Okay, sooo first things first, so sorry for those who alerted and probably got like...636296456 alerts that I had a new chapter of A&D up and/or had alreadty read the first story and then saw "Hey, WTF, it uploaded again". Because what I found strange was after one day of posting the third chapter, I had what, four, five reviews already? Anyways, I saw that I had 4/5 reviews, already two favorites since I posted the chapter, but no hits. Which is weird, so I was like Huh. That's really weird. So I took the chapter down, tried to reupload it twice (the first time, FF was like Derrrr, can't upload ASFGHJ and I wanted to axe its face off) but then it was fine and I was like yay :3
Okay, so besides that, I loved your reactions from last chapter :D I did, the first two I got were like "the hell is this?" and I was like Yeeeah, about thaaaat... XD So, yeah. Sorry for the confusion. You will learn about who the Harvesters are and what they do soon. Probably next chapter, because I got an AMAZING plot for next chapter that I'm not telling anyone so there! XPPPP Naah, I'm sorry. Here: it involves the Harvesters, Alfred, Iggy in a closet, and Ivan :3 That's all I'm saying.
For now, I FINALLY ADDED YAO! :D Yaaaaay~! ^-^ I've been waiting for this for so long, you have no clue! Although I did have a bit of writer's block, the kind when you're like ZOMG THIS IS THE BEST IDEA EVA! but in reality, you just sit there with the idea but have no clue how to write it with a face like this ;A; That was pretty much my face if it wasn't textified (not a word). No joke, I would write like...three hundred words one day, and then I'd go listen to Billy Joel (by the way, "Just the Way You Are" and "And So It Goes" are perfect songs when in need :D) and played spider solitaire on my laptop. And then I realized what to put in this chapter and that people are gonna be like WTF because Nichu is such an unpopular ship and...I don't know many people who adore it DX They need more love! But yeah, I'm probably gonna get some hate because of my rant and because of the overload of NiChu. But IDGAD ^-^
I mean, this is what I've seen mixed with my opinion, but some people call NiChu incest. And I saw this and I got really POed because if you can ship Spamano and USUK perfectly and so easily, then you can not call NiChu incest. Like, for instance, there's an author here who wrote really good not-exactly-NiChu and GerIta and shipped Spamano too, and I was just like ASDFGHJKL LUVVVV but then I saw on her profile that she didn't ship USUK but FrUK and Americest, and the reason WHY is because England raised America and it's too weird because their age span is decades apart and stuff. Meanwhile, you ship Spamano- who clearly we have seen that Antonio was tortured with his little tomate for YEARS. Just...why? I mean, Romano and Spain are pretty far apart, but it's perfectly okay because they can't BE with each other? WTF? I mean, c'mon! And plus, Americest? I mean...why? Why are there cest pairings? They're gross! w I mean, you like what you like, I know, but still. Sometimes, the reason WHY you hate a pairing is just too damn ridiculous. Then again...me and FrUK. I mean, I hate RoChu because China is creeped out by Russia and all, so I don't see them working together. But FrUK is another story.
Maybe I should just shut my mouth now, because I'm ranting and I have hiccups. Plus, no one reads A/Ns, so why am I even writing this? XD IDEK
So! I own nothing but the plot. And Yao's back story. Hidekaz Himaruya owns the characters. Andddd sorry for the lame Chinese I threw in. IDEK :shot:
So nowwww: Enjoy~!
Chapter 14:
Visit
It was no question at all that Arthur would be going with Alfred in the morning. There was no doubt about it, and they didn't talk much about the night's events. They sat together on the edge's cliff as one drank homemade tea, the leaves from the Surface and the water from the lake below, and the other sipped what he could get as close to coffee, sitting side by side. Their hands were barely touching, but their fingertips brushed over the other's now and again as they watched the sky brighten, signaling as close to day as it could get in Hell.
Arthur was mentally scarred by both his dream and what had happened to him, and he felt that he hadn't been that scared since the London Blitz. What had occurred was nothing more than Harvesters breaking into the house and trying to kidnap him. He didn't know why, and he didn't want to know why. He could still smell the vodka on him from that Russian demon, and he knew Alfred has as well, for the smell was horrid and too obvious that he had been chest-close to him. He shivered slightly, recalling the way it had felt to be held by him. He had already washed and cleaned his body more than enough times in the lake, but he could still feel the holds on his limbs, the claws in his side, the burning feel of not having Alfred by his side—
Beside him, there was a bit of shuffling before he found his shoulder touching the other's. Alfred glanced down at him, and managed a weak smile. "You looked afraid," he whispered. Arthur blinked in shock, and bit his lip to silence his self from voicing his thoughts. "I'm so sorry I couldn't help you, Arthur. I wanted to, but…they held me back before I could do much."
