Thank you all so much for the reviews/favs/alerts! I'm glad to see people are enjoying this : ).
As always, I don't own Hetalia.
"…and that's why they called me das meer geissel. I probably sunk more U-boats than then Drake did of the Spanish Armada!" Arthur had gone through about three full bottles of sake and was well on his way into a fourth while Kiku was still on his first cup; there was a strict rule at the club that hostesses were forbidden to have more than two cups of alcohol so as to not interfere with their duties. Kiku preferred not drink at all during a shift, no matter how many times Arthur insisted on filling his cup. Kiku knew Arthur wouldn't want to drink alone and if he wanted to earn his additional commission, he was going to have to get Arthur to drink, even if it meant wetting his lips. He picked up the cup and placed it against his lips, pantomiming the act of taking a sip before setting the cup down and fluttering his eyelashes at Arthur.
"Oh, Asa-san, your stories are always so interesting…please, tell me more…" Kiku asked in a coy, high-pitched voice. Arthur's faced flushed a bright red, to which Kiku wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or something else.
"Now, Kiku, you don't want to hear me blather away the night." Arthur mumbled sheepishly before ordering another bottle of sake.
"Listening to Asa-san speak is a very enjoyable way to spend an evening." Kiku protested, filling up Arthur's cup with the remaining dregs of the fourth bottle. Arthur leered before grabbing Kiku's wrist and pressing a light kiss to his hand.
"I think I could think of a much more enjoyable way to spend an evening that doesn't involve talking…" Kiku felt his face grow hot at Arthur's comment; quickly, he glanced around to make sure no one else had heard Arthur's remark and saw that Yao was looking straight at him, elegant eyebrows raised in amusement.
"Asa-san should not say such things…" Kiku stammered as Arthur dropped his hand and placed it on Kiku's knee.
"Then you shouldn't leave yourself open like that," Arthur said, slowly inching his hand up Kiku's leg, "someone might try and take advantage. And then I would be very upset."
"And why would Asa-san be upset?"
"Because I wanted to be the first to take advantage." Kiku tensed up, Arthur had never been this forward with him before and he had never invaded his personal space like this, with the exception of kissing him on the hand or on the cheek. Of course, Arthur had never gone through four whole bottles of rather high-end sake before either, so perhaps that played a part.
"Asa-san, please do not talk like that…" Arthur's hand was still steadily creeping up his leg and Kiku knew that if he went any higher, Arthur would definitely feel something that was not supposed to be there. Quickly, he placed his right hand over Arthur's in order to halt his movements. Arthur pouted before picking up his hand and rubbing his thumb over the smooth skin.
"Aw, don't be so prudish, Kiku. Live a little." Kiku swallowed hard, Arthur had definitely had too much to drink.
"I'm not being prudish, Asa-san, I'm being cautious." Arthur rolled his eyes in mock annoyance, a slight smile evident on his lips.
"All you girls are the same. Never want to put out but all too happy to string us along with the promise of a shag that'll never happen." Kiku smiled, now Arthur was beginning to sound like his old self.
"And you soldiers are all the same as well, Asa-san. Only looking for one thing, even when you have someone waiting for you." Arthur chuckled at this.
"Oh, my dear sweet, naïve Kiku. How little you know about me."
"Perhaps if Asa-san would tell some more of his stories instead of making silly passes, I might know a bit more." Arthur gave a hearty laugh before kissing Kiku's hand again.
"Alright Kiku, you win. Here, let me put another bottle of sake on your tab and then I'll tell about my time in Africa." Arthur said before motioning to Wan to bring him another bottle.
It was sometime after three in the morning when their shift ended and all the boys had headed back to their respective bases and Yao, Yong Soo, and Kiku were slowly making their way back to their apartment in the chilly October air.
"Ivan managed to get a pass for this weekend, so he wants to take me out, aru." Yao was saying as they headed home. Yong Soo rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"So you're going on those date things now. Tch, where's he taking you?" Yao smiled as he shrugged his shoulders.
"He mentioned something about a club that was near the base, aru. Said a lot of his men go there on the weekend, aru." Yong Soo set his face in a dreamy smile and sighed in mocking.
"Oh, it sounds positively romantic…"
"Be quiet, aru! I don't see them taking you out!" Yong Soo gave Yao a lecherous grin at that statement.
"We don't have to go out to have a good time." Kiku didn't find it too hard to ignore his brothers' bickering because the only thing his mind could focus on was Arthur and how he had acted towards him. It was not uncommon for the men to put an offer on the table, whether or not that offer was accepted was up to the discretion of the girls. Kin had made it clear that the club property could not be used and any money or gifts involved should be accepted up front. But it was Asa-san, Kiku thought, the one who would never hesitate to purchase an expensive drink just so Kiku could get his commission or tell him a story of his summers spent by the sea. He had been under the impression that Arthur saw him as a friend, as someone with whom he could pleasurably pass the time but now that belief had been distorted. Kiku gave a soft sigh, he really did enjoy the Englishman's company and if they were to become intimate there would be a few obstacles in their way, mainly the lack of a vital piece of equipment. He really didn't know how Yong Soo managed to pull it off without getting caught and he was always amazed at Yong Soo's success. Amazed as well as envious, for Kiku knew that as soon as he attempted to pull it off, it would probably backfire spectacularly. And most likely violently. A small part of Kiku thought he was over thinking this, because prior to tonight, Arthur had never really shown any inclination of wanting anything more than pleasant conversation and a willing audience. It had to have been the alcohol.
