Chapter 4 – July 4th Past Part 2

England opened his eyes to see that they were now inside a building. Light filtered through tall windows and illuminated the many tables and chairs within the hall. He looked to see most of the room's occupants clustered around a piece of paper.

Arthur paled as he recognized several of the men around the paper. There was John Adams happily talking to another one of the men, Thomas Jefferson sat looking smug as he watched the other men reading his masterpiece, and Benjamin Franklin also looked at the proceedings but he had a small smile and a twinkle in his eye that was similar to a certain professor's in one of Arthur's most famous book series.

England knew exactly when he was, but he felt the need to ask. "When are we, Japan?"

Kiku raised an eyebrow, but showed no other emotions. "We are in Independence Hall in 1776, Igirisu-san."

Arthur was fuming. He's going to make me see what happened that day! The nerve! Why I ought to… Arthur was so focused on his inner thoughts that he didn't notice Benjamin Franklin get up from his seat and pass him in order to talk to someone behind him.

Arthur didn't notice it at all until he heard a gentle voice ask, "How do you feel about all of this, Alfred?"

England whirled around. Franklin had taken a seat next to a young man leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Well, although it looked like a young man, Alfred had retained enough of his childish looks to make it a bit obvious that he was still only sixteen. He had a fairly neutral, yet at the same time serious, expression on his face.

Alfred wriggled a bit uncomfortably. "It's what the people want." He finally said.

"Oh, really? That doesn't answer my question." A soft smile came to Franklin's face.

Alfred sighed. "Can't get anything past you, huh, Mr. Franklin." He said with a wry grin.

"Occasionally, things do get past me, Alfred. So, answer my question."

"Well," Alfred lifted a hand to scratch the back of his neck. "I'm kinda sad cause I know this is gonna hurt him."

Arthur felt his jaw drop a bit. The bloody git knew he was going to hurt me! He could feel his anger rising a bit, but then he realized what Alfred had said. He… was sad that I would be hurt? Why? If he's going to leave me, then why did he care about hurting me?

"But," Alfred's voice hardened as determination crept into his eyes. "I'm tired of waiting."

Franklin looked at Alfred with sympathy in his eyes. "And?" He prodded gently.

"And…" Sadness crossed Alfred's features even as the determination remained. "I've realized that Arthur, no, England doesn't feel the same way for me as I feel for him. He can only think of me as his little brother." The last two words came out filled with bitterness.

England's mind was racing. What did he mean I don't feel for him the way he feels me? He acts like… like… he feels something for me as more than a brother. No! That's impossible! Anyway, that's no reason to rebel!

Alfred sighed. "In any case, as long as I'm his brother I can't do anything. Besides," a touch of anger filled his eyes, "he shouldn't be allowed to boss me around without even listening to my side of things. He doesn't even tell me about these orders to my face, he just sends a message.

"So I want my freedom, my independence. And that," he looked back at Franklin, "is how I truly feel. It has nothing to do with the people."

Franklin chuckled and stood up. "At least, you know better than to pin your feelings on your people. Good for you, Alfred." He reached up and ruffled Alfred's hair a bit. "It's nice to know that you can admit that you want independence, that it is what you truly want and that the people have no influence on your true feelings." Franklin turned and walked back to where the others were clustered around the document that would become known as the Declaration of Independence.

Arthur didn't watch Franklin's return though. Instead, he watched Alfred. While Franklin had been ruffling his hair, he had seemed a bit embarrassed, yet as Franklin walked away, Arthur noticed the genuine smile that came across Alfred's face. It was the same smile that he had always had whenever he had seen Arthur as a child. It made Arthur jealous that there that he would show them his genuine smile. In modern times, Alfred would sometimes go around with a fake Hollywood smile around other nations, and Arthur noticed the fakeness and would wish to see his real smile. What? Why would I care if he smiles or not? The damn wanker left me, and he's about to do it right in front of me!

"Franklin-san was one of the Founding Fathers."

England jumped a bit at the sound of Japan's voice. He glanced over at the Asian nation and noticed that Kiku was studying Alfred.

"He certainly seems to have had an influence on him in regards to showing his feelings." Kiku continued.

