What's this? And Update? No way! I should be able to update again, because exams are over. So thanks for bearing with me all this time ^_^'

Badgerfang: A-am I really coming off as that cruel?... I'm not going to answer that..

Professional Tsundere: Eeek, (spells originated in South Korea, da-ze!) please don't shoot mee D:

Hurricaneclaw: …. Memes :3… I just wrecked the mood….

Funny Cat: Muhaha! Suspenseful! We shall soon see if your pleas were heard!

"A-Al?" Arthur blinked, "Al wake up."

Ralph kneeled and placed two fingers on Alfred's neck.

"He's still alive, but with a wound like that I-I…" his voice was shaky.

Arthur stared at Alfred's motionless body, shock holding him in place. Ralph picked up a shred of Arthur's ripped up jacket, and cleaned Alfred's shoulder with it.

Alfred wouldn't die, he was the hero wasn't he? Sure, his voice was loud and annoying, but he had supported both Ralph and Christian from the beginning. He and Ralph had often been berating for performing dangerous stunts, back in the day when death was not a threat. He was once possibly the strongest of them all, but now he seemed so small and vulnerable in Arthur's hands.

"He'll be fine," said Arthur fiercely, "he's to stupid to die."

Arthur's jade eyes burned into Ralph's for a moment, before turning back to Alfred.

"I'll get some more water, we'll need it," Ralph muttered.

Arthur nodded faintly, gripping Alfred's hand although that was all keeping his friend alive. Ralph got up and walked back to the remains of the camp. He passed through the trees in a daze, ignoring his surroundings. He found a full canteen, half-buried in the dirt. He picked it up and stared at it blankly, what was he doing with it again?

Alfred, got to get back to Alfred.

Ralph turned on his heel and sprinted back to Arthur and Alfred. He knelt and uncapped the canteen with shaky hands, and poured it onto the shred of Arthur's jacket.

He dabbed the wound gingerly, ever mindful of Alfred's shallow breathing.

"Where did you learn this?" asked Arthur quietly, causing Ralph to jolt a little.

"Basic first-aid, we all got to know it where I come from," he slowly bound Alfred's shoulder, not daring to look Arthur in the eyes.

There was a part of Ralph that wondered why no one remembered him or his brother. Arthur and Alfred had shown a few signs of recognition, but had done nothing about their suspicions. Although it had helped their cause, it hurt to be forgotten.

"That's all I can do with what we have…"he wiped the sweat from his forehead, "but we can't just leave him here."

Ralph moved back unable to stand out of the fear his legs would fail him.

"I… we always disagreed with each other you know…" Arthur's voice was quiet, "once we fought, it got very bad, very bloody, and he left…."

Ralph placed a grimy hand on Arthur's shoulder, he knew what Arthur was talking about, about Alfred's war for independence.

"Stupid git always rushes into things…"

"Ralph, Arthur, Alfred?!"

Antonio came crashing through the woods, an axe in his hands. Following him was Ludwig, who glanced about suspiciously before his blue eyes fell upon Alfred.

"Mein gott, vhat happened?" He knelt and looked over Alfred, measuring his pulse.

"Panem, stupid bloody Panem is what happened," Arthur hissed angrily.

Ludwig shot him a warning glare, but Arthur ignored it, his hands balling into fists.

"If Panem hadn't happened, the world could've easily pulled through those disasters, just as it had always done. We could ha…"

Ludwig clamped a firm hand over Arthur's mouth, ignoring the smaller man's struggles, he turned his attention to Ralph.

"And you are?"

Ralph gulped,

'Ralph Darwin, district…" he frowned, "twelve, district twelve."

Ludwig narrowed his steely blue eyes.

"Vell, Ralph, I don't suppose you could explain the situation?"

"Well, we were just talking… and, these things came out of nowhere and attacked. We sent Kiku, Feli and Toni back to find help. And while they were gone, we took care of the creatures,… or so we thought…"

Ludwig nodded, and gestured for Antonio to help Ralph to his feet, before releasing Arthur, and hoisting Alfred over his shoulder.

