Kiku had reached the fourth floor.

He had wasted quite a bit of time bandaging himself and resting, even eating the onigiri to stop the headache that was forming. He hadn't eaten since breakfast and the walk up the mountains, as well as the blood loss, had left him weakened.

When he had finished treating his wounds, he had decided that he should go back into the library-perhaps, now that he was prepared, he could kill the…creature…that had attacked him. The darkness of the library worked against him, though, and after the blinding brightness of the hallway, he could barely see. He had ended up hitting his hip on the corner of the table, inciting pain and a small curse. It had also caused something to drop off the table with a metallic cling! Kiku spent a few minutes searching, heart beating fast, before his hand closed around the thing. He retreated to the lighter hallway to examine it.

Made of bronze, the key was smaller and much newer looking than the key to the library. It had sent Kiku on a search for what it unlocked, leaving the library behind-the door carefully locked, of course. Just because he had not encountered that thing did not mean that it was not in there.

What was that, anyways? It was not like anything I have ever seen before.

The new key did not fit any of the locks on the first floor, nor the second. Not even on the third floor. With a heavy heart, beginning to suspect the key of fitting nothing, he ascended to the fourth floor, where, miracle of miracles, he found the door that it fit.

It opened a door to a large room, at least, large by the fact that it took up nearly half of the fourth floor, which was smaller than the rest. Dark wood on the floor, white walls, a desk and chair, a bookshelf, drawers, and a table-the only things Kiku paid extra attention to was the fabric door in the corner and a bright red leather chair pushed up against the wall.

He made a systematic search of the room, checking the desk and the drawers and trying to open the fabric door. Nothing of importance showed up. Boredom replacing his apprehension, he wandered over to the bookshelf to see if there was anything interesting there. He noticed something sticking out from behind it-something white and rather soft looking. He moved the bookshelf to the side, revealing a large white creature, little more than a pillow with eyes and, Kiku noticed, a pair of glasses.

"Ah, a mochi," he muttered, taking the odd creature in stride. "Are you stuck?" The creature replied with several noises somewhere between a meow and a yip. Kiku bent down to see where it was stuck.

"I can't get you out, not like this," he said, evaluating the situation. The mochi was caught in the wall behind the bookshelf; pushing it to the side as Kiku had done accomplished nothing. He would have to lift the bookshelf away and then pull the creature out from against the wall.

"Poor thing. I think Germany may be able to get him out, though," Kiku said, realizing that the German's superior physical strength would be much better suited to the job. "I wonder if he would come here for that. I may have to simply drag him out." I should see if I can find Germany again, first.

He descended the stairs rapidly, going down to the second floor where he had last seen the German. The door to the smallest bedroom was still unlocked-why did I think it would be locked?-and he went inside, hoping that Ludwig had returned from wherever he had gone.

What…?

There had been a fabric door in the corner. Now an iron door stood there, impenetrable and dark. Kiku stared at it in horror and fascination.

Is it just my imagination? Or had this door actually been here before?

He was doubting his own memories now-if he didn't hurry, it was quite likely that he would go quite insane. The Asian nation frowned in annoyance before rapping his knuckles smartly against the door. Germany went in there, after all.

"Germany? Do you have a minute?" he asked, trying to keep a level tone despite how crazy he felt.

"Is that you, Japan?" came the reply, and Kiku let out a sigh of relief. Ludwig was behind the door. "What is the problem?"

"Ah, well, there's this mysterious…creature…stuck underneath a bookshelf on the fourth floor," Kiku started, deciding not to call the mochi by name. He was unsure whether the German would know what a mochi was. "I feel sorry for it, so I was wondering if you could get it out…."

"I see." Ludwig sounded somewhat annoyed. "I will go and get it out. I have a favour to ask of you, though."

"If it is something that I am able to do, I will help you," Kiku stated, moving back a bit from the door.

"Well, while I was running, I dropped my whip. I would like a weapon, just in case something…happens while we are rescuing this creature. If it is not too much trouble, could you go and look for it?"

The whip! Kiku looked down to where the weapon was tied to his belt-he had completely forgotten to return it the first time he had found the German, preoccupied as he was with calming the other nation down.

