Wow, I actually updated again. I seriously lost my writing ability ... I think. Anyway, this chapter is focused more on Lili. Hope you like it. :)
Disclaimer: Himaruya Hidekaz owns Hetalia not me.
Chapter 5
The following morning, Lili said goodbye to Ludwig who had always been an early morning riser and headed to school. Ever since last night it had been hard for her to face Ludwig. After crying for what seemed like hours, the German had helped Lili clean up and sent her to bed. He wouldn't look her in the eyes and she wouldn't him. Just thinking about it caused Lili's cheeks to heat up in embarrassment.
Once Lili entered the school building, she hurried to her locker. Dumping her backpack inside, Lili reached for her binders. When she had everything required for her first two hours, she headed to class.
The rest of the day continued on regularly. She went to first, second, third, and fourth hour before eating lunch alone on the stair case. After, she finished up the day with her last three periods.
As the last bell rang, Lili felt her cheeks heat up again. If she was going home and Ludwig was there, what would she do? Every time Lili saw him she would get nervous. She didn't want to embarrass herself.
Lili smiled brightly. Even if it was hard to face Ludwig, it still was great being near him!
After going to her locker and grabbing her backpack with all its contents inside, she was greeted with the rich smell of chocolate. Just down the hall she spotted one of her classmates, Ron, handing out brownies to other students. Lili grinned. Maybe I could get two and wrap it up for Ludwig and big bruder, Gilbert, she thought as she made her way towards Ron and the crowd surrounding him.
It wasn't like Ron was into baking. No, his mom had thought it would be a great idea to share some goodies with his classmates. Of course Ron knew that his mom really just wanted the other students to be her guinea pigs. It was her recipe after all and she instructed Ron in making the brownies because she was too lazy to make them herself. She wanted to know how good they were though, so every time a classmate grabbed one, for her sake, he'd ask, "How was it?"
"They're delicious!" responded Kayla.
Brian agreed. "They're like, the best brownies I've ever tasted. Don't tell me you made these …"
"What? Dude no, why would I? My mom made these," Ron lied. Like he said earlier, he wasn't into baking. He was a jock, not a pansy.
"These are free right?" asked Joe.
"Yeah, take as much as you want," Ron told him. This caused more students to scramble to get one.
When Lili finally was able to grab one however, Ron immediately pulled the tray they were on, back. "Who said you could get one?!" he nearly growled.
Lili jumped in surprise and quickly stepped back. "I-I um … I thought they were for everyone."
Ron scoffed. "Well, they aren't! Why would I give you one?" As he continued to ramble, Lili felt herself shrink under his hard gaze. "And even if I was generous to give you one, you'd have to pay! Ten bucks! They're my mom's gourmet brownies after all!"
"But, no one else had to pay," Lili mumbled.
"Well, they aren't you."
The rest of the hallway had soon gone quiet thanks to Ron's booming voice. The students all stared at Lili whose shoulders began to shake vigorously.
Ron suddenly laughed. "Are you going to cry Lili?"
She didn't answer. Instead she stepped forward and hesitantly jabbed a finger into his chest. "Why are you being so mean? Ever since freshman year you've been giving me a hard time. What's so different about me? What makes me so special?! I'm just like anybody else, so why are you only mean to me?!"
Ron frowned and slapped her finger away. "Aren't you an arrogant bitch?" Setting the plate down next to his back pack, he stepped forward. "Don't think you're anything special. You're nothing more than trash. You think you're so great. Well, you're not!"
Lili gasped. "I've never thought so highly of myself! This whole time you and everyone else has been making me feel sorry for myself! Like I'm a pathetic weakling. How can you accuse me of thinking anything else?" She felt herself panicking. If she let her emotions get to her, there was no telling what would happen. She didn't want them to see her cry.
"You are pathetic. And everyone agrees."
"The only reason everyone thinks that is because of you!"
"Not true!" Ron shouted. "Why don't you just shut up."
Lili bit her lip. How could he be so mean? How could everybody …
They're just standing there, watching, Lili thought as she noticed the huge crowd of students surrounding them. Why are they just standing there? Do they like seeing me get hurt that much? Am I really that unwanted?
"Earth to bitch," Ron muttered causing Lili to turn her attention back towards him. "You really pissed me off. But since I'm so generous I'll let you off the hook. You can buy me and my friends, dinner. That way we don't have to pay."
Lili felt tears roll down her cheeks. "Why …Why," she sniffed. "Why would I do that for someone so cruel?!" Mustering up all of her confidence she shouted, "You don't deserve any kindness!"
At this Ron let his emotions take control and slapped her. As his hand collided with her cheek, Lili felt herself being forced backward. Before she could fall into anyone, they moved out of the way in surprise.
Her butt landed on the cool floor and sent an aching pain through her body. The world suddenly seemed to come to a halt. Everyone's eyes were on her in shock. Even Ron seemed surprised that he had slapped her although he would never admit it. His pent up hatred for this girl had finally been unleashed and for some reason … it felt good.
"Ha!" he exclaimed. "That's what you get for being an arrogant bitch! You can't do anything about it can you?!"
Lili hesitantly reached her hand up to feel her throbbing cheek. A small stinging sensation caused her to shiver. Tears seemed to fall harder as everyone stood by and watched Ron continue to taunt her.
Big bruder … Make it stop, Lili begged. Big Bruder Vash, I wish you were here. Please … save me-
"What the-"
Lili heard the rhythmic sound of someone throwing punches. Looking up, she saw as Ron cowered under a tall built figure. The mysterious person continued to beat the boy to a pulp as the bystanders around them began to shout for the person to stop. Lili could even here threats to call the police.
