AmericaxJapan

Alfred threw the controller in a fit of rage and buried his face into his pillow, Kiku sighed and gave a soft smile and pat his back. It was the fifth game in a row that Alfred had lost to Kiku, the fifth in the last hour, Alfred could beat Kiku in a first person shooter any day but when it came to a game like Street Fighter, Kiku had Alfred beat.

“I’m sorry Alfred, but you’re getting better,” Kiku tried to make him feel better. Alfred rolled over on his back and glared at Kiku.

“Don’t patronize me.”

Kiku chuckled and got up and went to the kitchen, “Where ya going dude?” Alfred asked putting in another game.

“I’m going to make some tea would you like some?” Kiku called from the kitchen.

“Yeah sure and could you get the donuts in the drawer too, the white powdered ones.” Alfred called as the title screen came onto screen.

“You should really eat something that isn’t a sweet or fast food,” Kiku said pulling the donuts out anyway.

“I’ll eat a salad or something, just give me my donuts woman.”

“No need to get pushy I’m getting them, and I’m a man!”

“Right sure you are, ‘Oh Alfred don’t leave your socks on the floor, clean the ring in the tub, get the spider, eat healthy.’ Man all week I thought you’ve been acting like my mom, but no you’re worse you’re like my girlfriend or something.”

Kiku stopped pour the water and blush immediately ran across his face, ‘Why would he choose those words.’

Kiku and Alfred met each other in their junior year in high school, now they are both living on their own and have jobs and are trying to get into college. Kiku always wanted to move back to Japan and go to Tokyo University; it had always been his dream to go there, and as for Alfred. Well Alfred had smarts, actually he was some bit of a genius he could carry out a conversation in English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, and Japanese with no problem, he could do chemistry in his sleep and take apart the hydrogen bomb and put it together again and make it more lethal, but he still didn’t have a collage in mind. Alfred was a guy who enjoyed living in the moment, he was a nerd trapped in a football players body, who played to many video games, read too many comic books, and ate too much junk food……and yet Kiku loved every bit about him.

Now he wouldn’t say love but he had strong feelings that ‘love’ was the only way to describe them. The feelings may have developed over the course of their junior summer vacation and they spent those three months together and eventually grew into the best of friends. Lord knows Kiku wanted to say something about his feelings but he never told a soul, Kiku was a man who sensed the mood and refrained from speaking. He felt it would be very inappropriate to tell anyone else that wasn’t Alfred.

Now they have graduated and share a flat together, well since this past week, they’ve known each other so long it was easy for them to live with each other, well for Alfred maybe, Kiku it was getting harder to even look at him without staring being lost in his best friends persona, he could stare at Alfred all day and not even blink, the love big bit Kiku hard and injected him with its venom.

“Yo, Kiku you okay in there bro? It shouldn’t take you that long to make tea should it?”

Kiku snapped back to reality, he quickly made the tea; he walked back into the living room and found Alfred wearing shoes and playing a game with a lot of gun fire.

“Can you not wear shoes in the house the floors will get dirty,” Kiku said setting the tea on the table, Alfred chuckled that made Kiku’s heart skip a beat.

“Dude I’m still getting used to living with you, my feet are cold.”

“Then either turn of the Air Conditioning or put some socks on,” Kiku ordered outing his hands on his hips.

Alfred oooed, “Yes dear and after this I’ll walk the dog,” he paused the game and pulled off his shoes; he threw them over to wear Kiku out his shoes and make a clumsy direct hit. Alfred looked back to Kiku who was just looking at him.

“I swear dude if you say anything I’ll start leaving my underwear in your room,” Alfred pointed at him.

Kiku rolled his eyes and sat down on the couch; Alfred got up and went to his room in search for some socks. Kiku sat and stared at the pause menu; he sat and wondered what Alfred would even say if he told him how he felt. Kiku never thought about Alfred’s views on homosexuality but knowing Alfred he would be like a scared dog, he’d bark and growl at anything that was different and seem like threat to him.

“This is just awful.”

“What’s awful?” Alfred asked walking back into the room with some socks.

Kiku jumped at the sound of his voice and blushed, “Th-the tea, I don’t think I made it right.”

Alfred picked up and cup and drunk some, “I don’t know dude it tastes fine to me.”

