YESH! I am finally back ^ ^ So, this chapter might be the saddest and the most OOC of all. Especially America. So... please don't find a tree and a rope yet and hang me because of that. I mean, seriously. If you don't want to see America being all mushy and stuff, this is your chance to not read this chapter. Well, this is your choice~
Chapter 6: The Saddest Liberation
"Cl-Clara!" Alfred kneeled down and held Clara in his arms. She was war-torned than the last time he saw her like this. She had bruises in her body and a few cuts. She also had her eyes closed. Alfred with guilt, sadness and anger in his face, caressed her left cheek. To his surprise, it was not as smooth as before. Indeed she was ruined by the war.
Suddenly, Clara opened her eyes slowly. And with shock she touched his face. "I-is that really you, kuya? Or am I dreaming again?" Alfred smiled and held her hand that was on his face. "It's really me, Clara. I have returned like I promised." Clara smiled, still in Alfred's arms. "I am sorry this has to happen." He told her while looking down. Clara frowned. "You were gone in a long time." Alfred laughed nervously. Then, he placed his free hand in her chest where her heart is. "Does this still hurt?" Clara looked at him. "How did you know that I have pains in there?" Alfred smiled. "I am the hero, of course!" Clara gave him a serious look. "Just kidding. I heard from Arthur that if the economical status of your country is weak, a nation might feel pains in his or her heart." Clara was amazed. Returning back to his question, "Sometimes. it would hurt." She admitted. "Since I am here, that pain would soon be gone! I'll help you rebuild your country." Clara giggled. "Thanks."
After staring at each other for a long time, he came back to his senses to call for back-up. "Hello, Mac? I got Clara already. We're in the basement." Alfred told the general. "Good work, Alfred. You need back-up?" Mac asked. "Yeah. And some Medics too. Clara's injured. And I think I got a bruise on my back." MacArthur, on the other line, nodded. "Sure. We'll be there in a minute or two. Oh and, Mr. Australia just came back here. His mission was accomplished." MacArthur replied. Alfred grinned then slid his phone back to his pocket. "Don't worry, Clara. Mac will be here in a minute to-" Alfred paused to see the nation in his arms to be asleep. Alfred sighed in relief. "You're sleeping, right, Clara?" Then, he checked her pulse. It was still beating. 'She must be stressed.'
As Alfred waited for MacArthur, he stared at Clara's face for a while. Examining her war-torned, yet beautiful face and caressing her delicate face gently. Out of the blue, Clara started to mumble words. Alfred leaned closer to hear it but she stopped mumbling thereafter. Alfred frowned now. 'She really is stressed.' He thought. Moments later, Mac's troop with a couple of Medics. Alfred stood up, still, Clara in his arms. MacArthur walked over to him. "Is Ms. Clara fine?" Alfred didn't answer. MacArthur got worried now. "Alfred? Is Ms. Clara fine?" Alfred looked at him. "She said her heart hurts sometimes. That's a bad sign, right?" Alfred worriedly asked. MacArthur looked away. "You better ask Mr. Kirkland for that" Alfred then transferred his gaze back at Clara sadly.
BACK AT ALFRED'S BASE~
After treating Clara's wounds at her house, Alfred (Clara is still in his arms) brought her to his tent. Then, he placed her down on his bed. All of a sudden, Clara woke up. She sat up and turned at Alfred as if it's the first time she saw him. "K-kuya?" Alfred also gave her a shocked look. "Um... yes, Clara?" Alfred went even more shocked when Clara jumped at him to hug him. He hugged her back, anyway. "Whoa, Clara! You're so hyper!" Alfred commented. Clara, who was now in his lap looked up to him. "I am just glad to see you again." She said with a sweet smile. Alfred felt a blush rush to his cheeks when he saw her smile. Alfred chuckled.
"Me too." he just hugged her again. "I missed you so much." he said. Then, Alfred yawned. "You're sleepy, right?" Clara asked. "Yeah. Pretty much." He answered. So, he carried her, much to her surprise, to the bed. "I know you're sleepy too." Alfred said with a grin. Clara blushed madly. They both lay down. The American blushed the moment he felt her arms hugged him. Then, Alfred hugged her back.
