(After a long struggle, I've concluded that I will just have to post this chapter as is. I'm not happy with it at all, but I want to finish this story. After this one is the last chapter.)

Chapter 10

Trick

"Do you believe in magic?" Alfred asked.

Kiku coughed, choking on his tea. "S-sumimasen?" He sputtered, looking away in embarrassment as he dabbed at his chin with a napkin. Setting his cup and saucer on the coffee table, he looked at Alfred who lounged on a mustard-yellow sofa. "Magic?"

"Yeah. You know unicorns, elves. That stuff."

"Why do you ask?"

Arthur.

"No reason," Alfred lied, forcing a grin.

Kiku's brow furrowed. He studied Alfred. "Does this has something to do with Arthur-san?"

"What? No," Alfred said, dismissively, glancing around and then up at the plaster ceiling. "Sure a lotta cracks up there."

"Alfred-san," Kiku began, "Have you been playing RPGs again?"

Alfred nearly fell out of his seat laughing. "Kiku-sensei!" It feels good to laugh again. Grabbing his stomach, he almost doubled over and then wiped a tear out of his eyes. "Heck no. I'm just curious. Like if - and I'm not saying it is - magic were real. How would you fight it? Would you like go on a quest? Collect some gems. Kill a dragon and obtain a magical sword or something?"

"So you have been playing RPGs."

Alfred sighed. Better just say yes. "Something like that," he leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees, "And in this game I have to fight an evil boy with black magic. He can do all sorts of weird stuff like summon shadows and stuff. But I'm stuck. I don't know how to stop this boss. This villain," he added.

Kiku leaned over, reaching across the arm of his other sofa he opened the top drawer of his rosewood desk. Pulling out an manilla file, he placed it on the coffee table between them.

"What's this?" Alfred asked, opening it to find a glossy black and white photo of a tall boy with pale hair and a scarf. He froze, reading the name at the bottom, written in permanent marker, it read: IVAN BRAGINISKY.

"Is this villain by any chance named Arthur?"

Alfred tensed. Tell no one, Arthur had warned. "Don't be silly." He swallowed hard.

"Let's talk about this game of yours," Kiku said. "I remember it. Yes, it was in a High School I believe. A place of rumors. A place that a couple years ago had a high dropout rate. Many students left, claiming they were intimidated by a terrible student. A boy named Ivan."

"He fell," Alfred said.

"Off a roof. So the story goes," Kiku said. "The Braginisky family wouldn't have it though. They were tyrants and they ruled the whole town. They insisted on foul play. But Ivan's injury only began their bad luck."

"Something else happened?"

"Next, they lost their fortunes in a bad investment. Then Ivan's father died suddenly of a heart attack. They found him in his office. Some police leaked that they'd never seen anything like it. A man with his face in such a scared expression."

Did Arthur?

Alfred felt nervous.

"Alfred-san, you look pale. This probably isn't a story for children," Kiku said.

"I'm fine," Alfred said, flipping through the documents to see news articles and documents. "Please tell me the rest."

Kiku licked his lips. "It's nothing but tragedy. The mother lost her mind from grief. The two sisters are all that remain and they struggle to pay their brother's mounting medical bills as investors abandon the company and their family. As if..." he trailed off.

"As if what?"

"As if they're cursed," Kiku finished.

Alfred's mouth went dry. He stared at a headline in one article: BRAGINISKY FAMILY IN RUINS... HOW FAR WILL THEY FALL?

"And it wasn't just them. The town's former chief of police, mayor, and the principal of H High all lost their jobs. Just a couple months before you arrived. An embezzlement scheme."

"Let me guess," he said with a wry laugh, "They were all loyal to the Braginisky family."

"Coincidence?"

"Or a curse," Alfred said.

... it won't just be Susan in danger...

Alfred suppressed a shudder.

"So you believe in magic?"

"Maybe not the Dumbledore stuff, but maybe some weird stuff is possible? I mean UFOs are real."

"Alfred-san, not that again."

"Look something happened at Roswell is all I'm saying. Believe what you want, but there's a starship hidden away in Area 51."

Kiku shook his head. "You and your conspiracy theories." He held up a palm before Alfred could start again. "When I was a boy, our next door neighbor's house was haunted by an evil spirit. Or so they believed."

"G-ghosts-s-s?" Alfred gulped. "I was only talking about bad magic." He looked around peevishly.

"Bad magic. Bad spirits. These forces can be entwined. The same hate that takes root in the dead, can be born in the living."

"How," he whispered, and raising his voice asked in a manly voice, "What did they do?"

"They had a Shinto priest purify their home."

"And it worked?"

"No. They moved."

"And the house?"

"Condemned and abandoned to rot."

"Depressing, Kiku-sensei," Alfred sighed, feeling his heart sink.

"I don't know if the house was haunted." He used the "H" word again! "But I do remember feeling a chill whenever I passed it on my way to school. A feeling of eyes even when no one lived there. Alfred-san, what're you doing?"

