It had only been a few minutes since Alfred finished speaking to his friend and the blond was already sitting on the staircase near the front door. He wasn't exactly excited for his friend to arrive, as he was anxious. As soon as he hung up the kitchen phone he went to the sink and removed the freshly cleaned pie plate and carried it with him to the stairs. He would be lying if he said he hadn't smelled or licked the plate for a hint of the lingering apple taste.
Alfred drew his eyes away from the door and looked at his reflection in the glass object in his lap. It still bewildered him how he ate the entire pie in less than an hour like his brother had said. The plate was pretty wide and deep so the tasty dessert must have filled it snugly and that bothered the blond even more.
"I'm so going to gain weight from this." he groaned and let his head fall against the side railing. He remembered that when he was younger and smaller that he had once gotten his head stuck in between the bars. His parents had to call the fire department to get him out with a metal-cutting saw. But the worst part of it all was that while he was in frantic tears, Matthew sat down next to him on the stairs and smiled as their mother took a photo. She printed it out and hung it on the stairwell as a friendly reminder to her boys. After the twins grew, she removed the photo but Alfred had a feeling she secretly still kept it around.
Alfred heard loud thudding from behind him and didn't even have to turn around to know it was his brother coming down the stairs making his steps loud on purpose. The stomping halted and the younger of the two looked over his shoulder interestedly. Matthew was standing a step above him with his hockey gear bag slung over his shoulder. He was wearing his favorite team hockey jersey he got at a game in DC, The Washington Capitals.
"You mind moving? Unless you want me to run you over." Matthew lifted his shoe above his brothers head as if he were really about to step on him. Alfred smacked the foot away and scooted over about an inch.
"Just go around me or somethin'. You're not that fat or anything...yet." he grinned at comment and went back to staring at himself in the glass plate's reflection. He could see his face features but not much detail because the glasses he had borrowed from his brother were a different prescription. Matthews's eyesight wasn't as bad as his and he was quite jealous about the fact.
"I'm in thick clothing for the rink and carrying a heavy bag! I'll need more space than that!" He ignored the fat comment and glared at the back of Alfred's head while he was blankly gazing into his lap for some reason.
"I scooted over, didn't I? Just squeeze on by!" He rolled his eyes and stood his ground.
"I'm giving you one last chance to move, Al." Matthew warned, his grasp on his hockey bags handle growing tighter by the second.
Alfred snorted at that and made sure the other heard. Just because he was a hockey player he thought he was all big and tough. It seriously got on Alfred's nerves sometimes.
"Or what? You're going to pull a beaver from that pretty bag of yours and-!"
Matthew had lifted his foot and kicked Alfred's back hard enough for him to go spilling forward. He was able to catch himself before completely tumbling forward but for that happen, he had to let go of something...
CRASH
Alfred and Matthew froze at the loud shattering noise that echoed throughout the first level and stairwell. It took them both a moment to realize that thanks to their foolish actions, they caused something horrible to happen.
Alfred forgot about his idiotic argument with his brother and slowly crept down the wooden stairs to the final step before the sea of shimmering crystals. He couldn't make any type of facial expression about the situation because he still couldn't believe what had just happened.
Matthew gulped and watched his twin creep down the stairs silently. He honestly had no clue that Alfred had been holding a glass object in his hands. If he had, then he would have been a little more reasonable with his actions.
"Al..." Matthew mumbled, taking one step down.
Alfred didn't say anything but just stared at the glittering dangerous shards before him. What had he done... He broke Mr. Kirkland's precious glass pie plate... He was going to be furious with him...
"I-I can still fix it..." Alfred whispered, his eyes glistering over in determination and sorrow.
Matthew looked at the back of his head like he was a fool but what his brother did next made him panic. "Hey!" he dropped his bag and leapt down the remanding stairs and grabbed hold of the other and tried pulling him back frantically.
Alfred was picking up the tiny shards of glass with his fingers and placing them in his other cupped hand, trying to save the poor plate. "I said I can still fix it!" he loudly insisted, trying to pull himself free and reach for more glass.