At the usage of his "proper" name, his cheeks turned a dim red and he forced his gaze down into his lap. It sounds so perfect, he thought to himself. Just to hear him say it. Just to hear him speak is enough for me. And yet he still doesn't know I love him.
Arthur still hadn't told Alfred how he felt. And he was sure the demon was either completely clueless or just a bit shy when it came to his feelings.
"I don't blame you for anything," he mumbled back to him, and he could even hear in his own voice what the other had been worried about. There was a slight tremor in the tone. He bet his very soul had "fright" written all over it.
"Arthur…," he grabbed his hand gently and placed a peck on the fingers. "I promise no matter what happens, I'm always going to protect you, okay?" He tried to be a bit more optimistic, that the Brit could tell just by the way he slightly forced his mouth to raise in a smile. "I'll be your hero, okay?"
The Englishman blushed slightly, and gave a small, grateful grin in response to him. "I've always wanted to have a hero."
Alfred laughed, washing his uneasiness away with one sound of joy. "And I always wanted to be one, Beautiful."
The two didn't leave too long after that, and quickly made their way to the bottom of the mountain, Arthur contently taking the offer of being held in his arms. He didn't mind; he was still traumatized and could barely move his right wing. But his body accepted the hold as if they were made to match, and he let Alfred lead them to Kiku's. Plus, he was also very, very extremely close to him, so much that the angel could feel the heart beating against the palm of his hand. Tha-thump, tha-thump, tha-thump. He smiled softly to himself. It only beats for me, Alfred. And mine only beats for you.
The two arrived at the other demon's about five minutes later, and the American demon landed gently on the ground beside a large, bare tree covered in branches, the house partially made inside the mountain. One half stuck out, and the other part was most likely from a leftover small grove. Arthur found himself rather impressed at the sight of the house. They're rather well off, aren't they? And to think not many angels know about how they really live. Standing close to Alfred, the two of them moved up to the door, and Alfred raised a hand to knock, but stopped, and looked over at the angel with a soft smile. Arthur glanced up at him and his cheeks flushed ever so slightly.
"Yes…?" He stared up at him, and the American demon's lips widened upwards even more.
"Just admiring you, is all," he admitted, and leaned over to place a gentle kiss on the top of his head. "I want you to know I'm always going to be by your side, alright?"
The Brit couldn't stop the beam that overcame his features and laughed quietly. "Thank you very much for that encouragement."
"Anything for my Angel~." He turned back and knocked on the door. "Kiku~! Guess who's here~!"
A few seconds later, the door opened, and the demon glanced at them through hazy eyes. "Nani…?" He asked in a quiet voice, jet-black bangs falling in his face. Unlike the others, the color seemed natural, and Arthur had to admit, it went quite nice with how the hair was cut. A hand rubbed at his eyes, skin pale and teeth barely seen from his too light lips, their color a dull pink. But nonetheless, Kiku appeared intimidating and not a threat at the same time. Maybe he could go either way. Arthur remembered what the demon did to both him and Yao, and what had just been respect dwindled down to not even the size of a crumb. The demon, recognizing the other demon, bowed low, and the American did the same, giggling.
"No need to be so formal, dude~! We know each other enough!"
"My aporogies," he stated in a rather thick Asian accent, probably Japanese, and stepped aside to allow the two entrance. "Eh, I'm afraid I haven't met your friend yet." The way he stated "friend" made it sound like he had taken a bitter poison as he said the word.
"Oh, you mean Beautiful?" He grinned as he slipped his shoes off, and turned back around to grip the other's hand. "This is my Gorgeous Delicate Rose~! My Pretty Angel~!" He nuzzled his nose into Arthur's blushing cheek. The latter pushed on his chest lightly, heart thumping so loud in his chest, he bet they could hear its thuds. Tha-thump-tha-thump-tha-thump—rapidly and repeatedly. Alfred moved away and pecked a kiss just behind his ear, causing a shiver to chase down the English male's spin.
Kiku didn't look too impressed, and only looked him up and down. "Hm…I see. He doesn't rook very speciar. Wat does he do?"
