WARNING: To all readers, this chapter is the final. It is very dark, and disturbed. Discretion seriously advised. Character death, violence, swearing, suggestive themes, animal death, sadness, sexual situations, and gory themed dialogue. A lot of dark themes exchanged. As well as some comfort at the end. Rated M for a reason. Once again another warning as to the content of this chapter.
You've been warned.
Heroes
Arthur smiled at his new friend as he was stirred awake by the morning sunlight. They were still evident with what had happened last night. Both were sticky with sweat and other bodily fluids. Kiku was still asleep he was mumbling a bit, cuddling the pillows. The feel of aftersex and pleasure still in his brain. Slowly he nudged Kiku, who was a very light sleeper, he awoke, smiling and cuddling him close. Slowly Arthur got up, stretching out a bit. The morning air was chilly and the sunlight was dull but still there. Kiku curled up in the sheets, lying back. Arthur smiled pulling on his underwear, grabbing a towel to wipe off his chest and face from last nights activities. He pulled over his shirt and pants walking to the stove. He turned to Kiku.
"Want something to eat?" he asked.
Kiku nodded.
"Like what?" he asked.
Kiku shrugged, he signed a few words.
"I know you want breakfast… Hmm. Maybe I have some flour and sugar. I can make hot-cakes." Arthur said with a smile. He was a horrible cook but he was fairly sure the man who had lived in a cage wouldn't mind too much. He would still try to do better than his usual horrible. He heated up the stove, adding some wood to the cast iron place, fanning it. He grabbed the tin of sugar and flour and mixed them in a bronze bowl. He turned to face Kiku and saw him sitting in the tub letting the cold water fill in. He jumped but did make a noise. Arthur forgot for a second that he was mute. He smiled seeing the man clean himself, some bite marks still evident on his collarbone. He poured some of the heated water from the kettle into the mix of sugar and flour, mixing it to a runny liquid. Slowly he poured out the thin pancake on the surface of the pan, adding another log to the fire.
Kiku looked over him, slipping his hands under Arthur's arms. He could feel the man shivering and as he pressed up noticed he was wearing the tattered stage dress.
"Oh… Kiku. You don't have to wear such a thing. I have some extra clothes. Give me a second." kindly the man picked up the doll-like mans tiny body, sitting him on the chair by the table. He rummaged through his small chest of clothes, pulling out a vest which he had outgrown and a white shirt. It was too big but it had to do. He pulled out some pants that had shrunk a bit and hoped Kiku could fit them well. He walked over, kneeling down. He pulled Kiku's dress off and found he was wearing no underwear. He turned red.
"A-ah. Sorry… I'll get you undergarments." he said turning red. He walked over pulling out some clean underwear and leaned over slipping Kiku into his clothes. He buttoned the shirt for him, Kiku looked at him anxiously.
"Oh… I'm sorry. You aren't a real doll. I didn't mean to treat you like one. You can dress yourself." Arthur apologized. Kiku shook his head tugging his sleeve and pointing.
"Well, of course I like catering to you but…" Arthur stuttered as a smell hit his nose. Kiku shook his head, turning to the side, pointing in a frantic manor. Arthur jumped up realizing the hot-cake was burning. He ran over to the stove pulling off the hot pan and dumping the hot-cake. He sighed looking over to Kiku.
"Sorry… I didn't mean to make you panic… I've got to pay more attention when you're signing to me. I'm not used to you yet. I want to be though… Just give me more time." Arthur sighed feeling a pang of guilt. Kiku stood up the white shirt falling off his shoulders a bit revealing his ball-jointed shoulders. He hugged Arthur tightly, looking up with his glossy black eyes and gripped Arthur's hand bringing it to his cheek. He smiled leaning on his chest.
"Thanks for forgiving me…" Arthur replied, petting his hair. "I want you to do your best to tell me when I'm annoying you, or when you want to tell me something." he kissed the top of his head, letting him lean against his back. Arthur continued to cook the hot cakes to a more proper golden brown. He set the plates up, bend and cracked, Kiku smiled happily. Arthur could see his ribcage fairly well last night and was concerned about the mans weight. Silently he set the hotcakes down. There was seven. He plated three and four. Kindly he set the plate of four to Kiku. He looked up, taking the slightly rusty fork on the table. He pulled off the one hotcake and set it on Arthur's plate. Arthur looked over him sighing, he gently touched his stomach. Kiku shook his head.
"You need to eat more Kiku…" Arthur argued.
The mute man shook his head, signing he was fine with getting breakfast in the first place. Arthur sighed mumbling to himself. He took out a butter knife and cut the seventh hotcake down the middle. Kiku looked concerned but before he could argue he brought over some honey and sugary syrup pouring it on the hotcakes. Kiku smiled softly, continuing to eat with a small smile. The two ate their full of hotcakes and sweets until Kiku felt nearly sick with the food.
"Don't force yourself, it's okay if it's too much. You don't want to over eat." Arthur warned patting his back. Kiku gave a nod, he sighed leaning back and nibbled the rest of the hotcake he was eating.
Arthur smiled, he looked over him, finishing his breakfast. He looked up wiping the syrup off his collar and he pulled his vest on, as well as his hat.
"We're going to the police station, but first I want to visit a friend of mine." Arthur said.
Kiku opened his eyes wide, shaking his head.
"I know you just want to run away. But I can't do that. Not with Alfred still out there. But my friend may be able to help us maybe for a bit if we can get him to help us. He's not very kind, but he's not mean. At least not usually. He's a bit older." Arthur explained. "Put on my shoes. I keep most of the things I outgrew, I think you'll be a little too small. You just stick by me okay?" Arthur pulled his shoes out of the small chest he kept by the bed. Kiku slipped them on messing with the ties a bit. Arthur helped him slipped on his shoes and began to pull his hat on. Arthur smiled, beckoning him downstairs. The Japanese man looked around at the corridors of stone and metal candelabras. Kiku was quite interested with the works. He ran his fingertips along the walls.
"Do you miss your home?" Arthur asked. "It doesn't look like this place does it?"
Kiku shook his head, he looked up at the walls, the high windows bringing in the cold morning light from the October day.
Kiku sighed softly.
"What's it like back in your home?" Arthur asked.
Kiku shrugged he pulled his arms close, hugging himself, pointing to the high window.
"Warm and sunny? That must be nice… Do you have bad weather sometimes?" Arthur asked.
Kiku nodded pointing to the stone floor.
"Earthquakes?" Arthur asked.
Kiku shrugged, pinching his fingers together.
"Small. Still. Aren't Earthquakes scary? I mean I don't think I could handle getting a lot of them…" Arthur said.
Kiku shook his head kicking his feet in the slightly big shoes which were Arthur's.
