Totally just realized a mistake I made in the last chapter- I said that Peter was twelve, but in this story he's supposed to be ten so... yeah. Just clearing it up for anyone who might have seen it.

Other than that, please enjoy the chapter!

Arthur was not quite sure how it had gotten to this. "This" being the crazy axeman whom five minutes prior had been threatening Peter's life was now engaging in cheerful conversation with the fifth grader while the two drank soda, and his glasses-wearing companion who was calmly sipping tea as he chatted politely with Angelique and Arthur himself.

It was fair to say that the Englishman was very much confused.

Wasn't the axeman an enemy? Why else would he have captured Peter outside and demanded to see Arthur. But as soon as the retired ghost speaker had revealed himself the axeman had transformed from a maniac to the friendliest guy on Earth, turning his grip on Peter into a one-armed hug. And then the man with glasses had offered an explanation so long as they were allowed inside and given a snack, and this had turned into that and now they just seemed like old friends getting together again after a long time.

And Arthur still didn't know what they wanted with him.

Right now Roderich, as he'd learned was the name of the glasses-wearing man, was telling them a story of his musical career, and while Angelique seemed interested Arthur found he was quickly losing his patience. Even Peter had completely forgotten that Matthias had just been holding him hostage and was eagerly telling the Dane of his micronation club at school.

"Of course I do play a wide arrange of instruments," Roderich said in response to Angelique's unheard question, "however the first one I was ever to learn, and my own personal favorite, is the piano. I had my first lesson when I was three and I must say I simply fell in love with it. Two years later and I'd taken up the violin, which was-"

Arthur's right eye twitched slightly. Hadn't they been going off to see the North American Brothers? What was Angelique doing entertaining their "guest" like this? "As interesting as your musical life is," the Brit interrupted hastily, "you two did request seeing me. Now that I am here why don't you explain why? And do hurry, my brother and I are in somewhat of a rush here."

"A rush, you say?" Roderich arched an eyebrow, looking slightly peeved at having been cut off. "And where would a schoolteacher and his fifth grader brother be going off to in such a rush on a Wednesday evening?"

Arthur scowled and opened his mouth to ever so kindly inform the musician that it was none of his business, but Peter beat him to it.

"We were going to see the North American Brothers!" his brother said excitedly. "Arthur's been worrying about them for ages and now that we've finally tracked them we have to go help them find the key or whatever."

Arthur resisted the urge to strangle Peter right then and there.

The change in their guests, however, was obvious. Both of them were suddenly sitting a little straighter, solemn expressions coming over their faces. Arthur found himself instinctively tensing, and could tell Angelique next to him was also on guard.

"So you know where the North American Brothers are?" Roderich asked coolly. "What a coincidence, considering how we happen to be searching for them as well."

"Is that so?" Arthur was careful to keep his tone calm. "And just what business would you have with them?"

Matthias offered a cocky grin. "Well, it's kind of the same as yours. We're looking for the key, too. Only the thing is, it's more like we're taking the key back from them."

Arthur fought to not show the surprise he felt at the man's words. Alfred and Matthew already had the key? Then it seemed as though the situation was a bit more complicated: Matthias and Roderich had captured the key first, when the North American Brothers suddenly intervened and took it from them, and now these two wanted to find the Brothers and take the key back. So Arthur was dealing with his former apprentices' enemies.

"I hope you're not expecting me to simply give you their location," Arthur said.

"Except I am." Matthias stood up, towering over the others at the table. A steely look had suddenly come over him, and he looked threatening, almost murderous as he growled, "The North American Brothers have taken my cousin and I am not about to allow some powerless old man keep me from hunting them down and tearing them apart. Now, why don't you be a good little retired ghost speaker and tell me where they are."

Cousin? So this man's cousin was the key? Arthur frowned; in a manner of seconds the situation had once again changed. Matthias and Roderich wanted to find the Brothers not just so they could obtain the key's power, but to punish them for taking family. Perhaps he could try to explain that the Brothers needed the key in order to live, and that surely after their wish had been granted they would give it back.

At the same time, however, it might be more effective for both parties if they all went to the hotel where the Brothers were. That way the Brothers could explain for themselves, Matthias could see his cousin to make sure he was all right, and Arthur could finally meet up with Alfred and Matthew. It was a winning situation for all of them that way, wasn't it?

Content with this decision, Arthur replied smoothly, "I see. I understand your situation now, Matthias, thank you for that. Of course I would be more than happy to tell you where the North American Brothers are." The Dane looked relieved and once again happy as he sunk back down in his seat. "Under one condition- you will allow Peter and I to accompany you to meet them."

"It's a deal," Matthias confirmed without even a glance at Roderich. With a satisfied grin, the Dane quickly excused himself to make a few calls. Roderich, meanwhile, had resumed to drinking his tea.

Arthur smiled triumphantly. Everyone would get what they wanted, and apparently since the Brothers had the key they would be able to have their wish granted. Finally their curse would be coming to an end.

ˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆ

"This," Gilbert began awkwardly, "is not what it looks like."

In a manner to prove it he quickly raised his arms into the air and gestured for Ludwig to do the same. His brother sighed but reluctantly joined him in the making of the universal sign for surrender. Generally Gilbert would be too proud to surrender to anyone, but he'd heard of the duo standing in front of him—well, mainly Lars since it was the Dutchman who was the stronger of the two. It wouldn't be good to get on his bad side.

"I am not, in fact, robbing your house," the albino continued, taking advantage of the pair's silence. "There is actually a perfectly reasonable explanation for this."

Even as he spoke his mind was whirring to create a valid excuse in order for him and West to escape. Maybe the duo didn't know he and his brother were ghost speakers—maybe they could get away with just a 'we threw something through an open window by accident and climbed in to get it" or so.

