Kiku spent the sweltering summer days the same way he had been spending them since he arrived in America: secluded and indifferent, locked in his shared bedroom on his laptop, avoiding contact with anyone and everyone. Sure, he had shared a few friendly moments with that American boy here and their, but he assured himself that didn't mean he actually wanted to be friends with such a happy-go-lucky nitwit. Kiku was content to overseeing his stocks while listening to NPR, his ears pricking up whenever his homeland was mentioned. As things grew worse in Japan, so did Kiku's demeanor. He hadn't heard anything about Aoten, the company his parents owned, so he assumed that they were alright and he would have heard something in the news. Kiku left the room periodically to cook dinner and do the occasional cleaning, but other than that he spent hours on end in the bedroom as if he were doing overtime at a desk job. He didn't find it very practical though, sitting on the bed all day with the hardware in his lap, the heat from the machine huffing against his legs, adding to the summer's heat. So he decided to do the practical thing and confront Alfred about it.

Kiku headed towards the living room where he knew he would find the blonde playing video games. He cleared his throat lightly to get Alfred's attention, who paused whatever zombie combat game he was playing and turned around with an inquisitive look.

"I would like to get a desk for the bedroom," Kiku said flatly. "For my work."

Alfred stared up from the couch he had been sitting on. "'Kay...?"

"Is there a problem?" Kiku narrowed his eyes at the tepid response.

"Wha-? No," Alfred replied, wiping his food-stained fingers on his sweatpants as he stood up. Mom and Dad are coming home next week, so you can ask them about it then."

"I didn't mean I wanted someone to purchase it for me," Kiku turned up his nose as if insulted. "I have my own money, I don't need hand-outs from-"

"Chill, dude, I didn't mean it like-"

"What I meant was I wish to buy a desk, however I do not know the way around this city and will need directions."

"Oh, no worries, we can do it tomorrow and I'll come with you and show you the route."

"Directions will suffice-"

"Besides, we need more groceries."

"Fine," Kiku gave up with an exasperated sigh.

They left around ten the next morning after a mediocre breakfast of bacon and eggs that Alfred had insisted on making.

"Hey, how come you didn't just order one online?" the boy asked as they walked down a cracked, ruddy sidewalk. "A desk I mean. 'Cause, like, knowing you, I thought you would have preferred not having to walk around the city."

"Because, Alfred, I don't have an American credit card," Kiku replied. "Which reminds me, we should stop by the closest bank, I would like to make an account so I don't have to leave so much cash lying around unprotected."

"Is it so much that you need an account for it?"

"A little over four-hundred thousand yen."

"Fuh-wah?" Alfred gasped. "Holy shit! You've just been walking around with that much in your pocket?"

"Relax," Kiku sighed, annoyed, "it's only about five thousand US dollars."

"Buh-! You-! Wha-?" Alfred flailed his arms around in nonsensical gestures. "How does a twelve-year-old just walk around with five grand in his pocket?"

"Why don't you yell that a little louder, Alfred? I was hoping I could mark off getting mugged on my to-do list today," Kiku said with ice cold sarcasm.

"S-sorry, but geez!" Alfred shoved his hands in his pockets, his shoulders hunched up around his neck. "Do they even give bank accounts to kids?"

"'Kid' is a relative term."

"Huh?"

Kiku gave another sigh. "Never mind, let's just hurry up. I want to get back to the apartment before lunch."

"No way!" Alfred interjected. "We're gonna be out for a while, we might as well eat out too."

Kiku put his thumb and index finger to his chin with a 'hmm.' "I suppose it wouldn't be a problem. But I'm going to choose the establishment today."

"That's fair."

Kiku had insisted that they stop by the bank first, so they entered a heavily air conditioned building where they stood in line in silence. In front of them was a blond boy in a green shirt standing next to his mother. He looked to be around Alfred's and Kiku's age, but when Alfred gave him a smile he quickly turned away, crossing his arms irritably. When they got to the front they were met by a young female bank teller with tightly tied brown hair. She didn't seem to take Kiku seriously at first, but after a few intellectual words and fluttering comments she was more than willing to help him. After depositing his money and taking out two-hundred US dollars they exited the frigid bank and returned to the sweltering sunlight.

"So what store did you have in mind to buy your desk?"

"Do you have an Ikea? Or maybe a Furgison and Rudeaux?"

"I've never even heard of that last one," Alfred replied. "Oh, but the Liberty Mall isn't too far, it's just a bus ride away."

"I don't really like malls... Too many people."

"Well the only other furniture store I can think of is like three bus rides away."

"Fine, we'll go to the mall," Kiku said, defeated.

"Okay, cool, we can catch the bus at the corner."

