Hello everyone! Sorry for the long wait. Onwards to Chapter 3!

The rest of the day was more or less uneventful. Alfred had resorted to bothering Arthur every so often, occasionally getting physical, but it was nothing as serious as their first encounter had been. Every time he had fought Alfred off, mostly with words, he had felt a slight, peculiar pull towards him, wanting to know more about him and about why he even bothered to harass Arthur in the first place. Although, Arthur would die before he'd admit it.

Sometimes Alfred would disappear into his room for hours with no explanation, leaving Arthur to wonder exactly what he was doing - though Arthur would never admit that he actually cared. So far Alfred had proven to be nothing but a typical, albeit unique demon - acting superciliously cocky one moment and childishly delighted or stubborn the next. Arthur had no idea what to make of it.

Except for that one moment.

For a moment, just a single moment, Arthur had felt as if he had gotten a glimpse of Alfred's true self - when Alfred's hands were on his throat when they had first met. Though he hated to admit it, his heart was indeed beating fast, but...now that he thought about it, Alfred didn't seem to have any malicious intent when he had pointed it out. He had said something about it being a "while" since he had last heard one, as Arthur recalled. Seeing that flicker of calm bliss, replaced all too soon by arrogance, on Alfred's face when he was listening made Arthur feel slightly uneasy, as any person would, but left him surprised and curious more than anything. Why would a demon be so interested in a human's pulse? Perhaps he'd take some sadistic pleasure in hearing the heartbeat stop if he decided to kill Arthur, but Arthur somehow knew that couldn't be his intention.

He stared out the window from his bed, lost in thought while watching the sky grow darker. The brilliant, beautiful warm hues were beginning to fade into darkness, and the dark purples and greys made the sky look almost poisonous. Gilbert had been in the room the entire time, but Arthur knew it wasn't simply because he couldn't put down his magazine.

He had been watching Arthur. Watching his movements, every time Arthur even turned to look at something - Gilbert was watching. Were they suspicious that he'd just get up and leave? Although Arthur hated to admit it, Gilbert did indeed look stronger than him, and could probably tackle Arthur if he tried to make an escape. Elizaveta had either been in the kitchen or in the living room with Arthur and Gilbert, but she didn't seem too concerned about Arthur's movements. She had been a very fine host, always asking about his needs, or even striking up small talk when she sensed Arthur was getting bored.

Gilbert hadn't spoken to him once since he had asked him his name. Arthur had no idea why Gilbert was so interested in him, but in reality, he had no idea why any of them were so keen on keeping him locked up in the house. It wasn't as if he'd blab to the rest of the town about demons living in the forest - and if he did, he'd probably be considered a lunatic. He wouldn't have believed it himself if someone had told him so, though he couldn't deny that he wouldn't go looking for them, chasing after some vain, foolish hope.

Arthur sighed, fidgeting as he stood up to stretch. Surely there was something to take his mind off of things. Perhaps they had a book or two - not Gilbert's magazines - that he could peruse in his apparent ample leisure time. Gilbert immediately stood up as Arthur did, walking over to him.

"What do you think?" Gilbert asked suddenly, his voice low as his intense gaze took Arthur by surprise. "About our Al."

"W-Well," Arthur began hesitantly, "He is certainly an...interesting character, isn't he?" Arthur thought it best not to offend Alfred in the presence of his...friend?...but he didn't want to be so quick to write off Alfred as completely crude, either.

Gilbert cracked a small grin. "You think so?"

Arthur smiled slightly. "To be completely honest, I really don't know much about him; after all, I've only known him for a day. But I feel as if there's more to him than being a condescending brute."

Gilbert laughed loudly, patting Arthur on the back. "All right, man. I like it."

Without another word, he whistled as he turned around and left the living room, leaving Arthur alone.

