"One of us?" Matthew finally spoke, gasping.

"Yes, one of us!" Alfred repeated surely. "And we're gonna find out who."

"Maybe you should just leave this alone," his brother said slowly.

Alfred angrily turned to him. "No way in hell! I'm not gonna let them keep saying that Arthur killed himself when he clearly didn't. This has gone on for long enough!"

He turned to Francis. "In fact, I think it's safe to say that-!"

Alfred gasped, then glanced over his shoulder to be met with striking green eyes. "Dude, what gives?" Alfred muttered to Alistair, who had crept up behind him and clamped a hand down on his shoulder.

"Heard ya sayin' some things about my little brother. Actually, with the fuss you're making, I'm surprised the whole place isn't staring at ya," he said, face eerily emotionless. "He wouldn't like to know that you still won't leave him be two years after his death. Let the guy rest in peace, ya know?"

Alfred frowned. "You should be more worried about this, Alistair."

"Oh, I was!" the red-head exclaimed. "Trust me lad, I couldn't sleep for days. But that was two years ago. You'll never be happy if you keep holdin' on."

"Whatever," Alfred said. "I'm not just gonna let him go like he meant nothing. I'm gonna get him some justice."

"Arthur never did like people meddling in his business for any longer than absolutely necessary," Alistair said, turning to return to the rest of his brothers and his parents who were a little ways off, talking with Mr. Vargas. "Stop trying to play the hero just this once, would ya?"

OoOoOoO

"I can't believe him!" he shouted, slamming a bottle down on the ground. "Who does he think he is? Stupid Antonio... Bastard..."

Arthur snickered, swaying from where he stood a few feet away. A bottle like the one that had been thrown was in his hand, as well as one of his shoes in the other.

"Now... Now that I think about it," Arthur said, words slurred. "Where did those buggers all scurry off to?"

Lovino stared at him. "I-I think we uh, left them, actually."

"No, they totally must've."

"Um, maybe," Lovino relented. "But we are here now. Why are we here?"

He looked around as Arthur started babbling something about God and the mysteries of the vast universe. There was less grass in this part of the field than where they had been before. It was sparse and not quite as green as it should've been, but what else could you expect from such a busy area?

He stepped onto the train rail, swaying slightly but catching himself before he fell. "Well anyway," he said, ignoring Arthur's answer to his previous question. "At least we're away from those bastards. Good riddance."

"Really?" Arthur asked, surprised. He walked up to Lovino, stepping onto the rail as well so that he could stand beside him. He stumbled and nearly fell backwards, dropping the shoe he'd been holding. "I thought you liked Antonio."

They began to walk slowly along the rail, occasionally missing and drifting off to the side before stubbornly continuing onward in their trek. The sun was setting above them, and beneath the fiery sky the two teenagers moved as though they were heading through an opposing current.

Lovino sent Arthur a glare over his shoulder. "What the fuck? H-Hell no! Like I'd ever like that bastard." He jumped off the rail and stood, staring at Arthur, who stopped walking and stared back.

They'd managed to get a small ways away from where they had been before, but this area didn't look any different. It was still barren, the only hint of civilisation being the train tracks that continued to run by them.

"Coulda fooled me," Arthur slurred. Lovino scowled.

"Bastard, don't doubt me! Just 'cause you're a homo doesn't mean everyone is!"

"Hey, shut up," Arthur muttered, eyebrows furrowing. "No need to get so offended."

"I'm not offended!" Lovino shot back. "I'm just stating the facts. So get that into your head!"

"I think you're in denial~" Arthur all but sang. Lovino glared at him as Arthur met his look evenly, the light catching his eyes in a way that made the green pop. He smirked as the ground began to shake beneath them.

OoOoOoO

He wouldn't give up.

They could try all they liked, but they wouldn't be able to change his mind.

Alfred knew that it was pretty much him against the world. Matthew wouldn't give up on the notion that Arthur's death was purely an accident, and everyone else thought that he had killed himself. That was it. End of argument. Alfred however, was not about to be moved. Arthur wasn't like that. That was something Alfred was sure of.