Kiku hadn't grown completely used to riding buses around the city, but he wasn't as uncomfortable on them as he had been at first. He still didn't like being exposed to all the strange people that rode the bus as well, but somehow having Alfred around made it less nerve-wracking.

The bus they rode took them right into the parking lot of the mall, to an area of benches where several other buses stopped through as well. They headed towards the large white and green entrance into an echoing, bustling atrium. They first stopped to look at the map so Kiku could choose the store he wanted to look at. "This one looks decent," Kiku pointed at a shop on the second floor.

"Cool, let's go."

Alfred led the way to the elevator, which had glass walls that let them look out at the bustling mall below as they rose higher and higher. Kiku began leading the way as they exited the elevator, glancing to the side at various kiosks they passed until he glanced over and realized Alfred wasn't at his side. Kiku stopped and turned to see Alfred a few feet back, near a kiosk crowded with trinkets.

"You go ahead," he said, "Furniture shopping isn't my thing. I'll be in the video game store right over there."

Kiku nodded and turned back in the direction of the furniture store. He wanted to find something nice, but practical, something that would fit nicely on his half of the room without taking up all its space. Kiku saw the neon sign for the shop reading "R&R Furnishings" and went in. It wasn't a huge store, but it seemed to have a lot of merchandise. He went down the aisle that was marked "Lamps, Storage, & Desks." He glanced at the lamps as he walked past them to see the desks. After a few minutes of comparing his options, he was stuck between a solid oak one, and a cedar one.

"If you're trying to choose... I think the oak one is better," came a lax voice from Kiku's left. He turned his head inquisitively to see a boy around his age, with wavy brown hair and green eyes. What was strange was that the boy had a small cat perched on his shoulder. Kiku stared, confused.

"Oak is better... because it doesn't scratch as easily and will last longer," the boy told him.

"Uh..." Kiku murmured. "Thanks, ano... why do you have a cat on your shoulder?"

"It's easier than carrying him," the mysterious boy answered,

"That's, uh, not what I-"

"Do you like cats...? They're my favorite."

"Why, yes, I do..."

"This is Artemis... she's my favorite," the boy gestured at the greyish-brown cat.

Kiku wondered if this was normal in America, for people to just walk around in public with house pets on their shoulders. He would have pondered further, but as he stared at the cat, his cheeks began to tint. "Would it... would it be okay if I petted her?" he asked awkwardly.

"Of course... Artemis is real friendly," the boy said with his lazy, soothing voice.

"So... are you shopping for furniture as well?"

"I'm here to buy a new lamp for mother, she said that the one she has is too old and antiquated."

"I see..." Kiku mused as he pet the small cat. "Well, um, thank you for the advice. About the desk I mean."

"Sure... anytime," the boy replied, reaching for a medium sized lamp whose base was in the shape of an ionic Greek column, complete with the swirls at the top. "Well, I need to get home... Nice meeting you."

"Er... Yeah, you too," Kiku murmured as the boy turned and walked down the aisle and around the corner, out of sight. Kiku turned back to the stained oak desk and memorized the serial number before walking to the front. He told the clerk the serial number and asked to have it delivered to the apartment with next day shipping. He paid in cash and thanked the clerk before leaving to find Alfred.

Alfred was playing one of the demo games in the shop when Kiku arrived. "Oh, hey, you get your desk?" Alfred asked when he saw him. "Let me just pay for this game and we can get lunch." Kiku didn't see what game Alfred bought, but he didn't really care. He told him that the desk would be delivered to the apartment tomorrow and then asked if it was normal for people to walk around with cats on their shoulders in this country.

"What? You saw someone with a cat on their shoulder?" Alfred asked incredulously. "Was it, like, some kind of promotional thing?"

"No, it was just a boy, around our age, buying a lamp for his mother."

"Weird..." Alfred mused. "Oh, hey! Let's go in there!" Alfred stopped and pointed at an antique shop on the other side of the row of stores. Kiku liked antiques himself, and nodded as they cut across the path to the shop. As they opened the door, a tiny bell rang out alerting the shop owner that they had entered. A wrinkled old man nodded at them with a smile from behind the counter as they entered. The store was packed full of unique objects, furniture, weapons, art, and decor, from floor to ceiling. Alfred headed straight to the counter where all the weapons were, and Kiku went to look at the art. After a few moments of browsing, he heard Alfred cry out "Hey Kiku, check this out! These swords here are from Japan!"

Kiku glanced over his shoulder with an unenthusiastic "Fascinating..."

"Whoa, it says these staffs were used for magic!" Alfred chirped. Kiku only scoffed.

"They were used for divining the future as well," said the aged shopkeeper from behind the counter.

"That's so awesome!" Alfred grinned.

The old man gave a small chuckle. "Would you like me to divine the futures of you and your friend there? Free of charge of course."

