A/N: Yay! New chapter finally! I'm on vacation (yes!) so I've had a lot more time to write. I wanted to get this chapter up so I can spend a little time fixing all the grammar and errors in my other chapters instead of stressing over the fact that I missed two deadlines XP Thanks greatly to tintenstern who fixed my German XD Man I'm worse with language then I imagined. I thought I could at least get two words right *dies* ah well that's what being monolingual means I guess lol. On another note thank you for all your reviews and faves once again :D
Onward!
Alfred sighed, kicking his feat against the wall dividing the front and back of the car weakly. "Well that went well." He muttered looking up at the ceiling.
"Yea well it's sort of your fault isn't it?" Soren pointed out. "You're the one who started arguing after all."
"That guy had no right to ask Matty a question like that." He snapped. "We didn't even know his name and there he was nosing his way into someone else's business. And then that other guy got involved and I couldn't take it. I really wanted to punch him Soren."
"Alfred I do appreciate the concern really, but to be perfectly blunt it wasn't your problem. I could have taken care of it on my own." Matthew said. "Yes I did feel a little put on the spot but it wasn't like he was asking me something horribly personal. Are you sure you didn't just jump in because you wanted a chance to fight with his friend, Arthur?"
"What?" Alfred let out an indignant cry of protest. "Matty I don't try to pick fights with people! You know that."
Matthew nodded. "I know that Alfred. Trust me I do."
"He was just. Aggghhh everything about him pissed me off. His clothes and his hair and those studs..."
"I also know your not one to judge by appearance." Matthew interrupted. "Seriously Alfred. You had friends back at West Bridge who dressed just like him and you never had a problem with it. I know that its not the way he looks so don't blame it on that. What's the matter? Really Alfred why do you hate him so much?"
Alfred heaved an exasperated sigh and shook his head. "I don't know Matty. I never ever thought poorly of Jack or Dillon because of the way they looked. They were my buds, at least on some sort of level, and it didn't matter to me how they dressed or whatever. This guy, it's different."
"Then what is it?" Soren pressed.
"I don't know. It's like, when you meet someone for the first time and without knowing anything about them you hate their guts. Have you ever felt like that?" Soren nodded, while Matthew hesitantly shook his head. "I've never actually hated anyone before but this guy I just, I don't know. I don't like him."
"Well like him or not, you're at least going to have to get along with him." Soren pointed out. "So I suggest you apologize to him later."
"What, do I have to?" Alfred whined. Matthew and Soren nodded in unison.
"Yes you do." Matthew said. "Come on Alfred it's not that difficult just apologize."
"Alright alright you win guys." Alfred muttered, crossing his arms sourly. "I'll apologize to him ok? And deal with him and whatever else your gonna say next. As long as I don't have to room with him we should have no trouble avoiding each other right?"
"I think you're sort of missing the 'team' part of this thing. But whatever I'm not really all for it either." Sore shrugged. Matthew gaped at him.
"Wait you don't want to go to the international academy? Seriously? But Soren I really wanted to make it there!" Matthew cried. "Come on please try!"
Soren sighed looking up at the ceiling of the car. "I don't know Matt. Do you really think we've got that great of a chance? I mean several members of our house already hate each other, and we haven't even started the school year yet. I hate to say it but our chances at getting any where are slim to none at this point," he laughed, rubbing his hand through his hair. "But who knows maybe everyone will kiss and make up and it'll all be fine. As long as the teachers are as easy to prank at this place as they were before, I don't really care what happens."
"I'm for that!" Alfred grinned raising his hand for a high five. The boys smacked hands over their protestant friend, both already thinking up new jokes to pull on their new educators.
"You really shouldn't do that." Matthew insisted. "Come on you're going to get the rest of us in trouble you two! What if everyone thinks I'm in on it too?"
"Love you too Matty." Alfred grumbled, playfully shoving the smaller blonde.
Soren laughed. "So basically you don't give a shit about us as long as you don't get grouped by association right?"
