Chapter 11

A/N: Wow, how long has it been, 2 weeks..? I'm so sorry I didn't update, school's been pretty tough. :I Anyway, I hope this chapter will suffice for all my readers. Here is the long-awaited chapter 11.

China's POV

"...Ch...Chuugoku...san...?" I heard a deep, rough voice whisper behind me. I whipped around, while my ponytail flew around behind me. I smiled. Kiku was finally awake.. or at least in the process of waking up.

I walked out of the kitchen, and sat in front of him on the floor. I sat and waited patiently for him to speak again, to signal when he was finally properly awake.

"..how..? ..oh, I'm awake.. Chuugoku-san..?" he muttered. My smile only grew bigger. I grasped Kiku's closest hand, holding it softly.

"I'm here, aru. Nǐ hǎo ma?*" I asked using my primary language, wondering if he remembered his Chinese.

"D-Daijoubu..desu..*" he replied in Japanese. It would have made me so proud if he spoke in Chinese back, but I wasn't about to point it out to him. I pulled my vacant hand up, and brushed Kiku's loose, black strands away from his face.

"Can you sit up, aru?" I questioned. He was wobbly at first, but he eventually sat up without many problems. I stood up, as my legs began to ache anyway. "Here. You really need it, aru." I offered, rushing to the kitchen and grabbing the glass of water I had poured earlier. I had considered tea, but I didn't know when he was going to wake up, so it would be a waste. It took too much time to make one as soon as he got up, so water had to do.

Kiku accepted the drink politely, finishing it quicker than I expected. He whispered a small, "Arigatou.." as he handed it back to me. I sat it back on the table behind me, and climbed onto the couch next to him. He didn't seem to mind. Rather, he was looking quite spaced out, and was glaring very intensely at one particular spot. Nothing interesting was there, and though it worried me, I let it slide. 'He just woke up, it's natural, aru..'

"S-So.. firstly aru, just out of curiosity.. how did Ivan know of that event..? I only told a select few nations, which didn't include him..." I forced, trying to start some conversation. It was really a lead up to all the questions that had been floating around all day.

"Ah.. g-gomenasai, Chuugoku-san.. I didn't know you kept it a secret..! I really.. couldn't keep it in so I.. told the rest about it at a world meeting.. in a pretty bad way, but.. um, yeah.." he confessed, looking at the floor in guilt. His heavy expression made me dismiss any negative thoughts I had about him immediately.

"N-No, it's okay aru, you were just trying to help me, aru. I guess I have to thank you, aru. You've helped me out a lot.." Kiku glanced back up at me in surprise, as if he expected me to throw a fit. I smiled back, trying to hide the growing blush on my face. 'Being honest is so hard sometimes, aru..!'

"R-Really? I.. ..I don't know what to say.."

"Don't force yourself t-too much at the moment, aru.." I began to trail off, losing my train of thought. "Y-You know what..? I can wait, aru.. When you're more awake and ready, we can sit down and talk. Relax for the time being, aru. You barely look like you're in reality, aru.." I insisted, standing from my seat. He simply nodded, entering his own world of thoughts once again. I sighed, and walked out the front door for some fresh air.

. . .

'Atarashii mono daisuki... Hayaritteru mono-'**

"A-Aiiyah..!" I cried, frantically pulling my phone out of my pocket. After fumbling around with it for a bit, I answered the incoming call without checking who it was. "N-Ni ha- I mean, hello, aru?" I answered, still embarrassed at my ringtone. I probably should have changed it long ago, but something compelled me to leave it as it was.

"Nice ringtone." the other person commented, with a deep, yet soft voice. I felt my face glow red, before confusion hit me right in the face.

"..w-wait, you can hear that, aru...?!" I questioned, doubting the other person. I quickly pulled the phone away from my face, checking the contact name. 'Wait.. what is he-'

"Like hell I can, are you that stupid?" they responded, with their Japanese accent shining through. Their voice was still unrecognisable though..

