Ugh, it's going to be an interesting day today! One too many rewrites on chapter 31. Had to erase and rewrite three times yesterday, and ended out not sleeping due to it. Feel stupid, but I don't like the thought of going to sleep with such a tragedy going on!

Anywho, on with the show!

Disclaimer- My back hurts...

Chapter 21

Dusty was put into Italy's old room, and Jasmin did a fairly good job of explaining everything, but Kiku would jump in every now and again to point out something she'd missed.

Unlike Ludwig, Kiku liked this new development, as he knew most personifications had a normal human to keep them current on things and help out, since most were government employees. Jasmin wasn't yet, but being she now identified herself as the world, he knew it would only be a matter of time, and she'd be in control. The man sighed and looked at his old friend across the table.

"So, while you're forever twenty, you're going to get to see all of your friends die?"

"And family, but the really important ones are already gone." She sighed and Dusty frowned.

"I heard. I'm so sorry." Dusty patted her on the back and Jasmin sighed.

"It's fine, nothing to be done about it now. This just means I'll have to be more careful making new friends. Just so you know, this is all really confidential. I wasn't joking earlier."

"Didn't think you were." Dusty looked over at Kiku with a sigh and stood. "Is there anywhere to go exercise around here?"

"Here, let's go out back and see if you can keep up with my exercise now!" Jasmin giggled and Dusty sighed, looking her over.

"I'll see what I can do, but you're a lot younger than me now." He frowned as if the words left a bad taste in his mouth. "I might not have your stamina."

"I will accompany you, if it's alright." Kiku said and Jasmin grinned.

"You've probably gotten used to this, haven't you?" Jasmin giggled and Kiku smiled softly up at her.

"I haven't done Ludwig's exercises since World War two." He stood and looked down over his outfit and looked up.

"Yeah, let's get changed." Jasmin giggled and looked over to Dusty, who shrugged. She turned and sped up the stairs, a little excited, as she had been disallowed to exercise since the surgery. She walked into her room and didn't even think to look around. She slid the door closed and slid out of her clothing, missing the man who stood surprised in the bathroom doorway for a moment before going to hide with a terrible blush. She threw on a tank top and yoga pants, feeling happy to have the clothing. As she turned she noticed a box on her bed and walked over with a confused look.

There was a large box and a note. Jasmin looked around quickly before reaching out and opening the familiar envelope.

"I heard what had happened.

I may not be the bravest,

I might not be very strong,

but I can see where I can help.

Here, a place for you to keep your images.

This way you don't have any more 'visitors'.

Please be careful, and I would delete your old accounts.

I don't want you to fall under any more harm.

It would kill me to see you suffer again."

She looked at the box and opened it with a frown, and just about jumped out of her skin when she realized what it was. "This is too much! Can you hear me? This is too expensive! I can't accept it!" She called out and threw open the bedroom door. "I'll leave that on the bed! Please take it back! I can't accept something so valuable!" She heard her phone go off and opened it.

'Please don't respond in text, I prefer to hear your voice offer my answers. I wouldn't have offered it to you if I couldn't afford it. It would make me sad if a gift like this was returned. Please use it with a smile.'

"Are you really sure? This isn't just some small thing. It looks really expensive! I don't want to be one of those girls who just sucks money out of people." She said, not sure where to speak and after a few seconds her phone went off again.

'Please accept it. I spent a bit of time trying to choose just the cover, and in Japan, you know how decorative they can be with their electronics.'

She went over and looked down with a sigh. "Thank you. If you can think of a way I can repay you, please just let me know."

'Close your eyes. Don't open them til your phone goes off again.'

She held her phone in her hand and gasped and nodded, closing her eyes. She'd get to be near him again. It was such an odd feeling. "They're closed." She said and heard the footsteps approach. She felt a hand ghost over her cheek and down her neck, a soft breath brushed past her chest as he leaned closer and his lips softly brushed hers.

This was so different. Ludwig, Arthur, Alfred, Mattie, they all kissed her like they were trying to win. It was a show of strength, domination and want.

The lips that pressed against hers were so soft and gentle. It made her think of a rose. Instead of feeling like she needed to fight back, she felt like she was filled with contentment.

The kiss only lasted a moment,then she just sat there, shocked at the sensations she was left with. Her hand covered her lip and she could only smile. "So soft..." She heard the footsteps slowly move away and she was left alone again. She felt her phone vibrate in her hand and slowly opened her eyes, looking down.

'After so soft a kiss I feel like I owe you all over again.

