It's HERO time! Oh, and that other guy too (who?).

Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me nor am I being paid to write this.

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After visiting the pandas at the zoo back in China, Alfred and Matthew headed east. It was there they found themselves at another doorstep, waiting patiently for the owner of the house to answer the door.

"Ah, Alfred-san, what are you doing here?" asked the man once he opened the door.

Alfred grinned. "Kiku! Long time no see! We were just in the neighbourhood saying hello the whales when we decided to drop by."

The Japanese man looked confused at the word "we" but quickly composed himself once he saw Matthew standing next to Alfred. "Ah, please come in."

"Hey, you redecorated!" Alfred said, looking around the living room. While it was still a very traditional Japanese home, Kiku had added modern touches here and there. An iPod speaker was placed next to incense sticks on the low tea table, and several gaming consoles sat in front of a plasma television.

Kiku bowed. "Arigatou, Alfred-san. Please, have a seat and I will bring in refreshments." After another bow he left the North Americans to themselves.

"Asians are so polite!" Alfred said as he flopped down. "Always offering refreshments and bowing."

Taking a seat next to his brother, Matthew nodded in agreement. "Kiku may just be the most polite of them all. Didn't you destroy his window while trying to get in one time?"

Alfred laughed, flushing slightly. "It was an emergency! I needed his help to scare the crap out of Arthur!"

The two were still chatting when Kiku returned. "I was not expecting visitors, so I apologize if the food does not suit your tastes."

"Japanese food is great!" America said, helping himself to some sushi. "It helped me lose weight and get awesome again!"

"A week later you were back on a diet of hamburgers and cola." Canada rolled his eyes.

Alfred shrugged. "Hey, a hero needs his hero food!" He happily popped another California Roll into his mouth. "But this stuff's awesome too!"

"Thank you for your compliments, Alfred-san. Please, help yourself." Kiku added, smiling at Matthew.

The three ate in comfortable silence, savoring the unique taste of the sushi. Even Kumajirou ate a couple of bites. Soon all the food was gone and Alfred had let out a burp of appreciation, rubbing his belly contentedly. "That was delicious!"

Matthew frowned at his brother's lack of manners before smiling at Kiku. "Thank you, the food was very good."

"I'm glad you both enjoyed it." Kiku replied, smiling back. "Now, why have you two decided to visit my home?"

"I – we didn't tell you?" Matthew flushed red out of embarrassment. He and his brother had simply walked in and eaten Kiku's food without telling him why. "I'm sorry! That was rude of us!"

Kiku raised a hand to stop the panicking Canadian. "That's alright, Matthew-san. Your brother has done this many times before. It's a western tradition, is it not?

"It's more of an Alfred thing, really." Matthew replied as Alfred looked away sheepishly.

"Anyway, we're here because we're on a mission!" Alfred exclaimed, grinning.

Kiku sighed. Knowing Alfred, this 'mission' could very well be about discovering the perfect hamburger recipe. "What sort of mission, Alfred-san?"

"Why, a mission to save a grumpy, furry-browed damsel in distress!"

So it wasn't about hamburgers this time, Kiku thought. "Do you mean Arthur-san?"

Nodding his head, Alfred continued. "It seems that he's been captured by a dark, evil, perverted force that wants nothing more than to strip him of his –"

"Alfred!" shrieked Matthew. "This is Francis we're talking about! He's not an evil and dark force and we don't even know why he's taken Arthur!"

"Francis-san has taken him?" Kiku's eyes widened in shock while Matthew nodded his head. "I knew he was very determined when it came to love, but never to this extent."

"This is exactly why we need to save Arthur!" Alfred slammed a fist onto the table, rattling the Japanese tea cups. "Who knows what that frog is doing to him?"

Matthew was quick to grab Alfred's still full tea cup. "As you can see, we're very concerned about his wellbeing. So we were hoping that you could maybe help us?"

"Of course, I can do all that I can." Kiku nodded, "Arthur-san is a very close friend of mine."

"Yes!" Alfred cheered. "That's just what I wanted to hear! Now what I'm about to ask you is very serious."

Smile disappearing from his face, Alfred reached out and firmly placed his hands on Kiku's shoulders. Staring him straight in the eye, he asked "When France came over to sexually harass you, where did you go and how long did he keep you there?"

Kiku's face turned a red that could rival Antonio's tomatoes. "W-what are you talking about?"