"I didn't say that." Matthew argued. "I meant that since we're obviously best friends it would only be natural that I be part of your idiocy too."
"Way to sugar coat it." Alfred snickered. "Nice save there buddy."
"C'était une bonne sauver." Matthew mused.
"Agh no speaking French! English, English Matty!" Alfred whined.
"Speaking of French." Soren cut in. " Back to the matter at hand. Matthew what did you think of them all? Not judging by appearances but you know..."
"Hey what about me don't I get a say?" Alfred protested.
"You had your say. It was on the way to the car, bitching all the while about Arthur." Soren shot back. Alfred muttered something under his breath but was otherwise quiet.
"Well they're interesting that's for sure." Matthew replied hesitantly. "That Gilbert one, he was rather loud and his brother seemed pretty quiet didn't he?" Soren nodded.
"Yea that's what I thought." Scowling, he covered an ear. "Gilbert really was loud. I seriously thought he was gonna blow my eardrum out."
"And then there was that girl he was arguing with. Wasn't it Elizaveta?" Alfred said, jumping into the conversation.
"Yea the one that sort of looked like a guy?" Soren asked.
"Don't be rude!" Matthew said smacking his arm. "I can't believe you nimrods actually couldn't tell she was a girl! She had really long eye lashes, big eyes, her hair was long too, albeit back in a pony tail but that's not the point! Just because the rest of her was a little more... boyish she was still girl like."
Alfred raised an eyebrow. "Matty, hate to say it but you've got long eye lashes. And big eyes, and longish hair. And you're not a girl, are you?" Matthew's face glowed red and he scowled irritably at his friend.
"That's not the point! You shouldn't be so rude to girls. You're lucky you're so good looking Alfred or you would never get a girlfriend."
Soren snickered. "Matty, he's never HAD a girlfriend, remember?"
"Hey I could get a girl if I tried!" Alfred muttered indignantly. "It's not like I've never been asked out or anything I just didn't like any of them!"
"You're so picky. Seriously Alfred." Matthew sighed.
"Speaking of girls. It kind of sucks that there's only one in our group. I mean, we're going to be competing against the other teams so it doesn't really feel right to get into relationships, you know." Sore pointed out, sighing into his hand. "Bummer. I was really hoping to get a new girlfriend."
Matthew rolled his eyes and Alfred let out a snicker. "You are such a player. I swear if I ever meet anyone worse then you I will eat those words but for now..." Matthew shook his head.
"Yea yea I know." The Dane laughed. "You've read me the riot act a thousand times before. I get it I'll be good." He said innocently. "Hey how much longer do you guys think this ride is going to be?"
"Dunno." Alfred replied, tugging at his damp blonde locks. "Wanna play DS?"
"You know it!" Soren grinned, already sliding the black electronic out of his bag. "Man I thought you hadn't remembered to bring yours."
Alfred snorted, pushing open the blue cover of his own. "Of course I brought mine. I mean what better way to spend downtime? Especially considering I won't have my Xbox."
Matthew pressed his hand to his forehead, letting out an exasperated sigh. "You two... I swear you are the biggest dorks I've ever met in my life."
"Does that mean you brought yours?" Alfred asked, pushing a game into the slot. Matthew rolled his eyes, but smiled and nodded.
"Yup I brought it. Can you put in a three player game though cause I forgot pretty much all of mine."
"You're on!" Alfred cried, pumping his fist in the air. The trio laughed, the sound of their happy voices locked tightly in the confines of the car. Pounding furiously on the game controls, the three boys spent the rest of the trip lost in their world together and pushing all thoughts of their odd classmates and the school to the back of their minds.
O ~ O ~ O
Alfred barely noticed when the car pulled to a slow stop, fingers still speeding over the game controls and eyes set on the screen intently. He'd never beaten Soren at this level before and now he was so close to victory he could feel a gloating smirk pulling at his lips. Finally! I'm finally gonna beat him!
