At the end of the day, Alfred found himself casually walking out of art class with his painting finally in hand after days of Ms. Tessie telling him she'll give it back the next day. As much as he loved painting and her class, Alfred just couldn't get over how creepy she could be over his stuff. Maybe he could just paint something for her sometime just to keep her satisfied. Well, at least she did give a sheet to cover it.

Another thought quickly set the previous one a side when he saw Kiku reaching to take down the cheap decorations on a bulletin board. He was struggling a little bit too. 'The short little guy. How can he be this cute without even trying?' He gushed slightly in his head as he walked up to the smaller student. He had to dodge a few students due to the ringing of the bell of dismissal. When he finally reached the other he calmly leaned against the smaller teen and pulled the rest of the tacky decorations down. Kiku jerked away.

"Alfred! You have to stop doing that!" Kiku chided seriously as he grabbed his chest in hopes his heart would slow down. It certainly didn't help when the blonde started to giggle.

"Aww, but Kiku~! I wouldn't be able to see such an adorable reaction!" He pouted childishly as he shifted that sheet covered painted in front of him. He didn't wait for the other retort before he put it in the Asian's hand.

"A painting?" Kiku questioned slash mumbled curiously as he uncovered the art from the white sheet. His eyes grew wide slightly as he studied the art work, his fingers ghosting over the faint and dim colors that seem more vivid than the yellows and greens that mixed in the background. His fingers stopped when they skipped over the bleeding red in the middle of the canvas. In the center was a deep red heart with an arrow going through it, creating a flurry of reds on the other side. He let his eyes linger a few minutes longer before returning his awestruck gaze to the fidgeting and blushing blonde. "Did you make this?"

"Y-Yeah, and I-I just wanted to give it to you." He said with a slight stutter as he avoided eye contact.

Kiku went silent for a few more seconds before slipping into a grateful smile. "Thank you. It's beautiful." He carefully put the sheet over it and wrapped an arm around it.

"Y-You're welcome." Alfred said softly. He turned around and waved at the short teen before saying goodbye. Kiku waved back, that smile still present even after the blonde was out of sight.


Gilbert sat down on one of the nearby benches in the hallway while looking over the painting that he himself was able to finish. He neatly folded the sheet that once covered it next to him while he went over the little details of the painting. He made sure to get the flag just right, which took longer to do because he had to mix different reds and yellows together and never thinking it was awesome enough for his baby brother. Ludwig would like it. 'This is too awesome not to love!' He thought confidently as he carefully placed the sheet over the work of art and set it next to him as he waited. Thankfully, he didn't have to wait much longer because he could see the raven walking down the hallway. The sound of his feet making soft clacks echoed loudly in the empty halls, which seemed all too dramatic to the albino. He inwardly sighed. It'll make this talk a lot more interesting to say the least.

"Hello Gilbert." Kiku greeted politely as he stood in front of the paled skin teen. Gilbert moved the art gently on the ground as he gestured to the empty space on the bench.

"Take a seat."

Doing so wordlessly, Kiku sat down on the cheap wood while making sure his gift was securely tucked between his side and the bench's arm.

The silence that followed was a bit too long and dramatic for the Asian's liking but he kept it to himself. After a few more minutes passed by Gilbert finally let out a slow breath.

"Look Kiku, Alfred is my friend. My awesome best friend. But, as you most likely already guessed, I like him way more a best friend should." Gilbert started soberly as he stared straight ahead. Kiku was taken aback from the seriousness that now seems to roll off the other in waves. "And Alfred doesn't know. Not that I even TRY to hide it anymore but still. . ." He trailed off as he waved vaguely with his hand. His brows scrunch ever so slightly as he tried to pick his next words carefully. "He. . . sees me like a brother. Maybe a replacement if I thought more about it."

"A replacement?" Kiku caught himself asking. He still didn't expect him to be so direct them him. He was half expecting the other to just threaten him or something when he arrived.

Gilbert paused for a brief second before he spoke. "Has Alfred talked about his brother?"

". . .Yes, but he only said that his brother hates him." Kiku answered honestly.

"I hate him." He commented causally as he sat back against the bench. He idly fingered the little silver bunny. "It's because of Matthew that Alfred's so lonely."

Kiku didn't say anything as he waited for the other to continue.

"Matthew has a bad habit of running away from home. But he does come back. . . for a few minutes to pick up some more clothes or something then he leaves again."

Silence fell over them once again.

"What about his father?"

