Kiku sat on the high bar stool, leaning over the granite counter top, his laptop on his left, a bowl of ramen on his right. It was already August, and the heat was as unforgiving as Alfred's and Kiku's grudge against each other. Not much had changed between them since their fight at the Fourth of July celebration. At least they were talking now, even if it was only for minimal and necessary communication, and the occasional snide remark.

"Yo," came a painfully familiar voice from in front of Kiku. He peered over the brim of his laptop at Alfred with cold eyes, who was on the other side of the counter, hunched over a melting bowl of rocky road ice cream, swirling it around with a spoon.

"What is it. I'm busy," Kiku glared.

Alfred pursed his lips at the hostile tone. "Well I thought I'd let you know that Francis and Matthew are coming to spend the night on Friday. Ya know. My friends."

"I'm aware of who those two are, you oaf," Kiku sneered indignantly, glancing back at the screen of his laptop.

"Yeah, well I was just making sure, since you don't know what friends are." Alfred swirled his ice cream around more harshly.

Kiku looked back at Alfred, his eyes narrowed. "I'm perfectly aware of what friends are, I'm not an idiot like you."

"Tch." Alfred dropped the spoon and it clattered as it toppled into the bowl, his hand slapping down on the counter. "Could have fooled me, seeing how you don't even have any!"

"You really are as dumb as you look."

"Oh really! Care to prove me wrong?"

"Again? I already do that multiple times a day, you drooling idiot!"

"I meant about having friends, dumb ass!"

"Fine, I'll have someone over on Friday too, so you can just shove it!"

"Stray dogs don't count as friends, Kiku!"

"He's not a dog, Alfred! He'll be here Friday, and you'll eat those words!"

"Oh we'll just see about that!"

"I guess we will!"

"Loner!"

"Oaf!"

"God!" Alfred smacked the counter again as he spun on his heal and stomped away, considerably more irritably than before.

"At least someone acknowledges my deity!" Kiku shouted after him, proceeding to angrily gulp down his ramen and continue working on his laptop. He had been composing yet another email to his father. It seemed for every ten emails he sent home, he would only receive a short paragraph in return. Each time he was disappointed Kiku would remind himself how busy his parents must be. The way things were going in Japan people weren't focused on spending their money on luxurious hotels like the ones in the chain his parents headed. Most people who's homes were destroyed in the tsunami couldn't even afford run down motels. Kiku let out a sigh. Maybe it was a good thing he didn't really have any friends, it would have been hard to have had to say goodbye to them when he left, or even to have lost any in the natural disasters. Perhaps that was why he never really tried to make any in the first place, or really even get close to anyone for that matter. Or maybe he was making excuses, and didn't want to face that he was a self-centered brat. Kiku stared down into his now empty bowl. All that was left was a few stray droplets clinging to the bottom.

He slowly closed the lid of his laptop and hopped off his stool. He headed into the bedroom, ignoring Alfred, who was sitting on his own blue blanketed bet with his cell phone. Alfred snuck a glance at the other as Kiku began rummaging his night stand drawer for something. And as quickly as he had come in, Kiku left the room with his cell phone, and something else crumpled in his hand.

Kiku plopped down on the couch, crossing his legs. He unfurled the yellowish sticky note which had ten digits written on it. He thought back to the day he ran into Heracles for the second time when he had given him his phone number. He remembered standing in the bathroom later that day, ready to wash his hands and seeing the inky scribbles on his right palm, a little smudged. He looked at it for a few seconds, unsure if he should ignore it and wash it away. But he didn't, for whatever reason, and instead scrawled the number down before washing the numbers from his palm. Kiku sighed, now relieved that he hadn't rid himself of the means of contact. He punched the number into his flip phone and saved it under Heracles's name. He stared at the information for a few seconds. It was only after he pressed it that he realize he hit the 'call' button and quickly put the phone to his ear. His heart began to beat a little faster as he heard ringing and realized he didn't think of what to say, but before he could come up with something-

"Hi Kiku," came a relaxed voice.

