I'm so sorry I took so long to update T^T I've been really busy with school, and writing two fanfics at a time is hard! But I promise to keep writing this, it just may be slower to update then it used to be, is all.

Hurricaneclaw: well, this story is'nt going to exactly be happy is it? But I'll see what I can do.

Professional Tsundere: Oh god anything but France! *hides*

Hetalia Kirkland: PruHun is awesome yes. *nods head wisely*

That was how Antonio and Ivan found them. Gilbert clutching Elizabeth's lifeless body, staring up at the sky, as if daring the game-makers to take her away.

"E-Elizabeth…" Antonio collapsed to his knees and buried his head in his hands, "no…"

Ivan stood a fair distance away, looking at the body with his usual childish curiosity. Gilbert remained silent, and tightened his grip on Elizabeth, holding her close.

"She made me promise not to let them…" he croaked, "not to let them take her away…:

Antonio was sobbing, and Ivan placed a large hand on his shoulder.

"Be strong comrade, she will not have wished for you to become broken with grief," he said.

"How can you say that?" yelled Antonio, lashing out causing Ivan to take a few steps back, "You just stand there it's like you barely realise she's dead!"

Ivan watched him sadly, the silence seeming to echo Antonio's words.

"I-I was too weak to protect them… Lovi, Elzabeth, I didn't want them to die…" he sobbed and Ivan approached him again.

"I does not make me happy to see you like this, you used to be so happy," he muttered sadly, "have we really changed so much?"

Gilbert blinked at Ivan's words. It was true, over the years he had never really noticed, but now as he watched Antonio break down, and Ivan calmly supporting him, it hit him.

They weren't the people they once were. He looked at his hand, Elizabeth's blood was smeared on it and he shivered. He remembered a time when he thought of war as a way to pass the time, an interesting hobby. Not anymore, not with those who were so close to him were dead. Now death and war seemed so real, so frightening. He shivered; he didn't know what to think anymore.

"So why are you here Gilbert?" Gilbert startled and looked up to see Ivan watching him curiously.

"Vell, it was unawesome having to stay back and wait," he muttered.

"Really? Are you're sure that is all, da?" Ivan pressed, "I don't like it when people lie to me comrade."

Gilbert flinched and looked away.

"I don't have any reason to lie to you…"

Ivan took a step forward, though his childish face remained calm; he was surrounded by a threatening aura,

"Really? It's almost as if you knew this was going to happen, how would you know that, comrade?" Ivan's voice was calm though the last word seemed dipped in menace.

"How could suggest that? Do you think that the awesome me would want Elizabeth to die?!" He yelled.

"I did not suggest anything," Ivan's eyes glittered malevolently, "It's just, you do not appear so sad about this, da?"

"D-dammit, I'm not going to accept she's dead. If I do, then… then there's no chance of her survival at all!" Gilbert staggered to his feet, carrying Elizabeth over his shoulder.

"Ivan let him be…" both Ivan and Gilbert looked at Antonio in mild surprise as he rose to his feet.

He smiled weakly, his green eyes shimmering beyond the point of tears.

"We can't afford to lose our trust in each other now, we've already come so far," he closed his eyes and his smile widened a little, "they wouldn't want us to fall here."

Ivan shrugged and took a few steps back; Gilbert steadied himself on his feet, glancing at the sky nervously. If they attempted to collect Elizabeth's body now there would be trouble, the burnt forest was leaving them too exposed.

"We have to go back," Gilbert said, "the awesome me isn't going to break my promises so easily."

"y-you go on ahead, I'm going to keep looking for Feli," announced Antonio.

"Are you sure, it's dangerous on your own," commented Ivan thoughtfully.

"I'll be fine, I just… I just need to talk to Lovi's brother…" Antonio looked away.

"Kese, whatever, just make sure you get back soon," Gilbert said inadvertently, setting off through the bush.

Ivan nodded curtly at Antonio, who smiled reassuringly. Ivan shrugged and followed Gilbert, Antonio watched them go until he could no longer see them.

"Watch over me Lovi…' he muttered, before turning on his heel, and continuing the search for his dead friend's brother.

##########

"Tsss mate.." Ralph yawned, stretching his arms over his head, "what is it?"

"There's a fire off to the east of us, near the stream," Christian told him, before moving over to Kiku and shaking the Asian awake.

