Hello, once again! ^w^

Thank you to all who reviewed the last chapter, and again many thanks to those who reviewed chapters 1 and 2! I really appreciate the reviews! 8D

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HETALIA: AXIS POWERS OR ANYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH IT. IT ALL BELONGS TO ITS RIGHTFUL OWNER/CREATOR.

Ravi looks like India. [[Ravi is an Indian name, and since India doesn't have a canon name yet, I decided on Ravi since it's a pretty popular Indian name for males]]

Mathias looks like Denmark[[again, I don't believe his name is canon]] and Lukas looks like Norway[I think the name is canon, but...]


"See? I told you. Their fate does not change. It is inevitable."

"Fools. It is only because of him that everything is going so smoothly. And yet, they are not happy? Those spoiled children!"

"They do not remember, as they should. But many meetings are purely coincidental, are they not?"

"U-Um...w-when can I-"

"No, not now. It is far too early. And isn't that man, the one you know...is he not coming soon?"

"But he won't...w-what if he doesn't find us?"

"I'm sure that he will. After all, he was one of the few who retained his mind. Out of all of them."

"B-But my brother..."

"Ah, don't even consider him. He's off in his own world."

"Incorrect, if I may be so rude. He is strong. His future is bright."

"Please, how can you tell the future? You, who died at the hands of the very people who cared for her?"

"Pain. The only thing that can scare people into obedience, is it not? And fear, yes, that is strong too. But those who disregard both for passion, love, and justice? I'd say they are the ones to be revered."


"'re you alr'ght?" the man repeated, his eyes hard and intimidating.

"A-Ah, yes!" Tino nodded quickly, blinking. He was acting so strange today...his thoughts kept flickering back to the dream he had. The man stared at him, almost as if expecting him to continue talking. "Um...well...hello." Tino finished awkwardly, shuffling his feet a bit. Boy, this man was scary! But...but underneath his fear...he felt a strange sense of contentment. Of calm. A serenity he couldn't explain.

Even so, the man had talked strangely. Why did he not pronounce his words like the rest of the New Society? Tino decided not to ask about it. "Your name is...?"

The man nodded. "Berw'ld. 'nd you are T'no."

Tino's eyes widened a bit. "How did you know that?"

Berwald simply pointed to Tino's shirt, which had a tag that read 'Tino.' Ah, yes. People his age needed to wear a nametag. Tino giggled a bit at his own mistake. No matter how he felt at the moment, it was undeniable that the man was very intimidating. Awkwardly shuffling his feet, Tino looked uncertainly at Berwald.

"You're n't in my cluster." Berwald began, blinking once, twice, three times. Tino stood, unmoving. Well, he was right. Was Berwald suggesting that it was Tino's mistake? Or...but somehow, Tino didn't think that Berwald was criticizing him. He was simply stating a fact. A fact that may very well lead to trouble. Immediate? Tino hoped not. His eyes drifted towards the thing Berwald was holding. What was that? Tino's heart thumped in his chest. It seemed very, very familiar...


"Are you really going now? Not even a goodbye?" She stood at the doorway, hidden sorrow clutching at her heart.

"Look, Liz. There's something I just...I have to do. You won't understand."

She let out a sigh. "Hmm...well maybe if you explained, I would understand!"

"Liz, please...there's no time for this right now...look, I promise, I swear to mein gott I'll be back."

"Gilbert...what does...wait. What does that mean? 'Mein gott?'"

"That's exactly why you won't understand, Liz. Wait for me. Promise." He flashed the brunette a grin before walking away, whistling.

The memory of Gilbert's farewell, a couple of months ago, played over and over again in Elizaveta's mind, each time as vivid and real as the last. Why had he left? What couldn't she understand? She huffed angrily. That arrogant man never listened to her! She always beat him in play-fights when they were little. So why wouldn't he try and make her understand? He always...especially when he got his job...he seemed distant. Far away. Almost as if...he were searching for something. And those beautiful violet-red eyes that usually looked at her full of mischief and sometimes something else...recently, they looked at her full of sadness and longing. Longing for something Elizaveta didn't, and apparently couldn't, understand.

