Clouds had long since concealed the skies and let their storm begin when it reached dusk. It wasn't in the weather forecast for it to do so, but Alfred found it rather fitting after the morning's incidents. They hadn't predicted what was going to happen in that mans dim time-worn home. It just did and they were both caught up in the storm. It could have been worse though; Kiku kept saying when he was able to breathe in and out again without throwing up his already emptied stomach. Alfred didn't like to think too much on what exactly the worse part could have been. Being so close to Mr. Kirkland and yet not feeling any distress or uneasiness was the hardest part to take in when he looked back on it. How could he have done all those rash things so willingly? He put himself and his best friend in danger with his reckless actions. It was a blessing that Kiku found the strength to save them both before something serious happened. Alfred arched his head in between his knees where he sat. How could he be a hero to everyone when he couldn't even save himself?

"You're quiet."

Alfred lifted his head slowly but kept his stare on the russet wooden floor. He didn't even hear that someone had entered the room. "I just don't feel like talkin' much I suppose." He heard them sigh but not make a move to come closer.

"You should though. I think it is best that we both know all that we can about our opponent. "

Alfred bit his bottom lip and clenched at his pants in frustration. No. It was wrong of him to bring others into his own problems. Putting others at risk was not something he wanted to do when this all started happening. He knew that it was far more than he could ever handle but he was willing to take it on if it meant keeping others he cared for safe. Having someone hurt because of him would be unbearable.

"Not anymore. It's not fair that you have to suffer through this with me. I think it'd be best if you just stayed away from me for a while till I figure this all out on my own. I can't be selfish just because I'm-." He hesitated on the last word because it refused to leave his mouth. If he wanted to complete his task then he'd have to be brave.

The rain outside started to fall more heavily and pounded on the roof above. The loud pattering helped cover up the obstinate silence that occupied the room. It was almost enjoyable how the sound concealed the blares in the world at that moment and replaced them with nothing but soothing noises.

"Alfred-San…" the words were so faint against the echoes of the storm that Alfred brushed them off as just that of the wind. But his name came again, more unyielding and affirmative, followed by a pair of forgiving hands reaching out to cup his face.

Alfred let his head be brought up by those hands and kept silent. When he opened his eyes he saw that Kiku was kneeling down before him. Those soft hands could only belong to someone as gentle as he was. Alfred would have smiled at his friend if it weren't for how ghostly pale he appeared and the unease in his deep auburn eyes. It was undeniable that he was sick, or had just been very sick. Hopefully the worse was over because the American couldn't bear to hear his friend violently heave like he had hours before.

"No noble friend would let another friend go through their troubles alone. You may be strong, but this is something that one cannot handle on their own. This," he shook his head trying to come up with just what they are up against. "thing, is not of our nature and I believe it just may be out of our hands even working together…" he started to shudder again as he did his best to fight whatever illness had been cursed upon him. The look on Alfred's face told him that he felt his vibrating but Kiku was glad to see that the blonde was not frightened by it. "So doing this alone will only end gravely and how can I live knowing I stood aside and did nothing?"

Alfred humorously guffawed as he shook his head back and forth before looking back up at his friend. "This is going to be one hell of a ride, isn't it?" he crooked a smile that symbol one who already knew of their defeat before a fight but they wouldn't go down without a punch.

Kiku couldn't help but to smile and snort at that. "I'm afraid so but," he reached under the top of his shirt and pulled out the garlic they had tied around their necks for protection. "we can now mark vampire off the list." He held the miniature white veggie in the air by the string in between his fingers.

"Oh thank god." Alfred exhaled then ripped off his own necklace that he had forgotten was still around his neck. "I was really hoping this wasn't going to turn into some Twilight shit."

"Oh?' The Japanese boy raised an eyebrow. "I think I recall seeing the whole series in your room?"

The blonde reddened and looked away. "Those uh-belong to Matt."

Kiku started laughing and seated himself next to his friend on the ground, tossing the garlic necklace off somewhere to retrieve later.

