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Different Hearts, Same Love	By : FlayraDowitcher Category: +G to L > Hetalia: Axis Powers Views: 1572 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I am making no money off of this fic.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
Chapter 9

Arthur sat upon his small throne surrounded by skulls as various offerings were brought to him. He hardy acknowledged the gifts for his mind was focused elsewhere. Currently, Francis was tied to a post in one of the huts, hidden away from view, heavily guarded and drugged. Arthur had yet to visit him, but could only watch earlier as Francis' body was carried off by the tribal members and placed there. He had his own little ritual to go through, as Francis had his. Right now, Francis was having some of his blood drained for the sacrificial drink in which only the highest ranked tribal members may taste.

Eventually, he couldn't take it anymore and had to go see Francis. The guilt was nagging at him to the point where he just wanted to scream in frustration. Why was he feeling guilty about sending Francis off to be sacrificed? He hated the man, and Francis was his meal ticket out of this clan. The man had to die so he could be free of this life. Arthur stood from his seat and stepped over all the offerings, ignoring the people who grabbed at his robes as he passed. He couldn't wait to get away from all this.

Once at the hut, Arthur glanced around for signs of anyone nearby, but saw none. He opened the portly door of sticks and stepped inside the hut. There, tied to a post at the far end was the seated form of Francis. The blonde hung limp from the post with his legs stretched out before him. Blonde wavy locks were damp with sweat and the tie had come loose, pooling around the other's head. Arthur felt the guilt arise in him again, but this had to be done. He walked over to Francis and saw the man lift his tired head to look at him.

"Arthur…" his voice was raspy and low, "Are you all right?"

"All right? Me?" Arthur wondered just how much drug milk they have given him. "What about you?"

Francis looked up at him through a dirty curtain of hair. Blue eyes were bloodshot and heavily lidded. "These people are monsters…but they didn't hurt you, right?"

"Francis," Arthur knelt in front of him, "Listen to me…I'm the one who brought you here, to these people."

Francis tilted his head slightly. "I don't understand."

There was no sense in hiding it now. "I…I was never taking you to your city…I was taking you here. I'm offering you as a sacrifice so I can be free of these people."

"What?" He coughed. "Y-You knew this all along? You were just using me?"

Arthur glanced away but gave a nod. "Yes. I am bound to these people because of my natural power to see other things. I am like a god to them, but I am also a spiritual prisoner. I want to be free, just like you and Alfred. The only way I can have this is to sacrifice someone of pure, noble blood. So…when you came along that day-"

"You lied to me."

"Yes, and I'm sorry, but try to understand. When we first started I couldn't wait to get you here because you stand for everything I hate. But, as we continued on our way, I saw that you were starting to change and become a little more accepting of my ways. I don't want to do this to you, but I have to escape from this world. It's a dark and dangerous place…I must escape."

"I do understand," came Francis' soft reply and it had surprised Arthur. Francis let his head rest against the post to better see Arthur. "And to be fully honest, I don't really care. I've seen things too…frightening things. I've seen bodies lying all over the ground…red sky…strange people around. Even you I saw covered in snakes. I should have known right then…that those snakes were a sign of betrayal and that's what you did. You betrayed me."

Arthur was concerned by Francis' change in attitude and speech for it did not sound like the sweet man at all. "But I had my reasons."

"I don't care at this point anymore with what they do to me." He looked away. "Who's to say the plague hasn't reached Stargburg? Who knows what's happening out there right now in the organized cities? If society is breaking down…then I'd rather be dead. So let them sacrifice and drain me of my blood, I don't care. The world is doomed anyway." He turned back to Arthur. "You're such a bitter little man, and it is such a waste. Your selfish, snobbish pride and stubbornness is uncanny. You could be so much more, and yet you rather hate." Francis narrowed his brows. "Soon you will be free, but I know the guilt you will carry will last a lifetime. So I hope all of your little scheming was worth it. Now leave me." He said the last part in a whisper.