"Oh no you don't!" Soren snarled from beside him, glaring furiously at the game. Alfred grinned triumphantly.
"I'm finally going to win!" He yelled, pumping a free hand in the air. Matthew muttered something from his side but he couldn't make it out and wasn't really trying to. Last star. Last star, last star and I win! He thought, working his way toward the top of the tower in the game. This was it! He'd won! And then suddenly, the door opened letting in a rush of air and surprising the Canadian sitting next to him. Matthew jumped, bumping into Alfred and knocking the game out of his hands.
"Ah sorry!" Matthew cried reflexively.
"Matthew!" Alfred shrieked, lunging for his game.
"To late I've got it!" Soren cried, raising his hands in the air and dropping the electronic. "What did I tell you? You can't beat me Alfred!"
"Aughh damn it!" Alfred swore, stuffing the game in his pocket. Sighing he rubbed the back of his head, extending his other hand to his friend. "Alright alright good game. But I totally had that one though and you know it! Next time I swear I'll beat you!" He promised.
"We'll see about that Mr. Hero." Soren laughed, putting his own game away. "Come on, I think we're getting kicked out of the car." Alfred blinked in confusion.
"What do you're mean we're..."
"Ehem. Sorry to interrupt but you three have to get out." A voice said from the open door. Alfred turned in surprise to see their young driver giving them a flustered smile and holding the door open. "Again sorry about that but you guys have got to get out and get to, well where ever everyone else is going." He said, jabbing his thumb behind him.
"Ah sorry bout that." Alfred said, grabbing his bag and following Matthew out the door into the drizzle. Alfred's eye's widened in surprise, taking in the scenery around him. "Where... where the heck are we?" He murmured. "We're so not in a city anymore."
"You're in the country side sir. At the edge of the unoccupied side of Sherwood forest actually. It's about an hour drive to any real town from here." The man replied. Alfred cocked his head.
"Sherwood. Why does that sound familiar? Oh! That's where the story of Robin hood was said to have taken place right? Ah yea I remember now. I read about it in a book although I don't remember which one... Wait but there's a part that people don't come to?"
He nodded. "That is correct. This side of the forest is off limits to visitors because of this academy, and it's a good few miles to that border from what I know." He laughed, patting Alfred on the back. "Sorry to say but you guys are pretty much isolated."
"Wonderful." Soren muttered, covering his spiky blonde hair with his arm in an attempt to shield himself from the rain. "Just what I need."
"I've heard the academy is a little way's into the forest but you won't have to find it by yourselves. It looks like there's someone waiting for you over there." The driver said, pointing past them. The boy's shifted their attention to see a small group forming next to a large statue directly outside of the forest. It was an odd looking thing, the stone sculpture. It didn't look to be of any sort of animal, but it certainly wasn't the statue of a person either. From here, it looked more like a giant 'X'.
"Oh thank you, that must be where we're all meeting." Matthew said, nodding politely to the man. Tipping his hat, the young driver stepped back into the black car and with a resounding screech, pulled away leaving the boys alone.
"Hey you three get over here! You're the last ones!" A female voice called from over by the statue. A woman with short red hair waved furiously at them, beckoning them over. Throwing each other side way's glances the boys jogged over to the group. As they neared, Alfred frowned and turned sharply, pointedly walking toward the opposite side that Arthur stood. He caught Matthew rolling his eyes and winced inwardly. I'll apologize later or something He decided. Just not right now.
"Right then." the cheery woman began. "Now that we're all here let's get to your cabin's shall we?"
"Cabin's?" Elizaveta asked. "Are you being literal?" the woman nodded, still smiling brightly.
"Why yes of course! Each team has a cabin; a house of sorts that they live in. Oh but I'll explain the rest when we get there. The academy is actually still a little way's off but don't worry you'll all see it come Monday. Now there is a stone path leading into the forest. It's important that you always remember never to go off the path. It doesn't seem easy to get lost but trust me it is. Oh and it looks flat now but you'll be walking up stone stairs pretty soon so don't run." She chuckled. "Now let's get going, the lot of you."
