A.N. What's up guys? You people would not believe what happened to me this week. I got sick on Sunday and Monday, an ear infection on Tuesday and Wednesday, and on Thursday after going to see my friend's musical, I came down with PINK EYE! HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN TO ONE PERSON IN THE SPAN OF A WEEK?!
Anyway, I really hope you guys like this chapter because Vash and Lovi finally meet Mattie and Yao! I'm gonna try and pick up the pace with this chapter. And now, ONWARDS!
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia.
Yao looked at the small group around him. Matthew had his guard up and looked prepared to fight or run if necessary. Vash and Lovino looked uncomfortable and stiff, their hands hovering over their weapons for defense. Yao cleared his throat, glanced again at the new duo, and asked nervously, "Do you wanna join us?"
Lovino stiffened and stepped behind Vash, who nodded slightly. The group started again in the direction Yao and Matthew were traveling. Matthew had dropped back to talk with the new additions to their group while Yao stayed in front clearing the way for the others.
The woods of the kingdoms were thick in some places and thinner in others. Yao thought about that as he walked, remembering the stories about the place his mother had told him when he was younger. There was a reason the forest was undeveloped and almost avoided, almost as if had a mind of its own. The legend was about a girl who dreaded marrying a man she hated. So she ran into the forest and was assumed dead when in truth, she was found by a hunter who took her in and protected her. Eventually the couple married and lived in the forest for the rest of their lives. From then on, their spirits protected those in need of refuge. However, most people didn't believe the legend and merely told it as a story to young children.
Yao shook his head thinking about that when Lovino's voice cut harshly through the quiet chatter behind him. "I'm sick of running."
Yao turned to see the others. Vash was nodding in agreement and Matthew looked meek, as if he had done something wrong. Stepping forward, Yao said, "We all are Lovino, so what do you propose?"
Lovino flushed red in anger before snapping, "Fight back. I wanna fight and get back what they took from us."
Yao was taken aback. How was this going to play out? "How do you expect we do that?" Yao asked out of curiosity and was surprised when Matthew spoke up.
"We aren't warriors, but we did survive. That means we have at least a chance at this."
"But we can't just charge into the kingdom capitals and demand they revoke the decrees." Vash said, biting his fingernail in thought, "We need to train, find comrades, and get the people on our side."
Yao nodded, standing up straighter than before. "Running won't do us any good. Lovino has that right, but Vash and Matthew also have good reasons. If we try and get what we want now, we'll be killed."
Lovino made a growling sound in the back of his throat. "I also have a score to settle with someone. I'm not going to give up easily."
Yao nodded, thinking of how he should unite the group. "We all have ideas, and we all want to survive, how do you suppose we do that?"
Vash glanced up from the ground and spoke clearly. "We make a path. Give people a reason to get behind us and support us. Even if it's a small step I think we should start there."
Lovino pointed at Matthew and asked, "You have something to say?"
Matthew looked up and nodded. "I think we should start with what Vash is saying. We're all different, but I think we can work together. Yao and I need training with our weapons. Would you two be willing to spar and train with us?"
Lovino smirked and Vash nodded humbly saying, "If that's what you want I'm sure we can assist."
Yao sighed, a feeling of happiness settling in his chest. He and the others had a common goal, a purpose, not to just survive anymore, but they were going to reclaim what was theirs. Yao glanced at Matthew who smiled softly.
Turning around, Yao called, "We'll stop for a break soon. For now let's keep going."
-LINEBREAK-
Vash walked next to Matthew to be better acquainted with the blond, while Lovino chose to walk next to Yao. Vash tried to calm himself but he was honestly excited. He felt as if he was accomplishing something in choosing to fight back with Lovino, Matthew, and Yao.
Matthew spoke softly to Vash about a few things, mostly planning a route to travel, until Yao slowed and dropped his things in a small clearing, and Lovino said it was break time. Vash dropped his pack next to Yao's and picked up his bow and quiver.
"I'm gonna go practice. I'll be back soon." Vash said and Lovino shouted at Vash to stop being such a pain before pulling out his dagger to practice himself.
As Vash made his way out he almost missed the fact that Matthew was following him. With a shy smile Matthew asked, "Can I join you?"
Vash nodded and found an area where he could show Matthew how to shoot properly. Vash pointed at Matthew and said, "Hold your bow so I can see something."
Matthew nodded and fumbled slightly with the bow but held it in his left hand and mimicked drawing back the string with his right. Vash quickly saw where Matthew could improve his stance, so he went around and told the other blond where to shift his body.
"Now try drawing the string back without an arrow. Just for practice." Matthew did so and breathed calmly as he released the string. Vash crossed his arms in thought and picked up his own bow and an arrow.
