Yao woke before the boy, simply because body was use to it from his childhood back in China. He looked down at the boy whom was clinging to him. Each breath he took was shallow, his face peaceful, beautiful. The older man smiled as he ran his hand fingers through the honey hair. So many emotions ran through him as he watched Alfred sleep. He felt conflicted, on one hand he wanted to take the child from this cold place. To care for him and his twin. He wanted to take them to China where he could marry Alfred. At that point he would be free to do as he wished with the child, not that he would harm him. He thought a moment about the boy in a wedding qipào. The white silk tight against the child's perfect form. The lace teasingly showing off some of his beautiful skin. Oh how he wished the boy would be his alone! Yao's mind wondered to the child's twin. He pictures two identical beings, pressed against each other seductively. Their eyes half open and their bodies begging to be touched. It would be amazing to have them both, though Alfred would be the one he married, the twin his mistress. It would work. Alfred would have to allow it so his brother's health would stay up. Yao simply refused to pay for what he didn't get. Yet, on the other hand, he didn't want the burden of a wife who could not bare him and heir. Of course he would be able to impregnate a woman and have one that way, but then he would have to deal with Alfred raising and complaining over a child that was not his. Yao sighed heavily.
Alfred shifted in his sleep, gripping tighter onto Yao's arm. His face expressing deep sadness and remorse. Yao felt terrible for the boy. He only had a glimpse of his life and he already knew if he were in his position he would never have survived. "Help..." Alfred whispered as he gripped Yao tighter. Yao watched closely, wondering what he was dreaming about. "N-No...Help me..." he said louder then before. He started to move rapidly. "NO! SOMEONE HELP ME!" he screamed as his eyes shot open. Once he made contact with Yao's, Alfred jumped on him, pinning him to the futon below them with his fore arm deep into the Chinese man's neck. Yao looked into the boy's eyes. They were empty and void of the charming luster that was Alfred. He smiled and ran his fingers through the boy's hair lovingly. "Hush, it's okay, I'm not going to hurt you." he whispered to the suffering blonde.
Slowly, the boy let go of him. As if all at once, he moved off of him and looked down at his shaking hands. His eyes wide and in shock. He had finally done it...He was going to lose Yao and be forced down to a Grade Three. He wouldn't be able to pay Matthew's bills and then...Tears swelled in his eyes. If he couldn't pay the bills, his brother would surely die. Tears escaped his eyes. "Duìbùqǐ..." he said softly without looking to his husband.
"My dear..." Yao began before the boy fell before him.
"Duìbùqǐ!" he screamed, tears racing down his eyes. "DuìbùqǐDuìbùqǐDuìbùqǐ" the boy continues as if chanting a prayer. All he was asking was forgiveness. Over and over in Yao's ancient language he begged for it. He was both humbled and saddened by his display. The young blonde was afraid of something, what he was unsure, but he knew that the child needed his forgiveness.
"Bǎochí chénmò, wǒ qīn'ài de qīzi." Yao said softly. Simply put, all he said was be silent my dear wife. At that, Alfred obeyed, though he didn't look up. He was too terrified to look at Yao in his eyes. He didn't care that he was naked, he just prayed Yao would forgive him, for his twin brother's sake.
"I'm not angry my dear, I understand why you felt threatened." he held the boy close to him. The boy hugged him back. At that moment, at that very moment his mind was made up. Alfred would be his. He would marry him and take the twins back to China with him. He didn't needed the other child, Alfred was all he would ever need. As long as he kept the boy under strict guard and his brother under deep medication, perhaps introduce him to opium? A smile twisted on his lips. As long as Alfred believed his brother was safe, then he was as good as Yao's. He licked his lips at the thought of the boy greeting him when he came home, of him smiling and laughing with the children Yao would have with a sergeant, of him obeying Yao in bed...it was all far too pleasing.
Yao then stood up and headed for the door. "Take care my dear, I'll see you in one week." He slipped from the doorway and down the stairs. Alfred watched him leave. The tears still streaming from his eyes. Quickly he wiped them away and turned to the boxes Yao had given to him. After dressing himself and putting on the new coat Yao gave him, Alfred headed over to his apartment to check on Matthew and his drunk friends.
Toris was there, he must have finished early and come to hang out with him. He was lying on the floor next to him brothers. The larger one was Eduard and the smallest was Raivis. Alfred smiled as he knew he had time to make them all breakfast. Belle was on the couch. It was a shame that she had to sleep there but Matthew had the only bed in the apartment. He turned to the room and saw his sleeping brother. A smile crossed his face. Since the day they were born they were glued together at the hip. He could never survive if he didn't have Matthew's warm smile and kind words. Matthew was his everything in a world filled with nothing but hate, pain and lies. He sat on the bed and moved a stray hair from his twin's face. Kumajiro looked up but then laid back down knowing Alfred posed no threat to him or Canada.