As if on queue, Alfred's twin, Matthew, came bursting through the front door followed by their mother. Both teens jumped at the abrupt entrance as their hearts beat loudly in their chest. Matthew stumbled in with his large hockey bag over his shoulder and a stick still in hand. He shook his head in attempt to get the water from his wavy hair that looked absolutely soaked.

"Matthew! Don't do that in here!" Mrs. Edelstein shrieked when some beads landed on her as she shielded her face.

Matthew grinned but did as he was told. He then looked up and snorted at the sight of his brother and his friend sitting on the ground so closely. It was very tempting for him to come up with some sort of joke at them but he was actually very glad to see that they were back and safe. Hockey practice was an absolute mess for him because his head was out of the game and elsewhere. All he could think about was texting his brother and see how everything was going. Just letting him go, even with a friend, to Mr. Kirkland's rang all kinds of bells and whistles in his head. At one point during practice when he was skating with the puck, those bells and whistles went off all at once and the hairs on his body stood on end. It was so overwhelming that he misplaced the puck and when crashing into the wall. If it weren't for his coach literally dragging him back to the ice then he would have rushed home in an instant to check up on his brother.

Mrs. Edelstein looked over and cheered up at the sight of Kiku. She had grown very fond of the little Japanese boy. He was so kind and proper. She secretly hoped that would rub off on her boys. Or at least just Alfred. "Hello Kiku! I didn't know you would be here?" She smiled as she set her purse atop the kitchen counter. Matthew left briefly to put his hockey bag in the garage and came quickly back, obviously interested in hearing about the boy's day.

Kiku shot a glare at the blonde for not telling his mother that he would be coming over. He then steadily stood and returned her smile as he nodded. "Hello Mrs. Edelstein. I assumed Alfred had asked and was given permission for me to come over. I hope I am not intruding." He apologized more for Alfred's mistake.

"Pfft, what am I? 12?" Alfred muttered as he stood up as well.

"Sometimes." Matthew mumbled while taking a sip out of his water bottle. His twin shot him a glare as their mom pretended not to notice her sons.

"Oh no! Not at all! It is always a pleasure having you over my dear." She assured him while taking out a frying pain to prepare dinner. "Do you also plan on staying for dinner?"

This time Alfred spoke up before Kiku could get the chance. "Uh yeah he is and he's also sleeping over. Is that okay?" He ignored the strange look that his friend was giving him.

His mom paused as if to think it over. "I don't believe we have any plans tomorrow. So it's alright with me as long as it's alright with your parents."

Kiku looked over to Alfred who was giving him a pleading look to stay. It was hard to say no whenever the American pouted and especially when he had promised to always be there for him. "Hai, I will give them a call now. Thank you very much."

Their mom hummed as she started getting out the vegetables she would be using for dinner. She counting them briefly but paused and then counted them again. "I could have sworn I bought more onions than this…" she muttered to herself.

Matthew slammed the door shut behind as he, Alfred, and Kiku entered their bedroom. "So!?" he said impatiently, "Is someone going to tell me what hell happened?"

Kiku stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say or if it were his right to say what happened to Alfred. He supposed that he'd share his half and leave the rest up for Alfred to tell or not. "We entered the mans house and he served us some refreshments." Alfred twitched at that. "I got sick and we had to leave early." Kiku gulped when Alfred's twin stared him down, knowing he wasn't telling him the full truth.

"What do you mean you got sick? From the refreshments?" Matthew inquired trying to make since of it with all the little details he'd been getting.

"Hai."

Clearly this guy wasn't going to spill whatever happened and that means that something most definitely happened to them while they were there. He turned to his brother who was lying sprawled out on his bed, staring at the ceiling. "Would you like to share some more light on the subject, Al?" he agitatedly asked as he wondered closer to his bedside.

"Um nope!" He chirped.

"For heavens sake." He groaned, running a hand through his damp blonde hair. "Am I going to have to walk across the street and ask for myself?"

"NO!"