Alfred swore he heard something of a collective moan from the group, but nonetheless everyone started forward, following the red haired woman onto a stone path.
"Oh I'm Katherine by the way. If any of you need any thing don't hesitate to talk to me about it." She said brightly. Alfred slowed his steps ad allowed himself to fall to the back of the group, Matthew and Soren flanking his sides.
"Alfred this is ridiculous. We can go faster then this, come on." Soren muttered. Although small groups of them were chatting amongst themselves, there was still a sort of silence that hung about the students, threatening to revive itself at any moment and so Alfred was glad at that the hushed tone his friend spoke in.
"Didn't you hear her? She said save your energy. Besides, those two are at the front. I'd honestly like to avoid them for as long as physically possible." Alfred argued.
"Alfred you're going to be living together. I'm sorry but completely avoiding interaction is going to be impossible." Matthew sighed.
Alfred ignored his comment, pulling his hood over his head to protect himself from the light drops still falling. "The single and only reason I would go up there is to eavesdrop, but I won't do that because it's not right." Alfred shot back. Matthew threw his hands in the air in defeat.
"Yes fine alright. We'll say back here. Happy?" Matthew muttered.
"No way." Alfred whispered, not really paying attention to his friend. Matthew frowned, setting his hands furiously on his hips.
"Well I'm sorry excuse me for..."
"No no look guys. It's actually a cabin." Alfred hissed, pointing into the woods. And there it was just as he said it would be. A medium sized wooden cabin with and odd design and unreadable words over the entrance just off the stone path where they stood. Large scraps of metal lay in a disarray about the cabin surrounded by what looked like at least a dozen tool boxes giving the log house an odd sense of abandonment.
"Look there are more!" Matthew said, motioning further into the woods. The boys peered through the tree's eyes darting across the landscape, and they realized their friend was right. There were cabins everywhere, dotting the woods far off into the distance of the forest up and down the hill and most likely past where their own eye's could see.
"That's crazy! So we're living in one of those things?" Alfred asked. Soren shrugged unknowingly.
"I guess we are."
"You three catch up. You're falling behind!" Katherine called from the front of the group. Tearing his eye's away from the odd looking cabin, Alfred hoisted the strap of his bag more securely over his shoulder and sprinted up the stairs after the others. Not even a day in and I'm already falling behind. He thought miserably.
"By now I'm sure you have all spotted the many cabins dotted throughout the forest." Katherine began as the group continued its trek up the stairs. "Each of these belongs to another house, one of the teams you all are competing against as well as learning with. Every house must design a logo, a symbol that represents them, as well as a house name. Once your name and crest are decided, you are free to do as you please with your cabin. Within reason of course. Any questions so far?"
"Can we paint it?" Feliciano chirped. Katherine chuckled and shook her head.
"No not the outside. But you may paint the inside if you would like at least in the rooms where the walls are not wooden."
"Are instruments allowed in the cabins?" Roderich inquired pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
"Hm. Well small ones I suppose. Although if you didn't bring one with you don't expect to be getting one anytime soon." She smiled. "However we do have an orchestra room in the main building that houses all of our instruments. So if you ever want to practice or check one out, they're all there. Now then. Your cabin is this way." She said, pulling off the main steps and onto a side path along the side of the hill.
"This section is pretty steep so there aren't any cabins right along here. It flattens out a little further in, although I believe the lot of you are still set on something of a small hill." She explained. "The cabin closest to yours should be a bit past the bottom of the hill you all are set on."
"I wish she'd stop telling us what it looks like and hurry up and get us there." Soren muttered viciously. Alfred punched his shoulder lightly, shaking his head.
"Lighten up it's not that bad a climb." He argued. "Besides if our cabin really is this far up we're going to have to get used to this."
"Wah!"
