A/N *Guess whose back? The (few) results of the poll are in~! With this, I have decided on the course of the story, all the way until the end~! (I've been dilly-dallying up until now, just writing whatever.) Most people preferred not having Italy-cest, with the only pairing being USUK. It also appears that more lovey-dovey scenes must be added~ Now, for the most important question, most people seem to want to stick with Arthur and Alfred~! However, an equal amount added together wants to see Japan's battle and follow everyone around. So, I shall compromise. ;3 The result is the promised 2800+ word chapter upon my return! This is a special Kiku-san chapter about his battle as well as stuff that happens during it. After this, it's Arthur and Alfred until the end. Enjoy~! And yes, I am a Nihon-san fan. (: *
Ch 9
Kiku settled back in his seat, closing his eyes. If he and Yong Soo managed to defeat the Indian Ocean, then 2 of the 4 bosses would be down. A drop of sweat rolled down from his face and he hastily wiped it away, as if trying to hide it from invisible eyes. Had he been wise in sending Feliciano back? Had he overestimated his own abilities? He shook it off with simple explanation.
I must be getting paranoid in my old age.
It wasn't in the country's humble nature to call his "paranoia" bravery.
"Korea-san, dip down here," he spoke, sighting a large island within the expanse of blue. It shimmered, the reflection of the waves dancing around it. Upon their landing and his disembarkation from his jet, Kiku observed that it seemed to be a cheery place. Trees swayed in the warm breeze, and in the distance, a large fortress loomed. The walls were made of polished marble, and the turrets extended elegantly, stairways curving around them, stretching for the sky.
"Is that the headquarters of the Indian Ocean?" Yong Soo alighted from his jet, his landing causing two small grooves in the sand. Kiku watched the shifting of the shimmering particles as Yong Soo kicked his feet, causing showers of yellow dust to intersperse in the wind.
"Yes."
"Then let's go!"
-xxx-
"STOP DYING!" Alfred wailed, setting down his controller.
Arthur sighed, watching the screen depict: ZhuGe Liang slain! once again, to his severe disappointment. He had chosen that character because he seemed gentlemanly and smart, but hey, he fought with a fan. Alfred turned on his multiple-eyebrowed companion, frowning, "How can I be a hero when my sidekick is an idiot?"
"Your sidekick?" Arthur sputtered, "Who're you calling your sidekick?!"
"You." Alfred retorted, as the stage reset. Picking up a controller, he smacked a button a few times and watched with satisfaction as Zhao Yun sent a few warriors flying with his spear. By this time, Arthur had already lost half his HP and retreated for the camp, searching for dumplings, which restore your life points. Immediately, the warriors that had been assaulting him turned their fury on Alfred's character.
"England! What're you doing?" Alfred squawked, as an enemy general also came to assault him. Zhao Yun's HP was dropping, and fast. "I need backup! I'm getting beaten up by Cao Ren!"
"I'm looking for dumplings!" Arthur shouted back, watching ZhuGe Liang sincerely glide around back at his camp, at a most deliberate pace. "Give me a second!"
"What happened to teamwork?" Alfred yowled, "I'm not going to last much longer!"
"Hold on! I found a pot!"
Eagerly, Arthur guided his character up and whacked the said container. To his immense satisfaction, it held a full-recovery. He swallowed it and had already gotten on his horse to help Alfred, before Cao Ren performed a combo one last time. Zhao Yun groaned and slumped to the floor. Already used to it, Alfred powered past the game-over. He groaned and, still staring at the menu screen, asked, "While we're back at camp looking for dumplings, how do you think Japan is doing?"
Arthur could not think of a reply.
-xxx-
The alarms sounded. Kiku bit back a sigh and, bending over, attempted to assist Yong Soo in pulling himself through a window.
"Hurry!" Kiku hissed, and with one last heave, Yong Soo came through the window. Immediately, he lost his balance and toppled over, crashing into Kiku. Japan gritted his teeth as the back of his head made contact with the cold marble floor. Some help he had.
