Yea, I don't know either....
You are not allowed to be here. You are forbidden from "fraternizing with the enemy" in any way. Stay away from that man. Forget his smile. Forget his laugh. Forget how he accepted your friendship and love, while no one else did. Forget those nights you spent with him, when neither of you had to worry about being heard. Forget-
"Arthur-san?"
The blond snapped out of his thoughts and looked up. "Hm?" He was sitting in the oh, so painful seiza position at a low table. His discomfort was only slightly alleviated by the zabuton on which he was resting. But he paid it no mind, seeing the concerned expression Kiku wore.
The Japanese man bit his lip. He knew Arthur wasn't granted the permission of being here at the moment, but the chance of being together was too good to resist, after all this time.
Even though we're supposed to be enemies, he thought gloomily. A heavy weight settled itself into Kiku's heart, forcing him to remember the tray laden with tea and snacks he was carrying, weighing his arms down as well. He carefully set it down and returned his gaze to Arthur. The other man was staring into space again. Soon, though, his hand grasped Kiku's wrist and pulled the smaller male into his lap after stretching his legs out. Japan squirmed, turning red.
"A-Arthur-san!" He tried escaping, to no avail. England's arms were a combination of shackles and seat belts, restricting his movements. A playful smirk made its way onto his face.
"Yes, love?" the Briton purred. He decided to tease the other man, allowing his lips to trace Kiku's neck, nuzzling him lightly.
Japan gasped and trembled. "Ah…iie…"
"But you like it, don't you?"
"I-iie! Er…" Arthur's hands began to wander.
"You're horrible at lying, you know."
"Eh? M-matte! D-didn't you s-say you had a song for me?"
The Englishman's movements were paused. "Bloody hell, how did I forget? Here I am, turning into that frog. Look what you've done to me," he joked.
Kiku would have protested, but found nothing to say. He looked away, blushing scarlet.
Arthur chuckled. He pulled out a tape recorder from one of his pockets and pressed PLAY.
Music flowed out. Two voices sang; one male, one female, in a language Japan was unable to recognize. Kiku noted in a rather offhand way that the female voice was singing the majority of the song. But the melody was calming. He didn't realize it stopped until England began fondling him again. The Japanese man squeaked.
"Yamete kudasai, Arthur-san!" [Please stop; I apologize if it is incorrect]
The other snickered again. "Did you like it?" His words and tone had a double meaning to them.
"The song?" Kiku mumbled, playing dumb.
"Well…I suppose we could go with that."
Japan flushed. He understood what Arthur was getting at, but he refused to acknowledge that he actually enjoyed those caresses.
"It's…very pretty. What does it mean?"
Arthur smiled. He leaned in and whispered into Kiku's ear. For a few minutes, everything was still except Arthur's mouth. When he was done, he said, "That's why I wanted you to hear. It reminded me of you the very first time I heard it. Good old India played it again when she saw how much I enjoyed it." The smug look was back. "Of course, I would enjoy doing something else right now…" The Englishman raised his eyebrows suggestively. The expression then flickered to a more serious one. "But I was also thinking that song could be a sort of password we'd use with each other."
"Password?"
"Yes. We both know that we have many enemies, and most of them oppose to the idea of us being together. We can't let them know of my visits here. I'm still able to sneak out from time to time, but sometimes I get the feeling we're being watched." He sighed and smiled, a bit sadly. "There's hardly anyone we can trust besides each other. So…I was wondering if we could use this as a secret code. That way we know who we're really visiting."
"I…see. How do you expect to carry this out?"
The smile became genuine. "I sing the male part; you sing the female one in response."
"EH? B-but I'm not a female!"
Arthur grinned mischievously. "Oh, really, now?"
"Yes!"
The Briton let out another chuckle and held the Japanese man tighter. "Come on, love, you know I'm only joking. Would you still like to use it?"
"Ano…okay."
Arthur's smirk widened. "You know, there are certain times where I wonder about your gender. Are you sure you're a man…?"
"O-o-of course I'm sure, Arthur-san! You also know that perfectly well, after all those nights-"He cut himself off in shock.
"Ah, you really think so? Can't say it really sunk in. Mind showing me again?" Arthur's face now resembled that of the Cheshire cat. He winked roguishly.
"Nani?"
"You know you want to, love~"
"I-I never said I didn't." Now who was the tsundere?
Arthur snickered yet again. He leaned in.
"A kiss makes the heart young again and wipes out the years." [Rupert Brooke]
"So it does," Kiku whispered back, after they performed said activity.
"More?" A nod.
"Perhaps people like us cannot love. Ordinary people can - that is their secret."[Herman Hesse]
"Yet here we are, living a secret love."
A pause."How very true that is."
And so the irony stimulated both of their desires and understanding of the world.
…..
"Arthur-san, will you be all right returning?" England looked up from where he was putting on the last of his garments. He smiled at the Japanese man, still looking drowsy from the night before.
"Of course, Kiku," he replied, trying to reassure the other with a kiss. "I am the almighty England, after all." He tried to smirk, but the expression turned melancholy. "Parting is such sweet sorrow," he murmured, quoting his best poet and playwright.
It was their way of saying good-bye to each other.
…
It seemed like eternity before they met again.
Kiku was in the sakura grove, like last time. He gave a rather melancholy smile at the bittersweet turn of events. Arthur…
"I must lie to friends in someone else's name, but still I must talk about you,
Beloved, day and night..."
Kiku gasped. He'd know that urbane voice anywhere. The Japanese man smiled to himself, waiting for his turn.
"lBeing separated from you is so difficult,
My heart must fill with sighs.
Beloved, morning and night.
When will this be finished, when will this distance be distant?"
So many times had both of them wondered this.
"Each day you must keep treading the path,
Beloved, day and night."
A pause. That was Kiku's cue. His soft voice was higher than that of the Englishman's, and though it did indeed sound feminine, he still retained some masculinity.
"Quietly, beneath the sheet of the night,
Let not even the moon's footstep appear;
Let us walk behind the clouds..."
He also paused, looking up into the sky. Though the sunset was indeed glowing, some clouds identical to cotton candy at the moment masked that light a bit.
Drop by drop let us burn away,
Drop by drop let us melt away..."
How like the rain they would be.
"May midnight not come, may this night not pass...
Quietly take me into your arms, beneath the sheet of the night... "
As he said those words, warms arms gently engulfed him from behind. The Japanese melted into the touch.
As Terri Guillemets said, "A hug is a smile with arms, a laugh with a stronger grip."
…
Yes...this is the crappy second part to Chupke Se. I'm going to do another song in this fanfic...and that may have more than just implications, if you know what I mean. -nudgenudgewinkwink- *shot*