Alright. So I didn't notice this before but I had accidentally uploaded two chapters twice. Thanks to the person who pointed that out, here is the chapter I didn't get up.
Arthur woke with a start, his ankle aching. He was still lying on the grass next to Alfred. It was dark now, the stars shining brightly overhead. Arthur felt a shiver run down his back. He wrapped his tail tighter around himself and looked around. He was surprised to see everyone was sleeping soundly nearby.
Gilbert and Ludwig were asleep with their backs pressed against a large tree, though they didn't seem to be awake, Arthur could sense the two of them were on edge. Ivan was on the other side of the clearing, one arm draped over Yao.
Arthur chuckled slightly at that. Guess everyone's getting comfortable with one another.
Kiku was resting off to the side, his ears and tail twitching every so often. His face would sometimes take on a look of distress before settling back down. Francis had his ears pulled down over his head; he was the only one who looked content. That left…
Arthur looked around, suddenly wide awake. Using a tree for support, he stood up. "Feliciano," he whispered. "Where are you?"
"Ve~ hi Arthur. Why are you awake? I can keep watch for a little while longer."
Arthur jumped. His ears quickly pinpointing the direction of the sound, he looked up. A pair of neon eyes stared back. "Feliciano? Your eyes."
Feliciano grinned. "Ve~ I know! It's so neat. They glow and stuff." He swung gracefully down from the branch he had been positioned on, landing silently beside Arthur. "Your eyes do it to," he chirped.
Arthur realized that he could, in fact, see very clearly in the dark. "Hmm, that could be useful later. Anyway did Francis say how Alfred was doing?"
Feliciano's smile faltered. "Ve~ he said Alfred would be all right for now. After you fell asleep, Ludwig went back into the town and picked up some things. Francis managed to fix him."
Arthur sighed in relief and let himself slide back to the ground. "We can't live out here forever you know. Our families are still out there and there are lives some of us need to get back too."
Feliciano sat down next to him. "Ve~ b-but… if we all go home then, then everyone will separate. I really like you guys too and I don't want…" He sniffled sadly, his gaze meeting Arthur's.
Arthur looked away. "I, well, I've grown fond of you guys as well. But we can't just forget our other lives. I'm sure some of the others want to go home as well. Not to mention that we need to fix our unfortunate problem."
Feliciano ran a hand along his tail. "I don't think it's so bad. Maybe we can just work something out. W-what if our parents don't even want us anymore." His voice hitched.
Arthur shook his head. "Of course they would. They are your parents after all. They love you no matter what." Arthur almost laughed at that. What am I saying? I don't know how anyone will react to this. Parents or not, they're still only human.
Feliciano looked at the ground again. "Ve~ I guess so. I better go keep watch again or Ludwig will get all fussy." He stood and climbed expertly back up the tree.
Arthur turned away and came face-to-face with Alfred. Shuffling back a few feet, Arthur growled at him. "Don't do that you git!"
Alfred smiled back at Arthur. "Good to see you're still you." He sat up slowly. "Ouch." Alfred winced slightly.
Arthur moved back toward him. "Don't move so quickly, idiot. You're still not in good shape."
Alfred stretched out his wings, stopping halfway. Some feathers floated gently to the ground. Alfred hesitantly flapped them. His face contorted in pain and he curled his wings back together. "Well, I guess that's not a good sign."
Arthur shook his head. "No. That thing did some damage. Are you all right?"
Alfred smiled smuggly back at Arthur. "I'm just peachy."
"Cheeky bastard." Arthur flicked him with his tail.
Alfred laughed. "So, what are we going to do tomorrow? I don't mind just hanging around here."
Arthur didn't reply just stared back up at the stars. "Get some sleep. We can discuss this in the morning."
Alfred shrugged. "Sure thing," he replied. Using his wings like blankets, Alfred drifted back off.
Arthur lay down next to him. He felt their backs brush. Face warming slightly, Arthur closed his eyes. It took only moments before darkness enveloped him.
~Time Skip~
It was midday. Their odd group was now traveling throughout the city. Their new abilities giving them a whole new perspective. Arthur and Alfred had deemed themselves well enough to walk., with some difficulty, but walk nonetheless.