"Francis, I-" Francis spat at him and the saliva struck him on the left cheek.

Arthur immediately stood up and stormed out of the hut. He was shocked and appalled by Francis' behavior. The man's words had disturbed him greatly, and Arthur began to wonder if this was the right thing to be doing. Francis had to be suffering from the aftermath of the heavy drug, which most likely was fogging his judgment. However, the words had stung, almost the same as when Alfred said he wanted to break off their relationship. It made him feel numb and hollow inside. Arthur held the fur cloak tighter around his body and made off for the woods to be alone with his thoughts.

Bitter. Francis had called him 'bitter'. Bitter and selfish. Arthur knew that Francis was right, but he hated to hear those words. He felt a lot of bitterness for Francis, mostly due to the man's openly warm personality. Francis was so carefree and spoiled beyond belief, but the man had a gentle soul. In some way, Arthur actually feared him. Francis was so open about his feelings and overly friendly that Arthur had begun to feel threatened. Francis wanted to hold and hug him while 'making love'. Why would Francis want to make love to him if they weren't together? The nobleman was just a horny lover.

So why was he feeling remorse for offering Francis up for sacrifice? He didn't love the man and never would, but there was something he was feeling. He was sacrificing an innocent life to save his own. A man who up until now had been incredibly annoying, but Francis had tried very hard to accept his ways. Even after all they had been through, Francis had stood beside him and tried to be civil. It was himself who made the traveling relationship hard. But he could not allow himself to get into another relationship. He wanted to be free of everything. Free of feelings, relationships, and duty. All he wanted was to be his own person with no baggage or anyone to answer to. That is what he needed to be truly happy.

"Still, something does not settle well with me," he spoke aloud to himself. Looking around him, Arthur started to notice the center of the trees' trunks begin to glow. Each one around him flashed a soft white glow, another way in which they would communicate to him. Arthur just sighed and continued on his walk through the woods, trying to ignore the anxiety of the trees around him. They were trying to 'stop' and to 'do the right thing'. "But I don't know what that is. I don't know the right thing to do. I want to be free, and this is the only way."

Why was everything in nature against him? Even the fairies and mystical entities were avoiding him. It was as if the whole forest and all its magic was turning itself off to him. The forest couldn't possibly be on Francis' side in this? He wouldn't be able to enjoy his freedom if the forest turned its back on him. What he had was a special gift that not many had, at least none that he had ever met. He was the only one he knew of with these powers. If the forest were to abandon him, Arthur didn't know what he would do. "Someone give me a sign. Give me an answer to my dilemma." He asked one of the trees, laying his palm against the trunk gently. The wind started to blow gently through his hair as he awaited an answer.

The forest appeared to come alive again, and the fairies started to conjure together to make the form of two men. Arthur recognized the forms as himself and Francis. Francis' form had leaned down to kiss his hand before throwing his arms open wide. It almost seemed as if Francis was presenting something to him, then he took Arthur's form's hand and lead him away. The fairies scattered right after, taking their places among the trees. "You want me to go with Francis? But I hate him! We are nothing alike!" The trees started to lean towards one side, pointing north. Further north would be one of the cities, so was that what Francis' form was trying to show him? "I can't live in his world." Arthur whispered. "I'm not accepted there and I never will be. The woods are where I belong."

'But that man would accept you.' Arthur heard the voice of the unicorn and turned to see the white creature walking towards him.

"Alfred accepted me too…and he left. Francis would do the same."

'How do you know?'

"The man believes in free love. He understands NOTHING other than pleasure, wine, and luxuries. What future could he and I possibly have?"

'He has come to accept and acknowledge the other wonders of this world. That man accepts you for who you are and wishes to be with you.'

Arthur scoffed. "No, he just wants to lay with me, nothing more. Besides, any hope we could have is destroyed now. He knows I am sacrificing him. Even if I were to stop this, he would never forgive me and then I will never be free."