"I have your whip," Kiku said, a bit sheepishly. "I found it a while ago."

"Ah…"

"Here, I'll pass it too you," Kiku said, untying it from his belt. He looked at the door for a moment, wondering if Ludwig would open it, before realizing that there was a slit such as was used for mail in the middle of the door. He passed the whip through it. "I found it in the bedroom next door."

"Ah, thank you," came the soft reply. Kiku waved his hand in a no matter gesture, only to remember that the other could not see him.

"Not at all, I only found it by chance," he said. "Now, can we go to the fourth floor-"

"Ah, Japan! I'm sorry, but…."

"Yes, Germany?

"I'm….I'm, actually, I'm hungry too. Do you have anything I could eat?" Kiku tilted his head, the tone of confusion and the deflecting statement unlike what he was used to hearing from Ludwig.

"To eat?" he murmured, thinking about it. "I'm sorry, but I didn't bring any food with me. And I don't think we can use the kitchen…" He tapped his fingers against his chin, annoyed that he had already eaten the rice ball.

"Please, can you find something for me to eat?" Ludwig asked, and Kiku sighed, beginning to get irritated with the man.

"Where would I find food in this house? That is an impossible task!"

"Please, Japan! I have no strength right now. Anything is fine; just find me something, please!" Kiku sighed.

"All right, I'll look again," he said. I have to look for Italy and Prussia as well, anyways.

"Thank you, Japan!" Ludwig said, sounding rather relieved. "Ah, have you possibly found my brother?" Kiku flinched slightly at the blunt question that would point out something he had failed at.

"No…" Kiku replied, eyes downcast. "But he should be fine." Somehow.

"I am sorry for all the trouble, Japan." Kiku heard a sound like cloth moving on cloth, he took a step closer to the door. "Ah, take this with you." Out of the slot in the door dropped a glass bottle that Kiku only barely managed to catch. On the label in large print was the word "BEER". Kiku sighed. A drink? And beer, at that? However, he hid whatever disappointment or aggravation he felt.

"Thank you very much, Germany. I'll be going now, then."

"Alright."

Kiku turned to leave, putting the beer in his pocket, where it stayed awkwardly. He was almost out when-

THUMP

-he turned around at the noise, worried that maybe the thing had come.

THUD.

There-behind Germany's door. He walked back over the door and stood next to it, ears strained to catch any noise. It was only when the noise of a saw picked up that he relaxed, realizing that it was simply Ludwig building something. Just what on earth is he doing in there? He wondered, walking away.

He descended to the first floor, sighing and figuring he'd simply look through all the rooms again. He paused at the bottom of the stairs, thinking of going to the kitchen, but the sink hadn't worked when he had gone there for water. Feeling crazy, he went to the bathroom and carefully examined the entire room from top to bottom.

"This toilet…it seems that I can buy something from it if I insert money," he murmured, looking at the switches and dials on the thing. He fished in his pockets for coins and came up with some money, which he fed into a slot after a few moments of searching. One of the buttons was labeled 'onigiri'. He decided that rice balls would have to do.

Somehow the toilet produced the rice ball-Kiku wasn't quite sure how, and he wasn't quite sure he wanted to know, either. All he knew was that one minute there was no rice ball, the next, there was. Kiku pocketed it and left the room, shaking his head and wondering what had just happened. This house was for a madman, apparently.

He left the bathroom, and, on a whim, tried the door at the end of the hall. It opened, much to his surprise, and he entered to find himself in a room darker than the library, so dark that even after letting his eyes get used to the darkness he couldn't see anything. Where's the switch? He ran his hands along the wall, hoping to find it. Relieved to find it, he flicked the switch and turned to look at the room.

