I'm sorry...the evil Ivan trope is so common, but I needed someone 'bigger and badder' than Roderich to get things going xD Anyway, I hope you enjoy the next chapter!

Thank you for all of your reviews, they really encourage me and help me keep writing!

Just as a clarification(or in case I wasn't clear in the first couple of chapters) - I wrote and think of demon!Alfred as SweetDevil!America, but with red eyes. He has black hair and extremely pale skin(which 2p!America doesn't), but since both sweetdevil!America and 2p!America don't really have solid canon characterizations, I don't really mind if you imagine demon!Alfred as 2p! or Sweet Devil. Whatever you had in mind from the start works! Sorry for the confusion. ^^;

Please don't forget to review!

"Excuse me?"

"Like I said. But we will just have to wait and see," Ivan said simply as he walked, dragging Arthur with him. The pole was tightly woven around him, and it was becoming difficult to breathe. He forced his legs to move.

"I-I don't think he knows where I am," Arthur managed, coughing a bit. "This is all futile."

"I do not think so," Ivan said cheerily, turning to smile at him. His smile was overtly sinister at this point, and Arthur couldn't stop himself from shuddering. He knew Ivan noticed, as his smile only grew wider. "I think he knows exactly where you are."

"I left him," Arthur said weakly. "I..."

"Oh." Ivan stopped suddenly, looking up at the sky and cutting Arthur off. "That did not take long. I am impressed with your bond, Arthur Kirkland."

Arthur followed Ivan's gaze. His eyes widened.

It was Alfred. His eyes were red with rage as he landed on the ground, his black wings retracting as he walked towards them.

"Let him go," Alfred growled, his hands in fists. "Fuck off, Ivan. He isn't a part of this."

Arthur noticed that Alfred was pointedly avoiding his gaze, but he instantly winced as the pipe tightened around him even further.

"But he is," Ivan said, a smile growing on his face. "You made him so, no?"

"Fuck off."

"Such bad language," Ivan tutted, frowning slightly. "Not good. It is time to come home, yes?"

"That's not my home," Alfred spat, and as Arthur watched, his eyes slowly changed from red to blue, while his hair remained jet black.

Was he becoming better? More...more human?

Arthur struggled to take deep breaths, but he knew his lungs barely had any space to expand.

"Let Arthur go. I..."

Ivan waited.

"I'll come with you if you let him go."

"Alfred, no!" Arthur exclaimed without thinking. Ivan's eyes narrowed, and the pipe around him tightened again. Arthur winced, squeezing his eyes shut.

He couldn't breathe at this point. He blinked several times, trying to stabilize himself, but his vision was becoming alarmingly blurry.

"Very good. Very simple, yes?"

Suddenly, the pipe slackened, and relief ran through Arthur as he slumped to the ground.

Ivan's pipe grew smaller, and he held it in his hand as he walked over towards Alfred, completely ignoring Arthur.

His arms and stomach ached where the pipe pressed into him, and his back felt abused. He took heaving breaths, his eyes wide with subsequent panic.

They had come too far for this. Arthur could feel it. They were so close, Alfred was so close, and everything that had happened up until now...it was no coincidence.

Because...because...

'I am drawn to you like a magnet

Even if I left, we would find each other again...'

And Arthur knew that he never wanted to let Alfred go again. Whatever he had done in his previous life, whatever he would continue to do...he knew that there was only one thing that was always true. Only one thing that mattered, beyond anything else.

It was more precious than anything in the world. In any world.

Alfred.

Before he knew what he was doing, Arthur dashed over to Ivan and Alfred. Ivan was reaching for Alfred's arm, and before Arthur could stop himself he rushed between them, as if on instinct. His back to Alfred, he faced Ivan, his arms spread as if to protect Alfred.

"Don't touch him," Arthur hissed, and Ivan's eyes widened in surprise.

"Arthur, what are you doing?" demanded Alfred quietly, his tone confused.

"Alfred, I...I realized something," Arthur began. His tone wavered, but he knew he couldn't back out. He couldn't brush it off. Not like he did last time. He had to be strong. Clear.

