Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. However in ten years, I will own the world.

Dome

Chapter 2: The Day gets Better

Previously:

He seemed nervous and on high alert. "Arthur, I… I have to tell you something…"

The breath caught in my throat. "Of course. What is it?" I asked worried for his answer.

Continued:

I watched as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other nervously. His eyes were angled toward the ground as if looking at something I could not see. I wanted to know what he had to tell me and why he had been forced to stay after class for so long. I was a curious person by nature, unfortunately, and it was not helping with patience. But I forced myself to wait until Kiku was ready to tell me. I wouldn't force him into something uncomfortable for him in a million years.

"I broke into the Mayor's records." Kiku said softly and nervously as if I would shun him as soon as I knew.

My eyes widened slightly. "Kiku… When?" I couldn't quite get out what I wanted to say. "Why?"

"I was scared, Arthur." Kiku defended himself, "I wanted to know what went on during the May 19th ceremonies. I thought that if I knew it would eliminate my fears, but it only made them so much worse."

And there went my curiosity again. "The ceremonies?" I asked, "What happens during the ceremonies?"

Kiku shook his head. "I'll be putting us both in more danger than we already are if I tell you. I'm sorry, Arthur." Kiku looked as if he were about to cry as he spoke. Suddenly he pulled me into a tight hug. I hugged him back fondly and tried to comfort him.

"Arthur, listen." He whispered sternly all sadness drained from his voice and seriousness in its place, "Each and every one of us is being watched. It doesn't stop, it never stops. Not even when we're asleep. They know everything, Arthur. Use your eyes, they've always been there."

He pushed away abruptly tears dripping from his eyes. "I'm sorry. So very sorry." The sadness had returned to his voice as if it had never left. "But this is the last time you and I see each other."

"What?" I exclaimed. I certainly was not expecting to lose my best friend. To be fair he was my only friend so that made him the 'best' friend. "Kiku, what are you talking about? Why do we have to spilt ways after knowing each other since childhood?"

"I just can't do this anymore!" he shouted, "I can't! I've lost so much sleep over this and… I just can't, Arthur. Goodbye." With those final words he turned and fled down the alleyway.

I could feel a part of me leave with him as he ran away from me. I still stood in the same spot for who knows how long just staring at the spot where I last saw him. Why? Why did he leave me? I began to ponder this. Maybe I did something wrong. I tried to think back on the last few weeks, looking for anything I might have done or said that perhaps offended him but I found nothing. It was possible that I had done something and he just didn't react at that particular time. I was jerked rudely from my thoughts for no precise reason and came back to reality. I looked up at the artificial sky which had slowly fading colors of orange and reds more towards my left while the rest was covered in a dark blue. I felt my heartbeat speed up in panic. How long had I been out here? I had to get home before six or everything would be thrown into chaos. I was about to run home faster than I had ever run in my life but I stopped. I had only managed to take a step forward but then I felt a presence behind me as if something or someone else was there.

"Better hurry."

I spun around too quickly and landed on the ground with a soft "oof". I looked around quickly seeing nothing but growing shadows from the buildings. I could have sworn there was somebody there. I had heard them talk. Maybe I was just imagining things? I pushed myself up of the ground and ran home as fast as I could, but by the time I had reached the house the dome ceiling was dark. The only light was from the few lights inside houses. I walked up to the front door to my house slowly as I attempted to slow my racing heart. I grabbed the copper door knob and pushed. The door opened with a loud and long squeak. I didn't even have to call out to any one before I was swarmed.

"Arthur!" my mother called running over to me. "Thank the gods that you're alive. We were so worried about you!"

My father was the one I saw next, his eyes threatening and terrifying. "Where have you been, son?" he asked.

I gulped and held down the shiver that wanted to run down my spine. Their eyes and voices were saying one thing but the smiles glued on their faces said that they couldn't be happier. "I'm sorry." I said managing to keep my voice still. "Just lost track of time is all."

I heard heavy footsteps and looked up. In front of the steps were two men dressed in nice clothes. Their hair was short and brown while their eyes were covered with dark glasses. I found it strange that the two were wearing the glasses. After all it was nearly pitch black outside. The glasses would only make it darker. On top of that they were inside. Growing up, we were taught that wearing sunglasses inside a house that wasn't yours was considered to be quite rude. Had these men's mothers taught them nothing? I greeted them politely but a small voice in the back of my mind screamed for me to turn and run but I pushed it away.

"Arthur, would you mind answering some questions for us?" One of them asked.

"Alone of course." The other added.

I looked nervously to each of my parents before nodding and walking closer to them. "Of course."

They motioned for me to come into the kitchen before walking away. I looked back at my parents, still forever smiling, and headed into the kitchen.

"Sit down." They pointed to the chair across the table.

I pulled out the chair and did as I was told. I watched from the corner of my eye as the one who wasn't already sitting shut the door and closed the curtains. I swallowed a lump in my throat, nervously. What did they want from me? I never stepped out of the lines that had been set, I hadn't even thought about it. I was far too scared by the stories that were told of disappearing people.

"Now, we want you to know that you're not in any trouble."

I could have burst out laughing. Not in any trouble? I begged to differ. There were people in my house that were not my family. Of course I was in trouble why else would they be here? I keep the laugh down thankfully.

