(So, uh, did I mention there was going to be AU future history, since missing/unconscious countries would obviously have ramifications? Hope OP/readernons don’t mind. .__.;;;) ___
Feliciano thinks of dead lands; of ground that won’t grow crops, of buildings crumbling and decaying of misuse. He thinks of the people – the diseased, the old, those who can’t escape their fruitless homes, who can’t leave as their own country flickers out with a pathetic sob.
To think about it is an almost physical pain, and he shivers and closes his eyes.
“I know that pain well,” the cloaked man murmurs, his voice pulling Feliciano out of his morbid daydreams. “And if you end this dream, then that will happen to you as well as your ‘brothers.’”
Feliciano fists his sleeves in one hand. He thinks; he decides.
“What do I have to do to change that?”
“It won’t be easy, Vargas-san,” Kiku says, and Feliciano feels a small, delicate hand on his shoulder. “We’re going to have to make a sacrifice. And even then, there’s no guarantee that we’ll even be able to pull this off.”
Feliciano bites his lip, feeling familiar cowardice creep up his spine again. He fights it down.
“I don’t care,” Feliciano answers. “If it’s to save them, then that’s all right.”
A smile glimmers out at Feliciano from beneath the hood. “Do you think it will be worth seven years of your life, trapped within this dream with us? You won’t be able to speak with anyone – not with Ludwig, not with Lovino.”
Feliciano does not hesitate again. “I’ll do it.”
The man stares at him; his smile grows wider, almost familiar. “You’ve really changed, haven’t you?”
“Ve…?”
The man turns his head to look at Kiku. “This is your last chance to do anything you need to before –”
“I’ve already left Heracles a note,” Kiku interrupts. “He’ll understand.”
“If you say so.” The man turns his back, beckoning to them with one of his hands. “Come on. We need to go.”
Kiku walks around Feliciano; he does not leave footprints as he walks into the forest with the cloaked stranger. Feliciano watches them for a moment more, uncertain, before following with wide, certain strides.
Feliciano isn’t certain of what the future holds. It’s not exactly like him to walk straight into the heart of the unknown. But this isn’t a normal situation. Perhaps it’s only natural that he’s not his normal self.
With that in mind, Feliciano lifts his head and lets the trunks of Kiku’s trees consume him. ___ I. October 28 Seven Years Later Oh heed my warning, maidens all that wear gold in yer hair, keep well away frae Cauterhaugh, for young Tam Lin is there. ___
It is actually Heracles that suggests they all meet once again in Tokyo for the 42nd G8 meeting – despite the fact that there aren’t many of them left to begin with. I don’t think Kiku would mind, Alfred reads in the letter he sent out, since it’s his turn to host this year in the first place. It’s a bit late in the year for this, but considering how you haven’t met at all for the past years – I think this would be what Kiku wants.
“Well, of course he wouldn’t,” Alfred murmurs, leaning his head back against his seat and sighing. “Leave it to Kiku to be organized and efficient, even when he’s in a coma and not all of us will be there.”
He has trouble hearing over the cabin pressure pressing on his eardrums, but he feels Matthew murmur and press his cheek a bit further into his shoulder. The fact that he can sleep even as they’re landing is a wonder to Alfred.
Alfred closes his eyes, not to sleep, but to think.
Let’s see. Francis went missing seven years ago. Feliciano and Kiku are in comas, but Lovino’s all right. And considering Russia’s state right now, I’d be surprised if Ivan came at all.
And Arthur….
Alfred flinches. His body won’t let him think about that. Not yet.
All right. So it’ll be me, Matthew, Lovino, Ludwig, maybe Ivan – and any of the O5 nations that accepted the invitation. So there will definitely be four people there – maybe more, depending on the circumstances.
Four nations. Half of what we were, once upon a time.
As always, a suspenseful chapter! Ah, even though it's unlikely, I find myself desperately hoping that Yao and Ivan will go along with Alfred to save Alfred... if only because their abilities will be quite useful, I think. But I also hope Matthew and Heracles and... oh, heck, I more or less am looking forward to the entire world storming into the fantasy world and rescuing the missing nations! I am a sucker for epic fantasy
O-Oh my God. I-I honestly don't know how many times I stopped by this page to check for updates today. ;AAAA; Commenter needs next segment BADLY. -sobbbb- I'm just so pumped! The ending lines were just so touching to me, and I loved it. I also loved how you described the contract and how Arthur lost his memories.