Oh god it's there it's there what is it-

It was attacking, before Kiku could draw his katana, before he could react in any way but to simply slap it, across the face. Grey skin, smooth skin, oh what is this thing-

"YoU….WOn't….Esc…aPe…"

-was it talking or was that his own thoughts? It's mouth never moved-he struck again, curling his hand into a fist, hitting the rubbery skin and hoping that it felt pain-

"YoU….WOn't….Esc…aPe…"

Stop it stop it stop it get out of my mind-it hurt, the voice hurt, it was like thorns across the back of his eyes, but now he had his katana in hand, he slashed, finally showing something like a true fight-please let it run, let it run, get away from me-

"YoU….WOn't….Esc…aPe…"

And this time it wasn't just his head that hurt, the wound on his arm hurt, his skin crawling-stop it stop it get away stay away go-and he shouted, a loud roar of pain and fear and anger, and the thing flinched, it wasn't expecting it, but it was only surprised for a moment, and in that moment of panic Kiku was hitting it again, forgetting the blade that was in his hand, eyes rolling and just wanting it to go, go away-to leave him alone-

"YoU….WOn't….Esc…aPe…"

It attacked! Claws ripped into him again, across the chest, breaking through fabric and skin easily-what is this thing get it away I don't want it stay away-hitting it again, human hands only doing so much damage-get away get away get away!

CLICK.

The lights went out. Kiku took a step back, heart racing, eyes wide, head throbbing like he had had too much to drink. It turned the light off? Is it going to-

CLICK.

The lights went on, and the room was empty. Whatever it was, it was gone now. Kiku looked around, breathing heavily, blood leaking from the new wounds he sported. Suddenly he remembered that he had not come to the house alone. Italy. I'd better hurry. Still, he took the time to rifle through the room, finding yet another key. He also cleaned up his wounds the best he could, ate one of the onigiri-they seemed to help him heal-and was on his way.

Returning to the second floor took a bit of time, he tried the new key in all the different locks. He decided to delay returning to Germany for a bit longer after deciding that finding Italy or even Prussia was more important. Kiku found the door the key unlocked on the second floor, down the hall from the stairs and on the opposite side from the room that Germany occupied.

Warily he entered the room, relieved to find the lights on. The room was paneled in the same wood and had the same white walls as in the other rooms on the floor, but it was there the similarities ended. Two beds, not one, stood in a different corner, and there was no desk or drawers of clothes. Instead, standing in between the beds and looking to Kiku like a war victim, was Prussia.

Gilbert's back was turned to Kiku, and although the Prussian did not seem to be shaking like his younger brother had been, Kiku was afraid that he might take off running if the smaller nation startled him. He quietly locked the door, hoping that would stop the albino from leaving if Kiku snuck up on him. Kiku walked across the room to Gilbert, making no effort to hide his presence, but it wasn't until he was standing right behind him that Gilbert noticed anyone else was in the room.

"Who's there?" the Prussian demanded, swinging his fist and turning around in one motion so that it was all Kiku could do to dodge the punch.

"C-calm down! It's me!" Kiku said, taking a few steps backwards in case Gilbert didn't trust what he saw.

"Oh, it's you, Japan?" Gilbert said, lowering his fist. "Sorry."

"Are you all right?" Kiku asked.

"There-there was a monster! I saw it!" Gilbert shouted. Kiku found it hard to believe that Gilbert had ever felt confident, much less cocky, about traipsing around the haunted house, not with the way fear colored his voice now.

"A stark-naked giant the color of a rotten scone!" Gilbert continued, and Kiku sighed-Gilbert was still himself, after all. Gilbert seemed to take the sigh as a sign of disbelief. "It's true! We all saw it. Me and West and Italy, too!"

"Yes, I know," Kiku replied, wishing he didn't know and feeling his wounds all too clearly.

"Before I knew it, I'd wound up here. Those two…I don't know where they went. Am I making any sense?" Gilbert asked.

"Yes, quite," Kiku replied, hoping he sounded reassuring. "I saw it, too."

"What the hell is that Thing?!" Gilbert asked. After a slight pause, he added, "Oh, and, what happened to the others?"

"Please, calm down. Would you like me to bring you something to drink?" Kiku asked. He didn't have the answer to either question, so he deflected, something he was used to doing in his country.

"What?" Gilbert asked. His tone suggested that Kiku was crazy for thinking of such a thing. "Oh…now that you mention it, I guess I am a little thirsty. Do you have some water or something?"

"No, but I can go and get you some. Would you like me to?"

"Yeah…no, wait. Never mind, I don't really need it. What happened to the other two?"

