Losing Grace
By Ryukansen
Chapter Two: Insignificant
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He's seated at the alter, knelt down while offering his prayer to his Lord. His eyes are closed signifying his great concentration in meditation - he clasps hard on the wooden prayer beads that hug the cross in between the multitude of various colored gobbets. "Amen." He ends his sentence with relief written all over his sapphire blue eyes. He had appeared to be enlightened for the day, and adjusts his Sunday suit as he decides to head back to the farm.
Liechtenstein and Vash were awaiting him as he led his old truck out and parked it alongside the empty, gravel road. The two siblings watched with small easing smiles on their faces as they had collected baskets of potatoes for him - an act of neighborly kindness since he had done the same for them yesterday. "Good morning." The younger one replies with a bubbly tone in her voice, she clutches onto his arm after he gets out of his vehicle and returns a grin back at her.
Vash stands amongst the huge fields gazing at his sister who was leading Alfred back to his house - surprising him, most likely, with a feast that she had prepared after he had left to take care of his Sunday Mass. He walks slowly and mournfully back to the old shed to feed the rest of the livestock before entering himself. A sigh escapes his lips as he begins to realize what the future might have in store for him.
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Matthew is ecstatic as he walks back and forth in a jumpy demeanor, waiting for his idol and friend to come. He had parked himself in front of the Hilton Hotel himself and was growing impatient as the pop star hadn't arrived on the time he implied in his email. "Well, isn't someone late?" He asked with a scarlet blush of disappointing rising in his usually pallid face while checking his old watch.
The spring air was unusually chilly, but at the same time, very refreshing. His golden locks swayed frantically as a large breeze passes by him and he shivers regretting to bring a coat or any article of thick clothing that could have helped. He checks back at his watch hoping maybe Arthur's flight was just late…maybe, but a plane traveling from England to New York shouldn't take this long…
A crowd of rambling teenagers pass by him carrying bags of highly expensive brands he would never have the money to afford. Some of them look at him with a smile, while others just ignore him walking with the other crowds of businessmen or just casual passersby. Matthew takes note to himself that he dislikes the busy streets and certainly the "sleepless" city. It was too hectic for him to live in compared to his old home. He sighs and tucks his chin with the collar of his thin jacket - waiting for Arthur.
The Spring air has faded into an even colder temperature, and the city is now lonely, but still busy. Matthew turns around while cupping his hands together against his mouth; breathing in them and making his own warmth. A car can be seen and he automatically sticks his head up to see if it was the young Brit he had been waiting for.
The car passes by slightly after him, but then stops and he runs up to it in excitement. His face falls however when he sees a very familiar, and rugged face pop out with a small smile encased on his usual calm face. "Oh, Matthew - I was looking for you!" The young man smiles while adjusting his tie. "I wanted to meet your brother earlier this morning, but he was busy with Church and I didn't want to mess with him…you know, Aru?" Wang pinched the boy's cheeks as he remained silent with disappointment.
It wasn't that Wang Yao was a cruel and hated man. It was just, that whenever he appeared, Matthew would always feel more guilt and more helpless than before since whenever the guy visited - it always had to do with Alfred. To Matthew, Wang was the harbinger of some bad news…
"Ah…what did you want? I can call him now, if you would like?" The two stay silent a little longer, and the darker haired youth hands him a scrunched piece of paper with a small frown plastered on his face. "What is this?"
"…I'm a little worried about your brother, aru. He hasn't been coming to me for his check-ups." Was the automatic reply. "Here's my number, visit him and call me later." He puts on his sunglasses and looks at the rearview mirror with interest. A taxi has slowed down and seems to be parking behind him.
"W-What?!"
Another car stops behind Wang's with ease, and Arthur Kirkland pops out with a huge grin while stretching from the cramped space in the small taxi. "Thank you very much!" He gives the driver the appropriate money and whisks himself away towards where he had seen the young boy talking to a strange foreign man.
"Well, I have to go, aru. See you later, call your brother for me, alright?" And with a sudden haste, the man left.
"Who was that?" Arthur asked with a small tease while gazing at the speeding car with interest.
"Just an old friend…" The college student murmured with an exhausted tone. The Briton let's out a snort while takes the man's arms into his own.
"I'm bloody hungry, let's go and eat after I put these baggage away." He smiles and heaves the luggage with some frail effort. Matthew helps him up as the two dawdle towards the rotating doors with some easygoing silence.
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They're sitting in a nice restaurant - much to Matthew's discomfort as pairs of drawn eyes begin to watch the two men seat themselves on the private balcony.
The room - declared Arthur was very stuffy and even though the atmosphere constituted of friendly welcomes and gestures he disliked most of the customers and guests, maybe finding himself foreign to a country his own homeland had given up with irritable consent. He frowns as the eyes surrounding them suddenly left with aggravation, and the Briton begins to take a look at the menu.