"Yes, he certainly did." England couldn't help but agree. Alfred always made it plain how both he and his people felt, although sometimes it seemed that America and his citizens were at odds with each other.

"It's just another way for him not to keep quiet about things." He tried to put the normal amount of scorn in his voice as he said this, but he had a hard time doing this as he watched Alfred watching his citizens nitpicking the document that would be the true beginning of his country.

Arthur frowned as he returned to his earlier musings though. "Japan?"

"Hai."

"You are close with America, right?"

"Hai."

"Do you know what he meant in regards to his feelings about me?" Arthur asked and he turned towards his companion.

Kiku didn't answer his question. Instead he said, "Let us go, Igirisu-san. The next thing I must show you is almost one hundred years after this."

England and Japan left the year of 1776 behind, heading towards one of the bloodiest times of American history.

This time, Arthur recognized that the room he was in was America's room at his house. However, there were things scattered all across the room; piles of bandages, some still with blood that couldn't be washed out on them, littered the floor and there were several bowls of water around the room. This was obviously the room of someone who was gravely injured.

Arthur looked around for the room's owner, and he couldn't help but gasp at the sight.

America looked like hell. Though he was currently sleeping and the blankets of his bed covered up most of his body, it was obvious that he was going through hard times.

There were dark circles under Alfred's eyes, almost making it look like someone had punched him in each eye. His normally healthy skin was as pale as a corpse. He wasn't wearing a shirt, so England could see the bandages wrapped around America's torso, and on the part that wasn't covered by the blanket, it seemed as if whatever wounds were hidden were still bleeding somewhat.

Alfred whimpered slightly in his sleep, perhaps from the pain of his injuries or perhaps from a nightmare. Arthur didn't know which was the culprit, but he tried racking his brain in order to think of a time when Alfred could have had such chaos on his land to merit this state.

"What year is this, Japan?" He quietly asked, still trying to figure out when they were.

Kiku's reply was also soft. "It is 1863. The day after the Battle of Gettysburg and the day that the Confederate Army at Vicksburg surrendered, ending a siege."

England felt horror creep over him as he realized when they were. This was the middle of America's Civil War. Since it was a war with himself, Alfred had received the pain and wounds of both sides.

Also, it was well known that the Battle of Gettysburg was one of the bloodiest battles of the entire Civil War, with only the Battle of Antietam being close to its equal. With it only being a day since the battle's end, it could only be expected that America was still recovering.

Arthur couldn't help, but feel a bit guilty. Although his nation had never acknowledged the existence of the Confederacy, they had sent several ships to aid the Confederacy. Inadvertently, he had helped put America in this state.

There was a small clicking noise as the door opened. England turned around to see someone who looked almost exactly like Alfred walk into the room. It took England a moment to remember the nation's name. Oh, right! That's Canada, America's twin brother! What's he doing here in the middle of a civil war?

Matthew walked over to Alfred. "Al?" He asked, gently shaking his twin.

America stirred and his eyes fluttered open. He squinted a bit, since his glasses were placed on the bedside table. His face brightened as he realized who his visitor was.

"Ah, Mattie!" He gave a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thanks for looking after me and everything, bro. What's up?"

"How do you feel?" Canada helped America sit up and began to start changing his bandages.

Has he been helping him this whole time? Arthur couldn't help but wonder at the closeness of the two brothers, and he felt a bit irked. Sure, Canada's closer and a blood relative, but why didn't he think of asking me for help? Although, he paused in his thoughts, at that point in time, I probably wouldn't have come if he asked. Still…

"Better than yesterday." Alfred attempted to laugh, but he ended up wincing as he agitated his wounds. "But I guess I won't be throwing a party for my birthday this year, huh?"

"Yes…" Matthew seemed somewhat distracted as he finished changing the bandages. Once, he was done, he sat in a chair by the bed. He bit his lip before asking a question that was clearly plaguing him. "Hey, Al…"

"Yeah?" Alfred was now leaning against the headboard of the bed and was placing Texas on his nose so he could stop squinting at his surroundings.

"Do you want me to write to England and ask him to visit?"

Arthur stiffened at the question. Why is he asking him that?

But England wasn't the only one who reacted to Canada's question. America immediately straightened up and he threw a glare at his twin, but there didn't seem to be much fire behind it. "No, Mattie." He sternly said, but there was a slight quiver in his voice.

