Hello everyone! Kitty29 here with a new chapters of Colours! Woohoo!

Oh! Oh! Check me out; this chapter isn't coming a month after the last one! Please, please, stop worshipping me, I assure you I do it because I care—no I love you good sir.
Anyways, look at that! For once a chapter is about as long as I thought it would be when I started writing it, not three or four pages longer than it should have been! I…I'm so pleased right now and I really shouldn't be. Just…give me a moment… (This heading is weird.)

Thank you MaryMew for the continually great beta. Guurrrrrlllll you got the beta swag!

I'm stopping now, please enjoy!

Alfred opened the door just enough to step inside, gently closing it behind him. At first he didn't move, just gauged his surroundings. The place was clean, too clean. The windows were open but the curtains were drawn, the intruding breeze shifting the cloth just enough to allow playful rays of light into the house. Alfred made a face. He wasn't sure if he liked the signs but he couldn't convince himself it was really that bad.

Finally stepping inside Alfred took a careful look about the ground floor, leaving no room unchecked. It was all sparkling, organized and yet, no signs of life. He decided to just call for the man. "Dad? Dad!"

…No response.

Alfred frowned. His car was here, his keys were here, and his shoes were here, meaning Arthur was here. He had to be. Climbing up the stairs he began his search in the second half of the house. First he went to his parent's room, logical enough place to start, right? He wasn't there. Suppressing a groan he went to check the other rooms, figuring he had gone too far to turn back now. Bathroom, study, other bathroom, closet, Matthew's room, his room—

Matthew's room?

Poking his head through the door yet again Alfred blinked at the figure sprawled out on his brother's bed. "…Dad?"

Arthur's head jerked up as he was called from his thoughts, only needing an extra second before he spotted his adoptive son. "Alfred?" After his mind confirmed that, yes, it really was his son, Arthur get off the bed and stood, fixing his clothes in slight embarrassment.

Alfred walked into room, glad he didn't find his father with booze in hand. "What are you going in Mattie's room?"

"Just…cleaning." Arthur mentioned to the vacuum sitting uselessly to the side.

Alfred hummed in acknowledgement before he made a beeline for the chair at Matthew's desk. "You know Matt actually cleans his room, right?" Sitting down he placed his foot on the edge of the desk and began idly pushing the chair left to right. Neither said anything after that, leaving nothing but the faint moaning of the chair to save them from complete silence. Though Alfred was not one to read the atmosphere he figured if he said nothing he would only allow the semi silence to become uncomfortable. He decided to act. "It's really clean downstairs, dad."

"Yes. It is isn't it?" Arthur agreed nonchalantly.

Silence. Uncomfortable silence. It seemed that Alfred's prodding had only made the two realize that the uncomfortableness was inevitable, so they simply decided to embrace it now and be done with it.

It was a full minute before Arthur had built up enough courage to attempt to break it, or possibly add to it. "Alfred…where's your brother?"

Alfred bit his lip and stilled the chair. "He's…out doing some stuff."

"Ah, yes…I see."

Alfred opened his mouth to speak but couldn't manage any words. He had never had trouble asking his father anything, not until now anyway. He felt rigid and…afraid. He knew he had to ask but he really wasn't as sure of the answer anymore. He focused on Arthur, taking just a moment to steel his resolve. "A bunch of people are saying you have an ability but I…is it true? Dad?"

Arthur looked away from Alfred, his expression suddenly hard. Alfred waited for an answer, growing increasingly nervous as the moments rolled. This should have been a definite answer. Surely his question wasn't difficult. Surely he really didn't…

Then, with the smallest of defeated sighs, Arthur's stiff stance slumped as if the will to uphold it was shattered in one swift move. He looked back to Alfred, seeming shorter than just seconds before. "I have no reason to hide it anymore. I do." He looked away, ashamed before he turned back with a small desperate smile. "I suppose I shouldn't ask but…are you mad?"

Alfred didn't answer him at first. Was he mad? He honestly couldn't tell. He was certainly feeling something that was for damned sure but he honestly had no idea if it was one large unidentifiable feeling or dozens woven together to form a mangled, cumbersome mess. Anger? Maybe it was somewhere deep waiting to strike or maybe it was beaten into submission by pity. Either way he found himself silently wishing Matthew was here to tell him for sure what was what, but he wasn't. He just had to suck it up and deal with it himself. "…no."

Arthur let out a relieved laugh and he released a breath he didn't realize he was holding; his defeated slumped figure straightening into cautiously awkward. Alfred supposed what he said was the right response, but he couldn't bring himself to smile back.

"I can't believe that of everyone, it's you who doesn't make a big deal of this."

