Well, here it is, my newest story and it's actually not a one-shot! *proud of herself* =D
Note: I'm putting all this only in the first chapter so that I don't have to keep on repeating myself. I may add author's notes still, though, if I feel like I need to.
Note #2:Oh, and I realize all the phone calls are kind of weird o_o;; You people are smart, you'll figure it out.
ITALICS are phone calls, foreign language (I may neglect this more with Prussia because I speak German so I tend to add more German words than other other foreign language and it's a hassle to italicize them all), thoughts, and stressed words. And if anyone notices any errors in my foreign language, especially French since I don't really know any, then let me know!
Disclaimer: Hetalia and all associated characters belong to Hidekaz Himaruya and FUNimation.
Summary: Set in a fictional United States, small-town boy Matthew lives a relatively normal life, despite his less than normal family. His brother Alfred is what one might call a jack-of-all-trades and often attempts many crazy schemes. This time he's come up with something dangerous and supernatural. And he's dragging Matthew along with him.
Enjoy the first chapter of Kupalinka! Please tell me what you think =)
Alfred came to me with a proposition…
There has been rumour of a witch that lives in the woods on the border of the state. They say she is like the snow… In both her incredible beauty and frigid heart.
Alfred… He wants to find her…
And be rid of her…
"Matt, I need an answer."
Matthew was broken out of reverie by his brother's voice crackling over the phone.
"Are you with me or aren't you?"
"Alfred… You're my brother and I love you but… Think about it. I have a job, rent and car payments. You… have jobs… sometimes… And just think of how dangerous this could be! Not about the witch, I'm not entirely convinced by those rumors, but it's dangerous to go into those woods not knowing what you're doing—"
"Hey! I'll have you know I'm a top-notch Eagle Scout!"
"—and what if something goes wrong? How will you keep in contact with anyone? What if you get hurt? What if—"
"Mattie… Please. Like I said, I know what I'm doing. I go camping really deep in the forest all the time. And all those things—well, that's partly why I'm asking you to come along with me!"
The young man gave a sarcastic look to the receiver of the phone. "Al, you're not just dragging me along to be your lackey?"
"Of course not!"On the other side of the line, the young man's brother waved a hand and smiled into the phone. "And it'll be just like old times! Like when we were little."
"Alfred, that's not a good thing. We were always getting lost on your little 'adventures'!"
Alfred smiled sheepishly."Well, okay then… It'll only kind of be like old times. We won't get lost. And… Mattie, you're the only one I trust enough to take along with me…"
"Al…" The fair-haired young man frowned and sighed. There was no way to say no now…
"Fine. I'll do it, Alfred. I'll go with you."
"You will? Really, Mattie? Aw, man, you're the best!"
"On one condition."
Alfred paused. "And that would be?"
"We tell Arthur."
"No, man. I'm telling anything to that stuffy, overbearing—"
"Alfred, we have to tell someone we know. What if something happens to one or both of us and we have no way to contact anyone? Someone needs to know that we're actually missing and not just… taking a vacation or something. Besides, he has a right, Alfred. He practically raised us—"
"That man did not raise me."
"Alfred…"
"No, Mattie. Maybe you're gonna tell 'im but I ain't tellin' him nothin'."
Matthew let out a frustrated sigh, knowing full well that his brother was more stubborn than a mule. "Alright, Al, you win. You don't have to talk to Arthur."
"Thank you."
"If it's alright with you, I'm going to make some phone calls now, so I have to get off the phone with you. I'll start getting ready to leave and be over at your house in a few days."
"Sure, Mattie, sounds good. G'night, lil' bro!"
"Good night, Alfred." With that, the receiver fell back into its resting place and Matthew heaved another sigh. "What have I gotten myself into?" He muttered
The shrill of the phone cut through the peaceful silence of the evening. The blond man rose up from his rose garden and entered the house, answering the call.
"Bonjour~ Bonnefoy residence~"
"Ah, Mathieu! How good to hear from you!"
"What? Non, absolutely not! I forbid you!"
"…Mathieu… Are you sure you're okay with this? Alfred is not bullying you into it?"
"Oui! I realize that but… Well, I suppose if you are sure. I cannot stop you."
"Yes, be very careful and if you get into trouble, do not hesitate to call me! Oui, oui… Bonne nuit."
"Hello, Kirkland residence, Arthur speaking."
"Hello, Arthur."
"Ah, Matthew, my boy! How are you this evening?"
"I'm well, Arthur. And yourself?"
"Ah, grinding my teeth as of late, but well enough. Now, what seems to be the matter, my boy? You sound somewhat anxious."
"Well… You see, Arthur. There's something I've got to tell you…"
The ash-blond man raised one dark, thick eyebrow. "Do continue."
"Well… I'm going somewhere for a while. I don't know when I'm going to be back."
"You don't have the law after you…?"Arthur asked, incredulously.
