(Beep... Beep... Beep... Welcome to HELP- Healing Earth's Love Problems. How may we HELP you? No Feliks, stay away from the fridge!- ...Beep)
South Korea had always been the outcast, with his strange ability to see the red strings that tied together soul-mates. He believed that he was the only different one, until he meets others like him: Italy- who sees auras, Poland- who can read minds, and England- who sees a very different kind of string. These four bring together soul-mates in the most chaotic ways possible.
Warnings: Country and Human Names Used, yaoi (but nothing explicit), and language. Come one, come all, to the official start of HELP – Healing Earth's Love Problems!
Pairings: I can't give them all away without ruining the story but, as of now, there is LietPol, Giripan, RoChu, and onesided?GerIta
Come one, come all, to the official start of HELP – Healing Earth's Love Problems!
I must say, I'm a little nervous about starting this one... I just hope you all will enjoy it...
Without further ado, I give you...
Chapter One – An Introduction
(Or: Fighting Never Solved Anything, Unless It Helps Two Soul-Mates Fall in Love)
A common concept, especially in series dealing with romances, is the Red String of Fate (akai itoor unmei no akai ito). The concept is that two people who are destined to be together are attached by an invisible red string bound from a male's thumb to a female's pinky finger (generally, though not always, at the first knuckle from the fingernail; also, nowadays it's become more common to show bothparties attached at the pinky).
It is an East Asian belief originating from Chinese legend, with people claiming many different countries of origin and/or religions for it, but the usage is clear regardless. -TvTroupes
Im Yong Soo sighed as he tapped his fingers in a syncopated beat along the table's wooden surface. They kept a steady rhythm as his mind wandered from the fight on the other side of the table. Normally Heracles trying to smash Sadiq's face in would be amusing, but he was too hungry to care at the moment.
The day's meeting had already run over an hour and the only thing that had been thoroughly discussed was whether Prussia was a ghost or not. Yep, the world's problems are definitely top priority around here. Pft, yeah right.
He clutched his stomach as it growled. Thankfully, the sound was drowned out by the excessive arguing coming from all corners of the room. It was obvious that they would get nothing done today... As usual. The Korean was mildly surprised Feliciano hadn't begged Ludwig for a break by now. The German would cave easily at the Italian's Puppy Dog Eyes. I mean, who can deny a wide eyed Italian when they look like they will start bawling at any second? Answer = no one. It was physically impossible. (Unless you were Russia, but that guy looks like he plucks feathers out of baby chicks on a daily basis.)
His eyes drifted over to where the Italian sat between Kiku and Ludwig a few seats down. Yong Soo smirked when he realized that Feliciano was just a tad bit more focused on the brawl than anyone else. The Korean made a note to thank Italy later.
"Enough!" an annoyed yell broke through the noise of the room. Germany had stood up and his palms were flat down on the table as he glared down all the surrounding nations. Most were trembling as they turned in surprise to the angry blonde. (Except for Russia, who stood there with a carefree smile on his face and asked if the man would like to become one with Mother Russia... He was ignored.)
"Everyone take a break! Be back in two hours," he commanded in his no-nonsense tone. All the nations were staring at him, stunned silent. (Once again, except for Russia... And America who was telling Egypt, who received the immense pleasure of sitting next the blonde for today's meeting, his new plan to save the rainforest. Does that guy ever shut up?)
"Now!" Ludwig barked as his eyes narrowed. The words were like a gunshot. Everyone jumped up as they rushed to get out of the room. The mass of countries all ran to the door in clumps. (Russia walked slowly at the very back of the crowd... And oh look, he had his pipe. How did he get that past security?) The room was empty in seconds, except for Korea, but no one would really notice his absence from the food court for a few minutes, if at all. Oh yeah, feel the love.
Germany sighed and face-palmed. He marched out the door, muttering darkly to himself the entire way. Yong Soo chuckled, secretly wishing he had the cool clearing rooms power that Germany had. That power seemed to come in handy! Feli sure knew how to pick them.
Speaking of the Italian...
"Oh my Da Vinci! I thought that would never end." The brunette whined as he slumped down into the chair next to the Korean.