The short angel huffed, offended, but Alfred grinned with closed eyes. "He's the bestest friend I could ask for~! What more is there to want?"
"Hm…" He seemed to wish to get off the subject quickly, and motioned toward the back of the house, where the taller happily trotted to. Kiku gave a final glare at the English angel. "If you wourd rike, Yao is outside waiting." He motioned toward a room that most likely led to the outside of the house where the aforementioned male was, and the Japanese demon examined him one last time before following Alfred calmly. Arthur frowned and watched him leave, thinking that was a bit strange, and then focused back on the door he had to enter, letting out a deep sigh. Now or never, Arthur. It's now or never.
Without any hesitation, the Briton opened the wooden door leading to the area, and stepped out quietly, shivering at the chilly air that had passed over. The spot wasn't too big or too small, and had a small bench just to the right underneath the tall, bare-branched tree. He immediately recognized the angel seated on the stone seat, but nearly cried out in shock at what he saw.
Yao had always looked as if he was perfect. Everything about him to anyone else was unspoiled, impeccable, from his posture to his hair that was kept intact ever so nicely to the position of the feathers on his wings. To anyone else but himself, he was flawless. Whenever one of the watched humans would comment on his looks, he'd laugh lightly and always thank them politely, even though he never believed it himself. However, now, the Chinese angel's wings were nearly clipped gone, the few that were hanging on cut short and bloodily. His hair, trailing out of his ponytail in many different places, was caked in what looked to be dried blood; his legs were curled to his chest, judging by his position on the bench. And just like he had said, his halo was cracked and broken far more than he had believed.
Arthur, not one to waste another minute watching his close friend, opened his mouth slightly. "Y-Yao," he whispered, quiet yet loud for him to hear.
The Chines angel whipped around, and gasped. "Arthur…," he mumbled, his accent still as fresh and memorable than when he had last heard it. His eyes were as golden as ever, and besides a cut on his right cheek his skin still appeared unblemished, like fine china. He stood up to face the Englishman properly, examining the other angel with frantic eyes, as if he was trying to memorize him for his own good. "You can't be real aru…"
"I can say the same about you." He tried to give a reassuring smile, but that quickly disappeared. They stood in shock for a few more seconds, before Yao pulled the blond closed, smashed his face into his shoulder and sobbed into it, the sound ringing out around the whole area. The Brit nearly jumped at the sounds, but stopped himself and instead patted his back, avoiding any scars he might have. He had no idea why he was crying like this, what was able to bring down the usually happy, joyful, panda/cute-things-lover Chinese former chef and present angel. And who would want to? Yao could probably never kill a spider or giant insect, even if it was trying to eat him.
"It's terrible aru," he croaked out after calming down enough to speak, and sniffed sadly. "I-I thought I was never going to see him again, and then he comes to take me back just because he can and he knows. He knows after all these years." He let out a short sob, but then inhaled it back inside. "H-he wants me to submit to him but I don't want to aru."
Arthur was only able to follow half of that.
"I'm sorry, Yao, but…whot were you just saying?" He wondered quietly as they separated. The dark-haired angel rubbed at his eyes as he tried to compose himself.
"K-Kiku aru." He sniffled again and sat back down on the bench. "Sit down, Arthur. I need to tell you something."
Yao was seen as one of the wisest angels to ever reside in Heaven. His intelligence of the world, past and present, was incredible, that everyone in their sector in the clouds believed him to be over four thousand years old. No one, however, knew when and how he had gotten there. There were rumors, of course, and whenever the question was brought to Yao, he would shiver and look away and answer with, "I don't like to talk about it aru. I'd rather you not ask me." It was a complete debate topic on what time period he had come from, the only thing discussed in the Heavens that was close to gossip.
But now, there was something Yao wanted to talk about, something that seemed important and overdue to be known, judging by the look the Asian was giving the Brit. His eyes trembled from the mental exhaustion, and it took him a few minutes- ten at the least- until he opened his mouth with a sigh and shaking words.
"I met Kiku in the late nineteen twenties, sometime before the Second World War," he started, and instantly, Arthur's eyes widened and his head leaned forward. The injured angel let a quiet sob out. "I know, I know, I'm sorry aru!" He shook his head and forced his fingers to rub over his eyes. His voice cracked a bit as he spoke. "I've known him for years, I'm sorry!"
"How did you…I mean, why…whot…" His words were a jumble, but when Yao looked up with watered eyes that refused to leak, he stopped. This was a time to listen, not to judge.
