Flowershop

Chapter Five

Alfred stared at the back of the man who just turned around to take pictures of lilacs. His heart was still pounding, and he didn't even mind the blush dusting his cheeks. He was just simply admiring the beauty of the botanical garden, when he noticed Kiku with a sentimental look on his usually monotone face. He was about to ask him what was bugging him when he suddenly turned to face him, taking the American off guard. He had this strange look in his eye, and Alfred couldn't tell if it was good or bad. It seemed like an almost...longing look. He looked back at Kiku, feeling his face grow hot as he looked back into his eyes. Kiku seemed to snap out of it for a second as he fixed his gaze on Alfred's eyes, looking into them, and then turned around unblushingly to take more pictures. Alfred stared at him incredulously. What was that about?! Alfred thought frantically, wondering if he did something wrong. He then snuck a peek at Kiku's face as he reviewed the pictures he had taken. Alfred felt his heart rate speed up once again as he saw the small smile Kiku had on, and how proud Kiku looked. As Kiku turned to face Alfred, he looked away so the older man wouldn't know he was watching. Kiku looked at Alfred with an true, soft smile and grabbed Alfred by the hand this time, and made his way to the daylilies.

Alfred was hardly paying the flowers any attention. Which flowers were they looking at again?? "Hey, Kiku, wh-" he was interrupted as Kiku grabbed him by the hand once again to go see the daffodils, clearly teasing him. Alfred felt his heart jump into his throat. Damn, this was getting annoying.

Kiku was having a lot of fun, and he even allowed himself to smile a couple of times today. He felt a new foreign feeling towards the American behind him, but he would have to figure them out later. He had a lot to think about already, but he made sure he didn't think. He wasn't going to stress out and ruin his day. He let loose and laughed to his hearts content, much to the surprise and the enjoyment of Alfred. Alfred couldn't help smiling when Kiku smiled, couldn't help laughing when Kiku laughed, and couldn't help but stare when Kiku became entranced with something. Alfred just couldn't help his infatuation with Kiku.

Kiku had noticed something strange about Alfred. He seemed a bit more serious and out of it. He tried getting his attention several times, but failed. He eventually ended up stepping on his foot, and that definetly got the man's attention. "Ouch! Bro, why'd you do that? It huurts!" America whined, swaying on one foot.
Kiku ignored his comment and proceeded to look at him fully.
"Nothing...you were just acting a little strange, that's all."
Kiku couldn't put his finger on it, but Alfred seemed to be hiding something. He could feel some tension in the air, why, Kiku had no idea. It didn't seem to be bad, but it was still there. It kept bothering Kiku, he was actually having fun with him, but Alfred seemed to be almost overwhelmed. It worried him a little, Alfred was never like this, and when he was, be usually talked about it. Kiku wondered if his never ending smile was actually a good thing. He was starting to doubt it.

He watched Alfred fidget around the last couple of hours they were there, and was somewhat relieved when the workers said they only had about thirty minutes left. Alfred loosened up a little, and progressively turned back to normal. It bewildered Kiku, but he was polite enough not to ask any questions. He and Alfred went to the observatory a couple of times before settling for the remainder of their visit in the sunflower section. This area especially drew in Kiku, as his mother loved sunflowers especially. He sat down and inhaled, taking in the scent of the moist earth. Alfred watched Kiku with a slight, shy smile adorning his lips. He felt that over the past few months of knowing the man, he had honestly come to truly love Kiku, and it was honestly freaking him out, but he was excited. He knew his father was dreading the day that his son would finally find love, but it had come, and Alfred knew he couldn't do anything about it. It was a big thing, bigger than Kiku and Alfred, much bigger.

The realization of this hit him after he saw Kiku staring at him, and it never left his mind. He fiddled his thumbs, gaining nervous glances from other people. He chuckled nervously and kept taking off his glasses. He would take them off, clean them on his shirt, and put them back on, repeating the process. He noticed himself doing it and tried to stop, but he would end up doing something else, pulling at the end of his hoodie, running his hands through his hair and rub the back of his neck. He prayed Kiku wouldn't notice, but after a little bit, Kiku started picking up on these tiny details. Kiku couldn't figure out for the life of him what was prying at the man, and it was starting to slightly irritate him. Kiku wondered if his openness today had made Alfred uncomfortable somehow? He slowly shook his head as soon as the thought struck him. The American nearly pissed himself everytime Kiku smiled a little. Kiku wanted to laugh at that thought. Alfred, a fully grown man, getting so excited over another's facial expression. The idea was so absurd to Kiku that it was funny. But then again, he noticed the American wasn't really like that with anyone else. Sure, Alfred would get happy if he made another person smile, but it was different with Kiku. He would wear this smug smile on his face, and his eyes shone brightly. Kiku liked that thought, that only he himself, Honda Kiku, could make another-, no, just another, that he could make Alfred F. Jones look that happy. He repeated this thought in his head a few more times, smiling as he though them. All these thoughts and questions formed in his head, and before he could fully form them, he was snapped out of his stupor by Alfred this time. "Kiku, its closing..." he said with a sad expression on his face that slightly took the Japanese aback. Did Alfred really have that good of a time? He smiled sadly, knowing they had to leave. Leave all these nice flowers that his mother would love to see. He decided that once he got another steady job, he could take Alfred here once again. He returned his camera to its original place around his neck and started to walk towards the exit. He looked behind him one last time and saw Alfred still standing there, just gazing into the flowers. Kiku walked over to Alfred, and placed his soft hand on Alfred's shoulder, succeeding in getting the latter's attention. They walked out, minds full of thoughts they didn't fully understand.