Play Your Tiles Right

"Matthew!"

Muhammad leaned slightly back in his chair towards the open window. He could just barely hear it, but though the name sounded unfamiliar, the voice did. Yao had been staring at his tiles for a long time now and Muhammad had wondered why he had agreed to this game.

Maddox rather looked like he was thinking the same thing. Yao sometimes did as well, but that was because of their fourth player.

"You're taking forever Yao!" Yong Soo complained, dropping his chin into his hands as his elbows were propped up on the table.

"You don't rush this game, aru!" Yao scowled.

"You can't very well rush inanimate objects, so it doesn't matter," Maddox shrugged.

"Speaking of inanimate objects," Muhammad kept an ear open, wondering whether his mind had deceived him, "I'm surprised you agreed to this, Maddox."

"Kong," Yao corrected. Maddox did not react. Muhammad ignored the correction and continued. Yao would never accept that Maddox changed his name.

"...considering how close you have become to Vash lately."

"Vash can't stop me from playing mahjong," Maddox blinked.

"Vash won't know what we're doing, aru," Yao retorted, discarding a tile.

"Alfred!"

"All right, I know I am not hearing things," Muhammad stood up. Yao spluttered and covered his tiles as Muhammad moved towards the window and stuck his head out.

"Matthew!"

I thought he was calling Alfred, Muhammad hummed slightly, finally spotting the figure of Arthur, who was running down the street.

"What is it? What is it? Muhammad?" Yong Soo questioned from behind him, popping up near his shoulder.

If he's calling someone that does not exist... he must be drunk. Muhammad sighed. He did not understand why some people would get themselves so inebriated. But Arthur usually did not go everywhere when he was drunk, he usually just cried about some Frenchman and complained about Alfred and Roy and such. Muhammad decided Arthur must be beyond drunk.

"Yao, a question."

"For... me, aru?" Yao sounded shocked. And pleased. Of course, Muhammad was asking for his opinion, which was rare, but Muhammad was just going to make certain of something before he acted.

"If you came across, I don't know, a nearly insane person who might be a threat to others, what would you do?"

"A... what?" Yao questioned.

"I would invite them home," offered Maddox.

"You don't have a choice, really," Muhammad informed him.

"I would try and change the situation so they would not be able to harm anyone, but you haven't really given me enough information to go on, aru."

"I'll do that big brother!" Yong Soo suddenly ran out the door.

"Wa–" Muhammad stopped himself and looked out the window again. He had to see this.

"What is he talking about, aru? What are you looking at?" Yao demanded. Maddox joined him, because his leg was not broken and therefore it was easier for him to move. Muhammad could just hear Yao grinding his teeth.

"Is that da... d." Maddox finished the end of his last word (which was no longer a question) just as it seemed Yong Soo strangled him or something. Muhammad left the room to go outside.

"And what do you think you just did, young man?" Muhammad demanded.

"Chloroform, see? Smell!" Yong Soo lifted the cloth for him to confirm. Muhammad quickly backed away.

"I'll take your word for it," he gave the Korean a friendly smile and went to pick Arthur up. Not exactly what Muhammad had in mind, Yong Soo was definitely crazy, but Muhammad was definitely fine with Arthur being unconscious. The man deserved it. Oh, and he was probably drunk out of his mind, so that was a good reason too.

Though the fact Yong Soo just seemed to carry chloroform around with him was a slightly disturbing thought.

Maddox met him at the door, staring at Arthur as though he had never seen him before.

"I'll take it he was very tired after running so far," Maddox said. It was probably meant to be a question, but Maddox had not allowed his monotone to flux slightly for it to sound like one. The man was an enigma, truly. Muhammad was fine with that. He was raised by both Yao and Arthur and had spent plenty of time with Alfred, Yong Soo, and Kiku. Muhammad was amazed the man was calm and sane.

"What on earth, aru!" Yao exclaimed, staring with horror at Arthur's unconscious body. "What did you–"

"Chloroform!" Yong Soo cheered, holding the cloth up for Yao to smell. Yao batted his hand away.

"When Arthur's so drunk he is running and yelling in the streets... it's for the best," Muhammad shrugged.

"But he's not..." Maddox began to say, but Yao suddenly looked like he had the best idea in the world. Which Muhammad translated to something was about to be said that was very stupid. The man seemed only capable of saying intelligent things when he was calm.

"Kong, you can stay here, aru!"

"Um..." Maddox glanced from Arthur to Yao slowly.

"You'll make him so happy," Muhammad told him, "that either he'll keel over dead, or his leg will miraculously heal!"

"You," Yao pointed at him, "shut up. Come on–"

"I'll do it on one condition," Maddox said, standing up straight. Yao looked expectant. "You have to call me Maddox. And it's only going to be tonight, you're not fooling me."

"Done deal," Muhammad said. Yao scowled.

Muhammad was against violence, but chloroform was not exactly violent. And Arthur always deserved what was coming to him.


Notes:

Gambling is illegal in Hearth, thanks to DF reminding me of that option. And as mahjong is a gambling game... Poor Vash really cannot keep up with the entire town of miscreants.

Yes, Muhammad has some grudges against Arthur. And by some I mean a lot. Not all were Arthur's fault, but a lot of them were. Muhammad has his reasons.

Because I love you all, I give you another chapter today. Plus, since the entire story is practically done, I do not feel pressured if I put up a second chapter up in a day. I have a poll up on my profile, so if any of you feel like wandering over there, it will give you the opportunity to decide for me what I will be writing next.

End of the second day! The third, and last, day will be starting tomorrow! Thank you all for reading!