Beyond Our Sight

By Ryukansen

Chapter Nine: A Sense of Familiarity

Author's Notes: Sorry for the half-assed chapter I sent out the last time. I had no bridge to where I was getting at, but I wanted to develop the characters if only a little. So, I hope this chapter can somehow appease your taste. If not, I'm truly sorry. Again, for those who have time I'd appreciate it if you went on and reviewed the story. Thank you so much!

It was a glorious morning, from what the American thought. Everything was what it should be. A morning of vast blue skies and golden hints of sunshine rays was what made the world seem so good. No clouds were in sight to cover any part of the beautiful sky, and even the birds and bugs seemed to have voiced their same opinion with more beautiful notes ringing through the atmosphere.

To Arthur though, it was completely different.

Although it was a rare sight to be had in such a dreary town, nothing could be any worse than meeting one's own fear.

They were travelling back towards what Arthur affectionately nicknamed as the "God-forbidden Haven."

Arthur was hesitant in travelling back towards the area, but Alfred was insistent on meeting the Tea Shop owners, once again, after awkwardly severing their friendly ties from an out of the blue introduction by the ghost, himself.

Arthur didn't know what to think when Alfred had randomly proposed to meet the three brothers. At first the American seemed like he was joking which got the Briton very irritated but as a matter of minutes flew by the Englishman started to understand that the bleeding idiot was very serious in his proposition.

"Come on, Arthur, this will make things easier for you if you just would come back and tell them everything!" Alfred commented while he tugged softly onto the other man's sleeve like a child. The American wanted to prove the Englishman that he could be considerate; and the following thing he was going to do was to get Wang, Im Young and Kiku's acceptance of a supernatural being to prove himself for the stubborn Briton.

Arthur on the other hand was proving to be difficult despite Alfred's "considerate" attitude. He was fussing all along in the ghost's strong grip as he trudged across the broken cement pavement with a scowl carved onto his flushed face.

Honestly, he had already looked like a fool to Wang and his brother; and he did not want to repeat his stupidity in front of the Asian brothers. Especially to Kiku…

Kiku wasn't there, thank goodness, at the time of Alfred's spontaneous introduction to Wang and Im Young. But the two brothers probably told the other, and that worried Arthur so very much.

Kiku was somewhat, close to Arthur's heart, despite his own regulations of not having to deal with anyone who disliked magic or couldn't see spiritual creatures.

And Alfred probably knew the Briton had a somewhat soft heart for the delicate Japanese.

"Come on," the American coaxed as they trudged onto the broken concrete; staring at the opening of the Tea Shop which was slowly losing business bit by bit.

A wooden sign was hanging loosely around the tea shop exclaiming its current predicament, and alongside the wooden panel hung another sign washed with red block patterned words: "Help Wanted."

The Briton was flustered as he let go of the American's hand to stare at the sign that seemed to shed on him with a bit of hope. His emerald eyes sparkled with interest as he absentmindedly took it within his grasp and gazed at the solid lines of the words. It was probably Kiku's handwriting, he mused, and a small upturn of his lips gracefully began to make an appearance.

Alfred could see the way Arthur was whenever he was near the Japanese boy. The Briton would always be majorly polite or sometimes awkward with stutters and fallen statements dripping from his moist lips. The young Briton's eyes would always travel towards where Kiku was, and silently Alfred could see how much the Englishman was head over heels for the delicate boy.

They were inside the tea shop, finally, after having pushed Arthur forcefully inside – and the meeting seemed rather awkward at first with Wang and Im Young gazing at the Briton with a certain suspicion in their eyes.

Kiku was the first to politely excuse himself and his brothers despite their alleged claims, and as usual he had come to Arthur with a cup of Chamomile Tea and Newspaper in hand.

Arthur turned scarlet at the usual politeness of the Japanese, and seemed to have coughed a bit for his foolishness as his fingers trembled to take a tight grasp on the handle.

"My brothers speak of your….spirit friend." Kiku replied softly as he observed the area between Arthur and the other seat in front of the blonde, which the Japanese thought to, have had a special guest. "Is he, perchance, here?" He pointed rather bashfully at the empty space of the booth where Arthur was occupying.

"Um, well …If you don't mind…" The Briton's voice trembled slightly as he gazed at Kiku, hoping not to sound like some sort of idiot or lunatic.

Alfred out of annoyance gazed at Arthur with an even glare. If the Briton wanted to make amends with Alfred's own foolishness, then the Briton should just admit what was there.

"No…he's not there, right now, that is." The bright blonde smiled with a chuckle as he placed his teacup down in satisfaction.

Kiku looked thoughtfully at the empty space while walking towards it bashfully and waving his hand about in front of Alfred's face with a timid grace.

With a disappointed sigh, and an irritated look from Arthur's 'don't-you-dare' face, Alfred got up and solidified, and took Kiku's hand in a gentle grasp.

He was tired of Arthur's stupid feigns.