"Germany is on this floor," Kiku replied. "He claimed he was hungry. But I have not found Italy. Do you have any idea where he could be?"

"What? Italy is missing? Do you think he was attacked by that monster…." Gilbert asked, trailing off as he started to realize what the monster could have done to Feliciano.

"We cannot be a hundred percent sure…but he's very good at running away. I believe he managed to escape somehow," Kiku replied, false hope falling flat as the words left his lips.

"All right…then I'll look for him too," Gilbert declared, his red eyes flashing as he assigned himself the task. "But first, let's go to where West is. What is he doing, anyway?"

"He said he was too hungry to move. Prussia, do you have anything for him to eat?"

"Something to eat?" Gilbert frowned, thinking about it. "I did find some mushrooms when I was running away. Will that do?"

"That should do."

"All right! Then let's-"

"What's the matter?" Kiku asked, after Gilbert stopped speaking for a few moments.

"Don't you hear the sound of…something…getting closer?" Gilbert murmured, his red eyes straying from Kiku to the door. Kiku didn't turn although he listened intently, barely breathing. It did sound like something was coming-something heralded by wind and darkness. Kiku searched for the English word. Susurrus. A susurrus of heart beats and wind and fear.

"Hey…" Gilbert started, going even paler, if that was possible. "If that thing on your waist isn't just for show, pull it out of the scabbard. If you don't want to be eaten, that is."

"Agreed," Kiku replied, drawing his katana and turning to face the door.

Click.

Click click. Click click.

Kiku and Gilbert waited in silence as something tried to open the door. The fear in the room was almost palpable. For a moment the noise was almost overbearing, almost too loud for any being to listen too, and then it was gone, receding back away from the door.

"…is it gone?" Gilbert finally asked, several moments later.

"Probably," Kiku replied, relaxing a bit. Locking the door was a good idea after all. He didn't want to think about what may happen if he had left the door open.

"All right," Gilbert replied, before breaking into a cocky grin. "That was a little scary, but now we should join West. Let's find Italy and get out of here as soon as possible!" Kiku decided to ignore the tremor in the other man's voice.

"Agreed," was all the Asian nation said, sheathing his katana.

The two stepped out into the hallway, all nervous energy and raw nerves. The light of the hallway made them relax, though, and Kiku sighed and turned back to Gilbert it's there it's there why is it here and whirled back around, surprised, it's really there we have to fight it.

"I thought it was gone!" Gilbert wailed, looking as if he wanted to be running down the hallway-the hallway that the thing was blocking.

"Apparently not," Kiku murmured, drawing his katana.

"Do something!" Gilbert commanded Kiku. The fear in his voice made Kiku all the more scared. If Gilbert is scared, it must be truly horrifying.

Kiku struck, catching the thing on the arm-it hurts why can I feel it hurting- and then Gilbert attacked, emboldened by the smaller man's actions. Gilbert's sword gave a glancing blow across the chest-what is this thing leave go go away-and the creature recoiled, making an inhuman noise.

"YoU….WOn't….Esc…aPe…"

It was right there was no way they were escaping just give up let it take you nothing worth fighting for and Kiku struck again, not even sure if he hit, just to do something to get rid of those thoughts, and Gilbert was attacking, raw fear on his face, go away get out leave us alone keep fighting no not fighting and Gilbert was hit, those claws ripping through fabric and flesh alike, attack attack it hurts kill it and Kiku did, even as Gilbert faltered, this time seeing the black blood starting to drip down the thing's torso.

"YoU….WOn't….Esc…aPe…"

No but I can kill you can hurt you and Kiku cast a spell, drawing upon thousands of years of mythology and practice and magic to hurt it, the light burning the creature where it stood it's not dead, not enough, too weak, hurt it, have to run, what is Gilbert doing and Gilbert was not attacking, did not seem to be doing anything.

"YoU….WOn't….Esc…aPe…"

But then Gilbert did attack, one last blow, and the thing was disappearing, black smoke in a sun filled hallway is it dead or is it just leaving for now oh gods what if it comes back but they were alive, panting and bloodied, but still alive and that thing was gone.