"Is that why papa left?"

The smile vanished. The room turned tense. Arthur grew more awkward. Alfred was indifferent.

"…I'm going to be gone for the next few days." Arthur stated, swiping a finger along the nearby windowsill and frowning when it collected dust. "I called that 'Uncle Ox' fellow you talked about. You and Matthew will stay there while I'm gone."

"You don't think we can survive alone?"

"I don't want to leave an empty house to two teenage boys."

"Oh, I get it. Just because we're not adults we're not real people." Alfred suddenly snapped, catching Arthur off guard.

"What? I nev—"

"Whatever." Alfred interrupted, crossing his arms in a rather childish manner. "Just go; I need to pack some of Mattie's stuff."

Arthur glanced towards the door but other than a slight tilt in the right direction, he showed no signs of moving. "Berwald's coming here to—"

"Matt's not coming, dad."

Arthur's brow furrowed. "Alfred…are you sure you're okay wit—"

"No I'm not okay."Alfred abruptly stood and began to pace back and forth. "Everyone keeps piling their shit on me then writing me off when I try to help them! Honestly, why the hell would people tell me this shit if they don't want help? Why do people keep dragging me into their dramas and not tell me what the hell is going on? Mattie's written me off! Yong Soo's written me off! Now you're—" He stopped himself. He simply stood, glowering at the floor as he tried to figure out the nature of the numerous questions running through his head. Now he knew he was angry but was that because of Arthur keeping his ability a secret? Or was he just tired of all the bullshit being thrown at him? Why wasn't he angrier at Arthur for not telling him? Should he be angry about Matthew too? He's the hero! Why couldn't he just save his brother from school bullies and his father from boring nights being his usual uptight tedious English self? When did things get so complicated? Why didn't the people who wanted saving actually want saving? Just what the hell was he supposed to do?

He felt a hand on his shoulder and he almost laughed at the familiar awkwardness of it. Arthur wasn't what one would call a great father but he tried. Should his entire view of him really be changed just because of one kept secret? Matthew was really upset about it and he supposed it made sense but wouldn't he…

Wait a second.

Jeez, how could he have missed this? Arthur did have an ability and Matthew did make a connection with him, meaning that the foreign black that was in Matthew was Arthur's! Wouldn't that mean Arthur was chalk full of the stuff? But wasn't that…wasn't that…Wasn't that just awesome?

What did Yao say? 'Black can cause people to do things that they normally wouldn't' didn't that mean that as soon as he got the black out he would be better? Holy batmans! This would solve everything! Matthew and Francis would forgive him and come back, Arthur would be happier and things would go back to normal. He was a genius!

Spinning around he grabbed the hand that was once on his shoulder and clasped it tightly, looking up at Arthur excitedly. "I know how to fix everything, dad! I know what to do now!" That said he let go and ran out the room.

Naturally Arthur was perplexed. Wow, he had never seen anyone go from almost breakdown to full of energy so fast. Realizing that something was happening, he followed the younger boy to his room.

"Hum, Alfred?" Arthur watched the boy sped from one end of the room to another, grabbing this and that and throwing them in the general direction of...somewhere. "Just what are you planning to do?"

Alfred rolled his eyes and sent him a pointed glare. "I can't tell you! If I tell you it'll ruin the surprise!"

"Alfred the last time you said that I wound up meeting with your principal." Arthur retorted, crossing his arms.

"That wasn't my fault! If Martin had stuck with the plan—"

"You knew the poor boy was allergic to peanuts!"

"You don't understand that wasn't—doesn't matter." He stopped his running around to stand in front of his father and try to look serious. "I have a secret plan that will fix everything."

Arthur didn't seem convinced of anything. "I don't like secrets."

Alfred snorted. "Says that guy who had the biggest secret of all."

Arthur was rendered temporary speechless. He was right and it shouldn't have, but it stung. Damn it he didn't like this. He shouldn't have to be put in his place by someone so much younger than him, but perhaps it's what he needed to hear. That or he just wasn't strong enough. Damn it Francis…

Trying to act as if that silence never happened Arthur said, "Fine, do what you can Alfred just…don't put yourself in any danger."

Alfred's mock serious face instantly dissolved into a large grin and he pulled his father into a tight hug. "Thanks dad! This plan is bulletproof! I'm the hero so I know what I'm doing."

He detached himself and continued running about. As he watched Arthur couldn't help the smile on his lips.