Almost within three minutes of the walk, Ivan and Yao had broken off to explore a cute little anime shop. They agreed to meet up with the others later.
"I can't believe people just walk around here with all the noise," Francis complained, he was holding down the hat that hid his large ears.
Arthur elbowed him. "Shut up. I was just starting to enjoy myself."
"Ah, why do you hate me so?" Francis whined.
Arthur's eyes narrowed. "Because you happen to be two things I can't stand."
Francis raised an eyebrow.
"French and full of yourself." Arthur raised his nose to the air.
Francis sniggered. "I think you're just mad because I get to be a sexy bunny while you're stuck with a lion whose eyebrows are mutated."
Arthur stopped dead in his tracks and spun around. His eyes were blazing. "That is a rather bold assumption. You are right about one thing, however. I am a lion and you are a rabbit. Did you know that I wouldn't mind a rabbit for lunch?"
Francis shrieked and hid behind Gilbert. "What a brute you are!"
Kiku walked ahead of the group, falling in-step with Alfred. "Excuse me, but, I was wondering where we are going?"
Alfred gave him a sideways glance. "I was going to try and just look around town for a bit. Who knows what we could find."
Ludwig's gruff voice caught everyone's attention. "Vhat is this…" Ludwig was standing away from the group, looking at something taped to one of the light posts.
Gilbert strolled over to his brother and looked at what caught his attention. He stared open-mouthed at it. Then his gaze traveled to Kiku.
Arthur pushed past the brothers to get a look at what was causing the commotion. His eyes widened.
There on the post, was a Missing Person sign. On the sign was a faded picture of Kiku. The date on the sign read back months and months before.
"Oh my…" Kiku stared at the sign in wonder. "I… we, must have been missing for a long time."
A shadow fell across the group. They turned quickly, senses alert. A man stood there, he was older by the look of him. His eyes were sunken in and red, as though he had been crying. "I was just coming to take that down," he said with a hard voice.
Ludwig leveled his gaze. "But this is a poster for a missing person. You can't just take it down."
The man looked back at Ludwig, expression blank. "It wouldn't matter. That kid is probably not alive anymore. Even if he was…there ain't no one to go back too."
Kiku had moved behind Alfred, using the taller teen for cover.
Feliciano skipped over to the man. "Ve~ what do you mean, mister?"
Reaching around Ludwig, the man yanked the sign off the post. "Kid's parents aren't with us anymore. They were killed by something, police think it was some sort of animal. I don't believe a word of it. All I know is that they were buried two days ago." He turned away without another word and started off in the other direction.
Kiku stiffened behind Alfred. His eyes flashed with a deep sadness which he quickly covered up.
Alfred put a hand on his shoulder. "Kiku I-"
Kiku pushed his hand away. He shook his head quickly. "This…this can't," he started. He could feel tears swelling behind his eyes and with everyone watching, Kiku could feel his stress level rising. Backing away slowly, he turned and took off down the sidewalk.
"Ve! Kiku!" Feliciano shouted, giving chase. They turned a corner and out of sight.
"Everyone we have to go after them," Gilbert shouted. The others nodded in agreement.
Ahead of the group, Kiku continued to run. Tears were streaming down his face. His brain denying everything the man had told them. His family was fine. Everything would be fine. Without realizing it, Kiku found himself slowing down, coming to a dead end.
Feliciano managed to catch up with his friend just in time. "Ve! Kiku please stop running!" He crashed into the other and wrapped his arms around him.
Kiku stood stone still. He heard Feliciano's broken sobs behind him. A wave of guilt hit him. Feliciano was so worried about him, his other friends probably were too, and all he had done was run away.
"I-I k-know that y-you have every right," he paused to catch his breath. "T-to be sad. But running away c-can't help."
Kiku nodded slowly, still taking in the information. Before he could respond he heard someone enter the alley they were in. Feliciano, having heard it too, looked up.
There, standing at the edge of the alley was a sickening familiar white lab coat. The man standing there had a smirk on his face. Behind him were five other men and woman.
"Looks like I've got you now. The last two."
Feliciano screamed and hid behind Kiku. "VE! Ludwig help meeee!"
"Oh, don't worry little kitten. You will be joining your other friends soon."
