I don't own Hetalia.

.-*-.

He ran through the streets, hood high and coin bag jingling. He paused at the corner, surprise echoing over his covered face.

The Royal Tax Collector Eduard of Linn, complete with full guard, managing to look both sympathetic and cold. Standing across from him was Berwald of Storstad aka The Lion of Storstad. Once upon a time he was one of the fiercest generals under the Old King, but after he died and the Emperor came to power Berwald was stripped of his title because of his sexuality, and on top of that he, along with the rest of the homosexuals, have to pay a tax. Berwald has to pay for himself and his partner, who died years ago. And not only that, no one wants to associate with him so business had to be bad.

He sighed and got closer.

"You don't have enough," Eduard told him.

Berwald looked at him calmly. "Th't's all I h've."

Eduard sighed and gestured the guards forward.

"Hey!" he said running forward. It took him three yells to be heard.

Eduard looked at the cloaked figure. "Yes?"

The figure ignored him and went up to Berwald, bowed slightly and held out a hand of silver coins. "I'm so sorry this took so long. There's the money I owe you."

Eduard gave him a raised eyebrow. "You owe him money?"

The figure turned to him. "Yes. I've hit troubling time lately, and Berwald was kind enough to loan me money."

Eduard looked at Berwald. "Is this true?"

Berwald glanced at the figure before turning back to Eduard. "Y's."

Eduard nodded and handed the bag of coppers back to the carver. "If you don't mind I think I'll take the bigger coins." The Royal Tax Collector grabbed sixty silvers out of the figure's hands before turning away, the guard following.

The figure dumped the twelve remaining coins into Berwald's hand. "Th'nk ya. What c'n I do ter repay ya?"

The cloaked figure tiled his head a bit. "Could you escort me to the market. I'm planning on buying somethings that the Brigades brought back. The last thing I want is to be is robbed."

Berwald nodded and they set off towards the market.

.-*-.

The sight of the city gate was enough to bring tears to one's eyes, but the sight of family members really did bring tears to eyes.

Gilbert and Ludwig were barley in the gate before they saw a small girl running towards them, followed by a taller boy who looked to much like her not to be related.

Gilbert laughed and both brothers pulled themselves and their horses out of the lines and off to the side.

The albino jumped off his horse and pulled the young girl into his arms. "Lily!"

The boy came up behind her. "Gilbert, Ludwig. I have bad news."

The eldest groaned. "Really Vash? Is that anyway to great your brothers? We'll talk about bad news when we get to the house."

"The bad news is about the house."

Ludwig blinked. "What do you mean?"

"With the surplus of soldiers there wasn't enough room in the barracks. Our house, along with everyone else around the barracks, was taken to hold the new soldiers."

Ludwig went pale. "So we're homeless?"

Lily shook her head. "Mr. Roderich and Elizabeta are letting us stay with them. There at the market right now buying a new slave because of you two returning home."

Gilbert looked at the girl in his arms. "Did Lizzy loose her house too?"

Vash shook his head. "Elizabeta and Roderich were married while you two were away."

Gilbert blinked. "O-Oh... We should probably go met up with them then."

"Hey guys!"

Ludwig sighed. "Great, here comes that idiot."

Alfred walked over to them, leading a horse with two people tied to the saddle and blindfolded sitting on said horse. "I just bought two new slaves!"

Ludwig crossed his arms. "We can see that."

"Where are they from?" Lily asked.

The blonde shrugged. "From where ever the Red Brigade went."

"Do they speak Başkentish?" Vash asked.

Alfred shrugged again. "I don't know. They haven't made a sound yet. Anyway I got to go."

"Good idea. You met up your family," Ludwig said.

Alfred paused. "Actually my whole family died years ago."

Ludwig flushed. "O-Oh, well, um..."

Alfred laughed. "Dude, no problem. See ya!"

"What a strange boy," Lily commented.

Vash turned and started to walk away. "Come on, they're probably waiting for us."

.-*-.

The first person Ivan set out for when he got to the castle was his page boy Raivis. After much unnecessary but extremely amusing harassing of other servants he managed to locate his page boy in the stables, talking with a young Elementalist.

"I hate that jerk! He's always telling me what to do, what I can and can't be! He's the king jerk of jerks."

Raivis put a hand on the smaller boy's shoulder. "I'm sure he's just trying to do right by you."

The blonde shook him off, and glared at him. "You're on his side!"

The taller blonde was about to respond when he caught sight of Ivan standing behind the younger boy.

"Lord Ivan," he said bowing at the waist. The Elementalist gasped, turned, and bowed too.

Ivan chuckled. "Hello Raivis. Have you been missing me?"

Raivis straightened, and winced as Ivan pushed down on his curly blonde hair. "Y-Yes Lord Ivan."

"That's good. Who is your friend?"

The younger boy gulped as the attention was diverted to him.

"His name is Peter of Anguli. He's-"

"-a Water Elementalist." Ivan interrupted glancing at Peter's blue robes. "And you study at the Wizard's Tower," he said poking at his belt. "Who we're you talking about before?"

Peter gave a small huff. "My jerk of an older brother. Arthur of Anguli."

Ivan put a finger to his chin thoughtfully. "Now why does that sound familiar?"

Raivis trembled beneath Ivan large hand. "Lord, Arthur of Anguli is the Head Warlock."

Ivan smiled. "Maybe I should talk to him later. Now Raivis, please go tell my sisters that will be arriving soon to present them with their gifts." The fifteen year old nodded and left shaking.

Peter looked at the ground. "Lord Ivan, may I ask you a question?"

Ivan nodded knelt down next to the boy.

Peter kicked the ground shyly. "My brother is taking me to the celebration later. Are you going to be presenting the Blessed Jewel to the Emperor?"

The large man shook his head. "With all the assassinations lately the Emperor fears that someone may try to kill me, so me second-in-command will take care of it."

The Elementalist kept his eyes to the ground, but Ivan could still see the disappointed look on his face.

Ivan laughed and ruffled Peter's hair. "Do not worry. Soon all of the world will be under the Emperor's control."

Peter nodded. "Yeah."

Ivan straightened. "If you excuse me young one I must visit my sisters."

Peter bowed. "It was nice to talk to you Lord Ivan."

Ivan turned and started to walk towards his sister's room, unknowing of the eyes that was following him.

.-*-.

Hmmmm... Let's stop here before major stuff happens. Please read and review. And please ask questions, and writing out what you think will happen next. I love to read those.