Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia: Axis Powers, all rights of to its creators

Part 2: Chapter 4: The Wolf

Sometime after the events of the end of Chapter 2: Secret Lovers

Mathiew and Ivan went out to the bar in Sraftbridge to escape the possible small town gossip that usually spread in Cliffdover. It was Saturday night and one of the few times they got to go out. Mathiew couldn't drink yet and ordered a Virgin Mary. Ivan said he could have snuck him a drink but the boy was adamant to follow the law.

"And so Joan said, 'Professor I still don't understand.' He had explained it three times at this point, and we were just happy she was taking away class time." Mathiew told Ivan about his Calculus class.

Ivan smiled and hummed as he listened before his eyes widened.

"What?" Mathiew asked.

"Don't look." Ivan hissed.

Mathiew kept his back to whatever Ivan was looking at.

Just then a certain blond haired man walked into the bar with a shorter brunette. Lovino and Arthur often came to this Sraftbridge bar to drink after Lovino finished selling at the Farmer's Market.

"I'll go out the back." Ivan whispered, still eyeing the two as they sat down. They did not look in his direction.

"You're leaving? Who did you see?" He whispered back.

"Arthur and Lovino are here."

"Arthur said he wouldn't say anything."

"I don't trust him, and what about Lovino?" His eyes glanced at the two again before returning to the blond.

"Ivan." Mathiew frowned.

"I am going. We could meet back at my place later." Ivan made a hasty rise out of his seat and quickly finished his shot of vodka. He'd already paid for it.

"Not this time." Mathiew said, expression serious.

"What? Mattie?" Ivan looked like a kicked puppy, with a hurt expression on his face.

"Just go home Ivan." Mathiew said, sipping his Virgin Mary and avoiding his eyes.

Ivan gave him a frown and left the bar.

Mathiew sighed and looked over at Lovino and Arthur. They were two men drinking together and no one thought anything of it. Mathiew had wished the same for himself and Ivan but the older man was too frightened to take any chances.

He watched them, as the two men vented about their troubles. Lovino said something about his sister getting on his nerves about his nephew. He had mentioned that this was why he didn't have kids.

Arthur had complained about Natalya and how she still wouldn't call him; and that his books still weren't selling.

"You don't need her, man. There are plenty of chicks around here, pick up one." Lovino said.

"I'm no good at that type of thing." Arthur had had about three shots at this point.

"Pfft. Of course you are." Lovino slurred, he was on his 7th shot.

"No, no I assure you. I'm a gentleman."

"Bullshit. I can even pick up chicks." To which Lovino loudly complimented some brunette woman's butt and slapped it as she walked past him. She turned and frowned at him before walking to another section of the bar.

An hour or so later Lovino was heavily intoxicated and Arthur called Feliciano to come get him.

When Feliciano arrived Mathiew had moved to a more secluded place in the back of the bar.

"I'm sorry he gets like this." Feliciano said to Arthur after physically taking Lovino off of his hands.

"No harm done. This is how it usually goes." Arthur said.

Feliciano bid him goodbye and took Lovino to his car.

Mathiew checked the time and decided to leave. It was getting late and the busses stopped running at a certain time.

At least he was going to when giggling sounded a few feet away from him. He looked over to see a blonde haired woman giggling. She was clinging to Arthur. They were talking but Mathiew couldn't make out what Arthur was saying. His voice was low as he talked into the woman's ear.

That woman was not Natalya, Mathiew knew that. It didn't look like Arthur was lacking any "pick up" skills at the moment. As the woman caressed his face.

Soon they both got up and left the bar together. Mathiew was suddenly interested.

As he walked past the bar he noticed the bartender watching them with benign interest. "There he goes." He sighed listless.

"Is this something that happens often?" Mathiew asked the bartender.

"Yep, the man's a chick magnet, but you didn't hear that from me."

"But he just told his friend-."

"He's got a girl back home. He always comes in and cries about her; picks up another girl and takes her home; comes back; cries about his girl; picks up another girl and takes her home...You know what I'm saying?"

"I guess that makes sense. How long has this been going on?"

"The girlfriend hasn't called him in about a month now. I'd say he's picked up about 5 girls in that time." The bartender shook his head, "She's not gonna take him back and he's not gonna find anyone here."

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The Present

Elise was sitting on a couch next to Ivan who was sitting in a recliner in his home. Ivan made them coffee and hers was sitting on the coffee table. Ivan had his cup in his hand. He took a sip as Elise fiddled with her fingers. The woman's gaze was downcast before she cleared her throat. Ivan's gaze never left her.