The Japanese did not shriek at all as he found his hand in a cold, mysterious grasp, in fact he was preparing himself for this (after hearing about Arthur and his "spirits" all the time); and as he squinted ever so quietly he could make out a figure.

It was a blonde, with glasses and powerful blue eyes. He wore a nice business suit, ruffled a bit but it still made him look professional. A smile upturned on Alfred's face as he realized that Kiku could see him if only a little.

"Nice to meet you…" He replied gently while gazing at the fragile, raven-haired boy with interest.

Kiku's hazel eyes gazed at the beautiful figure before him. The man was obviously an American with his blunt accent, and he could immediately tell that the soul before him was clean, pure and bright with all the energy waves he was getting from the tall figure.

"You look familiar…" The Japanese whispered gently as he went over to touch the American's cheek with his free hands. The cold flesh of the ghost left briefly from the Japanese's touch, and ever so slightly they could feel some connection surging through them.

Arthur did not know what to say; did not know how to intervene their intimate looks; so all he did was watch from afar in pure excitement or jealousy. He did not know. His hands clasped tightly onto his pants, while he stared at Kiku's heartfelt eyes, and gazed at Alfred's gentle glances. You look familiar… really? Did Kiku and Alfred once meet?

It was hard to tell based on the book he was reading about. Normally a ghost would not appear until at least fifty years after death; so it was an immediate no-no in Arthur's thoughts.

"I look familiar, do I?" The American replied softly with a bittersweet smile hanging onto his face. Kiku could feel a swell of emotion undertake him, as the American begun to fade from his view. "I hope we see each other soon," replied the ghost, before completely vanishing from the Japanese's sight.

After Alfred had disappeared from Kiku's view the American had also vanished from Arthur's sight. The Briton speculated it must be that random syndrome Alfred had when he kept reappearing and disappearing the other night. A tight frown plastered onto Arthur's face as he found the space empty without an annoying American.

Furthermore, his attention got on hold after hearing a small weeping coming from Kiku, himself.

It was puzzling to see the small waiter kneel down on the floor; overwhelmed with powerful emotions that swept throughout his body. The poor boy was crying hard as he clutched onto the platter he was holding onto, and wiped his tears furiously with his free hand.

Arthur had never seen the poor boy so distraught like this before. The young lad's face was beaten to a light pink, and tears kept overflowing him as he bit his lower lip and tried desperately to wave Arthur away.

"Come on, Kiku, get up. It's fine. I'm here." The Englishman whispered softly as he took up the Japanese in his arms while soothing his back.

This time around, Im Young came after hearing his brother in a wailing fit; and hopped over with curious eyes. The young boy was sitting on a stool while waving his legs back and forth from the difference of height from the floor to him.

"Wang, Arthur did something again!!!" The child replied automatically as he hopped off the stool and got over towards his crying brother.

Arthur swore that Im Young was a nuisance especially on times like these; so he tried his best to comfort Kiku as much as possible while glaring at the young boy who stared at the scene with interest.

"Im Young, how many times must I tell you to behave?" Kiku sniffed while gazing at his little brother with a scolding stare. A smile however, took form on his lips as he wiped his hazel eyes with the sheets of his sleeve. "I'm sorry, Mr. Kirkland, my brother is such a nuisance." The Japanese sighed while taking off, and holding his brother by the arm to inform the eldest of the idiot child's outcry.

Alfred must have done something terribly wrong to make Kiku cry; Arthur felt sure of it as he stared menacingly at the empty gap of his room. It was completely silent after the two had left; and he could feel an emptiness surrounding the area.

"Alfred, we're going to have a nice talk after this!" The Briton shouted, shamelessly while walking over towards the counter to see if the boys were alright.

He was completely aggravated at the ghost's bipolar attitude. At one point Alfred insisted on helping his relationship with the Asian brothers, and then suddenly Alfred would make everything worse again. He didn't understand the ghost, at all.

Even the simplest of traits managed to make him confused; such as the cold flesh and ability to solidify and grasp things. The ghost was a complete mystery to even Arthur, himself, who had been living all along with the most mystical and mysterious!

Why was he like that, then?

Kiku had reappeared with Wang watching steadily from the far back of the counter. Im Young was making some sort of crepe while singing a childish song about faeries and hills. Arthur stared silently with apology towards the Japanese, but Kiku insisted that it was perfectly fine.

"It felt oddly refreshing." Kiku reassured him while pressing a smile to his lips. The corners of his eyes were still blotched with a strange pink; but the Japanese insisted that everything from then on out was well.

Arthur was a bit hesitant; but decided to stop pushing the subject further as the Japanese let out a soft sound of relief or some strange noise of happy familiarity.

It was as if Kiku was sighing in a daydreaming tone that made Arthur feel embarrassed and envious of the sudden contact with him and the ghost.

Honestly, he was going to wake Alfred up!

The stupid ghost will be his soon. He knew it.

He'll see who Alfred F. Jones truly is.

But he needed for the ghost to appear for that.

And for a record time, Alfred wasn't reappearing.