"Stop, intruders!"
The familiar figures swathed in black rushed in, their guns directed towards the two Oriental countries. Kiku groaned softly in annoyance and, shoving Yong Soo off of him, got to his feet, katana in hand. He easily sliced through the group that had made it into the room and, mentioning for Yong Soo to follow him, took off.
The two sprinted through the castle. According to the blueprint that Feliciano had found on the ship, the room of the Indian Ocean was located in the back of the fortress, just beyond a large ballroom. Silently, Kiku disapproved of such a floor-plan. Who needed a ballroom in a stronghold?
"Look out!"
Glancing up at the sound of Yong Soo's voice, Kiku spied a bullet rushing towards him. Hastily, he grasped a suit of armor and dove behind it. He cursed himself for letting his thoughts wander. Korea had already equipped his gloves and taken the stairs onto a balcony.
"This is for nearly killing Aniki!" he shouted suddenly.
Letting out a yell, Yong Soo punched downwards. Immediately, a shout of pain was heard. Whirling around, he kicked another person behind him, the force of his foot lifting up the unfortunate man and sending him, screeching, over the railing. Almost immediately, the first snipe that Yong Soo had assaulted followed in the plummet.
"Th-thank you." Kiku muttered after the energetic nation had returned to him. He was rewarded with a wide grin.
"No problem."
Suddenly veering off to the right, Kiku struck out with the hilt of his sword, forcing open a door. It swung inwards to reveal a short set of gracefully curved stairs that swept inwards into a ballroom. He blinked, a bit astonished at the flickering lights in such an area. A large chandelier hung in the middle of the circular room, framed by smaller lights. Their crystals caused splashes of rainbow radiance, skipping along the slopping walls and entryways equally spaced every few feet. Across the expanse of the dance floor, he glimpsed a gleaming beige door, which was no doubt the entrance to the quarters of the Indian Ocean.
"We've got them!"
Black figures poured in from every entrance, charging across the ballroom in what seemed to Kiku to be an incredibly intimidating dance. Yong Soo had already leapt forward, his hot blood boiling for more combat. For almost an hour, the two Oriental countries fought back to back, renting their way through the enemy.
"Aniki~" Kiku could hear his name being called through the haze of red, "This won't do."
There was a small pause as Kiku shifted, his katana cleanly severing through four bodies.
"You're getting a little tired, aren't you?" Yong Soo continued, knowing that he had the silent country's attention, "If we both wear ourselves out with these small fry, there's no way we can even look on the Indian Ocean, much less fight him."
"Your point is?" Kiku asked, a lull in the battle giving him purchase to glance quickly upon his companion. The normally boldly smiling face was quite serious, and the odd bounce in that strand of hair that stuck up was abnormally solemn.
"I think you should go ahead. I can hold back everyone."
Kiku's eyes widened in alarm, "Are you sure?"
The corners of Yong Soo's lips twitched upwards in an attempt at a smile. With a large wink, he gave Kiku a thumbs-up, "Let's go!"
He launched himself wildly into the fray, striking left and right, clearing a path for Japan. Gritting his teeth, Kiku followed him, making a wild dash for the door. He reached it safely and, with a hesitating hand upon the doorknob, couldn't help but glance back at Yong Soo one last time. Shaking himself, he strengthened his steadfastness and stepped inside.
The room was dark, a few candles scattered on tables here and there. There was the sickly sweet scent of an overabundance of perfume in the air as petals wafted here and there. There, stretched out upon a scarlet chaise lounge, was the Indian Ocean.
To say she wasn't anything like Kiku expected would be an understatement. First of all, he didn't expect her to be a "she." And especially not dressed in scanty clothing that would put even Feliciano to shame. It would be hard fighting an enemy that he could barely steel himself to look at. For a wild second, he wished that Yong Soo was here fighting the Indian Ocean instead of him. But he knew that it wasn't to be.