The unicorn leaned its head down. 'There is a way you can both be free, but you have to find the answer yourself. Know this, Arthur Kirkland, should you darken your soul with innocent blood for selfish means, then the forest will no longer be a part of you.'

"Do you really mean that?"

'That man needs to live. You have the power of sight, and he has the power of change.'

"I don't understand. Change? Change what? He won't change. He'll still be the same vain and self-centered arrogant male he always was."

The unicorn moved closer. 'Your hearts may be in different worlds, but your love will be the same.'

"I don't 'love'. That word is foreign to me." He ran a hand through his hair. "However, despite my doubts, I will do as you say. My heart and soul belongs to the woods first."

'Once you are both free, continue on your journey to the city in which that man seeks. The forest needs you there.'

"Needs me there?" The unicorn turned and started to walk away. "Hey! Wait! What do you mean by that?" He waited for the unicorn's response, but the creature slowly faded away into the blackness of the trees. The forest was silent once again, yet the wind had grown strong. Its gusts started to push him in the direction of the camp. The distant sound of ritual drums could be heard, and Arthur let out a gasp. "They're starting!" He began to pace anxiously. "I have to do something…something that will get them to stop…and then we can both be free. Just as the unicorn said. But what? Think, Arthur, think!" He pounded his forehead with his fist. "I have to trick them. I-"

The swift sound of movement nearby made him look up and see a large stag coming towards him. It slid to a halt some feet away and stood proud, puffing out its chest to Arthur. Green eyes stared at the beast standing nobly before him, wondering what its purpose was. Then, it had occurred to him. Swiftly he took his bow and cocked an arrow, sending it flying towards the stag. The stag did not move and welcomed the arrow into its chest. Arthur watched as it slumped further to the ground before lying on its side to die. Arthur walked over to it and knelt down, stroking the rough brown fur. "Thank you for your noble sacrifice, friend." Arthur took out his hunting knife and proceeded to work.

/

Francis lifted his head when he heard the chanting of people and the beating of drums. He knew he was scared, but the fear was not registering with him. Between the heavy blood loss and the drugged milk, Francis hardly knew where he was. He remembered Arthur having betrayed him, offering him up for sacrifice like some lamb. The betrayal and the lying was what hurt Francis the most. He had started to think that Arthur was warming up to him. This whole time Arthur knew this was going to happen and planned for it. Just when he thought he was growing to admire the man, this had to happen. Now he was set to die.

The door to the hut opened and a swarm of torches came in, lighting up the blackened room. Francis had to shield his eyes for a moment as the people in cloaks surrounded him. One person dressed differently from the others came up to him with a knife. Francis thought they were going to cut his flesh again to drain more blood. Instead, the person grabbed a bulk of his blonde hair and tugged it taunt upwards. Francis let out a hiss of pain and glanced up to watch as the person sliced off nearly all of his locks. He let out a choked wail for he loved his hair. He watched the person bring it over to another who was holding a bowl filled with fire. His precious locks were tossed into the flames and they sputtered violently. Next came the chanting and singing, its sound hurting his ears. Suddenly, he felt the rope around his wrists was cut away, freeing his hands. Francis did not have the strength to get up to save himself, so a few of the people lifted him instead.

Helplessly he struggled against the hundreds of hands that seemed to stick to his body as he was carried high above their heads. They were bringing him to that stone table in which he will meet his death. For a moment he glanced up at the wintery moon, recognizing its beauty and knowing this would be the last time he would see it. Then he felt his body placed upon something cold and hard; the sacrificial table. Again he struggled as his limbs were tied to the legs, holding him immobile. The harder he pulled, the tighter the ropes became. Now his heart was pounding and his pulse racing. The leader of the tribe stood beside the table, dressed in heavy furs and bones with a large headdress of many antlers. The sight was terrifying.

