Chapter 33: Lost with the French

France and François had gone out to find firewood but without even realizing it, they had gotten lost in the thick forest. It was only when France ran into a tree did they actually realize that they had strayed far from the beach that they had set up camp. In attempt to retrace their steps they just became more and more lost and eventually decided to take a rest and try again later.

Though the forest was pitch black, the sky shined with millions of stars beaded across the black canvas, giving enough light so that the two could clearly see each other's faces. They had decided that they would rest in a grove that was slightly less overgrown than the rest of the forest. François's cloak had been torn up and her long skirt was tattered while France's cape was ripped in half and his pants were so dirty that they had become a different color all together, though somehow their hair remained perfect.

"Okay, maybe we can get back using the stars." François pointed up to what she thought was the North Star and thought to herself. "Um…If that's the North Star then…"

She put her finger down realizing she had no idea what she was talking about. She looked at France hoping that he knew something but he just gave her the same face of confusion that was on her face. She sighed with frustration and buried half of her face in her arms, discouraged. France looked over at her then fell down onto his back to look at the stars, obviously less concerned than François.

"It's a gorgeous night, non?" France tried to break the tension that was building around François who was deciding on whether or not to try and fight her exhaustion and start walking again, but her feet thumped in a revolt when she moved them. She fell down on her back next to France and allowed her hair to fall out of its bun and spread out on the grass.

"I guess." She mumbled; her voice spiced with disdain.

France took notice to her attitude but he didn't give up. "Have you ever considered what life is like outside of our earth?"

"It's cold and dark." She was in no mood to talk but France persisted.

"But that can't be all, there must be something more beautiful and majestic than anybody could imagine. Think of all the others that live in this universe with us that are just waiting to be discovered."

"You talk like Alice, it's quite annoying." François sat up and took off her cloak and used it as a pillow.

"Are you uncomfortable with me talking?" France asked slyly.

"No, it's just that my clothing has become worn out from the salt water and they itch."

François unbuttoned her top but France only took notice right before she undid the last button; then he freaked out like a big brother would have.

"What are you doing?!"

François struggled with the last button while she answered. "This blouse is scratchy so I'm going to loosen it. Is there a problem?"

"Yes there's a problem! A proper woman shouldn't go revealing herself to men at a whim. Don't you know that?" He was red in the face with embarrassment.

"Now you really sound like Alice." François rolled her eyes. "She'd be able to read the stars if she were here." She fell back down on her back, her midriff being revealed like Amelia's normally was; it made France extremely uncomfortable but he bit his tongue because he didn't want to get wrapped up into her frustrations any more than he had too.

France and François continued on like this for five minutes, the silence only being disturbed by the crickets and frogs that were coming from a nearby water source. Feeling an itch on her back François went on to take the entire blouse off, though France was still feeling extremely disturbed. He had seen naked women in the past but for some reason seeing François half revealed made him feel twisted inside. He turned his head the other direction to avoid looking at her but sneaked a peak when he heard her turn on her stomach, exposing her back. When he looked he caught a glimpse of a tattoo on her back, and immediately became fixated on the ink image. François could feel France's eyes looking down at her and immediately realized why; she sat up and moved her back out of sight from France and nervously looked at him, hoping he hadn't seen anything.

"What's that?" France pointed to her back.

"N-nothing at all!" She nervously stuttered as she covered the tattoo with her hand.

"Let me see, I won't judge." France motioned towards her and tried to look at her back but she pulled away, her cloak falling off her shoulders where it was resting which revealed almost everything from her skirt up.

France grabbed her arm and twisted her around but she kicked him in the knee, wondering where all this sudden energy was coming from. France didn't let go but he winced in pain. She twisted and pushed France away but he was able to grab her other arm then fully restrained her so that he could look at the tattoo on her back.

"You're a pervert, you know that." She muttered.

"You're the one that took off your top; I was trying to stop you!" France argued back.

He took a look at the tattoo and saw that it was a black rose with red droplets hanging off of it; though the detail put into it made the rose look real. He let François go and she stumbled forward, then she looked back at him with a face as red as a tomato.

"Eh…uh…." She was at a loss of words.