"I would like whatever you find fits." Arthur was tempted not to order crazily over every decorated confections he laid eyes on. His stomach cried a little since the plane's trays were not as appetizing as they were compared to normal dishes, but he chose to hide his state of hunger very well.
"Um, well I think I'll order maybe…" The other man was taking so long, Arthur found himself nearly trying to sequester his annoyance and irritation along with his stomach's own protests.
'We'll have two hamburgers!" The "snobby" Brit replied with an outburst rage while clutching onto his stomach in the most secretive of ways. Matthew blinked with confusion, but nodded dumbfounded as the waiter begins to question them more how they would like their meat cooked, what drinks, etc. "Bloody, hell, does it take this long to decide?" He shivers as the midnight breeze touches upon his cheeks. Matthew smiles softly.
"Just be patient, you only just ordered for the food about 5 minutes ago." He laughs while placing the cotton napkin onto his lap for good manners. Arthur sighed with relief as the appetizers finally get to them.
"Thank God."
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Liechtenstein finds herself spending more time in front of the mirror lately, and she sees almost nothing appealing as she stands in the bathroom and looks at her appearance with miserable acceptation. Alfred is in the dining room preparing their dinner, and her brother is busily playing amongst the copper fields enjoying his freedom as much as he could before the two would go off again and maybe till the ground to reuse the soil and fertilize.
She could hear the sizzling of eggs in the old, greasy frying pan and the movements of her fiancé clumsily opening the ancient oven to put up some a chicken her brother had caught earlier on in the morning without her consent. She sighs while touching her forehead against the cool surface of the plain reflection. "I can't believe it…only seven more months." She sighs with a blush escaping her face. She sometimes wonders how Alfred had gotten up the courage to ask her for her hand. A small content smile creeps up on her flushed face as she decides to head down to meet the other two.
Vash is seated in his normal seat while waiting steadily for Alfred's dinner while Liechtenstein decides to handle out the antique dishes and cups. The roasted chicken is placed on a platter and settled in the middle of the table while mashed potatoes, egg salad and steamed carrots act as side dishes.
"Shall we dig in?" Alfred smiles happily as he waits for the other two to take as much as they liked.
"Pray first." Vash reminds him with a small smile. "It's been a while since the season has been this good to us."
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Matthew finds Arthur completely uncontrollable when it comes to not getting whatever he wants, be it money or attention. He had realized the Briton's harsh attitude whence the hamburgers came a tad late than the other dishes requested after them, and the Brit was throwing quite awful tantrums that made the whole restaurant explode with blushing colors.
"Bloody restaurant, I'll never go there again!" Muttered the brash man as he adjusts his beige coat with irritation and hit's a telephone pole with a bit of his shoulders after concentrating on lacing up his afternoon attire. "Bloody hell, nothing's going right at all!" He sighs frustrated and kicks a pebble into a gutter while chewing on his lower lip, tempted to curse all he has ever learned.
A crowd of girls come by watching him with lecherous smiles that makes him even more hounded with a sense of insecurity and anger - making him feel like a pack of purchased, foreign goods. They pass by him with small mutterings of fluttery words that would make his heart skip with the slight annoyance. "How dare you speak those foul words about me! DO YOU KNO-" Matthew covers the young man's mouth with a sudden clasp of his hand.
"Maybe, you should relax. Lately, ever since you've gotten back you've been a little grouchy…" He tries choosing his words carefully but only gets a harsh glare from the other man.
"You don't understand what I'm experiencing right now." The Brit sighs while messing his blonde hair with utmost irritation. "I just need somewhere to escape for the time being, if only for a few days…That's why I came here to talk to someone." He whispers, his breath falling and rising with a calm but somber tranquility.
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Matthew understands perfectly well Arthur's unstable emotions, and decides maybe he should take him back to the hotel? The other man; however, strongly protested against that idea and wanted simply to just remain in a quiet haven - if not heaven itself. His heart flutters, and the college student is confused on what to do for his celebrity friend. He thinks hard, massages his temples, and tries to find a solution for the stubborn mule beside him.
A tranquil, less busy area…
"There's always…my house…" He automatically replies, and then hesitates after thinking of what he had just mustered out. "I mean…it's my brother's house!" H corrected himself, and could feel his heart swell.
"What's it like?" Arthur asks while sitting on a bench and gazing at the midnight stars, sparkle their brightest. "It's not…like this… sleepless and crowded, is it?" He questions while glaring at the concrete pavement beneath their feet. Matthew smiles softly at his statement.
"Of course not…in fact, it's very peaceful….it can take your mind off of things." The young man replied dreamily, reassuring Arthur greatly.
