Ch 4

*A USxUK Yaoi fanfic for my friend* *I think I'm getting redundant. Maybe I'll shut up now. x3 *

Alfred could hear the sounds of combat up ahead. His gut burned with feverish excitement for the battle that was now so close. A few minutes more, and the struggling figures of the East assault came into view. Wang Yao was valiantly attempting to hold everyone off with only his wok, his left arm hanging uselessly by his side. Vash was nearly doubled over, pearls of liquid rushing off of him as the extreme speed his fighting style required took a lot out of him. Gilbert had cuts from grazing bullets lining his body. Roderich was slumped over on his piano. The state these nations were in didn't faze Alfred. He was here to help them now. After all, as the hero, it was his duty to protect everyone, right?

He drew his assault rifle, and there was a slight rustle as Matthew took out a shotgun behind him. Romano set a box on the floor and, while taking shelter behind a nearby boulder, revealed the contents to be a unique mix of grenades and tomatoes. Francis brandished a musket, earning him a blink from Alfred.

"Isn't that… a bit old?"

"It seems no one remembers how amazing France is," was the almost tearful response, "I can fight with anything."

"Hahaha~" Alfred laughed, "Alright, this hero will rescue everyone! Attack!"

-xxx-

A few hours later~

Kiku glanced back at Arthur.

"You've been extremely quiet ever since the South assault group went into battle."

"Should you be calling me quiet?" Arthur glanced with a somewhat irked expression at the normally silent Oriental country, "I'm just tired from that bloody battle. Let's hurry up and get to the planes already."

Rubbing at the back of his head in frustration, England increased his pace, leaving the other 3 countries almost panting to catch up. Why was he being so quiet? He couldn't be worried about that twat that seceded from him so long ago, could he? That couldn't be it. He laughed nervously. He was just tired. Yes, that was it. He was just god-damned tired…

Suddenly, light appeared from up ahead, cutting through the unrelenting emerald-ness of the forest.

"We're here."

The sound of jet engines burst through the air. The North assault group stepped out into the open. Four brilliant jets waited for them, their wings outstretched and prepared for flight. A man rushed forward and spoke in quick Japanese to Kiku. The nation blinked back at his companions and bowed.

"They're ready to take off now."

The group exchanged glances and each slowly climbed into a plane. For some reason, they were taken aback by how sudden they were to leave, but it couldn't be helped, considering how long they had been held back by the unexpected ambush. However, no one made a complaint as they started the machines and took to the sky.

-xxx-

Meanwhile…

"Why the hell are these bastards so strong?"

Romano was forced out of his shelter one more time by a well placed gunshot. Carrying an armful of tomatoes and grenades, he launched them randomly into the crowd, exploding some opposition while blinding the rest with the red fruit. (*Note* Yes, a tomato is a fruit. :3 )

"Fuck!" Gilbert shouted suddenly, "They got France!"

"Well… France was using a musket," Alfred reasoned, but even his morale had decreased a bit. They had been fighting for a while now and the opposition showed no sign of giving up.

"I… can't keep… this up much… longer…" Vash had gone to lean against a tree, his fingers barely keeping their grip upon his weapons.

Only the overlooked Matthew seemed to be holding out somewhat. He had retreated into the cover of the trees and was sniping. However, he noticed with alarm that his bullets were being depleted astonishingly fast. Compared to the overwhelming amount of enemy, his measly ammunition supply was nothing.

"I think we need help again, aru!" Wang Yao groaned, "America, could you radio in for the West again? My arm…"

He slid underneath a bullet, and with a heave of his right arm, used to momentum to propel himself forward, knocking over the man who had attempted to gun him down. Alfred watched him, worry beginning to crease his features. But, of course, heroes did need sidekicks. He withdrew from the battle, pressing down the device.

"Germany, can you hear me? This is America."

There was a slight pause, and then Ludwig responded, "Yeah. I'm here."

"We need back-up," America used the butt of his rifle to knock away the enemy attempting to take him down, "Can the West assault group respond?"

"Ah… we've already set out in the assault vessel. Oi, Russia, how long will it take us to reach Honshu?"

"Ehh…?" Russia's voice was also audible on the radio, "We've been sailing for an hour now. So, around an hour and a half?"

"We can't hold out for that long!" Vash cut in impatiently, "We need help within the next half an hour! What about the North assault group?"

"But their destination is EurAsia!" Ludwig responded, "We can not forsake it. If EurAsia is taken, then we might as well roll over and surrender now!"

"But--!" Vash tried to say, before the start of his yell of pain was heard. His line went eerily silent.

"SWITZERLAND!" Alfred shouted, before he disconnected from the radio as well. He spied the small-framed country getting bludgeoned by the waves of black. Rushing into the fray, he struck out with the butt of his rifle again and again. However, his heroic antics had little effect, as the enemies were shooting at him from point-blank. It wasn't long before the barrel of a gun was pointed straight as his forehead. Suddenly, a large figure loomed before him. The figure wore a small pin attached to his outfit, spelling out: Vice Capt. It put a hand on the gunman who was threatening Alfred.

"This one's the leader. Let's take him prisoner."

Arthur's grip on the steering wheel of the jet tightened. Alfred's anguished shout for Vash had shaken him far more than he would have liked. Most likely, that idiot had thrown himself into nameless peril for his friend. He shook his head, trying to clear it. He had to concentrate on the flight ahead. It was as Germany had said. If EurAsia was taken, then the entire battle was lost.

"FUCK!" Gilbert's voice suddenly sounded in England's ear. He jolted and, without thinking, pressed down the record button.

"Are you trying to give me a heart-attack, Prussia? What's going on?"

"Switzerland lost consciousness as well!" There was no mistaking the strain in his voice. It didn't sound right to Arthur. The smirking Prussia suddenly so worried, "And those bastards took America!"

"WHAT?!"

Arthur's blood began to race and he lost his voice. Suddenly, Kiku's calm voice radioed in as well. Though there was a tremble of anxiety in his tone, Japan otherwise seemed to keep his composure.

"Please tell us what happened, Prussia-san."

"What the fuck is there to tell?" Prussia growled, and a grunt of exertion was heard as he beat off another enemy, "America went to help Switzerland, who had been knocked unconscious. Some big bastard appeared, smacked America on the head, took him and ran."

Arthur could almost hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears. Without thinking, he suddenly shifted his hands, turning his jet around. His fingers hastily turned some dials and his plane roared, rushing back towards Japan.

"Ehh…? England, where are you going?" Feliciano's voice sounded.

Arthur blinked in shock. He didn't even notice that he was speeding in the opposite direction. His face flushed and he stammered slightly, "I am…"

"…going to help your friend, right?" Kiku slid back into the conversation, "Please, go ahead, England-san. Korea-san, Italy-san, and I will take care of EurAsia. We don't anything to happen to America-san either."

"…It's not that I care what happens to that twat!" England protested, sputtering slightly, "But, I can't help… I can't help…"

He paused. Can't help what? He couldn't help thinking back to all the scenes he had shared with America. He had gotten drunk in front of America, tried to curse America, offered America ice cream, gotten a hamburger placed on his forehead by America and…

"You can't help being drawn to him… right?" Kiku responded. By this time, Arthur had turned a brilliant red. However, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"I suppose."

And his plane nose-dived towards Japan.