France looked at her with confusion, wondering why she was so shaken up with him seeing her tattoo. She went to grab her cloak again in attempt to cover herself up but it had gotten caught on a branch and completely ripped, rendering it almost useless to cover herself. She went to grab her blouse but France pulled it away before she could grab it.

"Hey, give that back!"

"Not until you tell me where you got such a tattoo." France just wanted to mess with her because he wanted to keep her from going back to being silent and awkward.

"That is none of your concern, now give me back my blouse you debauch pervert!"

"Hmmm, why is it such a secret?"

François was becoming even more enraged with her double. "That is none of your concern, now give it!"

"You're going to have to tell me if you want this back." He joked.

François then suddenly lunged at him, knocking them both down and totally shocking France out of proportion. She tried to grab the blouse but instead France put it under his body and pushed François off.

"You must not want it very badly." France wondered why she wanted to cover it up so badly.

She gave a huff then got back up and turned her back towards France, revealing the tattoo again. "If I tell you who gave me this tattoo, will you give me back my blouse?"

France smiled. "But of course!"

She sighed then turned to look him straight in the eye. "Alice gave it to me, alright?"

"May I ask why?"

"I told you what you wanted to know, now give me back my blouse!"

"Knowing a name means nothing unless there is a meaning behind it."

François looked down at the ground with a pout. "I got it when Alice and I were down in the trenches alone. She has one just like it, except she has piercings to go with it; Happy now?"

"I suppose so." France handed her the blouse then whispered into her ear. "Though I am interested in seeing Alice's for myself."

Françoise jumped back and looked at him with a "what the hell" look. "What the hell's that supposed to mean you pervert?!"

France gave a face of wonder. "I bet hers' is even sexier." Though he was half joking, the thought made him smirk.

François smacked him in the face and balled up her fist. "You stay away from Alice or so help me I will tie weights to your legs and throw you into the ocean!"

"Why are you being so violent to moi?"

"I don't like hearing you talk about Alice like that." She put the blouse back on though it was incredibly uncomfortable.

"And why is that?" France sat down and looked at her with interest.

François stopped moving, realizing that she was about to tell the man in front of her something that she had never told a living soul.

"You may not tell anyone, got it?!" She demanded him to promise.

"Why would I have such reason too?" He acted coolly.

She sighed then sat down in front of him. "Though I may act as though I hate Alice, in all honesty…"

"Yes?"

"I consider her my closest friend, though I'm not sure how she considers me to be." François felt like a weight was just lifted off of her though she felt embarrassed about telling France.

France let her words soak in, and he began thinking of his relationship with his England. Though they acted as though they hated each other, they were actually quite close allies. We're they friends…he thought so.

"Do you think the others are worried about us?" François was quickly trying to change the topic.

France looked up from his thoughts and stared at François intently. "I suppose so, but how are we going to get back?"

"FRRRRAAAAANNNNNNCCCCOOOOOIIIISSSSSS" Feliciana's voice rang out through the entire forest, completely catching the two off guard.

"Feliciana!" François shouted off into the distance.

"Well that wasn't so hard." France mumbled as they ran towards the sound of Feliciana's voice.

After minutes of running, François collided with Feliciana who was hot and sweaty from searching for over an hour. The two fell to the ground so when France, Germany, and Italy caught up, it was quite a scene. They helped the girls up and Feliciana gave François a hug. "We were so worried!"

"It's good to see you!" François smiled at Feliciana but realized something off. "Where's Alice?"

Feliciana, Germany, and Italy all exchanged distraught looks,

"François…."

"What is it?" François's nervousness was growing.

Feliciana took a preparation breath and slowly told the two France's.

"Alice and England fell back into the other world."

Totally shocked, François fell to the ground and looked down with her eyes widened with tears coming through. France put his hand on her back to try and comfort her though he felt like he had been shot in the chest when he heard the two had gone back to hell without anyone else by their side.

"We need to hurry so that we can save the two." Feliciana pulled François back up and François gave her a face filled with determination.

"How did something like this happen?"

"The rift opened under their feet and they fell through. We need to get everyone together so that we can chase after them!"

"B..but." Francois staggered, but then she stood tall and looked them straight in the eye.

She realized what they had to do now and that freaking out wouldn't solve anything.

"Let's get our black sheep back."

- 3 All of you guys :3. Don't ever forget that. :) *hugs*