"Watch me okay? I'm not the best but we can learn from each other." Drawing back the arrow, Vash aimed at a specific spot on a tree and exhaled as he released. The arrow hit the tree with a 'thunk', and Vash lowered the bow. He was close to his target, but not close enough to where he wanted the arrow to hit.
"That was good!" Matthew exclaimed, looking at the tree. "But you seemed a bit stiff, almost as if you want to miss your target."
Vash nodded, looking at his bow again. It was a beautiful weapon made of dark wood with little carvings of small aquatic animals and fish carved into the handle of the wood.
But it's not mine, Vash thought as he gripped the weapon. Vash held the bow the opposite way from Matthew, drawing the string back with his left hand and holding the bow with his right. Vash motioned for Matthew to try shooting with a few arrows.
Matthew's shots, although they were only a few, hit their intended targets on the first try.
"Beginner's luck I think," Matthew said, shyly rubbing the back of his head as Vash inspected the shots.
"No, you have talent for this. You're focused enough to be able to shoot, but aware of your surroundings."
Matthew beamed at Vash's words and the two started to head back to where Yao and Lovino were. Matthew happily chatted to Vash about some things until he asked, "Do you have any siblings?"
Vash stiffened and nodded. "Just a sister. She's younger than I am by a few years but she's a sweetheart. I just hope she's okay."
Matthew nodded saying, "I have a brother–a twin actually. He has a King mark and he's the opposite of me. Brave, loud, a leader, and strong. I miss him."
Vash placed a hand on Matthew's shoulder. "But you have your own qualities. From what I can tell, you're quiet but dependable, and supporting. All of those traits, although they're different from your brother's, are an important part of you."
Matthew smiled, mumbling, "Nobody's ever said that about me. Thanks Vash."
The two blonds smiled and made their way to the spot where they left Lovino and Yao. As the two approached the place where they would meet up, Vash heard shouting and quickened his pace, hoping to see what was going on.
What Vash and Matthew found as they entered the small clearing was Lovino and Yao attacking each other and parrying the attacks with their sheathed blades. Lovino grunted as Yao jammed his sheathed dagger in Lovino's gut. The Ace in return pushed Yao's arm up giving himself an opening in which Lovino used the side of his covered blade to hit Yao in the ribs.
Vash stared as the two kept at it. The two brunettes almost came close to hitting each other in the face and head a few times but were able to dodge. Vash hadn't seen anyone fight with knives or swords before, and it entranced the blond. Lovino dodged clumsily but made up for it in his precise attacks, while Yao dodged as if he was dancing. However, his attacks weren't as strong.
A small smile found its way onto Vash's lips as the two brunettes stopped fighting to talk to Matthew about charting a course. Maybe this concept of fighting back could work.
-LINEBREAK-
"I'm telling you, there're people coming, four of them. They're gonna need our help." A white haired male said, his voice ringing clearly throughout the chamber where there were only a few people. An older man sitting on a cushioned seat shook his head. "We've been through this many times. Although you may have the power of seeing the past, you do not possess foresight. That is a trait that only the red Jokers possess."
The white haired male bit back curses as he was dismissed. Pushing up the sleeves of his shirt, he walked from the chamber and into the common area where Joker children were playing happily. Wind passed through the street and the kids laughed happily, causing a smile to break across the male's face.
Turning his red eyes upward at the sky, Gilbert shivered as another vision of the future flicked through his mind. It was the same four people as in the vision before. Two blond, two brunette, all Jacks and Aces in need of support. The vision ended with the small group standing in front of the entrance to the Joker kingdom, and Gilbert shivered. The albino started walking towards his home where he could think properly.
As he passed some Joker women, Gilbert's hand went to the left side of his neck where his black Joker mark was located. The albino continued down the familiar road until he reached his home. Inside, Gilbert set to preparing for the four guests whom he assumed would be coming.
Although Gilbert could see the past more accurately, he could see the future too. The only problem was, nobody believed him.
"They're just unawesome. I'm too awesome for their minds to handle." Gilbert said as he set aside a couple of rooms in his house for the guests. Gilbert allowed himself a small smile as he fixed up the rest of the home. He had no idea when the travelers would be coming, but it would be soon.
"This'll be fun," Gilbert said, a mischievous smile creeping across his face.
A.N. WOOHOO! Prussia is finally here! IMPORTANT QUESTION: Should I start making the chapters longer? The updates will stay the same but I want to get the story moving and I think longer chapters would do just that. What do yuns think? Anyway, I hope yuns enjoyed this chapter just as much as I did! Until next time! - Neko