Really, there's not much to say here other than to thank you for the reviews from the previous chapter...I know there were few who got scared but, I tell you what—it gets darker! Things would get angstier soon.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia or its characters

Warning(s): Unbetaed, character death (attempts), drama, angst, mild swearing, OOC-ness, suicide

Chapter IV: Rueful Oblivion

Emil stopped short about a few feet from the doorway, staring at the tiny droplets of blood on the floor, staining the once cleaned carpet. His brother's blood painted the carpet red, creating a fuzzy horizontal line from the other end to another, making it looked like a wide canvas.

He considered tossing it on the laundry for him to clean tomorrow, but decided against it when he remembered it was the last carpet they have that wasn't on the laundry. Thus the carpet was already in tatters, the threads were starting to untwine and there were expanding wholes on the fabric.

(He was contemplating whether to throw it on the trash or keep it since the carpet was a memento from their grandparents back on Iceland).

Carefully, he settled Lukas' body down on the sofa, slowly as if his brother's like an old ragged doll made of glass, fragile and easy to break, and hesitantly unbuttoned his shirt—the blood was still vibrant on the once pristine fabric and the acrid smell of copper made Emil's stomach twist into a knot—to inspect his injuries.

Lukas' chest wasn't rising or falling, Emil noted and he pressed his palm against the blonde's ribs, feeling the rib cage behind his skin. A few ribs were broken and possibly shattered, he, and an incoherent crack was made when he accidentally prodded a finger down.

He winced away from Lukas (a precaution he learned when he did the action once in the past) as though the latter would snap his eyes open and scold him for doing so.

Yet the latter didn't.

He was still there, lying motionlessly on the couch, peacefully sleeping in his own oblivion.

Lukas was still dead, and held no signs of waking up.

It pained Emil to see him like this because it reminded him of his own uselessness—his brother have died for more than three times and he wasn't able to do anything else than to take him home and treat his injuries—and vulnerability every time he mourns for him.

He hated it, but, there's nothing he could do. He—they—didn't know much Lukas' condition or was to why he was dying only to rise up again like nothing was wrong. It was like in those video games Leon's brother, Kiku, played; once a character died, they would just respawn and continue as if they didn't die.

The same thing can be applied to Lukas, when he died his body stop functioning for a certain period of time, his wounds regenerating and when he wakes up, he would continue life as if nothing was wrong. At least that was he wanted Emil to believe (his brother was often devoid of emotions therefore, it was hard for Emil to tell whether Lukas was or wasn't affected by his death).

But then again, Emil didn't want that; he was a very rational person as oppose to Lukas, who believes in trolls and magical creatures, and there was no logical reason for this phenomenon to happen. Yes it could be a curse, but who would curse Lukas a fate worse than death (Mathias maybe, but he was a good person. Emil cannot see him to that!)

They once concluded that it was because of a divine interference or a mystical encounter that made Lukas like that, only to disregard when they thought it was impossible—come on, there's no real magic, is there?).

Emil closed his eyes, and inhaled slowly, trying to calm his nerves and tone down his rapid hear beat. He let his thoughts exaggerate again. Slowly, he inhales again, a mental count of five, and exhales. He could do this—they could overcome this together!

Finally gathering back his bearings, Emil went to the bathroom to get the first-aid kit from the cabinet. He took out a whole roll of bandage from the first-aid box, a rubbing alcohol, pair of scissors, and other things he needed in treating Lukas as he went back to the living room, carrying a stool with him.

He opened the lid off the alcohol, poured a certain amount on a cloth and wiped Lukas' head, erasing the trails of dried blood on the back of his head, on the nape and on his mouth. Then with the use of bandage, Emil carefully wrapped his brother's head with it, gently lifting his head to avoid further damage on the area.

Lastly, he treated his brother's arm; again he was careful not to break his arm and placed it in a way it won't be twisted violently or in danger of being hit. He also got him to change his shirt, throwing the blood soaked shirt on the laundry to get cleaned, and went back to his brother's side, sitting on the stool to rest.