The house was silent, with only a lantern flickering weakly in the hallway for light. It was probably close to midnight, or even past it, as Elizaveta and Gilbert had already headed up to their room, telling Arthur not to move around too much. Alfred was probably in his; apparently, according to Elizaveta, he "liked" to go to his room by 11 PM. Arthur found it odd, considering the demon seemed so rowdy and disinclined to follow any rules, but he didn't inquire as to why. Alone on the bed downstairs, Arthur looked at the window and found pure darkness, save for the leaves on plants reflecting the moon's cold light.

I have to do it now, I have to escape...Surely those three must have fallen asleep.

He got off the bed slowly, ensuring it wouldn't creak, and made his way to the small hall towards the door. He wasn't sure if this would be a trap of some sort, with the three popping out at him if he so much as touched the doorknob, but he felt that Elizaveta trusted him, and if Alfred wasn't going to leave his room, Arthur doubted he had anything to worry about. Gilbert seemed to have cooled off from his strange observation session earlier, and seemed casual around Arthur. His only true worry was Alfred, and if he had another confrontation with him like he had the first time they met, he knew he probably wouldn't make it out intact, especially if he angered Alfred. At least, not without Elizaveta's help.

Arthur frowned in thought as he shuffled silently across the hall. Was Arthur's being a human the only reason Alfred seemed to initially...well, hate him so much? Or, perhaps, did he hold a grudge against Arthur himself? But they had never even met, so that wouldn't make any sense. Arthur shook his head quickly. He needed to stop thinking about Alfred so much and focus on his escape.

Just a little bit more...yes!

But as soon as his hand was on the doorknob, an arm shot out from behind him and slammed the door shut. Arthur slowly turned around in dread and found blood red eyes, shimmering in the darkness, pinning him to where he stood.

"Al...fred..." Well, this is bloody fantastic.

"And where the fuck do you think you're going?" he growled, barely veiling his anger. Due to the close proximity in the dim light of the lantern, Arthur couldn't help but notice that...well, Alfred, if human, would really be considered handsome. The lighting only served to make his already-attractive features all the more alluring. At least, it would, if his eyes didn't make a person want to stay outside of a ten mile radius of him. You fool, stop thinking about it!

"I..." Arthur knew he needed to think fast. "Water," he said suddenly and looked up at Alfred, feigning boredom. "Surely you'd allow me water. If you did, in fact, intend to keep me alive."

"Water can be found in the kitchen, my dear lion. Not by the door." Alfred's voice took on a mocking tone now, that slightly playful tone that Arthur had grown used to after a full day of hearing it.

"And is wanting fresh water, untainted by demons, such a bad thing?" Arthur tilted his head, refusing to look away from Alfred. He couldn't lose. He couldn't lose to this demon who irritated and intrigued him so much.

Ignoring the insult, Alfred simply smiled, an unnatural smile that made Arthur began to shake, ever so slightly. Was he sweating already?

"Weren't you supposed to be in your room?" Arthur asked mockingly. "Oh, I see...could it be that you're ignoring your bedtime? That's not a good habit to have, you know. You won't grow much more if you keep it up," Arthur sighed, shaking his head. Perhaps now he'd find out the reason for this strange habit.

Alfred smiled widely. He suddenly tilted Arthur's head up, with a finger gently forcing Arthur's chin upward. "And I don't want to hear that from a lion who can't beat this demon in height."

Arthur crossed his arms, unamused. "I do have a name."

"Right, Arthur...Kirkland."

'I want to embrace you, I want you to tell me

That you don't think this is a mistake...'

Startled by the melody, Arthur suddenly frowned. Nobody could be singing it. Why did he have to hallucinate it now of all times? It was almost as if his mind was working against him.

"What? Don't like the sound of your name?" Alfred smirked.

"Shut up, I..." Arthur frowned. "Why is that song..."

"Going senile at this age? Lions need to eat meat, otherwise they won't grow strong. It's hunt or be hunted, Arthur." The way he drew out Arthur's name, as if tasting it, made Arthur shiver.