When Matthew pulled his brother back more he was shocked to discover that Alfred had tears rolling down his cheeks and how scared he looked.
"Clam down, Al! It's completely broken already! Stop before you hurt yourself!" he smacked Alfred's hands and purposely made him drop all the pieces that he had been able to get up.
"Let go! I gotta fix it! Please!" The tears started rolling faster and the look of fear in his sapphire eyes seemed almost ghostly. "I don't want him to be angry with me..." He muttered faintly looking at his brother pleadingly.
The older twin bit his tongue and kept a tight grasp on the others wrist to hold them still. He didn't know what had rushed over his brother like that but whatever it was worried him. They had broken many things before in the past but never had Alfred gotten this nervous and distraught. And who was this 'he' that his brother had spoken of?
"Hey, hey, shh there, Al. Nobody is going to be angry with you. I'm the reason the glass broke, not you. Okay?" Matthew hushed his brothers crying and tried to comfort him with his words and soft gaze.
"B-But I'm the one who let it fall. I let go of it to catch myself when I should have held on." Alfred sadly confessed as he looked back to the floor.
Matthew sighed and looked down at their hands and tsked at what he saw. Carefully he lifted Alfred's hand that he had been using to pick up the shards of glass. "See what happens when you touch broken glass, Al? You get all sliced up and cause a bigger mess."
Alfred blinked a couple of times to register that he was feeling pain come from his fingers. He looked at it and saw the little crimson dots that littered his fingertips. He knew he shouldn't have touched the glass but something inside him snapped and making sure that plate returned safely back to Mr. Kirkland was his top priority. It was although the only thing in the world that mattered to him was making sure he didn't dissatisfy his older neighbor. But why did he want to please a man he despised so much?
"I'll go fetch the first aid kit from the kitchen. Stay right here and don't pick up any more slithers of glass. You got that?" Matthew waited till his brother looked him in the eyes and nodded before he leapt over the mess and disappeared down the hall.
Alfred indeed listened to what he was told and patiently sat on one of the lower wooden steps. All he could do was stare blankly at his bloody fingers. "What did I just do?" he muttered, still in disbelief. He actually hurt himself in favor of saving the stupid plate and returning it to his stupid neighbor. He clenched his teeth and stared at the now shattered apple tray. How could he have been so damn foolish... To just rush to it without even thinking about the consequences that followed. That tray could have belonged to Captain America and still he wouldn't have tried to put it together like he had. So why did he do it for Mr. Kirkland so willingly?
Just then the doorbell chimed loudly throughout the house and Alfred remembered that he had invited Kiku over. He was about to get up and let his Japanese friend in but he remembered what Matthew had told him.
"Come in!" He yelled loud enough for his friend to hear and let himself inside his home.
There was a moment of silence till the door handle started to jiggle and the door slowly crept open with Kiku peeking his head in the crack. Alfred smiled at him and resisted in waving with his bloody hand.
"You can come in but just watch where you step. Uh, had a little accident earlier."
Kiku scanned the floor and made mind of the mess. He carefully stepped in and walked around to the other side where the hall started. "What happened? Is everything okay?" he asked slightly concerned when Matthew returned with a first aid kit in his hands.
"Yup! Everything's super!" Alfred grinned, giving the thumbs up which probably wasn't the best idea. Kiku's eyes widened and he took a step back at the sight of blood. The smell or sight of blood made him incredibly woozy and weak. He stumbled back till he came in contact with the wall and leaned against it for assurance.
He gulped but asked his question again. "W-What happened, Alfred-kun?"
"Long story short, Matt and I got into a little scrabble and it ended with us braking Mr. Kirkland's glass tray." He motioned his head at the mess while Matthew told him to stay still. "On the bright side we don't have to return the old man his pie plate anymore but-"
"-now we have to report that it has been broken?" Kiku finished the sentence that he was not so thrilled about. If his neighbor was as scary as Alfred had said he was, then how much more frightening would the Englishman be when he found out something of his had been broken?