"You were on his list." Alfred replied. "Crossed out and everything, which means he was here sometime ago."

"I-I don't know…"

Alfred leaned in closer so that his nose was inches from Kiku's. "This is no time to be a prude. Now's your chance to help save a poor British man from a Frenchman's perverted clutches of doom! Are you going to deny Arthur his safety and innocence just because you're embarrassed?"

Kiku faltered. The American had a good point. Arthur had been his friend for a long time and if he really was in trouble he should do whatever he can to help him. But still, he had promised that he wouldn't say anything, and he always kept his promises.

While he was debating it over in his head, Alfred and Matthew watched him intently. When Kiku opened his mouth to speak the two leaned in closer.

"When Francis-san came over –"

"ANIKIIII! I'VE COME TO CLAIM YOUR BREASTS!"

The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the traditional Japanese home. The door to the living room slid open and in rushed Yong Soo, eyes searching for Kiku. When he spotted him by the table he let out a delighted squeal and tackled him to the ground.

"Kiku! I haven't seen you in so long! Are you avoiding me? First Yao and now you! Remember, your breasts are mine!" he said from on top of Kiku.

"Y-Yong Soo!" Kiku gasped, trying to shove him off "Please, get off me! I have guests over!"

Yong Soo blinked. "Guests?" He turned around and finally noticed Alfred and Matthew sitting there, gaping at the Asians open-mouthed.

"Alfred! I didn't know you were here!" Yong Soo said, getting off of Kiku. He looked towards Matthew. "Is that a clone? You know, clones originated in Korea!"

"Yong Soo, it's me, Matthew. You come over to my house all the time." Matthew sighed.

Kiku groaned and sat up, glaring at the Korean. "Yong Soo, please remember your manners next time. Don't speak of such… crude things in front of Alfred-san and Matthew-san!"

"But your breasts are mine! I've laid claim to them!" He reached forward and grabbed Kiku's chest without warning. "No one can take them away! Not even that Francis!"

Kiku yelped and tore Yong Soo's hands away from his chest. "You must take responsibility for your actions!"

"Hold up, hold up," Alfred, who'd been watching the scene with a mixture of disgust and curiosity, said "What do you mean by Francis can't take them away?"

Yong Soo pouted. "That French man is really perverted! He once took him to–"

"No!" Kiku slapped his hand over Yong Soo's mouth before he could say anything more. Ignoring Yong Soo's muffled protests, he turned to the North Americans and said "Alfred-san, Matthew-san, I'm sorry but I have to ask you to leave."

"But –" Alfred began but Kiku was already pushing them out the door.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help." Kiku said just before closing the door. "Please take care of yourselves." After a slight bow to them the door clicked shut.

Alfred and Matthew stood there in silence for a moment, confused as to what just happened. "I had no idea Yong Soo had such… hobbies."

"Me neither." Alfred replied "Man, those guys are weird."

"Too bad we didn't get any info. Yong Soo interrupted before Kiku was about to answer us." Matthew sighed.

"What are you talking about? We got info!" Alfred said, hopping off of Kiku's porch and heading down the street.

"Eh?"

"Well, Kiku mentioned that Francis visited once. Then Yong Soo said he was really perverted. Since Kiku's not into the whole touchy-touchy thing while Francis is, that must mean that Francis did something perverted to him!"

Matthew was unconvinced. "But we don't know if that's really what happened. Francis may be a huge romantic but he wouldn't do something like that!"

"In any case, we're one step closer to finding Arthur!" Alfred pumped a fist into the air.

"Alright," Matthew replied "Where do we go now?"

"Lithuania! No, we should go to Greece! Oh, but I'm in the mood for some Italian right now…"

"Alfred! We're not going to Italy just so you can eat!"

"I know, I know. I'm multi-tasking! Hey, let's decide on that later. I want to head over to the nearest manga store first. I hear they've got some new stuff at my favourite one! C'mon!"

Alfred grabbed Matthew's hand and tugged him along. Matthew tightened his grip on Kumajirou and sighed. No matter how much of a hero he may claim to be, Alfred would always be an idiot.

[End Chapter 13]

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I hadn't planned to write this chapter. I was supposed to move on with Fairchester but I thought that I should give Alfred and Matthew some time to shine. So I really started to write with very little idea of what was going to happen. But hey, this gave me a chance to use Korea!

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