The Voice of Japan

*8*

           

Baby steps. That's what was going on for them. Little baby steps as Harper felt his fingers brush against her wrist. It was a comfort thing now, his gentle touch of reassurance. Always her wrist, nowhere else unless she said otherwise. Yet at that moment, she wanted to hold him, to never let go as the men planned to go to Romania and see what the nation was up to. She could see that Brie and Amber were cooking something up within their heads as they looked at each other and nodded. Lily wasn't far behind with them as her fingers would tap and move around to their own movements. She hated being left out of what they were talking about but she knew she'd get hit with it fast after they men left.

Since the news report and video played two weeks ago, she had been practically glued to Kiku's side as everything came forth. She was terrified of what could happen to her if he wasn't around, worried that she'd never see him again. A small squeeze came to her hand, pulling her from her thoughts.

"Don't worry Harper, I won't let anything happen to you." he whispered to her.

Curse him and knowing her so well. She hated that she was that readable yet also was glad about it as well. It was things like this that made her confident in him and herself.

"With that being said, we will be heading out in an hour or so to get to Vlad's. Setting up everything will be the interesting part." Ludwig finished.

"I still think it's suicidal jumping in like that." Marie crossed her arms on her chest.

"If there was another way I would do it Liebling." he spoke to her.

"If we are to get the information, what happens then?" Feli asked.

"Hopefully with it Feliciano we will be able to stop this all at once." Francis relied.

"And then there will be less to worry about." Arthur added.

They all nodded as they rose to their feet, husbands and wives following the other before having to depart once more. Harper worried furiously over Kiku and the thought of him dealing with Genesis. It just-

"Harper." she heard his tone change.

She knew that one, the tone of 'stop worrying'. She couldn't help it. Having him was like a child's security blanket, it felt wonderful to have yet scary when lost.

"We won't be far. Just over the border. Eliza and Gil have things set where you all will be safe, trust me."

"I do Kiku. I still worry though."

She looked into his dark browns as he smiled at her, "I'll be fine and back before you know it."

"Promise?"

His smile deepened as he pat her head, "Promise."

She couldn't help but shy away from him, it was something she was slowly getting used to that made her giddy as a school girl when he did so.

It was then she noticed the stain upon his dress shirt. "Oh, Kiku, your shirt."

"Oh dear." he muttered as he looked upon it, "Guess I was closer to Lincoln than I thought when he swung his spoon."

"Don't worry, I'll grab you another." Harper said darting out the room.

She was kinda glad she saw it, it was a needed distraction from her mind as her thoughts swam with him and Genesis like it did. Once finding another pristine white shirt, she quickly made her way back to the room, opening the door haphazardly only to reel back in shock as she saw him shirtless within the room.

"Taihen mōshiwakearimasenga, watashi wa sore o imi shimasendeshita!" she held out the clothing to him as she sputtered out her apology to him.

How could she have done that, just barging in like that without even thinking? Well, he wasn't one to show skin, not even a tiny bit so yea, she knew why she thought she did. The shirt left her hand as her eyes were squeezed shut in embarrassment. For what little she saw was enough for her to ask. She remembered the visions from the blossoms and hearing about Alfred's scars, curiosity was slowly getting the better of her.