"…So I'll be going out alone tonight? With who?"

"Don't worry…It's no one unfamiliar. You'll be out with Mr. Jones…He hasn't tried anything, has he?"

"No, not at all…"

"Well good. Probably a decent choice then." The man ate part of his cigarette, ashes drifting away from the tip and falling to their graves upon the small emerald plain beneath either of their feet. He regarded the adolescent inhabiting the space at his side.

Kiku did not tell Mr. Kirkland that he had already gone without supervision before. Of course, he knew where Yao had been at the time in the event something went terribly wrong, but this time, that safety net would be torn through by the predictable knife of risk, and that young soul would be subjected to anything that blond American would have the intent to do.

"…How is Yao?" Arthur broke the silence gathered at around their ears.

"Not well. He's been thinking too often, and now he's simply depressed."

"What the hell has he been thinking of? He sleeps all day. How can that be depressing?"

"I think he's regretting smoking opium the first time…" Kiku could numerate so many reasons why one would feel such overbearing sadness while living inside that hellhole with golden lettering, but he was wary of the man he spoke to.

"Hmm…" And again, private thought brimmed within Arthur's mind, and his mouth stayed sewn shut with black thread.

"Mr. Kirkland, may I go inside? I want to check on my elder brother…"

"It would be best…I wouldn't put suicide past him."

"Thank you."

Kiku rose with all the grace forced into his bones and walked through that tiny sea of emerald blades, leaving his owner behind and at their mercy.

Arthur observed the kokeshi's walk, once again finding heavy desire and admiration within his blood as intoxication. It was becoming increasingly difficult to stay within the hands of control, something that once held him as a fantastic lover. He would have strayed from those arms if so much money was not riding upon that treasure's shoulders.

Kiku came to that open door and witnessed the man sitting inside the chamber it led to, his eyes blinded by his thoughts and his mouth slightly gaping. He did not even take notice to the cat resting his head so peacefully upon that knee, purring with the intention of having eyes upon him, yet that attention did not seem to come. The dress Mr. Braginski had gotten him sat upon his lap, and the only other clothing he has was golden flesh and an air of deep contemplation.

"Yao…"

At first, there was not a response from that thoughtful throat.

"Yao, have you been smoking opium? Why are you naked?"

"What?" His glance finally afflicted his counterpart, and those wells filled with himself.

"Have you been smoking?"

"No, not yet…I've been trying not to smoke so often…I think I can stop if I slow down…"

"Yao…"

"What is it, Kiku? Do you need something?"

"No…I came to make sure you hadn't killed yourself."

"That isn't funny."

"I wasn't joking."

For a moment, Yao's brow leaned upon the frame of those gorgeous jewels, lips contorting into something dissatisfied. "Just how do you think of me? I'm not able to watch myself? I'm not allowed to sit within my room and think? You look at me like I'm nothing but a burden to you, but I didn't ask you to come into my room and start sighing."

"You are a burden, and if I hadn't come now, I'm certain you would call me later. You ask me in here like your damn servant! The moment you tell me you aren't a burden is the very same day I leave this place!"A moment was used for the configuration of words and breath. "No. You can't watch yourself. You can hardly even bathe without help. You're a child, Yao."

"A child?! Are children beaten for a living? Do they go out every night and remove their clothing for filthy old men they have to lie to for a man who regards them as dirt?!"

"No." The younger crafted his response."But they do have their supervisors clean them and dress them and tidy their room and speak kindly to them when they sob. They also have no regard for those caretakers and how exhausted they make them. The only difference between you and an actual baby if that you smoke opium. You won't grow up…You might as well already be dead."

"Kiku!"

"Don't be upset…You lost your temper first."

"So you can say whatever you please to me?! Who do you think you are?! I took care of your every whim when you were small! I saved your feet from bandages and broken bones! I gave you all the help you needed when I was busy! How dare you even begin to speak to me that way!" Yao allotted a moment for breath. "So I'm not worth helping? I'm not worth your precious time, occupied by that English bastard drooling all over you? Fine. Then get out." The man held a sharp gaze, butcher's knives sitting within those dark irises. "I wouldn't want you to sacrifice a moment's time on me."

When Kiku did not move, Yao nearly screamed.

"Get out of my room!"

And the youth turned and left, his feet dragging him away quickly, fueled mostly by the fire of his growing rage.

It was then that a droplet of hatred was born, all for the man who had loved him and enslaved him.

When Kiku prepared that night, his mind swarmed with all his thoughts, yet his face was calm as a still ocean, all accept for the vibrant feelings burning from his core and into the beautiful eyes. They were illuminated with intensity, all his energy searing holes through whatever he directed his gaze upon.

Some degree of guilt washed through that great stomach clothing that wild storm, because Yao's words had been right, although he could not allow that truth to shine. He had suffocated it beneath his own reasons and upset, unable to concern himself with such an ugly shimmer.

His silks took him as constricting cords, and the beautiful yet resentful entertainer found a route outside, along it locating his British man.

"Kiku, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Mr. Kirkland."

"Don't lie to me."

A disgruntled sigh. "Yao and I got into a fight…And are no longer in speaking terms."

"Well…I don't care about that, but I suggest you start pretending to be overjoyed, because I guarantee you, no one pays good money for an upset whore."

"I'm not a whore."

"Of course you are, Kiku. Now shut your mouth before you have to tell Alfred an unfortunate story about how you accidentally tripped and fell downstairs."

"…Yes, Mr. Kikrland."

"Wonderful." A faux grin that sent the boy's foundation into spasms. "Cheer up, sunshine. You've got a profit to earn. Make it worth every last empty section in his wallet."

The youth did not give any word in return, his gaze gravitating towards those feet.

