Ludwig and Feli had hoped to see Kiku the next day at school... they didn't. Nor did they see him the next day, or the rest of the week. Needless to say, they had grown quite worried, and actually considered filing a missing persons report with Officer Kirkland. Yet, to their relief he was at school on Monday the next week. To their horror... he had a black eye and what looked like a broken nose. They fought the urge to rush over and bombard him with questions. They were somehow able to calmly walk over to him.

"Hey Kiku," Feli greeted the Japanese boy.

"Not to sound rude, but what happened to you?" Ludwig asked, he couldn't help but stare at Kiku.

"O-Oh, I got into a fight." Kiku lied, looking away.

"Kiku, what really happened?" Feli asked in a soft voice

"T-That is what really happened!" Kiku closed his eyes tightly to fight the tears.

Ludwig gave Feli a look that said to drop it for the moment. It was his turn to ask questions.

"Why weren't you at school?"

"I was sick."

"I thought you said you got into a fight," Feli frowned. "How can you get into a fight if you were so sick you had to stay at home?"

Kiku froze, before starting to walk off.

"I need to get to class."

Ludwig and Kiku stood there. They didn't know why they didn't follow the boy. But they just stood there

***

Neither Ludwig or Feli had any classes with Kiku that day. They spent the inter school day staring off into space, worried out of their minds for Kiku. Though they had forged a plan to get to the bottom of it all. At the end of the day, they walked over to Kiku.

"Hey, Kiki," Feli smiled, using his new nickname for the Japanese boy. "Want us to walk you home?"

"N-no!" Kiku said quickly, wide eyed.

"We insist." Ludwig said, making Feli's offer more like a demand.

Kiku whimpered quietly and nodded. He flung his backpack over his shoulder and looked at the two. Feli held a hand out to Kiku, but Kiku just walked past them, heading out the front door. Ludwig sighed, taking Feli's hand and following Kiku.

The three boys walked, the atmosphere stifle. Every now and than, Kiku would glance back to look at Ludwig and Feli. After about ten minuets, the three arrived in front of a house. Feli and Ludwig stared at the house, not knowing what to say, not because it was a nice looking house, no it wasn't that at all.

The front yard itself looked bad enough. The lawn clearly hadn't been tended to in weeks or even months, seeming there were weeds as high as corn stocks. The porch wasn't any better. The wood was all soggy and rotten in places. There was also a hole in the porch. Then the house its self... oh dear God it looked terrible. Chipped paint, holes in windows covered up by duck tape and ply wood. How the Hell did Kiku live here?!

"Well, bye..." Kiku gave a small wave before walking up the lawn, heading inside.

Feli and Ludwig waited a few minuets before stealthily walking to the front door, pressing their ears to it.

"Late again, huh?" A deep male voice, assumed to be Kiku's father, growled.

"S-Sorry Father." Kiku's normal squeaky voice spoke. "I-I was talking to two boys in my grade."

SMACK!

A yelp was heard, Ludwig and Feli glanced at each other and continued to listen.

"Friends of yours?" Kiku's Father asked.

"H-Hai..." was Kiku's faint reply.

CRASH!

Feli and Ludwig went wide eyed.

SNIKT!

"F-Father, p-please don't!" Kiku's voice frantically begged.

Ludwig couldn't take it anymore. His hands fumbled through his pockets in search of his phone.

"What are you doing?" Feli asked quietly.

"I'm calling the fucking police...!!" Ludwig finally found his phone as he quickly dialed the number.

9-1-1

Ringing was heard on the other end. Until someone picked up on the other end.

"Hello."

"Get to thirteen Jewel Street as quick as possible." Ludwig didn't even give an explaination, he didn't have time for that. He needed them to come as quickly as possibly.