Kiku's heart skipped several beats. He was rather surprised.

"I...uh, that is-" Kiku gulped. "This is Heracles, is it not?" He could feel his face getting hot. That was awkward...

A small chuckle could be heard from the other. "The one and only."

"O-oh, um...How did you know it was me?" Kiku asked tentatively.

"Well not very many people have my number. Plus I just sort of figured you'd be calling soon. But wouldn't it have been funny if it really wasn't you calling?" Heracles let out another warm chuckle.

"Wouldn't you have been embarrassed...?" Kiku asked.

"Mm... Nah, not really." Though Kiku couldn't see him, it seemed like Heracles was wearing a soft smile.

"Oh, I would have been..." Kiku responded slowly.

"So what's up? Any specific reason you called?"

"A-ah, oh, right," Kiku stuttered. "Well, I...I hope this isn't to strange, but I was wondering if you might want to...come spend the night at the apartment I live in. You see, my-"

"Oh, sure, I'd love to," Heracles replied, sounding kind and laid back as ever.

"I see," Kiku blinked, surprised. "T-thank you very much for complying."

Heracles chuckled again. "No need to be so formal, we're friends after all."

Kiku was silent for a moment. "Friends...right."

"So what time on Friday? And where is your apartment at?"

"Um, I'd say about five, and I can text you the address if you'd like."

"Sounds good, I'll talk to you Friday."

"Right, Friday. I'll see you then, Heracles."

"Can't wait. Bye Kiku."

"Goodbye..."

Kiku sat for a while on the couch after hanging up. They were friends? Without obligation or intent to benefit anything? Kiku closed his eyes. He wasn't entirely thrilled to admit to himself that Heracles was the first real friend he ever had. He refused to count Alfred as his first. Alfred would never be his friend...

Friday had finally rolled around, and it seemed, for once, that Kiku was not in an entirely bad mood, though he wouldn't go as far to call it excitement. He woke up like he would any other day, at eight o'clock on the dot to the sound of his alarm clock and Alfred's snoring. Kiku had been living there for months and was still not used to the snoring, and was convinced he never would be.

After getting up, Kiku headed to the bathroom to wash up, only today his routine was interrupted by a knock on the door. Kiku wiped his hands on the bath towel hanging next to him and went to the front door. When he opened it he was met with a perky Francis and an unkempt and baggy eyed Matthew. "Er... Aren't you two here a bit early...?"

"Oh technicalities!" Francis chirped. "I wanted to make the most of this sleep over so I decided to come a little early."

"More like six hours early..." Matthew whined quietly.

"Plus I wanted to make breakfast for everyone, and it would be blasphemous to wait until the afternoon to come over and cook breakfast."

"You could have just cooked lunch in the afternoon..." Matthew whimpered tiredly.

"Now then," Francis continued, paying no attention to Matthew as he let himself in. "Time for some delicious French omelettes!"

After the two had come in, Francis headed straight to the kitchen, seeming to know his way around well enough. Matthew was slumped over the counter, sitting on a bar stool, his cheek squished against the cold granite. "So then, where is Alfred?" Francis asked from the kitchen.

"Snoring up a storm in his room of course," Kiku replied. "I'll go wake him up for you." He grabbed a silicon spatula from its rack and disappeared without another word.

"Alfred, wake up," he said shortly, back in the bedroom. Alfred made no signs of waking up, not to Kiku's surprise. "Hey!" he said more loudly, whacking the sleeping boy atop his blond head with the spatula, "I said get up." Alfred stirred, letting out a confused grumble, sloppily rubbing his face with the back of his hand. "Well aren't you a sleeping beauty..." Kiku murmured sarcastically, crossing his arms, spatula in hand.

"God! Kiku, what time is it!" he grumbled irritably, checking his phone.

"It's the time when normal people are in a state of consciousness. Now get your ass up, your friends are here."

"Jesus it's like nine in the freaking morning!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, let me just go let them know that you're a lazy good-for-nothing who's to busy sleeping to do anything productive."

