Ok! NOW, for the time skip xD. At least I'm updating them one after the other so it's sort of like I did it when I said I would TwT. Well, anyway…I'm going to be honest; I really have no idea where this particular story is going to go. Unlike Bletalia which I have at least an idea of what I want to happen, this one I sort of jumped into without actually thinking it through. I'm sure I'll come up with something…suggestions perhaps? =D Maybe I'll make this a "Readers Request" sorta story, and make what I've written so far a sort of opener to the various relationships that take place. The more I think about it though, the more I want Matthew and Alfred to show up TwT…I just don't know where or…wait… O3O I might have an idea!
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Ok, I thought about it a moment and realized it wouldn't really work =3=. Never mind…But yeah, if you have suggestions feel free to suggest them!
You know, I haven't just noticed this but I am just going mention it now. I know someone had asked, ok I think someone did D: , something about Ivan's age in this story. I know I didn't specify exactly how old he (and Dimitri sense they're more or less twins) is. I would have to say the two of them were about fourteen or fifteen before the time jump. So with the time jump (points to title) which is five years, they would be around nineteen or twenty now. Also, I'm fairly certain I mentioned this in a previous chapter, but I'm not following a specific time line. Also, I'm just going to toss this in there, they are representatives of their respective country/province/whatever, and as such are freakishly old :3. So if you go by that, that would explain why Ivan is such a…deviant…little bugger at such a tender age. =3= Yeah, it's all screwy, the further into this story I go the more I start to realize I probably should have thought this through a little better xD.
Chapter Ten: 5 Years Later
The sun was out and shining brightly, but nobody noticed due to the constant overcast that seemed to settle in as winter was starting to settle in once more. However, there was something else stirring deep within Russia. Five years had passed sense the signing of the treaty with Siberia and its inhabitants. It was a unanimous decision after Dimitri had been told that Ivan was the brother he was going to meet all those months ago, and life seemed to go relatively unchanged. At least until he was able to return to his home only to discover what had happened.
Which brings us to this very moment, Dimitri was storming down one of the many long and well decorated halls that twisted and turned through out his brothers' home. He knew exactly where to look considering he had five years to catch up only to learn that his brother was a drunk and if not found tormenting his subordinates he was usually in his office drinking. It was upon reaching Ivan's door that he stopped and used his fist to pound several times.
"Ivan! I know you're in there, we need to talk!" he shouted, though he was usually the last person to lose his temper over anything, the matter that had set him off was well deserving of his show of emotions.
There was a long pause before a voice answered, bidding the other entry. Taking a deep breath and with a confidant nod, Dimitri pushed the door open and walked in. The first thing he noticed was his brother standing next to a very large window that over looked the small courtyard in front of h is home. He had his usual smile on his face and when he turned that smile only seemed to grow.
"Brother! You have come to visit me again, da?"
Dimitri paused, for a moment all words he had prepared before hand froze in his lungs. However, a frown formed on his face as he shook his head. "It's a business matter…" he replied.
"Oh, I see…then…what is it that you wanted to talk about?" Ivan sounded just a tad disappointed to hear that, but he would listen to whatever Dimitri had to say none the less.
With his brothers permission to continue, Dimitri studied him a moment before walking further into the room and glancing around. "Ivan, I want to discuss a new treaty." He then glanced off to the side, "No, that's not the right word…I mean, my people are increasingly growing discouraged by your government."
"What are you trying to say….Dimitri?" Ivan asked, his smile still present but Dimitri could tell the look in his brothers eyes were starting to grow dark and cold.
"I'm saying, the taxes you have placed are depleting our natural resources, and…our…our tigers…you know the ones…they're disappearing." Dimitri explained, "While we did agree to unite with you, we were not under the impression we would be…well…oppressed this much.."
Ivan remained silent as he took to pacing around his office, he had a thoughtful look on his face as if he were actually contemplating his brothers words. He then paused before turning and casually walking up to his brother and putting an arm around his shoulder. "You have thought about this for a long time, da?"