The man started to chant and speak to the people in their language with the other repeating back short words. Francis could only stare up at the sky, trying to focus on the moon and minimal stars. What would he become once he was dead? Would he be a star in the sky? Would he be a cloud? Will his body just disappear and his soul travel through the universe? Or was there a whole other world beyond this one? The type of world Arthur could see. 'Arthur.' He spoke the name to himself and felt the tears in his eyes. However, he had to close them when he saw the large bone knife being raised high above him. 'I thought I would die during sex with good wine in my belly…'

"HALT!"

Francis' eyes burst open at the familiar voice of Arthur. He, like everyone else, turned to the source of the word. The people started to gasp, scream, cry, and pray. Francis looked upon Arthur's form. Arthur was covered heavily in blood from head to toe. His blonde hair was matted with it, and more was smeared all over his face and neck. Even his hands were coated red like a pair of gloves. From his fur cloak hung bloody strands of something meat-like. Arthur made for a terrifying sight, and his green eyes shown with dark fury.

"Stop this sacrifice!" Arthur commanded in their language. "I have spoken to the forest and it bleeds in despair and fear for this heinous choice of sacrifice! Look upon me! I am bleeding along with the forest!"

"No! You are our eyes!" Shouted the leader. "The one who sees all!"

"And see I do! I see dark times befalling this village and tribe!" He held up his hands, the blood still dripping from the tips. "I see the sky turning black with ash! From the ash will pour a red rain that will kill all plant and animal life! The red rain will burn through skin and melt the trees! The rivers will run dry and the ground will swallow up all who remain! THIS IS WHAT MY EYES ARE FORETELLING!" He turned and pointed to the table. "LET THAT MAN GO! THE FOREST WANTS HIM! DENY THE FOREST ITS RIGHTS AND SUFFER FOR ALL ETERNITY!"

The people began to beg the leader to do as Arthur commanded. The leader seemed hesitant at first, but upon gazing into Arthur's furious eyes, he did as he was told. He cut the rope from Francis' limbs and fell to his knees in prayer.

Francis sat up quickly from the table and looked around in shock.

"HUMAN! COME TO ME!" Arthur shouted in his direction. "SEEK THE FOREST! I SHALL DELIVER YOU!"

Francis wasted no time leaping off of the table and rushing towards Arthur. His anger for the man was nothing compared to the need for escape. The people grabbed at him as he ran but he managed to keep away. His body was so weak that his limbs were screaming with pain. Still, he forced his body to continue towards Arthur's bloody form. Once he was beside Arthur he collapsed into the man, not caring about the blood that now coated his body as well. He felt Arthur grip his hand and pull roughly.

"Come on! We have to go!" Arthur pulled him along as they ran into the woods, but he could feel Francis falling behind. Arthur knew most of it had to do with blood loss. "Keep running, Francis! If you want to keep your life, then keep running!"

"Arthur…" he panted out "I can't…I can't run…anymore…!" Francis started to lose balance with his feet, stumbling over his shoes. They could both here the tribal members shouting after them. "We're gonna die…!"

"Not yet!" Arthur smirked through the drying blood when he saw a large doe running alongside of them. The forest was indeed on their side. "Get on the doe!"

"The what?"

"THE DOE!"

Francis saw the large animal run up beside him, and on instinct, he leapt up onto her. It took the last bit of his strength, but the adrenaline pumping through his veins to escape was strong. The will to live was overriding all. So he clung tight to her thick neck as the large limber body ran and leap over the earth. Francis felt his body was too big for the animal to hold while she ran. "Arthur, I'm too big for her!"

"We just need to gain distance! They we can hide!"

The bouncing of his body as the deer ran ahead was making him feel sick and light headed. "Are we…away yet?" He could feel his face turning green.

"Not yet, but keep holding on!" Arthur looked up at the trees. 'I have done what you asked, now help us hide. Show us where.'

The trees started to sway and moan in an echoing bellow, slowly parting their trunks to expose a path. Arthur turned and followed it with the deer and Francis close behind. The trees would straighten up the moment they passed, keeping a distance between them and the clan. Arthur knew that after this, he would never be able to return to these woods again. The clan members would find him and kill him. He silently prayed that the natural world knew what it was doing by sacrificing his own freedom to save a man such as Francis. They said this man could change things, but Arthur had his doubts.