"Hold up a second." Matthew cut in after finishing cleaning and wrapping up Alfred's injured hand. "You two are going to Mr. Kirkland's?" he didn't like that one bit. After what happened to his twin at the dinner table last night Matthew didn't want that man anywhere near his brother again.
"Uh yeah? Why did you think I was carrying around that plate in the first place?" Alfred asked obviously.
"I told you I didn't know you were holding it." He glared back at him then turned to Kiku. "Are you going with him?"
Kiku nodded and held out the book he had been keeping behind his back. "Hai. We are going to find out what type of Oni he is."
"Oni?"
"Type of demon." Kiku explained.
"Ah." Matthew nodded his head though looked puzzled as he did so. He would have asked more about the subject but he heard honking from outside, alerting him that his ride was there. "I gotta go but hey," Alfred looked up at him. "I don't like the idea of you going over there after-uh, last night. It just doesn't seem like such a good idea."
Alfred patted him on the head with his un-injured hand and smiled. "Don't worry bro, Kiku will be with me and I gotta do this. The sooner we find out what that old man is the sooner we can defeat him. Plus, if anything goes wrong your twin senses will probably start tingling." He laughed as his brother rolled his eyes.
"This isn't spider man, Al. Stuff like that doesn't really happen." The car horn came again and Matthew knew he better hurry before he makes some of his fellow players late. "Fine. But don't you two get separated. You got that? And you better be back by the time I get home from practice or I'm kicking his door down with my hockey in hand."
Both Alfred and Kiku nodded in agreement before Matthew slung the bag over his shoulder and was out the door. Kiku looked at his American friend momentarily before looking at the still existent glass mess. "I will go get a broom and clean up the glass." Kiku walked as far as he could to the staircase and handed his book to the American. "Look through this while I clean and narrow down our options. It will help if we know what trait to look for."
Alfred grabbed the small book and stared at the colorful childish cover. An elf woman was riding on the back of a white unicorn as little flowers danced at their feet. "Seriously, Kiku..." Mr. Kirkland wasn't some shiny dancing mystical creature. He was definitely something that crawled out of a lava pit and would only be found in horror stories. The book on creatures that Kiku had brought was totally useless.
Kiku came around the corner with a broom in hand and tray. He carefully began cleaning and filling the tray full with chunks of glass as the American flipped though the child's book. "Uh, Kiku buddy."
The black-haired boy stopped and looked up. "Hai?"
"You do realize we're trying to see what type of blood thirsty demon the man is, right? Not try and find out what type of unicorn or chipmunk he is!" Alfred blurted out and tossed the book somewhere over his left shoulder.
"Ah, I know and I'm very sorry. It's just that was my only option. I was not allowed to bring the other one with me so I brought my little sisters." He looked away as if embarrassed and continued his cleaning.
"I wish you told me that earlier over the phone..." He muttered, slouching once again against the railing.
Kiku took the tray full of glass and the broom and disposed the little shards securely. He walked back to his American friend and sat down next to him.
"Do you still wish to go?" He hoped he would say no but he had a feeling the blond was too determined about his suspicions with his neighbor that he wouldn't drop his obsession until he got bored or the cops were called.
Alfred stood and stared down at his patched up hand. He had to find out who and what that man really was. This man was starting to change his life and it didn't feel as though for the better. Something had to be done before something happened to him or his family. The blond looked back at his friend and nodded. "It's best to just get this over with but don't worry," he grinned pompously. "I have a few ideas of how to keep us safe."
~.~
Kiku and Alfred stopped just before the stone porch that led up to Mr. Kirkland's two large front doors. The walk over was slow and frightening since Alfred could feel that he was being watched as soon as he stepped foot outside his home.
He gulped and looked over at his friend who nervously looked right back. "You ready for this?"
"No. Why am I here again?" Kiku asked, glancing back at the safety of his friend's house across the street.