"Da…"
"But, it is my understanding that you have small guerilla groups who oppose my government…"
"I am…aware of them…" Dimitri didn't like where this was going already.
"Hmmm…you think that this is my fault?" Ivan then asked. Dimitri remained silent, of course he didn't think this was Ivan's fault, he was only doing what his boss' told him, which was what Dimitri was doing as well. But, he also knew that Ivan had a certain influence over them and was hoping as a brother he would at least try to do something to help him.
"You know I don't think that…" he then said quietly.
Ivan smiled and moved so that he was facing the other, "I understand, I will see what I can do…you don't have to worry. It was not our intention to cause you grief." He then gave Dimitri a tight hug, "Now! First I shall write to my boss and then vodka!"
Dimitri gave a hesitant smile, while he was not as big a drinker as his brother; he at least was able to get through to him so having a drink with him didn't sound like such a bad idea. Besides, he really did like vodka, it was better than rum at least. He then took a seat on one of the leather couches in the office and waited for his brother to make the ph one call in the other room. It was a government issue so he didn't want to impose. Instead, he took this opportunity to study his brothers' office in a little more detail. It had been at least six months sense the last time he'd been here, he wanted to see if there was anything new.
As his crimson gaze moved from one familiar object to another, they soon found there way to something he hadn't seen before. Blinking, he got to his feet and walked over to Ivan's desk. Reaching out, he picked up a small, intricately designed, box and looked it over. While it appeared very well made, there really wasn't anything overly unique about it. Perhaps it wasn't the box that mattered but what was inside! Curious, he slowly pulled the top off and glanced inside. What he found was a broach made from a particularly large emerald. There was gold leaflets surrounding the edges as well as small gold wire vines that worked their way up and around the smoothly cut gemstone.
Dimitri just stared at it, it was very beautiful. Blinking just once before carefully removing it from the box to take a better look, he couldn't help but feel as if he'd seen it before. He shook this thought away, taking into consideration one would remember seeing something like this in their lifetime. He then flipped it over to look at the backing when his eyes grew wide. Engraved in equally as beautiful calligraphy were the letters "A.K.". What he didn't understand was how Ivan had come to possess this! That thought about having seen it before, confirmed. This belonged to Arthur Kirkland, the very man who had kept him as nothing more then a pet and tormented him to no end! Why would Ivan have something of his?!
That was when there was a soft clicking sound coming from the next room, Ivan had finished his message already?! A small wave of panic rushed through Dimitri as he quickly put the broach back into the box, returned the top, and set it back where he found it. He then quickly moved back over to the couch and sat down just moments before Ivan walked back into the room. He was smiling more then he had been when he'd left…
"They will be getting the message by tomorrow, now…lets drink!"
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"Looks like it's time…" a gruff voice said in a heavy French accent, "The boss says he can go…"
"Tch, doubt he'll last long…" a second voice commented while the clanking of keys against each other echoed down the dark hall lined with numerous cell doors, "Though I did hear that the two used to know each other…"
"Who cares…" the gruff voice retorted, "Just get the door open, we need this cell cleaned out before noon."
With that said, the two pulled open the small wooden door and stepped inside, lanterns raised just enough to cast a decent amount of light into the small room. It didn't take long for the light to fall over a pale and thin figure near the back. Arms risen above his head and chained to the wall, he looked malnourished and dirty, not even responding to the light when it struck him. The two men walked in and stared down at him, they then glanced at each other.
"What do you think?" one asked, while the other was unlocking the chains, "Do you think we could…"
"No…the bastards done his time, besides, there's no point in screwing anything that's not going to be at least a little responsive." The gruff voiced male said, one could almost feel the smirk in his words. He then lifted the frail looking male from the floor and slung him over his shoulder. The rags he wore made a rough sound as he was moved, indicating that they had not been washed in a very long time. This was also evident when the one holding him made a face but didn't say anything as he exited the cell followed closely by the other who closed up the cell once they were out.
They made their way up to the first floor of the large prison. This floor was slightly less dingy and was better lit. They took the other to an office near the main entrance where they dropped him onto the floor in a heap. The smaller male just gasped and wheezed for breath before groaning.