"His father is the reason Matthew left." He said sharply, surprising the shorter teen. "He's a pathetic alcoholic. I don't know the full details but he's also the reason why their mother isn't in the picture." The albino clenched and unclenched his hands in irritation. "He goes to work then the bar and comes back when he knows no ones in the house. And when Alfred and Matthew finally do see him, the man treats them like it's their fault they live in a broken home." He finally turned to face the Asian, showcasing a mixture of emotions that he couldn't decipher.

"Gilbert-kun. . . I'm not trying to be rude or seem uncaring but, why are you telling me this? I thought—"

"You thought I was going to threaten you? " He received a curt nod before a soft chuckle escaped his pale lips. "Yeah well, I know a losing battle when I see one. Alfred likes you a lot already and as far as I can tell, you're crushing on him pretty hard." He said with a small smirk. "But, to answer your question, Alfred needs help, and I think you're the one who can help him."

"Help him?" He questioned more so to himself. He never would have guessed the blonde would have been subjected to so much emotional stress. "He only told you about it?"

"Nope, he only talked about little bits and pieces of his mother. Anything else he just ignored. I've been friends with him for so long I was bond to read between the lines whenever his family was brought up." The albino waved his hand dismissively.

Having nothing else to say, Kiku only nodded. He felt himself wrap his arms around the painting protectively. Alfred always looked so happy and excited when he was with him, but then again he made it quite known about how he felt for the raven. It's to be expected. Still. . . he didn't trust him enough to tell him or Gilbert? Or maybe he just didn't want them to worry?

"There's only so much an awesome friend like me can do for him, so that's why I'm backing… off." The albino hesitated slightly. To give up on someone you cared so much for to just let go must be hard. Kiku had to respect that.

"So that's it!" Gilbert blurted out as he jumped to his feet. He bent down and picked up his art. He turned to face the other and throw him a lopped sided toothy grin. "I'll be seeing you later!" He said as he began to walk away. "Oh, one more thing," He began as he glanced over his shoulder. "If you hurt him . . . you'll regret it."

With that, the red eyed teen made his way down the empty hallway and slipped through the large door, leaving the raven there stunned from the not so subtle threat.

Kiku sat there in the abandon hallway on the hard wooden bench and began processing this new information. 'I can't believe Alfred would be so— And he never told anyone? Maybe he wrote it down instead— HIS NOTEBOOK!' He could have kicked himself for not thinking of it sooner! Then again, when he thought about, the only time he actually saw that notebook was when Alfred tried to kiss him—Kiku blushed slightly at the memory— and he was only about to flip through it for a few seconds, but he could definitely remember the pages were fully filled in. More so then when Alfred actually writes down notes for class. Thinking more deeply, the way the blonde snatched the notebook from his hands and the blatant lie he told, Kiku should have guessed it was something more.

Kiku sighed wearily. He stood up, his gift in hand, and walked through the same door as the albino teen.


Alfred walked down the quiet street. School had ended a few hours ago and he still didn't want to go home— Wait. He hasn't lived in a home in so long now. He can't really call that house his home, not when everyone whom he called family refused to come back. But, it's not like he ever asked them to come back. He knew that even if it they did come back, nothing would change. He would still be the lonely little kid and the only difference would he would be able to see their permanent indifference. Still. . .

At least he would able to see them.

The more he walked the closer he found himself getting to that empty place. He really wished he could have just spent the night over the albino's house. Nonetheless, Alfred kept walking on route to that house. He let out a sigh and continued down the street, the house, far too quickly for his liking, started to come into view. But something was off. He quickened his pace, which was a reluctant walk, to a light jog, making it to the front door in a flurry. He quickly unlocked the door and quietly closed it behind him.

He stead solid as he strained his ears for noises, creaks, or anything that would indicate someone was in the house. He didn't move for a good ten minutes before calming his nerves after hearing silence. One of the first times he was actually happy he didn't hear anything. Letting out a relieved sigh, Alfred kicked off his shoes and hauled his backpack upstairs towards his room, but he stopped half way.

Turning his head slightly, Alfred walked across the short distance that separated him and his brother's room. He honestly hasn't been in there for a while so it didn't take long to notice it was left ajar. Setting his bag on the floor, he carefully pushed the door open a bit more to glance into the dimly lit room.

"Matthew?"


A/N: Okay guys! We're finally getting into the Drama! (If you noticed I changed the Romance/Humor to Romance/Drama) It's still gonna have some humor but it will be more subtle. Ciao!

Review please?