"At the time, to find a job was really hard because of the depression aru. Especially where I lived, my country already had enough problems to deal with, we didn't need more. So, I decided to live in Hong Kong for a while, try and find a job to help us, and I managed to find a small restaurant that needed a cook aru." He quickly wiped his wrist under his nose, sniffling. "It wasn't too bad, I already knew nearly everything my Mǔqīn had taught me. My cousin, Xiang, let me stay with him for a while aru. Said how- he could let me stay with him until the mess let up. The government in China was getting a bit out of control aru. The Nationalists were struggling, everything was a mess, and there was a rumor going around about some German trying to take over the world aru. But then…" He sighed, and bowed his head, but the Englishman could still see the tears dropping down, "I-I met a kind student who said he had ran away from Japan because he didn't approve of the military's plans."
"And that wos Kiku, I assume?" He didn't even need to have a nod of the head and a quiet "Mmhm" from his friend. He already knew that was who he was referring to.
"Kiku was kind to me, the first day we met aru. He had come in for a bite to eat, I remembered him so well because I heard him struggle with the Cantonese." He bit his lip, struggling not to smile. "It was so cute, the way he pronounced the words, the way he stumbled over them, and I laughed. And he looked over at me and…" This time, he raised his head slightly to smile, "he was the most handsome person I'd ever seen."
Arthur found himself lost for words in slight surprise. So even before his death- which wasn't very far away from his, give or take a few years- he had "disobeyed" the rules by falling in love with another male. "Did you…well…did you care?"
Yao chuckled, mood a bit lighter than before, and toyed with the hem of his robe. "No…not really aru. I was only twenty-five, young, in love. And when you're in love, who cares about the world, right aru?"
A light blush came to his cheeks. "Right… How did Kiku feel about you?"
"Well…I know Kiku loved me back, because once our eyes met, he didn't look away. Burned some rice while watching him aru." He laughed, eyes looking somewhere else, probably recalling the memory. "And by the end of the day, I had a name and a place and time when we would meet agai."
The English angel raised his eyebrows. "You hadn't even met him properly and you were already planning on seeing him again?"
Gold eyes gazed at him out of the corner of his eyes. "Again: when you're in love, who cares about the world aru?"
"But…whot did you do when you met again?"
The Chinese male's cheeks glowed scarlet, and he looked away. "Well, besides talking in the Japanese that I had learned a few years before that, we, um…well, w-we kissed a couple times."
"Yes…?"
"A-and, um…w-well…w-w-we…d-did other stuff."
"O-oh…" Arthur gulped and gave a weak smile, cheeks blooming red. "Y-you don't have to explain anymore."
Yao seemed relieved and breathed out a sigh. "Xiéxié."
The blond cleared his throat and glanced away shyly. Doing…that with a male…well, I never would have thought Yao to do so. I…is Alfred…w-willing to do the same for me? He bit on his lower lip hard to stop the train of thought. Stop it, bloody stop it.
"The next day, the two of us, we…we ran away from Hong Kong and made it up north towards Shanghai," he began again, pulling the smaller out of his daydream. This time, there was a new emotion in his eyes and portrayed on his face, but the Briton could barely recognize it. "But by then…the Japanese army had already taken over a-and…th-they had stopped us from going any further." He gulped, and any resistance to hold back the tears was broken, and he let them slide down his cheeks, one by one. "They—they had recognized Kiku, they…knew him, a-and…they insulted me right there where they had stopped us aru. Right in front of me…I didn't say anything, and neither did Kiku, but…one of them raised a gun, a-and Kiku knew what they were doing and he tried to h-help me but they threw him to the ground and they shot at me and-" Before he could finish he quietly covered his eyes and sobbed into them. Arthur, upon instinct and like what the other had done for him so many times before, took him into his embrace and rubbed his back to calm him, silent so he could let the older pour his emotions out.
When Yao finally took a breath and was reduced to sniffles, the Englishman placed a kiss to his forehead, just like the former would do when he would comfort him and the children he had looked after, and gazed down at him, smiling gently. The long-haired angel sniffed as he wiped at his cheeks, smearing the water along their smooth surfaces.
"I'm sorry I'm like this aru," he sniffled, and ran his hands along his upper arms as if to hug himself. "I-I'm just confused right now."
Arthur didn't answer him out of respect; he had learned another side to his friend, and didn't want to startle him too much. And although he wanted to ask what was wrong, wanted to know what was bothering him, he held his tongue back.