Up ahead, he saw one of the trees bending very low to the ground, and it whispered for them to hide 'here'. Arthur stopped at the tree and looked down into a thick trench. He held his hands up to the stop the doe, which came to a sliding halt. Arthur helped remove Francis from her back, giving her neck a stroke in 'thanks' before climbing down into the trench. He ended up having to drag Francis through the cold damp dirt to where the moonlight grew dim. Up above, Arthur heard movements such as vines or roots moving through soil. He saw the roots of trees begin to weave a protective roof above them, shielding them further from view. Arthur gave a little smile, for he knew that the forest would keep the clan from discovering them here. With a heavy sigh of relief, Arthur sat himself down with Francis directly beside him. However, he felt the other move from his side and turned to look at him. Francis would not meet his gaze.

"Francis?"

"Why did you save me if you worked so hard to get me here in the first place?" He would not look at Arthur. "Why the sudden change of heart?"

"It was not my choice, but the suggestion of the woods. They wanted you to live, so I obeyed."

Francis was silent, and then, "So it wasn't because you felt guilty or cared about me. It was because of the woods TELLING you to do so. I suppose I should thank you for listening to the reasonable side of things." He scoffed. "Listen to me; I'm stating that trees are more reasonable than humans. Who would have thought?"

Arthur glared. "Hey, I gave up my freedom to save your hide. I didn't have to, but I did. I made the proper moral choice." Tired blue eyes turned to him.

"So you chose to save me over freedom, even though you didn't want to? Or are you just lying because you're stubborn?"

Arthur wiped away some of the still wet blood from around his eyes. "I don't know, to be honest. I don't know why I made that decision. All I know is that you can change things, and I'm supposed to help." He cleared his throat. "So…after you are feeling better and up to traveling, we will continue to your city. There, I will stay with you and see the reasons why the forest wants me to remain there. With you."

"With me? So I can change things? Huh, interesting." He coughed. "Regardless, it will take me a long while before I am able to trust you again. You do know that, right?"

"I would laugh if you wanted to trust me again so soon." Arthur responded with a smirk. "After all, I did set you up to die for my own gain."

"You're a greedy, manipulative son-of-a-bitch. But, you're an interesting one nonetheless." Francis gave him a look of disgust. "And by the stars man! Don't touch me with that…that…BLOOD all over you! Disgusting!"

Arthur frowned with a growl. "This blood saved your life! A noble stag sacrificed his life to help free you!"

"Take some lessons from the stags, then!" Francis turned away from him. "I can't even look at you right now, Arthur." His voice was firm. "This betrayal…is unlike anything I have ever experienced from a person." He started to lay down in the dirt, uncaring. "All this time I was trying to be your friend, and hoping you would accept me in return. Even though we fight, I always saw it as something healthy in a relationship, especially one between friends. This whole time I was trying to win you by becoming your friend…and all you could think of was how to have me killed. Thanks a lot for that, Arthur. You have to be one of the most horrible and despicable people I have ever met."

Those words stung coming from Francis. Arthur just stared at the man's back, trying to find the proper words to say back to him. However, no words would come and an empty feeling of guilt grew in his belly, giving him butterflies. Words coming from Francis should not have such a heavy effect on him like this, and yet they were bringing back old memories of Alfred. The feelings he had thought he lost along with Alfred walking out of his life went with the man. Instead, they were only buried deep under a stone heart, which were now only uncovered. He hated the feelings. Francis would not speak those words if he did not mean them.

Arthur lay down on the ground as well, but kept a heavy distance between himself and Francis. All they could do now was sleep, and he could hear Francis' exhausted snores. Arthur curled into a ball and hid his face in folded arms, trying to disappear into himself. Maybe things would be better with Francis once the drug was out of his body and his mind properly rested.

But he doubted it.

End Chapter 9 TBC
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Different Hearts, Same Love