A/N: Thought I should add a disclaimer once again, however I would like credit for this AU.

Quick note before I resume the story, I have decided to refer to these beings as "Alised" or "Alis" apparently meaning "wing" or "winged in latin.

PS: I think this story deserves a trigger warning? But honestly speaking, everyone thinks these things sometimes anyway, its just how they respond to them. People brush off those thoughts all the time, is all.

pardon, if I sound ignorant to the sensitive topic.


And of course it was all just a ruse, Kiku thought slightly bitterly.

He released an exasperated sigh as he looked at the rose forlornly, remembering the day a month ago when he had received it.

He felt humiliated, though it wasn't like other people were judging him on the events. He felt the past anticipation and excitement begin to dissolve as he slowly exhaled and watched the petals of the rose fall, one per day as if to taunt him by dying slowly. Yet he couldn't seem to toss the thing away because it had strangely intertwined its thorny self into him sentimentally for reasons; small seemingly pointless reasons that he didn't expect them to be.

It was red, reminding him slightly of Yao's signature and favourite colour,

Secondly it was a piece of his last social encounter

Thirdly, he still expected something… he stubbornly tried to stamp out that light for quite some time now being adrift, but every time he looked at it, he kept remembering the half-heard promise that someone might come for him that might be able to console or sympathize with. Though that last part was admittedly inferred.

Kiku wondered why he had hoped for that certain connection. Wasn't the point of being out here isolation from any contact? After all this time his memory needing a refreshing of the incident…

As usual, he had gone for a walk, been polite company to the alised he knew, kept and maintained a controlled smile, went back, enjoyed peace and tea, chat with a slightly cold and hostile Yong Soo, encountered and overly appraising Yao, and…

He had sat to watch his quaint island, a growingly addicting pastime he spent savoring the "alone time".

Which was the problematic, Kiku soon remembered.

With a sudden movement Yao swept at his little cloud-portal, carelessly not only dissipating the image, but causing a ruckus for the delicate people down below. That irritated Kiku, and would have stayed at that if Yao had not taken that single step further. He insulted it. Horrible things, that were not in his place to say. first, the problem was that Kiku was overly attached. Then, that they were just 'things", "people", that all died anyway, and did not have any value or skills or attributes worth watching for, and he continued quite apathetically.

This, however reached Kiku on a personal level. Because through watching these people, he saw that they reflected him. Tiny mirrors of him and his attributes, and how they were quite alike; so words directed to the people, therefore, were also directed at him.

Kiku mentally grimaced like he had when Yao had said them. Because the words pierced him again just as they had that day.

Kiku had stood up suddenly, swatting the mauve accented kimono and cloak Yao had come to force upon him for guests again. He hated these masks, these cover-ups for the unsightly worthless shell of a person he was. Kiku's anger increased when he remembered the things Yao said about his people. What he hated most of all was that it was things he had thought of himself but sealed away, trying to dismiss the thoughts. Kiku thought, if that is how he thinks of these people and I, then he must not be only one either. Which was soon followed by the thought, it seems quite stupid that I must wear these things and go through so many uncomforts just to please all others except me, who see right through them anyway.

When he looked up and met Yao's eyes, Kiku was surprised to find instead of anger, desperation.

Yao pleaded not to do this to him. He threw himself at Kiku and pitifully sobbed that he was his prized possession, that he was precious and he had treated him well, had he not? That without him, what does he have to show, and oh, oh dear GOD, his REPUTATION, what then,…

But not a single word worrying of Kiku and his well being.

Kiku presently sighed reconfirming the events and how compared to back then, he needn't worry of people watching him, having to look out for any flaws in his posture.

He smiled,

And dropped the damned rose.