Alfred now had his legs folded against his chest and was clutching the armrest for dear life. "N-nothing."

"There's no need to be afraid."

"I'm not afraid!" He insisted. "I just like this soft arm rest. G-go on!" My voice didn't tremble. It didn't!

"Places can get like that. I believe places like people can develop their own soul. And like people it can become damaged and hurt and angry," Kiku continued. "Hate can infect them."

"But can't one purify them? Can't one stop the anger?"

"Some places like people cannot be saved," Kiku said. "You just have to let them go."

"Kiku, I," He froze mid-sentence. A tendril of shadow was creeping toward Kiku's left foot from under the sofa. "NO!" he cried, jumping up. It retreated out of sight as Kiku looked down.

"Alfred-san, is something wrong? Is there a stain?" Kiku's voice sounded worried.

"I hafta go," Alfred said. "Thank you for everything," he said, picking up the file and stuffing it in his backpack. "I appreciated it." Slowly, he pulled out a white envelope, stuffed and sealed shut. "Can I ask one more favor?"

"Of course, Alfred-san."

"Will you open this in exactly six months time?" He thrust it toward Kiku. "No sooner and no later."

"What is it?" Kiku asked, taking it.

"Will you promise?"

"Of course, bu-"

"Please."

"I promise, Alfred-san."

"Thank you," Alfred grinned. "It's been real."

OOO

"Enjoy your chat with Kiku?" Arthur asked. He was leaned against a tree, arms crossed, bathed in late evening shade. "I'd thought you'd rush to your family."

"As controlling as ever," Alfred said, stopping at the edge of the shadows. They were in a park. Arthur's text had been clear. "I thought I had twenty-four hours free of you."

"Cold. Is that anyway to speak to your lover?"

Heat invaded Alfred's cheeks. He frowned, annoyed at himself. "Is that all you want? Why?"

Arthur looked startled. "What do you mean why?" He said, strolling over. Alfred kept himself rooted, resisting the warring urges to pull away and to lean in. He felt both at the same time. So confusing. But which is my true desire? Arthur placed a cool palm on his cheek and looked at him with those piercing green eyes. "The heart wants what it wants."

"And if I agree," Alfred said, gulping hard. His body flushed at Arthur's touch. "If become yours, what will you give me?"

Arthur's expression darkened. "What are you a whore now? You're selling your body?"

"You're one to talk. Forcing me to this," Alfred said, pushing up his glasses. He set his hands on Arthur's wrists. The boy's cheeks pinked. "If this will make things right, if it'll cure your anger. I'll do it," he said, "But I want something in return."

"Anything," Arthur breathed, his eyebrows drawing down at the side. An earnest look shined in his eyes. Alfred's breath quickened. He couldn't help but notice how Arthur's leather jacket was zipped halfway down, partly revealing his white undershirt.

"Die with me. Tonight."

Arthur's hands dropped away and he stepped back. "Are you mad?"

Alfred raised an eyebrow. Irony. "No, I'm serious. I want us to leave this town. Tonight."

"That's barking mad! When I'm about to graduate? And I thought I had problems!"

"Think about it! This is the place where you were raped Where you were hurt and tortured! Staying here is just living in bad memories. You'll never get better here."

"Things have changed. I have you."

"Have they?" Alfred took his arms again. "And how long will it last before you remember? Have you ever forgotten? Does one day go by where you don't remember? When you aren't angry?"

Arthur looked lost for words. He averted his gaze, his face thoughtful. "I can."

"How? By hurting people?"

"I won't if I have you."

"And you won't have me if you don't" Alfred warned.

"How can you say no?"

"What's the point in saying yes? How do I know you won't get pissed at me some day and threaten my loved ones again?" Alfred challenged.

"So this is about them! It's all about them!"

"Duh," Alfred said, adding, "And you."

"How's it about me?"

"Because I want you to be better," Alfred said, yanking Arthur close. He held him hard against his chest, resting his chin on the crown of Arthur's head. "I can't stand suffering. Even in you. I want to purify your heart. I want to be your hero."

"If I go, you'll be mine? You'll be my hero?" Arthur said, burying his nose in Alfred's chest. His slender fingers creeped up Alfred's back and he fell into the embrace. "Forever?"

"For as long as you want I'll take care of you."

"So what did you mean about dying?"

"Faking our death of course," Alfred said. "With your powers, it should be easy. Speaking of which. Can you... can you cast magic missile?"

Arthur stiffened in his arms. "Don't be such a nerd."

For a moment, Alfred smiled, but it faltered and he moved away. "And save Susan."

Jealousy painted Arthur's features. "Her?"

"Stop that," Alfred grumbled. "I don't want to be weighted with guilt."

"I'll be adding extra."

"But do you accept the main terms?"

"For you, Alfie?" Arthur said, smiling demurely, "This is a bargain."

Note:

And you're busy, lazy, and unmotivated writer collapses from the Herculean effort of getting this out. The next chapter will be the ending - hate or love it - and then a small little epilogue.

TBC... for the last time.)