"I vill believe you for now, but if I find you where the one who caused zis," Ludwig moved his hand not so subtly to his hip, where a single, long knife was attached to his belt, "you understand what vill happen."

Ralph nodded nervously.

Arthur glared at the ground for most of the journey back to the cornucopia, and it wasn't until they had travelled a fair distance before he fell in step with Ralph and spoke.

"Before those things came, you asked that we all tell stories, well," Ralph blinked, before nodding slowly in conformation, "the story I told, though the others may have scoffed it, it was true. You see, it happened a long time before Panem."

Arthur smiled forlornly

"those were the times when magic was almost common knowledge, and many still had control of it. Of course, as years went by, some lost their sight, but magic was still there, even if they could no longer see it" his expression turned solemn, "that's what you wanted to hear, about magic I mean. I don't know how, but you know something about me that not many should."

Ralph hesitated, looking Arthur in the eyes. He was so close, Ralph could smell the faint traces of tea on the man. He felt the urge to hug his brother and tell him everything, ask him why he had forgotten Ralph and Christian.

He could do no such thing, so he just nodded slowly.

Arthur's gaze softened,

"Then I will tell you this. I refuse to allow any more of my friends to die, and, I think you have earned yourself that title. I will get you and the others out alive, I promise."

With that, Arthur jogged to catch up to Ludwig so he could check on Alfred, leaving Ralph to stare sadly at his back. It wasn't like Arthur to make a promise before finding a way of keeping it. Unless Ralph hadn't imagined that flickering in Arthur's eyes, and his old bedtime stories had held more truth than Ralph had ever thought.

###################

Christian sighed impatiently as Ivan continued to press down on his head. He glanced at Vash, who was watching them through an emotionless mask. Christian frowned and swatted Ivan's hand away, ignoring the dark aura the taller man was now emitting.

Antonio and Ludwig had left a while ago. Christian had wanted to go with them, but was instead ordered to stay back at the cornucopia with the others.

"Oi, Vash, Ivan, they're back I think you guys might vant to give 'em a hand," Gilbert's loud voice reverberated through the cornucopia.

Christian saw him leap down and make his way to the woods. Vash watched for a moment, before following. Leaving Christian in the company of Ivan and Irunya, who was still crying by Elizabeth's body in the back of the cornucopia.

Ludwig and Antonio came into sight, Ludwig carrying what appeared to be a body. Christian felt his stomach flutter nervously, before he remembered there had been no cannon fire.

Gilbert helped Ludwig lay the body down on the ground, and Christian immediately recognised it as Alfred.

"R-Ralph, what happened?" he asked his brother as he flopped tiredly on the grass.

"These things attacked us and…" Ralph frowned.

"Where are Kiku and Feliciano?" Ludwig's loud voice interrupted him

"I don't know, Kiku wandered off and Feliciano followed him," Vash shrugged indifferently, ignoring the death glare Ludwig sent him.

"I told you to keep an eye on zem, Antonio told me that Kiku was injured, and ve all know Feli can't fight!" he yelled.

"I think that they're just in the trees at the border of the woods," Gilbert piped up, "over there."

Ludwig nodded at him, before setting off in the direction Gilbert had indicated.

"Is that liz?" asked Arthur quietly.

Irunya looked up from her mourning, wiping the tears from her face.

"Y-yes.."

Arthur closed his eyes, and looked at his feet, almost guiltily.

"I-" he began, before he was cut off by a yell from the woods.

"That was Kiku," muttered Ivan, his violet eyes narrowing.

Arthur sprung to his feet, snatching Gilbert's sword from the albino's hand and running off in the direction of the yell.

Three cannons fired.

#####################

"Feliciano-kun, I need to tell you something," Kiku's blank brown eyes seemed filled with sadness, "ever since the fall, I… I never thought I would see you or Ludwig-san again. Ludwig-san in particular."

Feliciano cocked his head, "why'd you think that? We're strong, of course we'd see each other again!"