Kiku cleaned his blade, watching Gilbert do the same exact thing, the age-old ritual for the end of a battle. When he had caught his breath he led the Prussian to the other room, where Germany waited behind the iron door. The two nations were quiet, as if no words would matter in light of what was happening.

"This is the…fortress…where Germany is," Kiku said, gesturing to the iron door. Gilbert examined it carefully before speaking.

"It is pretty solid," he told Kiku, before raising his voice to shout through the door. "Hey, West! Japan told me you were hungry! Do you want some mushrooms?"

"Is that you, Prussia? Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine!" Gilbert replied with a relieved sigh that his younger brother was alive. "But I have bad news, too. Italy is still missing. Oh, and we have to help a…mochi?" he said, looking to Kiku to make sure that he had gotten the name of the creature right. The pair waited in silence for a few seconds, wondering if Ludwig would agree to come with them.

"All right," Ludwig finally said. "I'm done here, so we can go now." The iron door opened and out stepped Ludwig, looking annoyed and in control of the situation. He frowned at the obvious marks of a battle upon his companions but didn't comment. Gilbert smiled in a daredevil way and turned to Kiku.

"I don't really get what we're supposed to do, but let's go to the fourth floor!" he said. Kiku smiled slightly at the bravado, well aware that the Prussian's hands were shaking and his eyes betrayed his fear. Kiku turned to Ludwig, unaware that the two seemed to have elected him leader of the group. Ludwig sighed shakily and glanced around.

"Can we come back here once in a while?" Ludwig asked, in a perfectly level tone. Kiku frowned almost imperceptibly.

"I don't mind, but…do you actually like narrow spaces?" he asked Ludwig. The German smiled in a completely unamused fashion.

"Well, you could say I'm used to them. There's a lot of room, though," he informed Kiku.

"Oh." Kiku paused for a moment, searching for something to say, before deciding to simply lead the other two up to the fourth floor. As they walked Gilbert handed Ludwig the mushrooms, which Ludwig promptly ate.

They walked quickly up to the room, jumping at every creak and bump. The inability to tell when the thing was coming seemed even worse than when they had to fight it-besides, there was three of them now, and Kiku was rather convinced that Ludwig could fight the thing and win hands down.

When they arrived at the fourth floor room Kiku showed them the mochi, still caught behind the book shelf. The two Germanic nations investigated it in silence, making Kiku both annoyed and nervous.

"Well?" Kiku finally asked, wondering if they'd ever get anything done.

"It's stuck pretty well," Gilbert informed him. "Can you do it, West?" Ludwig didn't even bother replying, instead propping his shoulder against the shelf and shoving, letting out a groan of exertion. The bookshelf replied with its own wooden groan but did not move. Ludwig let it go, sighing.

"I'm sorry, I can't do It with my bare hands. Maybe if I had some kind of tool…" Ludwig shrugged, as if even then he couldn't promise a good outcome. Kiku sighed and tapped his chin thoughtfully.

"A tool.." he murmured, concentrating. He sighed again, realizing how much trouble it was going to be. "Well, it is a big house. I'll take a look around."

"I'd be really thankful if you could find something useful," Ludwig told him, and he sounded as if he would be.

"Oh. Well. I guess we'll have to split up again to look for it," Gilbert said. Kiku frowned at him, not sure if he was happy at the prospect or not. Even now he had trouble telling the emotions of Westerners, especially those like Gilbert who hid behind a mask. Ludwig let out an odd noise-something between a groan and a contained scream. Both Kiku and Gilbert snapped their attention to him, unsure of what he was doing.

"Awesome face," Gilbert commented, smirking. Kiku just frowned, concerned, but Ludwig was avoiding their looks. Kiku decided to let it go.

"Then I'll go ahead. I'll come back as soon as I find anything good." Kiku turned to go to the door.

"I think I'll go too," Gilbert volunteered, taking a few long steps to fall in besides Kiku. "Actually, I haven't looked around very much. Might as well do some exploration!"

"Thanks," Ludwig said, though Kiku could not tell if he was being serious or not. Gilbert shot his brother a patronizing grin, and then he and Kiku walked out the door. Glancing back, Kiku caught a glimpse of Ludwig sitting down on the floor, his head in his hands.