Author's Note: We're back to Japan again. Something seems rather... off about him. I decided to try and make something happen to him. I can't have him acting scared and dazed all the time. This should be interesting. I can't wait to bring in the rest of the 2P!crew. The season finale will be February sixth this year. I think I have an idea of what I am doing next week. Let's just say we have to get back to a certain abandoned church in Finland. We have to see what happens next. For now, enjoy this week's match.

Match Thirty: Okaburo:

Something isn't right with Kiku. He isn't acting like himself. (Okay, so he hasn't been for a long time. But this is different.) Everyone picked up on it right away. Sena knocked on their bedroom door.

"Baby? Are you up in there?" she asked. "Baby? Baby?" She backed up when the door slid open. Sena covered her mouth. Kiku peered at her through dark blue-tinted sunglasses. His wife looked confused.

"Baby, are you okay? What's with those shades?" she asked. Her husband shrugged.

"Just felt like it," he said. The Japanese man leaned and kissed Sena on the lips. Sena could only just stand there. Usually, she would be the one to make the first move with affection. Under normal circumstances, she would've welcomed this. Her husband pulled away. Kiku had a devilish little smirk on his face.

"Um… I take it you are feeling better?" she asked. Kiku licked his lips.

"Of course," he said. "Why wouldn't I be?" Sena narrowed her eyes.

"Do you really want me to answer that?" she asked. Her husband smiled as he patted her on the back.

"It's a joke," he said. "Lighten up." He kissed her on the cheek and walked by her out of the hall. Sena was just left standing there. She reached into her pocket for her phone.

Sena wasn't the only one to notice that something wasn't right.

-The Past-

He was the only son. And already he was a disappointment. He was never a manly man. He couldn't fight. The young man didn't want to. He just loved poetry and music. Sometimes, he wished that could've been a girl. The young man admired everything about the woman. They could be strong and beautiful. Their hands were so soft but they could do many things. The world couldn't survive without women. Women made the world go round. He tried to be a girl when he was younger.

His father didn't approve. He beat his son when he saw him dressed up like a girl.

"You are a boy! Act like it!"

All attempts to "make him a man" failed. Failure. That word hung around his head like a halo. Everyone in their neighborhood knew. His family was embarrassed by him. The young man started to retreat into himself.

Books became his life. Poetry soothed his soul. The young man had dreams of being a poet or an artist. Part of him still wanted to be a woman. Oh yes, that part never left him. His father still beat him for that. Even that wasn't working anymore.

It was time to try and different tactic.

The young man should've known something was wrong when there was a dinner in the middle of a summer night. His father was a little nice to him. He should've known.

Dinner felt uncomfortable. The young man tried not to make eye contact. He didn't want to be here.

I want to go home.

Suddenly, his father stood up. The whole room went quiet. The young man kept his head down.

"Everyone!" he said. "I would like to announce the arranged marriage of my son and Tsuzuki-sama!" The whole clapped. The young man froze as he lifted his head. What? Marriage? They never talked to him about that. Who was Tsuzuki-sama? He didn't even know that she existed until today.

I think I'm going to be sick.

The young man lowered his head and started to cry. He had no idea how much his life was going to get.

-Kiku-

He's still in there. He's just not in control anymore. Kiku can still see and hear everything. He is in his body but it's not him.

I don't like this.

He has to let his friends know the truth. Kuro has taken over since that dinner party. He woke in his own futon the next morning. But something didn't feel right. The Japanese man looked at his hand. This was his hand. He looked over at the mirror. That was his face and body. Still, something wasn't right.

"Hello?" he asked. Kiku covered his mouth. Still, something wasn't right.

Oh good. You're finally awake.

Kiku froze. Wait… No…

That's right I'm inside of you. Or rather, you're inside of me. The Japanese man's eyes widened as his heart pounded against his chest.

"No…"

That's right! I am you now. How did that happen you ask? Do you remember that dinner party at my mansion? Well, I took over then. Kiku trembled as he grabbed his sheets.

"No… No."

Kuro chuckled in his head. Sorry, that's just how it is. Actually, I'm not sorry. Now, he was laughing. Kiku thought that he was going to be sick.

Suddenly, there was a knock on his bedroom door. Kiku felt himself smirking.

Show time. Kiku climbed out of his futon and walked up to the bedroom door.

-Kuro-

He was now the king of Japan. Kuro had a new body and a new kingdom to run. Sena would fall in line soon. It wasn't an easy feat to get here. Kuro wasn't even sure that the ritual was going to work.

It took Johann and Sabine to help him out. They were the ones to come to him. Actually, it was her to come to him. It all started with one email.

"Hm? What's this?"

Kuro clicked on the message. He scanned over the pleasantries. Blah. Blah. Blah. But then, something caught his attention. Hang on. Kuro scrolled up for a better read. A way to take over Kiku's body to further cause. Hm... It seemed like crap, but he would be lying if he said that he wasn't interested. Kuro clicked the reply button.

"Why should I believe you? What do you get out of this? You better not be trying to rip me off or something!" He pressed send.

She replied right back.

"We all benefit in the game. Come out to Ikebukuro. We will be waiting there."

Kuro raised his eyebrow. Something seemed fishy about this. But he couldn't help but wonder. This could be the thing that he was looking for. Still, he had his own questions. He clicked on reply.

"All right. Where and when?"

From there, it all came together.

Kuro didn't care if anyone noticed if he was different. He was the king and this was his time to shine. The others would be joining him soon. They were going to like this world. He made his way up to the UN Building. It was really time to take this body out for a test run. They weren't going to know what hit them. He walked up to the doors and pushed them open.