The next morning, Arthur was gone. His bed was empty, and his shoes weren't at the front door. Francis sat at the kitchen table in silence, not hearing the short ringing noise. Last night had been awful.

A short while after Francis had seen them… kissing, there had been a quiet knock at his bedroom door.

"It's me," Arthur's timid voice called. "May I come in?" Francis couldn't reply. He couldn't bring himself to speak. He envied all other machines in the household, for none of them were sentient, and thus couldn't feel the sheer agony of seeing the man you loved kissing another person. Francis had been made for Arthur to love, and cherish, and trust… He had failed. The toaster never failed to make toast, the fridge never failed to keep food cold and fresh, the fire alarm never failed to warn other's of Arthur's cooking; he was the most advanced, yet most useless piece of technology in the house.

"I won't invade your privacy," Arthur said softly. "I just wanted to let you know that Alfred has gone. He won't be coming back." The house fell silent.

He hadn't eaten breakfast yet, his appetite was gone. Ring. What was he supposed to do? His only purpose on this Earth, the sole reason he had been created, was to make Arthur happy, but after last night, it seemed that Arthur was happy with Alfred. But, why wasn't Alfred coming back? Was it because of how upset Francis had been? That was wrong. Francis loved Arthur, he shouldn't stand in the way of his happiness…

He had to leave. For Arthur.

Ring.

He wasn't sure how to go about it, though. There was nowhere he could run away to; he wasn't a real citizen. He couldn't stay with his friends; that would make him a burden on their lives, like he was to Arthur. He could shut himself down, but he didn't actually know how to, and he didn't know where the manuals were kept.

Ring. This time, he heard the doorbell. He stood up, curiously answering the door.

"Hello, Francis-san," the small, Asian man greeted with a bow. "Is Arthur-kun at home?" Francis frowned a little, not sure who this man was, and why he was making strange noises after saying names. He assumed it was like Feliciano, when he said "ve".

"Arthur isn't in right now… Can I help?" He asked politely.

"You don't remember me, Francis-san?" the mysterious guest asked. Francis tilted his head slightly.

"I think… Are you the one who brought me here?" Francis asked, the guest nodding.

"Hai, I am Honda Kiku, Arthur's friend. May I come in?" Francis stepped to the side to let Kiku in. He closed the door, watching as Kiku took off his shoes at the door. "You know why I'm here, I presume?" Francis shook his head, honestly having no idea why Kiku had come. "Well, unless there are objections, I've come to take you away."

"Take me away?" Francis repeated. He'd been asking for this, just moments ago, but why was he reluctant now that the chance had been offered to him? Kiku nodded.

"Yes, the six weeks are over. I can take you back to Japan, fix the faults, and then return you to Arthur, and you'll finally be perfect for him," the small man smiled. "That's what you want, isn't it?" Arthur's perfect match? It sounded wonderful…

"Non," he whispered wistfully. "Arthur has something better than me. Alfred came back." He smiled weakly at Kiku. "Either destroy me, or make me perfect for someone else. Wipe my memory of Arthur." This was the only way… Kiku sighed, nodding slowly.

"This is what Arthur-kun wants?" He asked. Francis nodded. "Shall we wait to say goodbye?" Francis shook his head. The pain of the last goodbye would be overwhelming. "Then, are you ready to go?"

"Oui."

Before the word had left his mouth, Arthur walked through the front door, looking at Francis and Kiku with some bewilderment.

"H-hello, Kiku, Francis," he said slowly. "What, erm…?" Kiku bowed.

"Gomenasai, Arthur-kun," he apologised. "I'm sorry for the surprise, but the six weeks are over. I came to take Francis away to repair him, but he informed me of the circumstances, and his wishes."

"Wishes?" Arthur asked, not understanding.

"Yes. As you and Alfred are together again, he sees no need to return, and will be modified to suit another beta tester. I thank you for your participation in the testing process, but I must be going." He smiled sadly, turning to leave. Francis hadn't looked at Arthur since he arrived, and the Asian and the android were now walking down the garden path, leaving Arthur in the door way.

"W-wait!" Arthur cried. "C-can't I say goodbye?" Francis froze, looking over his shoulder at the Englishman. He turned, slowly walking back to the house, and to the man he loved. Kiku sat in his rental car, waiting.

"I hope you're happy with him," Francis said softly, genuinely meaning it. "I only want you to be happy." Arthur bit his cheek.

"I am happy," he told him, his voice cracking a little. Francis nodded, and turned his back, going to the car.

A hand grabbed his wrist. "I'm happy that I rejected Alfred last night. I'm upset that you misinterpreted the goodbye kiss. I'm happy with you." Francis slowly turned to face Arthur.

"But… You two looked so happy. You deserve more than an imperfect robot."

"You think Alfred is perfect?" Arthur scoffed. "He's far from it, and so are you, but who the hell wants perfection? Love needs conflict, tension, laughter and passion. You give me all those things. I love you, Francis." Arthur cupped Francis' cheeks in either hand, and kissed him passionately. "I love you," he repeated, burying his face in Francis' shoulder, wrapping his arms around the silicon filled, no, lean muscled body. "Please, don't leave."

Francis swallowed, slowly wrapping his arms around Arthur's waist. "Je t'aime aussi, Arthur," he smiled, feeling elated. "I'll only leave if you want me to."

"Don't go," Arthur whispered.

"I won't. I'll never go."

Francis no longer envied the other machines in the household, for none of them were sentient, and thus couldn't feel the love and adoration he felt for Arthur Kirkland.