"I-I wanted to ask if there was something between you and Mathiew?"

"Did Detective Beilschimidt put you up to this? I only allowed you to come here because I thought you were Natalia's friend. I'll have to ask you to leave if-"

"No, Mister Braginski sir! I-I'm not working under him. I'm conducting my own investigation." Elise said, looking into his eyes. She swallowed, "I know you are scared, so am I, but I need your help. Please, for Mathiew."

Ivan's frown did not waver, "You do not have to conduct an investigation. Let the police do their job."

"But they think she's guilty and I know you know something! I want to prove her innocence!"

"You came to the wrong place. Please -"

"I am in love with Natalia!" Elise slapped her hands over her mouth. Her cheeks were pastel pink with blush.

Ivan raised an eyebrow.

"I'm doing this because I love her and it hurts me to see her like that." Elise said lowering her hands, ears pink now as well.

Ivan put his coffee cup down onto the table, before letting out a sigh. "Yes, we were lovers and I think I know who killed Mathiew."

"Y-you do! Then why don't you-"

"Because Mathiew and I made a promise."

"B-but Mister Braginski, your sister is being accused of murdering Mathiew while the killer is still free. What if they hurt someone else? What if they hurts Katyusha?"

"They won't do that. If Natalia's locked away, they''ll probably skip town. And then they'll be someone else's problem." Ivan muttered, picking up the cup to sip from it again.

"If Natalia is charged with this crime, what will stop them from killing you?" Elise brought the cup up to sip from it.

Ivan blinked, "I would like to see them try." He waved her off.

Elise frowned, "What if I tell the police for you?"

"They would know. There is really no more that you can do, little one."

Elise set her cup down, "Excuse my language Mister Braginski, but you are a coward. I hope you can live with the next death that happens on your conscience." Elise stood up.

Ivan frowned, expression full of sorrow. Just then the house phone rang.

"You can let yourself out." He said getting up and going over to the phone. Ivan answered the phone.

"Ivan, I know you weren't expecting to hear from me, but Kat is dead." Natalia said on the other line.

"Little sister, do not kid. There is no way-."

"The cops came to my house and told me. I'm on my way to the morgue. T-they said she'd been killed."

The phone slipped from Ivan's fingers. The cord dangled the phone just above the ground.

"Ivan? Ivan?" Natalia's muffled voice came through the speakers. Then the line clicked dead as Natalia hung up. The phone let out a long dial tone.

"Mister Braginski?" Elise asked Ivan who stood by the phone. His expression was blank.

00000000

It was late and Arthur accompanied Natalia to the morgue to identify her sister. It was proper protocol. Ludwig lifted the sheet and Natalia sucked in a breath before Natalia hissed, "Fucking bastard." She muttered, "That's her." Ludwig nodded and covered Katayusha again.

Alfred asked Natalia what Katayusha's daily routine was. "Fuck off Alfred." Natalia hissed and turned away from him.

"Hey! I'm trying to help you. You should be grateful I want to do that considering you iced my brother!"

"I didn't touch that little weasel you dumb bastard! I don't want your fucking help!"

"Well your sister probably had it coming to her. We don't tolerate people like you in this country."

"Yeah and they don't tolerate people like your step-brother either."

Alfred clenched his jaw, "What are you saying?"

"You know what I mean. How'd it feel to learn that he was probably fucking my brother?" Natalia said, crossing her arms. Before she was staring down the barrel of a gun.

"Take that back you bitch." Alfred's eyes were hardened, mouth furrowed into a frown. His finger was on the trigger.

"Officer Jones, gun down now!" Ludwig commanded.

"You're not my commanding officer, Detective. This is personal." Alfred didn't take his eyes off of Natalia, who narrowed her eyes. "My brother would never sleep with your fucking piece of queer trash brother."

Natalia shrugged, "Only Ivan knows that for sure."

"That communist bastard is a liar! We can't believe shit he says, that's why they didn't convict you. But I know it had to be you, you were always a psycho bitch." Alfred let out a laugh, "Maybe I should do the world a favor and take you out now."

"Officer Jones! You are not to use your gun without due cause. I will tell Chief Nguyen about your behavior and she'll make you hand in your badge. Second warning, gun down!" Ludwig said to the other blond, expression still stoic, blue eyes trained on the young officer.

"And you haven't said a word! You wanna see the bitch die too?" Alfred smirked gaze now on Arthur.

Arthur raised his eyebrows and blinked as Alfred addressed him.