Yong Soo jumped a bit at the sudden appearance. Didn't Feli leave with the others? The kid is sending way too much time with Kiku, he thought with a slight pout, Now he's getting ninja powers too. I bet I could probably get those powers if he would just spend more time with me instead of running off whenever I'm in the same room as him. Yong Soo's thoughts turned a bit more depressing at the end. He shook them off and gave the Italian a light laugh. "I know. It seemed like we were going to skip lunch. Great thinking, Feli."
The Italian beamed. "What can I say? I'm just a genius."
"Or an evil mastermind. Did you seriously need to sic Greece and Turkey on each other?" a voice from the doorway asked in a condescending tone.
Feliciano shook his head with a slight giggle. "They were mad at each other already, Arthur. I just pushed them in the right direction." The auburn-haired boy stood from his seat after his statement and put his hands on his hips. "Besides, it's all part of me and Feliks's plan."
Arthur cringed at the incorrect grammar usage, but knew that correcting the Italian would not help him in the long run. He raised an (enormous!) eyebrow. "And how, exactly, does Greece killing Turkey help?"
The Italian smiled brightly, eyes shining. "Because, when Heracles gets hurt, Kiku will be there to take care of him. Their bond will strengthen and they'll fall in love in no time!"
Yong Soo patted the boy on the head, stretching his arm up so that he could reach the still standing Italian. "That's brilliant! I couldn't of thought better myself. -Well, I could, since planning originated in Korea, but I didn't- so you get praise!"
The other man in the room did not agree. England sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "There are so many holes in that plan it's not even funny," the blonde stated, shaking his head at the idea. He was then tackled from behind by a blur of pink and yellow. Arthur fell to the ground, arms spinning like pinwheels, and received a face full of carpet. "'Ot da 'oody 'el!" His shout was muffled, but the meaning came across well enough.
The figure on his back growled. "You, like, better not be dissing my amazingly foolproof plan or I will, like, totally kill you in the face and stuff!"
"Feliks!" Feliciano squealed happily as he engulfed his friend in a hug. Feliks hopped of the Brit's back before returning the gesture.
"Hey Curly, I heard about the fight. Nice work in there," the Pole remarked while he brushed imaginary dirt off his bright pink miniskirt. Today's outfit was tied together with a white button-up dress shirt and high heels.
"Yeah, where exactly have you been during the meeting?" Yong Soo inquired. He had not seen the cross-dressing blonde in the room all day. When Feliks smirked, the Korean suddenly lost all desire to find out what he had been up to during the day.
The blonde blew his bangs out of his face. "Oh, you know, just, like, making-out with Toris in the supply closet. Normal stuff."
Yong Soo stuck out his tongue at the sudden and unwanted mental image. Feliciano looked happy for his friend and seemed like he was about to ask for details.
"I did not need to know that," Arthur spoke with a slight grimace. The raven laughed at the face the Brit was pulling. Italy joined in with the Korean when Poland turned to him with a large grin.
"Oh, Eyebrows, you're just jealous that I have someone to make-out with and you, like, don't," the gender-confused male replied, putting his hands on his hips.
Arthur groaned at the topic they had found themselves in. "Not this bloody discussion again. I already told you, I have too many other soul-mates to help before I can even think about finding my own."
Korea sighed at their antics. Those two always had this argument. It was how they usually started their brief meetings. Yong Soo knew that Feliks was just trying to help, but it was getting old listening to the blondes. The Pole just did not want Arthur to end up alone.
"OK," Yong Soo interrupted before Feliks could gang up on him and demand that he tell Arthur who his soul-mate was. There was only so many times he could say no calmly. "We need to get down to business. Feli, you feel anyone outside?"
Italy sat back down, choosing the seat across from Korea this time. He squeezed his eyes shut for a few moments. His entire body slumped in his seat as every one of his muscles seemed to turn to putty. They snapped open and he sat up straight in his seat with a grin. "The closest person is a few hallways down, and they're going in the opposite direction," he informed the group.
Yong Soo nodded. "OK then, but I'll need you to keep an eye out."
Feli giggled and gave a mock salute as Arthur and Feliks sat down, the Brit claiming the seat next to Korea and Feliks sitting next to Feliciano. Korea's face broke out into a large smile as he readied himself for his favorite part of the meeting week.