A hand lifts and grasps for his arm, and Emil's eyes rolled down to meet Lukas' violet orbs, they were beautiful despite being dull and lifeless, a trait Emil shared with his brother (though Emil's wasn't lifeless), and forced a tired smile.

"I see you're awake now," Emil said, voice still but tired. Lukas nodded, humming in response. "I found you lying on the street, dead, when Leon and I went out...You bled to death and a few of your ribs were broken, probably because of the car's impact. Mathias is fine, but he was sent to the hospital due to minor injuries"

"I see," came Lukas' short reply. He tried to sit up, but Emil gently pushed him back down, coaxing him he doesn't have the energy to, and snorted on his (Emil's) behavior. "So, you walked me all the way here?"

"As always" Lukas faintly smiled when he heard his brother's reply and Emil turned around, embarrassed, not letting Lukas see the redness of his face (and it didn't help when his stomach suddenly grumbled). He stood up from the stool and went to the kitchen, thinking it was time for them to eat. "Hey, what would you want to eat?"

"Something light—I felt nauseous"

"Okay" Emil said and started preparing the ingredients. Lukas said he needed something light and there were a few things that came in his mind but thought soup would do for he would just put chicken strips and noodles to make it tastier. Yeah, that's what he'll do and started cooking for the both of them.

"Where the heck were you? I've been searching for you for, like, thirty minutes and I didn't see you" Leon said, voice showing irritation and towards the person on the other line.

"Ah yeah about that," Emil bit his lip. He remembered that he completely forgotten about his friend when he saw Lukas lifeless on the ground and told him nothing before disappearing. "Lukas asked me to run an errand for him since he's coming home late due to some kind of research for his club"

"Oh yeah, what was it?" Leon asked, doubtful of the alibi Emil gave to him. He often perceive lies when he was still a child because of the environment he was before prior moving to Yao's household where he was treated nicely by his step siblings. How he knew or how he learned that was beyond for us readers who are reading this work. But he could clearly tell something's wrong with Emil's reasoning.

"It's complicated," came Emil's reply with a sigh released. "Listen, I have to go now—the soup's almost ready and I'm already starving. If you have anything to say, please, could we just talk about it tomorrow?"

Leon opened his mouth to protest, obviously about why he was lying to him, but the tone was desperate and lack of vividness made him shut his mouth and protests stuck on his throat. He wondered how Emil became that tired or what he did to sound so forlorn and despondent. It made Emil looked grieving for he had lost something important (and his heart ached when he did imagine that).

But whatever it was—a thing, a person, an animal, an event—he would get to the bottom of it. Even if he has to pry into the deepest secret of his best friend's life, he would.

He will find out and no one's going to stop him.

"Alright," Leon said, giving up for now. "But promise me you would, like, tell me every single detail (big and small) by tomorrow, okay?"

"Yeah I will," Emil said. "Well then, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, Leon"

Leon hummed in response and hung the phone, causing Emil to hang up as well. Emil went back to the kitchen, getting the pot from the stove and placed it on the table. He took the cover off the pot, letting the steam escape, the tempting aroma filling up the dining room, and he took two small bowls, filled it with soup and once again, they ate in silence.

Mathias got out of the hospital a few hours later after the doctors deemed he was safe to go home and that his injury, his leg was placed in a cast, was already disinfected. The driver, who got almost got into an accident, apologized profusely for the nth time to Mathias and his parents, swearing to be more careful next time.

Mathias waved his hand dismissively, stating he was just fine and there were no further casualties involved. Sure he was slightly vexed for his careless driving (it turns out the driver was texting while driving), but it was partly Mathias' fault for not looking at the stop light. If anything, he found the situation pitiable.

Anyway here he was now, laying on his stomach, reading a comic book lent to him by his newly acquired friend, Alfred. The comic book was about a group composed of five people, who were living a tough life while trying to live normally. But unfortunately one of them has an unusual ability, was branded as freak, and shunned down by the society (or at least those who knew).

The theme of the book focuses on the dark side of life, preferably sticking on the motto 'life's unfair', though because of their friendship (as Alfred calls it "the power of heroic friendship") they were able to live happily ever after despite of their predicament.