And it definitely hadn't been an accident. He refused to believe it was that simple.

Arthur; such a complex, unique person. He was different. He was... real, for lack of a better word. While everyone was obsessed with the latest fad, making themselves look good for others, or just having mindless "fun" and rotting their brains, Arthur was one of the most honest, true people Alfred could've imagined. It felt odd thinking that, seeing as he could be quite the huge liar when he wanted to be, but Alfred felt that the word 'honest' could apply to many different situations. Sure, Arthur wasn't all that honest in the obvious way. He lied, cheated others, and hid his feelings, but he was an open book to those who knew how to read him. He didn't love often, but when he did, he loved utterly and unconditionally. Alfred believed he was unbreakable and that was his downfall.

And someone like that should receive the justice he deserved.

Sure, Arthur hadn't been what you'd expect of the perfect person. He was far from it, in fact, but there was something about him. Something Alfred couldn't explain.

He smiled. "Let's play truth or dare."

Francis raised an eyebrow. "Why this all of a sudden...?"

Alfred shrugged. "Dunno. I think it would be fun. It could pass the time, at least."

He sat on the train rail they stood beside, hugging his legs to his chest and peering up over them at the others. Matthew gave him a long look before giving a resigned sigh and kneeling down on the ground in front of him. As though his going along with Alfred's game were some sort of blessing for the others to join in as well, Francis, Gilbert, Antonio, and Lovino all took a seat as well. Some less willingly than others.

"Here's somethin'," Alfred drawled. "How 'bout we mix up the rules a bit? I was thinking there be a sort of punishment for those who refuse to answer efficiently."

"What sort of punishment?" Lovino asked sceptically.

"Hm," Alfred hummed to himself, mockingly stroking his chin as though deep in thought. "Well it's gotta be something brutal. Not licking toilet seats or whatever. Something that'd scar you for eternity. Or at least 'til the end of high school, but there isn't much of a difference, I think."

Francis pretended to gag. "Licking toilet seats would scar you for eternity!"

"Would not," Alfred muttered. "There are worse things."

"It would," Francis said. "Just ask Gilbert."

Everyone, as if on cue, turned to look at Gilbert who suddenly looked more pale than usual, and that was saying something. He glanced wistfully off into the distance, a faraway look in his eyes. "Third grade was a difficult time."

Alfred rolled his eyes but dropped the subject. "The punishment should be having your entire body waxed."

"Um, define entire body," Matthew said nervously.

"I really mean everything," Alfred said, a wicked grin growing on his face. "Arms, legs, head, eyebrows..." he trailed off for a moment. "Certain other regions."

His grin only widened as the others made a face at the last part. Antonio spoke up, choosing to try to ignore the disturbing thought.

"Wait," he said instead. "If you try to wax someone's head, you'll just violently rip all of their hair out!"

"That's the idea, numbnuts."

Antonio stared at him with wide eyes, reading up a hand to caress his hair. Lovino gave him a weird look. "You're evil," Antonio whispered.

"Think of it as a little, helpful nudge in the right direction!" Alfred grinned. "Cooperate and everything will be cool!"

"You can't make us do shit by threatening us," Lovino grumbled.

"I'm not threatening you," Alfred said. "I'm guiding you."

"Great, maybe you should get a job in the government," Francis sneered.

"Just play the game," Alfred said in annoyance. "It's not that big of a deal."

"Yeah, I'm goin' first!" Gilbert declared.

"What?" Alfred said. "But I-"

"Mattie," Gilbert turned to the quietest blond. "Truth or dare?"

"Um, truth," Matthew said.

"Which one of us would you make out with?"

As soon as the words left Gilbert's mouth, Matthew's face erupted in about a million shades of red. Alfred, who had been rambling in the background the entire time, suddenly went silent.

"You can't ask him something like that!" he gasped.

"Me, right?" Gilbert continued to question.

"Please, I'm much better looking," Francis cut in.

"Are not."

"Um," Matthew said.