Ralph got to his feet at once. He had many bad experiences with fire, he still had scars from old burns. Arthur was also looking nervous as the smell of burning trees washed over them. He was wincing and clutching his chest, as if the smell of smoke was reminding him over memories so vivid, that he was feeling physical pain.

"Dude calm down, the fire's turning away from us," Alfred said, placing a calming hand on Arthur's shoulder.

"If the wind changes direction, the fire could easily spread here. It's fast, deadly and the noise can almost completely shatter your sense of direction," said Ralph with a mixture of awe and fear.

Kiku had managed to get to his feet, and Feliciano hid behind him uncertainly. Christian scampered up a tree and peered at the fire.

"T-this fire is really unnatural," he yelled down, "it's kind of veering off into the distance at a weird angle, like it's following something."

Arthur furrowed his thick eyebrows.

"You don't think it's the game makers do you?"

"It must be, someone must have said something they didn't like," replied Christian as he climbed down from the tree.

There was an explosion and everyone jumped.

"v-veh what was that?" asked Feliciano shivering.

"The fire has stopped…" noted Alfred looking up at the sky, "that can't mean…."

Arthur picked up his crossbow, and after a moment's pause, tossed a knife to Christian.

"Come with me, we're going to take a look around," Arthur commanded, "Alfred, look after the others, I'm trusting you."

Alfred nodded and grabbed his bow from where it leaned against the tree.

"There's no need to worry, they're being looked after by the hero after all!" he exclaimed, and flashed Arthur his 'hero' grin.

"Bloody git.. Come on Christian," Arthur took off at a jog, Christian following him.

Arthur ran through the woods, he heard Christian panting behind him. A sudden sense of peace washed over him, like an unearthly being had passed him. It lasted only for a brief moment, and was soon replaced with dread.

A cannon fired in the distance, and he stopped, Christian almost running into him.

"D-dammit are we too late?" he asked.

"We don't know anything yet, we need to keep going!" Christian urged, "what if someone's injured, we might need to help them."

Arthur looked at the young man with his odd hairstyle. Dammit why was he so familiar? He nodded glumly and took a deep breath.

"You're right, I-I don't know why, but I get the feeling we're all going to need to stick together to get through this..." Arthur shook his head to clear it of any distracting thoughts, "let's move."

He picked up pace, his easy jog becoming an urgent lope. He felt smoke filling his lungs, burning his throat raw. He came to the edge of the forest and gasped a little.

Black ash fell from the sky, falling softly to the ground. Beneath the ash, Arthur caught sight of small melted clumps of metal that might have been pipes. Embers still glowed, however there was no sign of any visible flames.

"There's no way a fire this large could have gone out this quickly," commented Christian, who was a little out of breath, "something must have happened."

Arthur wasn't listening. He stooped down to examine on of the clumps of metal on the ground. Poking out of the melted mess, he could see a rock. He stood, and looked around. Some of the bark on one of the trees that lined the surviving forest, had been rubbed off. He picked up a piece, flinching at the sight of blood on it. He dropped the bark and examined the ground, Christian watching him closely.

"Someone lay here, I think they were wounded…" Arthur muttered, he looked behind him, seeing three sets of footprints tracked through the ash leading to where the injured person had lain and…

"Someone died here…" Arthur announced, standing and rubbing the sweat from his forehead, and studying the footprints, "two people left, heading to the south, the other seems to have been headed to the stream."

Christian nodded silently, staring sadly at the ground. Arthur brushed the ash off his clothes.

"I suggest we split up, you're stronger then you let off so I'm sure you can handle yourself, yes?" Christian paled a little and clutched his knife against his chest.

"A-are you sure that's a good idea? What if we get ambushed?" he stammered nervously.

Arthur shrugged,

"You're tough, you've got a weapon I'm trusting you can use it?" Christian nodded glumly.

Arthur smiled and ruffled Christian's hair

"Don't worry lad, you'll be fine!" He smiled and Christian looked away, "just watch your back, okay?"

He flashed him a grin and turned away to follow the tracks that led to the stream.

"Arthur…" Arthur paused and looked over his shoulder at Christian, "Thank you…."

Arthur blinked at Christian, who turned away and ran off following the tracks. Arthur smiled.

"I feel like I've been waiting a long time to hear that," he sighed and turned his attention back to the tracks.

Take care… Kiwi.

Yay done! I don't have much to say here except that you guys are awesome for reading this story!