"You'd really do that?" Alfred said excitedly. "Kiku, c'mere!"

"Divination is best left to fiction writers," he replied, unenthusiastically.

"Aw, just come on, what can it hurt?"

Kiku sneered, but walked over to the counter anyway, hoping it would shut the boy up.

"Your right hand, if you don't mind, young man," the shop owner smiled warmly at Alfred. The man stared at the boy's palm for a few moments, tracing the creases with a finger. "You have a strong kindness and warmth, my boy. It will melt the ice of the heart that is most dear to you, but it may cost you to lose someone dear in the process." The old man smiled up at Alfred, and the boy blinked back, and looked at his hand.

"Go on, Kiku, your turn!" Alfred insisted. "

Kiku reluctantly presented his hand to the man, skepticism written all over his face.

"My..." the old man traced the creases of Kiku's hand. "You are experiencing great turmoil... But it is not over yet, you have great loss and tragedy in your future. You shut yourself away from others, but you may find that the only way to heal your heart is to allow it to be healed by another." The man stared into Kiku's deep brown eyes and looked almost sympathetic.

"What a load of garbage," Kiku told Alfred after leaving the shop as they made their way to the food court.

"What? You don't believe in fortune telling?" Alfred asked, as if disappointed to hear Kiku's opinion.

"Of course not. Honestly, Alfred, do you really think some decrepit shop owner can just divine your entire future? It is farfetched and unreal."

"Whatever. I think it could be possible."

"Tch... You're such a dreamer..."

Alfred sniffed. "Mmm... You know what I'm dreaming of? Food," he pointed at the food court, where he could smell a menagerie of hunger-inducing scents.

"That's just a bunch of carbs and grease. And since it is my turn to choose an eating establishment we will be steering clear of such places," Kiku turned his nose up at the row of eateries. "Now, let's take a look at the map and see if there is anything decent here."

Kiku ended up choosing a steakhouse on the main floor of the mall. They sat at a booth table in the dimly lit restaurant, where Kiku ordered a seafood dish, and Alfred ordered a steak and french fries.

"So, um, Kiku, when is your birthday anyway?" Alfred asked, wanting to break up the awkward silence while they waited for their food.

"My birthday?" Kiku raised a brow. "Why do you ask?"

"I just wanna know, that's all."

"It's February eleventh..."

"Oh, so it already passed." Kiku's answer was a mere nod of the head. "Well..." Alfred turned to dig in his backpack, pulling something small out. "I bought this earlier from the kiosk where we split up, 'cause I thought it might be something you'd like." Alfred stretched his hand out across the table to Kiku, who had no choice but to take it.

"What... is this for?" Kiku looked oddly at what was in his hand. It was a cell phone charm in the shape of an onigiri with a cute little smiling face on it.

"Mmm, well I guess it's kinda like a late welcome gift slash late birthday gift."

"It really wasn't necessary for you to do such a thing," Kiku said blankly. Upon seeing Alfred's growing frown he added wearily "Nevertheless I will accept it anyway."

Alfred spent the rest of their time at the restaurant trying to keep a conversation going, and Kiku spent the time half listening. Once they were done at the restaurant they left the mall and headed to the grocery store near the apartment. Alfred convinced Kiku to make stew for dinner and decided he wanted to try to make something too, and decided on cookies.

"Have you ever even used the oven before?" Kiku asked him while chopping vegetables back in the apartment.

"Of course I have!" Alfred responded. "Well, I mean, toaster ovens count, right?"

At that, Kiku sighed and continued chopping.

After everything was cooked and dinner was eaten, Alfred brought forth a tray of what looked like burnt dog biscuits. He urged Kiku to try one, so the boy hesitantly obliged. He took a bite and instantly began to gag, trying to pass it off as a cough. With watery eyes, Kiku gave him a wavering thumbs up. Alfred, overjoyed, offered to clean the kitchen for once. Kiku didn't see it as much of a gesture though, considering the obscene mess the American had made whilst 'cooking.'

Later that night after a hot shower, Kiku put on his pajamas and fell on top of his bed, one of his arms resting on top of his forehead. With his free hand he twiddled the cell phone charm Alfred had given him above his face, looking at it lazily. 'Why didn't I just tell him how terrible those cookies were?' he thought to himself. 'And why did I accept this silly little gift? It wasn't necessary.' He clenched the charm in his fist, as if he were about to throw it across the room, but after a moment, he merely loosened his grip and turned to set it on his nightstand before falling asleep.

~x~

Ehhhh! I'm so sorry it took so long to update this story! ;~; GE's are over and I'm back to the classes that actually matter, which suck up a lot of my creativity xD I promise I'll try to be more quick about updating the next chapter! As always, I hope you enjoyed, and I'm always looking forward to your feedback!

See you next chapter!