lost ~completed~

chapter 9

Upon breaking into the building, the bands of countries were met by chaos. About 15 people were all mashed together in a swirl of clothing. Some guards laid strewn on the ground with bullet or sword wounds in them. Others were swarmed around two forms near the ground.

Arthur's heart beat quickened, searching the mob of people for Kiku or Ludwig. He didn't want to think about what all these people could do to the pair especially if they were injured.

He suddenly caught a flash of dirty white near the bottom of the fury. He recognized it as Kiku's uniform. He saw a man get off the lithe Japanese man, giving Arthur a better view. Kiku's face and neck was stained with dried blood. His usually pristine uniform was soiled with blood, probably from whatever wound he sustained and possibly the people he killed, and dirt. Kiku looked extremely tired but he kept trying to fight.

In a daze, Kiku tried to get to his feet but a man slammed into his back. Kiku fell to his hands and knees. Another man stepped on his limbs and fingers but Kiku still tried to get to Ludwig. The man standing over the Japanese man drew his leg back and sent his foot into Kiku's chest. Kiku let out a strangled gasp and crashed to his side, his limbs churning feebly. The man was on him again, stepping on his chest. Kiku's feet twitched and his body went ridged. Even over the noise, Arthur could hear the crack of a rib. The man wedged his toe into his ribs making Kiku almost pass out from pain. He started kicking him again in a fury of cruel laughs.

Arthur quickly picked up an abandoned sword and hurried to Kiku. He was quickly followed by Alfred who had drawn his trusty pistol. Arthur noticed a determined fire in Gilbert's eye and a cold anger in Mei's that made him flinch. Mei and Gilbert quickly hurried to the guards. Mei killed the man kicking Japan and a few around him before kneeling down and carefully collecting Kiku's crumpled body into her arms. Kiku leaned his arm against his chest and finally passed out.

At that time, everyone else had drawn their weapon and was joining in the fight. Gilbert had gotten the men off of Ludwig but was struggling to hold them back. The ex-country was loudly swearing in German that Arthur couldn't understand nor did he really want to know what he was saying. Judging by the anger burning in his scarlet eyes and in the brutal way he killed the guards, Arthur had a pretty good guess to what he was saying.

Arthur grasped his sword tightly with the skill of a pirate and quickly joined his lover's side. Alfred quickly shot him a glance that said 'be careful'. Arthur allowed a small smile. Back to back, they fought off the men.

In the background, Elizaveta was stunning men with her frying pan, Roderick was finishing off the men she was hitting, and Mattie and Francis were fighting the guards together. Ivan was brutally crushing peoples head with his water pipe.

Soon the countries had managed to kill them or severely injure all the guards. They weren't feeling kind enough to put some of them out of their misery so they writhed on the ground, slowly bleeding out from a wound.

They all turned to look at each other. "I don't think we'll be able to leave as easily as we came. I saw a line of trees across a field; if we hurry we can make it." Alfred panted. A small cut above his eye was bleeding and the blood was running between his nose.

"Oui, that should work." Francis said nodding. The Frenchman's sides were heaving from all the strenuous exercise.

"Ok. I'll run ahead and make sure everything's clear." Alfred said.

"Good idea." Mathew agreed.

Gilbert crouched down beside the unconscious German. Ludwig had a large cut in his hairline and another above his eye and on his cheek. His uniform was stained with blood and grime. It was obvious by his skeletal frame that he had been at the building for a while. His eyes were hallowed and his cheeks jaunt. His skin looked paper -thin and pale as flour.