A flustered cry of surprise echoed through the forest, followed directly by a loud thud and the crunching of leaves. Alfred rushed forward, mind churning in concern for the owner of the shriek. The young boy from Japan, Kiku Honda lay awkwardly sprawled along the steep steps a startled expression adorning his features as if he was trying to make sense of what had just happened.
"Dude you ok?" Alfred asked, stepping to his side and offering his hand to the flushed boy. He nodded numbly, gently grasping Alfred's hand and allowing himself to be pulled to his feet. Alfred felt Matthew and Soren rush to his side, throwing worried glances at each other.
"Thank you very much." He said quietly, looking to his feet. "I don't know what happened there I must have tripped on something. I'm sorry to have made you go out of your way to help."
"Are you alright back there?" Katherine called. Alfred blinked in surprise at the realization that their peers were watching them.
"Oh yea we're fine back here." He called up. "Kiku just slipped it's alright."
She nodded and motioned for the rest of the group to cease their staring and to continue their journey to the cabin.
"Rearry thank you very much." Kiku said again looking down at his hands.
Alfred laughed rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "Hey it's alright it wasn't any big deal. That looked like hurt man you better make sure you didn't break anything there. Oh hey let me get your bag. It must hurt to walk after a fall like that." He said suddenly. Before Kiku could get a word in, he was jogging down the steps and snatching up the boy's small white duffel bag.
"Man this thing is light." He cried, swinging it over his shoulder. "Is there actually anything in here?"
"Just some clothes and such." He responded nervously, taking his bag hesitantly from Alfred. Ahh am I scaring him? Alfred thought worriedly. He is sort of quiet I guess it would be no surprise that I seem a little much. Ugh but I don't want him to hate me after all we have to work together! Maybe I should…
"Hey! What are you doing Kiku can take care of himself!" Alfred blinked out of is trance, mind snapping back to reality to recognize the speaker. The other Asian boy, Wang Yao was standing protectively next to Kiku, hand on his shoulder and giving Alfred a stern look.
"Oh. Sorry he just looked like he needed a hand and I don't make it a habit to leave people when they're in trouble." Alfred said biting his lip nervously.
"Yao it's ok." Kiku murmured, pulling the others hand off his shoulder. "He was very kind to help me." An almost amused expression slid onto his face and he tilted his head. "Besides I didn't see you making any rush to help."
Yao's face burned red and he shook his head. "But I didn't even realize you'd gotten so far behind! I thought you were just a little behind me the whole time I swear! So when I heard someone fall I figured it couldn't be you! Ahhh but then I realized you weren't with me so I came back to check! I'm sorry my friend I should have been more careful."
Kiku shook his head. "No it's alright. Thank you. But... just how far up were you Yao-san?"
Yao shrugged. "I was nearly at the top of the stairs. Katherine had told me to just go ahead if I wanted to."
"Seriously?" Soren asked incredulously. Alfred watched as Yao and Kiku blinked in surprise at Soren, as if the two had just realized that Alfred's friends were there.
"Ah yes. Well I figured I might as well get up there." Yao replied awkwardly. "Um you were Soren right? And you," He turned back to Matthew cocking his head. "Matthew correct?" They nodded, extending their hands.
"Yes that's right." Matthew smiled, taking Yao's hand. "It's a pleasure to formally meet you."
"The same for us." Kiku replied, exchanging Yao's hands for his own. "Ah and um…" He turned slowly to Alfred, hand hesitantly out stretched.
Alfred grinned broadly slipping his hand into Kiku's small one. "It's really nice to meet you both. I hope we can all be good friends." Yao nodded politely and Kiku gave him a small smile before pulling his hand away.
"You think we should catch up to the rest of the group?" Soren prodded, jerking his head toward the slowly acceding students.
"Probably." Alfred chuckled. "Alright then let's catch up!"
O ~ O ~ O
"Finally!" Alfred muttered, wiping the arm of his coat across his brow. "It's freezing out here but I'm sweating like crazy! Do we always have to trek like this just to get to the cabin?" The group stood on a small crop of open flat land wedged between the trees and looked up at the continuing steps to their cabin. It sat at the top of a small hill, densely surrounded by trees. Alfred had almost missed it when their guide had first pointed out the house.