When Alfred suddenly leaned closer, Arthur drew back against the door, until his back hit it and he couldn't back up anymore. Alfred pretended to pity him, but Arthur could only see amusement and delight in his eyes. He was enjoying this, he was enjoying taunting Arthur and watching him suffer. All possible thoughts of trying to understand him were turned into rage as he glared at Alfred.

"My, my, didn't daddy ever tell you not to run away from a fight?" Alfred asked condescendingly.

"He certainly didn't tell me about the gall with which demons talked nowadays," Arthur sneered, turning his face away. "As if you have the right-!"

Arthur was interrupted as, without warning, Alfred collapsed against him. Though Arthur initially struggled to hold him up, they both ended up falling to the floor.

"Al-Alfred! What are you-"

'Even if this is something that cannot be forgiven

The flames of passion climb higher...'

Arthur shook his head. Why did this keep happening? He couldn't afford to be distracted. Just as Arthur was about to give Alfred a well-deserved kick in the gut, Alfred stirred, and in the dim light, Arthur gasped in astonishment.

Alfred's hair...it had completely changed color, from the dead, black strands to a lush, rich gold, darker than Arthur's hair. And as Alfred stirred again and gazed at Arthur, Arthur could see clearly that his eyes were a beautiful blue, like the sky on a perfectly clear day that he had always longed to see, past the dreary clouds and fog...

'You are everything in the world to me...'

Alfred rubbed his eyes, sitting up while furrowing his eyebrows and squinting at his surroundings. "Where...I'm usually...I..." His voice was softer, gentler than Arthur thought Alfred capable, even though it was laced with confusion.

Arthur was stunned. He could only watch as Alfred's hands blindly roamed across the floor as if he were searching for something. But Alfred didn't seem to be looking at anything at all. In fact, it was almost as if he was avoiding looking at Arthur. His eyes, unfocused and occasionally moving slowly from the floor to straight in front of him, betrayed nothing. Arthur drew in his breath as soon as Alfred's hand touched his leg, and Alfred jumped in surprise.

"W-W-Who's there?!" Alfred cried out as he immediately backed up. His eyes shot up, seeking but not finding.

Arthur felt his heart twinge with a pain he couldn't understand. Alfred sounded so broken, so defenseless...nothing like the Alfred that had threatened him just moments before.

"A-Alfred, are you all right?" Arthur began hesitantly, frowning slightly as he remained still.

Alfred suddenly gasped, his eyes widening at the sound of Arthur's voice. His eyes were focused to Arthur's right, and left, and finally seemed to be focused on him, but it didn't feel as if Alfred were looking at him. "A-Arthur...?" He whispered the name, almost as if he were unsure, his voice filled with hope and something Arthur couldn't understand.

"Yes, Alfred, are you-"

"Arthur!" Alfred exclaimed, scrambling forwards until he managed to place his hands on Arthur's shoulders. His hands roamed across his shoulders and chest, and finally up to his face. "Oh my god, Arthur, it's you, oh God, Arthur, Arthur..."

Arthur flushed slightly at the way Alfred repeated his name. It was desperate and heart-wrenching, but it was calm, it was soothing, it was familiar, and...and why did Alfred seem so different now? Arthur's mind raced, and he didn't have time to react as Alfred wrapped his arms around him in a clumsy embrace, his face lit up in a large smile.

"U-Um...A-Alfred-"

Alfred squeezed tighter in response, and Arthur couldn't bring himself to form words. "Arthur, I-I missed you so much, I just...Arthur, I love you so much, please...I'm so sorry, Arthur..."

"I...w-what are you saying?!" Arthur exclaimed, struggling to push him away. "Alfred, what..."

But Alfred didn't let go. "Arthur, Arthur...I told them about you, Arthur, oh God, Arthur, I'm so sorry, I don't know...I'm just...I...I need you Arthur, please, don't leave me again!"

