Hurray for plot thickening! I hope the explanation last chapter wasn't too confusing. Blah blah, I don't own Hetalia.


Matthew looked up at the man, who was still smiling down at him, with wide eyes.

"Y-You know my brother?"

His smile grew just a bit wider. "Da. You could say I've had a big influence on him."

It was at that moment that the ends of the the long scarf the man was wearing started moving. They were being stretched out, almost as if someone were pulling on them.

"Um... What's wrong with your scarf, sir?" Matthew asked.

He shrugged. "It's nothing. Just the wind." He grabbed the scarf and gave it a swift yank. The scarf fell limp in his hand. "Tell me, have you seen your brother around?" The fabric around his neck started shifting, trying to move aside to reveal the vulnerable skin. He ignored it and moved the scarf back into place.

Matthew shook his head. "No... I haven't seen him."

The man had a sad look upon his face. One of sympathy. "It must be hard, not being able to talk to your sibling."

Matthew nodded, looking down at the ground. Was Alfred okay? Did he get in trouble like he used to? Did he know what happened to Matthew?

"I believe I can tell you where he is."

Matthew looked up again with a hopeful expression. "Really?"

He suddenly felt a hand on his wrist. It felt strong, warm... urgent. He was pulling the boy with enough force to make him stumble. It was pulling him away from the purple-eyed man who knew Alfred.

A gloved hand grabbed his other wrist. The man was holding Matthew in place, though he didn't seem to be using much effort. The force from the other hand increased, but the man managed to pull him forwar gently.

"He's far up north and east. He's out looking for you. I believe he's in a town called Valhall." He shrugged. "Well, that was the last place I met him. You should go see for yourself, da?"

Now the force was nearly enough to snap Matthew's wrist, but at the moment, he didn't care. "Thank you! You've done a huge favor for me, but I don't even know your name..."

"You may call me Ivan."

Ivan released him. Matthew was sent running as he tried to stay on his feet. The hand that was clamped to him couldn't be seen as Matthew was dragged into the crowd. He glanced over his shoulder to catch one last glimpse of Ivan. The pale-haired man was waving to him, smiling with a certain glint in his eyes.

"So long, Matthew!" he heard over the crowd


Mattie! No! Stay away!

This damn scarf...! Ivan, enough with the teasing! Stay away from Matthew!

MATTIE! NO! DON'T LISTEN TO HIM! PLEASE!

I wish you could hear me again, Mattie! Just... come... ON!

That look... I'm too late.

Dammit... I promised that I would protect you... and I will! No matter what!


Arthur, meanwhile, was looking for Matthew. He thought that he was right behind him until he was unlocking the hotel room and talking to air.

"He was such a... I don't even have a word for someone like him! A... A frog! That's it, he's a frog! That suits him well. What do you think, Matthew?" When he received no answer, he finally turned around. "Matthew?"

Matthew wasn't behind him. Arthur looked around for him, but he wasn't there. Arthur felt something like panic worm up the from the pit of his stomach. This was the boy who was nervous to let people see him, after all. He must have been terrified.

Arthur muttered a quick swear and went back out the door. He scanned the crowd for any sign of him. "Matthew! Matthew-"

He suddenly felt someone run into him. He turned around to yell at whoever it was until he saw the violet eyes and the bright smile.

"Arthur!" Matthew said eagerly.

"Matthew?" Arthur asked. "Where were you?"

"I ran into someone and now I think I know where Alfred is!" The smile on his face faded as he registered the other's words. "Wait... I'm sorry. Were you worried about me?"

Arthur could feel his face heat up slightly and shook his head to hide it. "N-No! Of course I wasn't worried, you idiot! You're old enough to take of yourself! Why would I be worried about you?"

Matthew looked slightly disappointed for a moment before he remembered what he was about to tell Arthur. "Nothing... Arthur, I think I found my brother! I know where we're going next!"

Annnnd, there we go. Last chapter I have before school ends. Hope you enjoy it. I love hearing your guesses on what's gonna happen next; I think it's cute.

Review, please.