"Come on now…" Mr. Kirkland donated a slap just above the buttocks. "Get going."

And Kiku listened, progressing through the first hell and into another, the second livid with possible fits of rage and definite lies.

"Kiku! Hello."

"Hello, Alfred. How have you been?"

"I've been just fine…How have you been?"

"Just as I always have."

"And how is that?"

"…It's so many things that I'll begin to cry if I speak of it…"

Those blond brows sank and that same sympathetic curl appeared against those handsome lips. "I don't mind erasing a few tears, Kiku."

"Thank you…But I won't allow our time together to be ruined by all my troubles."

"But what if hearing of all your troubles brings me some sort of disgusting pleasure?"

"Alfred…"

"Come on, Kiku."

"No, I can't…"

"Yes, you can…"

Out of impulse and need to change the topic, Kiku pressed his lips softly to the American's, allowing a gentle hand to control that warm shoulder. "No…"

Immediately, an even wider stretch. "Were you allowed to do that?"

"Probably not."

And in response, a pair of hands settled upon the adolescent's flushed ears and the American's affectionate mouth came back into an embrace with the other's, a bit of passion living between their brief clasp.

Kiku moaned softly as their faces fell from one another's and another kiss was allowed softly upon his luminescent cheek.

"Was I allowed to do that?"

"Certainly not."

"Fantastic…Now, why don't you tell me what's been upsetting you?"

A sigh built of frustrated alloy and a light reprimand falling upon the American's chest. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"

"Oh, no. Never."

Kiku allowed a sigh mingled with a hopeful smile from his stifled curls. "Alright. But not here."

There was a nod in reply. "So, where would you like to go?"

"…Would you like to sit in the garden?"

"Of course…" Kiku's hand was engulfed within Alfred's, and paces were completed easily beneath their feet to the heaven beneath that lively tree, the future whore taking his seat first and then his client. Their palms stayed adhered to one another's, fingers kneading kind circles upon opposite flesh.

"Tell me what happened…"

"You and I had a disagreement."

"About what?"

"My care of him…I'm sure you're aware of his opium addiction…and because of it, I've become something of a slave. Today, I came to check on him to make sure that he had not hurt himself…But I told him that I came to check that he hadn't killed himself. Of course, he became upset with me…and I told him he was a burden…That he was like a child…I cannot count the times I've bathed and clothed him."A long set of seconds came wearing great ornaments of silence and embellished robes of short peace. "So…I continued to tell him how irritating he truly was…and he told me that he once cared for me without a single complaint, and it's true. If it wasn't for Yao, I'm certain I would have become someone cold and bitter…I'm already bitter." Another instance of stillness. "But it doesn't seem right that nearly my entire day is centered around taking care of him…That is, when he's not sleeping or unconscious…I do nearly everything for him. And I feel so many times older than I actually am. When the sun goes down, I'm exhausted and my bones feel like they've broken a thousand times over. And it upsets me. Perhaps I wouldn't mind so much if he had survived a horrible accident…But all my energy is gone because he doesn't want to put down his pipe."

"Hmm…" Alfred stole a lengthily amount of time for all his deductions. "I think he does want to stop…Likely more than anything…But addiction is a hard thing to fight and it's often that the addict looses. Yao probably knows he's a burden…And he just as likely feels horrible about his addiction and how it's eating away all of your time. He can probably see exactly what you're going through, but…He really needs your help." Fingers skinned the American's lips. "I think if you found yourself in the same situation, regardless of how much of a burden you were, you would want help as well. You would feel awful for accepting it and draining the energy from whoever was assisting you…But you would still need it…And Yao would definitely help you."

"I don't think he realizes it."

"And I think he does…He really loves you…To him you truly are his younger brother…I was told I'd be in a huge amount of trouble if I even laid a finger on you...And I'm certain that if he witnessed our little kiss, he would tear my head from my neck…Even in the state he's in now."

Kiku allowed his mind to fill with opposing points in that quick time without voice.

"It is an unfair situation…But in the end, you're still family, aren't you? Are even if you are upset with Yao, you still love him."

"No…I don't."

"Of course you do. You're angry, and it's completely normal…But either of you have done quite a bit for one another…And even if you fight and become enraged with one another, it doesn't matter. You're still brothers…And although Yao does have faults, he would never abandon you, or turn you away of you were in need. I know he wouldn't…And so do you. Despite all of his addictions, he's a good companion, and that's the most important quality…Has he ever been cruel to you without a purpose? Has he truly hurt you?"

"No…Not truly. He's saved me more times than I can count."

"…I would be angry for a little while, and then apologize. And I'm willing to bet that he'll apologize as well."

"You're right…"

A kiss centered upon that cheek with pliable lips. "Everyone gets frustrated with one another…Just don't wait too long to make it right."

"Thank you, Alfred. You're not nearly as stupid as you look."

A laugh and another slow press. "I know!"

For a moment, they shared their joy, and when they calmed, Kiku's attention escaped to all those wondrous stars bathing in the finest of night.

"…May I kiss you again?"

"Of course…You can do anything you like to me, just as long as it's not painful…Well, Not too painful…No blood…Alright. Maybe a little, but too much. Well…Just as long as I don't lose consciousness…for too long."

Kiku laughed. "Just be quiet!"

A wide grin and with careful arms, Alfred took Kiku into an embrace and connected their lips together softly, the virgin's eager hands falling upon the charmer's collarbone.

In that very same day, Kiku had tasted hatred and the highest concentration of love he had ever held within his fingers, either different as night and day, yet connected by sugary twilight, and almost seemed as if one had led directly to the other.

There was happiness set within Kiku's blood, as well as the resolve to cure his dispute.