A/N : Very laaaaatttteeeee update... you see, I have excuse this time! First, I'm writing a new fanfiction (two actually), so you can kill me because of this... and also my college stuff that just won't leave me alone... And... what else? Oh yeah, also my own novel which just begged to be finished, and also I played too much Duel of Fate in my tablet... (Enough with excuses!)

I'M SORRY, DEAR READERS OUT THERE!

And now, this is the part when I say thank you to : MeinAwesomeness and shinyglaceon1234 for putting this story into their favorite list. And to TheRedFlowerOfFire for the review and being such a wonderful reader. And also to : kankai, AsH-animeX2, americanpopcheck, MysticMaiden 18, and luckei for following this story.

Don't forget to read my other fanfiction! Like The Nightfallers and The Fallen (but this one in Indonesian though).

On with the story! Brace yourself for grammatical errors! (Feel free to tell me)

ACT. 3

Encounter

Gilbert Beilschmidt looked through the window as if he tried to memorize each detail of the garden from the first floor. He didn't smile. No, he never smiled even since he joined this family of Ivan. He just let out a small sighed as he watched the blue sky outside the Braginski Mansion.

"Gilbert?"

The sound make the albino guy turned around as he was greeted by the sight of a young man with small built and light brown hair. Raivis Galante stood in front him with his shy smile on his face.

"H-how's your day?" asked Raivis.

"Not bad," said Gilbert coldly. "What is it, Raivis? You aren't here just to ask about my day, are you?"

"No… I just want to talk…" said Raivis.

"Not now, Raivis," said Gilbert.

"It's about Mr. Braginski," said Raivis. The young boy was afraid that Gilbert would snap his neck or stabbed him with his sword. "He said he has an assignment for you."

Gilbert sighed.

"What is it about?"

"He wants you to go to a specific place. I don't know where, but he told me to make you call him as soon as possible."

"That's all?" asked Gilbert.

"Yes, Gilbert," said Raivis.

Gilbert reached out for his cell phone and pushed the numbers he familiar with. He waited for awhile until a childish voice greeted him lightly over the phone.

"Hello, Gilbert!"

"Ivan. Raivis told me to call you. What is it?"

"I have an assignment for you. It will be fun, da? You finally have a chance to make contact with Arthur's family," said Ivan. "You've been waiting for this, da?"

Gilbert smirked. Finally. After waiting for a long time, Gilbert had his chance to make a contact with Arthur's family. He knew nothing of them. But he was eager to know them. Gilbert was tired of this war already, and he knew, all he wanted to do was to end this pointless war. He was wondering though, why Arthur didn't just let Ivan took over the city. Without this war, he could search for his long lost brother. His little brother.

Damn Ivan.

Damn Arthur.

Feliciano Vargas and Lovino Vargas didn't go to the café today. Since Matthew had to go to one of his clients today, the brothers decided to stay, along with Kiku. They only hoped that nothing bad would happen. Arthur hadn't waked since yesterday. He still slept soundly on his bed while Feliciano sat by his side doing… whatever he was doing.

"Ve~ Arthur hasn't waked up," said Feliciano as he laid his head next to Arthur.

He was bored, but he knew, he couldn't leave Arthur unattended because who knew what would happen? They couldn't let the same thing happen again.

As he could hear Feliciano's boredom, Kiku stepped into the room and smiled at the Italian man.

"Feliciano-kun, why don't you help Lovino-kun to make lunch for us? I can take care of Arthur for you," said Kiku.

"Is it okay?" actually, Feliciano didn't want to leave Arthur. No. He liked to accompany Arthur, but he was bored. He just sat there and did nothing except for drawing in his sketch book to pass time. He just found out that Arthur's sleeping figure was an interesting object to draw. But now, his sketch book was already filled with the pictures of Arthur.

"It's okay," said Kiku.

Feliciano nodded and slowly left the room. Kiku took Feliciano's place next to the bed and stared softly to that sleeping face. This time, he could observed the face better with the soft golden locks that framed his heart-shaped face and the bushy eyebrows that somehow suited him. Arthur Kirkland could look so fragile but strong at the same time.