Mathias, on the other hand, found it funny despite of its dark tone for the protagonist was as oblivious as a child; he couldn't tell that his friend was already suffering thus making him sort of blind. Yes you could call the protagonist an idiot, but there was something underneath that screamed 'irony' in the situation.

"Mathias, dear, it's time for breakfast!" his mother said from downstairs while setting the plates on the table. Mathias happily oblige, tucking the comic book in his bag and yanked it to his shoulder as he made his way down, but not before taking his crutches resting against the wall.

"Good morning mom" he said, settling on a chair and poked his food. Bacon and eggs; a very typical breakfast. Hurriedly he wolfed it, chocking at some point, but continued to swallow down without even drinking water. A few seconds later, he set the bowl down, a satisfied grin plastered in his face.

"Man that was good~" his mother smiled and gave him his lunch. Mathias happily took it and kissed his mother goodbye before going out and went to school.

Yes, what a very typical morning indeed.

"Lukas!" Lukas turned around. His vision catching the Dane walking towards him, crutches on both of his hands, and greeted him. The Norwegian stated bemusedly, scowling at his friend's pitiable state (is this how Emil defines the word 'fine'?)

"What—what the heck happened to you? You looked miserable" Lukas asked, voice indistinguishable between emotionless and disgust. He scanned his friend from head to toe, inspecting if there were any more wounds.

"Yeah I know. I must have twisted it when I fell backwards," Mathias laughed it off, waving his hand dismissively. "But hey, you aren't any better yourself!" he protested, trying to prod the cast on the other blonde's arm before it was yanked away from him.

"Obviously" Lukas sarcastically hissed, rolling his eyes. "If you were careful with your surroundings, none of these must have happened"

"Yeah right—sorry" Mathias solemnly said, walking beside his friend as they went to their first class. He fell silent after that, a confused expression formed in his face and his eyes clouded, possibly trying to remember something, and looked at Lukas again. "Hey Lukas were where you again after you saved me from the car? I didn't saw you"

Lukas visibly stiffened, his mind running blank as he think of a plausible excuse to say. He knew Mathias didn't see him flying a few feet away or did he know Lukas died on the street, bleeding. And if he did, he shouldn't be asking right now. Besides it was impossible for him to leverage himself on the same boat as Emil that easily (they weren't that close, were they?)

There were many contingencies running on his head on how the Dane would react if he did say the truth, and knowing him, he might throw a fit, especially since he was the cause of his death. He might even be pitied—the look on his brother's face (tired sympathetic eyes, forlorn expressions, and forced smile) he loathed it—and Lukas hates being pitied.

Heck, Mathias might even turn into a mother hen if he knew!

Therefore, Lukas decided to play safe. He would just lie (who doesn't lie?) to Mathias, stating Emil told him to go home early or perhaps he had an errand to run. And if his excuse wasn't accepted, he would just strangle him with a tie stating it wasn't his business. It was really simple, wasn't it? But then why was it so hard to do so?

"Umm..." Lukas was left speechless, voice trailing off at the last minute, and was fishing out the first excuse that comes in his mind that doesn't involve the things above. "I think I left something in my locker"

"Hmm?"

"Oh screw it!" Lukas sighed/exclaimed, voice beyond snapping point and irritation. He stormed off the opposite side where their first classes will be.

"Hey!" Mathias wanted to follow him but shrugged it off, telling himself Lukas was just going to get whatever thing he left on the locker, and proceeded on his first class.

Unbeknown to him, it was almost time for the Norwegian's guilty pleasure (session).

"Okay now, I want you to form a group of three—absentees could also be counted in the group— in the count of ten, ready aru?" Yao Wang, their teacher in History (okay why was he placed in History...well I don't know myself), started counting off as students went scrambling, stumbling on some point while searching for suitable partners for the project. In short, things went rowdy.

"Nine"

Mathias looked around the chaotic classroom, eyes wandering from corner to corner, searching for a certain American and German ("hey I'm Prussian!), and found them hugged by a certain Frenchman, who was spreading amour on the atmosphere.