"Mattie, don't answer," Alfred demanded.

"Answer," Gilbert said.

"Don't."

"Do."

"I-I don't know, okay?" Matthew said quickly.

Gilbert pouted. "Fine. Your turn."

Matthew looked around their little lopsided circle. His gaze lingered on his brother for a moment longer than it did on the others, but in the end he turned to Francis. "Truth or dare?"

And it went on that way for a long time. The five seemed to be having a good time playing by themselves, mostly asking for truths, but the occasional dare would slip in and one of them would be forced to shout something embarrassing or make a fool of themselves in some other way. The circle shrunk, too, and Alfred was sure that the others had completely forgotten that he was even there.

"You guys are ignoring me," he pointed out at some point when it was Antonio's turn. They exchanged nervous glances.

"Um, no we're not?" Antonio said lamely.

"Bullshit," Alfred muttered. "I wanna go."

"Okay..." Antonio said. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

Francis whispered something to Antonio, who then turned to Alfred and asked, "What's your true intention behind this?"

"To get you to fess up," he answered easily, looking uncharacteristically angry.

"You mean interrogate us," Lovino growled.

"Call it what you may," Alfred waved him off. "Francis, truth or dare?"

He was silent for a moment. "Truth," he decided.

Alfred looked pleased by his response and leant forward, speaking quickly. "Where were you this night two years ago?"

"Drinking with friends," he said simply.

"Who and where?"

"It's not your turn anymore, so shut up," Gilbert cut in. Alfred glared at him.

Francis crossed his arms. "Alfred, truth or dare?"

"Truth," he bit out.

"Where were you?"

"Football, then Arthur's house," he said. "Only to discover that he'd never come home from school. Gilbert, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"I think it's safe to assume that you were with Francis that night. Was Arthur?"

Gilbert averted his eyes. "Maybe."

"I'll take that as a yes, but next time answer properly, unless you want to become something that resembles a naked mole rat."

Gilbert scowled. "Is it true you could be huge jealous, selfish asshole like he said you were?"

Something passed through Alfred's eyes. "Not on purpose. Is it true you guys were in this area?"

"Know what?" Gilbert said, challenging. "Yeah. We were."

"And what the fuck did you do to him!?" Alfred shouted, getting to his feet and clenching his fists. Gilbert followed.

"We didn't do shit!" Gilbert shouted back.

Matthew stumbled to his feet as well and grabbed his brother by the arm. "Alfred, please don't start a fight," he said in a hushed voice. "People are staring."

"I swear to God," Gilbert said, voice cracking. "We didn't.. do.. anything..."

Alfred looked around the clearing. What his brother said was true; a few pairs of eyes were on them, mostly from the parents. They averted their eyes as they realised they'd been noticed.

It was dark now. Alfred didn't know how many hours had passed, but the sky was black and the only light came from the fire and lanterns people had brought with them. It was quiet, except for their little group. Soon they'd stand in silence in Arthur's honour.

He turned back to his friends and was met with wide, sad eyes, and suddenly he realised that he hadn't been very fair with them at all. It wasn't right of him to assume that no one else could suffer as much as he, to think that his pain was above theirs. And so what if they weren't on their knees sobbing? If they had acted ignorant? After all, the easiest way to make sure others don't know you're hurting is to pretend you don't care.

And he wasn't exactly in the clear here either. He may have been going through his own internal turmoil all day, but he'd acted selfish and uncaring toward his friends.

Had he always been like that? Had Arthur always seen him as a jealous, selfish asshole like Gilbert said?

He hoped not.

"I'm sorry," Alfred said quietly. He bit his lip and turned his gaze to the ground, but that only caused his vision to go blurry as the tears he hadn't noticed prickling at his eyes threatened to fall. He didn't want to cry. "I'm really sorry."

I was supposed to update this yesterday I think but I totally forgot and then someone followed it just now and I was like crap I have a fanfic. So thank you MegaTarts you're awesome and I love you, rock on bro. *sunglasses emoji*

One more chapter after this one ;o Please review~