Day after bloody day, more and more people flood onto my doorstep seeking aid. The end is still far off and hazy. If someone had told me that I would have gone from living an average British lifestyle to running an in-house business, I would have laughed at their stupidity. Everything still would have been so if it was not for the blasted git and his bloody challenge! Yet, even as I say this, earning extra money for my pockets isn't a bad idea. Who knew that so many people were desperate to see their futures? Or devious enough to request a curse?
The buzzing slices through the air, disrupting any chance of relaxation that had remained. I groped blindly at the table by my bedside, desperately attempting to halt the ringing. An inhuman growl erupted from my throat, and I buried my head within the comfort of my pillow. Out of everything that I had given up to accept this challenge, sleep is easily the factor that I missed the most. I reluctantly raised my head, only to have my eyes meet the darkness. Sighing, I dragged myself out of bed.
Lazily getting ready, I relied only on the blazing '5:32' that was illuminated upon my clock. After the countless minutes that I spent sluggishly prepping myself for the long day ahead of me, I was finally awake. As the thought dawned upon me, I raced down my stairs in hopes of digesting something before the insane decided to intrude upon my house at this early hour. Before I could even open the fridge the echo of the doorbell reached my ears. Sighing, my arm slumped to my side and I slowly made my way to the front, my hunger not satisfied.
Opening the door, I wasn't surprised by the sight of the dark-haired male. His hazel eyes radiated as bright as ever, even through the heavy darkness. Kiku is the only one whom I know that can express their emotions with only their eyes, and leave the rest of their face unmoving. Currently they depict his complete and utter distress. His worry only increases my interest of what he may be asking.
"Arthur-san, I'm seeking solace!" Japan hastily bows, being as formal as ever.
"What's depressing you?" I casually lean against the open doorway, not even bothering to toss on the black cloak that I've grown accustomed to over my time of assistance. I'll merely use the dark as a substitute to shroud me.
"R-right," the male clears his throat, his hesitance tainting the air. "Alfred-san already answered this question for me, but I wish to be certain." Taking a deep breath, he finally prepared himself to pose the question, "Will I ever truly be accepted by you and the other nations?" His issue caught me off guard, and I desperately fought to keep my composure. Why would he ask such a this –wasn't the response obvious? And why did he talk to that git before me? Stopping myself from lashing out at poor Kiku was a difficult feat.
It took me a few moments, but I managed to calm the on-coming storm. As I reach into my pockets to pull out a deck of 78 cards, the dark-haired male remained still, wide-eyed and worried. Gently placing my finger tips upon the top card, I prepared myself for something that I've not done often. How difficult can it be to read tarot cards?
Concentrating on what little I know of black magic, I focus on the deck in my possession. The simple solution was to pretend to gaze into a crystal ball and see the answer as positive, but putting on a show such as this as all the more worthwhile.
I heard a gasp of amazement part from Kiku's lips, and I felt a smirk touch my own. Even as I could not see my own reflection, I knew exactly what he was witnessing. Not I or anyone would ever grow tired of this display. The night itself enveloped me, and a violent hue intertwined within the mix to create what one could call an 'aura'. Another word for a presentation such as this was power.
Said power slinked off of my body and onto the cards that I was holding. Even as they appear to be unmoving, I knew that they were shuffling themselves with great speed. Withdrawing back into my abode, I turned to the lone table that I had just so conveniently placed near the entranceway. I quickly cut the deck into four even piles, and took the top cards from each of these. I placed the four cards into an all too familiar pattern: the first above the other three, which were lined evenly into a row.
"Ten of pentacles, eight of wands, four of pentacles, and ten of wands," I read the titles aloud in their respective order. A frown found its way onto my lips as I added, "All of them reversed."
"Is everything alright, Arthur-san?" Kiku nervously enquired, his voice nearly reaching my ears. I nodded absent-mindedly, focusing all of my attention upon the prediction before me. As I registered the meanings of each, I began to realize the cards played in both our favours –I would even dare call it a class S reading.
"This is the question you posed," I tapped the first card in the formation, as well as urged Kiku to witness this for himself. I waited until he had inched himself next to be before continuing. "You're always helping others and refusing to speak up, because you worry about the others' impressions of you. It ties in with the question that you outwardly asked," without pausing, I tapped the second card –its neighbour to the south-west. "This card represents the hardships that past influences have placed upon you," I began, "Your worry over being accepted has put your heart at unease. Now you have difficulty focusing clearly, and you tend to think so much before you actually talk that you end up missing the opportunity to speak at all." I remark. Japan merely nodded as if he were scared to speak. I pray that he views these as accurate as well.
"Third is offering you information to ponder upon," I indicate to its respective card. "Confusion will get the best of you if you allow your insecurity to overrule. Obstacles are on the horizon, so meet them head on, and don't back down!" A smirk found its way onto my lips as I prepared myself to reveal the remaining card. "Finally, there lay the answer to the resolve that you seek...-you're wasting energy worrying about this!" I pause for dramatic affect, with the sliver of chance that he needs a more direct answer. "That's the fancy way for saying yes, you will be accepted," relief floods across his features as I reasoned the response as positive.
"Thank you so much, Arthur-san! Alfred-san deemed the same, but I'm much more relieved to hear this wondrous news from you!" He took my hand in both of his, and gave me a frantic handshake with a small smile on his lips. A smile of accomplishment found its way to mine as well –take that you bloody git!
After a quick farewell and a small payment to my pocket, everything fell back to silence as I found myself a chair. Sitting down was more than a gracious reward, though the clinking of the coins in my pocket caused me to believe that it was more. Peeking out a nearby window, I cursed at the rising sun, seeing as I had no time to sneak a nap. I intently watched the horizon as it welcomed the new day, until something else caught my eyes –it was impossible to believe! Another figure was already making their way towards my house, their vision focused intently on the ground. I nearly fell off of my seat from the mere amazement of it all. If Francis decided to come ask me for advice, he must be exceedingly depressed!
Disclaimer: I do not own Arthur, Kiku, Alfred or Francis - Hidekaz Himaruya with his genius has that honour! Here's to History classes with a twist~ X3
Note: Fifth theme completed in what I would like to call soon after the fourth. Not entirely true, I know, but I'm proud none the less. Though, I am slightly saddened as well –I had hoped that I would have more opportunity to write during the summer! None the less, I have no control over time, or the events that pass me by. I wish I did (with a lot of other stuff) but sadly the world does not work like that. Thanks for sticking with me and my laziness to post –I hope you stick with these themes! Please review if you can!