The very suspenseful story of 'Just One Kiss' has ended now. But have you seen the WHOLE story as it was originally written?

*Smirks* Truth be told, you haven't. In the original draft of this story (Yes, I did write an entire draft! Why do you think updates took forever?), there were some notable scenes taken out whole others were left intact. The "chapters" that you are about to see are original scenes in the fanfic I had taken out (reasons will be mentioned, don't worry). So don't gasp happily and assume that you're reading more of the story, think of this as...bonus material.

Like that of bonus features on a DVD of some liked movie? (Fuck, that comparison could not have been more lame!)

Now then, this first scene was scrapped from the story because I found it to be written shabbily compared to the rest of the prologue. And also, I did not want to start the story out with a flashback – that is much too overdone in fanfiction anyway. Can a hard-working anime fangirl get a little credit for attempting to be original? ._.'

Basically, this takes place before the events of the prologue. Before Ludwig and Feliciano got caught in the rain that day and eventually confessed. Ludwig meets up with Kiku (whom has some problems of his own with a certain two guys we know rather well), and confides in him about these strange feelings that he's developed when around Feliciano.

Because, let's face it, Ludwig had NO ONE ELSE at the time.

…

Just One Kiss – The bonus, scrapped scenes

Scene #1: "What Are These Strange Feelings?"

…

What are these strange feelings that Ludwig felt when around a certain person now?

If only that question had some sort of answer. Ludwig didn't know what was going on at all, and why he had to begin feeling so strange around one of his friends.

Ludwig was just an ordinary seventeen year old German male. Having only been living out of his home country for eight years, he felt somewhat strange around the new scenery, but he was getting adjusted gradually. Ludwig attended a rather good school and was near graduating soon enough. He could be kind of rough and uptight at first glance – God knows he really can be through and through – and wasn't the type to fool around. Everything had to be orderly, everything had to have some sort of plan so that it could go perfectly by that plan.

What most people didn't know was that despite being gruff at first glance and encounter, he was awkward with people and hardly knew what friendships and romantic relationships were like. Most soft emotions were a mystery for him. Little did most know – he could get easily flustered and shy by situations involving anything that he considered uncomfortable (like love or simply brushing across the skin of another another person).

Ludwig never really figured he would wind up friends with Feliciano Vargas, a cheery and ditzy Italian classmate, and Kiku Honda, a reserved and somewhat socially awkward Japanese classmate. In fact, it was quite odd how they got long despite conflicting personalities. Still, none of the three questioned anything.

Now things were rapidly changing either for the better or worse for Ludwig and Feliciano. The former was beginning to feel...strange around the latter and didn't know how to describe it. How could he, seeing as though he never felt this weird around someone before? The more that he quietly thought about this when he would lie awake in deep thought, he realized more and more that these feelings did exist but were more controllable or easy to dismiss as nothing.

When away from Feliciano, Ludwig would sometimes find himself letting his mind wander to him. What was he doing, how he was feeling, did he ever managed to tame that suspicious and yet cute curl on his head, what did he think about him, does he notice that he will bristle in nervousness at the slightest brush of a hand, ect. He tried to dismiss this as nothing, but then he realized he couldn't once he took notice of how he wanted to hear his voice or see his face.

When around Feliciano, ooooh boy, he really couldn't stay as inwardly calm and collected as he wished to be. Maybe Ludwig could still keep a stoic look and attitude up front, but that didn't stop his heart from hammering against his chest when he and the clueless Italian were in close proximity or when he gave off another one of his infamous mixed messages that made his mind short-circuit. At seeing his smiling face, he felt like any crappy day he was having would suddenly be uplifted. Any time that they were all alone, "accidentally" brushing against each other, or simply making eye contact and nothing more, he would feel his cheeks begin to burn and redden intensely before he awkwardly dismissed to himself any possibility of him actually...liking it.