"Oi, Kiku, you want to join us in the real world for a bit?" Yong Soo was poking him in the arm, bringing him out of his thoughts.
"I'm sorry, I had something on my mind…" Kiku apologized to which both Yong Soo and Yao waved off.
"Its alright. We just have one question, aru." He nodded to indicate that they could ask and instantly regretted it when he saw their mischievous grins.
"So," Yong Soo began, draping an arm across his shoulders, "what were you and Asa-san discussing this evening?" Curse Yao, Kiku thought as he felt his trademarked blush creeping up his neck, he should've known he would say something to Yong Soo.
"He was telling me about his time in Northern Africa, if it's any of your business." Kiku said, partially telling the truth, only to earn of a snort of disbelief from both brothers.
"Northern Africa, hm? Is that their new slang now, aru?" Yao giggled as he flipped his hair.
"Come off it, Kiku. Yao saw the good Captain getting nice and cozy with you. I understand he had his hand on a very delicate spot. Thought he already had someone back home?" Yong Soo teased as Kiku shook his head.
"No, that isn't the case. Asa-san had a lot to drink tonight…"
"Oh! Liquid courage, I see!" Kiku groaned, this had to have been the most difficult walk home with the exception of their very first night. He buried his face in his hands, desperately trying to think of a way to change the subject; glancing up quickly, he noticed that Yao was carrying a small jeweler's box in his hand.
"Oh, Yao, what is that you're carrying? Another gift from Ivan-san?" Yao smiled sweetly at the mention of Ivan. He carefully opened the box and pulled out a small ruby brooch. It was edged in scalloped gold and the ruby was a deep blood red, it definitely seemed like something Ivan would give.
"He saw it yesterday and said that it reminded him of me, aru…" He delicately traced the edging, thinking about how Ivan had set the open box in his hands, giving him such a shy smile and saying how he hoped that Yao would accept this small gift on behalf of him and the Red Army.
"It's beautiful, Yao. Ivan-san is quite gifted with…gifts." Yao blushed at that, carefully setting the brooch back in the box.
"True! Every time he sees you, he always has something for you!" Yong Soo added as they finally arrived at the complex. It was true, at least twice a week, whenever Ivan came to the club he would have some kind of trinket or gift to give to Yao and whenever he gave it to him, he always ended with "on behalf of the Red Army and myself." Considering that Ivan was a lieutenant colonel, that part was the truth.
"Well, I can't help it that Ivan-chan is very generous, aru!" Yao said as he opened the door to the apartment, turning on the lights as they entered after removing their shoes.
"Hm, Ivan-san is only generous because he wants something and soon you'll end up like poor Kiku, getting your leg felt up." Yong Soo said before dissolving into a fit of giggles. Kiku sighed, he really had hoped they had dropped it, but knowing Yong Soo, who could never let anything go, knew that wasn't going to happen. Kiku knew he could expect about a good week and a half of teasing from the younger boy and that was only if nothing embarrassing happened to him for the rest of the week. Shaking his head, he headed back to the bedroom to ready himself for bed.
Bedtime was a ritual that the brothers looked forward to each night. It allowed them to remove the dresses and the make-up of their public personas of women and allowed them to be men again, if only for the night. All make-up would be removed, hair decorations stored in the vanity, and dresses hung up neatly in the closet. After everything was put away and pajamas were on, they crawled into the shared futon in birth order: Yao on the left end, Kiku in the middle, and Yong Soo on the right side. Depending on how long the shift had been, they would either talk for a bit about their clients (which was against club rules but it wasn't like Kin could hear them) or reminisce about their youth in the village, but most nights they would fall asleep quickly. Tonight, Kiku was hoping it would be a "fall asleep quickly" night. He was not in the mood for anymore of Yong Soo teasing.
He was right in one aspect, it was a fall asleep quickly night but not for him. Yong Soo dozed off first and Yao soon followed him, smiling slightly at what probably was the start of a pleasant Ivan-themed dream. Kiku was not so lucky: Arthur's words and actions from earlier in the evening were looping through his mind, making for a night of uneasy sleep. He hoped that tomorrow wouldn't bring any awkwardness for him or Arthur.
This chapter was kind of heavy on the Arthur/Kiku, but I guarantee you, it does server a purpose ;).
"das meer geissel"=the sea scourge.
To answer one of the reviewer's questions: no, the boys don't know that Kiku, Yong Soo, and Yao are guys. Everyone, with the exception of a few (who you'll probably find out later) think them to be women.
As usual, keep reading and reviewing!