"I've been expecting you, Japan."
The best course of action in a situation such as this would probably be to charge. Without a word, Kiku rushed forwards, his katana directed towards her neck. She watched him coming with narrowed eyes, before shifting suddenly, smiling as Kiku's blade embedded itself in her couch. She grasped his wrist as he made to withdraw it.
"Silent, yet feisty," she whispered in his ear, "I like you."
He blushed and wrenched himself out of her grasp, taking a good portion of her couch with him. The Indian Ocean glanced with some dismay at the chunk of her sofa that Kiku had sliced off before drawing her own weapon. A whip as scarlet as her chaise lounge.
"Look at what you've done to my room," she grinned sadistically, "I'm going to have to teach you a lesson for that."
She struck out. Upon reflex, Kiku leveled his sword to protect himself. Suddenly the whip curved, easily sliding under his intended guard to strike him upon his leg. He had to bite his lip to keep from shouting in pain. She sighed, seeming to revel in his agony.
"I do love it when a handsome guy is aching all over."
Again the whip descended. Kiku threw himself to the side, but with a flick of her wrist, the ocean sent the coil of her weapon after him, striking the small of his back. This time, he could not prevent a small moan from escaping his lips, but he forced himself to his feet, hoping his quick counterattack could catch her off her guard. It did, but only momentarily. Recovering herself, she stuck out once more, catching him across the face before the blade of his sword was anywhere near her. Kiku gritted his teeth. With her being able to pick out his every weakness, how was he supposed to win?
-xxx-
Alfred was near hysterics. He had finally reached the boss, Sima Yi, and beaten him around for a bit. The sweet taste of victory had already wafted tantalizingly before his lips. Then the screen just had to show, once again, the dreaded: ZhuGe Liang slain!
"Why couldn't you hold out a little longer?!"
"I tried, you twat!" Arthur retorted, a vein visibly throbbing in his forehead, "Not my fault you keep rushing into enemy territory without giving a crap about ZhuGe Liang! What do you expect me to do with a fan?"
"If you don't like the fan, then play someone else," Alfred whined, his blue eyes seeming to widen and sparkle pitifully on their own. Arthur glanced in the other direction, feeling his face grow warm. Why the hell was he blushing at a time like this? "What about Gan Ning? He looks strong!"
"You expect me to play a shirtless pirate?" Arthur stammered, "A-are you barking mad? Forget it. It's time for my afternoon tea."
"Aww~" Alfred griped, "Come on, England, wait! One more round."
Arthur completely ignored him, already making for the door. Getting to his feet, Alfred tried to chase him. Instead, his foot got tangled in the wire of the Playstation controllers and, momentarily, he flailed his arms, attempting to regain his balance. Arthur turned around at his unintelligible cries, before his eyes widened as Alfred came tumbling down onto him.
"My foot's stuck!" Alfred wailed, seeming oblivious of Arthur sputtering underneath him, "What do I do? I'm panicking!"
Arthur closed his eyes, regaining his composure enough to think: If you're smart enough to notice you're panicking, that should be enough to stop, you twat! Suddenly, through Alfred's continued yowling, he heard Gilbert's voice from outside of the room.
"Don't you think that's a bit impossible? England can't be gay, can he?"
"But the way he looked at America!" Feliciano's tone sounded insisting.
"I still think it's over my head," Gilbert responded, but there was no mistaking the amusement in his voice.
"But it is rather unsettling, since Italy is the expert on love, aru," Wang Yao could barely hide the resignation in his voice.
"England?" Alfred spoke suddenly, drawing the said country back into what was happening in the room he was currently occupying. Alfred had momentarily given up his quest to untangle himself and had lain himself full-length across Arthur, inspecting his complexion, "Your face is pretty red, you know."