The moment the two was about to sleep, Alfred's phone rang. He gloomily answered it. "Whoever you are, you're destroying my moment of joy." He greeted. Suddenly, a familiar Italian accent was heard. "ANDAR VIA DA MIO SORELLA, BURGER-BASTARDO!" Lovino yelled which caused Clara to wake up. "L-Lovino." Clara said in shock. Unfortunately, Lovi heard Clara's voice. "S-sorella? Stiate bene? Did that burger-bastard did something unpleasant?" He asked. Clara giggled. She heard his voice. "
You worry-wart. Of course I am okay! Especially with kuya Alfred!" Alfred blushed as he gave the phone to Clara. But to Lovino, this is bad news. "CH-CHE COSA? MIO SORELLA LIKES TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THAT BURGER-BASTARD!" Lovino asked, almost fainting. Clara laughed. She's sensing that he's jealous. Again. After laughing too much, Clara talked to him again. "Y-you're jealous*giggles*aren't you, fratello? Come on! Don't lie!" Clara heard Alfred snickered. "N-no I am not! Why should I? Compared to me, I spent a hell lot of time with you than him, you know." Lovino said with full pride. Clara laughed. "Yeah." She replied, whispering.
After chatting for a while, Lovino finally said. "Are you okay there, Clara? I know that MY allies have been causing world destruction because of that potato-bastard. Plus, Feli was with him! Sometimes, that idiot follows the potato-bastard too much often. But, I and my twin ain't the bad guys here. It's that bastard Hitler. And, if ever Kiku hurt you, say it. I'll slug him and castrate him." Clara froze. "Okay. Bye-bye." She hurriedly replied then, gave the phone back to Alfred. "Hello?" Alfred asked if Lovino was still there. "Listen up, bastard. If ever something happens to Clara, I'll kill you. And, protect her with all your life. Protect her for me. That's all, ciao." Lovi hanged up. Alfred smiled. "Of course." He whispered.
"That was one long conversation, Clara." Alfred commented. Clara giggled. "Well, fratello did miss me. Plus, he's quite jealous that I get to spend more time with you than him." Alfred then, gave her the look of victory. "Hold your horses, kuya. Fratello did spend a lot more time with me." Suddenly, Alfred gave her the look of shocked and defeat. "It's a tie, then! What 'till I-" Alfred stopped talking when Clara place a finger in his lips. "Let's call this a day, or maybe a night, and sleep." The American smiled. Clara leaned closer to him then, removed her finger from his lips and replaced it with her own lips instead. Alfred blushed in shock. Then, she hurriedly lied down with the same blush on her face. "Good night, kuya." Alfred, still in his place stared at her. Sighed, smiled then, laid down beside her. "G'night, Clara."
"By the way, Claire, what's 'andar via da mio sorella'?" Clara rolled over to face him. "Get away from my sister..." Clara replied and placed her hand to his chest as she nuzzled to his side.
"Oh... so, he wants me to-"
"JUST SHUT UP AND SLEEP, DAMMIT!" This made him shut up and sleep. For once, she sounded like Lovino.
THE NEXT DAY~
Clara was first to wake up. Alfred was still asleep. 'It's not surprising that he's still asleep.' She thought and closed her eyes once more. This time, Alfred was next to wake up. The sun was blinding his eyes. "Morning already?" He mumbled then remembered that there was a sleeping nation beside him. So, he closed his eyes to sleep again. He suddenly opened his eyes wide. He remembered something. 'Crap! I still have to meet with Mac and Arthur! Wait, did I just said Mac and Arthur? Hehe, they somehow connect.' Alfred thought then laughed weakly. He gently pushed Clara away and crawled out of the bed. After fixing his hair and putting on his jacket, he headed outside but was stopped when he felt arms on his waist. He turned around and saw Clara stopping him.
"C-Clara? Why are you stopping me?" Slowly, she looked up to him. "D-don't leave me..." She felt a few tears on her eyes rolling down to her cheeks. Alfred turned at her as she let go of him. "Sure thing! I'll stay by your side." He assured her. Clara smiled weakly at him. Suddenly, Alfred carried her (like, totally bridal style) and placed her down the bed. "Rest, 'kay? You still have injuries, you know." Clara pouted. "I am okay." She insisted. Alfred laughed softly. "No you're not." He insisted while the other nation glared at him.