"Still home huh? I can't imagine being so far away from here… This is my home. I'm sorry you're so far away. What does your house look like?" Arthur asked.
Kiku smiled softly opening his arms out big. He looked around the hallway, knocking on the mahogany door. He looked up and pursed his lips, nodding. He pointed around at a few things. He gestured to his side then looked down.
"Made out of wood… Sunny and big open spaces. Some of those warrior people right? Samurai? I heard the people are respectful… Sounds nice." Arthur said looking down. "I wish we could go back. And maybe I could stay with you."
Kiku shrugged.
"I suppose you're right… no place really is perfect." Arthur nodded looking around. As they exited the house Kiku looked down at his feet sticking close to Arthur. Arthur brushed his back.
"You're gonna be okay. I'll hide you if they're looking for you." Arthur whispered. "Hold my shirttail."
Kiku held on tightly to his shirt. He nodded looking down.
"My friend is very wise, despite his prior ideals… He's down the street by the forest. Just outside the area." Arthur explained. He looked around the streets, beckoning Kiku to keep calm as they slowly weaved through the travelling people. The two journeyed onward reaching the outskirts of town. The early morning light was dulling from Autumn clouds. The sky was greyish white and drizzle began to form. The two clicked their feet against the cobblestone streets as they rushed to the mans house. The two stood outside under the gargoyle covered roof.
"Hey, you ever heard about gargoyles?" Arthur asked his as he looked up, the drizzle turning into a light rain. Kiku shook his head looking at the stone creature.
"They're called stone creatures that come back to life and night. Most people think they're demons. But these gargoyles are just rain gutters. The spit the rain away from the house. Though I'm sure if that was my job I'd be a little demonic too." Arthur explained. Kiku looked up at the stone figure that leaned over the eaves on the roof, rainwater exiting it's mouth.
"You have similar stories back home?" Arthur asked.
Kiku nodded.
"Maybe you can tell me sometime. When this all ends." he said.
Kiku nodded again. Arthur took the heavy doorknocker and slammed it into the wooden frame a few times. He turned to Kiku.
"He's a bit older, but he's usually polite. Just a bit stern." Arthur explained.
Kiku nodded, the door swung open. A tall man with dark chocolate brown hair stood their. He had amethyst coloured eyes and wore more expensive clothes than that of the two. A corset which was not bound tightly to his figure as most corsets are not. He wore a white shirt and a thick mink coat and had some spectacles on the bridge of his nose.
"Roderich. It's good to see you." Arthur said.
"What do you want?" Roderich snapped.
"I see the feeling is mutual." Arthur snapped back. "I need to talk to you. I need your opinion."
"My opinion? That's a first… And who might you be?" Roderich turned to Kiku, looking over the man.
"This is Kiku. He ran away from the circus. He's been through a lot and I need your help. You know a lot. You've been through a lot more than me. You're the oldest country I know. H-"
"I've heard enough." Roderich snapped. He seemed to get calmer with Kiku. "You come inside. Both of you. I'll boil a kettle. The two were led inside. The house smelt of flower perfume and smoke, it was covered with papers of music and other German music, the tables had dishes and china plates. The living room had a fireplace covered in ashes and soot, and there were two large red velvet chairs. Roderich gestured Kiku to sit down and walked over to the kitchen which opened into the living room. Kiku curled up, pinching his nose.
"Don't you ever clean?" Arthur snapped.
"You want to clean my house? Help yourself." Roderich retorted. He looked over Kiku kneeling down.
"So what's the matter with you? You're mute right? I can see the scars on your neck." Roderich said softly. Kiku nodded looking down. Roderich turned to Arthur.
"What did you do?" he snapped.
"I didn't do anything!-"
"Typical."
"Shut, UP. Anyway. Kiku ran away. I want to help him. His body is pretty messed up. But that's not the only thing. Have you ever seen a circus freak before? These are just… too different." Arthur explained.
"I can see the joints." Roderich said. "You don't look very normal. They wired your joints didn't they? I've seen some like this before. Not most cases are very unusual as this, but it doesn't surprise me. A lot of armature doctors and scientist sprang up in the 1600's and stayed. Then some people actually believe they can pull off what they tried to achieve. People are the sickest kind of animals. What do you want me to do though? This can't be undone. It's too late."
"I just wanted your opinion. I needed some of your help. Plus I want someone to know. You're pretty smart. You brushed up in all that Science era stuff, right?" Arthur asked.
"Somewhat. I know an odd body when I see one. You should go to the police though. I can't help you in anyway. Do you know who did this to him?" Roderich asked.
"The ring master. I figured we'd be doing that." Arthur replied.
Roderich walked to the kitchen hearing the kettle whistle, he pulled his sleeve back putting some tea leaves in a strainer and poured out the cup of tea. He walked over handing it to Kiku.
"What about my tea?" Arthur complained.
"You can walk can't you?" Roderich snapped.
Arthur rolled his eyes walking to the kitchen as he poured out another cup. Roderich rolled up Kiku's pants leg revealing the ball joint. He tapped it softly, looking up at Kiku.
"Does that hurt?" he asked.
The man shook his head.
"I didn't think so. I study the human anatomy. Or I did. There is a lot of interesting things about this. Whoever sewed you up like this knew his way around the nervous system. You know what that is?"
Kiku shook his head gain. Roderich clicked his tongue, he pulled out a cigarette, lighting it and looked down at Kiku flicking the inner part of his thigh, his leg twitched a bit.
"There. See how you twitched? This is a reaction from your nervous system. Your nervous system is effected by electricity. This is common, it happens in anything that can feel pain." Roderich explained taking a drag from his cigarette. "Humans are sensitive creatures, so this understandable. Have you ever rubbed wool socks on a carpet? You gain electricity from it, which causes you to shock people. It's mostly annoying and not painful but the pain is important to understanding your surroundings."
Kiku nodded feeling he understood somewhat. He sipped the tea, fanning the air with his hand as Roderich continued to smoke.
"You should really quit." Arthur complained sitting by Kiku.
"I'll stop when I'm dead." Roderich puffed, dragging the cigarette again. "Now as for you two…" the man stopped looking over them for a good moment.
"What do you plan on doing? You need a plan." Roderich asked.
"I figured we arrest the ringmaster and free the circus people. I guess… they should be taken to a orphanage. I can't keep them." Arthur explained.
"That's your release for them? Throw them in another prison?" Roderich hissed.
"I don't know what I'm supposed to do! I can barely manage Kiku. I can't keep them all." Arthur argued. "At least the Orphanage will provide for them."
"Face it Arthur, they wont do well there. Even if they did, what would happen when they were forced to leave? Who would accept them? They are freaks, not by choice, but by a mad mans desire. They can't get anywhere in this world. People will reject them. They'll just die on the streets like the people of the plague." Roderich snapped.