"Get off!" Arthur spluttered, coming back to his senses and grasping at Alfred's arms, attempting to shove away the larger country.
"At any rate, I'll put that idea on hold until I…" Gilbert's voice got dangerously close and, before Arthur knew it, the door had swing open and the albino country right in front of him. Gilbert noticed the commotion on the floor and glanced down, his eyes widening, "…see some proof for myself…"
"It's not what you think!" Arthur shouted wildly, in a desperate last attempt to protect his esteem as a gentleman.
A wide smirk had spread itself over Gilbert's face, "This is too awesome!"
"Heeeh~?" Felicano had also reached the room, peering in, "Already?! Prussia, come, come! Let's leave them be~"
"Sure thing." Gilbert grinned at the two one last time and, ignoring Arthur's protests, quit the room.
Alfred sat up, calmly undoing the wires around his ankles. After a few more minutes of struggling, he finally managed to extract his feet. Turning towards Arthur, who had been frozen to the floor in shock, he grinned, "What was that all about?"
Arthur gritted his teeth. Why did he have to go through so much torture and implied teasing from Gilbert while Alfred was completely oblivious? America was really an idiot.
Or was Arthur just really in love?
-xxx-
She had backed him into a corner. Sweat trickled from his forehead, soaking his black bangs and threatening his vision. The rush of his pounding blood roared into his ears. Fear blinded him from every angle. Kiku stretched out his hand, his katana feebly before him as the Indian Ocean advanced on him. With a lazy flick of her wrist, she wrapped her whip around the blade and forced the weapon out of his irresolute fingers.
"Man," she said, as she cracked her whip upon him again and again, "You're a total hottie, but I really feel for anyone who's depending on you."
Kiku's eyes widened. In his selfish apprehension of his own battle, he had completely disregarded friends that were waiting for him. There was Arthur and Alfred, both of who had probably awoken by now and were most likely worried half out of their wits for the Oriental country. There was Feliciano, who, though only useful when called for retreat, had shown so much uneasiness in withdrawing from the North assault team that he had almost weakened Kiku's resolve to rough it with only two people. There was Wang Yao, who, though brutally bullied by Kiku in the past, offered to fly up as fast as possible to help, completely forgetting about his own useless arm in his concern for other people. And even with the countries that hadn't known him long, or met him for the first time at the meeting, there had been a general unison of goodwill and advice. And Yong Soo. The young idiot was probably still battling off hoards of enemies in naïve trust that his Aniki would be able to pull through. How could Kiku have forgotten all these people? But now reminded, they seemed to flow together, offering the silent nation strength.
"You're right," Kiku responded, "You really should feel for them. I depend so heavily upon others that I never considered the possibility of winning until now." He glanced up, his eyes narrowed, "Until you reminded me of what wonderful people I have supporting me."
"You spoke!" the Indian Ocean squealed, not yet understanding that her defeat was now in sight, "I thought that it'd turn me off, but your voice makes me like you even more!"
She twirled, the red snake once again meandering forward for its final blow. As it neared him, Kiku swallowed the last of his trepidation and reached out, grasping it. The eyes of the Indian Ocean widened in disbelief. Kiku got to his feet, calmly brushing off his pants with his free hand.
"You rely too much on the fear of your enemy…," he told her, "…To care about what would happen if they gained enough courage to actually meet your whip without hesitation. That was your mistake. Now, be gone!"
And swinging the shocked ocean around, he let go of the whip, allowing her to collide with a wall in the room. Her head rammed into it with a sickening thud, before she slid down, motionless. Kiku sighed in fatigue. Now, he had to collect his idiotic companion and get out of here. But the Oriental nation couldn't help but allow himself a small smile. At least he had lived up to everyone's expectations.
A/N *As requested, there won't be as much battle-heavy chapters anymore~ I hope you enjoy. Please review, ect. ^ ^; Arthur and Alfred make a strong come-back as the main characters in the next chapter. Please look forward to it!*