"Yes I am."
"No you're not!"
"Yes, I am!" The two started to yell at each other. "Just lie down!" Alfred again, insisted. "No! I won't!" Clara retorted. Alfred held her hands now. She was now struggling at his tight grip. "L-let me go kuya!" But still, Alfred did not let go off her. "K-Kuya!" To stop her struggling, Alfred hurriedly leaned and kissed her. This somehow softened her up a bit. Moments later, Alfred separated himself from her. He softly chuckled to see her surprised, blushing face.
Seeing his face, Clara hurriedly looked away. "Y-you don't have t-to do that, y-you know." She mumbled. The American laughed softly. "Now, will you rest?" He asked the other nation that was still looking away at him. Slowly, she turned to him. "F-fine. I will. Only if you promise to stay by my side always." She went back to the bed and lay down. Alfred followed her and sat beside her. "So what do you want to talk about now?" He asked, trying to break the silence. Clara stared at him for a while. "I don't really know. Maybe your plans and strategies?" She suggested. "Actually, I don't have a plan yet..." He admitted. Clara flinched in shock or maybe in pity. "Oh it's okay." Clara said in a comforting way.
Suddenly, Clara looked away and started to mumble something. "... Two years..." Alfred heard. "Hmm? Two years?" Clara looked at him. "Oh, it's nothing. It's just that, I missed you so much." Alfred, feeling the guilt, hugged her ever so tightly. "I missed you too." She hugged him back, wrapping her arms around his body. Clara felt the tears again. 'Damn tears' she thought. She shook it away and smile. 'I should be happ-"
Before she could finish her sentence, she felt the pain in her heart again. She tried to ignore it but it was now piercing her. Tightening her grip on Alfred's back, she tried to endure it. When the pain was about to leave, the piercing pain felt stronger. Stronger that it was the first time she felt it. After that, she felt nothing. Her hand fell from her grip on his back. She fainted in his arms. Alfred felt that her arms just fell. He felt his heart skip a beat.
Hurriedly, he laid her down the bed. She fainted, he thought. Worried that she might lose it, he hurriedly checked her breathing. 'N-nothing!' he thought. Next, he went to her wrist to check her pulse. After checking it, he slowly placed it down. "N-nothing..." he whispered. With the worry filling him, he called MacArthur and Australia.
"D-dude! Hurry up and come over to my tent! It's an emergency!" He nearly yelled at his phone. "Sure thing mate. What's the trouble?" Aussie asked. But Alfred already hanged up. Sensing trouble, Australia hurriedly went to his tent together with MacArthur. "He called you too, Mac?" MacArthur nodded. The moment they reached his tent, they saw Alfred, looking down, still holding Clara's wrist. "B-bro? You okay? What happened to Claire?" Australia was first to speak up. Alfred ignored this. As if hearing nothing.
"Alfred? Is Ms. Clara alright?" MacArthur asked the nation in his front. Slowly, Alfred turned to them. In his eyes were sadness, anger, guilt and pain. This time, MacArthur and Australia knew there was something wrong. MacArthur placed his gaze down while Australia went to Alfred's side. He stopped near the bed. There, he saw Clara's lifeless face. Her pale arms and the wrist that Alfred was holding. Her usual tanned-skin was now pale. This only leads to one conclusion; she's dead.
"M-mate, is she-"
"No! She's not dead!" Alfred denied the fact of her death. Unexpectedly, tears were seen falling down on the female nation's pale wrist. Australia frowned sadly. "B-but she's-" The Australian tried to speak again. "I said she's not yet dead!" Alfred faced Australia now. He yelled at him that caused MacArthur to look at them. His eyes were in tears. Australia shook his head. "Sh-she's just sleeping! Sh-she's... still alive..." The American denied again. More calmly now and tears was evidently falling from his eyes. Australia and MacArthur could only stare at him.
I warned you didn't I? So, please review~! And as for the Italian up there, go to Google translate please ^ ^