"He waited for you most of the night." Kiku said standing in the doorway. He was in one of those Yukata things which he left the chest part loose. The Asian man brushed his hair back with his hand looking away as he did. "He doesn't need a nurse, or for you to pay his bills..." he looked back into the cerulean eyes that held little emotion in the past three years he had become emancipated. Kiku had known him since they were very young, the three of them from the same orphanage. At age ten, Kiku had been adopted into a rich family. He is the only child and stands to inherit the mass fortune but, only after his 'big brother', as the man asks he call him, passes from the world. On the day Kiku had been chosen to be adopted, he was afraid to go. He had always been close to the twins, but more so Alfred. Kiku didn't want to leave without them. He wanted to stay and be with them, rather then be raised by some rich man. It was Alfred who had told him to go, told him to have a better life then be raised in a orphanage. Alfred assured him that they would be adopted soon as well, after all who could resist adorable twins? He sounded so believable back then. Kiku did leave them, only to find out later that they had never been adopted and that Alfred dropped out of school to raise his twin brother. He envied Alfred for his strength, but later on he found out the truth about his third job and was sworn to secrecy by Alfred. He smiled softly, blushing as he did. "He needs you. He needs his Onii-san."
The blonde looked away, looking toward his younger brother. "I can't. I need to work in order to keep him alive." He ran the back of his hand gently across his brother's cheek. "I couldn't bare it if he were to..." He lowered his head. A forced smile on his lips. "I just can't."
Kiku narrowed his eyes. "And working at that place is going to help him? You're digging your own grave!" He looked away in anger. Alfred was so naiveté. Why couldn't he see that working in that place was horrible? Why couldn't he see that he wanted to lov...he looked away. "Al, please reconsider your life. I can help you with your bills, once I inherit the money I..." he was cut off by Alfred laughing.
"Kiku, arigatoo-gozaimasu." he said as he walked from the room and to the hallway where Kiku followed him. "You know as well as I do it was my fault. I should have known better..." A stray tear fell from his eyes. "I let it happen. I allowed him to take me and now..." he turned toward the Japanese man with a truly saddened look on his face. "I will never be able to find true happiness with anyone. I'm tainted, an infection upon this world with not true purpose other then to protect and save my brother." He leaned against he wall. "I'm tainted."
Kiku threw his arms around Alfred. Kiku was a small man, but Alfred was even smaller. Having been malnourished, mainly because he gave much of his portions to Matthew in the Orphanage, and unable to grow properly. Matthew was always the bigger of the two, but recently has been losing weight causing Alfred to panic. He held him tightly as he nuzzled his head in the nape of Alfred's neck. He took in the scent of his Alfred. Sweat and the always strange scent of apple pie hung heavy on him, as well as pain and regret. Tears swelled in his eyes. He didn't want Alfred to do this anymore. He didn't want him to suffer, to live in pain. "Aishitemaru." he whispered softly, knowing that Alfred had no idea of what he was saying.
The blonde didn't know how to respond to Kiku's sudden contact but he allowed it. After all, Kiku was often left alone in the large mansion with only the hired help for companions. He got along well with them, but he often over heard them speak harshly of him. They would say he was a bastard child. That he had no right to the vast fortune of his big brother. In the distance, he heard the church bells ring for ten am mass. He sighed as he pulled the Asian from him. "You're a good friend Kiku. I thank you deeply for your concern." He gave him a fake smile as he walked in the small storage closet and grabbed his uniforms for the day. Kiku watched silently as Alfred moved to the fridge and cabinets. Today he didn't have to go to his 2 am security job. Mainly because it was closed on Tuesdays, why he wasn't sure. He began to crack eggs and toast bread before slicing the ham into equal pieces.
Toris woke as soon as he heard the fridge door open. He rubbed his tired eyes and looked around. When his eyes fell upon Alfred he ran over to him. "Alfred! Oh god I need your help!" He said as his eyes filled with tears. Toris wasn't one to cry easily, much like Alfred, the fact he was was enough to concern the blonde.
"What is it Toris? You know you can ask me what every you want." he said with a soft smile as he pulled out the toast to add more and flip the ham.
"The landlord found out about my job last night! He said he doesn't want that kind of person in his building and...and..." the tears fell from his eyes. His body shook as he held onto Alfred. Kiku shot him a glare that thankfully went un noticed by the cerulean eyed blonde. He gently patted the brunette's hair, trying to sooth him.
"What happened?" he asked calmly, trying not to scare the emerald eyed man any further.