"The meeting over plan 'Giripan' is now in session!"
Feliks scoffed, "This is going to be, like, totally easy. I, like, already peeked into their minds and they're already completely in love and stuff."
Sighing dramatically, Feliciano added, "They just don't realize it themselves." He put a hand over his heart in fake despair. "It's so tragic."
"And they don't have any black strings, so we don't have to worry about them being tied to anyone else," England spoke as he tapped his pointer finger on the table.
Yong Soo cheered. "So this will be simple! All we need to do is have Feli tell Kiku that Heracles likes him and BA-DA-Boom, we're done."
"Aw, but that's, like, way too easy! I say we dress Japan in some of that cosplay I, like, might have seen in his mind while I was poking around. Then we, like, shove both of them in a closet!"
The three turned towards the Pole with similar looks of horror.
"Are you bloody mad!" Arthur shouted, looked disturbed at the very thought.
"I thought you would have learned when we tried that with Gupta and Sadiq. It doesn't work." Yong Soo shivered as he remembered that failed mission.
"And it just makes things really awkward," Feliciano added to the Korean's statement, also shivering. He looked like he was about to cry as he thought about it.
"That was, like, completely different. And besides, it, like, helped in the long run. They're together now aren't they?"
Korea sighed as he tried to get to another topic. "We're not putting Kiku in a dress."
"But it would be, like, so much fun!" Feliks whined.
Yong Soo stared at him.
"Fine, can we at least, like, get them drunk first?"
Yong Soo ignored him.
"Moving on, anyone else have anymore brilliant ideas?" England asked, interrupting any further ideas from Feliks.
"I say we go with Soo-Soo's idea," Italy added, silently agreeing to stop Feliks from talking.
Arthur nodded. "That seems to be the safest plan."
"Like, fine, be boring," Feliks grumbled as he admitted defeat.
Feliciano suddenly stiffened, causing everyone to stare at him. "Guys, someone's coming. Get in your places." He then ran over to his usual seat and plopped down onto it. Cradling in head in his arms, his eyes slid close. The Italian pretended to fall asleep. Within seconds, he was lightly snoring. Yong Soo did not know if he was pretending or not at that point.
The others followed in suit. Feliks grabbed his purse out from under his chair that had been unoccupied during the meeting. With a bright smile, he skipped out of the room. The Pole was using the excuse that he just went into the room to find his money. Arthur also bounded over to his seat and started browsing through his notes on the chair. Korea just kept in his spot and looked bored. It was his seat after all, and he knew that whoever it was most likely would not ask him anything.
A head with slicked back blonde hair poked through the entryway. His hard eyes softened when he spotted the "sleeping" Italian. Germany silently crept over to him. He put his hands on the auburn-haired boy's shoulders and shook them gently. "Italien, aren't you going to eat something?"
Feliciano's eyes blinked open. He gave the larger man a lazy smile, and then threw his arms over his head as he yawned. Yong Soo was impressed; the Italian was an amazing actor.
"~Ve, sure Ludwig!" he chimed. "I was just really tired." The boy yawned again for emphasis.
"Well, come on then. We can't have you passing out because you slept through lunch." An unnameable emotion passed through his blue eyes, but it was gone so fast Yong Soo was almost certain he had imagined it.
Feliciano nodded, still smiling brightly. "OK Doitsu!" He clutched the blonde's arm and hastily pulled him out of the large wooden doors. Their vibrant red strings trailed behind them.
Yong Soo sighed. From that little display, one would think that those two were together but, sadly, they were not. The German was too blind to see what was right in front of his face. No matter how many hints that the Italian dropped, Germany remained oblivious.
"So, I guess the meeting's adjourned then?" Arthur asked from his seat. The blonde placed his papers onto the table in front of his and turned to Korea.
Chuckling, the raven nodded. "Yep, let's go eat." Internally, he gave an evil smirk. Time to go stalk hyung. Maybe his Russian soul-mate will get jealous, he thought as he practically sprinted out the door, Arthur following at a much slower pace. He had not ate breakfast that morning and was now starving. Hm, maybe we should launch plan RoChu next?
