The next morning is spent compiling a list of potential conspiracy-related issues over a breakfast of pancakes and syrup (it wasn't like the bottle Matthew had spilled the other day wasn't one of hundreds stocked in his refrigerator). They manage to develop quite the account before it's off to the airport to enlist the help of one of Alfred's friends. He doesn't elaborate on who, exactly, they're going to meet, but Matthew isn't concerned. For how much Alfred likes to boast about how many countries are his friend, Matthew is still confident that there's only two possible places they could be headed in a situation such as this.
He's proven correct when they step off the plane in Tokyo, Japan.
"It's late here," Matthew comments, fiddling with the sleeve of his sweatshirt a bit nervously. He doesn't want to bother the other nation when he would normally be sleeping.
"Ah, don't worry," says Alfred without the least bit of contrition. "He always answers the door when he's home."
Matthew thinks back to listening to a dejected France complaining about how Japan wouldn't give him the time of day after traveling all the way there to visit and compares it to Alfred's confidant remark. He wonders if there's something he's missing.
Despite the fact that Matthew is completely lost among the streets of Japan's capital city, Alfred maneuvers them almost as easily as his own, and drags his brother along at a quick pace that has Matthew stumbling every few steps.
"Hang on, Al," Matthew tries to protest breathlessly.
"We're almost there," Alfred promises.
It's another five minutes or so of twists and turns and finally they're standing before an unassuming traditional-style Japanese house that's slightly set apart from the others.
"Here we are!" Alfred declares brightly, before stepping forward and knocking loudly on the door (Matthew winces at the impoliteness.) "Kiku! Dude, it's me!"
"Alfred," Matthew sighs weakly.
They're only waiting for another second before the door slides open, revealing a slightly-disheveled personification of Japan.
"America-san?" he asks in mild confusion, rubbing at his eyes beneath his glasses. He notices Matthew hovering behind Alfred's shoulder and tilts his head. "And Canada-san? What are you two doing here?"
Alfred's grin slides a bit. "Dude, what did I say about the formalities? We're friends; just call me Alfred."
Japan's face colors a bit, and he nods. "I am sorry, Alfred. And..." He glances uncertainly at Matthew, as if unsure what to call him.
"Matthew," Matthew offers.
Kiku nods again. "Matthew." He opens the door a bit wider- an invitation for the two to enter.
Alfred's smile returns full-force and he gladly steps inside. "Man, I'm so glad you're here and not at your other house. That would've been a lot more walking."
Matthew stares at Alfred incredulously. He hadn't even known if the other nation would be here?
"Yes, about that," Kiku closes the door and turns to face Alfred and Matthew, eyeing the two carefully. "What brings you two here tonight? I was not expecting visitors- please excuse the mess."
(There's a single teacup on the table. A ball of fur that Matthew can't entirely identify as either a cat or a dog lays on a stray blanket in the corner of the room. The rest is spotless.)
For a moment, Matthew swears Alfred looks guilty, but the expression is gone faster than it came. "Sorry, dude, but oh man, it's crazy important." He pulls out the paper they'd written everything down on and opens it with a flourish. "So, first of all, we have reason to believe that Donald Trump is a lizard person."
Kiku looks startled, and Matthew, for his part, feels bad that he hadn't somehow given him any warning.
"Your president?"
Alfred winces at the title, but nods regardless. "Yeah, that guy."
Kiku glances at Matthew is if to confirm that yes, this is why the two countries had shown up at his house at such an unreasonable hour. Matthew shrugs.
"It makes sense," he admits quietly.
Kiku rubs blearily at his eyes again, exhaustion renewed. "You're serious."
"Yes! I mean, I know it's hard to believe, and Mattie wasn't convinced at first either, but just hear me out."
Kiku's face is still impassive as he thinks on how to respond. Usually, he's the first to agree with the boisterous young nation, but this is something he just can't bring himself to enable. "Maybe I should stop lending you mangas," he says softly, in such a way that displays he's seriously blaming himself and feels guilty for it.
"What? No! That has nothing to do with it!" Alfred looks hurt. "I have proof!" he shakes the paper in his hand again. "I saw his eyes change at a meeting the other day! I'm pretty sure human eyes don't do that."
Kiku sighs and sits down in resignation, knowing this is probably going to be a long night. "Perhaps it was a trick of the light."
Alfred falters, but continues valiantly, taking a seat beside Kiku. "And his orange skin? It's to hide his reptile-ly scales!"
"Or he just used too much spray-tan."
"But it would make sense if he was a lizard!" Alfred protests. "Otherwise how could he have beaten Chillary Clinton? She had the majority vote."
"Your government is a very confusing system," Kiku insists. "I am sure there is another explanation than that he is a lizard."
Matthew can feel his heart sinking with each rebuttal Kiku counters with. It all sounded so convincing yesterday...
"But his personality!" Alfred sounds practically manic, latching a hand on the smaller man's shoulder. "You can't explain that one away!"
"Well, I-" Kiku breaks off with a frown.
Matthew and Alfred wait with baited breath for a few moments in which Kiku seems to be thinking it over before he hesitantly speaks again. "Oh no."
"Ha!" Alfred shouts in glee, shaking the shoulder he's still hanging on to. "You believe me now?"
Kiku looks a bit flustered but doesn't request that Alfred quit touching him, and Matthew has to hide a grin in the sleeve of his hoodie (the smile fades quickly when he realizes there's no reason to hide it when neither of them are paying attention to him).
"I cannot disprove your theory," Kiku admits.
Alfred lets out another cry of victory before pausing abruptly. "Wait; that's not a good thing. What are we gonna do?"
"You were correct; this is urgent," Kiku concedes seriously. He leans forward as he thinks about their options, and Alfred's arm bends with the movement. "You must make sure he is being filmed almost all the time," he suggests. "That way, we can watch the footage and see if his eyes really do change like you said." At Alfred's betrayed expression, he hurries to say, "Not to say that I don't believe your claim, but it is best to have physical evidence."
"Yeah, and then what?" Alfred asks, leaning back on his knees (Matthew notes that his brother still hasn't removed his hand from Kiku's shoulder). "If we get our proof, what do we do? I can't just tell my whole country that they elected a freaking reptile!"
"We kill him." Matthew's as surprised as the other two that it's him that voices this suggestion. "Or, you know, get him to resign," he adds quickly at their shocked silence.
"Blackmail?" Kiku offers, not before shooting a wary glance in Matthew's direction.
"But we don't want to get on the reptile community's bad side," Alfred protests.
"Reptile community," Kiku repeats, and it was probably supposed to sound like a question but it comes out as more of a flat statement.
"Well, there can't just be one of 'em," Alfred points out. "How could it be that the only lizard shapeshifter on the planet just so happened to become the president of my country? And with as bad a campaign as his."
"Yikes," Matthew whispers.
"You may be right," Kiku frowns pensively. He closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. "I'm trying to remember which anime dealt with this type of situation the best..."
"We're basing our plans off an anime?" Matthew asks uncertainly.
"Any better ideas?" Alfred shoots a glance at his brother. "That don't involve assassination?"
Matthew falls quiet.
Kiku looks back up with a solemn expression. "Perhaps… We should seek other opinions on the matter."
Here I am, updating this yet again before my other fic. I am so sorry.
This was supposed to be the last chapter, but then I got carried away with the plot and who knows where it'll go from here.
As always, comments are always appreciated :)