When these feelings began to strengthen overtime, Ludwig didn't know what he could possibly do to harbor them and insist to Feliciano that he was totally fine and there was no reason for him to be concerned when he reacted oddly to eye contact or simple touches. He couldn't...he couldn't possibly come to his obnoxious older brother, Gilbert, with these problems or be subjected to a crap ton of embarrassment and never live down the immature teasing. (God knows Gilbert lived on being immature about these kinds of things; Ludwig was honestly still surprised he managed to get a girlfriend despite his annoying characteristics!)

Bringing these problems to Feliciano would be just as embarrassing – if not more. He didn't want the oblivious Italian to know how strange he was feeling because he may take things the wrong way. Either that, or he would jump straight to conclusions and interpret this as something like...no, wait, Ludwig couldn't even complete that thought without feeling extremely flustered.

In all honesty, the only person that he could vent with and not be embarrassed to death or judged would be...

…

"...So, Ludwig, why did you call and ask me to meet you here?" Asked a somewhat confused Kiku once he rose an ebony brow and looked questionably a slightly hesitating Ludwig across the table. He thought for a moment, before adding, "It is the weekend after all and Feliciano told me yesterday that he wanted to spend some time with you all alone. Not to mention you sounded desperate on the phone..."

Kiku was probably the only person that Ludwig could talk to without feeling completely embarrassed about the subject. And it was convenient that he was free this weekend and could stop by this tiny eating establishment for an ideal setting in which conversation could flow perhaps non-awkwardly. He was a listener and Ludwig could tell him all this stuff and be able to fall asleep easily tonight knowing that he wouldn't open his big mouth and reveal the information. At least, not that he was aware of.

Nevertheless, he still remained hesitant about going on to explain why he passed up spending some time alone with Feliciano (damn, it killed him to refuse the offer especially after Feliciano sighed in a disappointed manner), to chat with him out in some public place.

Ludwig avoided Kiku's curious gaze, settling his own on the table that his hands were folded over. "I have no one else to talk to. I knew you probably needed to be out of the house so those two rivals – what's their names – can't come over and compete for you."

At that statement, Kiku's cheeks began to rapidly turn crimson and he seemed to sink in his seat for a brief moment. "Um...yes...that's true. How did you know-"
"Everyone around the school is aware of what's going on. I hear people every week day – chatting about which of the two you will decide to go out with." Noticing how suddenly flustered Kiku was about the subject, Ludwig sighed and decided to just cut this short to prevent any further embarrassment. "Honestly, you really need to choose either one of them that you like the most or reject them both so we can all get to another topic."

Kiku really didn't want anyone to talk about this love triangle subject. It was a prominent topic around the school and had been for several months. Ludwig himself didn't really give much interest in this, but a lot of people – in fact – did. What he knew of this subject was that two rivals, a Greek and a Turk whom both happened to be interested in him. Emphasis on interested. Of course, this was a little embarrassing for him because he didn't know how he felt about either and he didn't like being the center of all this attention.

Trying to move away from the uncomfortable subject, Ludwig switched back to himself. And was almost hesitant because he was that much more closer to revealing how odd he has been feeling around their ditzy Italian friend.

"What I want to talk about is...ah...it's sort of about Feliciano in a way." Kiku's dark brown eyes began to shift back to Ludwig in maybe a little bit of interest. Was this good? "Look, I am not that good with people and sometimes I fail to determine emotions or certain feelings."

"Yes, I already knew this. I'm sorry, I don't understand what you are trying to say and how Feliciano is involved."

Why did he insist on making this harder than it has to be? Couldn't Kiku take a hint once in a while? "Kiku, Feliciano has everything to do with it." Ludwig pressed a palm to his forehead and sighed deeply. "Lately, something's changed and I can't figure out what it is. But I know that I haven't always felt this strangely about him. Please just hear me out; I need to get some sort of diagnoses."

"I will hear you out." Kiku resisted the urge to sigh, meanwhile he contemplated how he always had to be dragged into the problems of someone else. "Still, I'm not a doctor or anything. I may not be able to be accurate with the suggestion, Ludwig."