"But Alfred-!" Canada started to protest, but America cut him off.

"I said, no!" He shouted and then he sighed. He pushed his glasses up and rubbed his eyes. To England, it seemed like Alfred appeared to be incredibly tired all of a sudden. "Besides, even if you asked, he probably wouldn't come. I'm independent, and, anyway, he doesn't care."

Of everything Arthur had seen so far, that statement shocked him the most. What does he mean I don't care! Does he seriously think that?

Matthew's eyes hardened with conviction and, at the same time, sympathy. "For the last several days, I have heard you scream England's human name whenever the pain became too great. I have heard you beg for him. Just because you are independent doesn't mean you have to cut all ties with him."

Canada's words made England drop his jaw. "He what?" Luckily, he didn't notice the satisfied little smirk that temporarily crossed Japan's face at the thought of America yelling for England. Coincidentally, Kiku's next doujinshi would have a USUK scene with America screaming for England.

Of course, neither America nor Canada noticed Arthur and Kiku's reactions since the two were nothing more than ghosts viewing the past.

Alfred appeared to be angered at Matthew's words. "Trying telling him that!" He snapped, waving his hand in the direction of the east. "Because he made damn feelings quite clear back during the War of 1812. He hates me now!"

Alfred's voice, which had been rising in volume, suddenly softened, becoming as quiet as the Canadian, "And there is nothing I can do to change that." He buried his face in his hands.

Arthur felt even more shocked than a moment before. "He thinks I what?" He looked over at Japan, who raised an eyebrow. "Why the bloody hell would he think I hate him?"

Kiku looked at England incredulously. "America-san did say something about the War of 1812, did he not, Igirisu-san?"

"Why would that make him think I hate him?"

"… Igirisu-san, didn't you burn down his capital?"

"That was retaliation for him burning York! Just look at what he did to Canada!" England protested.

Japan resisted the urge to rub his temples and reveal his frustration. "I think that is beside the point, Igirisu-san, seeing as how the brothers obviously forgave each other." This reminded Arthur to look back at the scene before him.

Matthew stood up and gave his brother a hug. "It's alright, Al."

"Yeah." America looked up at Canada. "In any case, things will get better from here. Gettysburg was a turning point for this war. I can feel it. So everything'll be good, even if you don't write."

The Canadian sighed. "Fine, I won't write if you don't want me to."

"Good."

A sting of jealousy went through Arthur's heart at how easily Canada was allowed to hug America. Wait! I'm not jealous because he gets to hug him! It must be because America still treats Canada like a brother! Yes! What is the difference between Canada and me! Why doesn't he let me act like a brother to him, but he lets Canada act like one! I mean, besides the fact they're actually brothers…

"I think that is all." Kiku grabbed his hand and they left the scene with the brothers still hugging.

England blinked his eyes, surprised to find himself back in his bedroom. He was seated on his bed, while Japan stood in front of him. "The next scene from the past is here?"

"No, Igirisu-san. I have shown you all that I was told to show you." Japan regarded his English friend. "Now, have you realized the truth about America and yourself?"

"What truth?" Arthur scoffed. "I still don't see a bloody good reason for him declaring independence. In fact, if he had never left, then the bloody Civil War wouldn't happen! Besides, his supposed reasons for leaving were not my fault and have nothing to do with me!"

"Baka tsundere!" Kiku shouted. He sighed and quickly calmed down.

England, however, was shocked. Did Japan just get mad? About what?

"My apologies, Igirisu-san." Kiku bowed to signify his remorse. As he straightened, his eyes met Arthur's and for a moment it was as if Kiku could see right into Arthur's core. "I hope the next nation will help you realize what you are missing. Please expect him when the clock strikes two."

"What?" England glanced over at the clock and was surprised that it simply read 1:15. "You mean I'm going to continue having countries barging into my room?"

"Hai." Japan hesitated. "Igirisu-san, I suggest you get as much sleep as you can before the next one comes."

"What do you-?" Before Arthur could finish his question, Kiku had simply disappeared.

"Huh." England lay down on his bed and rolled onto his side. "What the bloody hell are you plotting, Mother?" He asked himself before closing his eyes.