"What do you suppose I do then!?" Arthur snapped.
"You can't save them. They can never be fixed. But…" Roderich looked heavy as he gave a long puff of cigarette smoke.
"If… IF. You need someone. I can take care of them. No one bothers me anyway. I can do my best… I haven't raised a kid since the Middle Ages but I can do my darndest. Just make a smart plan. Now you two scoot. Go to the police station and try to resolve this mess. How many are there?"
"Five. If you count the two headed man as two people." Arthur explained.
"Good enough. Now march, get to it!" Roderich snapped sitting down. "You can take my umbrella."
Kiku left the tea on the table, he bowed to Roderich and walked out with Arthur they two sharing the umbrella. Roderich watched them leave holding the door open as he smashed the finished cigarette into an ashtray and started a new one.
"What am I doing with my life?" He murmured.
Fortunately no one answered.
As the two got to the police station the rain was coming down hard and the streets only had a few people walking around with umbrellas darting under the eaves of the houses and the pavement. Arthur kept Kiku close as they walked into the Police station. A tall man was standing in the back with the words Scotland Yard on his clothing. Arthur looked over him. He did not recognise this cop. Usually he was a short, plump man with a smoking pipe and a red face. This man with his back turned was very tall and with a more distributed weight. He had short silver hair and wasn't so red, the part of his arms showing was quite a pale skin tone, even in the British area. Arthur walked up, Kiku held his arm close.
"Mornin'" Arthur said.
"Ah…?" The man turned his head around. He had dark purple eyes like Roderich, but a bit brighter. "Morning it is…"
"I don't think I've met you before." Arthur said.
"Just joined the squad. I'm Ivan." he said with a smile.
Kiku tugged his shirt.
"Just a second Kiku." Arthur hissed. "I need to report this madman that works at the circus. He's been cutting up and experimenting on people. Especially his sideshow freaks. I have an eyewitness."
Kiku tugged him making a whimpering noise.
"What do you want!?" Arthur snapped turning to him.
A gun barrel pressed against Arthur's temple. He looked over, Ivan smiled softly, looking over the two.
"That was much easier than I thought… And I only had to kill one cop." Ivan chuckled.
"Kiku… RUN." Arthur grabbed the gun and twisted it away as Kiku ran off the gun shot into the ceiling and Arthur ran off with Kiku, Kiku slipped in the muddy road, Arthur raced to pick him up.
"Keep going!" he snapped.
Ivan was faster than you'd think for his large size, he had large steps with his long legs and caught up a pipe in hand, he slammed the pipe in the back on Kiku's head. It was over for him as the man collapsed to the ground. Arthur stumbled immediately falling to help Kiku. Ivan shoved the pipe between them, hitting Arthur in the chest.
"You are supposed to keep running, but you only made it easier for me, huh?" Ivan asked.
Arthur zoned out as he was hit with the pipe, he saw Kiku laying next to him, his eyes half-lidded and unopened. Another blow was delivered and the last thing he saw was the rain falling sideways on his face.
Arthur felt pain first.
He slowly let his mind sink in to being knocked out. He could feel his vision slowly comprehending the surroundings. His hands were bound, he was laying on a table, flat on his back, the ropes tying his arms apart and his feet bound together. He looked up groaning trying to undo the ties. He was in a small room, he could tell it was in a basement, there was high ceiling windows up in the walls and the rest of the room was dark. There was chains and tables full of spices and herbs. As well as small intricate metal devices. The tables were long and made out of marble. It was cold, and there was a few objects on a rolling table. A scaple knife, sewing needles, and a large knife. Arthur felt panic in his throat and pulled at the restraints. He wanted to scream but he was assured no one was there that would help him. Slowly a door opened up and a man with a top hat walked in. Alfred smiled holding a box in his hands. It continued to twitch and move in his arms, the box shaking a bit.
"Good afternoon…" Alfred hissed.
"Fucker." Arthur snapped.
"Don't speak to me like that…" Alfred set the box down, it still moved and twitched horribly as he leaned over Arthur getting close.
"You are too cute… I'm so glad you're back. And Kiku as well. We can stay here forever. I'll always be taking care of you all…" he pressed his lips against him. Suddenly Alfred's eyes went dark.
"You're cold again…" he said.
"What? I'm freezing down here." Arthur snapped. "Let me go!"
"Why aren't you warm…? Why isn't anyone warm…" Alfred hissed. He leaned down kissing him on the lips and shoved his tongue in his mouth. Arthur's eyes went wide as he tried to shove the intruding organ out. It felt fleshy and invasive wiggling around and he bit down on it. Alfred did not react. Alfred was emotionless, pulling his tongue out. Some blood dripped down from Arthur biting too hard. The blood escaped his lips dripping on Arthur's shirt as he climbed on top. He leaned over on him, gritting his teeth.
"I thought I could feel again…" he whispered.
"What is wrong with you!?" Arthur squirmed but couldn't get free.
"Your mouth is cold… Everything is cold… What did I do wrong…?" Alfred continued to whine. He walked over to the small box, pulling out a rabbit with unusually large ears. "I wanted you to like me… You made me feel again… But it's all gone… Do you know what that's like? I can't feel the heat, I can only feel cold… No… I can't feel the cold either. I don't know what it is… I can't feel anyone at all. What's it feel like…"
Suddenly Alfred lifted the rabbit by it's ears.
"Then you came along… and when we touched… I felt something. A small little feeling of warmth when you touched my hand. It felt so nice… So warm… And it was all gone." he snapped looking down at Arthur.
"What are you going on about!? I didn't do anything!" Arthur said shrilly.
"YES YOU DID!" Alfred screamed ballistically as if he didn't want to sound like a nutcase. However he sounded like more of one. "You touched me! When you took the pounds out of my hand! I felt it… I could feel my fingertips again…" Alfred lifted his hand, pulling his gloves off. He showed a large amount of scars on his hands.
"When I was little, I used to pretend I was cutting up twigs like a lumberjack… One day I dropped the knife on my foot. I kept cutting with all this red stuff on me. I sliced my hand up too. And a bunch of red stuff came out… When the people who raised me saw what I did they started screaming and rushed me to the doctor. I was bleeding all over the living room where they firewood was… They patched me up and my caretakers couldn't stop crying… telling me I must've been in so much pain… But I didn't feel anything at all. I was so unhappy… I had upset them… I didn't know why. But I upset them…" he looked down at his hands, suddenly he dropped the rabbit in the box and picked up the saw on the table. He ran it over his wrist and blood poured out all over his forearm.
"Ever since then… I couldn't feel a thing…" he hissed.
He shot forward, grabbing the rabbit with his mangled bloody hand and the rabbit thrashed around in his grip, clawing and kicking to get away.
