My hand reached into the shimmering water to disprove the sight I'd just seen. My love. Was he really there? His figure disintegrated and faded into the ripples of the crystal clear pond. I blinked twice and saw the real reflection next to me, his short grey hair, his dark purple eyes. A tear escaped me and I felt selfish. I loved that reflection, so whenever I let my mind wander, why did His image come to mind?

I looked away from the water and turned to see those purple eyes right in front of me. They searched my own, gold and shimmering with guilt, making me nervous. Could he see? Could he see I'd been thinking of another?

My body shivered as he smiled and kissed me. My mind immediately went back to Him. His smile. His kiss. How it warmed me so. I kicked myself for doing it again. What was the matter with me? I closed my eyes in a desperate attempt to escape the world. But it just kept coming back.

Gold plated armor covered his god like structure, a tattered red cape blowing in the wind behind him. His brown hair wisped around in the wind with his cape, and his brown eyes searched the horizon. He stood there, frowning, when I tapped on his shoulder.

My own long red gown mixed into his cape as he embraced me, giving me a long, sweet, passionate kiss.

"Mi dulcis amor…" he whispered into my ear, giving me chills.

"我唯一的愛，羅馬..." I hesistantly replied.

He shook slightly, falling to the ground. My heart plunged and I went down to him, weeping.

"Why must you fight, Rome aru? WHY MUST YOU FIGHT aru? IT'S KILLING YOU aru! It's killing you aru!" I yelled in desperation.

"Because I can win, China. I can expand my empire, so we can be the most powerful nations in the world!" Rome replied, coughing into his hand which became stained with blood.

"I don't care about power aru! All I want is to be with you aru!"

My cries tore through the sky, sending birds fleeing from the tree tops. Rome looked away, angry and ashamed, pulled himself off the ground, and walked away. He looked back only once, because he couldn't stand to see me cry.

My silence was broken by a gentle gloved hand grasping my shoulder, yelling angrily "Wake up! Wake up! Сейчас! Сейчас!"

"Oh, Ivan, I forgot you were here aru…" My voice trailed off like the wind blowing through the trees.

He turned away, in mock sadness and frustration. A small smile illuminated my tired and worn face, but it didn't last long. My whole body collapsed into sobs from the weight of the memory I'd relived.

Russia turned, concerned, towards me, and embraced me. He hushed me and stroked my shaking back.

"Now now, China. Please stop crying. I love you." His voice cracked.

He knew.

"I'm sorry!" I cried desperately.

"It's okay, my little China. I promise. The past haunts us so, da?"

He gave me a short but passionate kiss.

"What's done is done, but I still love you all the same."

"I feel the same aru."

"Prove it…" Russia sighed, pushing me back onto the grass.

As we made love on that cliff facing the horizon, not a single thought of Him came to mind. It was Russia, And only Russia.

Translations-

Mi dulcis amor- My sweet love

我唯一的愛，羅馬- My only love, Rome.

Сейчас! Сейчас!- Now! Now!