"Ah! My little angel, how are we feeling today?"
The very sound of that voice made the smaller male flinch; he didn't speak but just seemed to bury his face further into his arms as he laid there on the floor.
"I have good news for you, you will be released today."
"F-Fr-an-cis…" the smaller male stammered in a hushed yet gruff voice.
"Hmm? What is it Arthur?" the Frenchman asked, though it was clear that he was smiling most deviantly.
"W-wat..er…"
"Hmm? Oh, well, sense you are no longer our concern, you will have to find that on your own." Francis smiled a bit more and waved to the two men, "You may see him out now gentleman." He then cast one last look at the battered male, "I do hope you come to visit me again some time, we had so much fun oui?"
"Hnnng…" Arthur just groaned as he was lifted from the floor and practically dragged from the office.
"And don't forget! In proper society, it is best one bathes!"
With that, the office doors slammed shut and Arthur was dragged from the prison and tossed out onto the streets. The guards had made extra sure he landed in a puddle, however, that puddle was also in the street. It was sheer luck that he was able to muster up enough strength to jump out of the way of a speeding carriage. However, he over exerted himself and only ended up stumbling into an alley where he collapsed and gasped for breath.
Then, and only then, was he able to gage his surroundings, it was cold. He could feel it seeping down into his very bones making his body tremble. How long had it been? It was so bright out, his eyes stung with tears; he couldn't even remember where he was. For five years it was only those walls, darkness, and him….Unable to even remember how he got there or why he was brought there…hell, he couldn't even remember why he was in France to begin with!
Eyes growing heavy, he wanted to sleep so badly, he knew he shouldn't sleep here but…his body wouldn't move, it blatantly refused to move. Sleep, yes…he needed to sleep, he didn't want to die either, but sleep was all his mind would allow and it was all his body would accept. Before he was able to remind himself not to fall a sleep, his world was starting to slip into darkness, he would freeze to death if he stayed there….death….sleep….was there really a difference?
Just as the last of his world was fading, a pair of soft black shoes paused in his line of fading vision. Arthur didn't move, but his mind seemed to be somewhat jolted, perhaps he could escape sleep just a few moments longer. These shoes, why did they stop? Was he in the way? Yes, that must have been it, they would just step over or around him and continue on their way.
Chapped lips moved slowly but no words came out, what was he saying? Not even he was so sure about that, but the shoe's owners seemed quite startled by this.
"Aniki! Aniki! Come look at this!" a sudden almost high pitched voice cried out, the shoes jumped up and down making the Brit's head spin, "I don't think he's dead yet! Aniki!"
Then there was a sudden jolt of movement, Arthur groaned as the one before him suddenly grabbed him by the arm and pulled him up. Luckily he managed to catch Arthur when his legs refused to hold him up. "Awww…I think he's all broken, can we keep him anyway Aniki!?"
What was going on? Arthur could feel his body being held up but he just felt like dead weight. He could vaguely remember a pair of soft fingers grabbing his chin and lifting his face up, was he being inspected? The last thing he saw and heard was a pair of deep honey colored eyes, narrowed in an unreadable expression, and the words…
"Yes, aru…"
I have to admit…out of all the chapters I've done in this story…this one I can actually say I'm very pleased with. I also tried to make reference to certain events, while they may not be historically accurate in terms of time period; I thought it helped build the foundation between Ivan and Dimitri's relationship. In terms of their characters, Ivan is obviously using Dimitri for his own benefit, while Dimitri, who is not really the fighting type, more or less allows him. While I am not making this out to be an actual representation of any sort of actual country relations, I just think in terms of their characters that's how it would work between them. But that's just me, I love the whole, "Brother torments brother but tormented brother still loves the tormenting brother for unspecified reasons."
It has angst written all over it…I like angst… :D Though I'm sure that's been made fairly obvious via this story. But anyway…yup.
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Ok seriously, who here actually thought I killed off Yao? :D Be honest!