"Ah...today was Lovino's ceremony, wasn't it? It's a pity I wasn't there..." she said to herself. She frowned. Yes. That was the reason why she couldn't be there. Her special assignment from the court - endless charts, mapping out people and where to send them, arranging marriages and assigning tutors. Endless paperwork that she couldn't possibly finish in the given time slot of ten days. She slumped down on top of her desk, her eyebrows furrowing.

It felt wrong. Very wrong. To be writing people's entire lives out like this, when...when they could be...dare she even think it? No. She would not be like Gilbert, always boasting about somehow breaking free from the Court. He was always like that, even before he received his job.

Before he left her without saying a proper goodbye.

"Lizzie!" Elizaveta recognized the voice without having to turn. She felt arms wrap around her neck in a hug.

"Well, Feliks!" She laughed airily, turning around to greet him.

"I really didn't want to cut my hair today, but it's the rules, right? My hair can't go any longer than this, or something..." He sighed, twirling a finger in his hair. Feliks was always a strange one - even his way of speaking was really different. His green eyes turned to Elizaveta, looking at her. "You're never at home lately. I know that you're at those kid's houses a lot, but I...I really think you should come home more often." He bit his lip.

Elizaveta giggled, patting her younger 'brother' on the head. "Ahh, Feliks...I'm just busy with all of this. Don't worry, I promise soon that when I'm finished we can hang out like we used to."

Feliks sighed. "Yeah, but...in two years I'm getting my job...and then I have to get married to someone I don't know!" he burst out suddenly, burying his head in Elizaveta's shoulder. "W-What should I do?"

Elizaveta patted his back reassuringly. "It'll be all right, Feliks. The Court...they'll...I'm sure they'll help you."

"They'd better." Feliks sniffed, and Elizaveta lightly scolded him.

"You should be grateful."

"For what?" he countered, standing up at his full height. He was still shorter than Elizaveta, but not by a large amount. "For what, Lizzie? Tell me."

"Well...well, they provide you with food-"

"They don't do that. The cooks do that."

"Yes, but the Court organized it all, they organize everything-"

"Yeah, but the Court doesn't directly make it, right? What if...what if all the chefs just stopped making food? I can't count on the Court to make me food, right?"

Elizaveta frowned, putting a finger to her lips and looking around her. "Shh...that talk is forbidden, Feliks." she said in a serious tone. "Never again. Never...never discuss this again. Please?" Her green eyes held a pleading look. Don't question the Court. Feliks huffed and turned away.

"Whatever."

They saw, just then, a slightly tall man approaching them, a sort of worried expression on his face as he held a few papers out towards Elizaveta. "T-These are from the Court," he began. "to Elizaveta..."

Feliks' eyes widened slightly. Huh...this guy seemed familiar. Oh...was he in his cluster? Feliks wasn't sure. Maybe he was from Elizaveta's workplace? He probably shouldn't talk to him, just to be safe. But...but still...he had this urge to begin a conversation with him. "Hey, what's your name?" he blurted out.

"U-Um...Toris..." he said, a bit taken-aback at the abrupt question.

"Oh, sweet! I'm Feliks." he said, grinning. Toris shook his hand a bit hesitantly, smiling politely. This blond boy...he was in Toris' cluster, and Toris recognized him.

"Yeah, Feliks here is observing my work." Elizaveta explained, smiling. "He's also part of my unit."

Toris nodded, his eyes not leaving Feliks. Feliks turned to face him. "What?"

"Nothing!" Toris said quickly, hastily turning around and walking away.


"And in the end it was absolutely delicious, and everyone loved it!" Francis had just concluded his hour-long story on how he had assisted a confused girl in cooking, and how the final product had turned out beautiful. "Aren't I amazing?"

"Yes, yes, we've heard this over and over, are you done?" Vash was losing his patience with the blond, and frankly wanted to go to sleep an hour ago, but was held up by Francis' chatter.

"T-That's wonderful..." began a quiet voice, and Vash and Francis looked over to the other corner of the room. A quiet man with jet-black hair and brown eyes, Kiku, was lying down in his bed, looking over at Francis and smiling slightly. "But please, Francis, can we sleep now? It's very late."

"Very late!? Ha, it's half-past-morning if you didn't notice!" Vash shouted, glaring daggers at Francis. Francis shrugged.

"It's Day 6, what do you have to do tomorrow anyway?" Francis pouted.

"I'm a hunter." seethed Vash. "I work every day so that cooks like you have something to cook!"