"This is your cabin." Katherine said, interrupting Alfred's tirade.
"Another hill?" Gilbert groaned. "I don't want to climb a hill that steep just to get to my room!" Alfred caught Katherine rolling her eyes and held back a snort of amusement.
"It's just a small one." She sighed. "And don't worry there's a map on the inside of your cabin door that shows you how to get to the academy grounds. You don't have to go up and down that hill anymore alright?"
Cheers of relief echoed throughout the group and Alfred felt himself smile. No more awful hills.
"As you know already, you begin classes in two days. You have that long to devise your team name and crest. How you make your crest is up to you, but it must be hanging above your cabin by the end of the week, understand?"
"I'm not sure I do." Antonio piped up. "Are you saying we actually have to not only design a crest but actually make one?"
She nodded. "That's correct. When a crest is designed, each team puts the emblem over their cabin and turns in the drawn design. When you get your uniforms at the end of the week, you will also have a sash for your arm adorned with your crest. It helps the teachers know who they're giving or taking points from, as well as informing the other students what house other's are from."
"Question." Tino called out, raising his hand. Katherine nodded, granting him permission to speak. "Why do we need to do all this crest stuff? I mean I do understand the value of team work but how does…." He trailed off blinking slowly and narrowing his eyes thoughtfully. "Oh!" He cried, a wide smile sliding onto his face. "I understand! Having something to identify with strengthens the bond in a team, and creating our own name and emblem also means we have to work together. Right?"
She nodded. "That's correct. Teamwork is an incredibly important aspect of our academy, so the first thing each new house does is a teamwork activity. Now. I'm going to let you go and send you all up to the cabin. Another woman should be by in an hour or so to fit you all for uniforms and give you your class schedules."
"But we didn't pick classes." Gilbert interrupted.
She smiled pleasantly, nodding. "That's correct. The school chooses your classes for you. Of course all first years have to take a group of set courses, but your extra curricular and more advanced classes were chosen based on information gathered from your previous extra curricular as well as the classes you seem to have had the most success in. Hmm what else…" She trailed off frowning to herself. "Oh right room assignments. You of course Ms Elizaveta will have your own room. The rest of you however have been randomly placed into pairs. The person you've been paired with will be your roommate for the entire year. No switching. No asking for changes. And don't try to just room with someone else and think we won't notice because we will and you'll be punished." A groan rippled through the group.
"And I'll tell you now, none of you are paired with students from your own school."
"Aw man!" Soren hissed. She was met with several other shouts of protest, but after a couple seconds, the raised voices died down.
"The room listing is posted in the kitchen, along with the money for your weekly allowance. Each week every house is given money. There's a small town just north of the academy for student use only. There are food stores and markets, among other things and students are permitted into town whenever they please except for during school hours. How you use the money is entirely up to you, but you don't get anymore then you're given. Teams can earn and lose money based or points earned the week previous. Any questions?"
"This system is fucked up." Gilbert muttered just loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Now," Katherine continued once again ignoring his outburst. " Go ahead up. And good luck this year. I hope to be seeing you all around the school often." She said smiling. With a final nod at the students, she turned and began walking back down the stone path. The group looked at each other nervously.
"W'll I ge'ss tha's th't." Berwald said suddenly. They all tossed each other surprised glances at the tall blonde's sudden words.
"Right then. We're off." Alfred smiled. He turned to Matthew and Siren, tossing them wide grins as he sprinted away. "I'll race you to the top! Bet you a thousand bucks I'll win!"
"You're on!" Soren yelled, scrambling up the stairs after him. Alfred laughed, arms pumping at his sides, reaching for the cabin at the peak of the hill. So this is it. This is the beginning of my new year. He thought smiling thoughtfully. Abandoning his thought and tripping over his feet, he stumbled up to the door and tore it open.