Matthew jumped as both Alfred and Kiku shrieked that at the same time. "Was it really that bad?" he lowered his voice and glanced out the window in the direction of the man's house, shielded with the darkness and heavy rain.

Alfred sighed but nodded and sat up in his bed and scooted back to lean against the wall. Matthew noticed his change in mood quickly and went to sit down next to his twin on the bed as Kiku just stood near the door and watched.

"You remember what happened at dinner the other night?" he shivered just thinking back on it. The worst part of it was that looking back on it now, he didn't know whether it was a pleasurable memory or not.

His brother nodded, not saying anything in case Kiku didn't know of it.

Alfred took a deep breath and started playing with his fingers ont his lap. "Well something similar like that happened again today." He felt Matthew go rigid next to him. "He didn't really touch me like at the table, but it was something along those lines."

He looked up Kiku who was looking sadly off out the window. What happened at dinner was something that he never told his friend because he was so embarrassed about it. But after seeing what happened today he was sure nothing could be more discomforting than the sight of that.

"You didn't try to stop him…?" the older twin hissed as he clinched his fist into the bed sheets. Alfred hopelessly looked up at him but noticed his brother wasn't looking at him. He was glaring at Kiku. The next thing he knew, Matthew had hurdled from the bed and made it across the room to where Kiku was tensely upright.

"Matt!"

But it was too late. Matthew had Kiku's shirt intertwined in his fist and was jostled against the wall. The small Japanese boy grunted in discomfort from still being so swore from being nauseous prior. "THE WHOLE POINT OF YOU GOING WAS TO WATCH OVER HIM!" he hissed with his teeth grounded together, trying to stay somewhat inaudible so his mom wouldn't overhear.

For some reason Kiku didn't fight back and let himself be shoved alongside the wall. Instead of looking irritated or afraid, he looked disappointed.

Alfred rushed off the bed and went after his brother in attempt to stop him but he was too fast. "MATT!" he punched him in the back but quickly recalled his fist after the first two punches because his brother's back was as solid as a rock. Damn hockey players.

"N-No Alfred-San." Kiku gasped, as Matthews grip grew stricter. "He is right. I should have known better than to think I alone could defend us both."

Alfred's face fell as he shook his head. "It was something that was out of both of our hands. Remember saying that?" Kiku smiled weakly and nodded.

"But that creep still touched you Alfred! Someone needs to take the blame!" Matthew insisted, looking over his shoulder at his twin who looked peculiarly pale.

"Then let it be me because I let him!"

Lighting shattered the silence that followed after the loud crash of thunder that shook the entire house.

Matthew released Kiku who leaned against the wall and breathed steadily. "Thank you…"

"You let that man touch you?" Matthew stepped towards him raising an eyebrow. Alfred gulped nervously now that the anger was directed at him. He started to regret punching him in the back moments ago.

"Yes. Well-sorta… let me explain?" He held his hands out, as his brother grew closer. "Something is wrong with me and I-I don't know what b-but look!" he kept his hands up and let Matthew get close to them to see for himself. "The cuts from earlier are gone. I don't know how or why something like that happened, but it did."

His brother shook his head as he touched the fingers that he himself wrapped up in tended to that morning. "Impossible…How-"

"I don't know Matt… But if that man can do something like this." He wiggled his fingers around in between their faces as Matthew watched them in disbelief. "Then I don't even want to know what he can do when trying to hurt someone."

The older twin turned to Kiku who was watching from the same spot. "I'm sorry. I should have listened to the whole story first before doing that to you." He grinned apologetically at him, feeling like a real ass for what he did. Kiku just nodded in complete understanding. Alfred was lucky to have such a protective brother. He felt better knowing that he was there to always watch over Alfred when he couldn't.

"DINNER IS READY BOYS!" their mom yelled from below. All three of them let out a long breath. They were all ready to just get decent food in their stomachs, especially Kiku, and then go to bed for a good nights rest.

Kiku opened the door and politely held it open for the two other boys to exit first. Matthew nodded as he walked past followed by Alfred who was preparing to shove past them all and sprint down the stairs, but then something happened.