Gilbert's eyes narrowed slightly, and one of his raised hands began moving ever so slowly towards his temple. He just needed to figure it out… then he could make up a good reason.

Unfortunately, Lars' eyes flicked to the man's hand, and then into his red eyes. "Don't move," the Dutchman said calmly, "unless you want to get burned to a crisp." Gilbert immediately froze, and Lars allowed a small smirk before continuing, "You're members of the new ghost speaker family who just moved in, aren't you?"

Well, looks like he was known.

"You must have come here for the key. Although I would have expected you to be smarter considering how the house was dark… That alone should have told you no one was home." Lars paused, looking as though a thought had just occurred to him. "But no one could be stupid enough to barge in and expect to fight the Nordic family with only one partner. That means you two are either very strong, very stupid, or simply broke in to find some information."

"I actually like to think we're all three," Gilbert replied proudly, oblivious to West's groan. "Gilbert and Ludwig Beilschmidt at your service. I'm the leader of the family. And you two are Lars and Isabel Morgens, aren't you? Pretty strong pair, I've heard. It'd be trouble if we got into a fight with you two."

Lars narrowed his eyes suspiciously but only answered with a confident, "Damn straight. Now why don't you give me a few good reasons on why I shouldn't set you on fire and let you burn to death right here and now?"

"Because the house would burn down right with me if I did," Gilbert grinned. "Not to mention how incredibly mean that would be. In fact, the mere suggestion of it is too rude to let the awesome me allow it to slide… So how about I give you a quick punishment and then we'll be on our way?"

Lars tensed immediately, but Gilbert knew even that was too slow. Ludwig should have already been lunging as he spoke, ready to use his awesome-but-not-quite-as-awesome-as-the-awesome-Gil's powers to knock out both Lars and Bella so they could run.

Two seconds later Gilbert was still waiting.

He frowned and shot a quick glare at his brother, mouth already open to give a demanding snap, when he noticed Ludwig's distracted gaze in the distance behind the opposing ghost speakers. Following his stare, Gilbert quickly noticed what had caught the blonde's attention and mentally groaned.

"Okay, hold up," Gilbert announced. He ignored the slight humiliation crawling up his neck—making that whole badass speech just to take it back five seconds later? Not awesome at all!—and explained, "We shouldn't fight when there are kids around."

Lars and Bella wore identical expressions of confusion, which were quickly turned to surprise and realization when a soft voice rang out.

"Gilbert, Ludwig. We just received a call from Matthias," Lilli panted as she hurried up to the house, quickly followed by Berwald and Tino.

A look of utter shock crossed Lars' face at her words. "Matthias?" he repeated in bewilderment.

"They've found Ari."

ˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆ

"Why does he hate you so much?"

Erik ignored the question, instead choosing to focus on the busy road before him, blue eyes searching for a taxi to hail. Where he and Vash had gone to search for the North American Brothers was too far away a walk from where their hotel actually was, so they'd agreed to just find a taxi so as to get there as soon as possible. Unfortunately, so far every taxi that had passed by was full, and it had already been five minutes…

"Your brother, I mean," Vash clarified as though that were the reason Erik hadn't answered in the first place. "I've heard the two of you don't have the best of relationships, even despite what you do to try to protect him. His level of hatred towards you is a little frightening, especially considering he's only twelve. What happened between the two of you to get him like that?"

Erik's face remained carefully blank and his tone deliberately monotonous as he replied, "That question is a little personal, don't you think?"

"If we're to be allies we should at least know a bit about each other."

A dry laugh sounded from Erik's throat. "You seem to already know plenty about me, Vash. If anything it should be you doing the explanations." He waved an arm as a bright yellow cab appeared, but it drove by without even a glance towards him. "For example, how is it that you seem to get all your information? You certainly have no lack of knowledge when it comes to the Ghost World."

Vash shrugged unashamedly. "That is true. Gilbert, however annoying, is certainly good at picking up news. And he keeps us, his family, well informed. We know almost everything that goes on between ghost speakers and the Ghost World."

"If that were true you would have known where the North American Brothers were."

"Did you not hear me say 'almost'?"

Erik's lips thinned but all he did was wave his arm again. This time, to his relief, the taxi pulled over, waiting as the two boys climbed in. Erik gave the driver the address of the hotel, and also a bribe to get him to drive fast. To Erik's pleasure, the ride was both short and very silent.

ˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆ

"You mean to say you lost the key?" Ivan shook his head despite the fact the Asian man couldn't see him over the phone. "That will not do, not at all. I never took you to be so careless, Yao-Yao."

There was a sound that seemed like Yao grinding his teeth before he replied, "I wasn't expecting you to implant a bomb on your own subordinate, aru. If anything you should be grateful that another team rescued the key before it got destroyed."

"But that wouldn't have even happened had you just given the key to me before anything else. Instead you tried to deceit me. Don't think I'll let this off lightly. In fact, if it weren't for the fact that I need you and your team to perform a task for me I would have you killed right now."

"Another task, aru?" Yao sounded wary.

Ivan smiled into the phone. "But of course. You lost the key, therefore it is your responsibility to find it. I will have a few of my own subordinates join you, as well, to make sure you don't try to double cross me again. If you fail to find the key before Friday than... well, I suppose I'd have to kill your family off one by one, won't I? And trust me... it won't be as painless as Feliks' death."

He chuckled in amusement at the silence on the other end. "Good luck, Yao-Yao. I do hope you succeed."

And with that he hung up.

Let's make a deal: if I don't post another chapter before this Tuesday I will... do anything the first three reviewers for this chapter tell me to do! And I mean anything... so long as it's within the realm of possibility.

Again, if anyone is confused on anything in this story feel free to ask. I'd love to clear up anything that's confusing people.

Thanks for reading and don't forget the deal!