"What's it like little bunny…? Does it hurt? Holding you like this?" he whispered bringing the animal close. "Arthur is just as cute as you… I want him to look like a bunny too… So he can be twice as cute…"
Alfred lifted the blade and brought it down on the rabbits neck. The body fell off and Alfred held the bloody rabbit head up by the ears.
"What the fuck is wrong with you!?" Arthur jumped. "Let me go!"
"These ears are so big… the bunny must've been a freak to all the normal bunnies… Do you know what that's like Arthur…? Do you?" Alfred asked. He held the rabbit head up and Arthur could feel the blood dripping all over his shirt and arms.
"Let me go!" Arthur snapped. "This is so fucked up! You freak!"
"NEVER EVER CALL ME THAT! I'M NOT A FREAK!" Alfred screamed at the top of his lungs flinging the rabbit head around in his hands. Arthur was more concerned about the blade in the other hand though. "I'M NORMAL! I'M FUCKING NORMAL!" he suddenly fell forward on Arthur and looked over him, he dropped the rabbit head on the surgeon table, and climbed on Arthur. He smiled, watching the mans eyes go wide.
"You're going to do what I say. Unless you want Hanako to suffer some more…." he murmured.
Arthur froze up.
"Don't you da-"
"Try me…" Alfred interrupted.
Arthur looked up in the crazed bloody mans eyes and couldn't respond. Alfred took the knife, cutting his shirt open. He chuckled looking over Arthur's body, giving a tentative lick to the collarbone and going lower to his chest. Arthur squirmed.
"Stop this…" He groaned.
"You rather me do it to Hanako? I've done it so many times to him… Doesn't he look pretty screaming without a voice?" Alfred asked.
"You sick fuck!-" Arthur froze up as a blade was at his neck again and Alfred leaned down licking all over his abs.
"Just relax… This doesn't have to be difficult…" Alfred began unbuttoning his shirt, he pulled it off revealing that his chest and body was covered in mangled self mutilating scars. He smiled at Arthur kissing down his chest, nipping his skin. Arthur leaned back, trying to shy away, none of his moves were soft or playful. Just painful and inexpressive. His biting was more hurtful than playful or devilish. He looked up at Arthur.
"I can't even get hard…" he murmured. "Not even to a cute face like you… I want to feel it… I want to feel pleasure… have sex… make love… Cry… scream… But I can't…"
Alfred ripped the knife into Arthur's pants shredding the fabric. Arthur struggled with his binds trying to break free, he panted pulling away.
"Stop… Just stop…" Arthur whimpered. "I'm sorry…"
"I don't want you to be sorry… I want you to make me happy… Alfred rested his head on his chest. "I want you to stay here forever… My little bunny."
"If I let you… you'll leave Kiku alone?" Arthur hissed.
"Of course… Anything for my bunny." Alfred rose off of Arthur. The man was forced to watch the lunatic saw off the rabbits ears, and held them up to Arthur. He grabbed a scalpel and shaved of small areas on Arthur's hair around his crown. Arthur soon had two bald spots on the top of his head. Alfred laughed, cutting into the skin.
"Ow! D-damn it…" Arthur grit his teeth gazing up at him.
"Scream… Cry out… cuss at me. I'm the only one here…" Alfred whispered as blood dripped onto Arthur's eyelashes blood rolling down his forehead. He sputtered the blood dripping on his lip and Alfred continued to cut the top part of his head.
"Why…?" Arthur whispered weakly pain shooting from the top of his head to his toes. It was excruciating. Alfred continued to cut careful incisions.
"Because I want everyone to be freaks…" he said with a grin. "Everyone will be a freak like me… and once everyone is a freak… no one will be."
"You're insane…" Arthur snapped.
"Were all mad aren't we?" Alfred chuckled. Arthur began to bleed out more until slowly he was going in and out of consciousness. Alfred worked on sewing the ears on his head. Silently he took a small device and heated it over a flame, stabbing it into Arthur's wound. Arthur screamed his vision going black with pain, he could feel himself slowly fading from reality and several words slowly echoed in his subconscious mind.
"Sleep… Sleep little bunny. I'll wake you tomorrow…"
Kiku was thrown into the cage he had escaped twice, Ivan had stripped him of his clothes and he felt ashamed, naked in his cage, shaking. Ivan stood by the cage looking over the two. His dark violet eyes watching over him. Kiku curled up to the corner of the cage, wiping his tears away. A new array of bruises and red marks on his back had appeared. The inside of the tent was still dark but he felt the Russian's gaze taunting him. As he pressed against the bars he felt a suddenly warmth on his back. Turning to meet the warmth he saw Basch, his face was cut up and his arm was mangled, the tin covers on his wrist broken. He slowly extended his arm out. Jacket in hand. Kiku looked over him, Basch only shook the jacket a bit more. Silently, Kiku pulled his hand through the bars, brushing over Basch's busted knuckles.
"Take it…" he whispered.
Kiku pouted looking over the man, he was in a fake military suit offering his coat out to him. Kiku pulled the jacket softly, taking it from him. Basch gave a soft smile. Kiku wrapped his around his shoulders, the jacket only reached the Swiss mans thighs but on Kiku it went to his knees. He curled up, pressing his face against Basch's own. Basch smiled softly, he looked over him, holding his hand.
"What's outside like…?" He whispered thinly, his voice still a bit mangled.
Kiku smiled gesturing to the sun and the buildings. He hugged the coat close.
"Yeah… I bet it's real comfortable. And free…" Basch looked up at the cages. He turned a bit to Ivan. The Swiss man watched him, sitting there by the pillar holding up the tent. He had no expression on his face, just arms folded, dark look, bright eyes and a sledge hammer leaning on the other side of the pillar. His face seemed deeply melancholy. Basch crawled a bit, hands bruised. He felt somewhat unsure, and perhaps too brave. A question aroused in his head and slowly he pressed against the bars, uttering it to Ivan.
"Ivan… why do you do this to us?" Basch asked. "And answer seriously…"
"Because I was told to." Ivan replied. "Ringmaster wouldn't have it any other way."
"Why do you let him boss you around?" Basch asked. "What would you do? Honestly Ivan… What do you want to do?"
Ivan suddenly seemed stumped. The question raced in his mind. What did he want to do? He had never asked himself this question. He had never understood the feeling. Silently he leaned back scratching his head. No giggles or harsh jokes came from him. He looked down seriously stumped.
"I want to be free…" he said softly.
"I want to be free too…" Basch replied. "Please Ivan… You have that power in you. I know you do. Don't let that man control you. You are a real person! We all are… You don't need to do this. You're a good person. I know you are…"
Ivan was stiff at his words, his face stoic and dark. He did not say anything for a long time. His expression was hollow, his heart was beating. Basch extended his hand as far as he could through the bar. Ivan looked away.
