A/N: This chapter is very short…sorry.

Chapter 5: Duplicity

"…I think he's getting up…"

Alfred let out a moan as his eyes slowly opened. Looking over him was a worried face.

"It's Alfred right? How are you feeling?"

Once his eyesight was completely focused, Alfred noticed who was speaking to him was Elizabeta. The one who caught through his fibbing earlier quickly. But why was a person who was ranked second taking care of him?

Alfred was laying back into some sort of bed in the Infirmary, so he sat up. "W-what happened?"

Elizabeta sighed. "A couple of days ago Kiku came back with you unconscious after the two of you went after a clone. Kiku was worried sick about you, so he stayed with you in the Infirmary without any rest. I eventually offered to him that I would keep watch for you so he could get some rest. He accepted."

"Kiku…Kiku…Kiku…?" Alfred mumbled the name under his breath until something hit him. Sudden images of Kiku's lifeless body hanging flashed across his eyes.

Alfred suddenly screamed in a high voice. "K-Kiku! Kiku!" he wailed loudly.

"Calm down! It's okay." Elizabeta said in a quiet soothing voice. What the hell, was she trying to calm him down? Kiku died!

"N-no! Kiku died! I saw him die!" Alfred suddenly flailed, wanting to get up from the bed he was on.

Elizabeta gave Alfred a look as if he was being delusional. "Kiku is fine. He explained something about you hitting your head hardly, which resulted in you being in a comatose. We wrapped up your head the best we could."

Alfred began to tune out Elizabeta as she spoke about how he should relax. No way it was true. Kiku really could not have brought him back underground, could he? He was dead, Alfred was sure of it (though he didn't like it).

"…A-alright. Can I at least see Kiku?"

Elizabeta nodded. "He would probably want to know that you're awake. I'll go get him." She then walked away from Alfred.

Alfred sighed, and looked off from where he was. He had his own little space in the Infirmary. Had he really been unconscious this whole time? Perhaps what happened with Kiku was some sort of dream? An illusion?

"A-Alfred!" Quickly a shorter person ran towards him. It was Kiku!

Alfred tried to say something, but no words came from his mouth. He was astonished and happy to see Kiku.

At first Kiku studied Alfred's features, like he was trying to remember what he looked like.

"…Kiku?" Alfred was finally able to say something.

Kiku suddenly perked up. "Oh, Alfred! I'm so sorry! I really shouldn't have taken you with me! It was dangerous!"

Kiku went on and on about either how wrong he was, how sorry he was, or how he'll never bring Alfred into danger like that again. Something didn't feel right.

Alfred couldn't believe it, but he didn't want to be near Kiku. "Um hey Kiku?" he spoke up through Kiku's upset speech.

With a delayed reaction, Kiku tilted his head at Alfred, wondering what he wanted. "Ah, what is it Alfred? Is there something you need?" Kiku nervously asked.

"Uh, actually, yeah. Could you get me some water? Thanks, bro!"

Kiku happily agreed to get him some water before heading to the Diner. Alfred huffed. He hated thinking about it, but could it be possible who he was speaking with wasn't actually Kiku?

"Don't be a dumbass, t-that can't be true…" Alfred shakily whispered out loud. Kiku is alive. He just seems a little off since apparently he was in a coma for some time. Eventually everything would be normal again. Plus, how would a clone find the United Resistance? If Kiku brought him back underground like Elizabeta had said so, it had to be the real Kiku. Nothing else.

Yeah! Alfred thought. Hah, it must have been a pain to carry me! Like, how tall is Kiku anyways?

"Here you go," Kiku suddenly interrupted Alfred's thoughts. In his hands was a small glass of water. "do you need any help?"

"Dude, I'm not a baby. I'm pretty sure I can handle drinking water without any help!" Alfred teased. Though, his hands were shaky.

Kiku chuckled. "…Okay." He slowly handed the glass to Alfred.

Alfred took a slow sip and handed the glass back to Kiku.

"So…anyways," Kiku tried to start a new topic slowly. "do you remember anything before you hit your head that day?"

Why was Kiku asking this? He couldn't tell him what he thought he remembered was, right?

"N-no, I don't. Sorry." Alfred sighed, shaking his head.

Suddenly Kiku looked upset and he glanced down. He began to stroke a small bit of his hair.

"W-why, is there something I'm supposed to remember?" Alfred awkwardly asked.

Kiku slowly shook his head, but didn't say anything.

Alfred bit onto his lower lip. Obviously something wasn't right.

"You're…y-you're Kiku…right?" Of course he is! What the hell am I saying?

Kiku's gaze then met with Alfred's, and he tilted his head. "Huh?" he then tilted his head to the other side, "Well, what do you think?"

Alfred blinked with a confused face. "W-what kind of answer is that? It's a simple yes or no."

Kiku then looked at Alfred with a blank stare. It was like he didn't listen to Alfred's last statement, and was waiting for him to answer his question.

"Um, it doesn't mean it's true since I hit my head and all…b-but you're not Kiku?" Right then Alfred wanted to slap himself across the face due to his stupidity. He literally just called Kiku a fake.

"…" For a moment Kiku didn't respond. Instead of telling Alfred how wrong he was, he instead busted out laughing. "Correct, correct! That's my Alfred, figuring out things so easily!"

Alfred felt himself gasp for air. 'Kiku' immediately noticed Alfred's distress, and he forced himself to limit his laughs to chuckles.

"Oh Alfred, you're so cute when you're scared! But don't worry, it's not like I'm going to give this place away, right? I would've done it by now if I were to! Even when I used a drug to make you unconscious, I could've killed you! But I didn't."

By this point Alfred was shaking. He couldn't even manage to scream for help. "Then w-why are you here?"

Once again 'Kiku' tilted his head. "Why I am here? See Alfred, you ask the best questions!" Suddenly 'Kiku's' face began to flush a light pink. He neared Alfred and began to stroke his cheek slowly.

"For you of course! And only you. If you weren't here, I wouldn't care about this place at all. But oh, you are! So, I'll always make sure you're safe."

Alfred tried to scoot away, but Kiku pinched his cheek as some sort of punishment.

"Always."