☆Wish Upon A Star☆

☆~Chapter 22~☆

Kiku glanced across the room, watching everyone eat their lunch. Even Yao ate calmly, letting Arthur hold his hand and smiling at him, like he didn't know what'd happen that night.

They were about to run away, and yet Yao remained calm and acted as naturally as always.

He avoided Matthew and Alfred's gazes, knowing that he was being watched. Matthew's glances were sutile, almost unnoticeable. On the other hand, Alfred's bright blue eyes fixed on Kiku everytime the brunette shifted on his seat, averting with a dark blush when Kiku's sharp eyes dug into his warningly.
The anger of being drugged with golden water and almost used to please Alfred's libido had been slowly replaced by a deep despair; silent jaws that clenched together on his heart everytime he saw or thought about Alfred.

Kiku finished his bowl of noodles with meat and got up, unable to bear the stares anymore.

"Kiku,"

The Japanese boy flinched, and turned around to see the American quickly finishing his bowl. "T-There's something I need to-"

"What is it?" He cut him off, feeling the nerves growing up every second.

Alfred sighed. "Meet me in the backyard, I'll be there in two,"

Kiku quickly glanced at Yao, unsure of what to do. His lover nodded softly, trying to share some of his serenity to Kiku; but the Japanese teenager had noticed his foot's quick tapping under the table.

He walked to the backyard, looking around. The sun shone bright above the cruel sea and the vile land, mockingly shining without warming up the cold atmosphere. He sat on a rock that leant against the house's wall, frowning and waiting for Alfred to meet him.

Kiku bit his lip, intrigued and afraid of a direct confrontation with his former step-brother.

Once again, he stared into the horizon, using his hand to protect his dark eyes from the ocean's gleaming water. He had never found beauty in the sea. He longed to feel the snow crunching under his boots, to see the North's white coat from his window. Not sandy beaches or hard rock cliffs.

A throat-clearing cough made him flinch and brought him back to reality. He turned around to see Alfred staring at him.

"Kiku, I'm-" He seemed nervous, even anxious to speak to him. "I'm... I'm so sorry about--"

"About what you did in the club?" Kiku's eyebrows furrowed in a pained frown.

"E-Exactly..." He handed Kiku a small box. "Here... I hope this helps you forgive me,"

Kiku's eyes widened as his hands took hold of the carefully wrapped box. He began to unwrap it, holding his breath when a smartphone appeared into the box.

"A... phone?"

Alfred nodded. "The best phone I could buy. Mattie took me to the city yesterday, I bought one for myself too. My number is saved in your phone, and yours is in mine,"

"Why... why would I want this?" Kiku felt his blood freezing. Did Alfred know that he was leaving?

Alfred gave a small shrug. "I-I guess talking is difficult right now... Whenever you're angry and don't feel like... speaking to me, you can text me a whole paragraph about... what's bothering you," He gulped and looked down.

Kiku held the thin device up. The impeccable black screen shone under the sun, just as the back cover did. "I..." He hesitated. He appreciated the detail of giving him his first mobile phone ever just to chat with him, but now it was guilt what gnawed at his stomach and filled his eyes with tears. "Thank you," He mumbled, not looking up.