"Don't lie to me…" Ivan hissed.
"I'm tell you the only thing I know… They think you're a monster because you're so big and tall. I know what it's like to not get a break. Even before I was turned into this thing. Please believe me Ivan… I know you can do good. You're not a bad person…" Basch looked over him.
"I don't hate you."
Ivan suddenly stood grabbing the sledge hammer. Basch reeled back ducking and he heard a huge slam of the hammer impacting the cage. He shut his eyes a bit afraid as he heard the metal door creak. Suddenly, Basch looked up, Ivan pulled the door open, the lock was smashed and he threw in on the floor of the circus tent.
"Ivan…?" Basch asked.
"It'll never be locked again…" Ivan hissed. "Hurry up. Get out. I don't know when Alfred will come back."
Basch nodded rising to his feet.
"I trust you." he said. Ivan pointed to the tent opening.
"Once you get outside go left and down the alleyway. Take the third right, the rest are dead ends. Go to the police station and hit the road. Just run. I don't know where that road goes, but it goes away from here. Just keep running." Ivan hissed. "Hurry! Before he shows."
"Ivan."
"What?"
"Thank you…"
Ivan looked down at his feet, he shook his head.
"I'm a monster… I've killed innocent people… I destroy so many things… I'm too big, too tall… No one thinks I'm a freak… just a monster. Just a clown. Nothing good. Nothing important." he said looking away.
"You can change that…" Basch said.
"It's too late. You need to run. I know you can." Ivan stepped away and smashed the lock to Kiku's cage. "Take him as well. You two can go. You can run."
"What about the others?" Basch asked.
"They're fate has been sealed. They don't want to run away. They're ready for what's coming… I am too. I won't run away. There's no place for us. You two can live… no… you will live. Now go. Now." Ivan said.
Softly Kiku walked up to him, getting on his tiptoes he still was not tall enough and softly he gave him a kiss on his scarf. He only mouthed silent words.
"You're welcome." Ivan understood well enough.
"Goodbye…" Basch held Kiku's hand and ran away, never looking back.
"Goodbye…" Ivan dropped the hammer, leaning on the cage. "My only friend…"
He sighed looking up at the tent ceiling, some holes brought in warm midday light. He reached up with his gloved and smiled.
"This world doesn't need this monster anymore…" he whispered.
Within an hours passing Alfred returned above surface, his hands covered in blood his shirt was undone as well. He looked around first heading outside breathing in the cool afternoon air of October, before heading back to the tent. As he looked around most had been wandering and having fun at the circus, he pulled his coat over to cover the bloodstains so no one could see. Alfred looked around smiling and asking around the people if they were having a good time. He did not notice two men dressed in military clothes quickly running away. As he turned to the tent a few people asked for autographs and he chuckled taking his time to sign each paper. He walked over silently escaping the crowd. And smiled as he sealed the tent behind him.
"Silly money givers…" Alfred chuckled. He pulled his hat off, messing his hair. He turned to Russia and suddenly froze.
"Where is the two dolls?" he snapped.
Russia's hair was messed up from gripping his hair, shaking his head. Silently he looked down, a hammer at his feet. Two broken locks in his hand. He looked down, slowly drifting his gaze upward. Ivan shook his head.
"This needs to stop…" he said. "I'm not your henchman anymore… I don't want this… They aren't ever coming back. I realized something now… I don't want to be a monster… I don't want to be around you. You bring out the worst in me. I wanted to be free so long ago. And now I am. It took a man in a cage to tell me that I'm free…" Ivan hissed.
"Where. Are. They?" Alfred snapped.
"You don't have to be a monster… You can change…" Ivan said.
"Tell me where they are you dumb fuck!" Alfred snapped.
"I refuse." Ivan replied.
Alfred pulled out a knife, and pressed it against his neck.
"Tell me right now or I'll kill you!" he screamed.
"That's the only opposition you give to people… what if I don't want to live?" Ivan asked.
Alfred plunged the knife into his side. Ivan suddenly jumped, coughing up blood, his body shuttered. Scarlet blood weld from the wound pouring down his jacket. He stumbled back, reaching to his side.
"My… lung…." He coughed more blood up on his coat. Alfred grabbed the mans arm and pulled him from covering his wound. Alfred slashed the blade over his neck, more crimson blood pouring out.
"You don't know shit…" Alfred snapped. "Who I am, what I've been through… Don't fucking tell me to change! I can't!"
Ivan leaned back falling to the ground, he coughed up some more blood holding his neck. Blood splattered on Alfred's coat as he stood over him. Alfred leaned down, eyes dark lips pursed.
"You're a good person… I know you are…" Ivan whispered.
"Shut UP!" Alfred kicked the man in his bleeding side and walked off.
"If you need a job, guess you do it yourself…" Alfred hissed. "If you were so much of a genious you'd remember I messed up Kiku's arm and leg. He can't get far before he falls apart. As for you… well… You'll be dead in a few minutes. Hope you're happy."
"You learned… that's good enough…" Ivan's eyes were already dull a pool of warm blood at his side and neck. He fumbled in the dead grass and hay scattered on the tent floor. He sighed slowly dropping his head. Alfred walked out wiping the knife as he shoved it in his pocket, he shoved through the crowd of people, looking around for Basch and Kiku. As he swerved away Russia crawled into a sitting position. Slightly leaning forward he pulled a box of matches out of his pocket, looking around. Papillion flittered her wings, dulled by so many stage uses, so many horrible shows. The two headed man was pressed against the bars, watching as well as Sika, his deer ears twitching.
"I'm sorry…" Ivan whispered. "You're all in so much pain…"
Quickly, he struck a match, lighting it. He tossed it onto the ground. He leaned on the beam for support as the dry Autumn grass began to set fire, as well as the hay.
"You wont have to be in pain anymore… I promise…" he whispered. Suddenly the man collapsed into the floor, the fire began to spread at his feet, his eyes had turned dark, his face was paler than it had ever been before. The fire began to catch on his coat, as well as the tent, pain shot up his sides and legs, but it was too late for Ivan.
He laid there smiling as he slowly died out.
Arthur could feel the ears on his head. Not just them sitting there, but they were twitching with his movements. The thought scared him as he sat in the basement, blood on his face and shirt, he pulled at his restraints, growling as he failed to do anything. Both his hands and feet were bound separately to the table. He turned to the side where the dead rabbit corpse lay, the scalpel and other knife sitting on the table. He groaned stretching his arm out. His fingers wrapped around the blade and he cut his fingertips, but slowly and surely the knife was in his hand. He slipped it under the rope, sliding it back and forth as quickly as possible, the rope snapped and he sighed full of relief. He turned to his other hand and untied the bind. As he rose to a sitting position the blood loss in his head mad him dazed and weary a bit as he tried to cut the rope off his feet. Silently and messily he cut his ankle a bit, but freed his two feet. As he pulled out the table he took the knife with him, pulling the door open. He looked around. Alfred had a few bits of his stage clothes in the back. He grabbed a top hat putting it on. The top hat was still rather large and unneeded, but it was better than his twitching ears. Slowly he exited the basement climbing up to the floor level. He found he was just a far bit away from the circus.