"Lili …"
She jumped at the voice who called her name. Turning around another figure with platinum hair and red beady eyes, wearing a white collared shirt and cross necklace stood behind her.
"Are you okay?"
Lili sniffed. "…B-big Bruder Gilbert …!"
Gilbert smiled cheekily. "Yep! The awesome me is here!" His eyes drifted over to Ron and the other man. "Hey Luddy, stop punching the kid! You're going to kill him!"
Lili watched as Ludwig reluctantly pulled his fist away from the now bleeding Ron. The boy stared wide eyed at the German. "W-Who the hell are you?!"
Ludwig ignored his question and lifted him up by the collar. "How dare you hurt Lili! Who gave you the right to hit her?" he grumbled. "Answer my damn question arschloch."
"She … S-She-" Ron stuttered. Whoever this guy was, he was scary … and capable of killing him.
"You don't have a suitable answer do you?" Ludwig scowled.
Gilbert patted Ludwig's shoulder. "Luddy, seriously. You're scaring the poor kid. He might just die."
"Let him! I bet he's one of the people who caused Lili to cry."
Gilbert laughed. "True, true. But I'm only saying you should give him some slack," suddenly Gilbert's eyes grew cold, "before I give him what's coming to him."
Ron gulped. "P-Please don't hurt me!" The students surrounding them stepped back and a few went to grab the principal. Ludwig sighed and easily handed the boy over to his older brother. "Fine, I'll let you handle him. I need to make sure Lili's okay anyway." He quickly made his way over to Lili and placed a hand on her shoulder. Lili felt warm at his touch.
"Kesesese … young love," he joked again.
"Not now Bruder."
"Sorry, sorry, the awesome me should be more considerate." Glaring back at Ron, he asked, "What do you think I should do with you, huh?" he smirked. "Should I follow Luddy's example and beat you up? Or …" Dramatically, Gilbert reached into his pocket. He groped out a pocket knife and held it to his throat. "… Should I make you suffer through something even worse?"
"P-PLEASE!" Ron begged.
"Don't worry, I could get this over with quick. I mean you do deserve it after all."
Lili's eyes widened at Gilbert's actions. "B-Big Bruder Gilbert!"
The albino glanced her way. "What is it Lili?
He sounds so nonchalant, Lili thought. Why would he- "You can't do that to him big bruder Gilbert! Please!" Gilbert and Ludwig both cocked an eyebrow at her. She gulped. "I- He's a terrible person but he doesn't deserve this!"
"What are you talking about?" Gilbert asked. "Of course he does. He was being a totally unawesome dick to you … Vash wouldn't let him get away with this," he added. "This boy would've been dead by now if I were Vash."
Lili's eyes widened. That was true … but, "You're not big bruder Vash! He wouldn't have listened to what I had to say! But you can! Please, spare Ron!"
Gilbert ran the knife's edge softly along Ron's cheek. "Hmm … Sorry Lili, but he's a rotten son of a bitch who needs to be taught a lesson." At this Lili gasped. "But-!"
"He did slap you …" Ludwig told her, grabbing hold of her chin making her face him. "He hurt you both physically and mentally. I don't understand why you wouldn't want him to feel pain as well."
"B-But Ludwig, he may be terrible but he's … he's still human! I don't want you guys to hurt him! I'm very thankful that you came to save me but that's all I needed. Really. I'm happy as long as you guys are there for me. So its alright …"
"But what if this bastard does something to you again?" Gilbert questioned thoughtfully, not looking away from Ron.
Lili smiled, knowing that she was getting through to them. "Trust me big bruder Gilbert. He won't."
"Well, we did scare the shit out of him."
Ludwig nodded. "True. But still …" Lili rested her hand on top of his.
"Please," she pleaded once more. The whole hallway grew quiet. The students who still stayed to watch the horrific scene unfold waited intently for the mysterious brothers' final opinion. Ludwig stared deeply into her eyes before sighing and saying, "Let the boy go bruder."
Gilbert looked Ron over again before asking, "Are you sure? He touched our precious Lili."
"Bruder …" Ludwig warned causing Gilbert to shrug and throw Ron to the ground.
"My arms were getting tired anyway," said the albino. He shot one final glare at the boy before growling, "Don't you dare tell anyone about this alright kid? You fell down the school's stairs."
Ron nodded violently. "No one will know! Promise!"
Gilbert nodded and headed over to Ludwig who was busy helping Lili up. Once she was back on her feet Lili wrapped her arms around Ludwig and embraced him in a warm hug. "Thank you," she murmured.
Ludwig smiled warmly at her. "Ja. I'm just glad we got here when we did." Glancing back at his brother he asked, "Should we take our leave?"
The albino man nodded. "Yeah. Let's go! Besides, I'm hungry." Taking the lead, Gilbert headed towards the school's doors. The students hastily moved out of his way out of fear of being hurt as well. Gilbert then walked out as if nothing had happened. Ludwig followed suit, his hand holding and guiding Lili's the whole way home.
"Lili," he spoke. She turned to face him. "I trust your judgment, alright?"
She grinned. "Ludwig, I said it earlier. As long as you guys are there for me, I'll be fine."
Yeah, I know, this has nothing to do with demon hunting. But trust me, it was necessary. Not only that, but we won't see Lili in a long while after the following events. The next chapter will mark the beginning of a long adventure of two German brothers. So yeah, until next time! :D