Alfred groaned and patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Because you're my best friend and you don't want me to die, right?"
"Well you do have a twin..."
"Kiku!"
"That was a joke. But Alfred-kun, I do not like the vibes this house gives off. I feel almost sick with the weight in the air. Do you feel it too?"
"Yeah...and I'm afraid it's only going to get worse once we go inside." He looked at the tall dark green doors and at the golden lions heads that were staring him down. "Just remember that we have some sort of protection on us."
Kiku snorted and pulled out the little garlic tied to a string around his neck. "This will only work if he's a vampire. If not, then what?"
"Uh." Alfred thought it over but then a memory of earlier came to mind. "If not, then Matt will come through a window or something with his hockey stick on fire. You don't want to mess with the guy when he has a hockey stick in his hands non less on fire!" The thought was amusing and assuring at the same time scary.
The two decided they spent enough time stalling and ascended up the stone stairs to the tall dark double doors. Alfred grabbed hold of one of the lion rings that hung from its clutches and began banging it loudly on the door several times. They could both hear the thudding of the door echo throughout the man's old-fashioned themed home. The way that it sounded was as though he were banging on an abandoned home that was filled with nothing but musty furniture covered in white sheets.
The teen let go of the golden handle and took a step back to be along side his friend. He was sure that his knocking was heard if anyone were home, so it was only a matter of time before those heavy doors swung open.
"M-Maybe the old man's not home?" Alfred guessed after a only few seconds of nervously waiting. "He could have gone out for bingo or somethin?"
Kiku looked up at him with a confused expression on his soft features. "How old did you say he was again?"
"Heh, uh…" Alfred shuffled his feet around on the porch and shrugged. "23 or somethin' like that?"
"Only 23? Alfred-kun, I had thought this man to be of age with wrinkles on his face and a cane for assistance. Why did you describe him as elderly?" Kiku hissed clearly thrown off on their future opponent. That little detail would have helped greatly in their quest to determine the creature, that is, if he even is a creature. Could Alfred just have imaged the man's odd traits and thought him to be something he really was not?
"Pshh-what? Dude, he's like as old as a fossil-" Alfred's voice faded out as the sound of light foot steps were coming from the other side of the dark green door. The louder they started to sound, the more his heart started to race. Each thud echoed through him and made his shoulder ache like there was a hawk resting upon it and digging their talons into his skin.
Both boys were silent when the steps halted and the door handle started to slowly and painfully turn. The birds in the tree around them fell silent, as did the insects. The silence made the entire scene appear in slow motion and both boys held their breath and froze.
The door fully opened and the smell of the air indoor flew out and nipped their faces. Alfred's mouth slightly fell open as the scent of a certain warm fruit drifted around him.
Mr. Kirkland stood in the doorway with one hand on the golden handle. He smiled politely at the two teenagers in a way that was definitely not in a gentlemen like manner. He was clothed in black slim dress pants and a tucked in white button down shirt with rolled up sleeves. Alfred felt under dressed just being near the defined man.
"Well if it isn't Alfred F. Edelstein from across the pavement," Alfred shivered at the use of his full name being spoken by the man in his exclusive accent. "I've been waiting on you all morning to stop by. Care to come in?" He held the door wider and gestured for them to enter his home.
Alfred glanced at Kiku to see his friend's first reaction to his neighbor. Though the look on his face was not a look of fear, but of illness. He looked absolutely sick and that worried him. Didn't he mention something about being feeling sick when they first arrived?
"Come now lads, don't be shy." Mr. Kirkland insisted when the boys didn't make to move forward.
Alfred kept his eyes down as he stepped up and hesitantly entered his neighbor's house. He prayed that Kiku was following close behind because he couldn't hear him.
The American paused once he entered fully into the historic home to observe his surroundings. To be honest he was completely surprised with what he saw. All those thoughts and assumptions of the home being old and worn were completely wrong. Sure, it still had its old charm in the layout and furniture but it felt up to date. He had to admit it was somewhat hard to see with all the blinds being sealed by long dark heavy curtains, but a few candles were littered on shelves and tables. Maybe the guy was for green power?
