APH: Seeing

The window was open. The moonlight lit the western style room for no one bothered to switch the lights on. The limited light gave the furniture that equipped the room generously; long shadows seemingly making it appear like a dark palace, well for a certain Asian country at least. The king-sized bed was placed just a few meters from the wide window, its bed covers were smoothed but at one end, the foot of the bed if you may, for someone sat there.

"It really is beautiful; I wish you could see it." The owner of the mansion said as he strode closer to Kiku who was sitting at the end of the bed watching the stars that twinkled gloriously on the night sky.

The brown eyed country turned to Arthur, "I wish I could too." He half smiled, feeling rather disappointed that he could not see what he wanted. "I want to see it."

"Maybe you will, just not right now." He was sitting next to Kiku now, "But why do you want to see it so badly?" he took the raven haired man's right hand; the closest to him and the one that had a red string tied to its smallest finger.

"I need to see it." Kiku watched as their hands entwined. "I must, so that I may know if we are truly meant for each other." Every time he looked at his hand, he wishes he could see the same red string Arthur could, and the same string that he believed told their destined partner.  

Arthur smiled warmly, being patient and loving, "You're very superstitious, aren't you?" he watched as Kiku's eyes focused intently at their tangled hands. He sighed. "Even if your legends say that that red string meant you are to be with someone for eternity, only you could say if it's true."

"But it is vital…"

"So if you could see this string now and found out that it's not linked to me would you get up and follow the end of it?"

At this Kiku had to look at Arthur, "Of course not, you know how I feel…" despite all the time they had spent together and the unforgettable moments that they had the raven haired man was still shy around the blond one, "about you."

"Then why does it matter?"

"Because I want to be certain."

"Of what?"

"If it is safe…to love you fully."

Emerald eyes widen in astonishment, "Wh-What do you mean?"

He looked away, "You already know that I had loved before and you also know that I had broken my heart as well."

"I promise you." His hand held Kiku's tightly. "I won't hurt you."

"But I might hurt you."

"You won't."

"What, can you foresee the future now as well?"

Arthur chuckled at the Asian's agitated tone. "I wish. I could only see mythical creatures and legends, remember?" He turned soft and sincere now, all trace of teasing gone, "But I know for sure that you love me as much as I love you that is why you won't be able to hurt me even if you wanted to."

"You can't be definite about that." His eyes wondered the dark room, trying to ignore the agonizing feeling he felt.

"Mistakes happen to teach us; to help us make the right choices, and we are to decide if we will follow it."

"What if I choose to do wrong?"

"I'd stop you."

"You won't."

"I won't have to."

"Feelings can't overcome everything, Arthur-san." His voice was starting to get sharp and more irritated.

But Arthur was patient; well he's always patient with Kiku, and only Kiku, "It can if you let it." He smiled with understanding.

"I cannot. I need something to compel me."

"So seeing the red string of faith is that something." It wasn't a question, "You need to believe in yourself more."

"Like I have not heard that before." He rolled his eyes.

"Well it's true," he freed Kiku's hand and took his chin in his fingers. "I want you to feel good about yourself." Arthur's mesmerizing eyes stared intently at Kiku's.

Kiku froze, how could Arthur make himself so irresistible? The raven haired nation's cheeks turned red. "Well..t-that is…" He tore his eyes away from the blond nation, feeling timid.

"You love me and I don't need my strange ability to see legendary beings to know how you feel." Arthur was serious and sincere at the same time, "I trust you, you're the only one who doesn't."

Kiku felt the intensity of Arthur's words and he sheepishly stared back at Arthur's hypnotizing optic orbs, "I don't quite understand but I will try, for Arthur-san."

"No, do it for yourself." His lips came closer to Kiku's.

"Y-Yes." That small puff of air sent an invitation to Arthur's longing lips, which was hard to decline. Arthur's lips launched at Kiku's. Their eyes closed as their lips collided. It was magical, you could say, a special feeling lingered at their lips as they touched. Kiku's hand wondered to Arthur's golden hair, pulling him closer so that their hunger would be satisfied, unfortunately that wasn't enough so the Asian country pushed the other to the soft bed that they had been sitting on.

Their unsatisfied lips parted for a moment for oxygen deprivation overpowered them, "Kiku…" Arthur whispered, still a little out of breath. Then gentle lips brushed against a milky smooth neck, appreciating such beauty. Their eyes were closed as they savored that rare moment, "Arthur-san.." Kiku whispered back, his brown eyes opening slightly.

"Yes?" the blonde man asked as his hands held the Asian man's shoulders, pulling him close downward but not making him fall all the way.

"I l-love you…" His cheeks turn a darker yet a more beautiful shade of red as the sash that bind his yukata together was loosen.  He shivered as his sleeves went sliding, showing his creamy shoulders.

"You know I do too." Their lips knotted together again and their eyes clenched closed in pleasure and anticipation.  

---

"Hey Kiku," Arthur asked the man that he enveloped in his arms, "Do you still want to see that string?"

"Yes, yes I do, Arthur-san." He said as he remained laying beside the man he loved, "But only out of curiosity now."

"Well since I proved my point earlier," he liberated Kiku and sat at the bed, automatically the other nation did so as well. "I'll show you."

"But how?" Kiku was wide eyed.

"Just keep your eyes open." He smiled and caught Kiku off guard as he kissed him. And there it was, a long scarlet string was tied to his pinky finger and Arthur's, it was the red string Kiku wanted to see, the string that he read about over and over again, the string that he saw in ancient paintings, the string that he believed meant an eternal bond with someone, the string that he waited for years to see, the string he wanted to connect him and the man that was kissing him at that moment.

They parted lips. "Did you see it?" the bushy eye browed man asked. Kiku just nodded, feeling sheer wonderment, "You would have seen it long ago if you just opened your eyes even once while I kissed you." He smirked.

"Why didn't you…"

"I didn't want that string to be the basis of our love, string or no string you're the only one I'll love."

"I see now." Kiku smiled genuinely. "I understand, thank you Arthur-san."

"I'm glad."

"Of what?"

"That you saw the string you've always wanted to see."

"I didn't really want to see…" again, his cheeks burned crimson. "I just wanted to see it connected to you." He spoke what he had always wanted to say, "I just wanted my destiny to be with you."

"My destiny has and will always be with you"

END.