"Well, thank you, Vash," said Francis dryly, before smiling and saying, "So, who wants to hear the story about me and-"

Kiku swiftly turned off the lights before Francis could finish. The room fell silent, save for a thankful grumble from Vash. Sighing, Francis eventually closed his eyes. That was the reason he never liked sleeping anymore.

He was always tormented by dreams of her. Was 'tormented' the right word? Yes, it was. Because he could never have her. Was it right for him to believe in hope? And he hated his dreams because he always noticed that boy. Who sat in the corner, alone, always watching. Never saying anything. And Francis would never talk to him. Only once he had. But the boy was so shy! What was it about him that had caught Francis' attention?

The next morning, which was only a couple of hours away, all three of them were tired, and rather cranky, except for Kiku. Ah, and the fourth member of their unit who tended to sleep far away from them[in a separate room], so as not to be disturbed - Ravi.

Ravi was a very calm, yet eccentric man who, that particular morning, ignored their gloomy demeanor. "So, Francis?" he began, smiling. "How was your day yesterday? I'm afraid I was not there." He was busy in the Diner the entire day, though he was only a morning chef.

"Ah, Ravi..." sighed Francis dramatically. "You will not believe what happened. So, I met this rather cute girl..." Kiku and Vash groaned simultaneously, though Kiku was quieter, as Francis launched into another retelling of the previous day's events. Vash always flinched at the way he complemented the various girls he met. Especially since...since...that was out of the question. That. That strange feeling...

"Well, yeah, I'm leaving," growled Vash, shutting the door behind him as he left.

"Ah, I also want to go to the Library, so..." Kiku also quietly dismissed himself from the house. Francis sighed.

"They just do not appreciate my skill!"

Ravi laughed, then said, "So, shall we head for breakfast?"

"Why, of course." Francis smiled before standing up and stretching. "I hope they have something good today." Ravi laughed again, though this time much softer.


Mathias slowly opened his eyes, blinking in the warm sunlight. Full of energy, he quite literally jumped out of the bed, putting on a grin. Yes, today would be a good day!

He surveyed the room, noting the two other figures in their own beds next to his. So Sadiq and Heracles weren't awake yet. He sighed...as much as it was funny, he sometimes hated the constant bickering that went on between them. Sometimes, just looking at each other caused them to break out into argument. Even as little children, Sadiq was always picking on Heracles! Mathias shook his head. It was better not to wake them. Maybe...maybe then he'd get a little bit of peace, though he did like uproar and excitement. Still, he did manage to get along well with his two 'brothers'.

And then, like every morning, it hit him. His heart felt a strong pang, and he felt like he was supposed to be searching for someone. He didn't even imagine what the person looked like. He just knew that...he had to search for...that person. No matter what. But, like every day, he ignored it, and put a grin on his face. Today would be a good day!

"'ey...what time is it?" Mathias groaned. Sadiq had woken up.

"...shut up." came another, quieter, voice, and Mathias could have shouted in exasperation. Heracles was awake. Perfect timing. Time for the bickering to begin. Heracles always liked sleeping, and hated it when Sadiq woke him up.

No. Mathias had decreed that this was going to be a good day, and it was going to be one. Mathias grinned widely, walking over to Sadiq. Time to pacify the one with the larger temper. "Heyyy, Sadiq! How's it going?"

"What?" he croaked, sitting up and groaning. "I feel like I'm dead."

"Well, obviously you're not! And...wait. If you are, you must be in heaven, because I'm here!" he laughed. Sadiq narrowed his eyes, and Mathias clamped his mouth shut. Right. Not supposed to talk about it. That sort of thing.

"Anyway, so I was thinking that today we all go out and...do something? You know, as a unit! We never do that." Mathias explained, then turned to Heracles. "What do you think?"

"Leave him alone. Let him just sleep, it's what he always does. How stupid and useless." Sadiq said, almost as if trying to rile up the other.

"Then I don't have..to...listen to your ugly voice." Heracles sighed, his tone calm, veiling his hatred. He yawned, turning over so as not to face Sadiq, and tried to fall asleep again.

"What did you say, you jumped up little-" Sadiq's shout was cut off by Mathias, who shook his head and smiled.

"Guys, its against the rules for people in Units to bicker, remember? But every time I cover you two up, you end up like this again." He clicked his tongue, shaking his head lightheartedly. "Maybe I should report you to the Court."

