It was a darker day. Rain was pouring, clouds were heavy grey, the sun hiding. It was the kind of weather you never wanted to find yourself in, yet somehow Lukas left the house despite the weather to visit Matthias. Nonetheless, this left the house all to Emil's self. Lucky him.

Emil took the opportunity to read a few books and relax. Even though the weather was a kind most people wouldn't like because it was deemed gloomy, it was Emil's favorite. He loved rain. It seemed to calm him, cheer him up even. He saw this weather and actually smiled, to his brother's surprise. There was no doubt that today would be a nice day. All because it was rainy weather.

While reading, he grew slightly hungry. He had slept in, and hadn't had breakfast yet. He felt like he was in the mood for some minor junk food. Pocky maybe (although he would never admit liking it after Matthias dared him to play the Pocky Game with Ravis at a Christmas party he refuses to ever speak of again). He went into the kitchen and opened a cupboard. Damn. Out of Pocky, he thought. He rummaged through the whole kitchen for a substitute and just couldn't find one. That damn Matthias ate everything.

He thought about Pocky. It was so delicious… Oh, what the hell, he thought. He could take the risk. The spectacular weather had him in a great mood.

He grabbed a hooded sweater, his iPod, and some money and ventured into the still pouring rain. Even though he didn't want to get wet, he still very much enjoyed the walk. It was catching a cold he didn't want. If he did catch one, Lukas would probably end up staying home to take care of him, which means Matthias would come over. Matthias is such an idiot he thought to himself. Of all dumb countries in the world, why did my brother pick Matthias? He kept ranting to himself in his head about how everyone he has to socialize with is an idiot until he realized he wasn't paying attention and almost walked into a tree. Instead, he slipped and fell onto his ass.

"Oof!"

"Are you alright?" Someone walked up to him and asked. He was another country, a younger one. Perhaps Emil's age even. He had brown hair slightly parted to the side and wore a long red robe with yellow outlines on it. He held a black umbrella above his head as he looked down on the now dumb looking Nordic.

Emil pulled out his earbuds so he could hear the person above him better. "Uh, y-yes. I'm quite alright, thanks." Emil got up himself awkwardly. Looking a bit more closely he realized who the other person was and blushed slightly. It was Kaoru, Yao Wang's cousin. Emil didn't know why, but whenever he saw Kaoru, he felt warmer on the inside. He felt like he had some sort of school-girl crush, or something.

"Why are you out in the rain? It seems like a bit of a dumb idea for someone who slips so easily." Kaoru had a bit of an ego, Emil saw. Nonetheless, Kaoru was still attractive as he wore a smart-ass grin.

"I would ask you the same question. I like rain, and I'm hungry." Emil returned some of that ego, although it wasn't the best come back.

"I'm stuck here. My stupid cousin ditched me to go off and occupy myself while he went on to a business meeting. It has something to do with building more of his stupid China Towns here." Kaoru started walking ahead as he said this.

Great, Emil thought, more neighborhoods with poorly cooked food and loud fireworks. "Well, if you hate it here that much, then I suppose I hope you are able to leave soon." He didn't see what was so bad about his brother's home.

"I'll keep that in mind." Kaoru said back, already quite a bit more ahead. Oh well, who needs him anyway? Just because someone is attractive doesn't mean they're worth the company, Emil thought.

He continued on to the store and bought a massive amount of Pocky. Emil didn't know how long the rain would last, so he figured he would get a decent supply. He would just make sure he hid them somewhere in his room…

Walking home, he saw a bookstore and went in. He needed some new books, and figured he had enough money left, so he went inside. While looking around the fiction section (while keeping far away from the erotic fiction section), he bumped into Kaoru again while trying to reach a top shelf. He cursed his own shortness.

"From the look of your Pocky supply, you are stocking up for the apocalypse." Kaoru said, sassy again.

"Shut up. I wasn't even talking to you." Emil was slightly annoyed. He was sooo close to reaching the book he wanted. He could almost touch it….

And over he went! The footstool beneath him tipped sideways, and he fell towards Kaoru, who caught blushed. It's as though I'm Natsume and he's Natori.

Kaoru reached up and grabbed his book. "This is the one you wanted, right?"

Emil stood up straight on the ground and took the book, still blushing. "Yeah, thanks." Kaoru was taller than him, making him all the more attractive to Emil. Damn, Emil thought.

He bought the book and left for home as quickly as he could. He needed a distraction. These kinds of thoughts annoyed the crap out of him. When he finally got home, he took out a couple boxes of the newly bought delight, hid the rest of his stash, and indulged on his new book while he made hot chocolate.

His book was an interesting one. He had never encountered the author or read much of the genre, which was Steampunk fantasy. He liked it. Taking place earlier in time, yet having such high tech machinery, and the mystical creatures added in was a nice touch. I bet that Arthur Kirkland guy can see that kind of stuff. At least, Lukas thinks so. He flew through the book, going through the Pocky simultaneously. He was so close to finishing when he heard Lukas return, no doubt with Matthias. Emil jumped up, disposed of the evidence, and then acted casual as the Nordic couple walked in the door.

"Hello, brother." Lukas said, calmly.

"What's up, Icey?" Matthias said, a bit more on the cheery side. Typical.

"Hello." Emil replied indifferently. He was back to his normal self, which he much preferred to a stupid short guy thinking about how attractive Kaoru was.

"Are you sick, Emil? Your cheeks seem a bit flushed." Lukas grabbed his chin and examined his face. What he thought was some sort of head cold was Emil blushing over Kaoru. Shit shit shit shit shit. Emil tried hard to repress those thoughts. Think about rain, think about rain, think about rain! He yelled at himself.

"I-I'm perfectly fine. Just a bit warm in my sweater." Emil managed to make the blush go away.

"Okay then, but if you really are sick or get sick, make sure you tell me." Lukas wore a concerned look on his face, but went on to the living room with Matthias.

"Yeah, Icey. I don't want to catch a cold." Matthias said over his shoulder.

He sat back down on the little couch. Sigh. He had never gotten this way about someone. Not even a super cute girl (of which he had seen plenty of). He wondered why Kaoru was such a smart-ass. Maybe Yao is like this, and he is just mimicking it. He thought. It was that or Yao annoyed him to death constantly, so he was naturally an ass. He turned his gaze to the window and watched the rain. At least one good thing happened today. He decided contently.