Nothing like a kiss from such a beautiful woman to make you feel invincible.'

She giggled and opened the laptop, not even seeing the cover yet. She tossed it together and plugged it in. She'd start setting it up after a workout.

She ran down the stairs and waited at the table with a grin. Dusty was the first one down and he stared at her with a confused face. "Were you talking to yourself upstairs?" He asked and Jasmin realized she hadn't told him about Loverboy yet.

"Yeah, my imaginary friend just bought me a laptop." She grinned, and Kiku listened in from the top of the stairs.

"Is it an imaginary laptop?" Dusty grinned and Jasmin sighed, thinking back to the kiss, her fingers covered her lips and she sighed.

"No, it's a real laptop, so I stop putting my pics up on Facebook on my phone when I run out of space. He's trying to protect me. He's been following me for a while, and he's kind of my protector, but I don't know who he is. If you see someone else, don't tell me. Just me and Kiku here, okay?" Dusty nodded, confused as all hell about what was happening. "And if you see Dusty around, be nice!" She called out and Kiku turned, seeing a dark face on the man currently sitting in the room Japan kept open for other guests. He'd been allowed to stay there, and Kiku told him to make sure the door was locked, as Jasmin was falling in love with the mystery surrounding the man.

"Keep an eye on him. I don't trust him." Kiku heard and nodded.

While he didn't mind Dusty, he had to admit, flying halfway across the world over a few Facebook pictures was a tad insane. The other man was right, something here wasn't quite adding up.

Jasmin messaged Ivan the next day to inform him she'd have a plus one. She was informed he'd already been called about 'Loverboy' and the other had been disallowed from entering the country, but when Ivan heard she was talking about another friend of hers, he decided to allow it.

She only had two days left in Japan, and decided now would be the best time ever to drag Kiku out and have a blast.

They ended out finding their way to an anime convention. Jasmin was so excited! She bought a cosplay and ended out in the Ouran high school men's uniform with a little schoolgirl's skirt. She found a booth that sold glasses with prescription, and Kiku was curious when she bought two prescriptions and popped a lens out of each and popped one into the other frame. "What are you doing?"

"You know I'm legally blind?" She asked, looking around with a grin and Kiku's eyes widened.

"Why did you say nothing?!" He was actually mad at her! He was furious!

Jasmin giggled as he put his hands on his hips, his narrowed eyes watching her. "I don't always like the thought of seeing instead of feeling. But, since I'm going to Russia, I want to know if I'm about to do something dangerous, you know?"

"How pretty are these guys if you're trying to make decisions like this?"

"You saw Ludwig, right?" Jasmin looked over at Dusty, who nodded with curiosity. "He has two brothers. He's the strong serious one. Then there's the playful one, who's actually maybe a little more fun to look at, but I don't think he can be serious at all." Jasmin rolled her eyes. "The other is kind and gentle. He's the prettiest. He can be serious, but would rather just live in peace."

"Which one do you like more, Ludwig or the pretty one?" Dusty watched, surprised as Jasmin grinned.

"Ludwig." She grinned and Dusty froze and shook his head.

"You're lying." Kiku and Jasmin both turned to him. Jasmin was a little pissed til she saw the look on his face. He was surprised at her. "You don't even realize you love the other guy, do you?"

"I love Roderich?" She laughed, but after a second the laughter fell flat. Just saying the words made her heart pound. She could imagine his smiling face in her mind, and her knees fell weak. "Holy shit, I fell in love with Roderich." She looked up at Dusty, who nodded and sighed, patting her on the back.

"Told you."

"How did you know before she did?" Kiku asked and Jasmin hung her head as Dusty sighed.

"She's too easy to read. I've always been able to tell what she's thinking, even when she doesn't know herself." He poked her in the forehead and Jasmin shrugged.

"It's a curse, and a blessing." She watched as Kiku frowned.

"Well, there goes any chance I had. Two of the Germans, Two of the Americans and England." He sighed and Jasmin frowned.

"I'm sorry." She watched, and yelped a second later when Kiku stole the glasses from her face and put them on.

"Ano, you can actually see in these?"

"Twenty, Twenty. Told you I was blind." She watched with amusement as Kiku looked around, horrified.

"Let's go goof off!" Jasmin giggled, grabbing Kiku by the hand. She didn't notice Dusty watching from behind, a dark grin on his face. This was going to be fun!

They stayed the whole weekend. They paid some girl twice the money her hotel room was worth, and took it over. She was more than happy to take the money, as her mother had just informed her she needed to come home ASAP, and she had been disappointed she was going to be out the money.