"Alfred, I don't...I don't understand..." Alfred was acting so strangely...his voice was gentle, it was loving, it was warm, and Alfred's skin...it was healthy, it had color, everything about this man seemed human, and he was being so...so affectionate for some reason...and desperate, and tense, and panicking...

Arthur felt something wet on his shoulder. Was Alfred crying?

"Alfred...Alfred!" Arthur couldn't push him away. "Alfred, face me." Alfred shook his head stubbornly, like a child, and burrowed his head further into Arthur's shoulder. Arthur didn't say anything until he finally felt Alfred's breathing rate calm down. He couldn't understand why his heart yearned to embrace Alfred, to wipe away his tears, to kiss him and tell him it was all okay, and he knew he had to stop such thoughts before they settled in his mind.

"Alfred, face me. Right now."

Reluctantly, Alfred drew back, his eyes glimmering with tears. "A-Arthur, I love you. I love you, Arthur, more than anything..."

Arthur felt himself blush, and shook his head. He didn't even know Alfred; he had no reason to get worked up. But just the sight of his teary eyes and miserable, yet loving face made Arthur's heart wrench in pain. Arthur felt another sudden need to embrace him, to make him happy, to let him know everything was going to be all right, and he immediately grabbed his right hand with his left in a vain attempt to stop any possible involuntary movements. He looked up at Alfred again after a moment of silence, and expected to find Alfred gazing at him, but instead found Alfred focusing at a point just above Arthur's head.

"Alfred, you need to tell me what's going on. Why are you...why are you crying?"

Alfred's eyes suddenly lowered, meeting Arthur's gaze.

'You are everything in the world to me...'

"I..." Alfred bit his lip. "I thought I'd never see you again..."

Arthur frowned. "But...we just met each other today, Alfred...we last saw each other a couple of hours ago, I don't see why you'd..." he trailed off, at a loss for what to say.

Alfred's eyes widened as he gaped in silence. "W-What are you talking about, Arthur?" Then, he paused, his eyebrows furrowed. "You don't..."

"Do I...is it possible that we've met before?" Arthur knew it was completely ridiculous, but he couldn't stop himself from asking.

"Arthur..." Alfred groaned, placing his hands on the floor again as Arthur sat against the door. "Arthur, I know I did something terrible, but this is too cruel...but..." Alfred's lips twitched upwards in a weak, bitter smile. "I guess I deserve it, huh? All of it." His eyes darkened, and silence fell. A suspicion had occurred to Arthur a while ago, and he deemed now the best time to test it. Slowly, silently, he stood up, and he quickly waved his hand in front of Alfred's face.

But Alfred's eyes didn't even twitch. They remained fixed, gazing at the door.

"You're blind."

Alfred gave him a small smile. "Couldn't hide it well, huh?"

Arthur's eyes widened. "Why on earth would you try to hide a condition like that? How...you were able to see perfectly fine before..." Arthur sat down again, puzzled, facing Alfred as he waited for an explanation.

"I..." Alfred bit his lip, frowning as his hands roamed across the wooden floor. Suddenly, he furrowed his eyebrows in pain, seeming to realize something. "Arthur, you have to...you have to stay away from me."

"...What?"

Alfred suddenly reached out, groping blindly until he found and gripped Arthur's hands, frantic. "Arthur, listen to me. You have to go back. I'll...I'll hurt you, Arthur, please don't let me touch you-"

"Wait, stop...Alfred, calm down, if you can just explain..."

"No - what...what time is it?"

Arthur looked at the clock on the wall. 12:13 AM.

"A-At 12:30...at 12:30..." Alfred's voice shook, and he squeezed his eyes shut, trembling as he shook as head. Suddenly, his eyes gazed in Arthur's direction. "You have to stay away."

From an impulse that felt like it wasn't his own, and yet it was, so, intrinsically his, he reached out and grabbed Alfred's shoulders. Alfred's eyes widened in surprise, and for once Arthur was glad Alfred was blind so he couldn't see how much Arthur was blushing.