He whined out in severe pain then gripped his stomach firmly as the source where the sudden pain was coming from. He looked up and met eyes with Kiku before falling over and blacking out before he could even feel himself smack the floor.

The wind outside howled furiously as the storm only grew worse in the late hours of the night. A tree that was near the house blew back and forth, occasionally having its branches brush up against the glass of the twin's window. Thunder roared loudly after ever spine shiver crack of the lighting that danced through the black clouds. Alfred lay tranquilly sleeping in his bed till one loud particular crack stirred him from his slumber and made him spring straight up. He gasped loudly and continued to breathe quickly from bring suddenly be awoken. The room was dark so he waited till the next flash of lighting to light his room to see whom all was there with him. When it did, he was able to make out that Matthew was in his bed and that someone was sleeping on the floor in a sleeping bag. He tensed for a moment but the memory of Kiku being over assured him of who the floor sleeper was.

The American yawned and went to lay his head back down on the pillow but something sharp stabbed his stomach making him clutch it and sit up right. He groaned in pain as the burning feeling in his stomach only intensified as the agonizing seconds went on. Tears were building up in his eyes and that annoying lump in his throat was threating to release a cry of pain.

As agonizing as it was, he gradually laid himself down onto his bed and didn't hassle to pull his covers back up to get comfortable. With the pain in his stomach that would be impossible. Alfred curled up in a ball as he securely wrapped his arms around his middle section. He heard someone stir from somewhere in the room and he did his best to keep quiet and hold in the cries of horrid pain that tore away at his insides.

The noise in the room came again but he didn't bother to turn around to see who it was since he was facing the wall that he bed was up against. All his focus was on keeping the pain to some sort of limit and pray that it doesn't spread throughout his entire body.

The noise from somewhere in the dark room emanated louder but this time a whole lot closer to his bedside. Either his brother or Kiku must have heard him and awoken and were coming to check on him. A small part of him felt bad for waking them but maybe now he didn't have to suffer through it alone.

He felt the side of the bed where his back was dip from someone's weight. "I'm sorry." He weakly whispered because he had awoken whoever it was. There was no reply and Alfred was starting to think it was just his imagination till he felt large and icy hand being placed on his head. He instantly shivered from the touch that felt as though they were just outside in the freezing rain. As tempted as he was to roll over and see whom the hand belonged to, instead he just continued to clutch his stomach and lay motionless.

For a spilt second the pain intensified and Alfred cried out in pain no longer able to hold it back. The hand on his hair started to tenderly pet the side of his head and let their fingers skim his neck briefly before being brought back up and repeat the procedure. He would have protested but the petting became so comforting that he couldn't help to lift his head slightly up when the hand disappeared from him for a second in between the caressing.

This went going on long enough to the point that Alfred could actually feel more drowsy than pain. His eyelids fluttered closed and his breathing was still thick but came out in shorter breaths.

Alfred slowly released the clamp he had around his middle and let himself relax into the bed and those affectionate touches. As he was about to drift off, he heard a picturesque voice hum above him. He couldn't recognize what exactly they were saying but it sounded as though someone were singing to him a foreign lullaby. He clung onto the pleasing voice as it carried the agony and himself away.

AN: People should really start investing into security systems, eh?

Hey guys! Sorry that not much happened here but I thought this was needed to set up the next chapter. Kiku may have been the shy guy at first but now he knows he will have to step up if he wants to help save Alfred from something that they don't even know what the hell it is.

And I know that usually Matthew is portrayed as a quiet weak guy but I think of him quite the opposite. (living in Canada an all half my life). So Matthew here took out his anger on kiku because he hasn't seen Mr. Kirkland in full action yet to understand why Alfred and Kiku were defenseless. For him its seeing is believing. He will always be skeptical until proven otherwise and boy he will regret that when the time comes.

-Also want to say thanks to all the reviews and messages i've been getting lately! It really warms my little heart to read them all and now that my stories make people happy 3