Now she could afford a lot more souvenirs before leaving! Jasmin sent a text to 'Loverboy' and asked if he wanted to join them, as she knew he would have to leave her for the week she would be in Russia, and she'd only be back at the house long enough to pack when she returned.

He sent her a text mentioning that if he showed, she'd immediately know who he was. As much as he loved the thought of her knowing who it was, he wasn't feeling quite confident enough for this step yet, and asked her to send him pictures and texts to keep him entertained while he was house sitting.

He jumped online and looked over the structuring for the jets. If Jasmin's plane was leaving Monday at noon, he could just book the next one, which arrived two hours later. He sat back in the chair, cleaning his glasses and looking around the empty house.

This would be the last he got to see of her for a week.

What a disappointment. Maybe he should just try and sneak into Russia...

It was nearly five in the morning when he got a text. Half expecting it to be drunken revelry he almost didn't answer it, but when he looked at his screen his blood ran cold.

'please help me'

"What's wrong?"

'I can't think. I might have been drugged. I can't find Dusty or Kiku. I don't know where I am.'

His blood ran cold as he saw this. He tossed on a long jacket and a face mask, like what was used for colds. He winced when he looked in the mirror. He could pull the hood up on his jacket, but there was no way to hide his hair. She would know who he was tonight.

It was almost an hour later when he noticed her. She was asleep in a small entryway, one of the hotel staff about to call the police, trying to wake her up.

"Sorry, she's been drugged. I need to get her back to her room." He said, lifting her up and took her to the front desk. "I need the room number for Kiku Honda." He said and the woman behind the counter clicked the information into his computer and frowned.

"I'm sorry, we don't have anyone by that name listed." She said, looking worried at the girl in the other mans arms.

"Grand. Can you call this number for me? It's his cell number, and my hands are a little full right now."

The woman tried her damnedest to call Kiku, and he'd taken Jasmin's phone and discovered she hadn't put Dusty's number into it. "Jasmin, are you sure you don't remember your room number?" He shook her gently, and she stirred, looking into his eyes.

"I hoped it was you." She smiled before her eyes rolled back in her head.

"I guess she'll have to come back out tomorrow. Thank you." He bowed to the woman behind the counter and sighed as he carried the woman out to the car. The ride home seemed to take a second only. He laid her in her bed and was surprised when she grasped his hand and smiled.

"Fine, Prinzessin. I'll stay with you til you sleep again. I wish you were awake enough to register this, or that I was brave enough to just hold you." He said running his hand down her cheek again. He sighed at the soft look on her face as she drifted off to sleep. He was able to sneak away. He put a bottle of water and a bottle of aspirin on her bedside table, and frowned when he realized her cellphone charger was in the hotel room. He pulled out a spare he had and plugged it in for her before sneaking back to his room.

By the time he awoke, she was gone. He sighed as he looked at the table, a plate with a ham and cheese omelet and a note thanking him for taking care of her. She admitted she didn't remember anything of the night before, so his secret was still safe, He sat to eat with a soft smile before breaking out his cell and texting Kiku.

By the time Jasmin actually got to the hotel, she was surprised to find a very irate Kiku standing outside with Dusty sitting with a dangerous look on his face.

"What's up?" She asked and Kiku gripped onto her shoulders, dragging her in for a hug. It was so unlike him that Jasmin could only stand there with wide eyes, in shock, turning brighter red by the second.

"Gomennassai! I didn't know! I thought you were with us!" Kiku looked her over, hoping not to see any damage, and was glad she didn't look to be in bad shape. "What happened?"

"I don't even remember. I think someone slipped me something." She sighed and Kiku clasped his hands before himself, stepping away from the currently bright red girl. She could see worry in his eyes and wondered what he knew. "Why?"

"Your text messages yesterday, I didn't get them til this morning, and they were terrifying. I'm so sorry." Kiku bowed low and Jasmin frowned, pulling out her cell to look them over.

'please help'

'I'm lost'

'being followed'

'I don't know where I am! Kiku, answer your phone!'

'he won't leave me alone'

'I'm in trouble. He's going to hate me now.'

'I'm sorry.'

"What in the hell?!" She stared at her phone, surprised. She had no idea what any of these were about, but had a feeling she should be glad her memory was missing. Chills went down her back as she looked at her phone, looking at the messages she'd sent to Dusty, and found a very similar list, but with a picture.

She didn't know the man, but had a rush of fear instinctively the instant she saw it. She took her phone inside and showed the guard behind the door. "Please arrest this man. He drugged my drink yesterday." She said and the guard frowned and looked back at Kiku and Dusty, who both looked defeated.