"Is it up to par with what you've been making it out to be in that subconscious of yours?" Alfred nearly jumped when the words were being said right into his ear as he felt a hand lightly rest itself on his right shoulder. He didn't know what was worse. Being snuck up on by the Englishman or having him touch his aching right side.
The blond awkwardly nudged away and took a couple of steps back to give himself some much-needed space. "You have a very nice home, Mr. Kirkland. It matches you in a way." Alfred began.
The Englishman wavered a grin and raised one of his thick eyebrows. "Hm, in what way?"
"You're both old... fashioned." He tried his best to cover his cocky smile but it was hard with the intrigued look on the others face as though he'd been expecting that type of humor.
"Age is value, Alfred. You should learn to respect what is out of your time. Plus, historic homes such as this always outlive their inhabitants." He professed assertively as he admired the old paintings hung near him. "These walls have heard and seen more than anyone will live to fully hear. If only they could talk and share those stories. Then, maybe you'd appreciate the old things and what they've gone through." The older mans voice dropped as his eyes darkened with his tone. He skid his long fingers along the wall as he made his way into the parlor.
Alfred didn't have a clue what the man was going on about. What in the world was he saying about age and appreciation for old things? Though Alfred had a feeling that his words meant something much more than a couple of old walls and buildings. He just couldn't put the pieces of his words together in his head just yet.
Kiku walked up to his friend but didn't say anything. His lips were shut as though they were glued together in a straight line. It was his heavy breathing that singled Alfred of his presence. The blond glanced to his left and a wave of concern for the Japanese boy washed through him.
"Hey are you feeling okay? You don't look so well?" And it was true. Kiku's face was horribly pale and the look in his eyes appeared as though he was faint by the way his eyelids hung lowly.
"He does seem a little feeble. Poor lad, come have a seat." Mr. Kirkland had suddenly appeared right in front of them and looked as though distressed but Alfred saw a whole different emotion in those emerald eyes. It looked as though he were almost tickled and had no remorse for the black-haired boy.
Alfred's hero instincts kicked in and he wrapped an arm around the shorter boys shoulders. He ignored the elder man as he passed him and led his friend over to the couch. He set him slowly down and tried to remove his arm but Kiku reached up and held tightly to his hand that was on him.
"Stay...c-close." he breathed lowly to him then took a heavy breath back in as though in need of air like a fish.
Alfred was about to ask what was wrong when all of a sudden the sound of a metal tray clanked against the glass coffee table. Mr. Kirkland had set the tray down and sat in the seat across from the two teenage boys. He smiled thoughtfully as he leaned back in his seat and crossed his legs. "Please, have something to drink and eat. Growing boys need to eat, correct?" He gestured to the tray of goodies he set before him then folded his hands neatly on his lap and watched the pair.
It then hit Alfred his reason for really being there that morning by looking at the coffee table. He looked up from the treats and saw that his blond neighbor was watching him. He awkwardly looked away and moved about uncomfortably in his seat. Those green eyes were as tense as the first time he felt them on him. At first he wanted to escape the wrath of them but now he didn't feel as intimated. He used to fear being in the line of sight buy now he felt that's where he belonged.
"Uh, Mr. Kirkland? Remember that apple pie you gave my family for desert the other night and the pretty glass plate that it came in?" He spoke a lot faster than he meant to but that was just because he was nervous.
Mr. Kirkland nodded and reached for one of the teacups that were on the tray. "Yes, I indeed remember." He hummed while stirring some sugar into his cup with a little silver spoon.
"Well uh, something happened this morning and Matt-I mean I broke it. I'm really sorry about that." Kiku moved in his seat before slumping on his friend for support. Alfred could feel his friend start to shiver. "I-I swear that I tried to fix it but-"
"Alfred." the Englishman interrupted him mid way through his confession. Alfred gulped but stopped to listen and stared back into those piercing toxic eyes. "Is this how you injured yourself? Your fingers?"