Kiku reached for one of Arthur's books and began to read to pass time. He stopped though, when he heard Arthur's cell-phone ringing. Kiku looked at the screen and saw that it was Alfred. He picked the phone up.

"Moshimoshi?" he greeted.

"Ah, Kiku? How's Arthur? Has he waked up yet?" Kiku could hear the concern in the obnoxious American voice.

"He hasn't, Alfred-kun. How can I help you?"

"Hmmm… actually, me and Ludwig couldn't make it home by the dinner time. We have to go to the bar for… I don't know what for, but it was an order from our superior. Could you hold the fort for tonight with the others?"

"Sure. No problem."

"If Arthur wake up, tell him I'm sorry for not being there. I'll be back home in no time."

"Yes, Alfred-kun."

"I'll call you later. Bye."

"Bye, Alfred-kun."

With that, he dropped the line.

Ludwig sat on a chair, as he looked around his co-workers. The bar wasn't that crowded, but he never really liked this place. He rather sat in the Manor drinking beer than in this bar. He glanced at Alfred beside him. Alfred didn't look very comfortable, especially with those girls around him. Ludwig could see his fake smile clearly as day.

And that was when it happened.

As Ludwig threw his glance across the room he saw him.

The snow white hair and red orbs that dragged him back into the past. Soon he found himself as a young boy while the similar figure stood beside him and smiled as he stroke his hair.

"Don't worry, West. I'll protect you."

"Is something wrong?" a guy with spiky light brown hair and green eyes asked him, snapped him up from his flash back.

Lars van den Berg was one of the most credible guys in the force and Ludwig liked him pretty much because of his efficiency at work. He was quiet, and didn't talk much.

"I'm fine, Lars," said Ludwig. "You're going home already?"

"Have to," said Lars. "My wife waiting for me at home."

"Sure, Lars," said Ludwig.

Ludwig threw his glance across the room once again until he saw the same person. He stood up from his chair and walked up to the figure slowly. He tried to reminisce the past of this familiar man. Ludwig finally stood in front of him, and the albino guy looked back to him, wide-eyed.

"Bruder…" said Ludwig softly.

"West?"

Gilbert couldn't believe it as he saw the man in front of him. Ludwig, his baby brother. The same blond hair, the same icy blue eyes. His breath caught in his throat when he saw him, but Gilbert wasn't really sure until the man approached him, and called him bruder. And thus, Gilbert knew that this man was really his little West (though he was taller than Gilbert now).

He didn't know what to say. None of them moved an inch from where they stood. Damn it! He was searching for his long lost baby brother, and now, when he met him, he didn't know what to do. Both of them just stood there and did nothing. Both of them were speechless.

"H-how are you, Bruder?" asked Ludwig.

"I'm fine, West. How about you?"

"Doing fine…"

Ludwig really didn't know what he was supposed to do. He really didn't know. All he wanted was to hug this man—his brother—tightly and told him that he didn't want to be apart again. The moment of silence was broken when Ludwig's cell phone buzzed in his pocket. Ludwig stared at the caller ID and realized that it was from Feliciano. He picked up the phone while motioned to Gilbert to wait.

"I'm in the middle of something, Feli," said Ludwig.

"I-it's Arthur… Something's wrong with him!" Feliciano sounded very hysterical over the phone, and it caused Ludwig's blood ran cold.

"What's wrong, Feliciano?!"

"H-he… he was suddenly waked up… and… and… H-he didn't say anything a-and walked out of the house… Lovi, Kiku and I tried to stop him… but… but…"

"Wait a second, Feli…" said Ludwig. "ALFRED!"

He turned around and saw Alfred with his phone on his ear and looked at the younger man grew paler than usual. Seemed like Alfred had heard the same news from Kiku or Lovino. He should've known not to leave Arthur just with Feliciano, Lovino, and Kiku. It wasn't because they were weak (hell, they could be the strongest of the family in their ability), but three just simply didn't enough.

"Sit tight, Feliciano. We're coming," said Ludwig. He hung up and turned to look at Gilbert to say sorry, but the albino guy had gone.

Damn it.

A/N : Done! If you haven't realize, Lars is Netherlands...

I'm sorry for the shortness.. but please, review? *insert Arthur's cutest puppy eyes here*