"In this moment, anything would help me."

There was another small silence lingering in the air. It was obvious that Kiku wanted him to go on and voice his problems, voice how strangely he's been feeling around Feliciano of all people. But Ludwig couldn't do it so easily without feeling that same annoying embarrassment return.

His light blue eyes traveled all around the fair-sized restaurant. Glancing with no interest at all of the people at table and booths eating, chatting, or both. And some other customers just stepping through the doorway and going to the corner to take their orders. At long last, his nervous gaze did settle back to Kiku.

Not to mention that the words he was trying to search for in his head were becoming more clearer. Ludwig began to explain his problems in a little bit of a quiet tone as he went on, "Remember the first time I ever met Feliciano? You were present at the time, and after he collected his things that had fallen and bounced away to his class, I mentioned to you that he seemed odd. At first, I wondered if we would ever establish...something like a friendship – which we did." Dammit, he could feel some heat sneaking it's way into his cheeks as he went on. Why did this have to be so embarrassing? "Now, I don't know what to think about him. There has been these unusual thoughts and feelings all directed towards him whether we are together or not."

"Are these feelings...familiar?" Kiku suggested, hoping that this would make the situation less obviously difficult to voice casually. "If they are, define if they are good or bad."

"I just...don't know how to describe them. In my life, I've always been distant from other people and hardly understand them. Now that I actually managed to befriend the both of you, especially Feliciano, I feel strange." Thoughtfully, Ludwig glanced away. He hoped that he could recall when these strange feelings and thoughts about Feliciano had begun, however, he could not place a time line. "Whenever I'm around him now...I don't feel composed and collected, it feels like my head is spinning and my heart is about to explode from my chest. At the slightest touches, my cheeks begin to burn and I feel a strange...sensation."

All of a sudden, Ludwig paused and Kiku froze in his nodding. They both felt a rather curios stare centered upon them and they wore quizzical expressions as they craned their necks to see a familiar teenage guy with dark blond hair and glasses staring at them from the next table questionably.

Upon realizing they noticed his presence, and his high curiosity on who they could be speaking of, the guy, Alfred, immediately turned his attention back to the large plate of food he had with him and pretended to be innocent.

Rolling his eyes, Ludwig turned back to Kiku and then went on with voicing these strange feelings and thoughts about the assumed unaware Italian. "Let's just forget that he was listening. My point here is that...I never have felt this strangely about Feliciano before and it really gets the best of me."

Oh dear God, did he realize what he was trying to imply here? Kiku was beginning to get more of a general idea of what may be happening, yet he remained indifferent and prompted the big questions: "Well...are these feelings annoying at all? Do you wish that it would all stop?"

"Normally this would annoy me, it actually does a little because I don't feel like myself or can't stay focused." There it was again, that same heat flooding to his cheeks. At least Feliciano was not anywhere near to here this conversation: he was kind a picky eater and hated the food that was served here. "Strange enough, I don't mind it."

"That isn't so strange..." Ludwig and Kiku's brows knitted together and they once again craned their necks to see Alfred once again looking other at them, smirking knowingly and resting an arm on the back of his chair.

Around school, Ludwig didn't really know that much about Alfred. They didn't really have the same classes but it he did know that he was American, was loud and craved to be the center of attention, and he was into sports. Kiku, on the other hand, would occasionally hang out with him. Occasionally.

"Alfred, what are you trying to say?" Ludwig sighed, wondering why fate would have to have Alfred listening in on a conversation that was fully intended to be private.

"In case you haven't figured it out yet, you like Feliciano – and by that, I mean way beyond that of a friend!" Alfred just about announced to the entire room. It caused some eyes to shift towards the three of them, but everyone else seemingly didn't give a fuck because this happened so much.

Kiku promptly shook his head and pressed a hand to his forehead. It was almost embarrassing to have eyes suddenly shifting their way. And besides, he didn't have to announce this to Ludwig so soon because he kind of...wanted to know what thoughts Ludwig was having which were Feliciano-centric.