"It's not like that I just…" Kiku shook his head sadly, "I saw him die. I saw his body, and. It was horrible…"

Feliciano opened his eyes, and smiled softly at the short man before him.

"Of course you saw him die, but that doesn't mean he's still dead," Kiku looked up, "because, I thought you were both dead. I saw you and Ludwig, you were broken both beyond normal repair, and I cried for a very long time. But then I realised you wouldn't be completely dead, because, you know with us, we don't die that easily."

Kiku frowned, "but our land, all our people."

Feliciano hugged Kiku, causing him to tense.

"Not all our people Kiku, somewhere I can feel my people living. Not thriving, but alive. They know their heritage, and I know you do too. Somewhere out there, there are still people who gather under our flangs."

Kiku remained tense for a few more moments before relaxing.

"H-hai.. I was narrow-minded; I thought the fall of our countries would be the fall of our people but..."

"Kiku, Feliciano!" Ludwig came through the trees and Feliciano released Kiku, turning to hug Ludwig instead, much to Kiku's relief.

"Ludwig-san, I apologise for my actions toward you before, I made a mistake," Ludwig blinked in confusion, then his expression turned to horror.

Kiku ducked just as the axe swung for his head.

The female tribute from distract eight took a step back before preparing to make another swing. Ludwig swore and pulled out his knife and handing it to Feliciano.

"K-kiku, Luddy!" Feliciano cried nervously.

"Calm down Feliciano, just run back to the others," Ludwig commanded, taking a step back, the axe slicing through his jacket, just scratching the skin.

"B-but!"

"Prease do not worry for us Feli-kun," Kiku smiled softly at him, "after what you said, I think I can face death."

The girl lashed out at Kiku, the injury on the asian man hindered his movement, and he fell to the ground, crying out.

"Run Feli!" Ludwig yelled.

Feliciano trembled as he watched Ludwig leap at the girl, grabbing the handle of the axe, and wrenching it from her grasp. The girl paled, but pulled out a small knife from her pocket and stabbed Ludwig, once, twice.

He hit the ground beside Kiku.

The girl smiled as she approached the no longer trembling Feliciano.

"Stop..."

Her smile faltered, and she paused before continuing her advance. Feliciano looked at Kiku and Ludwig, and his grip on the knife tightened.

"I'm sorry bella, but…" Feliciano glared at her, "you've taken a man from his already broken brother, and another from his friends. I cannot forgive you."

I a single, fluid movement, Feliciano plunged the knife into the girl's throat, ignoring her small cry of fear. Her knees buckled and she collapsed.

Feliciano moved her to the side and approached Kiku and Ludwig. Ludwig's normally stern features had softened, and his blue eyes locked onto Feliciano's. Kiku glanced at Feliciano, and a weak smile appeared on his face.

"Gomenasai Feli-kun….. You wirr have to wait for us a rittre whire longer."

Ludwig blinked slowly,

"Just don't… forget to get us… dummkopf.."

A cannon went off for the human girl, and Feliciano winced.

Ludwig slowly reached out his hand,

"Promise you'll get us vhen the time comes."

Feliciano smiled as Ludwig extended his pinkie.

"I promise,"

Another cannon fired, Kiku was gone for now. Then, at last, Ludwig's eyes went blank and the final cannon fired. Feliciano sniffled, and carefully placed Ludwig's hand over his chest.

He's not dead idiot….

Feliciano smiled at the familiarity of the voice.

"I know," he paused, "and neither are you."

I'll make sure to get the potato bastard and Kiku back to you.

"si… thankyou.." Feliciano heard Arthur's anguished cry behind him as he reached the scene, " fratello…"

NO! What have I done? How could I kill Kiku (and Lutz)? Ah, well it'll be good in the end, promise! I just realised this story is very close to drawing to a close. But until then *throws around sadness like a boss, then goes into a corner to cry over Kiku (and Luddy)*

Also, I've been hearing about the hurricane Sandy, so I hope all you guys in that area are okay! You guys are from the country of the hero, so I know you'll be okay!

That's all for now, adieu!