"H-He evicted us! Can you believe that? He kicked us out!" he said in a loud tone. Knowing full well he could wake his sleeping brothers but luckily he didn't. He looked into Alfred's eyes. "I have no where else to go, no one to turn to! Alfred please let us stay here! I swear I'll pay for food and rent! Please I beg you!" At that he woke up the youngest, little Raivis sat up rubbing his eyes as his stomach growled with hunger and watered at the smell of food.
He stumbled over to his eldest brother, his legs still sleeping, a kind smile on his face as he looked up at him. His cobalt eyes smiling brighter then his lips ever could show. "Good morning big brother," he turned to Alfred with a large smile. "And to you Mister Jones." he said happily as he stretched.
Alfred smiled as he set the first plate down in front of him. Raivis looked up at him, confused by why he was first to be served. "Call me Alfred." he said in a kind voice. "And eat up, a boy your age is still growing after all." Raivis nodded and thanked him before devouring his food. It was so good! The best he had had in months. Alfred turned back to Toris who watched his brother with a large smile. He felt a weak hand on his shoulder and turned to face Alfred. "You can stay as long as you like." he said as he set the second plate down in front of Toris. He was then embraced in a strong hug from the brunette, causing Kiku to glare even colder at him. "You won't regret this I promise!" he said happily.
By this time, nearly everyone was awake and served. The only one left was Matthew. With the last of the food on the plate, carrying it to the single room. Matthew had been awake for a while, waiting silently for his brother to finish giving everyone something to eat. Alfred gave a warm smile as he set the plate before his twin. The younger blonde, by only five minutes, looked at it and then to his brother. "Tell me the truth, did you eat yet Alfie?" his voice stern.
Alfred ruffled his hair and laughed, trying to hide the lie as he spoke. "Yeah, I had some. I actually at the pizza that the boys bought this morning so I wasn't all that hungry." The look in Mattie's eyes showed that he knew he was lying. Alfred hated to lie to him, but that was all he could do to keep him safe and prevent him from worrying.
"I'm not going to eat it so you should." he said pushing it toward Alfred whom only pushed it back to him. Matthew frowned and pushed it back. "I said no."
Alfred stood up. "God damn it Matthew!" he yelled alarming the others. "Do you want to go back to the fucking hospital? Cuz that's where you're going if you don't fucking eat!" Alfred would never have yelled at him like that, if he hadn't been skipping out on his meals for three days. He was so worried. During times like these, Matthew would become severely sick and inches from death. It pained Alfred to see it, to endure watching his brother wither to nothing, helpless to stop it. Never again. He would stop it before it started. His fists were clenched as they shook by his sides. "Please..." he said calmly as a stray tear ran down his face. "Please just eat." he fell to his knees before his brother. "You don't know how hard it is for me to watch you suffer in a hospital bed. How helpless I feel, I'm the Hero damn it! I shouldn't be so useless!" He threw his eyes around Matthew, his entire body shaking. "I beg you eat!"
Matthew sighed heavily. He hadn't eaten in three days so he could understand all the dramatics. Yet, Alfred hadn't eaten much either. He could tell. They were twins after all, connected by a bond far greater then that of any other in this world. He could feel his brothers hunger, knowing he had not expected to feed the three new mouths this morning but did so out of kindness. Alfred didn't have enough food and so, played it off as if he wasn't hungry. He pushed the older foolish blonde from him and took a bite out of the eggs. "There happy? I'm eating so you can get the hell off of me." he wasn't mad at Alfred. How could he be when it was Alfred who did what he could to provide for him. It was said more out of brotherly spite, a harmless action among all siblings. Yet, that action didn't bother Alfred as his face lit up brightly by the sight of him eating. Alfred opened his mouth to speak but closed it as an alarm went off. It hurt Matthew to know his brother was leaving again. He knew he would be gone for hours, come home for a half hour to an hour max, then leave again. He didn't want that. He wanted his brother to stay. To be with him.
"Hey Mattie, Toris and his brothers are going to be staying with us." he said smiling as he and Toris gathered their uniforms. "Now it won't be so lonesome for you here." he said as he handed him the package that was given to him by Yao. Quickly Alfred watched as he opened it and pulled out a gray jacket with false animal fur around the hood. It was lovely and some how suited him so well. Kumajiro batted at the fur on the hood, causing Matthew to laugh. "Al, how did you afford this?" he asked as he put it on, it fit like it was tailor made for him. Alfred kissed his forehead as he headed for the door. "My boss had bought it for his son, but it was the wrong size so he gave it to me." he said with a warm smile as he thought of his husband Yao. He raised his hand saying a good-bye before he and Toris vanished out the door. Matthew turned to the soft gray of the coat. It was so soft, so warm. He hugged himself as he smiled softly. It felt as if Alfred himself was wrapping his arms around him, though it would never be a substitute.