Overly-curious, anyone?

At that loud revelation, Ludwig stared just about speechless at Alfred. His eyes widened and the beat of his heart quickened and he was worried it may be audible to everyone in the building.

Could he really...like him in that sort of way? Was that why he felt so strange and had odd thoughts? Come to think of it, this did seem likely to be. But how and when did this happen?

His head was spinning and he wasn't sure if he could make some sort of reply to that. But Alfred seemed confident in his opinion. Then again, wasn't he always?

"Dude, everyone around school can see how much he clings to you and is bouncing at your side. And you seem to like it, otherwise you would coldly push him away like Arthur attempts to do to me!" Alfred explained confidently, turning back to his food. He stuffed another sandwich into his mouth and proceeded to eat, seemingly ditching the conversation altogether.

Of course, Kiku was kind of relieved that he shut his big mouth. Otherwise, Ludwig would have probably killed him for suggesting such a thing. Even though it was all too true. Ludwig would push Feliciano away and ignore him of he didn't care.

Seeing as though he never pushed the ditzy and clingy Italian away too roughly, or ignored his actions or words entirely, that was enough proof that he did feel something. Not to mention his body language would give him away to the spectators. Though Ludwig denied it, everyone else fully knew he tried to do nice things (even if they were brief and he denied he was being concerned) for him. If Feliciano got injured in some way, he would help him out. If Feliciano needed a drive because his license got taken away (again), he would give him that drive. And if Feliciano ever needed a place to stay when his older brother came home in a pissed off mood reacting violently all night, he would give permission to stay at his home; but sometimes only when he knew his brother Gilbert wasn't there.

Ludwig hardly considered that he may be...you know, falling for him in that way. He didn't know what it felt like, so how would he identify these strange...moments of weakness and confusion?

"As strange as this is to admit," Kiku and Ludwig returned to their original positions, the former removed his hand from his face and met Ludwig's shifting eyes momentarily. "Alfred was right. It feels strange to voice this conclusion, but it is very likely that you are developing feelings for Feliciano. Do not feel awkward; it took me a very long amount of time to admit that I...felt that same way about...somebody."

Although still in deep thought about the situation, wondering in the back of his mind how he would possibly be able to handle developing feelings for Feliciano, Ludwig asked almost desperately, "What am I supposed to do about this?"

There was silence for a lengthy amount of time. Neither were certain how long it was going to last, until Kiku finally released a small breath and quietly declared, "I do not know how Feliciano feels, but the only thing that you can do at this point is get him alone somewhere and confess."

'The only thing you can do at this point, is to get him alone somewhere and confess. The only thing that you can do at this point is to get him alone somewhere and confess...' That statement was on a repeat in Ludwig's thoughts, seemingly growing louder each time to the point of where it all became understandable. He glanced down at the table, almost burning holes with his gaze. Despite the composed expression, the hot blush adorning his face really gave his feelings away.

Maybe Feliciano should know he really felt...but the only problem was this: Ludwig hadn't the slightest idea how the hell he would react. And judging by the way that Kiku explained almost suspiciously knowingly about how to proceed, this was going to one of the most embarrassing times of his life...

To Be Continued

…

There are four fun facts to this original scene which did not make the final cut:

1( I was sort of late in publishing this. I fully intended to do it on Sunday afternoon.

2( When writing this months ago, I had been listening to the song Just A Kiss by Lady Antebellum. Can you guess where the title inspiration came from?

3( Kiku so approved of Ludwig falling for Feliciano but he did not wish to reveal that. And honestly, if he did, then I'm guessing he would have been one of those at the end to aid in them getting their first kiss. At the time, of course, he had still been out with Herakles.

4( Alfred is such an annoyance in this scene, but I love 'em anyway. *Cough* *Cough* In a patriotic way of course... *Cough* *Cough*

Soon I will publish the next scene that didn't make the final cut. Please stay tuned in and R&R!