“Well maybe it was just my imagination.”

Alfred shrugged and slumped back down in the pile of pillows in the floor and continued to play the game. Kiku sat and watched him rant a rave over the game, he couldn’t help but stare at Alfred, and he was attractive.

Short blonde hair, with electric blue eyes that sap into your heart on sight, fair slightly tan skin from spending time in Florida and California on numerous vacations, broad shoulders, and strong arms and legs. A well-built chest and a very firm well butt, Kiku slapped himself realizing that he was ogling his best friend.

Alfred looked at Kiku wondering what he was doing, “Dude what’s with you today?”

Kiku shook his head, “I’m fine, I just need to rest.”

Alfred went to the TV and turned down the volume, “Well then go ahead and take a nap, you got the whole couch to yourself, so go ahead. I’ll try to be as quite as I—FRAK! Freaking, who the hell, damn it I’m out of ammo.”

Kiku laid down and watched Alfred struggle with the game, trying not to yell for Kiku’s sake, the young Japanese boy smiled at the thought of his American friend to not rage for him. He slowly closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

When Kiku opened his eyes again he was in a park, he knew it had to be Japan, New York didn’t have cherry blossoms like this. He was sitting on a bench, wondering what was he doing here, last he thought he was in America, was that nap that long?

“Yo Kiku I’m back!”

Kiku looked to his right and saw Alfred walking towards him with two ice cream cones. He sat down next to him and handed him a chocolate ice cream cone.

“I know how it’s your favorite, oh and a little treat, they were handing out free samples and I know how much you love them,” Alfred went into his pocket and pulled a box of strawberry pokey.

Alfred managed to open it with one hand and pull out a stick, he out it in his mouth and faced Kiku, “Play a game with me?” Alfred winked at him and Kiku blushed madly. He suddenly felt something cold on his forehead; he blinked and jumped up hitting Alfred in the head with his own. He groaned in pain, he held his head and a cold towel fell in his lap. He looked at the towel and then up and heard Alfred groaning on the floor.

Kiku looked down and saw the geek lying on the ground holding his head, “Ow and people say I have a hard head, what’s your skull made out of Kiku, steal?” He groaned again and sat up.

Kiku raised an eyebrow trying to address the situation, one minute was in Japan, wanting to play the Pokey Game with Alfred, and then in the next he’s sitting in his apartment with a splitting headache.

“I-it was a dream?” Kiku asked himself. Alfred stood up still holding his head.

“Whatever you were dreaming dude it made you into a freaking furnace in like 5 minutes. I was playing and I see you all red and you were burning up. I tried to cool you off without waking you, but look how well that turned out,” Alfred explained walking into the kitchen.

Kiku sat on the couch and sighed, he was relieved that it was just a dream and yet disappointed that that’s all it will ever be. He picked up the towel and put it to his head, he tried to get over the headache and it slowly went away.

Alfred came back with a small calendar in his hands and an apple, “Hey dude our letters should be getting here soon.” Alfred said as his mouth was filled with apple.

“Our letters?” Kiku asked setting the towel on the coffee table.

“Ya the ones we sent to our colleges they should be coming in, well mine anyway, I think your will come like three days after, I don’t know.”

Kiku looked at his lap and sighed, ‘That’s right Alfred and I will be going to different schools, and different countries.’

Kiku suddenly felt Alfred’s hand on his cheek, Kiku went to all kinds of red, he scooted away staring at Alfred, “Wh-what are you doing?”

“You looked sick again, I thought I see how hot you were,” Alfred face palmed and laughed, “Sorry man I forgot that you need your space, my bad.”

Alfred stood up and went to the front door, “I’m gonna go get some food, I’ll be sure to get you some pokey and maybe ice cream. After that play a game with me?”

Kiku whirled his head and looked at Alfred, “What?”

“When I get back from the store you wanna play a game with me, it can be your choice.”

Kiku cleared his throat and nodded, “Yes alright.”

Alfred smirked and a cackled, “Alright see ya when I get back bro.”

“R-right of course.”

About a week later Alfred and Kiku were eating dinner together; Alfred insisted that it would be strictly Japanese. Kiku objected saying it wasn’t necessary to do so but Alfred continued on about how cool it would be and how it would make Kiku feel more at home.

