"Alright, Japan," the blond man offered his hand cheerfully. "This was a good meeting. Thanks for staying after."

"It was my pleasure, England san," the Asian nation replied, taking the hand and smiling. "This was very productive. I wish the whole meeting went this way…"

"Oh…well… There are a few people…" England grumbled. "Anyways, thanks for the time."

Arthur stood up and made his way to the doors. He pushed one open, holding it open for the other nation.

"Oh, " Japan called, noticing Arthur holding the door for him. "Please go ahead. I have to reorder these papers."

"Ah- If you say so," replied Arthur as he walked out of the room. "Have a nice weekend, Kiku," he called.

"You, too," Kiku replied, blushing slightly at being called by his name.

Arthur checked his watch and began to walk briskly down the hall. He did not notice a rather large figure slip into the conference room as he rushed to attend to his next meeting.

Russia stood at the doorway, letting the door close quietly behind him as he watched Kiku, fretting around, collecting the papers into one pile.

"Here we go," he heard him mutter as he picked it up. Kiku was going through the papers as he approached the doors, not realizing Russia until he almost walked into the tall man who stood in his way, smiling.

"Russia san!" Kiku exclaimed, startled. "I thought you went home already…"

"I was waiting for you," Ivan replied, smiling amicably.

"Oh…if you had told me, I would have made the meeting shorter…"

"The personal get-together, you mean?" corrected Russia, still smiling.

"Please," Kiku grimaced slightly. "That kind of phrasing makes it sound…awkward…"

"Oh, but it sure seemed like a personal get-together."

Russia suddenly moved around Kiku and pulled him around by his shoulder to switch their positions. Kiku winced slightly as he landed not so lightly on shoulder and back into the door.

"You seemed to enjoy his company quite a lot," Russia said, smiling as he pushed Kiku's shoulder roughly. Kiku tightened his grip on the documents.

"It was nothing like that, I assure you."

"Oh, really now…" Russia's smile suddenly turned dark. "He seemed to feel himself to be very close to you…"

"Russia san…" Kiku pleaded, cringing at the sudden change in expression. "You are mistaken- he never meant anything."

"Oh, really now," Russia laughed, raising his large hand to trace the outline of Kiku's cheek. "He meant nothing when he called you by your first name?"

Kiku suddenly understood what Ivan was getting at. Nations only called each other by their names with those they were intimate with, or family. He would call Korea Yong Soon, but not France, Francis. Russia had caught on to Arthur calling him Kiku. Thank god, Kiku thought to himself, Russia did not see him blush at it.

"Russia… Ivan," Kiku stared up at Russia's face that towered over him, willing himself to not tremble at his caressing. "He didn't mean anything."

Kiku realized too late that he was blushing slightly at the memory. It was always awkward for him to be called by his name. Having someone like England call him by his first name was flattering. And yet… He saw Ivan's facial muscles twitched, and before he could react, he felt a strong blow to the side of his face, making him lose balance and let go of his papers. They fell, disoriented, on the floor, shuffling themselves, much to Kiku's dismay. Kiku looked up nervously at the Russian, trying to ignore the burning sensation on his cheek.

Russia was no longer smiling.

"You like him, don't you," he accused, eyes glinting in anger. "You let him make moves on you because you like him…"

"That is not true," Kiku retorted, trying to figure out a way to calm the man who easily weighed twice as much as he. "You are over reacting…"

He flinched as Ivan slowly realized his right hand and raised his arms in reflex defense to cover his face. He saw from the corner of his eyes, Ivan smile as he grabbed Kiku's right wrist with his left, and pushed him back onto the closed doors again.

"Don't tell me what I am or am not doing," he whispered, bending over to Kiku's ear. Kiku shuddered, lowering his other arm. "Now," Russia muttered. "Admit it."

Kiku shook his head. The shaking did not last long as he felt another sharp slap to the same side of the face. He saw his vision blur for a moment and tasted blood in his mouth from where his teeth had cut his cheek. He closed his eyes momentarily in pain, but opened them again as he felt another blow, disorienting him, pushing him off the solidity of his feet. He staggered in place, knees buckling, almost hitting the ground. He did not fall completely, his wrist being held up by Russia. Smiling, Ivan pulled Kiku back onto his feet.

"Don't be so disobedient, Kiku," he said as he watched the smaller man trying to regain his foothold, grimacing in pain. "Stop being so difficult."

"I do not… love him…" Kiku muttered, trying to keep himself from slurring, the blood in his mouth bothering him. "He was just… just being friendly… in a business partner way…"

"Kiku," Russia cooed, suddenly. "I love you, you know."

Kiku looked away, averting his gaze.

"…I do…," he whispered, staring at the pieces of paper by his feet.

"Look at me," Russia ordered. Kiku slowly moved his head back up timidly, looking back up into the now smiling face. "Good boy. Now, stop lying."

"I am not ly—" Kiku could not finish his sentence before he was toppled off balance again. He staggered, feeling faint, tasting more blood. He knew his face will be donned in multitudes of shades going from red to purple tomorrow. He could not bring himself to touch it, knowing it would hurt immensely.

"Not a sound, as always…" he heard Russia mutter.

"Kiku." Kiku cringed. Ivan slowly brought the hitting hand down to take hold of Kiku's chin. He pulled it up to face him, ignoring Kiku's wincing. "Who do you love?"

"…" Kiku looked up into Ivan's violet eyes. Those beautiful eyes that turned so dark… "You…"

"Really?" Ivan asked, smiling.

"Yes. I love you."

"Not that English bastard?"

"No. Only you."

"Good boy," Ivan whispered as he laid a gentle kiss on Kiku's lips. He let go of Kiku's chin and placed his hand on the smaller man's shoulder, bending over further to kiss his neck. "I love you, too," he said, smiling into the kisses.

"…I know," Kiku answered, closing his eyes.