"No, it's nothing like that. It's just… Alfred… asked me a favor."
"Oh, Matthew…" Arthur sighed. "That boy is harassing you into some cockamamie scheme of his, I can feel it in my bones!"
"Cockamamie…? Ah, no! He's… he's not harassing me. Like I said, he asked me a favor and, while I wasn't thrilled about it at first… Well, he's convinced me to go."
"Go where, exactly?"
"Well… You know that forest at the border… the one they say is home to a witch of haunting beauty and cruelty?"
"No! Oooooh, no! You are not sacrificing your time and energy for one ofthat boy's stupid, half-arsed plans to go after a witch! Do you know how dangerous that forest is? Regardless of whether there actually lives a witch or not! There's a reason why people steer very clear of that area!"
By the end of his tirade, the Briton was fuming. "Matthew, I forbid you to go. As well as you recognize me as a parent, you are like a son to me. I'm not going to let you waste your life like that!"
Matthew waited until his pseudo-father had calmed down before continuing. "Arthur, even if I would not go, Alfred will. And... He's my brother. My ireal /ibrother. I'm sorry, I can't leave him behind. I told him the same, about the forest, but you know how stubborn he is. I'm going, whether you forbid me or not. I'm going."
Arthur glared into the phone. He could not help his caustic reply, as fear and bad memories stirred inside him. "Fine! Be as ungrateful as that whelp! I thought you had some common sense, but I suppose I didn't raise you well enough. Good evening."
The young man let out a heavy sigh. "That went about as well as I expected it would… Only one more person."
Knock. Knock.
"Who de hell ist dumm enough to disturb de awesome ME?"
Matthew rolled his eyes and waited for Gilbert to answer the door.
"Gilbert, it's cold outside and already getting dark. Would you mind hurrying it up?" The boy answered.
The sound of thumping footsteps inside the house quickened and the door opened moments later. Matthew met his friend's dark eyes with a smile. "Hey."
"Heya, Matt! Vat brings you hier?"
"Umm… I was in the neighborhood, eh?"
"Mattie… Our town isn't that small. You live at least 15 minutes avay. Vat are you doing hier?"
The blond looked about and motioned towards the house. "How about we go inside and talk. Ja?"
"HAHAHAHA! JA! Awesome, Matt! Ja, ve vill go inside."
The albino man swept an arm out, inviting his friend into the house. The blond smiled again and walked inside the familiar abode. He made his way to the comfort of the kitchen, with Gilbert following along behind. The German made a beeline for the refrigerator and held out a beer in offering to Matt, who shook his head politely, and kept one for himself. After a few gulps, he asked again, "Now, vat's up? You're lookin' about as happy as Ludwig is on a daily basis."
Matthew gave him a cynical look and swatted his arm playfully. "Hey, now, that's not nice. He's your brother. Don't be mean."
"Vat? It's true. Bruder or not." Another gulp. "Now stop avoiding de subject, Matt. Vat ist going on?"
At this, the boy looked down. "I'm going away for awhile, Gilbert, and I don't know how long I'll be gone… Or… if I'm even coming back…" His last sentence came out a choked whisper, and impossibly, the albino heard it.
"So, you're saying you're final farevells? Let me guess, you called up Franzis and he vent all protective on you. Den you called Arthur und he reacted like de hot-head he is. Now, you are coming to visit me in person to zay gut-bye. I'm touched, Mattie. I really am."
Matthew felt the blood rush to his cheeks from embarrassment. "Well, they're not exactly close by, in terms of where they live! And, it's much easier to argue with Arthur over the phone… I figured that if I saw them in person, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to go…"
"But you already promised Alfred, did you not?"
The blond gave his friend a surprised look. Gilbert merely shrugged.
"He ist de only von who can make you do stupid t'ings like… vhatever it is, you are going to do. Anyone else?" He shook his head to make his point. "You vould zay no… Except to me, of course. But den… I don't do stupid t'ings. All mein ideas are awesome!"
"Right well… A-anyway, I just came to tell you that I'm leaving and I'm going to be gone awhile. So…" He trailed off, not sure of what else to say. A pair of strong, though not burly, pale arms encircled his form.
"Hey. Nothin' left to zay, ja? Ve von't go lookin' für ya until you've been gone more 'n 3 veeks or so. Sound gut?"
Matt smiled and rolled his eyes again. "Ja… That sounds… gut."
"Now, vat to you say to a little hockey und bier?"
"SHIT! The game's on and I'm missing it!" The boy ran to the living room and glued himself to the TV. The German laughed heartily and followed, bringing several beers with him.
Night fell.
An unnatural darkness crept about the tall trees while a haunting song resonated in the depths of the forest.
Kupalinka, Kupalinka...
Tseomnaya nochka. Tseomnaya nochka.
A dze zh tvaya dochka?
Kupalinkina, Kupalinka,
It's dark in the night. It's dark in the night.
Where is your daughter?