Karoushi
PART III
Today, the clouds were covering the sky, hiding the sun and colouring the world in grey. Although it still wasn't very late in the evening, Kiku's surroundings were rapidly growing dark.
He had spent most of his day tending to matters mostly within Japan. Starting with; an early breakfast meeting with the Prime Minister, then a visit to the Emperor, straight to a symposium to give a presentation which lead onto a phone conference and so on and so forth. All the events seemed to flow into each other like running ink, one word seeping into the next.
As for where he was now, Kiku was walking through the congested streets of China, heading for Wang Yao's residence. In his head, he ran through the main points he wanted to discuss with Yao. There were some current difficulties concerning trade between the two nations and Kiku really did want to sort through them today. Kiku had a bad feeling Yao was going to try to avoid the topic since he tended to have a habit of leaving such issues to be discussed 'later'. Yao had never liked arguing, but he also was a stubborn man who wouldn't take no for an answer when it came down to it. The problem was, Kiku almost always said 'no' to everything.
"I just hope I do not upset China-san today," Kiku sighed.
He was deep in thought as he continued his journey when suddenly he noticed there was something wrong. Kiku stopped midstride, his eyes darting around him. Until what seemed like only a moment ago, Kiku had been weaving and ducking through large crowds of people. The strange thing was, where he found himself in was a mostly deserted alleyway.
He had no idea where he was.
Impossible, Kiku thought, raking his fingers through his hair. He had walked to Yao's home thousands of times before. He had even lived there in his youth while he had been under the care of the Chinese man. Never in his life had he lost his way.
An unsettling feeling surged through his body. The first thing that filled his mind was to somehow get himself back to the main street.
Kiku turned on his heel in order to find his way again when he heard a few voices from behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see who the voices belonged to, hoping he could ask them for some directions.
Unfortunately, one look at the men approaching and Kiku's hopes evaporated instantly. In short, they definitely weren't interested in helping Kiku in any way, well possibly in exchange for some money if they were feeling kind.
"Qu nide!" one of the men growled at Kiku. "Fuck off!"
"Oh yes, excuse me," Kiku said, taking a few cautious steps backwards. "I'm just leaving now."
Kiku daring to open his mouth only seemed to anger the group further.
"Bizui! Shut up!" one yelled, others joining in with various insults.
Kiku frowned, he figured he wasn't going to get out of this easily. He had obviously ventured into an area he wasn't welcome. The three men standing before him looked ready to tear his head right off his neck.
Kiku bit his lip as the men lost their patience, advancing toward him with raised fists.
This shouldn't be a problem, Kiku told himself. He would be able to handle a small fight if he had to. Truthfully, he was more worried that it was already well passed the time he had told Yao he would be arriving at his home.
Kiku was about to confiscate a knife that was threatening to stab him, but faltered. A bubble, of sorts, had materialized around his body—or that was what it felt like in his mind—due to his senses numbing abruptly. The figures charging toward him seemed to waver, as though he were looking at them from underwater. Their angered voices now sounded like whispers drifting passed on a distant breeze. His usually agile limbs disobeyed his orders, arms falling heavily by his sides as if there were heavy weights pulling them down. For a moment, he wasn't even sure if he was still standing because he felt like he was floating. However, Kiku didn't have to wait long before he was literally thrown back into reality, his senses kicking back into action as he felt a sharp blow to his head and his body hit the rough texture of the walkway.
Get out of here, Kiku told himself, a shaky breath escaping his lips. Get out of here now…
XxXxX
Meanwhile, a certain Englishman was sipping jasmine tea in the living room of Yao's home. The long haired Asian was also present, sitting opposite Arthur cross-legged on the floor.
"China, sorry we've gone way passed our scheduled time," Arthur apologized, stealing a glance at the time on his wrist watch.
"Aiyaa, it's okay aru," Yao replied. "My next guest hasn't arrived yet anyway."
Arthur gave Yao a questioning look. "Who's coming?"
"Kiku aru."
"A meeting?" Arthur asked.
Yao nodded with a sad smile. In his heart, he wished he could say that Kiku was coming for a friendly visit, for some brother-brother time. He could hardly remember the last time Kiku had even acted like they were family. The only times they could meet now were for business. Where had the times disappeared to where they shared warm evenings sitting under the moon feasting on rice cakes?
"Well, seeing as you are expecting another guest, I best be leaving," Arthur declared, draining the rest of his tea.
"You can stay if you want aru," Yao offered languidly. "You want to say hi to Kiku too right aru?"
Arthur stumbled on his words a little. "Well, eh, yes I do but…"
Yao became suddenly uninterested for a moment. He had heard that Arthur and Kiku were rebuilding a relationship that had once been damaged a long time ago. He wasn't exactly exhilarated about this idea but he hadn't completely come to terms with it yet in himself.