"Alfred, listen to me. I honestly have no idea what is happening right now, but I do know this - you told me to never leave you again, yet now you're telling me to stay away from you? I don't know if I'm truly the person you're-"

"You are." Alfred's interrupted, his voice hard. "I know that without having to see anything."

"Regardless of who I am or what you are, I'm not leaving you, Alfred. Whatever...whatever problem you're dealing with, you're clearly in no condition to sort it out yourself." Arthur's voice grew gentler as he continued. "Please, Alfred. If you just explain to me-!"

Arthur was cut off by another tight embrace, eliciting a gasp of surprise from Arthur.

"Arthur..." Alfred's voice was gentle and soft, though pure joy radiated from him. "Arthur, I'm so happy, Arthur...you're really...here with me..."

Arthur smiled, despite himself. Why did this feel so natural? He instantly mentally rebuked himself. He shouldn't be enjoying this, and he definitely shouldn't feel the urge to lean into Alfred and hug him back...

"It doesn't matter now...I've seen you, Arthur, I got to see you again, and I have to tell you now...I-I never told you before, but I'm..." Alfred separated himself and gazed at Arthur's direction with a level of sorrow that Arthur never knew a man could hold. "I need to tell you. I'm the reason you got captured. I-I just thought you...and him..." Alfred suddenly winced, clutching at his hand.

"...I have to go." He stopped abruptly as he stood up, and Arthur rose with him.

"Are you...are you going back to your room?"

"I..." Alfred suddenly looked lost. "I don't know where it is."

Arthur gently held his hand. "Tell me. I'll lead you there."

Alfred nodded, looking hesitant, but his hand squeezed Arthur's. "I..." He paused suddenly. "I think I remember...does this house have two floors?"

"Yes. I think...I believe Elizaveta told me your room was upstairs."

"It is."

Silently, so as not to make a lot of noise, although he was surprised their conversation hadn't woken the other two up already, Arthur slowly led Alfred across the house towards the staircase. It was Arthur's first time seeing that part of the house as well, and the dim light didn't help whatsoever, but he managed to find it and lead Alfred up.

Alfred gripped the railing with one hand and held Arthur's hand in the other, managing to climb the stairs without a problem.

The last room at the end of the hall was Alfred's. Arthur slowly turned the doorknob and opened it, leading Alfred inside. Suddenly, he gently took Arthur's arm, rubbing the skin in circular motions with his thumb. Arthur winced. "You didn't tell me you hurt your arm."

Arthur's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you...it didn't occur to me that I should." Preoccupied with Alfred, Arthur had honestly forgotten about the pain in his forearm.

Alfred frowned. "Tell me anything, everything, Arthur..." he murmured softly. He slowly, gently traced along Arthur's arm up to his shoulder, and then glided across his collarbone and neck to his face. He reached out with his other arm and cupped Arthur's face before running his hands through Arthur's hair. He suddenly let out a chuckle.

"I still can't believe you're real."

Arthur snorted. "Well, I'm here in front of you, aren't I?" His mind told him to push Alfred away, to stop those wonderful hands from painting an image of Arthur in Alfred's mind, but he stood motionless.

"I prayed every day, you know. Even if you hated me. Even if you would never forgive me. I...needed to see you again."

Alfred suddenly choked, doubling over in pain.

"Alfred!" Arthur immediately bent down, holding him steadily. "Are you all right? What's happening?"

"L-Leave..." Alfred wheezed. "Please, Arthur..." With the last of his strength, Alfred surged towards the door, gripping Arthur's arm, and pushed him out. Arthur heard the door close and the lock click before he could react.

"Alfred!" Arthur whispered, knocking on the door as quietly as he could. He knew Alfred could hear him. All he heard was shuffling and the strain of bed springs, and Arthur realized Alfred had probably gone to lie down.

Worry and confusion surged through his veins, and Arthur desperately hoped Alfred would be okay. He stood stubbornly outside the door for what seemed like forever, hoping that Alfred would open the door.

But he never did.