"Jeez, shut up, I'm up already, okay? Jeez!" Alfred snapped, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

"I suggest you bathe before you spoil Francis's eggs with that musk," Kiku shot bluntly as he left, closing the door behind him with a snap. Alfred threw his pillow in Kiku's direction, but it only managed to hit the door as it was closing.

"Dick..." Alfred murmured, pulling himself out of bed crankily.

"He'll be along shortly," Kiku said, once back in the living room.

"Honestly, that boy is such a lazy thing sometimes," Francis said, flipping around the contents of a sizzling skillet.

"Sometimes,?" Kiku raised an incredulous brow at the other.

"Oh come on, this early you can't really blame him. Francis showed up at my house over an hour earlier. And I was having a great dream about a hockey game too..."

"Alfred may seem like a bump on a log," Francis said with a grin, "but he'll always come through when it comes down to it."

"The day I see him do something productive of his own accord will be the day Hell freezes over," Kiku said, crossing his arms nonchalantly. He heard the running of water from far off and knew Alfred had started his shower. He took the opportunity to retreat to the bedroom. He didn't want to stay in the kitchen with the other two boys. Even if they were acting graciously, he felt like an outsider, an unwanted presence. Francis and Matthew were friends of Alfred, which meant they weren't freinds of Kiku's, and he assumed the others would have the same notion.

"I guess it's just you and me," Francis said, back in the kitchen, sliding a tasty looking omelette onto a plate in front of Matthew. "Maybe he doesn't like eggs?"

"I don't think it's the food that he doesn't like..." Matthew frowned, pulling the plate towards him.

"Hmm...It's hard to tell with those stoic types," Francis mused.

"I don't know if that's the right term, more like..." Matthew took a bite of his breakfast, "bitter..."

"An omelette has many layers, my friend. You can't judge it by only taking one bite."

"Damn, why are you guys here so early?" Alfred said a few minutes later, one hand in his pocket, the other combing through his damp, golden locks.

"Well, look who's finally decided to join us," Francis winked. "I made breakfast, now come join us."

"Aw, sweet!" Alfred rushed to the counter. "Your cooking is, like, the best, Francis!"

Francis gave a small chuckle. "I know..."

"Humble as ever," Matthew gave a shy little grin. "So how have you been Al? We haven't been seeing much of you this summer."

"Ugh," Alfred sighed, shoving a large wad of egg in his mouth. "Pretty lame. It'd be way better if he wasn't here." Alfred nodded in the direction of his bedroom where Kiku was.

"Man, you guys really don't like each other..." Matthew murmured nervously.

"Yes, and the sky is blue," Francis snickered, then turned to Alfred. "But seriously, you two waste too much energy on hating each other, especially when you could be using that energy doing other things," Francis gave another wink.

"W-what do you mean by that?" Matthew cringed.

"Whatever you want it to mean," Francis said slyly.

"Enough already!" Alfred protested. "Look, nothing is ever gonna change between me and him, so just forget it!"

"Fine, fine, no need to get so defensive," Francis replied.

"Sorry..."

"No worries, now stop talking and enjoy my godly culinary masterpiece."

The three boys spent the next few hours in the living room playing video games, watching TV, and reminiscing about old times. Kiku did what he normally did, which was keep to himself as much as he could. It felt a little weird, actually inviting someone over to his residence. So this is what normal young boys did? What were they supposed to do? What if Heracles didn't enjoy himself? What if he didn't even want to come in the first place and only agreed to be polite? Kiku began to grow more and more nervous as time passed, and just when he thought maybe Heracles wouldn't even show up, his cell phone buzzed loudly, pulling Kiku from his thoughts. It was a text message from Heracles. 'Hey Kiku, I got directions to ur place, so I'll be there around 5. c u then.' Kiku flipped the phone shut and looked at the digital clock on the front. It was already 4:30. He quickly hopped out of his swivel chair, closing the lid of his laptop. He felt a bit frazzled, like he had to get things ready, but he didn't know what he ought to do. What were they going to do at this sleep over? Sleep? Where were they going to sleep? There were going to be five boys in this medium sized apartment, where was everyone going to sleep?And what about dinner? What did Heracles like? What did Heracles even like to do? Before he had even realized it it was already 4:50 and Heracles had sent him another text. 'I'm near ur street, its 1776, right?' Kiku sent a response that said 'Yes, I'll come meet you at the entrance in a moment.'