~§ξ§~
Yao left his wife and headed straight for the main building to find the man whom held Alfred's life in his disgusting hands. The Englishman was truly arrogant. He wanted nothing more then to buy out Alfred's debts as well as purchase his freedom. It would take a lot of haggling and arguing in order to succeed in purchasing him. In this day and age, Alfred was no more then a slave with some freedoms from his Master who refused to pay for his care. Yao would spoil him. He would give him money and shower him with gifts, much like a spoiled cat. He heard a loud moan from one of the rooms in the hall. He wrinkled his nose in disgust as he heard a slap and a shout about the moaner cumming before he had. This place held no class.
A tall man stood in front of the large doors that were heavily decorated. His hair stood up almost defying gravity. His indigo eyes starring down at Yao. "What do you need from the boss?" he asked. Yao didn't like this man. He hated to deal with him but more so hated the fact he had to speak to him. "I have a request for him. I wish to talk of my wife." He watched as the man turned and opened the door. It was highly decorated with things from all over the world. Silk banners hung from the tall ceiling as well as several expensive items that looked like gold. A large golden chair sat on top of a large black marble platform. He sat there dressed in a loose kimono with one leg over the other while sucking at some opium. The sight was repulsive, even more so that to his left was a nude child. His hair was short and a beautiful brown color with a noticeable curl. Beside him was a younger boy, similar to him but the curl on the other side. This boy was held by his brother closely, protectively. "Abel why did you bring him in here? What business do you have Chinaman?" he asked as he inhaled the drug.
Yao stepped forward. "I wish to speak of my wife..." He was cut off but the Englishman who smile cruelly as he spoke.
"Agh, my young cerulean eyed blonde." he rested his head on his free hand. "What has he done now? I take it he was too tight for you, I'm afraid you can't get a refund for that." he chuckled. "What is it you want with him? If you want to cancel then you must pay the cancellation fee as well as fill out why you wish to be rid of him so I may punish his foolishness appropriately."
Yao struggled to remain calm. "He has done nothing wrong. My true purpose is to pay his debt to you and buy his contract." He watched pleased at the change in attitude in the bastard before him.
Arthur felt enraged by this request but he didn't show it. Instead he hid it behind a smile. "I'm afraid that even you my friend could not afford it. His debt far succeeds that of any of my other slaves. If you pay that off, which I doubt, my price for him will surely be far from cheap and even that being said you would need to purchase his brother from me as well and surely he himself would not leave with you without him." He took another puff of the drug and sank into the chair.
"What is the price? Tell me so I myself may be the judge of his affordability." Yao wouldn't admit it but he was beyond pissed at this point. The man was trying to discourage him. Trying to keep him from full possession of the young child.
"His debt to me is little over a million dollars, the price for his brother is twenty-seven thousand dollars and for him three times that amount. Not even a wealthy man like yourself could possibly afford this. He is after all a rare type of child. After eight months, his ass is still so tight, not virgin tight," he stopped, lost in thought. "His debt grows by the day. So tell me, can you possibly afford him?" he asked triumphantly keeping the man down with his high prices, although he didn't lie much.
Yao sneered. "Eighty-one thousand dollars from a nineteen year old slave? That's outrageous even by my standards!" he nearly yelled out at him. "No slave is worth that much!" here he had him Arthur, as stated by law could not sell him at that price without proper reasoning.
"Perhaps not, but it maybe that I'm sentimental over him. He has truly grown on me and as of now I've been thinking of taking him as my own full fledged sex slave. After all, I'm willing to pay his brother's bills if he were to stay at my side." he smiled happily at the thought of fucking the boy when ever he felt the urge hit, which was always when he found his way to the rum. His eyes wondered to the two brothers he had just punished for displeasing a customer. According to what they said, the man had been hurting the youngest Feliciano and Romano had beat the shit out of him. Arthur had banished the man but still punished the boys for the assault on the customer. It was a simple punishment, stay in the cold room with no clothes on. It was that easy.
"I have plenty of money coming from these two as well as my other Grade One's." He took a puff of opium and blew the smoke at Yao. "Besides YaoYao, you're not the only one to do so. The man who he's to see tonight came a few days ago trying to buy him as well. He's actually far richer then you and still turned down the offer." His mind was slipping from the world into his own.
"If that is all my dear Chinaman, I bid you good day." he turned to Able. "Take him out before I ship you back to the Netherlands!" he smiled as he looked away to the poor Italia brothers.
Yao stormed from the place. He was going to have Alfred as his! No matter what he did, Alfred would be his! He smiled, glad that his little brother would not be home to see him plan a murder of the British man.