Suddenly, he heard screaming.
As he raced around the corner he saw the circus tents up in smoke and flames. People ran from the spectacle, some watched some tried to get buckets of water while others screamed for more water and some screamed to run away. He ran over, his eyes wide.
"Kiku!" he cried out. He ran at top speed his feet ached until he ran into the tent. He looked around. Inside the grass had been set on fire, the smoke was thick, as he crouched over he could see a man laying in the grass. He ran over, grabbing him, blood stained his neck and chest. Arthur's eyes widened.
"Ivan…" he said.
"They're free…" Ivan said. "Because I let them be free…"
"Ivan, get up, you have to leave!" Arthur said. "What are you going on about!?"
"Kiku and Basch are safe… They're going to be okay… I promised them that…" Ivan whispered. His eyes were already losing the light in them. He leaned back on the floor, his eyes went blank.
"Ivan! Ivan! What are you talking about!?" Arthur snapped.
"I'm sorry…" he whispered. "And I'm happy… I'm not a monster anymore…"
Ivan gave no further responses.
"Fuck, Ivan! Don't fall asleep!" Arthur snapped.
Arthur sighed dropping the man, he coughed at the black smoke in the air. Ivan had two bleeding wounds on his body, Arthur stepped back.
"Alfred… bastard. I got to get them out of here." Arthur picked up the hammer by Ivan, and ran to the cages he slammed the hammer into the lock and the heavy object crashed forward falling to the ground. He groaned, swinging again.
"Ugh! Dammnit! I'm not strong enough! You guys! Do you know where the keys are!?" Arthur asked through the smoke. Suddenly a figure came forward in the cage.
"Stop fighting dad…"
"W-what?" Arthur looked up at her, the little tan butterfly girl stood in front of him. His eyes went wide.
"Seychelles…" he whispered. "It's you…?"
"Arthur… please… run away. Don't come back. Leave us here." Seychelles was beaten up, her eyes dull, her face pale. Arthur pulled at the door hard.
"NO! Seychelles! I haven't seen you in so long! This is what happened!? I didn't know! I didn't know! I'm so sorry! Please, get out of there." Arthur cried slamming the hammer into the lock again. Silently Seychelles shook her head.
"If I knew… If I recognized you. Damn it! I'm so sorry! Please, I'll make it up to you! I'll let you live with me!" Arthur cried tears in his eyes.
"Stop!" Seychelles commanded. Arthur dropped the hammer.
"We're both going to burn if you don't stop… I don't want to be here anymore… I don't belong anywhere… Dad… Take care of yourself… You still have a chance… I don't wish to live amongst these people anymore."
"Please… please. Any of you. I can save you! Antonio, Lovino! Two headed man… And Sika! Heracles! Don't do this… I can do it!" Arthur whispered. "I don't want you to be killed like this!"
"We want to die…" Lovino spoke up coldly.
"W-what…?" Arthur asked.
Suddenly a cold hand greeted his cheek. Seychelles pulled him close and kissed him softly.
"I don't blame you… Go. Kiku needs you. So you go. Live. We'll be okay… This is what we want." Seychelles smiled softly her wings fluttering.
"I deserved what I got… After never knowing what happened to you." Arthur pulled off his hat exposing his rabbit ears.
"You'll get used to it… The smoke is too thick right now… Go! I don't hate you. I never could…" Seychelles whispered.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" Arthur cried out, tears in his eyes.
"I forgive you… Now Just. GO." Seychelles broke into a fit of coughing, she wiped her mouth, leaning on the metal bars. Arthur pet her hair softly and turned away, a beam came crashing down on the two headed mans cage and he could see the fire consuming everything.
He coughed up some of the smoke and ran out into the brightness of the midday, into the chaos. The tents were completely engulfed in fire, the field was empty, only a few good people trying to put out the flame. As Arthur ran away he could hear the tent collapsing, the air whooshing into a big ball of fire and smoke. He swore he could hear a distinct screaming.
And then there was silence.
Kiku fell to the ground, his leg finally twisted off. Basch held him close, his eyes were wide, his face wet with tears of pain. Blood dripped down his leg, his arm had fallen off long ago. Basch was securely holding the two things now, and pulled Kiku close. He looked over him.
"I don't know what to do Kiku… You're falling apart." Basche whispered. "Should I carry, you?" the tin man picked him up slightly. Kiku threw his head back in pain.
"Okay! Okay!" Basch let him down gingerly. He looked over him, the sockets where his ball joints were had blood on them, wires sticking out where his limbs were bound.
"You're the same as me… Kiku we have to hurry. Alfred could be here any minute."
Slowly Basch began to reach to his own left arm, twisting a small knob, he groaned, his voice still a bit shaky. Slowly he pulled the bolt undone and took off his own arm.
Kiku's eyes widened. Basch shook his head.
"Trust me. Our size isn't too different. We can trade parts. You have to go find our friend. I'll wait for you here. We can do this. Don't worry about your arm and leg. I'll give you mine, okay?" Basch asked.
Kiku tilted his head with a perplexed look on his face.
"I'm sure it will work. Sit still okay? It'll hurt a bit." Basch scooted closer and pulled his left arm off. He pressed it on Kiku's arm.
"Don't worry. I need your help okay. We both tighten the bolt. It looks like our parts are pretty similar." Basch explained. The two tightened the limb to Kiku, his eyes were wide and wet with tears. He leaned back, crying out in silent pain. Basch could see the look on his face and cooed softly; "It'll be over soon. It'll be over. Don't worry!"
Kiku leaned back, turning away. The arm was in place, and he immediately began to move it a bit, buttoning Basch's coat back up. Basch smiled seeing the arm did work on Kiku.
"Now your leg, okay?" Basch asked. He pulled the coat up a bit to the socket on Kiku's thigh where his leg had fallen off. Kiku nodded leaning back.
"Good… Relax." Basch said. He slowly began pulling off the socket where his thigh attached to his torso. He undid the right leg, looking over Kiku.
"You're going to be okay." he said. "Be calm."
Kiku threw his head back in pain as he attached the limb to his wooden socket. Kiku was bleeding a bit, still he gripped his new arm, grinding his teeth to bare with the sudden pain, his sigh was painful. Basch held him close, letting the man adjust.