“So you hold’em like this?” Alfred asked struggling with chop sticks.

“Uh sort of see like mine,” Kiku held up the chop sticks in his hands; Alfred stared at them inventively and nodded. He used both hands to mimic Kiku’s position, he fumbled around for a while then held his hand up, and his hand was shaking struggling to keep the position.

“Like this?”

Kiku smiled and shook his head, he out his chopsticks down and sighed, “Close but you have to hold them so they open up in the back.” Kiku took Alfred’s hand and moved his fingers in the right position; Alfred leaned in to get a better look.

Kiku looked up and saw how close Alfred was and backed up, he let go off his hands, and picked up his chopsticks but only gripped them.

“So like this,” Alfred went for some sushi and picked it up, it fell for the first three times but eventual he picked up the dead fish and fist pumped in the air.

“Success!”

Kiku clapped and chuckled at Alfred who put the shrimp in his mouth and bowed, “Thank you, you’re a beautiful crowd.”

The doorbell rang and Alfred got up from the table to answer it, once he was gone Kiku out his hands together and imagined holding hands with Alfred, he was snapped back when Alfred touched his back.

“Dude, our letters came in at the same time!”

Kiku gulped and looked at Alfred he was reading the envelopes and handed Kiku one, he took it and saw that the letter was from Harvard and it was address to Alfred, “Alfred this letter is addressed to you.”

“I know I thought that you could read mine and I could read yours, is that cool?” He asked going back to his seat.

Kiku smiled softly and shrugged, “I guess so.”

Alfred grinned and looked at the letter; it was in Japanese, “You sent your application in Japanese?” Alfred asked holding up the paper.

“I didn’t want them to think I forgot how to write it,” Kiku explained, “Can you read it?”

“Uh duh, I devoted all of the summer in freshman year learning Japanese, remember?”

Kiku blushed and turned his head away, “R-right. Well then let’s open them.”

Alfred nodded he was egger to see the results, to be honest Alfred really couldn’t decide which college to apply to, as a joke he went for Harvard, he really excited for Kiku. He knew Kiku always wanted to Tokyo U.

They both took the letters out and read over them, Kiku went wide eyed and gave a little smirk, “Alfred it looks like Harvard wants you as their next Einstein.”

Alfred looked up from the half opened envelope with an open mouth, “Are you serious? I-I got in, what are you—wow that’s just—

“Are you going to go?” Kiku asked.

Alfred was speechless he really didn’t expect to get in, “I guess I mean, some people bust their chops trying to get in, I don’t want to be a jerk ya know.”

Kiku shrugged and nodded, Alfred continued to open Kiku’s letter he pulled out at least three papers all covered in Japanese characters. Alfred looked it over and nodded, “Kiku.”

“Y-yes,” Kiku leaned in his heart was beating he really wanted this.

Alfred pulled a frown Kiku’s heart stopped, “Kiku, you…… YOU GOT IN!”

Kiku held his breath and froze; Alfred laughed and clapped, “Come on stop with the face, you got in!”

Kiku smiled and took a deep breath, “Th-thank you Alfred.”

“For what, bro you got in cause you’re smart, I didn’t do anything but read you the letter.”

Kiku smiled at Alfred, “But thank you.”

“Dude you shouldn’t be thanking me but whatever, you’re welcome, and you should start packing they want you there by like next week.”

“N-next week, I just got the acceptance letter then they want me next week!?” Kiku asked leaning over the table.

Alfred scratched his head and looked at the letter closer, “Damn they sent this like a month ago. It must’ve got lost in the mail or something.”

Kiku began to feel distressed he bit his lip and seemed to grow smaller; Alfred went up and pat him on the back.

“Come on you got into one of the best schools in the world, be happy!”

Kiku calmed down a bit and smiled, “Right thank you.”

A week later Alfred was at the coffee table sitting on the floor while typing an essay for Harvard, “Hmm let’s see I want to go into your fine institution because I—um—well damn I have half-assed this anyway, I didn’t expect to get in.”

“Alfred don’t write that,” Kiku said outing one of his suitcases down. Alfred groaned and scratched his hair violently.

