I'll bloom as the poison flower

And become the flower that blooms again.
A wounded heart will fade away

The love is destroying you, in full bloom with the flowers.

- Jealous by Dir en Grey


Kiku Honda was, in the eyes of all who saw him, a delicate, graceful, porcelain doll. His skin was as pale as moonlight. His rich brown hair—which looked closed to a raven-black color—was so smooth and silky that it was like touching pure, flawless silk. His graceful composure and charming manners were equal to those of a princess from an age lost in time. A time of chivalry and knights rescuing fair maidens, no doubt. Kiku was just like a doll.

Flawless and smooth on the outside.

Empty and dark on the inside.

The petit Japanese man sat beside his husband, a tall and rather built Greek by the name of Heracles, in a small, crowded office that smelled strongly of cigarettes and strange, foreign spices. The source of the strange, unpleasant combination of smells was none other than their landlord, Sadiq Adnan. Sadiq was a rather loud, narrow-minded man from Turkey. Which, of course, explained the scent of foreign spices. Kiku tried his best to keep his face still and doll-like, but it was rather obvious that he wanted to run screaming from the disgusting little room. How could anyone withstand this smell? Kiku glanced at his husband briefly, reading a similar distressed aura coming from him as well. Had they run away from their old lives just to end up with this? The thought made them both feel a bit irritated, but in their position, they could not complain or whine. It was this or death.

"Your rent is late."

Sadiq's words broke their unease.

"I beg your pardon?" Kiku's soft, feminine voice came out first. "We paid, though... I know, for I was the one that delivered it."

The Turk sighed and kept his eyes locked on Kiku, acting as if Heracles didn't exist at all. "True, but it wasn't enough. You two didn't pay the full enough. So, in other words, it is late." Sadiq said all this while his cigarette was nearly dangling from the corner of his lips. He quickly caught it before it fell and stuck it back in between the two brown petals. "If you can't pay the rest by the end of next week, you two have go to go. I'm giving you both way too many chances, and I'm loosing a shitload of money."

Heracles finally spoke. "Listen... We'll have the money. But if we can't get it in time... Is there anything else we can offer you? I'm sure we can work out some kind of deal...?" His voice was rather deep and slow—almost as if he was fighting off a strong feeling of drowsiness. The Greek ran a hand through his wavy brown hair and bit his lip uneasily. This had to work. They had to stay. If they got kicked out and started handing out their names... Someone would recognize them soon enough, even though they were hundreds of miles away from their old lives. Even if they gave out fake names, someone would recognize them. A student doing a newspaper project. A senior citizen that watched the news all day. A reporter looking for their big story. Anything... Anyone... It was always possible.

"A deal, huh?" Saidq's eyes locked onto Kiku's thin, delicate body. "...I think we can work something out."

"...You fucking asshole," Heracles abruptly hissed, his eyes narrowed in malice. "I'd rather live on the streets than let Kiku, my Kiku, be some kind of... of... Prostitute!" The Greek stood up and turned to his husband, gesturing towards the door. The negotiation was over. They had to pay their rent. It was either that or risk their lives. Again.


"Heracles-san, you shouldn't express anger in such a violent manner," Kiku said quietly. His voice was like a whisper, as always. Even when he was a young child, living with his real family, everyone had to stop talking and listen carefully in order to catch the words spilling from Kiku's lips. His voice was—if you could hear it—lovely and somewhat resembled an angel's. You had to close your eyes to appreciate the flow of his voice, the hushed whispers that came forth, the poetry that was created. Someone loud like Sadiq could never hear Kiku's lovely words. He just kept pursuing him in ways that drove Heracles mad.

Flowers by the window every Sunday morning.

Gifts that were given without warning.

Stopping by unannounced when Heracles was away at work.

Suggestive words and actions.