Heracles immediately sprung out of bed, his eyes wide. Sadiq gawked. "You wouldn't!" Sadiq squeaked. Even a big man like him was afraid of punishment by the Court. Usually...those who broke the rules never...they never saw them again. And on the rare occasions they found someone, that someone was almost...hollow. Like nothing mattered. And when asked a question about what the Court did, they screamed and ran away.

Mathias laughed. "Yeah, I wouldn't. But please, try to get along? For me? Shake hands."

Both wrinkled their nose in disgust, not even making a motion to raise their arm. "The Court it is." Mathias whistled, walking towards the door, before he heard cries to stop. He turned around to see Heracles and Sadiq shaking hands, and even then, it was almost a competition to see who could grip the other's hand tighter.

"Well then, dearest brother, we have to get along." Sadiq snarled, his eyes vicious.

"I agree." Heracles yawned simply, his eyes calm yet matching Sadiq in intensity.

"Do you, now? I'm glad we agree about something," Sadiq said, his eyebrows furrowed.

"I don't want you to be glad." Heracles muttered.

"What?" Sadiq glared at him. "Well, the feeling's mutual over here, buddy!"

"I know. Stop talking about things everyone knows. It's wasting my time." Heracles sighed.

"LISTEN UP, YOU..." Sadiq gripped Heracles hand so tightly it went white. Heracles showed no reaction, but instead dug into Sadiq's hand with his nail.

"Hmph!" Sadiq broke the handshake. He only relented because he felt Mathias' eyes watching him. "You're lucky we agreed to this, Mathias."

"I am? I suppose so. But I think you're the ones who are luckier...not being reported to the Court, and all~" Mathias laughed, then heard the doorbell ring. "Ah, let me get that." He ran down the stairs, and swung the door open. He smiled pleasantly. "Hey, Ivan."

Ivan smiled, though a bit irritated at the casual tone Mathias held. "Hello, Mathias. Nice day, no?"

All right. Ivan wanted something. "So, Ivan..." he said conversationally, standing in the doorway, "What brings you here?"

"Sadiq." he said simply, his small smile never faltering. Did this guy practice in a mirror? Mathias looked around. Nobody was with Ivan. But what worried him was the question - scratch that, Mathias never worried over anything. But why did he want Sadiq?

"Yeah, he's here." Mathias said blatantly, then realized his mistake - scratch that again, Mathias obviously never made mistakes. But now, if Ivan wanted Sadiq to come with him, he'd know that Sadiq was there. Mathias couldn't lie and try to hide Sadiq.

"He needs to come with me." Ivan smiled, holding out his hand to hand something to Mathias. Mathias took it quickly and stared at it.

Hello, Mathias/Sadiq/Heracles! How are you faring?

I need you to send Sadiq/come over here. We have something to discuss.

-Roma

Ah. Another member of the court he didn't see often - Roma. Well, he didn't know much about Roma, but he did hear that he was a friendly person. Mathias nodded. "Sadiq!" he shouted, and was met by a scream.

"What is this guy doing here!?" Sadiq shouted, and Mathias ran upstairs to look, unconsciously leaving the door wide-open for Ivan to enter.

There, sitting on Mathias' bed, was what looked like an older teen, who had violet eyes and very, very light blond hair. He said nothing; he simply stared at Heracles, Sadiq, and finally, Mathias.

"Who are you?" Mathias asked, dumbfounded. How did he even get here?

He was expressionless - but at seeing Mathias, something Mathias didn't understand was in his eyes. He flinched slightly, almost un-noticeably, at Mathias' question. "Ah, I see..." he said softly. And it was then that Mathias noticed that the stranger's body began to shake slightly.

"Who...are you?" Heracles asked, his face a bit surprised.

"My..name is...Lukas." With almost what seemed like a small spark of hope in his eyes, he looked at Mathias for a split second before resuming his expressionless face.

"Hey, are you okay?" Mathias asked, walking over to Lukas. Lukas immediately stood up, and Mathias noticed he was taller than Lukas. Lukas seemed stiff - rigid - and frankly, had still had something in his eyes Mathias couldn't understand.

"Fine." he said tersely, looking around the room. He nodded at Heracles and Sadiq, then said, "Sadiq, is it? ...Go."