Without hesitating, he turned around suddenly, reaching for Alfred, and his heart reveled at how it felt so right when he brought his face to Alfred's and kissed him.

Arthur drew back quickly, just in time for Alfred to get over his surprise, and whispered, "Alfred, you did this to yourself. You let your love, your jealousy, eat at you, consume you whole until you had nothing left but hatred. You made a mistake, Alfred. But you grow from it. You learn."

Alfred froze, his wide eyes locked on Arthur's.

Arthur's voice grew stronger as he continued. "Do I forgive you? No."

Alfred's eyes fell.

"So make it up to me. Don't give up on yourself. Give yourself the justice, the second chance, that you deserve, 'hero.'"

Alfred's eyes widened as Arthur smiled slightly at him. He noticed with satisfaction that Alfred's mouth was open slightly, as if he wanted to say something but was speechless. Finally, Alfred was out of words.

"Prove to me that you can and you will live, with or without me. Y-You...you scared me, Alfred. Hearing that from you...from the Alfred I know, it terrified me. It didn't make sense."

Arthur felt his face heat up. He wasn't used to being this vulnerable. This exposed, this open...he hated it. But he had to do it for Alfred.

"B-But then I realized that people are irrational. Love is irrational. And...and I love you, Alfred," Arthur continued, his voice fading to a whisper. "So please. You are strong. You are brave. I told you before, that I would never leave your side again."

Arthur knew no more words were needed as Alfred fiercely embraced him. His back and ribs protested, but it felt so warm, so good that Arthur offered no resistance.

Because this was what he wanted, and he heard Alfred murmuring 'I love you' over and over again into his shoulder. His heartbeat rapidly increased, and he felt his eyes water slightly.

He suddenly felt something warm seep into his shirt, and he realized that Alfred was crying.

And Arthur wrapped his arms around Alfred, accepting him. The great, horrible mess of emotions that he was. The energetic ball of ideas, curiosity, positivity, and obnoxious laughter that he once was, and that he would be once again.

And Arthur would have it no other way.

It was only then that Arthur realized they weren't alone. And as he quickly broke the embrace, turning around, he found Matthew standing near them, preventing Ivan from disturbing them.

Ivan seemed to be suspended in motion, as if Matthew had laid some sort of spell on him that froze him.

"Matthew!" Arthur exclaimed, and Matthew turned around with a smile.

"Arthur. You survived," he said quietly, wincing. "If...I wasn't supposed to see you again."

"But you have."

"I...I can hold Ivan off for a bit longer, but..." His eyes dimmed. "If Ivan captures Alfred, you will never see him again. So..." Matthew closed his eyes. "Before that happens..." He opened them again, holding out a palm to Arthur. "Take my hand."

Arthur quickly took it.

"Take Alfred's."

Arthur grabbed Alfred's hand with his other hand, as Alfred still appeared to be a bit stunned.

"Normally I help people go to heaven," Matthew said, a grimace on his face. It looked so out of place, so wrong, that Arthur frowned. "But in this case, I am going to send you..." He let out a deep breath. "To where Ivan would least expect."

"I don't have much time," Matthew explained, noticing Arthur's gaze. "Prepare yourself. You'll have to figure out how to get back. But...but I'm sure that you two will figure it out. You always have, and you always will." He smiled. "Best of luck, Arthur."

Alfred's gaze suddenly fixed on Matthew, and his eyes widened in recognition. "Holy...Matthew! Matthew, that's you, isn't it? Oh my god, Matt, I...I!"

Matthew's eyes widened, but it was too late.

Because Alfred and Arthur were surrounded by light, and sent into darkness before Matthew could respond.

"Ugh...what..."

Arthur stirred as he heard Alfred groan next to him, and as he opened his eyes, he realized he couldn't see anything.

Everything was dark. He felt along the ground, feeling dirt under him, as he reached out.

"A-Alfred? Where are you?"

"Arthur! I'm...I'm here," Alfred said, gripping Arthur's arm. Arthur relaxed suddenly, until a new voice interrupted them.

"A-Al, dear, is that you? What are you doing in the underworld?"

Elizaveta.

Arthur jumped, turning around towards the voice.