“But it’s true and you know it,” Alfred looked to Kiku and noticed his bags, he smiled softly and rubbed the back of his neck, “So uh, you’re leaving soon huh?”

Kiku shrugged and nodded, “Yes my plane leaves tonight, and I want to get to the airport early, you know how it is.”

Alfred sighed and pushed his glasses, “Look Kiku I—I’m really sorry, God knows I want to see you off but this essay—I got to finish this an—

Kiku held up his hand and smiled, “It’s alright Alfred I understand, you have to finish it, I checked and I would be back in about five months, I get a break for two weeks.”

“Five months? Well-um-that’s okay. I mean we can still talk to each other, like with email stuff so uh yeah.”

“R-right,” Kiku looked to the clock, “Well I should get going.”

“Do you want me to call you a cab or something?” Alfred asked. Kiku shook his head and chuckled.

“Thank you but no, I already have one waiting outside.”

“Oh well I guess I’ll be seeing ya.”

“Good bye Alfred.”

They smiled at each other and waved, Kiku picked up his things and went to the front door.

“I’ll miss ya Kiku, who’s going to tell me when to clean my room?”

Alfred laughed, Kiku laughed as well, “I think you’ll manage.”

Alfred chuckled, “I’ll really miss you Kiku.”

Kiku froze and got choked up but he managed not to show t in front of Alfred, “I’ll miss you as well.”

Kiku picked his stuff and walked out the door, Alfred took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes, he was already feeling lonely. He took a deep breath and went to typing again, trying to get his mind off of his best friend leaving him.

Kiku packed his luggage in the back of the taxi; before he got in he looked back to the apartment he thought how long he had to be away from Alfred. He went to the taxi driver, “Excuse me could you please wait for a moment I forgot something.”

“Sure thing kid,” the taxi driver shrugged.

“Thank you,” Kiku ran back inside of the apartment. Alfred was still typing his essay, he heard the door open and saw Kiku.

“What’s up bro? You forgot—

Kiku went down to Alfred, cutting him off, grabbed his shoulders and planted a kiss on his lips. Alfred almost fell back but he kept himself up with his elbows, Kiku stayed there for about ten seconds before ending the kiss and running out the door.

Alfred was stunned he was frozen, his heart was beating, he was still process what happened. A few hours later Alfred had somewhat finished his essay and was now just lying on the couch. He was trying to make sense of the whole matter. He closed his eyes and like a video, the kiss replayed in his mind over and over again. Every time he closed his eyes he would see Kiku smiling, did it make him feel happy? Yes it did, but it confused him why he was happy, was it the kiss, did he imagine it, did he miss him, or was it even more than that?

Alfred didn’t have time to answer for his door bell had rung interrupting his thought, he rolled off the couch and went to answer it, and to his surprise he found his younger brother Mathew, who had just graduated two months ago, his best friend Gilbert, and all three of their old time friend Arthur at the door.

“Uh hey guys, what are you doing here?”

“We heard that Kiku was leaving soon and we wanted to wish him farewell,” Mathew explained in his oh so quiet voice.

“Yeah so where is he?” Gilbert with signature smirk.

“Sorry dudes he left like a few hours ago, he’s probably over the ocean by now,” Alfred said rubbing the back of his neck.

“I told you we should’ve come earlier, you were taking too long to get ready,” Arthur said rolling his eyes at Mathew and Gilbert.

“Mattie made pancakes, you expect me not to eat them?” Gilbert said defending himself.

“This is why I can’t take you anywhere, Alfred are you going to let us in or what?” Arthur asked crossing his arms.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, come on.”

Alfred stepped aside letting them in, Gilbert snickered whispering to Alfred how awesome the pancakes were, Alfred snickered along with him and closed the door. They all sat around the table looking at Alfred, expecting him to do something.

“What?” He asked shrugging.

“We crave red meat we need sustenance!” Gilbert hollered smashing his fists on the table.

“What do you guys want me to feed you?” Alfred asked crossing his arms.

“Meh that’s the point,” Mathew smiled. Alfred rolled his eyes and picked up his cell phone and tossed it to Gilbert, he caught it one handed and raised an eyebrow at him.

“I got the pizza joint on speed dial, just say Alfred wants the usual and they’ll know what you mean.”