"H-how are you and Kiku anyway aru?" Yao muttered, looking at Arthur out of the corner of his eye.
"Huh? Oh well, good I guess," Arthur mumbled back, getting up to fetch his Burberry trench coat which was hanging on a stand by the wall.
"As long as everything's good I'm happy aru," Yao said this time in a softer tone than before. "Kiku really is late though aru."
"It's not very like him to be late," Arthur commented.
"He could at least give his brother a phone call to let me know where he is," the Asian nation remarked, throwing his head back.
"He can't be far," Arthur said. "Want me to go look for him?"
Yao stood, leading Arthur to the front. "I'll come too aru."
Just as Arthur had predicted, the two found the person they were looking for just by the front gates of Yao's home. They spotted him as soon as they stepped out the door.
Arthur quickened his pace as he made his way toward Kiku. The Japanese man was slouched on the ground for some reason, huddled in his coat making the small man look even smaller.
"Hey!" Arthur called as he drew closer. Arthur sensed there was something wrong when there was no response from the other man. The darkness of the evening was making it hard to figure out what could be the matter with Kiku.
When Arthur was finally close enough to see Kiku properly, his eyes bulged from what he saw. The poor man appeared to be severely shaken, tremors running through his shoulders, his head buried in his hands.
"Kiku," Arthur breathed, dropping his knees to the ground, not caring for a second about the dirt that stained his trousers. "A-Are you okay?" Arthur placed a hand on the rounded shoulders and carefully lifted Kiku's face out of his hands. Arthur stared in shock at the bruises and cuts that littered Kiku's pale face. Anger flashed through his eyes, who would dare to even lay a finger on Kiku? "Who did this to you? The bastard! Kiku what happened?"
Kiku remained silent, his body like a ragdoll, his face expressionless.
Yao hadn't moved from his position by the enterance. His hand still lingered on the handle from when he had closed the door. He stared blankly at the scene—Arthur rushing toward Kiku who was covered in wounds.
"…shenme?…what?" Yao blinked, the word spoken under his breath.
"Kiku, what happened?" Arthur repeated, squeezing the other man's blood stained hand, urging him to say something. He felt frustration building up inside him. Arthur cursed his tempter to get to him even at a time like this where the person he cared for was in need of help. This only made his frustration worse. "Why aren't you saying anything Kiku?"
Yao jolted, suddenly getting over his initial shock. He hurriedly made his way to the gate where Kiku and Arthur were.
Yao gave Arthur a meaningful look. Understanding the message, Arthur reluctantly stood, taking a step back to allow the Chinese man to take over.
Yao crouched and slipped his arms protectively around his younger brother, no words were spoken. He stayed like this for a while, just holding Kiku in his arms.
Kiku's shaking did not cease, but eventually he parted his lips making a small sound.
"Mm? What was that aru?" Yao murmured.
"…so…rry, I'm…so sorry," Kiku managed to say. "Sorry…I'm sorry…"
Yao allowed a small chuckle. "Kiku, what are you sorry about aru?"
Just as Yao hugged him a little closer, Kiku reached his limit. His empty eyes spilled with silent tears, streaming down the sides of his face mixing with blood. He buried his head into Yao's shoulder, his hands grasping desperately onto Yao's jacket.
"…Y-Yao-Nii!" Kiku sobbed, uttering his brother's name repeatedly through unsteady breaths. "Yao-Nii…I'm sorry…Yao-Nii…Dui bu qi," the Chinese word slipped out of his mouth, one he hadn't used in millennia.
"Kiku…"
"Yao-Nii…What has happened to me? What…have I become?" Kiku choked out hoarsely. The tears were still silently descending over his soft skin. "...What has…happened to me?"
Arthur stared at Yao, embracing Kiku in his arms, soothing his pain. He felt a pang of hurt—or was it jealousy—pierce him in the chilly night. He had not been able to do a thing to ease Kiku's pain. While he stood here watching, Yao had managed to open Kiku's heart even if it was only by a little. Why didn't Kiku trust him like that? Why couldn't he do a thing in the most important of times?
Arthur shook his head, mentally kicking himself for feeling jealous when he could at least be supportive or helpful.
"Yao, can I do anything?" Arthur asked, making sure to keep his voice calm. "Maybe we should take Kiku inside…"
Yao looked up briefly and gave a nod in agreement. "Let's do that aru."
XxXxX
NOTES: Just a quick note. I wanted to apologize for any Chinese mistakes or if phrases were used incorrectly. I tossed up whether to actually include them or not, but ended up with this.
Also, thank you so much for reading so far! Please give me any feedback you have!
