Kiku didn't even bother to conceal his excitement as he peered out the crack in the door, into the room across the way. They could always be found there, the blonde man fussing with his hair while the albino next to him discussed things with a small yellow chick. But today, though, the blonde man was gone. Suddenly, inexplicably, delightfully gone. And of course, Kiku knew to where.

There had been several others in that room before the two men, and over time, they had all met the same fate. Every night someone would disappear very suddenly, then a new being would take their place before it, too, disappeared. It was a constant, beautiful cycle that had been going on for as long as he could remember.

Kiku knew that soon, very soon, he would disappear too. The thought enthralled him.

_______________________

"Hey, Gilbird, vhere do you zhink zat loser of a bruder vent?" Gilbert pondered boredly.

"Piyo Piyo!" Gilbird was straightforward with his answer.

"Vell, Ja, but ve can't jump to conclusions. Maybe he just vent to ze bathroom or somezink." Gilbert knew that Gilbird was probably right about Ludwig's location, but even if he was less awesome than his older brother, Ludwig still wouldn't let himself get lost in a place like this. Really, Ludwig was too powerful and-

A bloodcurdling, soul-shattering scream echoed down the hall. It was a man's voice. A powerful man's voice.

Gilbert sweatdropped, feeling his heartbeat increase greatly. The scream had died down quickly, almost too quickly, like something had silenced it. Gilbert sat there, mouth agape, for what must have been an hour before footsteps could be heard coming his way, making him jump slightly. Were they coming to take him as well?

The footsteps kept their slow, steady pace as they went along, like they were taunting Gilbert. Finally, they were right in front of the door. Now that they were this close, Gilbert couldn't help but notice the strange scuffling sound that accompanied them. There was a slight shuffling noise as the door was slowly pushed open.

Gilbert noticed the man before anything else. He wore a large, brown military coat, and he had a head of shaggy beige hair. Had he been standing up, he would probably have been very tall. Gilbert shuddered when he realized what he was holding in his mouth: a severed head.

The man moved towards Gilbert, prompting him to move away qucikly. "I-I don't vant zat, but zanks anyvays!" Gilbert stuttered. The man cocked his head slightly in confusion, then began moving towards Gilbert again. "N-nein! Take zat avay!" Gilbert shrieked, jumping to his feet. He expected the man to stand as well, but instead, he gently placed the head down and shuffled away.

"H-hey Gilbird....who do you zhink it is?" Gilbert whispered shakily, pointing at the head.

Gilbird flittered around the head for a minute, inspecting in. It had a nice, well-groomed head of blonde hair that looked slightly disshevled from being carried; the eyes were covered by a blindfold. Gilbird grabbed the thin strip of cloth and pulled it off, revealing a set of terrified, sky blue eyes. It was Ludwig.

"B-bruder....BRUDER!" Gilbert screamed, the horror finally setting in. "You!" The man that had brought the head was sitting obediantly by the door, waiting for someone. He barely took notice of Gilbert. "You did zhis, didn't you!?" Gilbert stormed over to the man and smacked him as hard as he could.

The man didn't react for a few seconds; then, he countered. He turned and lunged at Gilbert with one gloved hand extended, making Gilbert's leg fold underneath him as he made contact. The man lunged again, teeth bared, obviously aiming for Gilbert's neck. Gilbert closed his eyes, trying not to scream at the thought of someone as awesome as him dying in such an unawesome way.

"Piyo piyo, piyo piyo piy-" Gilbird cried out, but was cut off by a horrible snarling and tearing noise. Gilbert didn't even have to look up to know what had happened.

There may have been voices after that, and something may have been done to Gilbert, but he didn't care. His mind was numb from everything that had happened, to the point that no real thoughts could be processed. He had been changed.