We Are Zodiac (Hetalia Fanfic)

Chapter 9

"They're... fighting over the beach?"

The breathless words left England's mouth quietly as he ducked his head down enough so that he could just barely see over the top of the boulders. The other nations followed suit and watched with growing confusion in their eyes.

Before them, Cancers and Aquariuses were battling hotly with each other on a stretch of rocky coast. At least, that's what it looked like. Both needed water to survive, so it made sense that both would want it. But they almost looked like... they were a bit organized.

Well, sure, chaos is chaos, which is also what war is. But the Aquariuses and Cancers were equally numbered, it appeared, and from a person's point of view that had seen hundreds of wars and skirmishes, this scene closely resembled a battlefield. 

"My God..." England mumbled, his green eyes scanning the area. "We should leave," he whispered urgently. "Right now."

Suddenly, Alfred had to smother a yell, and it made his wounds ache considerably though he paid them no attention. He received an odd look or two until he stabbed a finger in the general direction of the water's edge. "Just... Just look," he choked out.

This was the hero. He was brave, invincible, especially on his own land. And here he was, looking scared and confused and full of emotional pain. The sight startled all the others in the group, but they did as he told, tearing their gazes away from him and setting them on the edge of the water.

England had to bite his finger until he tasted blood.

Romano's eyes widened, as did Germany's, before their eyebrows drew together angrily.

Poland held onto Lithuania's hand in a death grip, and Liet did the exact same thing. 

An Aquarius with long, scraggly hair and a dirt-streaked face was doing battle with what easily could have been a leader of the Cancer pack. He was big, bigger than most Cancers, and he wasn't letting her land many hits. With such large and terribly sharp pincers for hands, it was no wonder he was able to get plenty of the iron needed to grow larger.

But underneath the almost helmet-like shell that protected his skull, he had unkempt and knotted light blond hair.

He also had a looped ahoge.

She also had one, but with two loops instead of one.

"Oh, please, no," Alfred whispered too quietly for anyone to hear.

With horror, he watched as they circled each other, Matthew clicking his pincers together menacingly while Alice bared her venomous teeth and flexed her fingers rhythmically. It was like the other battles around them didn't matter at all. All that was the world was the two of them.

They moved in tandem, lunging for each other at the same time. She wove around his somewhat bulky appendages and got inside his guard, placing a palm on his chest. It only was able to remain there for a brief second, but it had left a neatly circular burn mark to the left of his sternum. The Cancer howled in pain and swiped at her, only glancing off of her brow. It was enough to send her tumbling to the sand. 

Matthew's foot was on her back suddenly, and a pincer was coming down to crush her neck. Feeling awful for being such a spectator, Alfred squirmed horribly in his place behind the rocks. He so badly wanted to go between them and make them stop fighting, but he knew it would only get himself killed. Why did he have to see this?

There, she had gotten away! Alfred found himself letting out in relief a pent-up breath. Alice whirled on her opponent and got her hands around his throat, using her momentum to send them tumbling into the surf. A huge splash went up around them, and as soon as it fell back into the ocean, there was little movement.