The emotions from earlier when he broke the plate were starting to return the longer those eyes bore into his own. Alfred looked to his lap and flipped over his hand to reveal the wrapped tips that his brother had tended to. All that trouble for a silly glass plate it seemed. "I told you that I tried to fix it..."
The Englishman frowned and set his teacup down on its plate on the coffee table. "Come here." He commanded but not sternly. Alfred looked at him unsure to do so as his body practically twitched at the soft command. "It's okay poppet, don't fear what is so innocent."
He couldn't resist any longer and stood from his seat even as Kiku tried to grip his sleeve to stay. The American kept his eyes on his neighbor as he walked around the table that separated them. Mr. Kirkland held out a hand that Alfred took hold of and let himself be carried down to sit on top of the Englishman's lap. He didn't know why he let himself he pulled down, but he felt he had a purpose to.
The older gentleman grinned and leaned back in his royal chair with his precious little boy sitting obediently on his lap. The expression in his sapphire eyes looked as though he was fighting an inner battle and it frightened him. It didn't bother Arthur in the slightest though. Soon Alfred wouldn't be able to resist against his caress touches and leveling voice. He normally have had what he wanted from the American teen by now but seeing the young one fight against his sways and advances made him deeply intrigued. The lad had a strong will, too bad he was just going to have to strip him of it.
Alfred didn't even have to look up to know the man he was afraid of was hungrily eyeing him. He was literally set out before him to be consumed.
"Let me see your fingers."
Alfred lifted his hand and the man carefully took hold of it in his larger one. He shivered at the touch of his skin against the others because of his abnormal body temperature.
The Englishman man slid the little tan hand between his own longer and sturdier ones. The boy's soft skin was memorizing and he craved more of it. "You went through so much trouble in attempt to please me. I am touched by your devoted manners so far." He slid his pale lips over the younger's hand and softly kissed his fingertips. "What a good child."
It was wrong. It was all wrong. Alfred wiggled uncomfortably in the man's lap at every soft kiss he placed on his injured hand. He watched in uncertainty at the man's advances but did nothing to stop them. It looked so wrong but felt so right. Those long slim fingers and pale cold lips on his hot skin was entrancing and seemed addicting the more he thought of him being touched by them.
Mr. Kirkland opened his mouth and breathed in Alfred's scent. He slid his tongue up along the boy's middle finger and watched for one of his adorable expressions. When Alfred blushed harder and wiggled on his lap, he chuckled and set the boys hand down and reached around him.
Alfred's blood started to quicken when he saw the older man reach for something on the metal tray behind him. While looking back, he caught sight of Kiku panting on the couch still in place. His eyes were shut and he was slightly thankful for that. His inner hero wanted to leave and take his best friend away but the urge to obey and be within Mr. Kirkland's hold was too overwhelming.
He was brought back when he felt something cold and wet being pressed to his closed lips. The blond looked down to his mouth and at what the Englishman was trying to feed him. "Now be a good lad and open up." He sang merrily.
Without finding the will to rebel, the young teen opened his mouth as the elder let the little fruit slid in. Alfred's eyes got wide when he first bit down on the sweet food. He hummed as his taste buds went into a frenzy to savor the sweet watery taste. He swallowed it quickly and opened his mouth just in time for another and then another.
Kiku growled in pain and annoyance. Alfred wasn't kidding about having a monster for a neighbor. This man was literally something that reeked of expiry and spoke in backward riddles. Walking into the house was his first mistake and not leaving when he began to lose energy was another. Now he was weak and defenseless in the lair of the beast. How could he have been so foolish to just let himself and best friend walk so blindly into a situation where the enemy lived and moved about in complete obscurity? They underestimated their opponent and it just may be too late for a back up plan.
The Japanese boy fought back the urge to vomit and leaned up in the chair shakily. The only source of warmth was coming from Alfred and he was able to feel it even though he sat some distance away. The candles near him had a flame but they were as cold like the scent of demise they gave off.