Poor Matthew, he thought too quickly and rashly to register what he had just suggested…
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They're riding in a small convertible, the one Alfred had bought for him on his graduation day of high school, and the road is but a bumpy, uncomfortable pathway full of pebbles. He's afraid that maybe Arthur would dislike the ride, and the stern and rough look the Brit was putting on made it more difficult for him to try and comfort him.
"W-We're almost there." He mutters as he concentrated on the road, hoping that sooner or later the house would soon appear. Arthur snorts softly, but smiles - knowing that Matthew, at least, cared for him.
The car slows down, and Arthur turns his head finding himself facing a small…house. It was rather, small - he should say and looked a little…unstable - but that was just him, he shakes his head and steps out of the car while taking out his luggage.
The air was definitely different from that of the bustling cities he had been to. He steps on the gravel path and waits for Matthew who seemed nervous. The young man offers to go towards the steps himself first, and is on the porch knocking on his brother's door.
It slightly opens and Arthur tilts his head to see who is behind the wooden entrance.
Automatically their eyes meet, but there is no meaning behind any of the glances they stole from one another.
"Mattie, why are you hear?" The door opens fully and he finds another man of the same face, only taller and rough on the appearance. "I thought you were at class…" He replies tiredly while gazing at Arthur with small interest.
" Actually, I have no classes for the next three days…it's one of those strange weekends they usually give us during the 3rd week of the month." He mutters automatically, and Matthew starts making more excuses on why they were visiting and if they could, perchance, stay for a couple of nights?
Arthur continuously stares at the house with mere…dislike, but attempts to place a small smile suggesting his friendliness to the owner. The unmentioned twin's blue eyes gazes at him with a calm, but harsh aura. A small smile creeps up his face, and he begins to grin.
"If you're a friend of Mattie's, then it's fine with me." He motions for the two to enter while calling out a few people's names from inside.
A plain girl enters the room followed by a similar looking guy who was older by appearance (Arthur suspected they were siblings based on their familiar tonalities). She makes a small curtsy and a welcome while looking puzzled as to why Matthew was there, while the other, more tough sibling crossed his arms with disinterest. "Welcome." He replies bluntly while heading back to the living room - Alfred excuses his behavior and replies that they were playing a few card games, and that Vash was somewhat displeased by the sudden appearance.
"Nice to meet you…Mr.?" Matthew's twin stares at him with the same friendly smile, unlike the grouchy…whoever his name was.
"Arthur Kirkland…Just call me Arthur, please." The Brit murmurs gently while shaking the other's hand.
"Nice to meet you Arthur, I'm Alfred - Matthew's older twin." He smirks at the younger one who just crosses his arms and pouts childishly - a feature Arthur had never seen while he stayed with Matthew for the last couple of years during his random outings.
"Anyways, I don't know for how long you're going to stay - but you're welcome to stay whenever you please!" Alfred proposes the idea with such quickness and hospitality that Arthur is taken aback, but also very pleased of his host - no matter how shabby and rustic the household was.
"Erm…Alfred…I'll go and wash the dishes." Interrupts the young girl who had been introduced to the two not too long ago. Alfred nods as she makes her leave while Matthew offers to help take Arthur's luggage upstairs.
"Thank you for showing me your hospitality." The Briton finds himself smiling in a more relaxed position while staring at the other man.
"No problem."
His cell phone buzzes, and Arthur excuses himself while Alfred nods and retreats back to the living room from where he had arrived from. He finds that it is Seychelles who is calling and is redirected back into his hectic world as soon as she starts speaking about their schedules for the following weeks.
"Remember, you need to be here in two weeks. We're holding another talk show with Veneziano, okay? And after that you have to come back to Francis' show and apologize and announce our wedding plans." She continues to drawl on and England insists and reassures her that he will arrive on time, and that he only needs but a little peace. He closes it before she can spout any more words and leans himself against the creaking walls.
He sighs and finds Matthew strolling down the staircase with a bright smile. He seemed at peace himself - not as fidgety as he always was around the city, Arthur notes. And the two smile, entering the dining room with the other three.
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"He just shut on me…" Seychelles explained rather distraught by her fiancé's sudden while clutching onto her pink monochrome cell phone with dismay. Her heart skips a beat as she ponders about Arthur's current situation, and let's out a small sigh while massaging her forehead to ease herself. "It's not like my life is any easier, Arthur." She retorts to herself and decides to take an hour break before her scheduled visit with Francis.
Someone is knocking on her door and she allows the person to step inside. Kiku faces her with a tired, exhausted look as he asks to recline gently into one of her seats. "…That man, he is so hard to track down." Replies Arthur's manager while gazing at himself in the glossed mirror in front of him. Seychelles smiles and nods while combing her chocolate brown curls.
"He'll come back sooner or later."
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Read and Review please! I'm sorry, the next chapter will be even more interesting - I promise!