/ / / \ \ \

Three right turns, one left turn, two shortcuts and four houses down. That's where she had taken him. It's funny how panic can heighten select senses; normally he would have lost his direction half way through. He was fairly certain the house they were in wasn't hers. The neighbourhood they were in were all new houses, so new that they weren't even done constructing the street yet; and from the lack of cars in the driveways he could only assume no one lived here yet. At least he was pretty sure there weren't a lot of cars. In his current state he couldn't turn his head unless Elizabeta did. He only got a short look at the almost too picturesque main floor before he was forced into the basement. It was there they finally stopped walking. She made him reach into her purse and pull out a pair of handcuffs. He then proceeded to cuff himself to a nearby pole. As soon as the lock was clicked into place Elizabeta fell to the ground in a gasping mess.

Though she had basically kidnapped the poor confused boy, Matthew still felt pity for her. "L-Liz are you alright?"

She jabbed a finger in his direction, silently indicating she needed a moment. He only gave her a few more seconds of his attention before he focused on his own well being. Seeing as he had control of himself again he tried tugging on the handcuffs. Well, they weren't the cheap kind one could get at the dollar store. He tried opening them. Well, they weren't the cheap kind that didn't need a key to get it open. He nearly reached into his pocket before remembering he didn't have his phone. Damn it…the one time he needs it for the reason his parents bought him one in the first place. Great, he was out of ideas.

He took a careful look of his surroundings. The basement was somewhat finished, a random fuzzy rug and bulky couch thrown in the middle of the room in a vain attempt to make it seem more 'homey'. It may have been almost as picturesque as the upstairs if not for the personal touches he could only guess were Elizabeta's. Numerous clothing items hung on the back of the couch, among them many bras' and panties which Matthew tried not to gawk at. The bulky couch was more like a bulky bed in its current state, with a pillow and sprawled out cover aiding its transformation. It wasn't until he saw the discarded for sale sign that he realized Elizabeta was camping out here.

Movement caught his eye and he turned back to Elizabeta to witness her gather just enough strength to hobble over to the couch and flop herself down. She placed her head between her knees, panting lightly as she still tried to catch her breath. Then, leaning back into the couch, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before smoothing out her hair quickly and incautiously. She took several moments to herself before her gaze turned to Matthew and, unfortunately for him, it wasn't pleasant.

It seemed as if she was going to take several more moments to just stare but Matthew's nerves wouldn't last that long. "A-are you living here?"

"…What do you think you're doing?"

Matthew was obviously confused. "I don't…know…?"

Elizabeta stood on slightly shaky legs and began her cautious way towards Matthew. "Don't fuck with me. I thought you were a good kid but I guess even he would recruit kids. Why are you with him?"

"W-with who?"

Elizabeta was now close enough to touch him and she did just so. A swift slap to the face showed she really wasn't playing around. "Don't play dumb! Do you even realize the deep shit you've put yourself in?"

Matthew held onto his stinging cheek and stared wide eyed at the girl. Perhaps he should have been doing this sooner but he was definitely panicking now. "Liz! You-you hit me!"

Elizabeta raised her hand to strike again making Matthew flinch and coil against the pole he was attached to. She made a disapproving noise in the back of her throat and lowered her hand. "People like you make me sick." She spat at his feet, only leaving Matthew more perplexed.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about!"

"DON'T PLAY WITH ME!" Elizabeta raised her hand once more as if to hit him but jabbed a finger in his face instead. "Today you messed me up! Just. TODAY!"

"H-how? I haven't seen you since we were trying to wake up Feliciano!"

"Fucker! I was th—" She abruptly stopped, sudden confusion adding to the vast emotions on her face. "What did you say?"

"I-I-I h-haven't seen you since-since F-Feliciano…"

She stared at him, studying his face. Eventually she said, "You really have no idea what I talking about, do you?"

Matthew slowly shook his head, completely lost.

Elizabeta turned and balled her hands into her hair, walking in no particular direction. "Shit, shit, shit, shit! You have no idea what you did, shit!" She stopped and turned her sharp gaze back to Matthew, who simply cringed in response. She turned back and began to mumble to herself, sending Matthew's previously blank mind into a frenzy. He didn't know what he was thinking before to make himself so calm but Jesus Christ he's just been kidnapped by a crazy person who wasn't making any sense GAH!

His heart pounding like it was trying to escape his chest Matthew followed its example and began tugging against the cuffs furiously. It hurt, but at least it was the uninjured wrist.

"Stop, STOP!"

He felt a hand on his arm and he recoiled like it had burned him. Matthew started at Elizabeta completely frozen, his eyes wide in fright and heart still hammering against his chest. Elizabeta immediately retracted her hand and took a step back. The vast emotions that had made up the previous expression on her face were all nearly gone, leaving her looking tired. "I'm…sorry, Matthew."