He opened his eyes and watched the creature hand feed Alfred like some little doll. The urge to vomit came again when the scent of the food that the Englishman was feeding his friend came his way. It reeked like rotten fruit and something more that was causing his nostrils to burn. What was Alfred doing eating such a thing? Wait... Kiku focused his eyes on the little fruit and froze. Alfred was being fed little apple slices...
"Do you like them, Alfred? I'd grown them to perfection just for you." Mr. Kirkland fed the American another sliced apple as he petted the back of his pretty blond head pleasantly.
Alfred was too lost in the bliss that was going on inside of his mouth to put together any words and form a sentence, so instead he just moaned when another was slid into his waiting mouth.
"It makes me so very happy to know you've taken quite a liking to them. They aren't easy to grow you know." He reached for another but felt nothing but the bottom of the little glass bowl. "Oh dear, I believe we've run all out." he sighed as he touched the Americans lips with his index finger. To his amusement Alfred grabbed hold of his hand and started gently licking the fingers that he had been feeding him with. "Still hungry I presume?" he chucked at the adorable sight, while thinking to himself that Alfred was indeed a perfect pick.
"L-Let him go." A faint voice interrupted his little show. Arthur turned and glared at the noise before smirking at what he saw. Alfred's little friend had managed to stand and was holding one of the knifes in the air that he had slipped from the tray.
The British man chuckled and shook his head. He'd grown so tired when humans would confuse bravery with stupidity. "Do you intend to stab me with my own kitchen ware?" he inquired, resting his chin atop his fist as he watched on in dullness.
Kiku gripped the knife tighter and did his best to look intimating for the sake of his friend. He had to get them out of there somehow and it was up to him since Alfred wasn't in the right state of mind at the moment.
"The cops will come looking for us and here is where they will check first. His family knows he is here."
The man rolled his eyes and hummed in annoyance. He placed a hand on Alfred's check and took in the sight of those magnificent blue eyes and savored them till he was to see them again. "I'm afraid I have to return you now it seems. I'm not the only one who craves for your affection." He glanced at Kiku for a spilt second. "Till again, love." he placed a chaste kiss on the top of his head very softly before letting go.
Kiku eagerly grabbed the back of Alfred's hoodie and yanked him off the man's lap, which resulted in an irritated glare from the owner of the house. Alfred wobbling once he got to his legs and looked at Kiku in complete confusion. It seemed as though his friend was still out of it and wasn't able to quickly respond to what was happening. And it didn't help matters that he was still sick to his stomach and felt completely drained. "Come on, Alfred-kun! We have to leave this very moment." Kiku begged.
Alfred looked disordered and turned to face Mr. Kirkland who smiled at him as he did so, clearly pleased about that. "Go along now. I give you permission to leave."
After those words were said it finally clicked in Alfred's head of the situation and this time he was the one pulling Kiku by the arm with him as he ran. Kiku dropped the knife and tried his best to keep up with the pace Alfred was setting for them both.
"Alfred-kun! Please slow down!" he yelled as they excited out the front doors and down the stone steps.
But Alfred couldn't do that. He was too scared to stop; he had to get out of there and away from that man and his damn old house. His stomach ached as he ran but he ignored the pain and kept running.
In seconds they reached Alfred's front yard and that didn't even slow the two down. Alfred literally almost kicked the front door off its frame and threw it shut behind them. His legs and lungs begged for a break and his stomach ached from a familiar pain he'd get when he ate too much on Halloween.
Kiku, however, didn't stop and rest like his friend had. Instead he kept running down the hall and into the bathroom and slammed the door shut behind him. Alfred leaned his back against the wall and slowly started to slide down it as he listened to his best friend violently empty his stomach contents into the toilet.
He lifted his hands to stare at his injured fingers but was surprised to discover that the white bandages were missing along with all his tiny glass cuts.
"What's happening to me?"