Heracles frowned slightly and reached out, taking his husband's small and fragile hand into his own. "I'm sorry, Kiku, but I can't help it... He's trying to steal you from me... I can't...let him do that." He brought Kiku's hand to his lips and kissed each finger apologetically. He couldn't control his sudden bursts of anger, and Kiku knew it. He was usually a quiet, reserved man that never dared to raise his voice... But when it came to Kiku, he was a fierce warrior ready to strike down any enemy or suspicious person. It was a bit... troubling. Especially since they needed to keep quiet for, probably, the rest of their lives. They were in hiding from a ruthless organization of crime called The Comrades. One slip-up and they were as good as gone.

"Heracles-san, you know that I'd never let him take me away from you. Besides, I know martial arts." Kiku smiled a bit playfully. "If his hand goes anywhere inappropriate, he might have to get some stitches! That'd be the least of his injuries, though."

They entered their apartment. The first thing to greet them was their cat, Tama.

Heracles and Kiku loved cats. Simply adored the cute little creatures. They used to have about ten, but seeing how they could barely afford to pay for their own meals and rent, they gave them all up for adoption. All except Tama. Tama was their special cat—he was like Kiku. Calm. Composed. Obedient yet clever. Stealthy. And, of coursed, loved salty foods.

"Kiku... About the rent... How are we going to pay it up?" Heracles frowned again. "If anything, we should avoid another move. Too many records on us isn't good. Sure, we changed our names, but people will start to get suspicious..."

Kiku smiled pleasantly. "Don't worry, Heracles-san. Last night, I discovered something that I had nearly forgotten about. Ano... I think it should be enough to cover this and part of next month's rent."

"Where did you get so much money? Did you get a bonus at work?"

The Japanese man knelt down and petted Tama quietly, a somewhat twisted smile on his face. "Yong Soo doesn't really need that college money. He's too stupid to do anything useful. "

And no more questions were asked.


Matthew smiled timidly at Alfred and Arthur, his eyes reflecting the unease that was bubbling in his stomach. Talk about awkward. Meeting up with Alfred to talk about Gilbert was one thing, but meeting up with Alfred and Arthur was just a bit uncomfortable. It wasn't like he was afraid of Arthur, though. It was just that they both worked as detectives—interrogating people until they were ready to scream and sob their secrets and information. ...Matthew felt as if this while 'talking about the new boyfriend' thing was just another interrogation. Would he end up screaming and crying?

Probably not. But it felt like it would lead up to that.

The three sat at Matthew's kitchen table, eating some pancakes that Matthew prepared and drinking tea that Arthur had brought along as a congratulations gift. Alfred, of course, drank coffee instead. "Tea is too sissy for me! ...No offense, Iggy and Mattie." Such a strange one, that Alfred...

"So, this new boyfriend... Gilbert, right? He isn't like that scumbag you were dating last time, right?" Alfred managed to slap on his biggest All-American grin and laugh, his eyes caught between twinkling with sibling mischief and clouding with concern. "That last guy was a total douche bag, and you just let him ignore you and fuck every man and woman that he could charm! ...Oops, sorry." The crestfallen look on Matthew's face and the obviously-pissed-off look on Arthur's made the American shut up for once.

"Honestly, Alfred... Anyway, Gilbert sounds absolutely charming. He's been a friend of yours for years, he sounds rather romantic and caring, and he actually tells you things,"Arthur mused, his tea cup elegantly in his hands like a true Brit. "Hmm... I'd like to meet him. He sounds quite nice. True, he sounds like he's a bit loud, but he doesn't make you hush up when he speaks. ...Yes, he sounds like a gentleman. It's a shame he couldn't come by today. At least he's working, unlike that bloody arse you used to date. You're too good for that old boyfriend, Mattie." Another thing Matthew noticed about Arthur was that he rambled. A lot. But it wasn't the useless, unrelated kind of rambling—it was the kind that made you feel like one quirky family full of strange habits and personalities. Huh... Would Gilbert end up as part of the family?

Matthew blushed.

Alfred pouted.

"Artie, it sounds like you like him better than me!"

"Shut up, git."

"But...!"

Arthur threw a stern glare towards his boyfriend. "For the love of the Queen, stop your yapping! Your voice is so annoying, you wanker!"