"Yes, miss, but I'll need you to fill out a report, if that's alright."

"That's fine, but I don't remember very much." She said, but found as she thought about the questions on the paper, the answers seemed to jump into her mind.

She knew she'd seen Loverboy's face, but couldn't bring herself to try and remember that.

But she did remember she loved his eyes.

It was nearly two hours later that the police found Jasmin in the dealers' room and asked her to follow them. She ended out in a room with three other women, all crying. Kiku and Dusty waited outside while the women spoke with the officers and Jasmin sighed. So this was a serial thing. Four men were brought in and while the other girls stayed back in fear, Jasmin walked up to them and started looking them over. One of the guys looked at her, terrified. He was pale as a sheet and started shaking the instant he saw her.

"You all look familiar." Jasmin said with a frown and one of the guys dropped to his knees and started screaming apologies in Japanese, so she couldn't understand, but the guard who was listening frowned.

"He must have been high as well. He said he remembered stabbing you to death, that you had no pulse." Jasmin frowned and shrugged off her jacket. She would have been stabbed in the back, right? The girls behind her started screaming and one of them fainted. Ah, so it had been true. She turned so the guy could see her back.

"You did this?" She asked and turned, seeing the guy's face turn even paler. He looked to be on the verge of throwing up or passing out. The officer ran over and was halfway done calling an ambulance when Jasmin put her hand on his and calmed him down.

"I'm fine. He could do me no harm." She said and the guards' eyes widened as she lifted the back of her shirt. "Is there any mark?"

"No, but there's blood everywhere..." He said and Jasmin frowned. She pulled out her phone and texted Dusty to get her a new outfit from the room.

"So, how to apologize properly to me..." Jasmin walked up to the man who stared at her with terror in his expression. She couldn't help but give a grin that even had the officer flinching. "I have the perfect idea..." She grinned and looked up at the officer. "His life belongs to me now, alright?"

"As long as he wouldn't rather be arrested for attempted murder." The officer said and Jasmin smiled.

"No, if I wasn't immortal, I'd be dead from this. It would be murder." She said and the officer translated the situation to the man, who looked terrified. Even Jasmin knew with Japanese law, the man would be put to death. Was she really that scary? She looked at the women behind her, shaking in fear, their eyes not trained on the men, but on her.

Yes, she was that scary. She turned back to the man who looked at her with a shattered sigh as he stepped towards her and held his hands out, as if showing subservience. She pointed at the other two women and grinned.

"They can have those two, but that guy is the one that drugged me." She pointed at the man who watched her back with worse fear as she left the room, the other man before her.

They got out the door and Dusty jumped up and looked at Jasmin, the grin on her face letting him know she had a new toy. "Don't tell me we're dragging him to Russia."

"Hell no. Watashiwa Matsu desu. Anatawa?" She looked at the guy, and his voice came out in a whisper.

"Toma Riki, Matsu sama."

"Egoga wakarimasu ka?"

"Ie."

"Damn." She sighed and Dusty frowned.

"What was that?"

"She asked his name, and if he knew English, and he doesn't. Your Japanese is getting better." Kiku grinned and Jasmin sighed.

"I can only introduce myself and apologize." She sized the guy up. "I have a brilliant idea. Let's piss off Alfred." She grinned and pulled out her phone. She snapped a picture of the guy and sent a text.

'Hey! Sending this guy via jet. He's being held in my service as payback for trying to kill me. Find a way to teach him English, alright?'

It was only a couple of seconds til she got a response.

'World meeting, round 2, no Arthur.'

Jasmin turned bright red. THAT was forward! 'Okay' she responded, and could feel Dusty's eyes on her.

"What in the hell?" Dusty looked over her shoulder, trying to see the phone she was desperately trying to hide.

"Looks like Alfred got his payback already." Kiku grinned with a knowing glance as the woman seemed to turn brighter and brighter red. "He ask for round two?"

"Without Arthur." She covered her face with her hands and Kiku chuckled, looking over at the man who was looking around in shock. This was so confusing for him, seeing as they were all still speaking in English.

Kiku was feeling a little mean when he told the guy what was happening, and he paled and promptly fainted. "What's that all about?" Jasmin looked down at the guy and Kiku grinned.

"I told him you got him as a boy toy for your boyfriend." Jasmin laughed and pulled out her phone again, setting up transportation.

That's it for now! See you tomorrow for another chapter!

Later!

Jasmin