Lost Souls

Chapter Eight

"Arzhur? I 'aven't seen you in days. What are you doing in zhat room of yours?" Despite having the ability to walk through walls. Francis was still good about giving Arthur privacy in his room. Heck, he doubted the Frenchman even noticed his absence until then.
"Leave me alone." Arthur groaned. He hadn't moved an inch since lying down. It wasn't like he needed to. Without an agenda, without needing to eat or sleep, he could lie there for all eternity.
"I'd say zhat staying in your room all zhe time isn't 'ealthy, but you're dead...so..." He heard Francis sigh before coming into the room. "I'm just going to say zhat I'm worried about you."
"Why would you be? You hate my guts."
"I zhink it's about time we gave up on zhis immature banter." Francis crossed his arms. "Adults 'ave no place acting like children."
Wow...a rational point from Francis. Surprising.
"I know how you feel...seeing your little brother cry like that..." Arthur admitted. "Alfred took a while but he finally cracked."
"'E did huh?" Francis sat himself down on the bed. "I zhought 'e would eventually."
"It's rough..."
"And it's no reason to be moping around in your room. Our baby brozhers are strong boys. Zhey'll be fine wizhout us."
Arthur nodded, sitting up.
"Hey, Francis?"
"Oui?"
"What were we even fighting about...originally..."
"I 'ave no clue."  
"Do you ever think that we were fighting for each other's attention?" Arthur didn't know what he was saying. This was all so ridiculous.
"Oui. Sometimes." Francis nodded softly, not meeting Arthur's gaze.
"We were fucking idiots." Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Oui. We were." Francis let out a long breath.
The two sat in silence after that. There was nothing left to be said.
It wasn't until Arthur started being tugged away that the quiet was broken.
"Alfred must be going somewhere." He sighed.
Francis nodded. "Au revoir."
If he had any choice in the matter, he probably would have stayed. Strangely enough, he really liked the feeling that one silence gave him. He didn't want to leave it behind.
But where Alfred went, Arthur had to follow.
The emerald eyed blond was pulled out of the house and up the street to the bus stop where he waited for the machine to roll in. Alfred hadn't left the house in as much time as Arthur stayed in his room. It was no stretch to think that he needed some time away from the quiet. He was Alfred after all.
The bus rolled in and Alfred stepped in, paying the fee and sitting up front. Arthur stood around, wondering where his brother was heading.
He found out soon enough when Alfred got off at the mall, slipping his hands into his pockets as he walked.
He spent the day browsing through the stores but not buying anything. At lunch he sat down at the food court with his McDonald's meal, gorging on the trash food in silence. He picked at his fries, not looking up at his surroundings.
Somebody at a nearby table coughed and he looked up, startled to see a dark haired boy about his age. Did he know this person?
He ducked under the table when the stranger, who Arthur swore looked familiar, glanced his way.
He didn't see Alfred, but Arthur swore he looked right at the brit.
No. He must be imagining things. Arthur was dead.
The Asian boy stood, walking to the bathroom. He knew Alfred would be around for a while, so he decided to follow the stranger.
The bathroom was sterile and covered in stainless steel and tiles. Arthur saw that boy standing in the middle of the floor, waiting for something. Somebody.
"Arzhur."
Arthur looked around him, not sure if the boy was talking to him.
"Me?"
"You don't remember?"
"Remember what?" How could this person see him?
"Just as I zhought." He bowed his head softly, giving a light hum.
"How can you see me?"
"I was dead once too."
"Once?"
"Never mind...you wirr probabry remember in a few weeks or so..."
"What do you mean?" Arthur took a step forward and the other boy coughed.
"Because I'm just going to die again..."
"Why? What's going on?"
"Your brozher...I need your herp..."
Arthur blinked slowly.
"I was supposed to be dating him by now but I keep chickening out...I only have a short time before zhe paradox kirrs me."
"What are you going on about? Tell me!" Arthur shrieked. He was so confused that he would believe anything at this point.
"Kiku?" The door behind Arthur opened and Alfred stepped in, looking around, befuddled.
"Arfred!"
"Who are ya talking to in here?"
"Um...nobody...uh..." Kiku took a few steps back as Alfred locked the bathroom door from all patrons.
"Can we talk?"
"You're just going to beat me up again..."
Beat him up? What the hell did Alfred get up to in his free time?
"Keeks, be serious here..."
"I am serious."
"Be more serious."
Kiku took another step back, hitting the wall. Alfred closed the space between them, not caring that the smaller boy was snow white.
"Look, my friends are jerks and I'm really sorry that I get carried away when I'm with them..."
"Zhis isn't..."
"A year and a half ago you seemed really out of it. I was going to approach you sooner but you just suddenly bounced back so I wimped out. But now, I've noticed, you're kinda going back to that place and I just want you to know that I'm here for you, okay?"
Kiku blinked slowly, hands shaking in his lap. "I...uh..."
"Would it be weird if I kissed you right now?"
"Nani?!"
"I mean...uh..." Alfred's face burned a dark Crimson. "Neverm-"
Kiku grabbed ahold of the front of Alfred's t-shirt and pulled him in close for a deep kiss. Alfred's eyes widened in surprise then fluttered shut, absorbing the moment with everything he had.
Arthur looked on, shocked. He wasn't aware that Alfred was even capable of crushing on somebody else.
"Do you want to spend the night at my place?" Alfred asked when he finally pulled away.
"Hai."

my new frien.
A good frien.