Kiku quickly left the room, heading to the front door, passing Alfred, Francis, and Matthew. "Going somewhere?" Francis asked curiously as Kiku bent down to slip on his shoes.

"Going to meet my friend, be right back," he said, not bothering to lock the door as he left.

"My bet is that it's an imaginary friend. Any takers?" Alfred gibed after Kiku left.

Kiku walked with moderate pace to the elevators and waited for one to open and slipped in. The lift seemed to be going painfully slow today as he waited for it to decent to the lobby on the first floor. Kiku glanced at his reflection in the shiny brass door. He was wearing a plaid vest over a white collared shirt with khaki shorts. His expression looked solemn and his eyes looked cold. He tried to flash a smile, but it felt strange, forced. He began to slip away in his thought, but was pulled back when he noticed the elevator doors begin to slowly open. He was about to move forward to step out into the lobby, but there was someone standing on the other side of the doors. It was Heracles, standing there with that unforgettably calm expression, a large duffel bag over his shoulder.

"O-oh, it's you," Kiku said, a bit surprised to run into Heracles so quickly. He stepped back to let the other inside the elevator.

"And it's you as well," Heracles gave Kiku a soft smile. "How are you?"

"I'm...good," Kiku lied. "And you?"

"I'm well. Artemis says hello." Artemis was the cat that was with Heracles when he and Kiku first met, and when they ran in to each other in July.

"Oh, did you not bring her?" Kiku asked as the elevator came to a stop, the doors parting to let them out.

"I didn't want to impose, so I left her at home."

"I see. You should bring her next time, I really do enjoy cats."

"Alright, then I will."

Kiku was a bit surprised how smoothly things were going, it felt unexpectedly natural being around Heracles. Maybe it was his laid back and passive nature that put Kiku at ease, unlike Alfred's overbearing energy. "This is it, the apartment I live in," Kiku stopped in front of his door and opened it, gesturing for Heracles to follow. The others were still in the living room, chatting and giggling. Kiku cleared his throat to gain their attention. "This is Heracles Karpusi," he said, then looked defiantly into Alfred's eyes as he said "the friend I was telling you about."

"Nice to meet you," Heracles gave a small wave.

"Sup."

"Bonjour."

"Hello there."

"You can set your things down in my room, this way," Kiku said, heading down the short hallway, showing him to the bedroom he shared.

Heracles looked around as he entered, heading straight to Kiku's side of the room as if he could easily tell who's side was who's. "You share this room with one of those boys?" he asked, taking a seat in Kiku's swivel chair near the oak desk that he suggested he get so long ago.

"Yes, with the one with the bad manners, Alfred." Kiku replied. "No relation," he added bitterly.

"I thought so," Heracles replied with a small nod. "I'm guessing you moved here recently, right?"

"Yes..." Kiku said quietly, sitting down on the edge of his bed facing Heracles, wanting to change the subject. "So, um...what kind of foods do you like? I wasn't sure what to make for dinner and wanted to ask you first."

"Oh, that was nice of you," Heracles smiled. "But honestly I'll eat anything. I can help you with dinner if you'd like, I cook for Mother all the time, she's taught me a lot about spices and herbs."

"Well then, we can make something simple that will feed a lot of people. Do you like pasta?"

"That sounds good."

"Alright. We'll have to run to the market to get some ingredients, you can stay here if you want to."

"Oh, no, I'll come with you and help carry the groceries."

Several minutes later they were heading out the door just as quickly as they had come in, Kiku only muttering "Going to get groceries," to Alfred before closing the door behind him.