Gilbert snickered again and dialed the number and made the call, Alfred sighed and took his glasses off and sighed. Mathew took notice and looked to Arthur who noticed too.

“Alfred are you alright?” Arthur asked.

“What? Huh? Oh um yeah I’m fine just tired, that’s all.” Alfred walked over to the table and sat, “So what ch’ya’ll been up to?”

They were laughing around their fourth extra-large pepperoni pizza, with extra cheese, all except for Alfred; he seemed to be in deep thought about something.

“Al what’s with you, you’ve been acting different all night. You alright buddy?” Mathew asked.

Alfred looked up from his half eaten slice, “Y-yeah I was just uh um, Matt?”

“Yeah?”

“C-can I talk to you?”

Mathew blinked, “Um sure.”

Alfred got up and walked to his room as Mathew followed him, Alfred waited in his room and Mathew finally caught up with him, he closed the door behind him sensing his uneasiness.

“What’s up?”

Alfred sat at the edge of his bed and went to a praying position, “I can only tell you because I know you won’t be an ass like those two.”

Mathew continued to stand waiting for Alfred to tell him what was wrong, “Before Kiku left, he um he kissed me.”

Mathew went wide eyes and sat down at Alfred’s desk that was nearby, “He kissed you?”

“Yeah and it wasn’t just any kiss it was like he liked me, I mean like, like liked me sort of kiss,” Alfred explained. Mathew was silent he leaned back in his chair.

“I never knew that Kiku would feel like that.”

“But is just towards me? Or is he just gay?” Alfred asked looking at Mathew, he just shrugged.

“Well you to have been close, maybe somewhere along the line he grew to develop feelings for you,” Mathew reasoned.

“But I—I don’t know, I mean, he didn’t show signs of being gay before.”

“Well not everyone has to be the stereotype you know.” Mathew gestured crossing his arms.

“I know but…..but,” Alfred looked to the floor with an unsure look.

“But you don’t know how you feel towards him?” Mathew finished.

Alfred groaned and flopped on his bed, “Why did he have to do this to me?”

“Al,” Mathew sighed, “Try to be sensitive to what Kiku was feeling when he kissed you. Remember this is Kiku we were talking about. He doesn’t really say anything unless spoken to or the situation called on it, he never really did anything as risky as this before. He risked his friendship just to show you how he feels, probably how he has been feeling.”

Alfred sighed and nodded, he closed his eyes and saw Kiku’s smile again, he opened them and shrugged, “You’re right, but I don’t know what I feel, how I feel about him.”

Mathew sighed and nodded, “Listen I’ll take the guys home, and if you want my advice,” Alfred sat up and waited for Mathew to continue, “Talk to him, if you can talk to him.”

Alfred stayed quiet and turned from Mathew; his brother sighed and exited the room. Alfred laid back down and closed his eyes, seeing Kiku’s smile one last time before going to sleep.

Five months later, Alfred looked at his email and no messages have been received, he had talked to Kiku five months ago, and he didn’t mention anything about the kiss, neither did Kiku. They talked as if it never happened, Alfred asked him how it was in Japan and Kiku said he missed it and that it was nice to see his family again.

Alfred wanted to try and play some games but he couldn’t concentrate, he was just watching TV when his doorbell rang, he slowly got up to answer it. He opened the door and was found with shock when he saw Kiku standing at the door smiling to him.

“Hello again Alfred.”

Alfred cracked a smiled and laughed, “Dude, just dude! I mean dude!” Kiku chuckled at Alfred’s stammering.

“I really missed hearing you say ‘dude’,” Kiku smiled, “May I come in?”

“Of course you can bro you practically live here,” Alfred let Kiku in and helped him with his luggage.

They sat down together and Kiku told Alfred all about the college and the many friends he had made, the experiences he accomplished, “What about you and Harvard?”

“It’s great, Mathew and Gilbert both got in, and Arthur is moving back to London and going to school there. But dude I got my best bros going to the same school it’ll just be like the good ol’ days.”

Alfred paused and noticed Kiku looking a bit disappointed, he smiled, “But it’s still not the same without you,” Alfred leaned in and kissed Kiku right on the lips. He pulled back and snickered and Kiku’s red face.

“Now we’re even.”