"That's not what you said last night between the sheets~"

Matthew nearly choked on the pancake piece that was still sliding down his throat. Oh Lord. Hearing about his brother's sex life with Arthur really was something that he hated hearing about. Awkward. Awkward. Awkward. Now he had to avoid looking at them directly, or else he'd start to picture them naked and... Matthew blushed even more.

Bad brain! Bad! Bad! Don't think about them fucki—MAPLE!

"Oi, Mattie, you okay? You look feverish."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "It's because you always manage to bring in something vulgar when we meet up. Honestly, is sex all you can think of?" He huffed and then chose to ignore his boyfriend. His thick brows were scrunched in anger and embarrassment, and his lips were twitching... Almost as if he was caught between shouting another insult and whining about how stupid Alfred was. Maybe a combination of both. Who knew? The Brit was, to put it mildly, a bit moody. He would be screaming bloody murder one moment and then acting like a shy, flustered school girl the next. Oh, the irony. He was always the submissive one. Always.

Alfred decided to keep that one secret. He didn't want Arthur screaming at him even more.

"Ehmm... So, Gilbert is friends with your ex-boyfriend/jerk, right? Isn't that kind of... a bad thing? 'Cuz, your ex might get super pissed, ya'know!"

Matthew sighed and stabbed at his pancake at the mention of his ex. Francis. Ugh. The name made him feel like his stomach was being punched repeatedly. That jerk. The Frenchman had, in the beginning, been a charming young gentleman that filled his days with endless wonder. Now... What were they now? Even if Francis didn't know about him and Gilbert, were they even anything when Gilbert came in as a love interest? The quiet, shy Canadian sighed and shook his head. "I don't really care about how he feels anymore. He was cheating on me, and he didn't even bother to hide it. Gilbert is the one I care for."

Alfred rested his elbows on the table, resting his head on his palms in a lazy manner. "No, I didn't mean that. What I mean is, won't your ex get mad at Gilbert? I mean, he'll accuse him of being a jerk or somethin' like that... Then they'll stop being friends and all that, right, Artie?"

"How would I know this, you sod? Bugger off and let me finish my tea."

Matthew stared at them worriedly. "You... You think Francis would do that? Francis wouldn't beat up Gilbert, though! H-He wouldn't dare... Right? I-I mean, Gilbert is a real nice guy, but I heard that he's downright dangerous in fights... He could hurt Francis... O-Oh, but..." He didn't finish the sentence. Truth was, he didn't want either to get hurt because of him. In all honesty, he always laughed at the unreal love triangles that he witnessed on soap operas. Now he was a part of one, and it sure was real.

Great.

"Don't worry, dude! If your Gilbert gets hurt, call on the hero!" Alfred pointed to himself, grinning like an All-American idiot. "I'll kick that jerk Francis' ass all the way back to... Wait, where is he from?"

Matthew glumly replied, "France."

"Right! All the back to France!"

...And as the two brothers laughed and continued sharing their stories and relationship details, they failed to notice the state of shock Arthur was in. His eyes were widened and glazed over with panic. His face paled slightly, but it was slightly unnoticeable due to his already-pale complexion. Perhaps the most striking thing that had occurred within the last few moments was the way he began to shake. His still, composed body was trembling—not too noticeable but still visible. Alfred brushed it off as being cold and placed his warm, sweet scented jacket around the Brit, and then went back to chatting.

A Francis and a Gilbert? No... It couldn't be... No, they gave up their ways long ago! ...But what if they didn't?

Arthur feared the answer. With every fiber of his being.


BWAAAAH. I'M BACK FROM THE DEAD.

I'm terribly sorry about the super long delay. And when I mean super, I MEAN SUPER. God, how many months has it been? I hope some of you are still out there reading this... :3

Anyway, I'm sorry if my writing style has changed a bit. I kind of think it did. (•_• ;)

Next chapter will include:

A lost friendship
• A surprise visit
• A confession

A jar of pebbles