"Me? Well I didn't think I needed to enter your little screaming match." Arthur smirked, green eyes challenging as they held Alfred's, "I also don't think you have the guts to do it. Not a deputy with so much to lose."

"I'll do whatever it takes to avenge Mattie's death. If I have to kill his killer, I will." Alfred narrowed his eyes at Natalia, turning his attention back to her. Natalia's eyes widened as she heard the click of the gun. A moment of silence passed before he blew a breath out of his nose. Alfred lowered his gun, "But the law is the law."

Ludwig pulled Alfred off to the side to lecture him about proper protocol.

Natalia looked at Arthur, mouth agape. "What the fuck were you thinking, provoking that trigger happy bastard?"

"That idiot wouldn't be stupid enough to shoot you in front of another cop." Arthur waved her off.

"You did not see his eyes." Natalia held her fingers up and pressed her pointer finger almost close enough to meet her thumb. "He was this close to killing me." Natalia looked at Alfred who was still getting yelled at by Ludwig, "His hatred for my family runs deep. You don't understand how strong it is."

Ludwig approached Natalia after stepping away from Alfred. Arthur had stepped out of the room and gone over to the payphone in order to call a taxi for himself and Natalia.

"Miss Braginski, I apologize for Officer Jones's behavior," Ludwig sighed. "Would you be willing to give me some information about who Katayusha was with or where she was last?

"It's late Detective and I want to go home." Natalia said, hugging herself, a frown on her face.

Ludwig nodded, "I understand Miss Braginski. If you want, you could call or stop by the station tomorrow with any information you have."

Natalia nodded. "Keep a leash on your dog Detective Beilschimidt." Natalia said, before she turned and walked out the door. She walked down the hall toward the pay phone where Arthur stood having finished calling for their taxi.

Ludwig looked at Katayusha who was still on the examination table, although now covered under a blanket and back at Alfred who had his arms crossed with a pout. Ludwig sighed.

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"You can just sleep here for the night. You can help me pack my things in the morning." Arthur said to Natalia as she followed him in, her boots creaked along the hardwood floors. Natalia shrugged out of her coat and hung it on the rack by the door.

Arthur shut the door to his apartment and locked it with a click. Arthur hung his coat onto the rack by his door, "I haven't seen you shed a single tear. Are you sure you're alright?"

"Of course I am. This is no time for sadness; it is time for vengeance. I swear if I ever see the bastard who killed Kat, I'll choke them." Natalia said.

"Oh really? So you're perfectly happy with killing someone now?" Arthur asked her, a smirk on his lips. He went over towards the cabinet and pulled out a bottle of whiskey.

"If they deserve it, yes. I know Kat and I didn't get along. I didn't want her dead…"

Arthur raised an eyebrow upon popping the bottle open. "..for real. I-I just wanted her to stop judging me." Natalia bit her lip and cast her gaze downward at the floor.

Arthur set the bottle onto the counter, and got some glasses out of the cupboard. "Can't do much judging now, yeah?" He set them down before getting out some ice out of the freezer and dropping the cubes into their glasses.

"Yes, that is true." Natalia sighed as he poured whiskey into both of their glasses. "Now she can't come to our wedding, I would have rubbed it in her face." Natalia said, a miserable smile inched its way onto her face as she brought the whiskey to her lips. "Mother thought Kat would be married first." She muttered.

Arthur turned to look out the window, eyes narrowed. "Did you hear something?" He asked.

"I didn't." Natalia said.

Arthur turned and started towards the window but was halted by Natalia gripping his arm. "Hey, don't pay attention to that. Pay attention to me."

Arthur gave her a small smile, before leaning down to place a kiss on her forehead. "Come on then, we can sit on the couch, and you can vent."

000000000

With no more leads Ludwig decided to look into the files of the other 11 women who had been killed over the past year, their cases still unsolved. They had all been killed at their homes, only 2 of them lived in apartments. They all had blonde hair and blue eyes. The first four had been killed by strangulation. The next two had been killed by getting their throats slit open. Then the last 5 were killed by strangulation.

Katayusha had been dead for two days when she was found. She fit the archetype of the 11 women, she had blonde hair, blue eyes and lived in the Cliffdover area. She was found in her home, and died from strangulation.

If they were to find Katayusha's killer they'd find the killer of the other 11 women too.

A/N: I officially admit I'm bad at mysteries. I tried to stretch it out as long as I could. I'm sure it's obvious who the murderer is right?

My poor story planning skills aside, thank you for reading!

Criticism welcome.