((Well, I've had a few people asking to continue this so, just for them, I'm going to keep going with this. I even got someone on here asking me to update this. Just, wow, I thought it wasn't very good but I guess I've been proved wrong. The same warning applies as last time and a new one is in effect; if you are allergic to feels, don't read this. Lots of love!))

Chapter 2-Loneliness

His journey continued on, solitary as ever, into the drying summer air. The smell of decay had become almost tangible in the stifling air; Ludwig walked, a bandana tied around his face, looking like an old western outlaw. "Just like in Alfred's Westerns." he thought, laughing a little at the thought. Alfred would have slapped a ten gallon hat on his head and declared him ready for a train heist. The distraction of his silliness and Feli's enthusiasm for the idea would be a welcome distraction. The smell was really getting to him, a moist, humid rotting odor that had soaked into his skin and hair. People had fought by the river, most likely a spat over the use and defense of the creek; they had died around and in the water, tainting it with their putrid corpses.

Ludwig sighed as he watched the seemingly clear water flow by him and wondered how long he would have to travel before he felt safe drinking the water. Unluckily for him the battle had not gone on by the creek or just across one side but, in the water itself. There seemed not to be a single body not touching the water.

A breeze blew from upriver, clean and fresh, Ludwig dared taking off the covering on his nose and mouth. He immediately regretted it; the breeze, weak to begin with, had died, leaving the bodies' stench to hit him full force. He bent double and vomited onto a young woman's body while his vision flickered and then collapsed in the grass, unconscious.

He dreamt, but did not know he was, and the dream was so real. He was home, not his house in his homeland, but his home with Feli. The room was dim, only lit with candles, scented with a light rose aroma rising from the petals strewn on the bed and floor. Feliciano was leading him by his hand into the room with a shy smile on his lips and a slight blush on his cheeks.

"I wanted tonight to be special, Ludwig. Something just for us to remember, even when we are apart." he said, tugging his arm gently but insistently until he came into the room fully. The stunned German had been standing in the door, blushing and trying to speak; he only made strangled sounds that made Feliciano smile.

He took Ludwig in his arms and held him close, waiting for him to respond. Ludwig blushed deeply but, was still touched by the whole thing; he understood Feli's feelings. Even if you live forever, one night can mean more than your whole existence.

He wrapped his arms around Feliciano, savoring the feeling with him, knowing one day this might be gone then he lifted Feli into his arms and kissed the surprised Italian on the lips. "Tonight it is only us, nothing else." he whispered. He added, hesitating because he had never said it before, "I love you, Feliciano. You are my whole world."

He carried the small Italian to the bed and left him there. He lay there, stunned at Ludwig's actions and words. Ludwig took off his own shirt and tossed it aside then stripped off Feliciano's shirt as well, again tossing it aside. He then lay next to Feli, chest to chest, holding him close; wanting desperately to make love with him but he wanted to wait, he wanted to remember this moment more than any in his life.

After a few moments of silence, Feli asked, "Are you not ready for this?" There was embarrassed hesitation in his voice that Ludwig hated. He took Feli in his arms and fervently kissed him. Showing him his answer, not telling him; the night continued, a confused passion of love and tenderness between the two lovers. Both of them remembered it the rest of their lives.

Through the night Feliciano lay cuddled at his side, Ludwig's arm wrapped around him protectively. The Italian slept hard, a happy smile on his lips, while Ludwig stayed up watching Feli for a few minutes and thought before going to sleep, "How can I live without him now?" while brushing hair out of Feli's face causing him to cling tighter to Ludwig. He slept peacefully through the night.

When Ludwig awoke, his bandana had fallen off and he had collapsed on top of the woman he had vomited on. Horrified after the gentle, tender dream, the scrambled as fast as he could away from where he had lain, almost screaming in terror as he went.

The woman had a soft complexion with long flowing hair. In life she had been beautiful, now, she lay half in the creek, covered in his thin vomit. Her dress was torn and stained, but pulled straight, as if with her last breath she wanted to fix it. Her hair, a mousy brown, was bound back by a white bandana, tied like she was going to do housework. An apron peeked out from beneath her, a dull, dirty gray. It was Elizaveta Héderváry, Miss Hungary.

She had a hand made bow in her hands, her quiver shattered some feet away. Ludwig kept staring at her body; he couldn't look away. Then saying a quiet goodbye he got up and kept walking on, his heart hard and his mind blank, striving to banish the look of pure fear on Elizaveta's face. The same one he had seen on Feliciano's months ago as he slipped away from Ludwig in the night.

~((Doitsu))