"No?" I asked curiously.

"No." the man across from me repeated, "We just want to know where you were."

I couldn't tell them about the secret place so I stretched the truth a bit. "In some alley way just a few blocks down." I did technically go down an alleyway just a few blocks down to get to the secret place.

"What were you doing in the alleyway?" he asked. It was almost insulting the way he was questioning me. As if I was some simple child that knew nothing.

"Nothing." I retorted fiercely.

"Absolutely nothing?" they asked.

I sighed in exasperation. "Yes." I replied trying not to growl, "Absolutely nothing."

He paused for a moment and I could tell that he was trying to read my facial expressions and eyes. He was going to get nowhere from this. Why was he even bothering? I had never heard of someone being questioned before they would vanish. Then again if they had vanished they wouldn't be able to tell anyone.

"Was anyone with you?"

"No." I hope I didn't say that too quickly. It was a flat out lie and it was probably easily to see that it was.

The man sat back in his chair. I could tell the corners of his lips were twitching ever so slightly as if he was holding back a smirk. I knew that I had said it too quickly and now it was all over. I would wake up tomorrow in a strange place and never see my family or friends again. That is if I was lucky enough to wake up at all. Perhaps they would just kill me in the night and pass it off as an accident.

The other man (who I had forgotten was even in the room) opened the curtains again.

"You're free to go." Said the one who had been questioning me as he opened the door.

Outside of the kitchen my eyes immediately fell to my parents. Both were kneeling with their heads bowed in front of the hooded praying statue. They looked up as they heard my footsteps as I walked to the doorway.

"Arthur," my father said.

He looked like he wanted to say more but my mother cut him off. "Why don't you wash up and get ready for bed, dear." She suggested.

I nodded tiredly and headed up the stairs slowly. I could hear the men walk into the living room behind me and on a spur of the moment deisicon, I found myself pressed against the upstairs wall listening to them talk.

"He answered our questions however none of the answers were truthful. Did you not teach him what happens to liars?"

"Of course we did." That was my mother's voice, "We always reminded him when he was younger. Part of being a parent is raising the child to be a perfect citizen."

There was a pause for a moment before the officers spoke up once more. "We think that it would be best for your son to go up in levels at school. There is a private school were only the top students go to. Maybe focusing on his studies will break his delinquent streak."

"Private school?" my father asked.

"Yes we will pick him up tomorrow morning. He will not need to pack anything. We will provide him new things at the school."

I went into my room quickly and quietly. I pushed the door shut with a soft click and collapsed onto my bed. Private school? I hugged my pillow tightly. I didn't want to leave everyone here, I couldn't. They said they would give me new things. Does that mean that I'm staying at the school? What about my parents? What about my little sister, Petey? I haven't spent any time with her lately. I can't leave her! Sure we fight nearly constantly and call each other names but that doesn't mean that I don't love her. And what about Kiku? I'd never have a chance to make up with him. My parents hadn't even fought back! Shouldn't both me and my parents get a say in this? They'd both say that they wanted me to stay home and they couldn't bear to live without me.

I turned over on my bed and stared out the window. They would want me to stay, right? I pushed the thoughts from my head quickly. Of course they'd want me to stay. They were my parents after all. But then again…

I turned again. This time I laid on my back with my arms spread out and my head on my pillow. I didn't even know any more. Everything was so confusing. I just wanted to wake up and find out that everything had all been just a dream.

So first things first. I had eggs and toast for breakfast this morning and didn't notice it until halfway through. I almost laughed but didn't cause my mom might just send me to the funny farm if I laughed at eggs and toast. She already knows I'm insane. She just doesn't know how bad it actually is. And I though I joke about voices in my head, telling her that my characters will somethimes actually pop up and say things is out of the question.

Thank you so much for the people who reviewed and faved and put this on their alerts! I love you so much! *hugs*

And we have a name for Thailand! Yay! Thank you xFlying-Mint-Bunnyx (I love your name) for suggesting Malian for his name.

Also this chapter would have been sooner but I get distracted very easily and I'm also very curious. So xIkuna said that this reminded her of No. 6 and there goes my curiousity. I am on episode 8 of 9 currently and read some fanfiction of it (did this all today). Why are there only 9 episodes? I like it, it needs to continue. Also I feel like my favorite character is going to die (my favorite character ALWAYS dies but that's not the point). On top of that I would have started Thurday but I was doing an english paper that was due friday. And why didn't I update friday? Let me introduce you to a new word that more or less has the same definition as Hell. Football season. And while some of you may like football going in wool overalls, a wool jacket and a leather overlay does not geel good in 90 degree weather. In fact this outfit does not feel good ever. And while I love being in marching band and preforming at half time, sitting in the stands just sucks espically cause I have no idea what is going on. I sit there and hope for a mercy rule cause that is the only thing I know because it gets me out of there faster.

I'll shut up now.

I still need names for: Cyprus, Wy, Seaborg, Picardy, and Osaka. Please suggest names!

Please review! Oh yeah and happy Labor Day Weekend! (not quite sure what the heck Labor Day is so I'm going to have to look it up later but happy Labor Day Weekend anyway)

Other info: Published: September 4th, 2011. Words: 2,003 Written: September 4th, 2011.