Matthew said nothing so she continued on. "You wouldn't understand the shit storm I dragged you into even if I explained it and I don't have time to do that." Seeing as the blond still didn't relax any she moved backwards until she fell on the couch. "I know what you're thinking and it's true; I am paranoid. Maybe even crazy but if you knew what I knew, you would be to." She stopped and bit her bottom lip hard, her hands back in her hair. "Shit! I can't believe I brought you into this whole mess! You're too young for this! Shit, shit!"

Matthew relaxed ever so slightly as he watched his kidnapper punish herself for her crime and to his near horror he found himself curious. What exactly did she think he did? And what did she mean when she said she had 'dragged him into a shit storm?' He wanted to know the answers, but he couldn't bring up the courage to ask. All he could do was wait for her to finish with him and let him go. If she was going to let him go. This wasn't fun.

Deciding she was finished berating herself, Elizabeta let her hands fall to the back of her neck before looking around wildly. She then focused on Matthew yet again, her brows knitted together as if she wasn't sure of her next action. "…Matthew…have you ever heard of…bad energy?"

…'bad energy'? Was she referring to the black? Why was that topic suddenly so popular? Matthew nodded, making Elizabeta light up.

"Really? I heard there's this kind of bad energy that makes the victim go mad. Make them think they need more of the bad energy, have you ever heard of that?"

Matthew shook his head in a negative and Elizabeta deflated. "Oh…well, it doesn't matter. There are just some people in the world that shouldn't be fucked with, and apparently he's one of them…"

Matthew surprised himself when he found he had enough bravery to utter a single word. "Who?"

Her head jerked up at that, as if she had forgotten she was talking to another human being. "…Don't worry about it. It would be better if you forgot this whole thing ever happened; forget about me. As of this moment I don't exist and I doubt you'll ever see me again."

She…didn't exist? Why? Was she leaving? Did she need to go away and start anew? Did she do something…terrible?

"I only ask that you do one thing for me…"

She drew back the thin blanket covering the couch and reached into the cushions. She grabbed what looked like a chain necklace with something attached to it before she stood and made her way over. Matthew flinched when she drew near but simply watched as Elizabeta draped it around his neck, shoving whatever object was attracted to it into his shirt. "Please, take this to Yao and makes sure only Yao opens it. Do not try to open it yourself." She then reached into her pocket, receiving the music player that Matthew had dropped. "I believe this is yours." She stated as she slipped the device into his pocket. She reached into her pocket again; though this time she pulled out something that made Matthew's chest burn with hope. A key.

But Elizabeta hesitated, quickly diminishing his new found hope. "…Be careful, Matthew. Be wary of what other people tell you and be especially wary of what you do from here on, because if you knew what you did…If you knew—" She took a second to compose herself. "Just…take care of yourself. Don't trust anyone who's looking for me and…say goodbye to Gilbert for me…" Without hesitation now, she reached over and unlocked the cuffs, walking away from him as soon as she did.

Matthew quickly took the cuffs off and rubbed his raw wrist, an automatic smile of freedom on his face. He turned to Elizabeta, whose was facing away from him. Would it be right to just go? Sure she kidnapped him, but she apologized and let him go. Should he say something? "…Liz I-I—"

"Go before I change my mind." Came her reply. Her words were strained and shaky, and her shoulders were shaking ever so slightly.

Still Matthew hesitated, unsure. "…Um…thank you…"

"I SAID GET OUT!" Matthew immediately ran out, fearing what the girl would do to him if he stayed any longer.

I had a fun time writing Elizabeta in this chapter, even if I misspelt her name nearly every time I wrote it and had to go back and rewrite it. That aside it's rare that I get to write a girl in this story and so I really cherish it whenever a female makes an appearance. Especially irrational females! Girlies are just so free with their emotions, they have this art of expressing everything and nothing at the same time, it's truly an art I've yet to tune in on.
Also just so no one gets offended, the last time I checked I too, am a definition of a female. So suck on that, haters.

Thank you MaryMew, lightwolfheart, TreesAndCheese, FlyingSolo365, Iceestar, Leite Destiny, foREVerhauntingme, Tweaks, Hetaliafangirl1113, Song Of The Midnight Wolf, DreamcatcherOfStardust, fan girl 666, Don'tMessWithAFangirl, SelfcreatedCharacter, EuterpeMuse, Chelseaj500, bleach-otaku, blank, Limelavender, death2society and xxicexxlostsoulyahoo .com for the reviews!

Those in collage or university I hope you had or are going to have a good reading week and I thank you for reading! Everyone that is, I thank everyone. Thanks for reading.