I can't wait for Part 6! ~~ It just pains me to see that even after 7 years, Alfred still can't get over Arthur's sudden disappearance. I can't wait for their meeting! ;AA; I get this feeling right when they meet, that's when the segment will end, whichever part their meeting is in. -shot-
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But Hold Me Fast [5/?]
(Anonymous) 2009-05-02 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)___
Feliciano thinks of dead lands; of ground that won’t grow crops, of buildings crumbling and decaying of misuse. He thinks of the people – the diseased, the old, those who can’t escape their fruitless homes, who can’t leave as their own country flickers out with a pathetic sob.
To think about it is an almost physical pain, and he shivers and closes his eyes.
“I know that pain well,” the cloaked man murmurs, his voice pulling Feliciano out of his morbid daydreams. “And if you end this dream, then that will happen to you as well as your ‘brothers.’”
Feliciano fists his sleeves in one hand. He thinks; he decides.
“What do I have to do to change that?”
“It won’t be easy, Vargas-san,” Kiku says, and Feliciano feels a small, delicate hand on his shoulder. “We’re going to have to make a sacrifice. And even then, there’s no guarantee that we’ll even be able to pull this off.”
Feliciano bites his lip, feeling familiar cowardice creep up his spine again. He fights it down.
“I don’t care,” Feliciano answers. “If it’s to save them, then that’s all right.”
A smile glimmers out at Feliciano from beneath the hood. “Do you think it will be worth seven years of your life, trapped within this dream with us? You won’t be able to speak with anyone – not with Ludwig, not with Lovino.”
Feliciano does not hesitate again. “I’ll do it.”
The man stares at him; his smile grows wider, almost familiar. “You’ve really changed, haven’t you?”
“Ve…?”
The man turns his head to look at Kiku. “This is your last chance to do anything you need to before –”
“I’ve already left Heracles a note,” Kiku interrupts. “He’ll understand.”
“If you say so.” The man turns his back, beckoning to them with one of his hands. “Come on. We need to go.”
Kiku walks around Feliciano; he does not leave footprints as he walks into the forest with the cloaked stranger. Feliciano watches them for a moment more, uncertain, before following with wide, certain strides.
Feliciano isn’t certain of what the future holds. It’s not exactly like him to walk straight into the heart of the unknown. But this isn’t a normal situation. Perhaps it’s only natural that he’s not his normal self.
With that in mind, Feliciano lifts his head and lets the trunks of Kiku’s trees consume him.
___
I.
October 28
Seven Years Later
Oh heed my warning, maidens all
that wear gold in yer hair,
keep well away frae Cauterhaugh,
for young Tam Lin is there.
___
It is actually Heracles that suggests they all meet once again in Tokyo for the 42nd G8 meeting – despite the fact that there aren’t many of them left to begin with. I don’t think Kiku would mind, Alfred reads in the letter he sent out, since it’s his turn to host this year in the first place. It’s a bit late in the year for this, but considering how you haven’t met at all for the past years – I think this would be what Kiku wants.
“Well, of course he wouldn’t,” Alfred murmurs, leaning his head back against his seat and sighing. “Leave it to Kiku to be organized and efficient, even when he’s in a coma and not all of us will be there.”
He has trouble hearing over the cabin pressure pressing on his eardrums, but he feels Matthew murmur and press his cheek a bit further into his shoulder. The fact that he can sleep even as they’re landing is a wonder to Alfred.
Alfred closes his eyes, not to sleep, but to think.
Let’s see. Francis went missing seven years ago. Feliciano and Kiku are in comas, but Lovino’s all right. And considering Russia’s state right now, I’d be surprised if Ivan came at all.
And Arthur….
Alfred flinches. His body won’t let him think about that. Not yet.
All right. So it’ll be me, Matthew, Lovino, Ludwig, maybe Ivan – and any of the O5 nations that accepted the invitation. So there will definitely be four people there – maybe more, depending on the circumstances.
Four nations. Half of what we were, once upon a time.
Re: But Hold Me Fast [5/?]
(Anonymous) 2009-05-02 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)I am a sucker for epic fantasyOP Anon!
(Anonymous) 2009-05-03 12:50 am (UTC)(link)OH GOD, that's just...oh God.
*cries*
Oh God, this is gonna be EPIC. :)
Re: But Hold Me Fast [5/?]
(Anonymous) 2009-05-03 04:51 am (UTC)(link)I can't wait for Part 6! ~~ It just pains me to see that even after 7 years, Alfred still can't get over Arthur's sudden disappearance. I can't wait for their meeting! ;AA; I get this feeling right when they meet, that's when the segment will end, whichever part their meeting is in. -shot-