And as his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could see a figure leaning against the wall.

Her hair had been cut off, and Arthur could see that it was growing back badly. It was barely at her ears, giving her a sort of boyish look, but her hair was uneven and stuck out at weird angles. But those kind green eyes and horns...it was Elizaveta, no doubt.

Her horns were much more visible, but they seemed smaller than before, if that was possible.

"Alfred...Arthur..." Elizaveta struggled to move towards them, but she quickly slumped back down again. A smile spread across her bruised, dirty face. "I never thought I'd see you again."

The two rushed over to her. Her wrists were shackled to the wall, while her ankles were shackled to the floor. She looked paler than they had ever seen, and her body was terribly emaciated.

"Elizaveta...we thought..." Alfred began. Arthur was speechless.

Elizaveta shook her head. "They just captured us. Detained us for...helping you. I think Gil got out...but...he got captured again. They took him to another cell, so...I-I've been alone..."

She looked as if she were going to break down.

"And now they've captured you, too..."

"We were sent here," Alfred interrupted, fiddling with the ankle shackle.

Elizaveta's eyes widened, and Arthur smiled sympathetically.

"It's a long story. But we're here to get you out."

"No, no," Elizaveta murmured, her voice panicked. "Gil. Gil, you have to...you have to talk to Gil...he's going insane..."

Arthur and Alfred both paused.

"T-That was Gil's...first assignment, you know...h-he didn't want to...but he had to...and Al, Al was so weak...nothing was his fault...please...please forgive him..."

Arthur brushed Elizaveta's bangs out of her face, trying to figure out how to get the shackles off of her wrists. "We know, Liz. Alfred told me everything."

Elizaveta's eyes widened. "And you still came back?"

Arthur's eyes softened. "I do not forgive Alfred. Nor do I forgive Gilbert. But it happened, and it's over with. We get up. We keep calm, and we carry on."

Alfred's eyes widened as he stared at Arthur.

"Arthur...since when we you so strong?" Elizaveta asked gently, smiling.

The Elizaveta that cared for him, the Elizaveta that protected him. That stood up for him when nobody else would, that gave him sanity in that crazy house...

Arthur paused.

It wasn't a matter of strength or of weakness. Elizaveta's kindness and willpower inspired him. And that gave him strength.

He loved Alfred.

And that gave him strength.

"Let's get you out of here."

The three froze as they suddenly heard footsteps. Alfred had managed to remove her ankle shackle, but Arthur didn't know how to remove her wrist shackles and instantly dropped them as their paused to listen.

Suddenly, a torch was thrust against the bars of the prison cell, and in the light of the fire they saw a familiar face.

"Roderich!" cried Elizaveta, her eyes wide. Her voice cracked as she struggled to free herself, to move closer to him, but to no avail.

Roderich's eyes widened as he saw Alfred and Arthur. "What is the meaning of this?" he exclaimed, shocked.

"T-They...please, Roderich," Elizaveta begged. Roderich stumbled backward, but he quickly regained control of himself.

"Come with me," Roderich said stiffly, motioning for Alfred and Arthur to step out. Knowing they had no other choice, Alfred and Arthur reluctantly followed Roderich.

"Where are we going?"

"Silence, human."

"Don't talk to Arthur like that."

"Don't talk to me like that, half-demon."

"What did you just call me?"

"Shush, Alfred."

"Arthur! Why are you on his side?"

Roderich whirled around suddenly, fuming. "If you two buffoons would shut up for two seconds maybe you'd have a chance at escaping!"

They both froze.

Escaping?

"You're...letting us go?"

"You don't belong. We didn't capture you."

"But that's..."

"...You forget, human, that demons did not originate as demons." Roderich's eyes darkened before he turned around again, refusing to explain further.

They were given a poorly lit room to rest in, and according to Roderich, it was close to his own office. The room was protected by a spell, and Roderich promised that he would send them back once his shift ended and the guards lessened. They had told him Ivan was after Alfred, and Roderich had assured them that Ivan wouldn't be able to sense them in the room either.

Arthur could see that Alfred had changed back again, from black to blond hair. His eyes were permanently blue, which gave Arthur hope that Alfred was slowly changing.

