~Chapter XIV

We're Safe Now

Inside the House

Present Time

"Oh, I didn't want you to find out this way, Alice. Shame. But it was going to come out sooner or later, wasn't it?" Alfred sighed, a smile present on his face.

"Alfred… you didn't…" Alice whispered, shaking her head and refusing to believe the conclusion she had come to.

"Oh, but I did," Alfred neared her, his grin widening.

"Did you…?" Alice hesitated, but soon found that she could no longer finish her sentence.

"Did I what? Did I kill Francis? Did I kill Matthew? Did I kill Mathias? Did I kill Vash? The answer is yes. They all got in the way… but good news. They're gone now!" Alfred chuckled.

"W-why?" Alice asked, tears welling up in her eyes. She didn't want to believe it, but it was all too real not to.

"Why? Because I love you, Alice. And like I said, they were in the way. They were stealing your love from me. I told them to leave you, but they wouldn't listen. So they had to go. Simple and easy," Alfred explained, his smile never faltering.

"You're… you're KIDDING ME!" Alice pushed him away. "Are you serious?! Do you realize what you've done? I've felt TERRIBLE each time and I was in HELL because… because of YOU! I hate you!"

Alfred was stunned for a moment, but when he processed what Alice had said, he was belligerent. He grabbed her neck, forcing her against the wall.

"Look. I did this for you. I could've been caught all those times. I risked my life for you. For you, Alice. If that isn't love, then tell me, what is?" Alfred growled into her ear. Alice scratched at the hand around her throat, but unfortunately, Alfred's grip was way too strong.

Outside the House

It pained Kiku to watch Alice suffer like this, but he had to record it for evidence in the case later. Don't worry, Alfred will be locked up and this'll never happen again, He told himself. Once he felt he got enough footage, he sneaked in through the front door, which was surprisingly unlocked.

Back Inside

Seeing the door open and close, Alice searched for the person who had entered. She looked around, seeing that it was Kiku who had entered.

She tried to scream for help, but all that came out was a pathetic, squeaky, "Help me."

"Who are you talking to? There's no one around here to here you cry for-" Alfred began, but was struck in the head with something cold, hard, and metal. Kiku had hit him with his own metal baseball bat. He fell to the floor, his bone-crushing grip finally leaving Alice's throat. Alice took a deep breath, falling to her knees.

"I know how you feel. It happened to me earlier. Being deprived of air, I mean," Kiku sighed, kneeling down to Alice's level. He held out his hand to help her up. Alice looked up at him, taking his hand as he pulled her up.

"I thought you were dead… he told me…" Alice choked out. She was only able to speak in a small, raspy voice.

Kiku placed the bat on the floor, then looked to Alice. "I almost died. Luckily, he didn't notice the knife in my back pocket. He tried to drown me, but I escaped my restraints and I was able to swim to the surface. He dropped his wallet while he was walking away, so I was able to buy dry clothes and get his ID card. I ran here, and I was able to get a video of him threatening you and choking you. The window was only open a little bit, so I don't think I got the audio very well. I called the police as well. They should be here any-"

"Police! Hands up!" A police officer kicked down the door, entering the home.

"The man over there is the one you are looking for," Kiku pointed to Alfred. Alfred stirred a little bit; he looked like he was about to get up, but he fell back down.

The officer went to arrest him, taking out a pair of handcuffs. "You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence."

"So what happened here?" Another officer came up to Kiku and Alice. Kiku explained everything and showed him the video he had taken. The officer nodded as he wrote down what Kiku said and asked other questions, to which both Kiku and Alice had answered. Alice showed the forming bruises on her neck to the policeman as more evidence.

After all the policemen had cleared out and Alfred had been arrested, the only people left in the house were Kiku and Alice. There was nothing but dead silence between them.

"Are you okay?" Kiku asked. "You don't look too well."

"You wouldn't either if all your friends had been killed by someone who was supposed to be your best friend. That… and I was almost strangled to death," Alice sighed.

"I do admit that you've had it harder than I have today. But now that we're both safe, we don't have to worry about anything anymore. I suggest that we both get our rest," Kiku said, stretching.

"Would you like to stay here for the night? Lily's coming home soon and she's the one that usually makes dinner. I'm sure she won't mind since she's used to cooking for three," Alice offered.

"Sure. I'd love to," Kiku agreed.

"Great," Alice nodded, smiling.

~ (Time Skip of Epic Friendship)

"Thank you for dinner, Lily-chan. It was great," Kiku complimented Lily, who smiled brightly.

"You're welcome, Kiku," she replied.

"Now, Lily, I think it's time that you go to bed. You have school tomorrow, don't you?" Alice patted Lily's back.

"Yes, mom," Lily joked. "Good night, Alice. Kiku." Lily walked up the stairs, heading towards her room.

"So I suppose I'll be sleeping on the couch?" Kiku asked.

"No, love. You can stay in our second guest bedroom. I'll give you a towel or whatever you need. Okay?" Alice replied.

"Hai. Thank you, Alice."

After Alice had washed (more like washed one dish and Kiku took over) the dishes, she had shown Kiku to the guest bedroom then went to her own room. She was worn out from all that had happened that day. But besides the fact that she had a long day, somehow, she was able to sleep well for the first night in months.

(A/N):

There you go, friends! Three chapters to make up for my long absence.

Though it might seem like it, this isn't the last chapter. I'm currently working on the fifteenth chapter, and that will be the final one. It's going to be in Alfred's POV. I'm not going to tell you any more than that, because that'll just spoil everything.

Anyway, time to shamelessly advertise myself xD

Please vote on the poll I have open. It ends on the 30th of this month, so don't miss it!

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I think that's it for now. Thanks for all the favorites, reviews, and follows. I appreciate it.

Until next time. Dewamata, watashi no daisuki.