"I know this is too fast, but you need to run. Now. Go get your friend and bring him back. I can't leave in this state…" Basch looked into Kiku's dark black eyes.
"I'll be here, okay?" he hugged Kiku softly.
Slowly, achingly; Kiku tried to stand. As he wobbled to his feet hugging the wall for support his eyesight was a bit hazy with pain. He stumbled with the tin leg, turning to Basch, who was now missing two limbs. Basch smiled.
"Go. You're fine. Keep going." Basch replied.
Kiku nodded turning the corner, he limped away slowly, blood dripping down his leg as he scurried away. Basch leaned back looking around the alleyway. He sighed, looking down.
"What an ugly little thing…"
Basch's eyes went wide with terror. He shuffled away from the noise he heard as a tall figure with a top hat appeared. Alfred smiled running his tongue on the blade of the knife. His coat was dripping with blood. In the distance you could see the circus flames smoke whirlwind that drifted into the sky, turning the bluish sky dark grey black. Alfred smiled leaning over him. He pinned the smaller man under his body and chuckled creepily, staring at him darkly.
"You look so defenceless… Where is Hanako?" Alfred asked.
"His name is Kiku…" Basch snapped.
"I could give a fuck. Where is he?" Alfred asked.
"Do I look like I know?" Basch asked.
Alfred slammed the knife into Basch's leg.
"I think you do." he snapped.
"AGH! Ahhg!" Basch cried out in pain, clutching his leg. Alfred grinned, smashing his lips into him. Basch's eyes widened his mouth open his eyes tearing up in pain as Alfred pulled his tongue out of his mouth. He was panting and crying slightly, trying to breath and not be in so much pain. Basch leaned back using his only hand to cover the would.
"You're too cute with that face… Too bad I have to kill you. I can't have you around anymore." Alfred snapped, licking the knife again.
Basch looked down, he un-strapped the rifle on his back pulling it down to Alfred's stomach. He growled at him, cocking the gun with his one good arm.
"I could laugh at you." Alfred hissed. "You're too sad. A one legged one armed gunman. That rifle is full of blanks. We both know that. This is really your last stand… That's pathetic. What are you even protecting?"
Basch looked down, smiling softly.
"Kiku…" he replied.
"And why is that?" Alfred asked.
"Because I loved him… And I'm willing to risk it…" Basch replied.
"He doesn't even love you." Alfred sneered.
"So I can't love him because of it? Love is an emotion. It's a noun, it's a verb, it's an adjective... I can do it freely. And risk everything for it." Basch smiled and leaned back. "Even if thousands of people die for love selfishly, I'll never learn."
"You think it makes you brave?" Alfred asked.
"No… It makes me a hero." Basch chuckled softly at his small joke.
"No matter what you do, no matter who you become, you're still the same. You'll never be a hero. You'll just be a freak." Alfred hissed.
"I'm more of one than you'll ever be…" Basch hissed.
"You can shut up now." Alfred jumped forward and stabbed him in the shoulder, straight into his heart.
BLAM
Alfred stumbled back, falling onto the ground. Basch lay there, his hand on his gun. Alfred slowly stood up, smiling. Basch was limp, his head leaning on his left shoulder, his gun at his bleeding leg. He was like a dead doll, a pretty tin colour shining on his skin. Alfred brushed his coat off, smearing blood all over himself.
"What a stupid little doll, full of stupid little dreams!" he cackled blood dripping onto his bootlaces. He looked over. "Shooting a gun full of blanks… Thinks he's a hero… Falls in love… Only normal people get to do that…"
"Stop."
Alfred turned as a new voice was heard. He looked over to the smaller man standing in the shadows of the building. Blood smeared on his face as he wiped his mouth.
"My little bunny has returned? So cute…" Alfred said.
"You sicko!" Arthur snapped throwing his hat off, his furry rabbit ears visible. He pulled the surgery knife out and looked over Alfred. He grit his teeth, stepping forward. Alfred's face split into a grin. He stepped forward walking close to him, blood on his teeth, he swiped his tongue over it, tasting the irony blood.
"Hahaha… HAHAHA!" Alfred jumped forward spinning upward, he darted with the knife in his hand, kicking off the wall to get speed jumping down at Arthur. The British man lifted the surgery knife the two knifes collided, scraping sparks of metal off each other. The man chuckled darting back and forth.
"I did this because I love you you know! I did! I really did! I loved you so much! I want to be together! I want to raise children! I kidnapped people you knew, or people you used to talk to when you travelled! That's why I had Seychelles and them all! They could've gotten in the way you know! Just us! No one else! I want everyone who ever touched you to die! DIE DIE DIE!" he cried out swinging the knife blindly at Arthur, the man jumped back at the frenzied attack as Alfred cackled and smiled brightly. Arthur dodged and threw himself back in the dark alleyways, trying to defend. The madman jumped up and down agilely smiling as he crashed into the ground trying to jump on Arthur. The two clashed weapons.
"I did so much! Why do you ignore me!?" Alfred snapped. "WHY!? I did so much to get your attention and I finally dragged myself here to get you to see the real me! I see… I see… You love that doll! And I have to kill it! That's what lovers do! They protect each other."
"I see now…" Arthur hissed. "You're a total nutcase freak…"
"THAT'S A LIE! A LIE A LIE ALIELIELIELIE!" Alfred jumped up and down screaming at the top of his lungs. Arthur stepped back as the man jumped away from him, knife close to his face. He smiled licking his lips, blood covering his skin. Arthur stepped back huffing his breath.
"I though we could be together… but you didn't want to be. I tried so hard! Doesn't anyone get credit anymore! My attempts make me a psychopath. That's what people do for love, right!?" Alfred snapped. "RIIGHT!?"
Alfred sliced at Arthur's face again with the bloody knife. Arthur dodges and slipped the blade over Alfred's arm. The man barely flinched but moved into the blade, smiling. He slashed at Arthur and moved away, he repeated seven times of jumping and slashing until he was a panting bloody mess of a human. He smiled brightly and began to curl his lip up, wiping the blood away.
"I never killed someone til now… Even then. I only wanted to save them." Arthur hissed.
"Hmm?" Alfred asked.
"Regardless… I don't want to be a murderer like you. I want to be free… I don't want to kill you." Arthur snapped. "I want to go home. I don't want this…"
"Why do you say such things… I need you so much you know?… I needed you…" Alfred whispered. He ran forward, lifting his knife.
"If I can't have you no one can!" he screamed.
Arthur twisted around slamming the knife into Alfred's neck. Alfred suddenly stiffened his fluid jumping and falling now sent him spiralling into the floor. He screamed out in pain dropping the knife.