He'd never have to gaze into those blood colored eyes ever again.

"You said you didn't forgive me," Alfred began after a long period of silence.

"Yes."

"Does that mean...you don't...you don't love me anymore?"

Arthur groaned.

"Alfred, do you ever listen to what I say?"

"I do!" Alfred insisted. "But if you don't forgive me, how can you love me?"

"Why are you so childish!" Arthur demanded, his hands on his hips. "Honestly, Alfred, love isn't all black and white!"

"I know, but...but...I didn't want you to...have that."

"Have what?"

"You won't ever forget it. And now, you..."

Arthur softened. "That's true. But a rose always has thorns, right?"

"Not thorns that kill you."

Arthur laughed. "I suppose that's true."

"...I'm sorry, Arthur. And I know it's petty to ask this now, but...do you...do you remember why you spent so much time with Francis?"

Arthur paused. It was a valid question.

"Honestly, Alfred, I don't remember anything of my past self. But if anything, I suppose I was just feeling insecure."

"What? Why?" Alfred gaped at him.

"It was probably a defense mechanism," Arthur mused. "I was scared. Anxious. Perhaps I didn't even believe you loved me. So I relied on someone who I knew loved me for comfort. But of course, I didn't love him, and I doubt I actually cheated on you with him. But it's nice knowing that there's someone there for you."

"...So I wasn't enough?"

"We were probably both insecure," Arthur said softly, holding Alfred's gaze. "With the strict laws back then, I was probably terrified. We didn't trust in ourselves. Our love."

Arthur walked over to Alfred, sitting on the bed next to him as he took his hand. "But I was a fool, Alfred, just like you. I made mistakes."

Alfred held his hand silently.

"You're more than enough for me, Arthur. You are everything."

Arthur felt heat rush to his face as he tried to draw his hand away. But Alfred wouldn't let go.

"I was just thinking...I realized where I went wrong, Arthur."

Alfred gazed at him seriously as he continued.

"I put myself first. Over you, over your happiness, I put myself first. I was a selfish bastard, and I...I destroyed the only thing that mattered."

"Alfred..."

"No. I don't deserve to be comforted by you," Alfred decided, his eyes pained. "I never even deserved to see you again, after what I did. I'm a monster."

Were his eyes becoming red again?

"Alfred. Listen to me."

"N-No, no, I don't want you to comfort me, I don't want to forgive myself for it -"

"You bloody twat, if you'd just listen to me for one second you wouldn't be going over the same meaningless rubbish in your head for days on end!"

Alfred's eyes widened. Arthur had definitely gotten his attention, and he reached out and pinched Alfred's cheek.

"Ow! Hey!"

"I take it you're listening, then. So you don't want to forgive yourself, but you want me to forgive you? Bloody hell, Alfred, if you don't want to forgive yourself then don't! Don't forget it if you feel so strongly about it, but learn from it. So you were weak once. That's fine. We all are."

"B-But I'm supposed to be your hero, Arthur."

Arthur smiled. "And you are, Alfred. You always were. You give me strength, Alfred, although you don't realize it. Do you know what your mistake is?"

Alfred shook his head.

"You fail to take care of yourself. You were stubborn. You thought you could handle the jealousy back then, but you couldn't. You were young, and stupid, and prideful, and you let it build until it became you."

Alfred shrunk into himself, his mouth dipped in a deep frown.

"And that's okay," Arthur finished, forcing Alfred to look at him again. "Because you're human."

"H-How can you...how can you accept that so easily? After what I did to you...how can you still love me?"

Arthur pursed his lips, shrugging. "I don't know, Alfred. It hurts a lot, and I still feel sick. But you are more important to me than memories. I love and want to help the you of right now. I want to see you grow, support you through the good and the bad..."

"How are you so strong?"

His words came out as a whisper, an echo of what Elizaveta had asked him not too long ago.

Arthur smiled, leaning over and kissing Alfred on the forehead.

"Because I love you. And because you are strong, too."

So, a lot of things got cleared up in this chapter, setting the stage for one last big hurdle...

Just as a warning, the next chapter gets dark. Read at your own discretion.