* You called?
No! *Push Russia's head down* Please review!