"I-It's not like I know where you are at the moment, aru!" I hastily replied, cursing under my breath at my stupidity.

"Actually, you do know where I am. Well, maybe not the exact spot, but the room or at least household." My eyebrows furrowed up in confusion.

"Wait, who am I speaking to..?" I asked. The reply I got was.. blunt.

"Kiku." I glanced over my shoulder, checking on the man I left inside. My sight was blurry from tears (of embarrassment but I could make out a slender figure sitting on the couch. Definitely Kiku. However, what I also caught were his arms lifelessly sitting by his sides. Without a phone.

"W-Wha.. There's no way you can be Kiku, aru..! Stop lying to me-"

"I have things to explain, hai?" they interrupted, with a sudden, stern voice.

"Ex..plain..?"

"Don't act so clueless. You're the one who has been begging me to explain things."

"I.. don't know what you're.. going on about..aru.."

"Earlier today. Everything that happened up until this very moment. Come back inside, I know you're craving for it." Before I could respond, 'Kiku' hung up, and I was thrown off by a loud series of beeps. I put my phone back in my pocket, and trudged inside.

The first thing I saw was Kiku. Much to my disappointment though, he was casually sitting on the couch where I had left him, looking around normally. His gaze finally reached mine, and by his reaction, I assumed mine wasn't very welcoming.

"A-Ah, Y-Yao-san.. Is something w-wrong..?" he panicked. My expression fell, and I regathered my thoughts.

"Uh.. Oh! N-No, nothing at all, aru. Just.. have you moved from that spot at all, aru..?" I questioned, taking a seat next to him. He looked back in confusion.

"Iie..* I haven't done much since you left, actually.." I sighed. 'Surely, that call was just a prank, aru..'

"O-Oh.. is that so..? Uhm, anyway, are you willing to tell me anything about earlier today, aru..?" I requested, trying not to push him too much. Clearly something was up, and I didn't want to get in the way too much. He sat staring at this hands and the floor for a while, pondering his response. All I could hear was our faint breathing, somewhat in sync. Finally, he began to speak slowly.

"..If it's what's best for me, I guess.. I can tell you... a little.." My eyes widened in surprise. He was finally going to tell me. I leaned in closer, showing I was listening.

"I'm all ears, aru." I confirmed, with a soft smile. He exhaled, preparing for the long explanation ahead.

"I.. I wish I could explain everything to you, Yao-san, but I know there will be consequences, even for this much.. Keeping it to a minimum, I guess this is the only part you really need to know.." he began. "I don't know what triggered it, but recently I've been having... eto*.. let's say.. insanity fits. It is as it says- random fits of rage and utter insanity. I go on a rampage, releasing any negative thoughts I have through means of violence. During these, I cannot control myself at all.. l-like someone else is controlling me.. Earlier at the airport is an example of one of these times. I-It scares me.." he explained, staring down at this feet nervously. I sat in silence, failing to find any words to express my worry and shock. I could tell Kiku wasn't about to add anything either. And just like I suspected, we sat in complete silence for the next few minutes.

"You know, I-I have one question to ask you, Yao-san.." he quietly spoke, breaking the long silence.

"Y..Yes.. what is it, aru..?" I choked out.

"I-It's just.. um.. do you know what a ... is..?" I didn't want to seem rude, but I missed the key word of the question.

"What... what is, aru..?" He shuddered with fear, avoiding eye-contact with me. He seemed even more nervous than before, so I sat back and allowed him to speak when he wanted to. Finally, he began to speak.

"A... 2P-" Immediately as he spat the words out, he was pinned against the back of the couch, as if someone was strangling him. I shot up from my seat, and rushed to his aid.

"K-Kiku..!" I shouted, tugging him from the invisible force, and pulling him into my arms. The sudden release of energy sent us both flying backwards onto the ground. I held onto him tightly, ignoring the thoughts of confusion flying around.