"Made it first!" He called back to Soren gleefully. Which means I get to check the room assignments first. He thought, worry suddenly churning in his gut.
"Hey don't go in without the rest of us!" He heard Soren call through the open door. He glanced around the room he was standing it. It looked like a living room. The walls were wood, the very logs that the outside of the cabin was structured from. On the left side of the room stood a sizeable fireplace, surrounded by a black sofa and one small wooden chair. Overall it was a rather plain looking room. He cast his eyes further into the house, the next room, and saw that he had found the kitchen.
Unlike the living room, the walls appeared to be normal plaster; the parts not covered by cabinets a crisp white. The kitchen was about the same size as the room where he stood, although f e had to guess he would have said it was a little bigger. Granite counter tops stretched around the room, a small island filling up the center of the room. The cabinets, a similar color to the wooden logs, were polished and new looking with a bright sheen to them.
"Hmm where's that list?" He murmured aloud. His flitting eyes rested suddenly on a sheet of paper on the edge of the Island. "Aha!"
"Alfred!" Soren jumped up behind him, grabbing Alfred abruptly by the shoulders.
"Wah! Hey Soren!" With an awkward "ompf" he fell to the ground pulling the Dane down with him.
"What was that for?" He whined, shoving his friend roughly off him.
"Sorry." Soren shrugged innocently. "I wanted to see the list before you."
"Yea well I'm going to see it first!"
"Bloody hell it's not a competition." A voice seethed from the front door. Alfred felt his muscles tense in unease. Arthur. It was the first time he'd heard the Briton speak since their initial meeting in the conference room, and his mind was already wandering back to his promised apology. Standing stiffly and brushing himself off, he turned and gave the boy a narrow look.
"Well you're loads of fun aren't you?" He muttered tersely, pointedly turning away from him.
"Wanker."
Alfred tensed his fists at his sides. Don't let him get to you don't let him get to you don't don't don't. He turned suddenly to face him, mouth open and a ready retort ghosting his lips.
Before he could get a word in however, he felt a shoulder push by him, knocking him unsteadily off his feet, and causing him to fall against the counter.
"Hey!" He snapped angrily at the bushy eyebrowed blonde. "Watch it!"
"Then you stay out of the way." Arthur retorted. Alfred bit his lip, glaring furiously at him and watching his eyes skim rapidly over the list.
"Kirkland, Kirkland Kirkland." He murmured to himself, finger sliding along the names and pausing at each one.
"Kirk…." His voice hitched in what Alfred could only guess was surprise as he watched as a horrified expression slid onto the Britons features. What's he so upset about? Alfred wondered, glancing down at the list. He allowed his eyes to find Arthurs finger on the page, curious as to what had elicited such a reaction out of him. And then found himself in the same jaw dropped position. Because there, next to Arthur's name was none other then his own.
A/N: Ohhh drama XP This chapter is a little slow and I apologize for that but I wanted to start building group relations and let the gang really get a feel as to what they're getting in to. I also apologize for the ameripan type scene... to be blunt I hate that pairing nearly as much as I loath fruk (and I honestly want to kick that off the edge of a very tall cliff) so please don't worry! I loooove Kiku and althoguh i dislike ameripan I do happen to like the friendship feel between the two (basically how I feel about arthur and francis's relationship lol) Just felt I should put that in there, as some authors do jump around shippings in their stories from time to time XP
Oh yea. once again my french... *sigh* I'm going to have to start getting my actually french speaking friend to edit those parts or something... soo when someone out there finds an issue with it (which they will) please please tell me!
C'était une bonne sauver. - It was a good save, huh?
And one more thing. I don't think I'm going to include Yao's 'aru' in his speech as it's not something the chinese actually say and it's just a japanese joke making fun of the way they talk... I believe I read XD if you guy's really want it I'll put it in but i'm still not sure... oh also sorry once again for sweden I reallly need to figure out how that accent of his works...