"Al, didn't you tell them you wanted to order pizza?" Matthew asked Alfred, who was focused on beating Francis at the video game they were playing.

"Huh? Who?" Alfred asked absentmindedly, not looking away from the screen.

"Kiku said he was getting groceries, I don't think he knows you're ordering food."

"Oh, right, yeah, no I didn't tell him."

"Well they just left..."

"Oh, whatever, let him go with his new little friend, at least he'll be away from me for a while." Alfred coldly. "Actually..." he continued, turning off the game console. "This could be a great opportunity..."

"I'm sorry I didn't think to ask you earlier about what food you liked, I could have gone out to buy food earlier and you wouldn't have had to walk to the store and back," Kiku said, walking alongside Heracles as they scouted the aisles of the grocery store.

"Really, it's no problem," Heracles replied. "I actually walk a lot, so this was nothing. I run errands for Mother all the time."

"So does that mean you walked to my apartment as well?" Kiku asked, reaching for a container of garlic powder on an out of reach shelf. Heracles, who was several inches taller, grabbed it with ease, handing it to Kiku with an 'Mm-hmm.' "Well I guess it's a good thing you came after all. Alright, that looks like everything, let's head to the checkout."

By the time they left the store they had been out for about half an hour, and the sun was beginning to sink lower in the sky. Kiku carried a plastic bag with a particularly large amount of pasta, while Heracles carried a bag with tomatoes and a few other small ingredients.

"So, is there anything in particular you would like to do once dinner is over?" Kiku asked, as he was still unable to think of anything.

"Mmm, maybe take a nap."

"A nap this late in the day?"

"I like naps," Heracles said with a spacey smile.

"Do you have a lot of tiring hobbies or something?"

"Mm, not really, I just like sleeping, it's almost like a hobby in itself."

"Uh...interesting..." Kiku played along. "What else do you do in your spare time?"

"Besides sleep?"

"Yes, besides sleep," Kiku felt like smacking his own forehead.

"Well I like to read a lot, mostly about Ancient Greece. It's because I want to become an archaeologist when I'm older, you see. So, what is it that you want to do?"

"Well...I don't really have anything I want to do, but I'm going to be the head of my parents' business when they retire. That's why I have to study now and practice for later on."

"But is that something you even want to do?"

"Hmm, it's not really a matter of want. It doesn't really matter what I want, it's my obligation as the son of the Honda family."

"Where's the freedom in that...? Being told what you're going to be when you grow up, without even being given the chance to decide for yourself what you want."

"Freedom...?" Kiku wondered aloud as they came up to the lobby doors of the apartment building. "I guess I never really thought about it."

"Maybe you should think about the things you enjoy doing, and then apply those traits to a type of career."

"I don't know why I would, it's not something I need to worry about when I already know what I'm going to do."

"It's not a matter of need," Heracles smiled as they stepped inside the same brassy elevator they had met on earlier. "It's a matter of want."

"Hmm..." Kiku went quiet while he contemplated the idea. He was silent the rest of the way back to the room, wandering around in his own thought. Finally they stopped again in front of the apartment door as Kiku fished for his keys. His stomach made gave a large growl as he unlocked the door, ready to eat. But when he opened the door, neither Francis, Matthew, or even Alfred were there in the living room. "Maybe they stepped out?" he suggested aloud as he stepped inside, heading to the kitchen, Heracles following, but-

Kiku's heart violently skipped several beats as his brain registered the sickening sight before him, the bag of pasta slipping from his grip without him even realizing it. He could feel the blood drain from his face as his throat clenched and dried. What was before him was Alfred in a crippled heap on the kitchen floor, drenched in a deep red substance.

~x~

Hehe, oh boy, what's gonna happen next?

I hope this chapter wasn't too boring with all the Kiku/Heracles dialogue. I hope to be updating soon, what with the cliffhanger and all.

I really hope you enjoyed and will continue reading 3 And as always I look forward to your comments!

See you next chapter! ;D