"..I told you not to mention my name..!" I heard a ghostly voice warn. My eyes widened in fear, as I look around the rest of the house. It was only Kiku and I, but I knew I wasn't mistaken when I heard another voice.

Kiku's POV

-a few moments earlier-

"I-It's just.. um.. do you know what a ... is..?" I forced out, muttering the subject of the question. I turned my head away from Kuro, who was giving me a death glare with his intense, red irises. Another look in those crimson orbs and I was sure to collapse either from fear or his hands. Both ideas weren't very pleasing to me.

"What... what is, aru..?" I shook even more. Now I had to repeat it.. I couldn't do that!.. With curiosity finally reaching me, I shot a glance over at Kuro. He was slowly walking closer to me, glaring straight at me. He had warned me several times today not to mention his name or '2P', even after his call with Yao. Each time I responded though, I had lied.

"A... 2P-" Kuro lunged forward for me, pinning me against the couch. His firm grip only got tighter around my neck, as I struggled to gasp for air. My head started to spin, and the only thing I could really see were his shining red eyes, ready to take my life away at any second. I kicked my legs in protest, but his stance and grip were both too balanced.

"K-Kiku..!" I heard Yao shout. I would have warned him not to come closer, but without my voice or ability to move, it was difficult. Soon enough, he dived at me, pushing past Kuro like he could see him, unlike earlier. His hands lost it's grip around my neck, and I took a huge gasp of air. My head spun and I felt dizzy as Yao and I whirled towards the ground. We landed hard, but compared to the pain I had gone through before, it didn't phase me at all.

"..I told you not to mention my name..!" Kuro called behind me. I was still panting heavily, and all I could do was grip onto Yao and pull him closer. I only realised my left arm was exposed well once I felt a sharp pain stab me. Blood sprayed in all directions, tainting my face, clothes, and some of Yao. In fear, my new ally pulled out the knife, tossing it across the room. (Unfortunately not hitting Kuro.) He began to clean up the wound with whatever was within reach, but he was too slow. In a split second, most of the fresh blood was drained away immediately. Usually this would seem like a good thing, but in this case, it wasn't. Kuro had absorbed it all for me- if he takes any blood from he, he becomes more and more visible. This was something I could not have.

"You're truly foolish. You don't belong in this world, do you?" he taunted. Yao seemed to flinch, and panic shot through me. Could it be..? "A pure weakling like yourself doesn't belong in any world though, do they!?" Kuro continued, raising his volume. I glanced at Yao. It was already happening. Yao could hear Kuro.

"K-Kiku..? Wh-What is that, aru..?" he asked, clutching me defensively. I squeezed my eyes closed tightly, beginning the feel tears swell up. 'Of all times, why did it have to be so early!? I thought it would be so far away..! Just how long will it be until Kuro is completely visible..!? It's progressing too fast!..'

"K..Kuro.." I choked out, in a raspy voice. I couldn't hold anything in now, could I? There was no going back.

"Wh..what, aru..?"

"Kuro..! He is.. Kuro.." I explained, keeping my words to a minimal. Yao seemed to understand.

"Kuro.. I don't know anything about this at all aru, but I'm willing to risk it if it's bugging you this much, aru." he boldly stated. He sat up, pulling me softly along with him, and I leaned on his shoulder. He put an arm across me defensively.

'Yao-san, you're so foolish..'

A/N: Wow, I'm getting lazier and lazier with my endings.. *sigh* Sorry about that. Anyway, translations:

Chinese:

*Nǐ hǎo ma- How are you?

Japanese:

Daijoubu desu- I'm okay

Iie- No

Eto- Um (or any other thinking word)

**These are lyrics to Japan's character song, 'Excuse me, I'm Sorry'.

Hopefully I can get up a few more chapters tomorrow since I have a day off. ^.^

See you in the next one!~