"Go? What, you can't just tell me what to do!" Sadiq fumed. "And where should I even go, princess?" he asked mockingly.

"Downstairs, actually," Mathias cut in. "Ivan...Ivan wanted you to go with him."

Sadiq turned white. "W-What? But what did..." He fell silent, thinking. Heracles frowned deeply.

"I don't know, but Ivan didn't look mad," Mathias continued. After all, a member of the Court always had to be obeyed. Sadiq had to go. Plus, knowing Roma, Sadiq wasn't in trouble. Roma usually never dealt out punishment - Ivan did. So why did Roma send Ivan instead of coming himself?

"..Go, Sadiq." For once, Heracles' voice wasn't airy with sleepiness. He looked at Sadiq seriously, then broke the tension by yawning. "...Or are you scared?"

"Scared!? Oh ho ho, the great Sadiq is never scared!" Sadiq exclaimed loudly, walking past Lukas pompously and exiting the room, slamming the door behind him. The three remaining in the room could hear Sadiq saying, "All right, Ivan. Let's go!"

Heracles blinked, chuckled slightly, then fell back onto the bed, ignoring the fact that Lukas just appeared out of nowhere.

Mathias turned his focus onto Lukas. Scrutinizing him, he said in a semi-serious, semi-curious voice, "How did you know Sadiq had to go with Ivan?"

Lukas blinked, then ignored his question. "Nothing..." His gaze turned far-away, and Mathias could swear his eyes began to tear up - just a bit.

"H-Hey, are you okay?" Mathias asked, confused. "But still...you never told us how you got here! Sadiq acted like you just appeared out of nowhere-"

"Are you pretending?" Lukas cut in, his usually neutral voice filled with another thing Mathias didn't understand fully. Longing? Hope? No...that wasn't it. Mathias frowned.

"Pretending...what?"

Lukas slowly dropped his gaze to the floor, then nodded slowly. A single tear slipped from his now-expressionless eyes, and he looked straight at Mathias after wiping away the tear. "Nothing."

"Hey...are you sure...? Did I do something...? Oh, it was Sadiq, wasn't it. He made you cry. Hey, don't cry..look, I won't ask any more questions, but..." Mathias frowned. "But you're not in our cluster." Maybe he shouldn't be talking to him. But it's not like he had a choice, right? He just appeared out of nowhere!

Lukas raised an eyebrow, almost like he was surprised or amused, then said, his tone laced with hidden sarcasm, "Yes, I'm sure you abide by the rules."

Mathias looked a bit taken-aback, and laughed, breaking out into a smile. "Well, now, you're interesting! Anyway...it'll be our secret, okay? But by my life, if Ivan knew, we'd all be dead."

Lukas looked at Heracles, and let out a sigh. Mathias tilted his head. "But you're kind of weird, you know. Why were you crying earlier?" His voice softened, almost becoming gentle. He walked towards Lukas slowly. Lukas' eyes flashed up to meet Mathias, but he didn't step back. Mathias was a bit confused. Why was he so...drawn to Lukas?

"I wasn't crying." Lukas frowned slightly.

"Yeah, well, if a tear falls out of my eye, I'm pretty sure it's not rain. Especially since we're inside. That would be kind of strange." Mathias laughed. "I'm funny!"

"Of course," Lukas sighed, almost like...he was...used to it? Suddenly, he put his hand in his pocket, digging around for something. When he found it, he looked at Mathias. A sigh.

And he disappeared.


Arthur woke up in a bright, spotless white room with a large window on one side, and a door on the other. Through the window he could see people walking across the hall. Yes, this was where he was. The Healing Center.

He looked around. He was alone in the room. Alfred...had Alfred taken him here?

Of course he had. Nobody else was around when Arthur...Arthur frowned. He didn't really remember much. Only blue. That beautiful, sky blue. He looked around again. Why...why wasn't Alfred here? Oh...Arthur and Alfred shouldn't know each other in the first place. Right. Of course...of course he'd leave. He didn't want to get into trouble. And yet...Arthur still felt a bit irritated at Alfred leaving before he awoke. He heard the door opening, and faced the person who walked in. He froze.

"Arthur Kirkland, is it? You're going to have to come with me. You have a meeting with the Court." His eyes narrowed. "You've broken Rule 23." He sighed. "How disgraceful for one such as yourself."