"AAAHHAAHAAAAA!" He screamed grabbing his neck, he reeled back in pain shuddering like a leaf in the wind. He thrashed and screamed his blood dripping all over the ground. He was screaming and sobbing his body not permitting him to do anything. He went from screaming to whimpering, rubbing his eyes and wiping his face. He was shaking and shuttering.
"It's not fair, it's not fair, it's not fair… Why does it hurt… You make me feel. Why do I only feel pain!? WHY!?" Alfred screamed.
"Because that's all you gave to this world."
Arthur jumped back looking up.
"Roderich!" he said.
Roderich held Kiku close, a cigarette in his mouth.
"I figured something like this would happen…" Roderich said.
"Ahhhhgggn…" Alfred moaned in pain.
"Shut up you pussy." Roderich snapped. He picked the man up and flung him over his shoulder. He sighed taking a drag of his cigarette.
"I got a kettle of tea back home. Let's have a nice long chat the four of us." he said.
Arthur ran up to Kiku, hugging him tightly.
"Kiku…" he whispered.
Kiku smiled at him brightly.
"Kiku… Kiku…" he whispered hugging him.
"Yep, that's his name. Now hurry your ass up before someone sees up with a dead body." Roderich snapped. Arthur looked over to Basch, his body lingering in the roadway. He turned back to Kiku.
"Kiku… I'm so sorry. I didn't get to him in time." Arthur whispered.
Kiku brought him close, embracing him with a kiss. He tightened his hug around him and smiled. He shook his head, wiping the tears away.
"Thank you… For forgiving me." Arthur replied.
The small group of people walked away from the bloody alley way, Alfred moaning and crying out. Roderich rolled his eyes lifting the cigarette from his lips. He looked up at the sky. Fire engulfed the circus and the smoke spiralled around the air, creating a darkness.
Roderich stamped out the cigarette.
"It's over." he said.
"It's all over…"
Arthur snuggled up to Kiku in Roderich's large armchair. Something about fighting a blood-covered nutcase in an alleyway made him appreciate the building even more, despite the perfume and smoke, as well as the shitty tea. Roderich was examining Alfred, the blade still in his neck. He was crying, bound up with towels and ropes Roderich had fumbled together dumbly. He had a saw awkwardly shoved in Alfred's face as he sawed off the blade handle.
"Better not remove the knife… might kill you." he mumbled with a cigarette in his mouth.
"I bet you want an explanation on why you've been like this since a kid huh?" Roderich asked. "Let me clear it all up for you. After the little story Arthur told me, I think I know what happened."
"When you were younger, before that, you weren't very correctly formed as a fetus. You were suffering a deficiency. The ability to feel pain. More recently in my scientific studies we've been studying the nervous system. Earlier I told Kiku about how the nervous system moderates your feeling of pain.. You probably know this seeing you were the one sewing up people. You did NOT know, however, that you lacked that ability. However you felt this feeling twice. Once when you gave Arthur money. You wear rubber boots. Rubbing against the ground gave you an electrical charge, the money taken was a metal conduit. As soon as you came into contact with Arthur you felt a pinch of warmth from the contact of an electric shock. That was your first sense of feeling."
Alfred whimpered nodding his neck stiffly with a blade still inside. He looked around at us, gagged to be silent as Roderich coughed a bit lighting his cigarette a bit better.
"You need to quit smoking…." Arthur said.
"Shut your face." Roderich snapped. "Now the second time is up until this point. When Arthur stabbed you in the neck. Your spine has a lot of your brain activites and nervous system sensors. This may be more permanent If you leave that knife in your neck. If you try to pull it out, you're probably going to die since it's lodged in your spine. Also if you taste something copper-like in the back of your throat that's probably your spinal fluid- don't ask me how I know. From now on, you get what you deserve. A sense of pain from the neck down. And you have quite a lot of injuries don't you? It seems you broke your ankle a long time ago. Which is now basically screwed beyond repair. Probably tripped on the circus stage. You have a few knife wounds which predictably is from your own doing as well as Arthur's. Another is a gunshot wound. That was Basch. Definitely not a bullet, but it did you some damage. He filled his rifle with probably a rock or a pebble just in case he needed something to fire. Looks like he was looking out for you more than you think Kiku."
Kiku nodded burying into Arthur's chest.
"This is so much… Roderich. Six people are dead. What should we do?" Arthur asked.
"If we can trust the Yard to be the smart bunch of policeman as always; we should be fine. Unless you write them a note saying you did it. Just live your life you two; there's nothing else that needs to be done." he replied.
"What about Alfred?" Arthur asked.
"Ah... Screw it. I'll keep him. I know he's a psychotic asshole but he's still a person. And he's suffering right now, so no need to worry. I needed a slave anyway. Someone's got to clean this house." he huffed.
"All right… What about Kiku?" Arthur asked.
"Jesus Christ… Stop asking me!" Roderich snapped. "You love him right!? You want to stay together right!? Then just do it! Nothings holding you back anymore. You're going to live, and I'm sure of it. Just go. Be happy. Little sadness contains little happiness. Much sadness contains much happiness. This is your sadness. Be sad, be happy. Just be together. You'll be fine. All right?"
Kiku looked up at Arthur, he mouthed a few words at him with a smile. Arthur turned his head.
"What?" he asked.
Kiku slowly mouthed the words to him.
"I… don't understand." Arthur said.
Kiku got close, wrapping his arms around him, he kissed him three times on the lips. He mouthed the words again.
"Write it out Kiku." Arthur replied.
Kiku pursed his lips tracing the letters on his skin.
I-L-O-V
"I can't read you touching my face." Arthur said.
"For the love of God! He loves you!" Roderich snapped. "You stupid Brit!"
Arthur turned red. He cupped Kiku's face smiled.
"Really?"
Kiku nodded.
"I love you too…" he kissed his cheek, nuzzling the man's neck. Roderich leaned back in his chair rolling his eyes.
"Go make me a pot of tea you lovestruck moron." Roderich huffed.
"I'll get right to it." Arthur replied. He walked over to the small kitchen, Kiku rubbing his shiny tin arm as he follow, helping. He lit the match for the stove as Arthur grabbed water for the tea. Kiku gave a soft kiss to his neck, rubbing against his awkward rabbit ears.. Arthur returned a soft kiss on the forehead, rubbing Kiku's wooden shoulder.
And at that moment, he couldn't be happier.
Fin
AN: Thank you for reading, I am aware this was a bit graphic and very long, I promised myself I'd only make two chapters, however I'm willing to comprimise and make up for that. /If/ you would like, readers, I'm willing to make a third chapter of exclusively AsaXKiku smut, of a sort of Epilouge. If you're interested at all please leave a review or something to tell me. Other than that thank you for reading I put a lot of time into typing and a lot into editing, so your reviews and your love is really great, and it makes me very happy.
Once again; Thank you for reading.