Looks like his first options were immediately shut down.

"Eight"

Tino stared at the empty chair beside him, wondering why the Norwegian absent was.

"Seven"

Ivan smiled. His classmates were very kind and accepted his offer to be their partner when he had asked, completely oblivious of the aura he was emitting.

"Six"

Alfred was disappointed. He was contented teaming up with Gilbert, but with Francis, he wouldn't want to know. Oh how he wishes that the Brit was in the same room.

"Five"

Eduard and Ravis were terrified. The two of them were just having a conversation about their adopted brother when the Russian with an intimidating aura approached them, a pipe gripped firmly on his hand.

Then they knew; resistance is futile.

"Four"

Because he wasn't good at socializing, Vash glared at anyone who dared to approach him. The presence of neutrality showered upon him, and he finally decided to work alone.

"Three"

"Kumachika, why do you think I'm invisible?"

The polar bear looked at his owner, puzzled. "Who are you?"

"I'm Matthew"

"Two"

"Hey Tino, my man, let's be partners!" Mathias grinned, placing an arm around Tino. He knew the Finnish man still doesn't have any partner because his childhood friend, Eduard was already taken by Ivan. Besides he was a friend of Lukas and Lukas friends are his too.

"Sure—whatever you want" Tino smiled albeit nervously. The Dane wasn't the type of person he often hangs around with and perhaps maybe, on the bright side, having as a partner would help him interact better, right?

"One," Yao clasped his hands together as he calms down the class, instructing them to go back to their places and discuss the upcoming project. He cleared his throat. "Okay, I see you most of you already have partners and now let's get to the topic of the project, aru."

"The project sounds very simple—since this was only the first week of the class—and may look like an elementary schooler's job, but I want you to find an article—either from the internet, magazine, or the newspaper—that's both has sense and praise worthy significance on the world surround us, aru" He said, pausing for a while to check on their reactions. The class kept quiet. "Then I want you to write a group essay about it, stating your opinions and your perspective based on the article. Deadline would be in two weeks, aru. Class Dismissed!"

Yao turned to the door and went out as the class exploded into nonsense chatters about the project, planning on what to do and so forth on the subject. Mathias quickly stuffed his books in his bag, tucking the screwed items in and gave Tino a ruffle in the hair before heading out for lunch.

But actually, in reality, he was not. He wasn't going to the canteen today. Nope, he would skip his hang-out with both Alfred and Gilbert, because he was going to find Lukas. After all, he didn't go to their first class or on the second or the next one after that, and being friends with him for such a long time, he knew Lukas wasn't the type of person to skip class.

Or unless something had happen to him.

Now that he mentioned it, wasn't Lukas acting strange that morning. Sure he was with his emotionless façade again, but something didn't seem right. His eyes, as far as he could remember, were tired, void and utterly dull as if he didn't sleep a wink.

Was it because of him carelessly crossing the street? Was it because he was so ignorant that Lukas had to pull him out? But that didn't seem to be the issue—it was only a little thing.

He means no one died right, and they only have cast on themselves as well as a few bruises, but other than that, there was no fatality.

Thus, Lukas wasn't complaining much about it, so surely it can't be it, can it?

Mathias stopped running (since when had he been running?) as realization dawned to him. He turned his vision to his hands as he lifts them a little bit, watching something that isn't there. His hands were red (why were they red), and it was trailing down to his wrist, elbows and drips on the floor.

No, his mind said, horrified of the discovery he made. Lukas...h-he didn't just pull me out, he...placed himself forward, to protect me, a-and he flew away and...

His thoughts were not finished when he suddenly broke into a sprint, frantically running for his life, hoping that he can find him on time. He didn't know why he just sprinted off, but something in his guts told him to hurry, to call him, to comfort him, while it still last. But, Mathias hopes that wherever Lukas is, he was safe and on the note, alive.

Man, he was never going to borrow a comic book from Alfred again.

I didn't know what I just write. But hopefully the next one would be more awesome and perhaps stable.