Yao gazed up at him, golden eyes so clear yet so lost and innocent. He looked like a lost child, not a twenty-five-year-old Chinese angel that loved pandas and cooking. "H-have you ever thought about what it would be like to love your demon aru?" He asked in a nearly silent voice. The blond couldn't help but raise both eyebrows and blush, which was taken as a positive response. "I'm only asking because, well…w-when I first woke up here and saw Kiku, I-I got…I got hopeful again. Like…he would kiss me and make everything better again aru. But…then I saw he had horns, a-and a pair of bat wings, and I knew…w-what we had before our deaths was not going to work out this time."
"Why's that?" The Briton inquired, a faint tower of suspicion rising up inside of him. He didn't mind breaking his wall of silence right now, and had no intention on fixing it.
He looked at the other as if he had gone insane. "Why? Arthur, please don't tell me you forgot the rules aru! 'An angel, no matter what rank he or she has, may never make any sort of contact with a demon no matter what unless defending your homelands.'"
"No, I didn't forget that." His stomach twisted in uneasiness, and he swallowed the lump of nervousness that was twirling in his throat. "I-it's just that…well, I've already violated that rule."
The older angel's eyes could never have widened that far and that much until now. "Y-you did w-what?"
Arthur felt a slight anger in him rise, like he was furious at his dear friend, but eased it back down. He doesn't understand what it feels like to be in a forbidden love. "I-I fell in love with Alfred. My demon. M-my…l-love, or poppet or…o-or dearest." He smiled at the pet names he had given. "I'm in love with Alfred, and you can't stop that."
His hands flew up to cover his ears. "Stop talking aru!"
"And by the looks of it, I would say you're in deep for Kiku, am I right?"
At first, he only whimpered out an answer, eyes tightly screwed shut tightly. But the younger wouldn't have any of that, and forced him to face him.
"Am I right, Yao?"
"YES! YES, I AM, JUST LEAVE ME ALONE ARU!"
The blond silenced himself rather quickly at the outburst, and instead watched him panic and lean over as if he was going to hurl.
"I am, I still am, I always was! I always loved him no matter what aru! E-even when I saw he had been forced into the Japanese Imperial army and had started to follow their ways, even when he was burned by the bombs that were dropped on Japan by the Americans! Even then I loved him with all my heart and everything of me!" His wings crowded against him, not long or strong enough to wrap around him to give him the proper comfort he deserved right about now. Arthur was silent as well, guilt rolling around inside him, telling him how ridiculous he had sounded for interrogating his friend so harshly. He sat quietly while the other silently started to get calm, and looked up at him sheepishly.
"I'm sorry I pushed you," he apologized to his friend, but the latter only shook his head.
"I should be sorry," Yao whispered back. "I was the one who had hoped I could have something with him again aru."
Arthur shook his head with a smile and a chuckle. "No one means to fall in love." The Chinese male glanced over at him, curiosity in his gold eyes. "I've learnt, over the pass few days, that love is a wonderful accident caused by your heart because it wants another person to love."
The older stared and blinked at him for a second, and any gloom that had been in the mood was instantly washed away with a joyous laugh. "You sound so old aru!"
The Brit mimicked his sound with a grin. He hadn't felt this…happy since he had gotten here. "I'm only two years younger than you are."
"But you're wiser than me aru." He smiled at him with his friendly beam and the younger simpered. "You are aru!"
"I am not, and you know it!"
The two laughed again, but this time, when they had quieted down, the darker-haired angel hugged his other friend tightly. "Xiéxié aru."
Arthur returned the embrace with just as much emotion but less strength so as not to harm his close friend. "Bùyòng xiè, qīn'ài de péngyǒu."
Just as soon as the moment was there, it was gone as a rough force dragged the Englishman back and into a warm pair of arms and a jittery voice; "Beautiful I'm so so so sorry but we have to go now!"
Alfred.
In alarm, the Briton's hands wove up to grab around the demon's neck, and a yelp escaped his lips. "A-Alfred, be carefah!"
Once more, he was lifted as the American demon attempted to fix his position in the pair of leather arms. And again, the Son of the Dark apologized, stumbling over words as he stretched his wings out on either side of him, prepared for flight, and lifted a few feet above the ground in a matter of one second. Arthur tried to turn around to call out to Yao, but before he could realize it, they were already too far away for anything to be heard or called out.